ELECTION 2020-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico conventions set primary lineups for Congress
POJOAQUE, N.M. (AP) — Candidates for Congress and an open Senate seat are undergoing the first test of their political might as the Democratic and Republican parties of New Mexico hold statewide conventions. Public attention was focused on first-time bids for public office by Democratic former CIA operative Valerie Plame in a crowded 3rd Congressional District race and conservative former oil lobbyist Claire Chase in a duel for the GOP nomination to take on a Democratic incumbent congresswoman in southern New Mexico. Congressman Ben Ray Luján hopes to parlay his experience as the No. 4-ranked Democrat in Congress into a Senate victory in an increasingly blue state.
LEGISLATION-NEW MEXICO
Governor signs bills for child welfare and public safety
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A long list of bills aimed at shoring up workplace protections for pregnant women, allowing greater state investments in local companies, providing bonuses to local police officers and more has been signed Friday by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The first-term governor has until March 11 to decide the fate of scores of bills approved by the Democrat-led Legislature. She and her staff are still poring over a $7.6 billion general fund budget that could increase spending by nearly 8% for the fiscal year starting July 1. Bills signed on Friday address issues of public safety, workplace discrimination, child welfare and economic development incentives.
WIND FARM-SHIPMENTS
Shipments begin arriving for massive New Mexico wind farm
HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — The components needed for a massive wind farm under development in eastern New Mexico have started to arrive. Xcel Energy says the turbine parts for the Sagamore Wind Project are rolling into a railhead north of Hobbs and will be transported to the construction site in Roosevelt County starting in April. The 522-megawatt wind farm will provide electricity to Xcel's New Mexico and Texas customers when complete later this year. The utility estimates it will take 1,920 shipments to deliver all of the components over a six-month period. The parts include lower sections, blades and generators.
IDENTITY THEFT-IMMIGRANTS
Guatemalan man sentenced in US identity theft scheme
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. prosecutors say a man from Guatemala has been sentenced to more than 4 1/2 years in prison for an identity theft scheme that compromised the identities of dozens of Americans. Federal authorities say 34-year-old Manuel Solis-Zetino was convicted of conspiracy, unlawful transfer of identification documents and aggravated identity theft. Court documents say Solis-Zetino and other defendants produced fraudulent documents that were used to obtain driver's licenses for people in the country illegally. Officials say Solis-Zetino transported many of them from Kansas to New Mexico, where he instructed them how to use the fake documents to obtain genuine licenses and other forms of identification.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-OBSERVATORY
Very Large Array to close for group tours to contain virus
MAGDALENA, N.M. (AP) — The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is cancelling group tours of its Very Large Array in New Mexico to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. The observatory said Friday that the visitor center and gift shop will remain open and self-guided walking tours will continue. But a semi-annual open house, guided tours and special tours for school groups will be put on hold between March 15 and May 31. Observatory Director Tony Beasley says the move is meant to protect visitors and the workers who keep the facility running. Astronomers use the Very Large Array to observe natural radiowaves from distant stars and planets.
OIL AND GAS-REVENUE
New Mexico brings in over $108M in oil, gas royalty payments
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Oil and natural gas royalty payments for development on state trust lands netted nearly $109 million for New Mexico in one month. Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard announced the record revenues Friday, saying the State Land Office is on track to raise another $1 billion this year for public schools, hospitals and other beneficiaries. The State Land Office's Royalty Management Division reports royalty revenue three months after production, so the revenue reported for the month of February actually reflects production from November. Much of the drilling activity is happening in the Permian Basin, which straddles the New Mexico-Texas state line.
DEPUTY SHOOTING-SETTLEMENT
$4M settlement reached in death of woman shot by deputies
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A $4 million settlement has been reached in the case of a mentally ill woman shot and killed by New Mexico deputies. The Albuquerque Journal reports the agreement was signed Wednesday, less than two months after the woman's family sued the Bernalillo County Commission and Sheriff Manuel Gonzales. Authorities responded to the family's home last summer after a relative called 911 saying 28-year-old Elisha Lucero had hit her uncle. The relative told authorities Lucero was mentally ill, needed help and was a threat to herself and others. Lucero was shot numerous times after she ran from the home screaming and armed with a knife.
PUBLIC WATERS-ACCESS FIGHT
New Mexico court asked to settle fight over stream access
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The head of an agency that oversees hunting and fishing across New Mexico is asking a judge to settle a long-running dispute over public access to rivers and streams that flow through private property. The state Game and Fish director filed a complaint in state district court Wednesday. He asked for clarification on whether and under what circumstances private landowners can prohibit people from fishing and otherwise using waterways that cross their property. The state Game Commission voted last year to reconsider a contested rule adopted by previous commissioners that limited access. Critics have pointed to constitutional provisions that refer to the state's waters as public.
