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TUES: Leaders Say 2020 Trade Forecast Is Rosy For New Mexico Port of Entry, + More

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
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Santa Teresa Port of Entry Primary Border Inspection Station

Leaders: 2020 Forecast Is Rosy For Border Trade With Mexico - Las Cruces Sun-News, Associated Press

Border trade leaders are expressing optimism for the 2020 trade forecast with Mexico especially at the busy Santa Teresa Port of Entry in New Mexico. 

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that's because port officials, which have long lacked the ability to process hazardous materials, expect that to change by the end of 2020. 

Adding a hazmat containment site could increase the port's volume of traffic by 20 percent – from 600 trucks per day to 720. 

Democratic U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico says governing the specifics of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement have been ironed out and the parties can move forward with a degree of certainty on border trade.

Santa Fe Police Department Ups Recruitment Efforts Amid Vacancies - Albuquerque Journal, Santa Fe New Mexican, KUNM News

The Santa Fe Police Department is strengthening its recruitment efforts with higher starting pay for new officers and increased incentives for lateral hires from other departments. 

The Albuquerque Journal reports SFPD Deputy Chief Ben Valdez says the agency currently has 28 vacant positions. In order to attract more cadets to the force, the department is increasing its hourly starting pay from $19.11 to $21.00. 

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Deputy Chief Valdez says SFPD is also raising its lateral hiring incentives from $5,000 to $15,000 in an effort to attract experienced officers from other police departments. Half of that will be paid upon hire with the second $7,500 paid out following a one-year probationary period. 

Despite few losses last year, in 2018 the department lost 10 officers to the Albuquerque Police Department, which had increased its recruitment efforts at the time.

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, these changes are in response to a review by the National Police Foundation, which found low pay to be one of several key factors in the department’s hiring challenges.

First Complaint Filed With New Mexico Ethics Commission - By Morgan Lee Associated Press

New Mexico's fledgling State Ethics Commission says it has received its first complaint without disclosing its contents or who it involves. 

The commission treats complaints as confidential until there is a finding of probable cause. That doesn't prevent people from going public with accusations that are submitted to the commission or rebuttals. 

The commission in January started to field complaints and requests for advisory opinions regarding campaign finances, government contracting, gifts from lobbyists, and more. 

Allegations of criminal conduct are referred to state or local prosecutors. 

The Albuquerque-based commission next meets in early April.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the creation of the commission in 2018.

New Mexico To Revisit Bonds For Oil And Gas Development By Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press

It was the 1970s when New Mexico last increased the amount of bond money that oil and gas companies are required to put up before drilling. 

As development continues at a record pace, State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard says it's time to take another look. 

Legislation that called for a study of the issue stalled during the recent session, but the State Land Office is moving ahead and will research bond levels over the next several months. 

Officials say the amount of bonding needed to assure that taxpayers aren't left paying for any clean-up and restoration after development is currently unknown.

FBI: Reward For Info Leading To Arrest In Red Rock Killing - Associated Press

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for the death of a Red Rock man last year.

They say 48-year-old James Naswood was found dead in the front passenger seat of a car on the Navajo Nation on Nov. 8.

Naswood was last seen alive the previous day.

FBI officials say the cause of death isn't being released at this time.

The federal agency is investigating the case along with the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety.