A New Mexico man is among the dozens of non-violent drug offenders who had their sentences commuted by President Barack Obama. It’s regarding a case involving John Wyatt of Las Cruces from 2004. Wyatt was convicted in federal court in Illinois on a charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He was sentenced in August 2004 to nearly 22 years in prison, eight years of supervised release and a 500-dollar fine. Now, his commuted sentence will expire on November 10th. According to court documents, police stopped an RV driven by Wyatt and found a large amount of marijuana. He was sentenced based on his status as a career offender. In a failed appeal, Wyatt claimed — among other things — that he would not have pleaded guilty had his lawyer not assured him that he wouldn't be subject to a career offender sentence.
The New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed that a 51-year-old man in Los Alamos County contracted tularemia. The case was confirmed Monday at the Department's Scientific Laboratory Division. Health officials say the man was hospitalized, but has recovered and gone home. There have also been 33 cases of tularemia this year in pet dogs and cats from Bernalillo, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Taos, and Torrance counties. Tularemia is a potentially serious illness in people that occurs in many parts of the country. It's caused by a bacteria found in animals — especially rodents, rabbits and hares. Tularemia can also make dogs and cats sick and they can give the disease to people. Last year, there were five human cases of tularemia in New Mexico. They all recovered.
The father of a Santa Fe lawmaker has settled two lawsuits in which he claimed he was wrongfully arrested for drunk driving and assaulting an officer. Luciano Trujillo, whose son is state Representative Carl Trujillo, will receive 85-thousand dollars’ from Santa Fe County's insurer. Trujillo filed a federal lawsuit against individual officers and one in state District Court against Santa Fe County and Sheriff Robert Garcia. In his federal suit, Trujillo claimed a law enforcement employee ran a check on the license plate of the vehicle he was driving 15 minutes before he was stopped by Pojoaque tribal police in 2011. Tribal police had been commissioned to enforce traffic laws in that area. Prosecutors dismissed the charges against the then 70-year-old.
Two nearby pueblos have gained control of their school curriculums. Acoma and Santa Clara pueblos have received federal funding to create their own curriculums, giving pueblo educators to emphasize subjects like indigenous language learning. According to the Albuquerque Journal, these pueblos have been trying to gain input in their students’ learning for some time, and are among five tribes nationwide that recently received federal funds to make it happen. But tribal officials say a good financial plan will need to be in place to make sure that funding goes as far as it should—Acoma and Santa Clara pueblos are assuming responsibility not only of planning coursework, but also of organizing transportation, food service, and security for their schools.
It’s been confirmed that state Taxation and Revenue Secretary Demesia Padilla is the central subject of a much-publicized investigation by the office of the State Auditor, forwarded last week to the office of the Attorney General. State Auditor Tim Keller had announced last week that his preliminary investigation showed possible wrongdoing by senior officials with the Tax & Rev department. According to the Albuquerque Journal, in a letter to Governor Susana Martinez made public on Friday, Keller confirmed Padilla was at the center of the investigation. Keller’s allegations have drawn criticism from Republican officials, who accuse him of playing politics. State Democrats want Padilla to resign. The Auditor’s initial investigation shows Padilla may have pressured department employees to give differential treatment to a taxpayer she used to work for. That taxpayer hasn’t been identified, and the State Auditor refuses to disclose who it is.
Las Cruces’ minimum wage went up to eight-dollars-40-cents an hour from the previous seven-50-an hour with the start of 2015….and City Councilors in New Mexico’s second-largest city on Monday reviewed the new higher wage. The Las Cruces Sun-News reports emotions ran high Monday among city residents and business owners, either in support or critical of the minimum-wage boost. Two more raises are scheduled to take effect in January 2017
and January 2019, respectively. Supporters say the raise was necessary to help the city's lowest-paid employees. Opponents fear it will negatively affect the economy.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today and tomorrow with scattered showers and thunderstorms, and the high both days 82. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms and the overnight low down to 58. The chance for precipitation is 40-percent through tomorrow.