NEW MEXICO-CALDWELL CHARGED
Police file battery complaint against New Mexico's Caldwell
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A misdemeanor criminal complaint filed by Albuquerque police accuses suspended New Mexico basketball player J.J. Caldwell of battery against a household member involving a December encounter with his ex-girlfriend. The Albuquerque Journal reports that police filed the complaint on Jan. 24, after the ex-girlfriend reported Dec. 16 that Caldwell two days earlier struck her and put his hands around her neck at his apartment. Caldwell attorney Paul Kennedy says the filing of the complaint was questionable because prosecutors still had the matter under review. Kennedy and another attorney represent Caldwell in the criminal matter and in a civil rights lawsuit in which Caldwell alleges the university and others are violating his civil rights.
NEW MEXICO PRISON RIOT
Legacy of New Mexico prison riot costs still linger today
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Forty years after inmates seized control of the New Mexico State Penitentiary, the costs related to the uprising are still being tallied. The Albuquerque Journal reports the cost _ in money and how lives were changed forever _ continues to this day. On Feb. 2, 1980, New Mexico residents and people across the country woke that Saturday morning to the news that inmates had seized the state penitentiary south of Santa Fe and were holding 12 corrections officers hostage. The cleanup effort and costs were staggering as legislators scrambled to approve a $38 million emergency appropriation. Hundreds of prisoners were shipped out of state.
MEDICAL POT TAX DEDUCTION
New Mexico court allows medical marijuana tax deduction
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Court of Appeals in New Mexico has unanimously ruled that state medical marijuana producers can claim a tax deduction for prescription medication, a move that could affect prices for thousands of enrolled patients. Albuquerque Journal reported that the ruling means lawmakers must soon set aside funding to cover the tax claims, which could carry a multimillion-dollar price tag for the state Taxation and Revenue Department. Tax department officials say the agency has reviewed the ruling and is weighing legal options. The department has until Feb. 27 to appeal the ruling. Court officials say medical marijuana meets the definition of a prescription drug under the state's tax code.
THREATENING LETTERS-SENTENCED
Tucson man sentenced for sending threatening letters to cops
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An Arizona man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for sending letters threatening to kill police officers in New Mexico but he's already served that time behind bars while his case was pending. A federal judge in Albuquerque sentenced 52-year-old Brian Clayton Charles of Tucson on Friday on five counts of mailing threatening communication while granting him credit for 18 months in custody. Charles pleaded guilty on Sept. 10, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Mexico says Charles acknowledged sending threatening letters to Albuquerque police officers in 2016. The office says Charles threatened in the letters to kill the officers and pile their bodies in mass graves in a cemetery.
ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
Election officials probe GOP House hopeful on contributions
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal election officials are urging a Republican U.S. House candidate running in a critical New Mexico race to answer questions about possible illegal contributions. The Federal Election Commission on Thursday asked Claire Chase in a letter to give more information about $45,000 in donations to her campaign. The commission said the contributions appear to come from corporations that aren't from a fund set aside for political donations. The agency says Chase has until March 5 to respond. A campaign spokesman says the campaign has followed federal law and will return any contributions containing routine filing errors.
POET LAUREATE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico taps Chicano studies professor as poet laureate
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has chosen as its first poet laureate a bilingual Spanish-English writer and Chicano studies professor who will create a podcast of his encounters with wordsmiths and performers. Levi Romero read Friday to the state Senate for his first day on the job. The native of the Embudo Valley in northern New Mexico has won a long list of regional awards for publication of his free-verse poetry. The three-year poet laureate post comes with a annual stipend of $25,000 and additional funds for travel and printing. The job is linked to newly commissioned poetry center at the State Library, based in Santa Fe.
GUNS-NEW MEXICO
Opponents of gun confiscation bill rally in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of advocates for gun rights rallied at the New Mexico Statehouse in a show of force against a proposed law allowing the confiscation of guns that has the support of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The bill from Democratic state lawmakers would allow law enforcement officials or family members to seek court orders to seize firearms temporarily from people deemed a threat to themselves or others. Several county sheriffs and at least one district attorney denounced the bill as an infringement on rights. At the outdoor rally in Santa Fe, Republican state lawmakers urged opponents of the bill to lobby their state senators and representatives.
PROBLEM ELK-RANCHERS
New Mexico ranchers say hungry elk are damaging property
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Some northern New Mexico ranchers are asking state wildlife managers to do something about the herds of elk they say are damaging property and eating the hay they had stockpiled for cattle over the winter. Members of the Northern New Mexico Stockman's Association reported the damage to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish earlier this week and notified the agency that they would have to start shooting the animals. State law allows for landowners to remove animals that are causing damage. Biologists say heavy snowpack is likely causing the elk to move into lower elevations that include private property.
