- ZUNI-TEACHER HOUSING
ZUNI PUEBLO, N.M. (AP) — Housing units designed for teachers to alleviate a teacher shortage on a Native American pueblo in western New Mexico are posing hazards and are in dire need of repairs. The Gallup Independent reports that teacher housing on Zuni Pueblo have poor foundations, lack of erosion control mechanisms, and need updated pipes. The Zuni Public School District has a total of 86 homes for teachers in its inventory. These homes include 36 houses built north of Zuni High School in 2002 by an Albuquerque company that installed overhead plumbing with little to no insulation. The structures were built without taking into consideration Zuni Pueblo's particular needs and location.
- FAKE DEPUTY-PROBE
ARTESIA, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a person posing as a deputy in southeastern New Mexico scammed a resident out of hundreds of dollars. The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports the Eddy County Sheriff's Office is warning residents and urging them to contact authorities if they get suspicious. According to detectives, a victim reported losing hundreds of dollars to a person posing as an Eddy County Sheriff's Deputy on Jan. 30. Deputies say the impostor used the name of a deputy employed by the office while concealing their identity.
- GUNS-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A red-flag gun bill in New Mexico has been revised to allow only law enforcement officials and not family members to petition for guns to be denied temporarily to people who pose an apparent danger to themselves or others. Bill sponsor Sen. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces introduced extensive bill changes in response to concerns about due process rights for gun owners and worries that law enforcement officials might be thrust unnecessarily into danger. Rural sheriffs are still wary of the proposal. A Senate panel on judicial affairs endorsed the bill on a 6-5 vote, with unified Republican opposition.
- EARLY EDUCATION FUND-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The state Senate has endorsed the creation of a trust fund to underwrite early childhood education and services with future investment returns. The Senate passed the bill Wednesday on 40-0 vote. A companion House bill has yet to reach a vote. The initiative would set aside $320 million to generate revenue for a variety of early childhood program. Democratic Sen. John Arthur Smith of Deming said the goal is to establish a stable and enduring source of revenue. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham backs the plan.
- STATE BUDGET-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The state House of Representatives have approved a budget plan to increase annual state spending by more than a half-billion dollars to expand early childhood education programs, boost teacher salaries and shore up health care for the poor. The House voted 46-24 along party lines with Democrats in support of the $7.6 billion general fund spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The bill now moves to the Senate. Republicans warned that the 7.5% spending boost is unsustainable and could lead to future furloughs and cuts in government services. State economists are forecasting an $800 million surplus in state government income linked to booming oil production.
- SECRET SETTLEMENTS-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State and local prosecutors are reviewing the results of a special audit about secretive financial settlements under the past administration of New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez that were used to resolve human rights complaints and other legal claims against public officials. State Auditor Brian Colón told a Senate committee that his agency forwarded audit documents for possible criminal investigation to the office of the state attorney general and Santa Fe-based district attorney's office, as well as the newly founded State Ethics Commission that handles noncriminal complaints. Martinez says she was not involved in state settlement decisions.
- COWBOYS FOR TRUMP-PROBE
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP) — The group known as Cowboys for Trump is seeking arbitration in a fight with the New Mexico Secretary of State over fines and required reports. The Alamogordo Daily News reports the arbitration request says Cowboys for Trump is protesting the requirements because it argues campaign finance laws violate free speech. Organizers say the group is a for-profit organization. Last year, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver sent a letter to the group and said the organization falls under the definition of a political committee and must hire a treasurer and file biannual reports.
- FORMER PRIEST ACQUITTED
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A jury has acquitted a former priest of charges he sexually abused a first-grade student more than 30 years ago. Marvin Archuleta was cleared of criminal sexual penetration of a child under 13 and attempting to commit kidnapping. Prosecutors say Archuleta was assigned to the Holy Cross Catholic School, but his defense attorney argued that he was not in New Mexico at the time of the alleged assault during the 1986-87 school year. Archuleta declined to comment. His attorney says the evidence was clear Archuleta was not in the state.