- DNA-RAPE ARREST-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico man charged with rape after authorities checked DNA evidence against a genealogy website has been ordered held pending trial. State District Court Judge Cindy Leos ruled Wednesday that Angel Gurule should remain behind bars even though he has no criminal history. She wrote that the violent nature of the attack, among other factors, led to her finding that no conditions of release could protect the safety of the community. Defense attorney Raymond Maestas had urged the judge to impose strict conditions of release, like GPS monitoring and a curfew.
- UNSALARIED LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico legislators could receive state salaries for the first time as the result of a newly proposed constitutional amendment. A legislative panel led by state Democratic Sen. Linda Lopez of Albuquerque endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment that would give the State Ethics Commission authority to set salaries for legislators and other elected state and county officials. New Mexico runs the only unsalaried Legislature in the nation, though members receive a $162 daily stipend during sessions and some money for gas. A watchdog group says that instituting salaries could help eliminate financial conflicts of interest between legislative duties and outside careers.
- TEACHER SHORTAGE
ESPANOLA, N.M. (AP) — A northern New Mexico school board says a statewide teacher shortage that is hitting the region especially hard is a "public health emergency." Española Public Schools made the assertion earlier this month about the dearth of qualified classroom teachers. The Albuquerque Journal reports the district urged Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to formally make that same declaration. A recent analysis by the Center for American Progress shows that, since 2010, enrollment in teacher prep programs declined by one-third nationwide. New Mexico, perpetually near the bottom in education rankings, is one of nine states that experienced a 50% enrollment drop.
- VIETNAM WAR-CANNON
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A western New Mexico city is acquiring a Vietnam War-era cannon from the U.S. Army for display in its downtown near the historic Route 66. The Gallup Independent reports the city council of Gallup, New Mexico, recently approved more than than $12,000 to pay the fees to acquire an M102 Howitzer cannon. City officials want to place it in front of the Veterans Memorial pillars in the Downtown Courthouse Plaza. Gallup resident JoAnn Benenati says she worried the cannon was more of a celebration of war rather than an homage to veterans.
- CHINA OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State University says its study abroad office will not be sending students to China amid a virus outbreak that has sickened thousands and killed more than 100. University spokeswoman Minerva Baumann told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the school will follow the U.S. State Department's travel warning of "reconsider travel" to China until further notice. Baumann says New Mexico State doesn't have any outbound students registered through Study Abroad who were planning to study in China this semester. The move comes after Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, announced that students studying abroad with the school's Shanghai international program will return home this week amid growing concerns of Wuhan coronavirus.
- ENERGY FUTURE-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court says a landmark energy law that moves the state toward more renewable energy must be applied as regulators consider plans by the state's largest electric utility to close a major coal-fired power plant. The court ruled Wednesday. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration had argued that the Energy Transition Act passed last year should apply to Public Service Co. of New Mexico's application to close the San Juan Generating Station. Questions were raised when regulators opted to consider a portion of the application as part of an ongoing case that was initiated before the law was enacted.
- CENSUS 2020-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico legislators are setting aside more money to promote participation in the U.S. Census. The state Senate on Wednesday voted 39-0 to assign $8 million to ensure residents are not left out of the population count that calibrates funding levels for federal programs. The state previously allocated $3.4 million to the effort. The census determines the allocation of $1.5 trillion in federal spending, and New Mexico officials estimate that a 1% undercount would cost the state more than $700 million in federal aid over a decade.
- JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER-CLOSURE
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Santa Fe County County commissioners have directed employees to close the county juvenile detention center, citing concerns about rising costs and a decrease in the detention population. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Tuesday that multiple members of the commission supported shutting down the Youth Development Program, but must inform the union that represents the facility workers. County officials say the number of juveniles held at the center has decreased from 357 in 2017 to 293 in 2019. Officials say the facility's closure would save the county nearly $1.8 million per year.