ELECTION 2020-LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO
Elections loom over Democrats on guns, marijuana, pensions
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Legislative elections and ideological divisions among Democrats are looming over major initiatives backed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on gun safety, recreational marijuana and pension reform. It's the second straight year of unified Democratic control over the Statehouse and governor's office. Democrats reclaimed the governor's office from a Republican and picked up eight seats in the state House as a blue wave swept through politics in 2018 elections. This year, the entire House and Senate are up for election for the first time since President Donald Trump took office. Democrats including the House speaker and Senate president are confronting primary challenges within a restive party.
NAVAJO NATION-LAND PURCHASE
Navajo Nation purchases land that includes gravel pit
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has purchased 1,250 acres of land that includes a gravel pit that the tribe plans to use to obtain sand and gravel for road work and other projects. The Gallup Independent reports that gravel pit's operator that leased its site from the previous land owners will now have a lease with the tribe and that use of the material from the newly purchased site near Indians Wells, Arizona, should save money for the tribe. An announcement of the purchase didn't state the pricetag but said it it was under a $5 million limit under which the Division of Natural Resources director can approve land purchases. A tribal official said material from the gravel pit will be used for highways, dirt roads, bridges, airports and other projects.
FORMER SHERIFF RELEASE DECLINED
Judge declines early prison release request by ex-sheriff
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A judge has ruled that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling will not result in an early prison release for former Rio Arriba County sheriff Tommy Rodella. Santa Fe New Mexican reported Friday that U.S. District Judge James Browning declined an early release request based on a change in a federal firearms law in June. The Supreme Court voted on an unrelated Texas robbery case that struck down a firearms statute that added seven years to Rodella's prison sentence. Browning says the part of the law that changed did not pertain to his case. Authorities say Rodella has five years left of a 10-year sentence stemming from a road-rage incident.
DWI DRUG COURT
Western New Mexico county developing DWI drug court
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A western New Mexico county is developing a new court aimed at helping people convicted of drunken driving and drug offenses. The Gallup Independent reports McKinley County Magistrate Court is drafting plans for a DWI drug court to aid offenders in becoming sober and to reduce repeat criminal activity. Officials with the county's Administrative Office of the Courts said the details of the program have yet to be sorted out, but the program will be molded over the next month to suit the needs of McKinley County. Officials said the county hopes to accept clients in mid-to-late February.
NEVADA FUGITIVE-NEW MEXICO ARREST
Police: Man sought in Reno shooting arrested in New Mexico
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Authorities say a man sought in Reno, Nevada, in a shooting in which a stray bullet injured a teenage girl has been arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Reno police say the U.S. Marshals Service located and arrested 31-year-old Carl Collins on Friday. Police said Collins is accused of shooting at another person involved in an altercation Monday as the other person drove away. According to police, the intended target wasn't hit but bullets struck an apartment building, wounding g a girl inside her residence. She was shot once and treated for a wound not considered life-threatening. Collins remained jailed Saturday on a fugitive warrant. It wasn't known whether he has an attorney who could comment on the allegations.
MURDER KIDNAPPING PLEA
Man makes plea deal in connection with kidnapping, slaying
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A 33-year-old man pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap in a case that involved the death of a man and the kidnapping of his friend, the Albuquerque Journal reported Friday. Chase Smothermon's guilty plea came in the August 2017 case that involved the death of 41-year-old John Soyka and kidnapping of Soyka's friend Matthew Tressler. Smothermon faces between 40 and 60 years in prison.
Elections loom over Democrats on guns, marijuana, pensions
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Legislative elections and ideological divisions among Democrats are looming over major initiatives backed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on gun safety, recreational marijuana and pension reform. It's the second straight year of unified Democratic control over the Statehouse and governor's office. Democrats reclaimed the governor's office from a Republican and picked up eight seats in the state House as a blue wave swept through politics in 2018 elections. This year, the entire House and Senate are up for election for the first time since President Donald Trump took office. Democrats including the House speaker and Senate president are confronting primary challenges within a restive party.
NAVAJO NATION-LAND PURCHASE
Navajo Nation purchases land that includes gravel pit
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has purchased 1,250 acres of land that includes a gravel pit that the tribe plans to use to obtain sand and gravel for road work and other projects. The Gallup Independent reports that gravel pit's operator that leased its site from the previous land owners will now have a lease with the tribe and that use of the material from the newly purchased site near Indians Wells, Arizona, should save money for the tribe. An announcement of the purchase didn't state the pricetag but said it it was under a $5 million limit under which the Division of Natural Resources director can approve land purchases. A tribal official said material from the gravel pit will be used for highways, dirt roads, bridges, airports and other projects.
FORMER SHERIFF RELEASE DECLINED
Judge declines early prison release request by ex-sheriff
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A judge has ruled that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling will not result in an early prison release for former Rio Arriba County sheriff Tommy Rodella. Santa Fe New Mexican reported Friday that U.S. District Judge James Browning declined an early release request based on a change in a federal firearms law in June. The Supreme Court voted on an unrelated Texas robbery case that struck down a firearms statute that added seven years to Rodella's prison sentence. Browning says the part of the law that changed did not pertain to his case. Authorities say Rodella has five years left of a 10-year sentence stemming from a road-rage incident.
DWI DRUG COURT
Western New Mexico county developing DWI drug court
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A western New Mexico county is developing a new court aimed at helping people convicted of drunken driving and drug offenses. The Gallup Independent reports McKinley County Magistrate Court is drafting plans for a DWI drug court to aid offenders in becoming sober and to reduce repeat criminal activity. Officials with the county's Administrative Office of the Courts said the details of the program have yet to be sorted out, but the program will be molded over the next month to suit the needs of McKinley County. Officials said the county hopes to accept clients in mid-to-late February.
NEVADA FUGITIVE-NEW MEXICO ARREST
Police: Man sought in Reno shooting arrested in New Mexico
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Authorities say a man sought in Reno, Nevada, in a shooting in which a stray bullet injured a teenage girl has been arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Reno police say the U.S. Marshals Service located and arrested 31-year-old Carl Collins on Friday. Police said Collins is accused of shooting at another person involved in an altercation Monday as the other person drove away. According to police, the intended target wasn't hit but bullets struck an apartment building, wounding g a girl inside her residence. She was shot once and treated for a wound not considered life-threatening. Collins remained jailed Saturday on a fugitive warrant. It wasn't known whether he has an attorney who could comment on the allegations.
MURDER KIDNAPPING PLEA
Man makes plea deal in connection with kidnapping, slaying
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A 33-year-old man pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap in a case that involved the death of a man and the kidnapping of his friend, the Albuquerque Journal reported Friday. Chase Smothermon's guilty plea came in the August 2017 case that involved the death of 41-year-old John Soyka and kidnapping of Soyka's friend Matthew Tressler. Smothermon faces between 40 and 60 years in prison.
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