ELECTION 2020-NEW MEXICO-SENATE
Key Democratic New Mexico senator won't seek re-election
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Sen. John Sapien, a key moderate Democratic senator who represents a swing district outside of Albuquerque, says he will not run for re-election. Sapien told The Associated Press on Sunday he concluded during the current legislative session that it was time to retire as a state lawmaker. The insurance salesman and financial adviser says he's entertaining new career opportunities. Sapien has represented for 12 years a district that includes poor Bernalillo, affluent liberal areas of Placitas and Corrales, and part of conservative Rio Rancho. Democrats hold a 26-16 edge over Republicans in the New Mexico Senate.
GALLUP DIOCESE-SCHOOL
Diocese of Gallup to sell historic school property in uproar
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — The Diocese of Gallup has announced it will sell the property of the historic Sacred Heart School to a secular charter school. The Gallup Independent reports word of the pending sale recently stunned school officials and parents amid concerns about a conflict of interest. Sacred Heart School interim principal Amy Jo Mulvaney says she was caught off guard when Aequitas Education and Hozho Academy representatives toured the school late January. The representatives said they were purchasing the campus. Gallup attorney Patrick T. Mason led the Aequitas and Hozho group. He is also the attorney for the Diocese of Gallup.
BOSS ATTACK
Report: New Mexico ex-mall employee knocked out former boss
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A former mall employee in northwestern New Mexico is facing charges after authorities say he knocked out his former boss and broke his nose. Court documents show that Justin Nachreiner is scheduled Wednesday to appear before a magistrate judge in Farmington, New Mexico, on aggravated battery. According to an arrest warrant, the 24-year-old Nachreiner attacked Journey shoe sore manager Cameron Tadeo last month after he fired Nachreiner. Other employees say Tadeo had sent a group message to employees to pick up their checks. Witnesses say Nachreiner was angry when he arrived and left after they heard a loud noise. Employees say they found Tadeo unconscious and bleeding from his nose. Nachreiner is being held without bond.
SANTA FE-LOS ANGELES FLIGHTS
Santa Fe officials want daily flights to LA amid film boom
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Economic development officials are seeking the return of daily flights between Santa Fe and Los Angeles to support the ongoing growth of film production in New Mexico's capital city. The Albuquerque Journal reported that the officials said such flights would have a significant impact on the economy of northern New Mexico. American Airlines is set to temporarily restore weekly direct flights to Santa Fe Regional Airport. The flights beginning April 11 are currently scheduled on Saturdays only, meaning round-trip passengers would have to stay a week if they wanted a nonstop flight. The airline plans to maintain the Saturday schedule through Oct. 24.
PENAL REFORMS-SETTLEMENT
Judge approves penal reform settlement in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A judge has given final approval to a settlement ending a 40-year-old civil case that forced significant penal reforms in New Mexico. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Friday that U.S. Magistrate Judge Kirtan Khalsa approved Friday an agreement that would end the Duran Consent Decree if the state complies with certain requirements. The settlement says those requirements include moving about 300 inmates from overcrowded prisons to those with more capacity, requiring regular exterminator visits, prohibiting punishment for reporting sexual misconduct and banning facilities from operating at 120% of their capacity. Corrections Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero did not respond to a request seeking comment Friday.
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT-NEW MEXICO
Former prosecutor appointed to New Mexico Court of Appeals
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A former state and federal prosecutor now in private practice in Albuquerque will be the newest judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office announced Friday her appointment of Shammara Haley Henderson to fill a vacancy created by the Jan. 31 retirement of Judge M. Monica Zamora. A statement issued by the governor's office said Henderson is the first African-American to be appointed to the state Court of Appeals, according to Aja Brooks, president of the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association.
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Lawmaker wants to address violence directed at Native women
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Native American women face a murder rate that is more than 10 times the national average, and a Utah lawmaker wants to address the violence. The Daily Herald in Provo reports Democratic state Rep. Angela Romero said her top priority this year is her proposal to create a task force aimed at studying violence against indigenous women. Those crimes can be particularly challenging to investigate because they often involve many different agencies. The task force would report to lawmakers about what gaps exist and create a road map to prevent and address future violence. The Navajo Nation stretches across Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.
GUNS AT SCHOOL-TEEN ARRESTED
Teen arrested at Albuquerque high school with 2 loaded guns
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a 16-year-old boy was arrested after being found with two loaded guns on the campus of his Albuquerque high school. The sophomore at Atrisco Heritage Academy was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises and unlawful carrying of a handgun by a person under age 19, officials said. The Associated Press is not publishing the boy's name because the AP generally does not identify juvenile crime defendants for privacy reasons. The boy was arrested after authorities received an anonymous tip about Snapchat videos showing guns and drugs and of a gun being fired out of a car window. The boy was released pending trial under conditions that include drug testing.
