NEW MEXICO-LIBRARY SHOOTING-THE LATEST
The Latest: Family of suspect saddened by library shooting
CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — Family members of the teenager accused of a deadly shooting at a public library in New Mexico say they are deeply saddened by the tragedy.
The family of 16-year-old Nathaniel Jouett released a statement Wednesday, offering their thoughts and prayers to all those affected by Monday's shooting at the Clovis-Carver Public Library.
In the statement, Jouett's parents described the teen as a loving son, wonderful brother and a caring member of the family. As parents, they said this was something they never expected.
Court documents say investigators found a bag containing suicide notes in a desk drawer at Jouett's home.
Inside the library, police found a handgun on a shelf near Jouett as he had his hands above his head. They also found a bag containing a second handgun and ammunition.
HARVEY-NEW MEXICO ROYALTIES
New Mexico extends payment deadline for Houston oil firms
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico state government is bracing for a financial hit from flooding in Texas as Houston-area oil and natural gas businesses likely struggle to make royalty and tax payments.
State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn on Wednesday warned that Hurricane Harvey's destruction will disrupt revenues due to New Mexico for oil and gas operations on state and federal land.
Dunn offered a one-month grace period for Houston-based companies to pay royalties and interest for operations on New Mexico state trust land, extending a late-September deadline into October.
New Mexico state government depends on the oil and natural gas sector for about one-third of its annual budget, through royalties, severance taxes, lease payments and fees.
An estimated 40 percent of severance taxes collected by New Mexico are paid by Houston-based companies.
GROUNDWATER BASIN STUDIES
New groundwater basin studies for Arizona and New Mexico
PHOENIX (AP) — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is launching two new groundwater basin studies, one in Arizona and the other in New Mexico.
Bureau of Reclamation Acting Commissioner Alan Mikkelsen says growing imbalances between supply and demand are affecting many basins throughout the West.
The Rio Grande Basin Study in New Mexico is focused on the Middle Rio Grande from the Colorado-New Mexico border to Elephant Butte Reservoir.
The basin has been fully allocated since 1907, and future potential conditions in the basin could result in decreased water supply and quality.
The Eloy and Maricopa-Stanfield groundwater basins in southern Arizona encompass most of the corridor between Phoenix and Tucson.
The groundwater is being over-drafted by about 230,000 acre-feet per year and causing severe caving-in of land in the basins, putting critical infrastructure at risk.
HARVEY-NEW MEXICO FIREFIGHTERS
Las Cruces, Roswell firefighters heading to Texas
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico agencies are sending first responders to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas.
Las Cruces Fire Department spokesman Dan Trujillo says members of the elite Swift Water Rescue Team left Monday to help Houston-area residents in the aftermath of one of the region's worst flood disasters on record. Trujillo says they will assist local law enforcement and first responders in the area.
The fire department from Roswell also is sending firefighters to the region to help with rescue and recovery efforts.
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe announced Tuesday that it and the Catholic Charities of New Mexico are collecting donations online to be given to Catholic Charities in southeast Texas and Louisiana.
UNM-COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
University of New Mexico's communications director resigns
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The University of New Mexico's communications director is stepping down from her post.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Dianne Anderson resigned from her post Thursday as the state's largest university's primary spokeswoman.
Anderson says she will move to Florida where her husband has taken a new job.
A familiar face in Albuquerque, she joined UNM in 2012 following a long career in local TV news, including more than 20 years total at KOAT and KRQE. She has lived in Albuquerque since 1989, but she said her children have both recently graduated moved out of state.
Billy Sparks, executive director of communications and marketing for UNM's Health Sciences Center, confirmed this week he may soon retire.
TUCUMCARI-FATAL SHOOTING ARREST
Tucumcari man accused in fatal shooting over a dead parrot
TUCUMCARI, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Police say they have arrested a Tucumcari man in a fatal shooting case.
They say 46-year-old Christopher Shain Bamberg was booked Tuesday into the Quay County Detention Center on suspicion of an open count of murder.
Police say Bamberg told them a rear gate at his residence was left open and a dog entered his property and killed his parrot.
Bamberg says Justin Hoth and a woman have lived in their recreational vehicle on his property for the last two months and there has been an ongoing issue with the gate.
Bamberg says he confronted Hoth about the parrot killing and Hoth allegedly confronted him with a metal object.
According to police, Bamberg retrieved a loaded shotgun from his house and shot Hoth in the chest.
NEW MEXICO ENERGY STANDARD
Energy petition targets power plant pollution in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Attorney General's Office and consumer advocates are petitioning regulators to consider a new energy standard aimed at reducing pollution from electric utilities in the state over the next two decades.
The proposal calls for carbon dioxide emissions from power plants to be cut by 4 percent a year through 2040. Supporters say that could amount to a reduction of several million tons of carbon dioxide, which is considered a prime contributor to global warming.
Steve Michel with Western Resources Advocates presented the proposal to the state Public Regulation Commission on Wednesday. It'll be up to commissioners to begin the rulemaking process.
Michel said the state's largest investor-owned utility already is in a position to comply with the proposed standard given plans to shutter part of a coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico.
CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDS-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico report questions handling of charter school funds
SANTE FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico State Auditor says the Public Education Department can't explain how it spent $20 million for administrative support for charter schools.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported on Tuesday that State Auditor Tim Keller's review of funds for charter schools raises questions on how the funds are tracked and if those funds are going to the intended purpose. The $20 million the review identifies was spent over a five-year period.
The Public Education Department and school districts with charter schools are allowed to withhold 2 percent of each charter school's program costs to provide administrative assistance.
Keller says the review shows a "lack of transparency and accountability", and he called on the department to make changes.
