Lujan Grisham Appoints 5 To University Of New Mexico Regents – Associated Press
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is making appointments to fill five seats on the University of New Mexico Board of Regents.
Lujan Grisham's appointments announced Saturday include businesswoman Kimberly Sanchez Rael and UNM law Professor Emeritus Robert Schwartz for six-year terms, former Regents Sandra K. Begay and Douglas M. Brown for four-year term and student Melissa C. Henry to a two-year term.
The appointments are subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
Lujan Grisham as governor-elect in December announced creation of advisory committees to make recommendations for regents appointments after interviewing prospective candidates and checking the background of each.
330 Migrants Apprehended At Remote US Border Post – Associated Press
Another large group of migrants are in custody after showing up at a remote border crossing in southwestern New Mexico.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the 330 Central Americans were apprehended early Monday at the Antelope Wells port of entry, 122 miles west of El Paso, Texas.
This marks the second large group to be arrested near the port in less than a week. On Friday, agents arrested 290 Central Americans who entered the country illegally.
The latest group arrived as President Donald Trump was preparing to hold a rally in El Paso as the fight over border security and immigration policy looms.
In all, CBP said 28 groups of more than 100 people have been apprehended in the area since Oct. 1. The groups have included families and unaccompanied juveniles.
Work Begins On Ground Rules For Ethics Board In New Mexico – Associated Press
New Mexico lawmakers are moving forward with the creation of an independent ethics commission to evaluate complaints and questions about the conduct of elected officials, public employees, lobbyists and others.
A bill filed by Democratic Rep. Daymon Ely on Monday sets out procedures for the commission to follow as it evaluates ethics complaints.
Voters overwhelmingly authorized the creation of the seven-member commission last year in a statewide vote but left many details up to future legislation.
Ely says the bill aims to encourage people to file ethics complaints and also provide due process protections for those accused of ethical violations.
He says the commission will consider whether a complaint is frivolous before making it public, but will not prevent accusers or the accused from speaking publicly on allegations.
Las Cruces Diocese Releases Accused Priests' Personnel Files – Associated Press
Thousands of pages of documents that include the personnel files of more than two dozen priests who face credible allegations of sexually abusing children have been turned over to the New Mexico attorney general's office, the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces said Monday.
Diocese officials also identified 13 other priests who have been the subject of credible allegations while serving in other dioceses.
Bishop Gerald Kicanas said the documents were released following a review of personnel files and archives of clergy and staff that are held by the diocese. While some information was redacted due to privacy concerns, he said the move is part of the diocese's efforts to address past mistakes.
Kicanas apologized to those who have been hurt over the years and those whose complaints were ignored, but he said church officials have to go beyond apologies and "demonstrate our resolve in measurable ways."
Las Cruces Diocese Releases Accused Priests' Personnel Files – Associated Press
The Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces is releasing thousands of pages of files involving 28 priests who face credible allegations of sexually abusing children.
The diocese said Thursday that it has voluntarily shared personnel files with the New Mexico attorney general's office.
Diocese officials also identified 13 other priests who have been the subject of credible allegations while serving in another diocese.
Bishop Gerald Kicanas plans to address the matter at a 9 a.m. news conference in Las Cruces.
The New Mexico attorney general's office said in September it wanted Roman Catholic church officials around the state to allow it to review personnel records for any material that might be related to past or present allegations of sexual abuse.
The Las Cruces Diocese then in November released the priests' names.
Trump Tries To Turn Border Debate His Way With El Paso Rally - By Zeke Miller, Associated Press
President Donald Trump is trying to turn the debate over a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border back to his political advantage as his signature pledge to American voters threatens to become a model of unfulfilled promises.
Trump will hold his first campaign rally since November's midterm elections in El Paso, Texas, on Monday night. It begins a defining weak for his push to build a border wall, one that could impact his presidency and his prospects for re-election. The dispute over funding is threatening to spark another government shutdown.
In El Paso, a protest march is scheduled at the same time as Trump's rally. Joining the march is the former congressman from the area, Beto O'Rourke, a Democratic star and a possible candidate for president.