New Mexico conventions set primary lineups for Congress
POJOAQUE, N.M. (AP) — Candidates for Congress and an open Senate seat are undergoing the first test of their political might as the Democratic and Republican parties of New Mexico hold statewide conventions. Public attention was focused on first-time bids for public office by Democratic former CIA operative Valerie Plame in a crowded 3rd Congressional District race and conservative former oil lobbyist Claire Chase in a duel for the GOP nomination to take on a Democratic incumbent congresswoman in southern New Mexico. Congressman Ben Ray Luján hopes to parlay his experience as the No. 4-ranked Democrat in Congress into a Senate victory in an increasingly blue state.
LEGISLATION-NEW MEXICO
Governor signs bills for child welfare and public safety
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A long list of bills aimed at shoring up workplace protections for pregnant women, allowing greater state investments in local companies, providing bonuses to local police officers and more has been signed Friday by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The first-term governor has until March 11 to decide the fate of scores of bills approved by the Democrat-led Legislature. She and her staff are still poring over a $7.6 billion general fund budget that could increase spending by nearly 8% for the fiscal year starting July 1. Bills signed on Friday address issues of public safety, workplace discrimination, child welfare and economic development incentives.
WIND FARM-SHIPMENTS
Shipments begin arriving for massive New Mexico wind farm
HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — The components needed for a massive wind farm under development in eastern New Mexico have started to arrive. Xcel Energy says the turbine parts for the Sagamore Wind Project are rolling into a railhead north of Hobbs and will be transported to the construction site in Roosevelt County starting in April. The 522-megawatt wind farm will provide electricity to Xcel's New Mexico and Texas customers when complete later this year. The utility estimates it will take 1,920 shipments to deliver all of the components over a six-month period. The parts include lower sections, blades and generators.
IDENTITY THEFT-IMMIGRANTS
Guatemalan man sentenced in US identity theft scheme
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. prosecutors say a man from Guatemala has been sentenced to more than 4 1/2 years in prison for an identity theft scheme that compromised the identities of dozens of Americans. Federal authorities say 34-year-old Manuel Solis-Zetino was convicted of conspiracy, unlawful transfer of identification documents and aggravated identity theft. Court documents say Solis-Zetino and other defendants produced fraudulent documents that were used to obtain driver's licenses for people in the country illegally. Officials say Solis-Zetino transported many of them from Kansas to New Mexico, where he instructed them how to use the fake documents to obtain genuine licenses and other forms of identification.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-OBSERVATORY
Very Large Array to close for group tours to contain virus
MAGDALENA, N.M. (AP) — The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is cancelling group tours of its Very Large Array in New Mexico to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. The observatory said Friday that the visitor center and gift shop will remain open and self-guided walking tours will continue. But a semi-annual open house, guided tours and special tours for school groups will be put on hold between March 15 and May 31. Observatory Director Tony Beasley says the move is meant to protect visitors and the workers who keep the facility running. Astronomers use the Very Large Array to observe natural radiowaves from distant stars and planets.
OIL AND GAS-REVENUE
New Mexico brings in over $108M in oil, gas royalty payments
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Oil and natural gas royalty payments for development on state trust lands netted nearly $109 million for New Mexico in one month. Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard announced the record revenues Friday, saying the State Land Office is on track to raise another $1 billion this year for public schools, hospitals and other beneficiaries. The State Land Office's Royalty Management Division reports royalty revenue three months after production, so the revenue reported for the month of February actually reflects production from November. Much of the drilling activity is happening in the Permian Basin, which straddles the New Mexico-Texas state line.
DEPUTY SHOOTING-SETTLEMENT
$4M settlement reached in death of woman shot by deputies
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A $4 million settlement has been reached in the case of a mentally ill woman shot and killed by New Mexico deputies. The Albuquerque Journal reports the agreement was signed Wednesday, less than two months after the woman's family sued the Bernalillo County Commission and Sheriff Manuel Gonzales. Authorities responded to the family's home last summer after a relative called 911 saying 28-year-old Elisha Lucero had hit her uncle. The relative told authorities Lucero was mentally ill, needed help and was a threat to herself and others. Lucero was shot numerous times after she ran from the home screaming and armed with a knife.
PUBLIC WATERS-ACCESS FIGHT
New Mexico court asked to settle fight over stream access
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The head of an agency that oversees hunting and fishing across New Mexico is asking a judge to settle a long-running dispute over public access to rivers and streams that flow through private property. The state Game and Fish director filed a complaint in state district court Wednesday. He asked for clarification on whether and under what circumstances private landowners can prohibit people from fishing and otherwise using waterways that cross their property. The state Game Commission voted last year to reconsider a contested rule adopted by previous commissioners that limited access. Critics have pointed to constitutional provisions that refer to the state's waters as public.
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