A New Mexico legislative study says the state's high-poverty schools are in dire need of hiring more teachers. The Albuquerque Journal reports a Legislative Finance Committee report released Thursday says a "new approach" that includes better incentives and hiring decisions is crucial to get more effective teachers. The study looked at education strategies in 15 schools around the state that are considered low income and academically behind. According to the committee's report, schools with veteran and beginning teachers performed better. Meanwhile, struggling schools were disproportionately staffed with newer teachers who had low scores on their licensing exams. Public Education Department officials say they agree with some of the report. But they say the study only looked at 3 percent of the state's elementary schools.
A Santa Fe County sheriff's deputy who was allegedly killed by another deputy was honored at a public memorial. KRQE-TV reports mourners gathered at a service for Jeremy Martin on Saturday at Capital High School in Santa Fe. Authorities say Martin was shot by Tai Chan at a Las Cruces hotel on Monday. Chan, who was arraigned on a murder charge, resigned Wednesday. Chan failed to show up to work or call his supervisor for two days, which is considered job abandonment under department rules. Authorities say Chan, Martin and another man went out for a drink and the suspect and victim got into a heated argument.
Police say Chan was found with a handgun and smelled of alcohol.
Albuquerque police have agreed to enter into a reform agree with the U.S. Justice Department but the agency still faces scrutiny for keeping some leaders. That because Albuquerque police is reassigning command staff who oversaw troubled units to new positions. The U.S. Justice Department and New Mexico's largest city announced an agreement last week to overhaul Albuquerque's police department amid accusations of excessive force. The agreement calls for new training and protocols for investigating officer shootings. But Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham says she says she's still troubled by the culture at Albuquerque police "that led to the violation of civil rights." She says it appears some of the same people who contributed to that culture will merely be moved into new positions without being held accountable.
The embattled president of New Mexico Highlands University has announced his retirement after eight years. Jim Fries told the Las Vegas Optic last week that he announced his plans to faculty and staff after contemplating it for a year. Fries says next summer he will be 72 and he wants the opportunity to invest a lot more time in activities he enjoyed. His announcement comes less than three weeks after faculty and staff publicly criticized him and his administration at a regents meeting. Faculty accused Fries of not communicating with them and not being transparent about budget decisions, among other things. Fries and the regents have yet to decide his last day. His contract was scheduled to expire June 2016.
The New Mexico Secretary of State's office says an impostor voted on behalf of a Rio Arriba County man in what is believed to be a case of voter fraud. The office said the Rio Arriba County Clerk's office reported the case Saturday after the man tried to cast an early ballot in Espanola. According to election officials, records showed that the man had voted three days earlier. But when the man contested, officials concluded that the signature of the Wednesday voter did not match his. Poll workers offered the man to submit a provisional ballot, but state officials have yet to determine whether that ballot will be counted. Secretary of State Dianna Duran says she will report the case to the District Attorney's office.
Environmental activists are calling on federal officials to cease giving out oil and gas drilling permits in the Farmington area until an environmental study is done. The Daily Times reports that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management plans to issue a formal response to a 34-page letter drafted by several environmental groups. WildEarth Guardians and the Western Environmental Law Center are among several organizations who voiced issues a letter sent Monday to the BLM's Farmington Field Office about approving Mancos Shale drilling permits. They say the "rampant approval" of drilling and fracking threatens wildlife, water and air in the region. The groups say more than 1 million gallons of water are needed to drill one well. BLM spokeswoman Donna Hummel says the agency has formed an internal committee to respond.
Domestic violence has come into focus in the final stretch of New Mexico's election season. First-term U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a Democrat, is running ads touting his support for anti-domestic-violence and anti-stalking legislation. Former prosecutor Susan Riedel, a Republican vying to be New Mexico's next attorney general, says she has a plan for helping victims. Domestic violence has been in the national spotlight thanks to high-profile cases involving athletes, but political observers say the issue can be powerful for candidates looking to win over undecided voters before Election Day. And advocates throughout the state say they're grateful for increased public awareness. Nationally, 1 in 4 women will be severely assaulted by an intimate partner. Federal statistics also show the prevalence of domestic violence is slightly higher in New Mexico.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly sunny today with the high 51 and a 20-percent chance for showers. Tonight: Partly cloudy with a predicted hard-freeze low of 25. Tomorrow: Sunny with the high near 49.