Ethics Commission Received First Complaint - Morgan Lee, Associated Press
New Mexico's fledgling State Ethics Commission says it has received its first complaint without disclosing its contents or who it involves.
The commission treats complaints as confidential until there is a finding of probable cause. That doesn't prevent people from going public with accusations that are submitted to the commission or rebuttals. The commission in January started to field complaints and requests for advisory opinions regarding campaign finances, government contracting, gifts from lobbyists, and more. Allegations of criminal conduct are referred to state or local prosecutors. Voters overwhelmingly approved the creation of the commission in 2018.
State Reviewing Bonds For Oil And Gas - Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
It has been over 40 years since the state last increased the amount of bond money that oil and gas companies are required to put up before drilling. As development continues at a record pace, State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard says it's time to take another look. Legislation that called for a study of the issue stalled during the recent session, but Garcia Richard announced just a day after lawmakers adjourned that she's moving forward with the effort. She said her office has the funding to begin the work. Officials said the amount of bonding needed to ensure taxpayers aren't left paying for any clean-up and restoration after oil, gas or other minerals are extracted is currently unknown. Garcia Richard described it as an urgent issue that could leave “taxpayers and our state trust land beneficiaries on the hook for potentially millions of dollars.”
County Commissioners & Residents Oppose Transmission Line - Associated Press
Officials in Two New Mexico counties and rural residents are standing up against a proposed transmission line that would connect the potential for more wind farms with markets in other western states.
The five-member Valencia County Commission voted unanimously in January to oppose the Western Spirit Transmission Line. The commissioners were backed by landowners and residents who fears the project's huge towers and miles of high-voltage lines will spoil their rural quality of life by obstructing pristine vistas, impacting wildlife and undermining tourism-related income and property values.
The Socorro County Commission also voted unanimously in September to oppose the project for similar reasons.
APD 911 Response Times Increase - Associated Press
An analysis shows that Albuquerque police are taking 93% longer to respond to 911 calls from nine years ago. KOAT-TV reports an examination on the Albuquerque Police Department’s response times shows officers now take an average of 48 minutes to arrive to a scene. That's a 23-minute jump from 2011. Albuquerque Emergency Communications Center manager Erika Wilson says police are doing the best they can with the resources available. Albuquerque police say currently it has about 950 officers. In 2011, it had around 1,100 officers. FBI statistics show Albuquerque had a violent crime rate of 1,365 per 100,000 residents in 2018. The national rate was about 369 violent crimes per 100,000 residents that year.
APD Investigating Homicide - Associated Press
Authorities say they’re investigating a homicide after a man was found fatally shot in southeast Albuquerque. Police say officers responded to the shooting around 10 a.m. Saturday. They say the man died after being taken to the hospital. His name and age haven’t been released yet. Police didn’t immediately say if any suspects have been identified or arrested in the case.
State Police Officer Kills Suspect After Chase - Associated Press
Authorities say a New Mexico State Police officer fatally shot a man who fired at police at the end of a chase. The state police said the incident started at 4:15 p.m. Saturday when Deming police, with help from the Luna County Sheriff's Office, pursued a man in a red minivan who was believed to have violated an order of protection. State police said the man drove into a berm, leading his car to get stuck, the agency said. The man then ran off with a shotgun and fired a shot toward a sheriff's deputy, hitting the deputy's vehicle. The agency said a state police officer fired at the man at least once. The man died at the scene.