Barr Touts Crime-Fighting Effort In New Mexico – Associated Press
U.S. Attorney General William Barr and other federal officials say nearly 330 fugitives suspected of violent crimes have been arrested as part of a crime-fighting initiative in New Mexico.
Barr was in Albuquerque on Tuesday to highlight the results of Operation Triple Beam, a program that has been conducted in numerous U.S. cities and has led to hundreds of arrests.
The arrests in the Albuquerque area included several dozen state probation and parole absconders as well as fugitives wanted for homicide, assault, sex crimes and drug charges. More than 90 arrests were made in Santa Fe and Farmington.
Federal authorities also recovered 31 stolen vehicles and seized illegal firearms, drugs and $50,000 in cash.
Barr said the operation has been targeted at violent, gang-related crime in some of America's most dangerous cities.
Attorney General Barr Plans Visit To Tout Fugitive Arrests - Associated Press
U.S. Attorney General William Barr plans to promote a crime-fighting initiative Tuesday in New Mexico as the state struggles to curb some of the highest property and violent crime rates in the nation.
The Justice Department says Barr is joining U.S. Marshal Service Director Donald Washington and other federal authorities to announce the arrests of 300 fugitives suspected of violent crimes.
Authorities say the arrests resulted from Operation Triple Beam, a program that has been conducted in numerous cities and led to hundreds of arrests.
The New Mexico arrests resulted from a three-month operation.
Barr's visit follows revelations last week that he rebuffed President Donald Trump's request to hold a news conference declaring no laws were broken when the president pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate Democrats.
New Mexico Picks New Testing System For Young Students – Associated Press
New Mexico has selected a new annual testing system to assess academic progress from grades three through eight at public schools across the state.
Public Education Department Secretary Ryan Stewart announced Tuesday that the state has contracted with international nonprofit Cognia to provide basic math and language skills assessments, starting in spring 2020.
The prior testing system known as Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers provoked a backlash among many parents and educators. First-year Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called it high-pressure and counterproductive as she scrapped it.
The new student assessments involve up to six hours of test-taking by students. That's about three hours less than the prior system.
Stewart says the new assessments should be more meaningful and less burdensome on class instructional time.
Navajo Leader Says Tribe Won't Financially Back Energy Company - By Felicia Fonseca And Matthew Brown Undefined
The Navajo Nation president says the tribe will not financially back the bonds a tribal energy company needs for a trio of newly acquired coal mines off the reservation.
The Navajo Transitional Energy Co. recently bought Montana's largest coal mine and two others in Wyoming at auction after Cloud Peak Energy declared bankruptcy.
The three mines employ hundreds of people. State officials say the mines can keep operating for now because reclamation bonds posted by Cloud Peak remain in place. The bonds are estimated at more than $370 million.
Navajo President Jonathan Nez said Tuesday that he's canceled agreements the tribal company might rely on to seek the Navajo Nation's financial backing for the bonds.
Navajo Nation lawmakers had been considering legislation to do the same.
New Mexico City Calculates Costs Of Trump Campaign Rally – Associated Press
President Donald Trump's New Mexico rally cost the city of Rio Rancho nearly $240,000.
City officials said Tuesday they've finished calculating ancillary expenses related to the September event. Those included personnel costs, the closure of city offices and additional public safety resources in the area on the day of the event.
They aren't seeking reimbursement from the Trump campaign, saying the costs were necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of residents.
Rio Rancho City Manager David Campbell says the goal was to prevent damage to property and personal injuries, all while respecting the rights of rally participants and protesters.
The privately-managed Santa Ana Star Center, where the rally was held, billed the campaign more than $146,000 for hosting the event. The city says the campaign paid those expenses.
Woman Who Spoke At Epstein's Bail Hearing Sues His Estate – Associated Press
A woman who spoke out against Jeffrey Epstein at a July bail hearing is among three women who are suing his estate.
Annie Farmer filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Manhattan federal court. The lawsuit said Epstein touched her inappropriately after climbing into bed with her when she was 16. It said the attack occurred after Epstein flew her to his ranch in New Mexico in 1996.
Her sister, Maria Farmer, and an Ohio woman, Teresa Helm, also sued the estate Tuesday. All three lawsuits sought unspecified damages.
A message seeking comment was left with a lawyer for Epstein's estate.
Epstein killed himself in August in his cell at a federal lockup as he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Annie Farmer was one of two women to speak out against him in court.
Sen. Heinrich Taps Ex-Hispanic Center Head As Chief Of Staff - Associated Press
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich has named the former executive of the National Hispanic Cultural Center as his new chief of staff.
