Police: Teen Had A Weapon When He Was Shot - The Associated Press
New Mexico State Police confirm a teenager was armed when he was fatally shot by an Espanola police officer, but investigators aren't providing any details about the weapon.
State Police spokesman Lt. Emmanuel Gutierrez said Thursday the investigation into the shooting of 16-year-old Victor Villalpando is ongoing.
Authorities say two Espanola officers responded to a report Sunday of a suspicious person in a parking lot behind a shopping center and then made contact with Villalpando.
They say it was Villalpando who called 911 to report the suspicious person. He used a different name to make the call and claimed the suspicious person was armed with a gun and hitting himself.
Espanola Public Safety Director Eric Garcia says officers tried to talk the teen into putting down a gun. According to the officers, he had a knife as well.
NM Judges To Get Raise As Governor's Veto Overturned – Santa Fe New Mexican
Nearly 200 judges in New Mexico will receive a 5 percent pay raise despite a veto of the enabling legislation by Governor Susana Martinez. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports a makeshift state Supreme Court panel yesterday unanimously struck down the veto by Governor Martinez.
The state Legislature this year approved two budget provisions designed to give judges an 8 percent pay increase starting in July.
Martinez vetoed one section of the bill that specified a 3 percent pay increase, but she let stand a broader provision containing money to fund the remainder of the raises.
Two state senators and a group of judges filed a lawsuit challenging Martinez’s decision.
The New Mexican spoke with Ray Vargas, the lawyer who represented senators and judges who sued Martinez over her veto, saying the Supreme Court’s ruling was fair and well-reasoned. His side did not get the full 8 percent increase it wanted, but Vargas said he was satisfied.
Judge Lifts Meeting Ban For Albuquerque Protester – The Associated Press
A protester facing a battery charge can attend future Albuquerque city council meetings after all.
Metro Court Judge Cristina Jaramillo lifted a ban Tuesday that previously prevented David Correia from attending meetings.
Correia was arrested last week along with 12 others during a sit-in at the mayor's office. The demonstrators were protesting recent Albuquerque police shootings.
A judge banned Correia from returning to City Hall as part of his conditions of release.
Authorities said Correia shoved an officer who was trying to prevent a crowd from entering Mayor Richard Berry's office.
He faces a charge of battery on a peace officer and has pleaded not guilty.
Police Protesters, Albuquerque Hotel Staff Clash - The Associated Press
A protest outside of a hotel where Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden spoke got heated while Eden told business leaders he was committed to reforming his embattled department.
Demonstrators say a Hotel Albuquerque staff member shoved one protester yesterday and slapped down the cell phone from another during a picket.
Around two dozen demonstrators picketed to demand Eden resign and to call for immediate reforms within the Albuquerque police amid a pending U.S. Justice Department agreement over use of force.
A Hotel Albuquerque spokesman did not immediately return an email from The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Eden told the Economic Forum of Albuquerque that he took the chief job four months ago because he believed he could revamp the department.
Eden says he told his command staff if they weren't committed to reform they should retire.
NM Signs Agreement To Protect Fossils - The Associated Press
The state Land office and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science have reached an agreement aimed at protecting fossils found on state trust land.
The agreement was signed this week by Land Commissioner Ray Powell and the museum's executive director, Charlie Walter.
The museum will serve as the repository for scientifically valuable paleontological discoveries that are made on trust land. The museum will also help manage paleontological resources in the field by supervising some excavations.
Powell says fossils found on state lands range from trilobite skeletons and dinosaur tracks to a mammoth tooth and the remains of ancient camels, mastodons and horses.
Just this week, the tusk and skull of a prehistoric animal was discovered at Elephant Butte State Park. The site is being protected while the fossils are excavated.
Republicans Boost Hispanic Outreach In Southwest - The Associated Press
The Republican Party is expanding its Hispanic outreach in the Southwest.
The party today will announce it is hiring six new Hispanic outreach staffers in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.
It sees the region as potentially fertile soil as it tries to expand its appeal from its largely-Anglo base.
The southwest boasts two Hispanic Republican governors, in Nevada and New Mexico. But the region has trended Democratic during the Obama administration as increasing numbers of Hispanic voters are repelled by some Republicans' tough stance on immigration.
The GOP now has Hispanic outreach staffers in 10 states.
Taos Council Votes To Rename Kit Carson Park - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
A northern New Mexico town council has voted to change the name a park named after Kit Carson.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the Taos Town Council passed a resolution Tuesday to rename the downtown park Red Willow over concerns by critics that the famed scout was cruel to American Indians.
Carson, who died in in 1868, is buried in the cemetery at the park and his name is all over Taos. He largely is known as a famed explorer, trapper, soldier and American Indian agent.
But Carson was ordered by the U.S. Army to march around 8,000 Navajo men, women and children 300 miles from Arizona to Fort Sumner, N.M., on what's called the "Long Walk" — a brutal attempt to relocate Navajos from their land.
Representative Mary Helen Garcia Seeks Primary Recount - The Associated Press
Democratic Rep. Mary Helen Garcia of Las Cruces plans to seek a recount after official primary election returns showed her losing by 16 votes in a three-way contest. The Dona Ana County Commission certified election results Tuesday, with Bealquin Gomez of La Mesa winning with 410 votes. The outcome of the primary likely determines who holds the southern New Mexico legislative seat.
Roswell Boy, 9, Recovering After Dog Mauling - The Associated Press and Roswell Daily Record
Authorities say a 9-year-old boy in Roswell is in the hospital after being mauled by three dogs at a kennel.
The Roswell Daily Record reports that the Chaves County Sheriff's Office says the boy, the son of a Roswell police detective, was attacked Wednesday morning.
Lt. Mike Herrington says the dogs, which were pit bull mixes, somehow got out.
He says three dogs actually bit the boy before the child's father shot two of the animals.
Herrington says one dog died and a wounded one was euthanized. The other two are being quarantined.
The boy was taken to a local hospital before being airlifted to Lubbock, Texas for further medical care.
Authorities say the shelter is operated by a group called Doggy Saviors.
Hernandez Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery - The Associated Press
A Hernandez man has been sentenced to 3 ½ years in federal prison for robbing a bank in Espanola last year. Prosecutors say 35-year-old Stephen Gurule was arrested in October after allegedly robbing the Community Bank on Sept. 27. Gurule turned himself in to authorities a few days after the robbery and pleaded guilty in January.
Trout Fishing Derby Planned For Kids In Santa Fe - The Associated Press
Children can participate in a free fishing derby in Santa Fe sponsored by the city and the state Game and Fish Department.
Saturday's event runs from 7 a.m. until noon and is open to children under the age of 12, who don't require a fishing license.
There are prizes for the children catching the first 10 tagged fish.
Fishing will be allowed on a section of the Santa Fe River between Don Gaspar Avenue near the state Supreme Court building to Old Santa Fe Trail near the State Land Office building.
The department is stocking the river with 500 rainbow trout.
Anyone 12 or older with a valid fishing license can fish for trout remaining in the river after the derby ends.