Police file battery complaint against New Mexico's Caldwell
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A misdemeanor criminal complaint filed by Albuquerque police accuses suspended New Mexico basketball player J.J. Caldwell of battery against a household member involving a December encounter with his ex-girlfriend. The Albuquerque Journal reports that police filed the complaint on Jan. 24, after the ex-girlfriend reported Dec. 16 that Caldwell two days earlier struck her and put his hands around her neck at his apartment. Caldwell attorney Paul Kennedy says the filing of the complaint was questionable because prosecutors still had the matter under review. Kennedy and another attorney represent Caldwell in the criminal matter and in a civil rights lawsuit in which Caldwell alleges the university and others are violating his civil rights.
NEW MEXICO PRISON RIOT
Legacy of New Mexico prison riot costs still linger today
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Forty years after inmates seized control of the New Mexico State Penitentiary, the costs related to the uprising are still being tallied. The Albuquerque Journal reports the cost _ in money and how lives were changed forever _ continues to this day. On Feb. 2, 1980, New Mexico residents and people across the country woke that Saturday morning to the news that inmates had seized the state penitentiary south of Santa Fe and were holding 12 corrections officers hostage. The cleanup effort and costs were staggering as legislators scrambled to approve a $38 million emergency appropriation. Hundreds of prisoners were shipped out of state.
MEDICAL POT TAX DEDUCTION
New Mexico court allows medical marijuana tax deduction
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Court of Appeals in New Mexico has unanimously ruled that state medical marijuana producers can claim a tax deduction for prescription medication, a move that could affect prices for thousands of enrolled patients. Albuquerque Journal reported that the ruling means lawmakers must soon set aside funding to cover the tax claims, which could carry a multimillion-dollar price tag for the state Taxation and Revenue Department. Tax department officials say the agency has reviewed the ruling and is weighing legal options. The department has until Feb. 27 to appeal the ruling. Court officials say medical marijuana meets the definition of a prescription drug under the state's tax code.
THREATENING LETTERS-SENTENCED
Tucson man sentenced for sending threatening letters to cops
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An Arizona man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for sending letters threatening to kill police officers in New Mexico but he's already served that time behind bars while his case was pending. A federal judge in Albuquerque sentenced 52-year-old Brian Clayton Charles of Tucson on Friday on five counts of mailing threatening communication while granting him credit for 18 months in custody. Charles pleaded guilty on Sept. 10, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Mexico says Charles acknowledged sending threatening letters to Albuquerque police officers in 2016. The office says Charles threatened in the letters to kill the officers and pile their bodies in mass graves in a cemetery.
ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
Election officials probe GOP House hopeful on contributions
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal election officials are urging a Republican U.S. House candidate running in a critical New Mexico race to answer questions about possible illegal contributions. The Federal Election Commission on Thursday asked Claire Chase in a letter to give more information about $45,000 in donations to her campaign. The commission said the contributions appear to come from corporations that aren't from a fund set aside for political donations. The agency says Chase has until March 5 to respond. A campaign spokesman says the campaign has followed federal law and will return any contributions containing routine filing errors.
POET LAUREATE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico taps Chicano studies professor as poet laureate
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has chosen as its first poet laureate a bilingual Spanish-English writer and Chicano studies professor who will create a podcast of his encounters with wordsmiths and performers. Levi Romero read Friday to the state Senate for his first day on the job. The native of the Embudo Valley in northern New Mexico has won a long list of regional awards for publication of his free-verse poetry. The three-year poet laureate post comes with a annual stipend of $25,000 and additional funds for travel and printing. The job is linked to newly commissioned poetry center at the State Library, based in Santa Fe.
GUNS-NEW MEXICO
Opponents of gun confiscation bill rally in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of advocates for gun rights rallied at the New Mexico Statehouse in a show of force against a proposed law allowing the confiscation of guns that has the support of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The bill from Democratic state lawmakers would allow law enforcement officials or family members to seek court orders to seize firearms temporarily from people deemed a threat to themselves or others. Several county sheriffs and at least one district attorney denounced the bill as an infringement on rights. At the outdoor rally in Santa Fe, Republican state lawmakers urged opponents of the bill to lobby their state senators and representatives.
PROBLEM ELK-RANCHERS
New Mexico ranchers say hungry elk are damaging property
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Some northern New Mexico ranchers are asking state wildlife managers to do something about the herds of elk they say are damaging property and eating the hay they had stockpiled for cattle over the winter. Members of the Northern New Mexico Stockman's Association reported the damage to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish earlier this week and notified the agency that they would have to start shooting the animals. State law allows for landowners to remove animals that are causing damage. Biologists say heavy snowpack is likely causing the elk to move into lower elevations that include private property.
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