- SCHOOL DISTRICT-LEGAL FIGHT
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A southern New Mexico school district now headed by the recently fired state secretary of education may face a legal fight from its former superintendent.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports the Las Cruces Public Schools recently released an unredacted resignation letter from outgoing Superintendent Greg Ewing that signaled he intended to file a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission.
Ewing's attorney alleges in the letter that a school board member created a "hostile work environment."
The school district declined to comment.
Ewing submitted his resignation via letter dated Aug. 9 amid infighting with school board members.
The board later appointed Karen Trujillo as the district's interim superintendent. She was fired six months into her job as public education secretary by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
- BEER CAN CONVENTION
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of collectors of beer cans are coming to New Mexico for a "CANvention."
The Albuquerque Journal reports the Brewery Collectibles Club of America is scheduled Thursday to begin their three-day national gathering at the Albuquerque Convention Center celebrating different types of beer cans.
The club says the event attracts collectors from around the world who come to trade, buy and sell vintage or craft beer cans. In addition, the club says the gathering is a chance for attendees to taste beer from local brewers in Albuquerque.
The annual gathering began after collector Denver Wright, Jr., in October 1969 placed an ad in a St. Louis newspaper asking anyone who collected beer cans to contact him.
Six collectors responded and they held an event in Denver months later.
- RIDE-SHARE SHOOTING
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico judge has ruled the case against a ride-share driver accused of fatally shooting a passenger earlier this year will move forward on a single count of voluntary manslaughter.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, prosecutors asked Judge Neil Candelaria to find probable cause to support a second-degree murder prosecution against driver Clayton Benedict.
But the Candelaria says the evidence only supported a voluntary manslaughter charge.
Albuquerque police have said the shooting happened March 17 after Benedict picked up 27-year-old Porter and a friend and an altercation broke out along Interstate 25.
Benedict's attorney argued Monday that his client acted in self-defense.
The Journal says Benedict could face up to seven years in prison if convicted of voluntary manslaughter.
- NEW MEXICO ENERGY FUTURE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Several environmental and consumer advocacy groups are challenging New Mexico's new landmark energy law.
The groups filed a petition with the New Mexico Supreme Court on Monday, arguing that provisions within the law signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham earlier this year erode the state's ability to regulate utilities and put electric customers at risk of paying unchecked costs.
Aside from mandating emissions-free electricity by 2045, the law charts a course for the closure of the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station by 2022. It includes a financing mechanism aimed at easing the economic consequences of closing the power plant.
Mariel Nanasi with New Energy Economy says the groups support renewable energy but that regulatory oversight will be important as New Mexico's electricity market evolves over the next two decades.
- CENSUS-NEW MEXICO
ISLETA PUEBLO, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico officials are pulling out all the stops to encourage 2020 Census participation.
At a conference Monday at Isleta Pueblo, state officials said they want to overcome roadblocks that have made the rural Southwest state's Native American and Hispanic populations among the toughest in the nation to count.
New Mexico stands to lose millions of dollars in federal funding without a complete count of its population.
Outreach efforts to boost participation include promotional recordings in Native American languages, and outreach to military veterans and oilfield workers who live in temporary "man camps."
Still, state officials and nonprofit leaders acknowledge that limited broadband access in certain areas and distrust of the government among minority communities present significant challenges.
Federal officials are planning to place emphasis on telephone and online questionnaires.
- IMMIGRATION-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An Arizona-based company plagued by abuse and mistreatment allegations is planning on opening an Albuquerque facility to house migrant teens.
An email recently sent to some Albuquerque residents said VisionQuest will shelter up to 60 minors who entered the U.S. illegally without their parents. The planned facility awarded by a federal contract would be located along the city's historic Route 66 near the University of New Mexico's main campus.
The letter signed by Michael Vos of the Albuquerque consulting firm says VisionQuest will shelter boys from ages 11 to 17 for up to 90 days.
VisionQuest spokeswoman Amanda Burton confirmed to the Albuquerque Journal the company plans to open the Sam Mahan Center in January.
VisionQuest has faces allegations of mistreatment dating back to 1987.
- NEW MEXICO SETTLEMENTS
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The state of New Mexico is acknowledging it paid out $900,000 to settle a lawsuit accusing former State Police chief Pete Kassetas of discriminatory and lewd behavior along with retaliation against those who complained.
The General Services Department on Monday released financial terms of a settlement agreed upon in December 2018 during the final weeks of the administration of Gov. Susana Martinez.
The lawsuit was filed by former Deputy Chief Michael Ryan Suggs, Lt. Julia Armendariz and Sgt. Monica Martinez-Jones. It described distress and mental anguish from a hostile work environment.
Allegations against Kassetas include instances in which pulled down his pants and showed his behind to staff after drinking on the job and sending a deputy Cabinet secretary a picture of a man's testicles.
- HOBBS-FATAL SHOOTING
HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — Hobbs police have arrested a man allegedly involved in a shooting at a party that left three people dead and four others wounded.
Authorities said in a news release that 19-year-old Bishop Henderson was arrested Sunday after investigators learned of his involvement in the shooting.
Henderson was booked on one count of aggravated battery but could face additional charges.
Police did not say whether there were other suspects.
The shooting erupted just before 1 a.m. Sunday at a house party.
Responding officers found 18-year-old Khalil Carter of Hobbs, 24-year-old Kristal Avena of Hobbs and 22-year-old Lamar Lee Kane Jr. of Washington, D.C., dead at the scene.
Four others were taken to a hospital. One has since been treated and released. The others were later flown to hospitals in Lubbock, Texas.