Ted Turner Ranch In New Mexico Caught In Wolf Debate - The Associated Press, The Santa Fe New Mexican
A sprawling ranch in southern New Mexico owned by media mogul Ted Turner is caught in the middle of a dispute between the state and federal wildlife officials over management of the Mexican gray wolf.
A bid by the Ladder Ranch to renew its permit for holding wolves in captivity on the private property was recently denied by the state Game Commission.
Wolf supporters squared off across from ranchers at rally at the State Capitol Tuesday, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican, calling for Martinez to reverse the decision. Cattle ranchers praised the Game Commission's decision.
Commissioners have said they couldn't approve the permit, citing the failure by the federal government to update a decades-old recovery plan for the wolves.
Officials with the Turner Endangered Species Fund say they're disappointed with the commission's decision and that tightening the screw on the ranch won't lead to a new recovery plan.
Suspect Not In Home When Police Enter After 10-Hour Standoff - The Associated Press
A SWAT standoff in Albuquerque ended when police entered a home where they believed a woman was holed up. It turns out she wasn't there.
Police were told the woman had taken refuge in the home after allegedly firing gunshots at neighbors during an argument Tuesday afternoon.
Police entered the home early Wednesday morning about 10 hours after the standoff began, but they didn't find the woman.
Officers had used sirens and a loudspeaker during the standoff to try to make contact with the woman, who is still sought by police.
Police said none of the neighbors was struck by the earlier gunfire.
Republican Letter Contains Several Errors, Upsets Legislator - The Associated Press
Rep. Nate Gentry is upset with the New Mexico Republican Party for a letter that appeared to be sent from him that contained a signature that wasn't his own and words he never said.
The politically-charged letter asking for donations was sent to nearly 11,000 New Mexico homes. It contained misspelled names and used the state's seal, which is not allowed in private political mailings.
KOB-TV reports Rep. Gentry says he found out about the letter Tuesday morning. He says he never reviewed it.
The state Republican Party admitted their mistake and say political consultants authored the letter.
A party spokesman says an oversight occurred leading them to believe that Rep. Gentry had approved the letter. He says they have worked to rectify the situation.
NM Republicans Lodge Open Records Complaint Against Auditor – The Associated Press
The Republican Party of New Mexico has lodged a complaint with the state attorney general about what it says is a violation of the public records act by the state auditor.
Party spokesman Pat Garrett filed a request this month seeking all of Auditor Tim Keller's emails, expense payments and cellphone records since Jan. 1. That's when Keller, a former Democratic senator, assumed his new post.
Republican Party Chairwoman Deborah Maestas filed a formal complaint with Attorney General Hector Balderas on Wednesday. She's seeking his assistance in requiring Keller to comply, charging that the auditor's office failed to furnish the records within 15 days, as required by law.
Keller didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Balderas' office says the complaint has been referred to the open government division for review.
Annual New Mexico Biker Rally Comes Week After Waco Shooting – The Associated Press
Law enforcement agencies are preparing for an annual motorcycle rally in northern New Mexico a week after a deadly Texas shootout involving rival motorcycle gangs.
Around 20,000 bikers are expected to attend the Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally in Red River this weekend. Officials say past attendees included members of the gang, the Bandidos.
Authorities say the Bandidos were involved in a deadly shooting in Waco, Texas, that killed at least nine. About 170 bikers have been charged with engaging in organized crime.
Red River Town Marshal David Smith says 50 officers from different agencies will be patrolling the area to the Colorado border every day but authorities don't believe there will be any spillover from Waco.
Other Memorial Day motorcycle rallies are scheduled in Buckhorn, Missouri, and Gulfport, Mississippi.
State Medical Tax Break A Mistake, Being Taken Away – The Associated Press
New Mexicans will no longer be able to deduct a portion of their medical expenses from their taxes, even though many residents have been doing so for years.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the tax break has been granted to as many as 300,000 state taxpayers for 14 years.
A law creating the deduction passed in 2000, but its enactment was tied to the passage of other Medicaid-related measures that former Gov. Gary Johnson vetoed.
The state Compilation Commission caught the mistake last summer and went forward with removing the law from the state's books.
A representative from the commission says it wasn't clear why the error hadn't been discovered sooner.
A spokesman for The Taxation and Revenue department says keeping the medical tax deduction in place has become a top priority.
Report: New Mexico Family Foster Setting Percentage High – The Associated Press
A new report says New Mexico is doing a better than most states in placing foster children in family settings.
An Annie E. Casey Foundation study released Tuesday found 92 percent of foster children in New Mexico are in family placements. That's a higher percentage than 43 other states and the District of Columbia.
The study says New Mexico also does well in the percentage of children who are placed in the care of a relative like a grandparent. Five percent of New Mexico's foster kids are in the care of relatives. Only four states have a higher percentage.
New Mexico Voices for Children executive director Veronica Garcia says the kinship care rate speaks to the state's cultural roots.
Improved foster care has been a focus of Gov. Susana Martinez since taking office in 2010.
Council Approves Contract For Independent Police Monitor - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque council members aren't blocking a $4.5 million contract that appoints James Ginger to independently oversee police force reforms for four years.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the council voted 6-2 Monday to acknowledge a court order to establish the monitor's office, but Councilor Don Harris said he thought it inappropriate that the man appointed to the task has yet to attend a meeting to answer questions.