Public Education Department officials say Keller's review is misinformed.
The Latest: Family of suspect saddened by library shooting
CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — Family members of the teenager accused of a deadly shooting at a public library in New Mexico say they are deeply saddened by the tragedy.
The family of 16-year-old Nathaniel Jouett released a statement Wednesday, offering their thoughts and prayers to all those affected by Monday's shooting at the Clovis-Carver Public Library.
In the statement, Jouett's parents described the teen as a loving son, wonderful brother and a caring member of the family. As parents, they said this was something they never expected.
Court documents say investigators found a bag containing suicide notes in a desk drawer at Jouett's home.
Inside the library, police found a handgun on a shelf near Jouett as he had his hands above his head. They also found a bag containing a second handgun and ammunition.
HARVEY-NEW MEXICO ROYALTIES
New Mexico extends payment deadline for Houston oil firms
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico state government is bracing for a financial hit from flooding in Texas as Houston-area oil and natural gas businesses likely struggle to make royalty and tax payments.
State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn on Wednesday warned that Hurricane Harvey's destruction will disrupt revenues due to New Mexico for oil and gas operations on state and federal land.
Dunn offered a one-month grace period for Houston-based companies to pay royalties and interest for operations on New Mexico state trust land, extending a late-September deadline into October.
New Mexico state government depends on the oil and natural gas sector for about one-third of its annual budget, through royalties, severance taxes, lease payments and fees.
An estimated 40 percent of severance taxes collected by New Mexico are paid by Houston-based companies.
GROUNDWATER BASIN STUDIES
New groundwater basin studies for Arizona and New Mexico
PHOENIX (AP) — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is launching two new groundwater basin studies, one in Arizona and the other in New Mexico.
Bureau of Reclamation Acting Commissioner Alan Mikkelsen says growing imbalances between supply and demand are affecting many basins throughout the West.
The Rio Grande Basin Study in New Mexico is focused on the Middle Rio Grande from the Colorado-New Mexico border to Elephant Butte Reservoir.
The basin has been fully allocated since 1907, and future potential conditions in the basin could result in decreased water supply and quality.
The Eloy and Maricopa-Stanfield groundwater basins in southern Arizona encompass most of the corridor between Phoenix and Tucson.
The groundwater is being over-drafted by about 230,000 acre-feet per year and causing severe caving-in of land in the basins, putting critical infrastructure at risk.
HARVEY-NEW MEXICO FIREFIGHTERS
Las Cruces, Roswell firefighters heading to Texas
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico agencies are sending first responders to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas.
Las Cruces Fire Department spokesman Dan Trujillo says members of the elite Swift Water Rescue Team left Monday to help Houston-area residents in the aftermath of one of the region's worst flood disasters on record. Trujillo says they will assist local law enforcement and first responders in the area.
The fire department from Roswell also is sending firefighters to the region to help with rescue and recovery efforts.
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe announced Tuesday that it and the Catholic Charities of New Mexico are collecting donations online to be given to Catholic Charities in southeast Texas and Louisiana.
UNM-COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
University of New Mexico's communications director resigns
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The University of New Mexico's communications director is stepping down from her post.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Dianne Anderson resigned from her post Thursday as the state's largest university's primary spokeswoman.
Anderson says she will move to Florida where her husband has taken a new job.
A familiar face in Albuquerque, she joined UNM in 2012 following a long career in local TV news, including more than 20 years total at KOAT and KRQE. She has lived in Albuquerque since 1989, but she said her children have both recently graduated moved out of state.
Billy Sparks, executive director of communications and marketing for UNM's Health Sciences Center, confirmed this week he may soon retire.
TUCUMCARI-FATAL SHOOTING ARREST
Tucumcari man accused in fatal shooting over a dead parrot
TUCUMCARI, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Police say they have arrested a Tucumcari man in a fatal shooting case.
They say 46-year-old Christopher Shain Bamberg was booked Tuesday into the Quay County Detention Center on suspicion of an open count of murder.
Police say Bamberg told them a rear gate at his residence was left open and a dog entered his property and killed his parrot.
Bamberg says Justin Hoth and a woman have lived in their recreational vehicle on his property for the last two months and there has been an ongoing issue with the gate.
Bamberg says he confronted Hoth about the parrot killing and Hoth allegedly confronted him with a metal object.
According to police, Bamberg retrieved a loaded shotgun from his house and shot Hoth in the chest.
NEW MEXICO ENERGY STANDARD
Energy petition targets power plant pollution in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Attorney General's Office and consumer advocates are petitioning regulators to consider a new energy standard aimed at reducing pollution from electric utilities in the state over the next two decades.
The proposal calls for carbon dioxide emissions from power plants to be cut by 4 percent a year through 2040. Supporters say that could amount to a reduction of several million tons of carbon dioxide, which is considered a prime contributor to global warming.
Steve Michel with Western Resources Advocates presented the proposal to the state Public Regulation Commission on Wednesday. It'll be up to commissioners to begin the rulemaking process.
Michel said the state's largest investor-owned utility already is in a position to comply with the proposed standard given plans to shutter part of a coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico.
CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDS-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico report questions handling of charter school funds
SANTE FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico State Auditor says the Public Education Department can't explain how it spent $20 million for administrative support for charter schools.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported on Tuesday that State Auditor Tim Keller's review of funds for charter schools raises questions on how the funds are tracked and if those funds are going to the intended purpose. The $20 million the review identifies was spent over a five-year period.
The Public Education Department and school districts with charter schools are allowed to withhold 2 percent of each charter school's program costs to provide administrative assistance.
Keller says the review shows a "lack of transparency and accountability", and he called on the department to make changes.
Public Education Department officials say Keller's review is misinformed.
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