Several New Mexico business groups gathered Thursday in Albuquerque to support the state’s largest utility’s plans for dealing with an aging coal-fired power plant. They’re warning of economic turmoil if a settlement regarding the plant's future falls through. This, as the state Public Regulation Commission is close to deciding whether to approve PNM’s plan to close part of the San Juan Generating Plant and replace it with a mix of more coal along with nuclear, natural gas and solar power. The partial closure will address the federal government's call to reduce haze-causing pollution in the Four Corners region. However, protesters with 350-dot-org New Mexico, and groups, including New Energy Economy, Sierra Club, Southwest Organizing Project and others stress that further investment in coal is adverse to a vibrant economy. Tom Solomon, co-coordinator of 350.org New Mexico., said, quote: “We are sympathetic to the coal workers and miners. But let's be clear, it is PNM's own plan to close the San Juan coal mine in 2019, laying off 400 miners. Let’s get them re-trained in a growing new energy economy.”
Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg, who drew national attention for seeking murder charges against two officers, wants federal authorities to probe Albuquerque police's bribery investigation into her. Brandenburg telling reporters Thursday that she has asked the U.S. Attorney's Office in Albuquerque to look into the Albuquerque Police Department's investigation. Last week, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said he would not to prosecute Brandenburg over allegations of bribery and intimidation of witnesses. The investigation began after her son Justin Koch was accused in late 2013 by friends of stealing from them. Police say they suspected Brandenburg had contacted the friends and talked about reimbursing them. Albuquerque police say the investigation was thorough and the information was passed onto the Attorney General's office.
Six-million dollars. That’s the amount the family of a schizophrenic man who was fatally shot by Albuquerque police in 2011 is receiving to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit. The federal judges’ ruling came after a New Mexico judge ruled last year that two police detectives weren't acting in self-defense when they shot 27-year-old Christopher Torres to death after a fight in the backyard of his northwest Albuquerque home. Torres was shot while police were serving an arrest warrant on a felony charge of aggravated auto burglary. The judge also said the use of deadly force violated Torres' constitutional rights. KRQE-TV reports the state court capped the payment at 400-thousand dollars’, prompting the family to file a suit in federal court, where there’s no financial; limit.
The New Mexico public defender's office will be able to continue providing legal representation to hundreds of people across the state. That’s only because the state Board of Finance has approved a 400-thousand dollar loan for the office. The emergency money will allow contract lawyers to be paid to represent the poor. Chief Public Defender Jorge Alvarado had sought nearly 600-thousand for services to some 16-hundred people through the end of the fiscal year. He had hoped to lift a hiring freeze but that will likely continue. In other action, the finance panel denied a request by the Administrative Office of the Courts for 750-thousand dollars in emergency money largely for magistrate court operations throughout the state. Board members suggested the office tap available money in another fund.
Federal authorities say a Mexican gray wolf has been shot and killed in southwestern New Mexico after it was exhibiting escalating nuisance behavior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the male wolf, dubbed M-11-30, was shot Wednesday in Catron County following reports of the wolf's behavior by residents. Officials say the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team tried to remove the wolf by nonlethal means first before it was shot. An annual survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in February showed at least 109 wolves are spread among forested lands in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. A subspecies of the gray wolf, the Mexican wolf was added to the federal endangered species list in 1976.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today with the high 67 and a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms. Tonight: Partly cloudy and breezy with the overnight low dipping to 40. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny with the high, 65.