The justice department reached the agreement with the city last year in light of a federal investigation that showed the Albuquerque Police Department had a pattern of using force and violating people's rights.
Las Cruces Police Updates Policy On Body Cameras - The Associated Press
Officials say 60 Las Cruces patrol officers will be getting body cameras after completing a mandatory training next month.
The police department recently announced that patrol officers will meet with representatives from Taser, the company that manufactures the cameras, to learn how to use the devices.
Las Cruces police recently revised a policy on recording devices, which was updated over the past year to include specific guidelines for video recordings. The policy, which underwent a "lengthy" approval process and was reviewed by police, city attorneys and outside law enforcement experts, went into effect on May 8.
Police spokesman Dan Trujillo says 12 traffic officers already use the cameras.
He says the department hopes to outfit all officers with body cameras soon.
State Police ID Man Who Was Fatally Shot By Ruidoso Police - The Associated Press
Authorities have identified a man who was fatally shot by Ruidoso police, but didn't release any information as to why the officers drew their guns.
New Mexico State Police say 27-year-old Timothy Jones was shot around 5 a.m. Sunday after officers were called to a home for an alleged domestic disturbance.
They say that during the course of the investigation of the disturbance, two Ruidoso police officers fired their duty weapons and Jones died at the scene.
Police have yet to say why the officers fired at Jones or whether he posed any sort of threat.
They say the officers are on standard administrative leave and the shooting is under investigation.
Police: 2 Middle School Students Poisoned By Other Students - The Associated Press and KOAT-TV
Two 14-year-olds were taken to the hospital after accepting a drink police say was spiked with lab chemicals by other students.
KOAT-TV reports that a girl and boy at Eagle Ridge Middle School in Rio Rancho were offered what appeared to be a blue sports drink by classmates. The girl was taken to the hospital after complaining to the school nurse about abdominal pain and nausea. The boy's parents took him to the hospital.
Rio Rancho police say two 14-year-old boys grabbed materials from one of the science labs and placed a mixture into the drink.
The girl's mother Anastasia Peralta says her daughter is in stable condition. She says doctors are running tests to find out what she ingested.
Police are looking into filing criminal charges.
New Mexico Personnel Office Make Dent In Pay-Back Case - The Associated Press
New Mexico's personnel office has issued more than 9,000 checks to state workers owed back pay under a 2013 court ruling, but officials say there are about 1,000 cases that still need to be sorted out.
The office cited the complicated nature of the remaining cases as the reason the process has taken longer than expected.
But union officials said Tuesday the state appears to be dragging its feet.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees estimates at least one-fifth of the $30 million settlement has yet to be paid. Spokesman Miles Conway says that money could be going into the pockets of New Mexico workers and then into the economy.
State officials offered no timeline for when the personnel office and its accounting contractor will finish issuing checks.
Ex-Comptroller Of Albuquerque Company Pleads Guilty To Fraud - The Associated Press
The former comptroller of an Albuquerque construction company has pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft charges.
Prosecutors say 40-year-old Stephanie Pyle, of Albuquerque, faces up to a 12-year prison term when she's sentenced and be required to pay restitution that currently is estimated at more than $2.4 million.
Pyle was charged in February on a 12-count indictment. She pleaded guilty to two counts Tuesday.
Prosecutors say Pyle faces up to a 10-year prison term on the credit card fraud charge and a mandatory two-year prison sentence on the aggravated identity theft charge, to be served consecutively.
They say Pyle used credit cards and account numbers in the name of a construction company without authorization and with the intent to defraud the business between January 2010 and May 2014.
New Mexico Men Plead Guilty To Defrauding Food Stamp Program - The Associated Press
Two New Mexico men have pleaded guilty to defrauding the federal food stamp program.
Federal prosecutors say 29-year-old Justin Quintana of Rio Rancho and 46-year-old Wilfredo Lopez of Albuquerque were among six defendants charged with defrauding the Food Stamp Program.
One of the six previously pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced earlier this year.
A 32-count indictment filed in August 2014 alleged that Quintana and Lopez conspired with others to defraud the program through the unauthorized use of food stamp benefits.
Under the terms of the plea agreements, Quintana and Lopez each face up to six months in prison when they are sentenced.
Both men also will be required to pay restitution.
Their sentencing hearings have yet to be scheduled.
Man Charged With Killing Another Inmate At Las Cruces Prison - The Associated Press
New Mexico State Police have filed murder charges against a man accused of killing another inmate at a Las Cruces prison last month.
They say Daniel Hood has been charged with first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon by a prisoner.
Authorities say Frank Pauline was found dead on April 27 in a remote section of the recreation yard at the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility.
State Police say they obtained evidence implicating Hood, who allegedly confessed to the murder.
They say Hood thought Pauline was a snitch and claimed Pauline walked around like he owned the prison.
The 42-year-old Pauline was transferred to the prison from Hawaii in December 2012.
Pauline was serving a 180-year sentence for the 1991 kidnapping, rape and murder of a woman in Hawaii.
