New Mexico Officers To Face Second Degree Murder Charges – The Associated Press
Two New Mexico police officers will face second-degree murder charges in last year's shooting death of a homeless man near a tent in the mountains where he had been camping.
Special Prosecutor Randi McGinn's office said Monday it will pursue charges against Keith Sandy and Dominique Perez that could land each officer 15 years in prison.
Both officers have denied wrongdoing in the case.
James Boyd's death sparked angry demonstrations around Albuquerque, with protesters calling for reforms following several police shootings.
Authorities later said Boyd was schizophrenic and hadn't received proper treatment. He was shot during a March 2014 standoff in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains.
Video of the shooting showed Boyd appearing to surrender before Perez and Sandy opened fire.
National Security Laboratory Selects First Woman As Director – The Associated Press
The largest U.S. national security research and development laboratory is poised to have a woman run its operations for the first time.
Jill Hruby will become the president and director of Sandia National Laboratories next month.
With main facilities in Albuquerque and Livermore, California, Sandia's responsibilities cover nuclear weapons, energy and environmental technologies, and economic competitiveness.
Hruby most recently served as a vice president overseeing Sandia's efforts in nuclear, biological and chemical security.
She will begin July 17, replacing Paul Hommert, who announced his retirement recently.
The laboratory is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp. and a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
Martinez's Most Recent Mexico Trips Cost More Than $17,000 – The Associated Press
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez since taking office has been on numerous trips across the border to meet with officials in neighboring Mexican states.
Three trips taken in just the past year cost taxpayers more than $17,000, but her office says the visits to Sonora and Chihuahua are part of a larger effort to turn the region into an international economic hub.
New Mexico's exports to Mexico nearly doubled in 2014 to $1.55 billion, marking another record-setting year. The state also is leading the U.S. in terms of export growth to Mexico.
In Santa Teresa, officials say they've nearly run out of space at their industrial parks.
The competition might be heating up. Gov. Doug Ducey in neighboring Arizona just wrapped up a trip to Mexico City where he met with executives from major Mexican companies.
Bid To Limit Police Oversight Board's Powers Losing Steam – The Associated Press
Two Albuquerque city councilors have pulled their support of a proposal to limit the powers of a civilian oversight board that was created in response to a federal investigation showing Albuquerque police had a pattern of using excessive force and violating people's rights.
Councilors Brad Winter and Rey Garduño had proposed limiting the board's powers in the wake of a lawsuit by a police union that alleged the board's level of access to certain documents violated its contract. Winter and Garduño made the proposal in an effort to resolve the lawsuit.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the proposal has lost steam after Winter and Garduño withdrew as its sponsors Friday.
Garduño says the proposed changes to the oversight board weren't enough to satisfy the union.
Last Of Atari Games To Go Up For Auction On eBay – The Associated Press & The Alamogordo Daily News
The last batch of Atari game cartridges dug up in an Alamogordo landfill will be going up for auction.
The Alamogordo Daily News reports that 150 remaining games and they will be put on eBay in 30-40 increments until the last one is sold.
The games up for bid include "Warlords," ''Asteroids" and "Super Breakout."
Joe Lewandowski, a consultant for the film companies that documented the dig, says some "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" cartridges and other titles will be kept off until the very end.
More than 700 games have been sold around the U.S. and abroad, bringing in thousands of dollars to Alamogordo.
One of the "E.T." game cartridges was added to the Smithsonian's video game history collection.
Searchers Find Body Of Missing Ex-White House Chef – The Associated Press
Authorities say searchers have found the body of a former White House chef who had been missing for more than a week after going hiking in the New Mexico mountains.
The New Mexico State Patrol says the body of 61-year-old Walter Scheib was found Sunday night near a hiking trail in mountains in the Taos area.
The police statement did not provide a cause of death or any other details about the discovery of the body.
Scheib recently moved to New Mexico. He served as White House chef for 11 years under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush
Police say he reportedly went for a hike June 13 in the mountains near the Taos Ski Valley. His girlfriend reported him missing the next day.
Taos police found his vehicle Tuesday parked at a canyon trailhead.
Registration For Navajo Language Referendum Closes Monday - The Associated Press
Navajos who want a say in changing the language requirements for anyone seeking the tribe's top two posts have until the close of business Monday to register to vote.
The tribe is holding a referendum election on July 21.
Voters will be asked if they want to determine whether candidates for president and vice president speak and understand Navajo and English well enough to hold office. They currently are required to speak fluent Navajo.
Tribal lawmakers approved the referendum after a presidential hopeful was disqualified last year for failing to prove he met that requirement.
Anyone who voted in the past two reservation-wide elections is not required to register again as long as their voting information hasn't changed.
Monday also marks the start of early voting.
No ID Yet On Body Of Man Found In Chaves County Near Creek - The Associated Press and Roswell Daily Record
Authorities in Chaves County say a man whose body was found lying next to a pickup truck was not a victim of homicide.
The Roswell Daily Record reported Sunday that the Chavez County Sheriff's Office said there is no evidence that man's death involved foul play.
Sheriff Lt. Mike Herrington says deputies conducting a welfare check Friday found the partially decomposed body along Berrendo Creek.
Herrington says a dog was also found dead inside the nearby truck.
The Office of the Medical Investigator will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Herrington says the medical investigator is also waiting on dental and medical records to obtain a positive ID.
New Mexico Fiesta Queen Dethroned For Disparaging Town - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
A northern New Mexico fiesta queen, who sparked a furor over disparaging comments made about her mother's crime-ridden town, has been ousted from her throne.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the executive council of the Fiesta Council stripped 24-year-old Angelina Vigil of her crown late Saturday.
Officials said on the Espanola Valley Fiesta's Facebook page that there will be no "La Reina" at this year's festivities.
Vigil created a backlash when she attacked Espanola on Facebook, saying she hated visiting the city after her mother's home was burglarized and the crown was stolen last week. She later apologized.
Police recovered the crown and scepter last week and arrested two people in the theft.
Vigil did not comment but thanked supporters on her Facebook page.
The Espanola Valley's annual fiestas celebrate the region's Spanish roots.
Santa Fe Teachers, Staff See Merit-Based Bump In Paychecks - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican
Santa Fe public school teachers and staff are expected to get nearly $5 million in bonuses as part of a pilot program that some of them have criticized.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Santa Fe Public Schools are getting the payments as part of a merit-based system approved by lawmakers last year.
Some teachers had opposed the program, arguing it placed too much focus on state standardized tests when gauging a teacher's success.
Nearly 900 teachers, administrators and other staff opted into the incentive program while 27 declined.
Some of those who joined say despite their criticism, they simply could not afford to pass up the money.
Teachers have received bonuses range from more than $100 to more than $10,000.
'American Idol' To Audition Singing Hopefuls In Santa Fe - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican
Singing competition "American Idol" will hold one of its last auditions in Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the Fox network reality show is having auditions Friday at the Santa Fe Railyard.
City Parks and Recreation Department director Rob Carter says the Railyard is the best location.
Carter says there's space to park the show's bus and the facility can accommodate if hundreds of people line up to try out.
Railyard officials say they have been working with "Idol" crews for six weeks on security and parking logistics.
Auditions will go from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"Idol" is now heading into its 15th and final season.
Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry ConnickJr. are set to return as judges.