New Mexico AG Wants Ex-Priest In Jail Before Rape Trial – Associated Press
Prosecutors are seeking to keep in jail a former Catholic priest arrested last week for kidnapping and raping a 6-year-old boy in the 1980s.
The New Mexico Attorney General's Office filed a motion Monday to hold Marvin Archuleta until his trial for kidnapping and rape charges.
The 81-year-old Archuleta made his first court appearance Monday after he was arrested Friday in Albuquerque.
According to court documents, Archuleta raped a 6-year-old boy attending the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Santa Cruz, New Mexico, during the mid-1980s. Documents say Archuleta raped the boy while wrapping a belt around the child's chest.
Prosecutors say Archuleta fled to Mexico after he was sued for sexual abuse but returned to New Mexico later.
Archuleta has not hired an attorney.
Volaris To Offer Flight From Albuquerque To Chihuahua - Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Volaris Airlines has announced it will offer a non-stop flight from the Albuquerque International Sunport to Chihuahua, Mexico, beginning in June.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the Mexico-based low-cost airline will offer flights Tuesdays and Thursdays from both cities.
Volaris began service between Albuquerque and Guadalajara, Mexico, in November, the first international service from the Sunport since AeroMexico ended service to Chihuahua City in 2009.
The airline offers more than 173 routes to 69 airports in Mexico, the U.S., Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
Reies Lopez Tijerina Subject Of Spanish-language Film - Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
Reies Lopez Tijerina, a Pentecostal preacher turned activist who led a violent raid of a northern New Mexico courthouse more than 50 years ago, is the subject of a new documentary.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reportsMexican director Angel Estrada Soto's Spanish-language film, "They Called Me King Tiger," will be shown in New Mexico for the first time Friday.
Estrada Soto said he became fascinated by the way Tijerina described the divine inspiration for his activism.
He interviewed associates to find out how the Texas-born Tijerina rose from poverty to become a key figure in the Chicano Movement.
In 1967, Tijerina and followers raided the courthouse in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico, to attempt a citizen's arrest of the district attorney. The group shot and wounded a state police officer and jailer.
Koch-Funded Group Sending 'DREAMers' To Lobby Congress - Associated Press
A Koch brothers-funded group is sending young immigrants to lobby Congress to push for immigration reform and money for border security initiatives.
The LIBRE Initiative announced last week it is sending immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally who now have temporary protective status to Washington to meet with lawmakers.
The group says it's sending immigrants from states like New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah to urge Congress to find a permanent solution.
The young immigrants are expected to share their stories and ask lawmakers for a bipartisan compromise.
Congress and President Donald Trump are locked in negotiations over funding for a border wall and avoiding another partial government shutdown.
Carlsbad Continues To Fight Illegal Dumping, Seeks State Aid - Carlsbad Current-Argus, Associated Press
A New Mexico city known for its breathtaking caverns is struggling with illegal dumping.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports the city of Carlsbad is seeking state help to purchase large disposal containers to give potential illegal dumpers options.
Keep Carlsbad Beautiful Director Mary Garwood said Carlsbad receives an average of 40 instances of illegal dumping in a month within the city limits.
Carlsbad Utilities Director Ron Myers says solid waste crews continue to pick up "anything and everything" that's dumped illegally in the city.
Volunteers removed 2.83 tons of trash from Carlsbad's most scenic areas last year during a community cleanup known as Riverblitz.
The year before, nearly four tons were removed.
Garwood says she can't understand why people litter on the picturesque landscapes around Carlsbad.
Santa Fe Also Seeing Benefits Of Good Ski Season - Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
Snow this winter is helping the peaks above Santa Fe, and those ski tourist dollars are trickling into town.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reportsSanta Fe ski shops, hotels and restaurants report booming business like they haven't seen in years.
Cottam's Ski Shop manager Kale Snider says this season so far is the second biggest year the shop has had.
And Ski-Tech Santa Fe manager Jonah Boudreau says the area has seen the best snow since 1998 and the most tourists he's ever seen.
Snider says Ski Santa Fe has a snow base of 57 inches and snowfall of 140 inches.