Democrats Seek Oversight Of State Medicaid Agency - The Associated Press
Democrats in New Mexico's congressional delegation are asking for more federal oversight of the state Human Services Department because it suspended Medicaid payments to 15 mental health providers last year.
Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Reps. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Ben Ray Lujan made the request to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell.
The state suspended payments because of fraud and overbilling allegations, and contracted with Arizona companies to take over management of most of the suspended providers.
The system changed in January as Medicaid managed care companies assumed responsibility for behavioral services and contracting with providers.
The congressional letter expressed concerns that services have been disrupted.
But Human Services spokesman Matt Kennicott said more people are receiving services since the transition to the Arizona providers.
Marijuana Petition In Albuquerque Falls Short - The Albuquerque Journal and The Associated Press
Officials say an Albuquerque petition drive to reduce marijuana penalties failed to collect enough valid signatures to trigger an election.
The Albuquerque Journal reports figures released by the Albuquerque City Clerk's Office show that advocate fell short of the 14,218 signatures required under the City Charter to trigger an election on the issue.
Acting City Clerk Trina Gurule says the marijuana campaign turned in 15,916 signatures. But out of those, officials say only 9,172 were approved as having come from valid, registered city voters,.
Pat Davis of ProgressNow New Mexico, which worked on the campaign, said supporters of the effort are meeting with attorneys to go over their options.
The petition drive is aimed at reducing the penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
Jury Clears Las Cruces Officers Of Excessive Force - The Associated Press
A federal jury has cleared two Las Cruces police officers accused of using excessive force during a 2010 arrest.
Jurors reached a verdict after two hours of deliberation Wednesday. They found the officers did not commit an illegal arrest and did not use excessive force when they took Joey Valdez Perea into custody.
According to police, Perea fell asleep in his friend's car after a night of drinking. Paramedics were able to wake him and he became agitated, clenched his fists and yelled at the medics.
Police say Perea refused to comply with their commands so they used a stun gun and physical force to take him into custody.
Police Chief Jaime Montoya says the verdict verifies that the department's training is consistent with best practices in law enforcement.
ICE Asks Pearce To Moderate Immigration Town Hall - The Associated Press
Federal immigration officials have asked Congressman Steve Pearce to moderate the first town hall meeting in southeastern New Mexico since undocumented immigrants began being housed in a temporary facility in Artesia.
Pearce spokeswoman Jill McLaughlin said yesterday the Republican is happy to moderate the town hall, which could happen within two weeks.
She says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement asked Pearce about the possible meeting during his recent visit to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia.
The center currently is holding around 600 immigrant women and children from Central America. They remain under quarantine because of two chickenpox cases.
Bighorn Sheep To Be Released In Jemez Mountains - The Associated Press
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep will be reintroduced into the Jemez Mountains in an area burned by a 2011 wildfire.
The state Game and Fish Department hopes to capture 30 to 40 adult sheep and their lambs next week near Wheeler Peak northeast of Taos and release them near Cochiti Canyon, which is southwest of Los Alamos.
The agency said the Las Conchas fire created a treeless area in the mountains that's become prime habitat for a sheep herd. They are expected to expand into the nearby Bandelier National Monument and the White Rock Canyon area.
The sheep will be captured with drop nets and transported by helicopter to a place where they'll receive veterinary care. Then they'll be hauled by trailer to the Jemez Mountains.
ABQ Biopark Zoo Loses An Old Friend - The Albuquerque Journal and KUNM News
A beloved resident of the Albuquerque Biopark zoo has died.
The Albuquerque Journal reports http://www.abqjournal.com/442293/news/falling-tree-limb-kills-biopark-camel.html that 21-year-old Bactrian camel, Bea, was struck in the head by a falling Cottonwood branch Wednesday afternoon. She died soon thereafter.
The biopark has been working to prune the drought stressed trees throughout the park, starting with areas accessed by visitors. The park continuing that work, looking to shore up the areas where animals live.
Bea was a two-humped camel that is remembered for her loving demeanor because she would greet zoo workers by snuggling and sniffing them.