The New Mexico Democrat announced earlier this month that he appointed Rebecca Avitia, making her one of three Latino chiefs of staff serving in the Senate.
Avitia previously worked as Heinrich's state director.
The 37-year-old Columbia University School of Law graduate led the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque for six years. She was asked to resign last year by incoming New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Avitia opted not to reapply for her position.
The former prosecutor was credited with turning around the long-struggling center after years of mismanagement.
New Mexico Tribe To Get More Federal Disaster Help - Associated Press
Federal officials say a New Mexico tribe will see an increase in federal disaster aid as it continues to recover from flooding that occurred several years ago.
A significant portion of Santa Clara Pueblo's watershed was wiped out by wildfire in 2011 and the flooding that followed.
President Donald Trump recently authorized an increase in the level of funding for public projects undertaken as a result of flooding that occurred during the summer of 2012.
Under the disaster declaration issued for the state in August 2012, the federal share for public assistance was 75 percent of total eligible costs. Trump's order increases that to 90 percent for the pueblo.
The tribe is in the midst of rehabilitating the Santa Clara Creek and surrounding areas by building erosion-control structures and replanting.
Secrecy Shrouds Talks On New Mexico's Methane Emissions - Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has been outspoken about cracking down on methane emissions, but the advisory panel tasked with creating recommendations is meeting behind closed doors.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports even the time and place of the panel's meetings are kept private.
There have been no published agendas or meeting minutes on what the panel has discussed despite the political importance of the sessions.
Panel members and a spokesperson for the governor say that in addition to the meetings being largely technical, making them public would thwart frank discussion.
The panel includes industry representatives and environmental lawyers. None has talked about what has taken place at the meetings.
The state expects to hold public meetings on the panel's final report before the end of the year.
Release Of Suspect In Albuquerque Girl's Death Draws Protest – Associated Press
A judge's decision to release a defendant charged in the 2016 killing of a 10-year-old Albuquerque girl is drawing outrage.
More than a hundred people protested downtown Sunday over the pending release of Fabian Gonzales while he awaits trial.
Gonzales has been in jail for more than three years and faces a charge of child abuse resulting in death.
He was initially accused of raping and murdering Victoria Martens. But prosecutors since determined that he wasn't at the girl's apartment when she was killed.
His cousin, Jessica Kelley, pleaded no contest to the same charge and other offenses.
The girl's mother pleaded guilty to reckless child abuse resulting in death.
The Administrative Office of the Courts says prosecutors failed to show Gonzales would be a danger to the community.
Taxpayer Money, State Endorsement Fuels Meow Wolf Expansion – Associated Press
Arts and entertainment company Meow Wolf has been awarded more than a half-million dollars in state job-training funds.
The board of the New Mexico Job Training Incentive Program on Friday approved the $528,000 grant to the production arm of Meow Wolf as the Santa Fe-based startup plans new venues to Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix and Washington D.C.
Expansion efforts are anchored at a one-acre warehouse in New Mexico's state capital city. The tax-payer funded incentives support training for 26 new employees at Meow Wolf.
The Economic Development Department says previous job-training awards to Meow Wolf total $910,000.
Meow Wolf board member Vince Kadlubek says state incentives have helped the company reassure investors as it secures financing from the private sector and recruits entertainment executives to guide expansion.
Tech Startups To Compete In Hyperspace Challenge - Associated Press
More than a dozen small businesses will be gathering in New Mexico next week for the 2019 Hyperspace Challenge.
The Air Force and a business accelerator with ties to Central New Mexico Community College recently selected 14 finalists for this year's challenge.
The effort brings together technology startups and government innovators from around the country to collaborate and solve real-world problems facing the space industry.
Organizers say the space industry is a growing component of the economy and many entities are looking for ways to foster innovation and investment.
The finalists will participate in a three-day hyper-accelerator in Albuquerque. The startup with the most viable pitch will be awarded incentives and prize money to help establish acquisition or contracting opportunities with the government.
The startups will share their pitches during the Space Startup Summit on Nov. 20.
Albuquerque Police Investigate A Suspicious Item At Airport - Associated Press
Police say the terminal at Albuquerque International Sunport has been reopened after they investigated a suspicious item found at the airport.
Airport staff announced the closure of the terminal about 5 p.m. Monday and police announced it was being reopened two hours later.
Police say the department's bomb unit investigated the suspicious item, but no other information was immediately released.
Airport officials didn't immediately say how many flights were affected by the terminal closure.