Key Democratic New Mexico senator won't seek re-election
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Sen. John Sapien, a key moderate Democratic senator who represents a swing district outside of Albuquerque, says he will not run for re-election. Sapien told The Associated Press on Sunday he concluded during the current legislative session that it was time to retire as a state lawmaker. The insurance salesman and financial adviser says he's entertaining new career opportunities. Sapien has represented for 12 years a district that includes poor Bernalillo, affluent liberal areas of Placitas and Corrales, and part of conservative Rio Rancho. Democrats hold a 26-16 edge over Republicans in the New Mexico Senate.
GALLUP DIOCESE-SCHOOL
Diocese of Gallup to sell historic school property in uproar
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — The Diocese of Gallup has announced it will sell the property of the historic Sacred Heart School to a secular charter school. The Gallup Independent reports word of the pending sale recently stunned school officials and parents amid concerns about a conflict of interest. Sacred Heart School interim principal Amy Jo Mulvaney says she was caught off guard when Aequitas Education and Hozho Academy representatives toured the school late January. The representatives said they were purchasing the campus. Gallup attorney Patrick T. Mason led the Aequitas and Hozho group. He is also the attorney for the Diocese of Gallup.
BOSS ATTACK
Report: New Mexico ex-mall employee knocked out former boss
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A former mall employee in northwestern New Mexico is facing charges after authorities say he knocked out his former boss and broke his nose. Court documents show that Justin Nachreiner is scheduled Wednesday to appear before a magistrate judge in Farmington, New Mexico, on aggravated battery. According to an arrest warrant, the 24-year-old Nachreiner attacked Journey shoe sore manager Cameron Tadeo last month after he fired Nachreiner. Other employees say Tadeo had sent a group message to employees to pick up their checks. Witnesses say Nachreiner was angry when he arrived and left after they heard a loud noise. Employees say they found Tadeo unconscious and bleeding from his nose. Nachreiner is being held without bond.
SANTA FE-LOS ANGELES FLIGHTS
Santa Fe officials want daily flights to LA amid film boom
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Economic development officials are seeking the return of daily flights between Santa Fe and Los Angeles to support the ongoing growth of film production in New Mexico's capital city. The Albuquerque Journal reported that the officials said such flights would have a significant impact on the economy of northern New Mexico. American Airlines is set to temporarily restore weekly direct flights to Santa Fe Regional Airport. The flights beginning April 11 are currently scheduled on Saturdays only, meaning round-trip passengers would have to stay a week if they wanted a nonstop flight. The airline plans to maintain the Saturday schedule through Oct. 24.
PENAL REFORMS-SETTLEMENT
Judge approves penal reform settlement in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A judge has given final approval to a settlement ending a 40-year-old civil case that forced significant penal reforms in New Mexico. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Friday that U.S. Magistrate Judge Kirtan Khalsa approved Friday an agreement that would end the Duran Consent Decree if the state complies with certain requirements. The settlement says those requirements include moving about 300 inmates from overcrowded prisons to those with more capacity, requiring regular exterminator visits, prohibiting punishment for reporting sexual misconduct and banning facilities from operating at 120% of their capacity. Corrections Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero did not respond to a request seeking comment Friday.
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT-NEW MEXICO
Former prosecutor appointed to New Mexico Court of Appeals
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A former state and federal prosecutor now in private practice in Albuquerque will be the newest judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office announced Friday her appointment of Shammara Haley Henderson to fill a vacancy created by the Jan. 31 retirement of Judge M. Monica Zamora. A statement issued by the governor's office said Henderson is the first African-American to be appointed to the state Court of Appeals, according to Aja Brooks, president of the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association.
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Lawmaker wants to address violence directed at Native women
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Native American women face a murder rate that is more than 10 times the national average, and a Utah lawmaker wants to address the violence. The Daily Herald in Provo reports Democratic state Rep. Angela Romero said her top priority this year is her proposal to create a task force aimed at studying violence against indigenous women. Those crimes can be particularly challenging to investigate because they often involve many different agencies. The task force would report to lawmakers about what gaps exist and create a road map to prevent and address future violence. The Navajo Nation stretches across Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.
GUNS AT SCHOOL-TEEN ARRESTED
Teen arrested at Albuquerque high school with 2 loaded guns
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a 16-year-old boy was arrested after being found with two loaded guns on the campus of his Albuquerque high school. The sophomore at Atrisco Heritage Academy was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises and unlawful carrying of a handgun by a person under age 19, officials said. The Associated Press is not publishing the boy's name because the AP generally does not identify juvenile crime defendants for privacy reasons. The boy was arrested after authorities received an anonymous tip about Snapchat videos showing guns and drugs and of a gun being fired out of a car window. The boy was released pending trial under conditions that include drug testing.
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