Reaction to President Barack Obama’s announcement that the United States would restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba drew a range of views from New Mexico’s congressional delegation with Democratic Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich hailing the president’s announcement, Republican Congressman Steve Pearce condemning it while Democratic Representatives Ben Ray Luján, and Michelle Lujan Grisham expressing mixed feelings about it. Former New Mexico Cultural Affairs Secretary Stuart Ashman, who was raised as a child in Cuba, called the new U-S Policy towards Cuba really welcome news. *****121814-Ashman-1 :45***** There remains a very significant anti-Castro community in Florida. Ashman told KSFR’sZeliePollon what he thought the new policy would mean for them. *****121814-Ashman-2 :48***** Ashman is currently the head of the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California.
The owner of a paving company accused of embezzling one-million dollars from Santa Fe County has been found guilty of multiple corruption charges. The New Mexican reports that jurors convicted Joe Anthony Montoya on Wednesday of bribing public officials, committing fraud and engaging in conspiracy. The jury also convicted Montoya's company, Advantage Asphalt, of charges involving bribery, fraud and conspiracy. Montoya and his company faced more than 30 charges combined. A judge immediately ordered the 53-year-old held on a 250-thousand dollar cash bond. Prosecutors say Montoya and his wife, Marlene, involved two county employees in an embezzlement scheme that took place between 2007 and 2010. Marlene Montoya pleaded guilty earlier this month to bribery of a public official and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Thefts from a secure area at Los Alamos National Laboratory are raising concerns about security at the federal facility. The lab reported tools stolen on at least three occasions from Technical Area 54, the largest waste disposal zone on the lab's campus in northern New Mexico. Police reports obtained by The New Mexican say impact wrenches, weed trimmers and other tools were reported stolen between May and August and remain missing. A national expert on radiation exposure says the tools likely pose little health risk but could be dangerous if they were exposed to toxic chemicals present in the area where the tools had been used. Los Alamos police were forced to close the case because the lab refused to give investigators the names of workers who had access to the area.
A Tennessee woman has pleaded not guilty in a chaotic 2013 traffic stop and chase during which a New Mexico State Police officer shot at her minivan full of children. KOB-TV reports that 40-year-old Oriana Farrell of Memphis entered the plea Tuesday in Taos to fleeing and other charges filed last month by a grand jury. An appeals court had dismissed previous charges, saying a prosecutor shouldn't have been involved in excusing a grand jury member. The officer shot at Farrell's van carrying her five children after she twice sped off and was stopped by another officer for speeding. Dashboard video of the shooting gained national attention, and the officer was later fired. Defense attorney Alan Maestas has said the charges aren't justified.
State Representative Phillip Archuleta, a longtime labor and civil rights advocate, has died. The Democratic Party of Dona Ana County says Archuleta died this week from complications of pneumonia. He was 65. The Las Cruces Democrat was elected to the New Mexico House in 2012 after defeating Andy Nunez and Mike Tellez.
A Navajo Nation Supreme Court ruling has cleared the way for election officials to set a date for the presidential contest. The high court upheld the dismissal of a challenge against Russell Begaye, who will face Joe Shirley Jr. for the presidency. The tribe's Office of Hearings and Appeals had rejected arguments that Begaye did not demonstrate “unswerving loyalty” to the tribe as required of presidential candidates. Former presidential hopeful Myron McLaughlin then appealed to the high court. The Supreme Court justices did not address Begaye's qualifications. Instead, they ruled that McLaughlin's challenge was untimely filed. The presidential race was separated from the general election after Chris Deschene was disqualified in a language fluency case. The high court said Wednesday that a special presidential election must be held by the end of January.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today with the high only 35 and a slight chance for showers after 11am. Tonight: Mostly Cloudy with the overnight low, 25. Tomorrow: Sunny skies with the high 36.