Mining Proposal In Santa Fe National Forest Draws Opposition - Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
A proposed exploratory mining operation on Santa Fe National Forest land is drawing fierce opposition from some northern New Mexico residents.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports residents near the village of Pecos, New Mexico are vowing to take on mining outfits seeking to search for copper, zinc and gold on a 2-acre spread.
The Australian-based New World Cobalt and its American subsidiary, Comexico LLC, have put in a request to conduct exploratory mining operations on land near Tererro, New Mexico.
But Upper Pecos Watershed Association Vice President Lela McFerrin says residents are worried about the water quality coming out of the watershed.
New World Cobalt CEO and general manager Mike Haynes says "hysteria and misinformation" are clouding residents' perspective.
State officials are reviewing New World Cobalt's request.
Albuquerque Police Officer Fired For Using Unnecessary Force – Associated Press
The Albuquerque Police Department says an officer has been fired for using unnecessary force in an incident earlier this year.
The department announced Tuesday that findings of an investigation into alleged misconduct revealed Officer John Hill shoved a handcuffed suspect from behind and that caused the suspect to strike the wall head-first.
Police officials say the suspect wasn't resisting Hill at any point during the Feb. 17 encounter.
The findings were forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for review on March 19.
Following that review, Albuquerque police submitted a complaint/summons to Metro Court with a misdemeanor charge of battery.
Survey Shows Homeless Population Increase In Albuquerque – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
A count of Albuquerque's homeless population conducted on a single night earlier this year shows an increase of at least 200 people.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Monday that the Point-In-Time survey counted 1,524 sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in the city on Jan. 28, up from the 1,318 counted in 2017.
City Housing and Homelessness Deputy Director Lisa Huval says the survey is a "snapshot taken on one night," and it's likely an undercount.
She says part of the increase could be attributed to surveyors getting better at finding and counting unsheltered homeless people.
She says the survey uses a federal definition of homelessness, so people staying in motels that they pay for or those living with family or friends are not counted.
No. 4 House Democrat Says It's Time For Impeachment Inquiry – Associated Press
A member of the House Democratic leadership says it's time for an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.
Rep. Ben Ray Luján, the No. 4 Democrat, is now the highest-ranking member of the House to call for formal proceedings against Trump. He says in a statement that an inquiry would "hold this president accountable."
The New Mexico congressman, who's running for the Senate, cites findings in former special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Trump's lack of action to secure American elections from foreign interference. Luján says Trump is "abdicating" his responsibility and putting his own personal and political interests first.
The six-term lawmaker is the 121st House Democrat to call for the beginning of an inquiry, according to an Associated Press tally. That's a majority of the 235 Democrats.
Records Reveal Ex-Governor's Critics Settle Lawsuit For $145K - Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Records show the state of New Mexico settled a lawsuit with two critics of Gov. Susana Martinez for $145,000 after the couple was forced from their jobs.
The Albuquerque Journal reports newly released records show the New Mexico Risk Management Division agreed to pay Kathy and Tim Korte in August 2015 to drop their claims that Martinez administration officials violated their rights to free speech and free association.
The Kortes had said they had been victims of retaliation for Kathy Korte's protected political speech.
Kathy Korte was a former Albuquerque Public School board member and was critical of Martinez's educational policies.
Tim Korte was later fired as a Martinez administration public information officer.
Tim Korte is a former reporter with The Associated Press.
Parents Get Final Choice On Schools' Active Shooter Video - Associated Press
One of New Mexico's largest school districts will give parents the final say on whether their children can see an instructional video on strategies for staying alive and safe in an active shooter situation.
Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Veronica Garcia said Monday that families will be allowed to opt out of the video after some parents expressed concern about potentially traumatic effects of the training itself.
She says the video was posted on the school district website so that parents could review it first before children watch it.
It follows a "run, hide, fight" security strategy supported by a national police association and the Department of Homeland Security. Garcia said the Santa Fe school board shunned other videos that portray gunmen on school grounds and developed its own.
New Mexico On Pace For More Record Revenues Thanks To Oil – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
A new report says New Mexico is now on track to collect an unprecedented $7.8 billion in the budget year thanks to skyrocketing oil production.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the report says total state revenue collections were roughly $273 million above projected levels through April largely because of oil production in southeastern New Mexico.
The higher-than-expected revenue surge for the budget year that ended June 30 could allow for additional spending increases on public schools, roads, and other programs.
Legislative and executive economists will release new official revenue estimates at a legislative hearing in Red River later this month.
New Mexico was already expecting a $1.3 billion budget surplus for the fiscal year. The latest Legislative Finance Committee revenue tracking report suggests that the final surplus figure will likely end up being larger.
New Entry Crowds Democratic House Primary In New Mexico – Associated Press
Former Obama administration official and state elections regulator John Blair is running against a crowded Democratic field for the nomination to an open congressional seat in northern New Mexico in 2020.
Blair announced Monday that he'll seek the congressional seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, who is running for Senate.
The 45-year-old former deputy secretary of state is highlighting his upbringing in Santa Fe and prior work with U.S. Interior Department on regulations addressing climate change and new national monument designations.
Blair noted that he is openly gay and would be an advocate in Congress for LGBTQ rights as well as the human right of minorities and immigrants.
Blair says his campaign won't accept corporate money. He describes the Trump presidency as a "dumpster fire."
New Mexico Museum Of Space History Sued Over Artist's Work - Alamogordo Daily News, Associated Press
The New Mexico Museum of Space History is being sued for breach of contract by an artist whose merchandise was sold in the museum's gift shop.
The Alamogordo Daily News reports a state lawsuit recently filed by Krystal Wood-Kofonow says the artist never received her final payment and the disputed merchandise allegedly continued to be sold.
Wood-Kofonow made items such as key chains, postcards, T-shirts and more with her Planet Cheese and Invasion of Planet Earth artwork.
The lawsuit names the New Mexico Museum of Space History and International Space Hall of Fame Foundation as defendants.
Museum Division Director Chris Orwoll says the museum does not comment on pending litigation.
Report Finds 6 Million Acres Of State Lands In West Inaccessible – Associated Press
Public land advocates say more than 6 million acres of state property scattered across 11 Western states are landlocked by private property and largely inaccessible to recreational users.
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and onX, a Montana-based land data company, released a report Monday that details the extent of state-owned parcels lacking permanent public access.
New Mexico, Montana, Arizona and Wyoming each have more than 1 million acres of state lands surrounded by private property. Nevada has the least amount with less than 1,000 acres landlocked.
Surrounding landowners sometimes offer access to landlocked parcels through cooperative programs with state wildlife agencies. But Joel Webster with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership says there's no guarantee those programs will continue.