Santa Fe is the first New Mexico City to decriminalize marijuana. The City Council voting five-to-four Wednesday night in favor of an ordinance brought to the Council through voter initiative. *****082814-Kaltenbach-4 :26***** The measure makes possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of no more than 25-dollars—it had been a misdemeanor. Councilors Carmichael Dominguez, Patti Bushee, Peter Ives, Signe Lindell and Joseph Maestas voted in favor. Mayor Javier Gonzales and councilors Bill Dimas, Ron Trujillo and Chris Rivera cast the dissenting votes.
Activists say they want a planned police shooting contest in Albuquerque canceled, especially after the city has been under scrutiny for police excess force. Advocates held a rally Wednesday in downtown Albuquerque to call for the event's cancellation. The city and its police department are hosting the National Rifle Association competition next month for law enforcement members who can "select to fire in just one match or fire in all of the championship match events."
Officials say the NRA event typically attracts 500 officers from across the U.S. and some international competitors. In recent months, the city has been rocked by angry protests and a U.S. Justice Department investigation over more than 40 police shootings since 2010.
A federal court that ruled against a Ten Commandments monument at a northwestern New Mexico city has agreed to put its decision on hold until an appeals court hears the case. A Ten Commandments monument is displayed on the lawn in front of Bloomfield's City Hall. Earlier this month, a U.S. District judge in Albuquerque ruled the monument has the "principal effect of endorsing religion" in violation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys notified the court Friday that Bloomfield will be appealing the case to the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Two Bloomfield residents who said they are offended by the monument filed suit through their American Civil Liberties Union attorneys in 2012 in an attempt to have the monument uprooted.
A chronic drunk driver is headed to prison for killing a passenger while crashing his truck. KSFR's Dave Marash has details. ***** :37 *****
TEXT: 39-year-old Alvert Miller of Shiprock was sentenced to six years in prison for killing a passenger while driving under the influence of alcohol. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Miller will also have to serve five years of supervised release following his sentence for second-degree murder. Miller, who had a history of prior convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol, lost control of his truck on a highway near Littlewater on the Navajo Nation and crashed in April 2013, killing a 53 YO Navaho man. For KSFR News, I'm Dave Marash.
Federal prosecutors have filed a motion to dismiss charges against the son of Rio Arriba County Sheriff Thomas Rodella. Prosecutors say Thomas Rodella Jr. may lack the cognitive ability necessary to prove the charges against him. The sheriff is accused of roughing up a driver during an off-duty traffic stop.
A New Mexico winery has been awarded a 50-thousand dollar grant from the federal government to expand production of its chile-infused wines. Senator Tom Udall announcing the funding during a visit to St. Clair Winery in Deming on Wednesday. With the funding, the New Mexico Democrat said the winery will be able to boost revenues and grow its customer base for its chile-infused line of wines by reimbursing production, marketing and distribution costs.
The winery's chile wines are made using hot peppers from the Hatch Valley in southern New Mexico. The grant was awarded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that helps agricultural producers grow their businesses by turning raw commodities into marketable products. The grants often support development for niche and specialty products in rural communities.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79, with a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.