The U.S. Justice Department’s critical report on the Albuquerque Police Department—released Thursday—points to patterns of excessive force by the APD, serious constitutional violations and a lack of training and oversight of its officers. The city’s police have received much criticism regarding 37 shootings by officers since 2010, 23 of which were fatal. Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry says the findings of the federal investigation into the city's embattled police department are difficult, but his administration is ready to make changes. Berry says the city will begin negotiating with the Justice Department on how to reform the police force. Ralph Arrellanes, with the New Mexico chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, has been calling for a federal investigation of APD for seven years. *****041114-Arrellanes-1 :12***** Arrellanes calling Thursday’s release of the DOJ report—quoting—“judgment day for APD and city hall:” *****041114-Arrellanes-2 :19***** New Mexico Senator Tom Udall called the DOJ report a “welcome step forward in a longer process:” *****041114-Udall-1 :27***** Senator Tom Udall.
Santa Fe Community College has announced that students will soon be able to take a bachelor’s-level nursing program through the college without leaving Santa Fe. SFCC, in collaboration with New Mexico State University and the New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium, will begin the new program this summer.
The large uncut diamond that was stolen from a secure case inside the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science has been recovered. Museum officials say police authorized them to pick up the three-carat diamond yesterday morning after it was examined by a local gem and mineral shop. Authorities say the stone had been shopped around to several stores in the Albuquerque area. Museum officials say the store that surrendered the diamond wants to remain anonymous.
A search in a New Mexico landfill for a rumored stash of what some call the worst video game ever made by Atari is set to get underway this month. According to the Alamogordo Daily News, Microsoft-owned Xbox has announced that a dig of the Alamogordo landfill, where Atari reportedly discarded millions of "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" game cartridges in 1983, is scheduled for April 26th. Xbox officials say the excavation will be open for public viewing. Xbox and two other entertainment companies are making a documentary about the project. "E.T." the video game, inspired by the hit 1982 movie, was a commercial dud said to have contributed to Atari's decline.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Tomorrow: Partly sunny, with a high near 71.