- VAPING RESTRICTIONS-NEW MEXICO
Legislators seek enforcement of age limits on tobacco salesSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico state legislators are embracing a proposal for more strenuous enforcement of new federal restrictions on retail tobacco sales to youths amid rising rates of vaping among children and young adults. The federal government late last year changed the minimum age from 18 to 21 nationwide for purchasing tobacco products, including vaping cartridges and e-cigarettes. A Senate bill that would license retail tobacco vendors and apply administrative sanctions against prohibited sales to youths under age 21 advanced toward a decisive House floor vote, with the endorsement Monday by a House panel on health policy.
- DESTROYING EVIDENCE
NM Senate OKs bill to stop forcing police to erase evidenceSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A measure that would stop police from having to destroy seized electronic evidence that was obtained through a search warrant but wasn't the target of an investigation has passed the New Mexico Senate. The proposal unanimously approved Sunday seeks to fix a bill passed in 2018 that required law enforcement to wipe out some digital evidence. The requirement may have affected some pending cases in Albuquerque, where crime has soared in recent years. Democratic Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto of Albuquerque says the change is needed because law enforcement has no choice but to eradicate this evidence after 30 days. The new bill allows police to seal the evidence and get a court order to use it in an unrelated investigation.
ELECTION 2020-NEW MEXICO-SENATE
Key Democratic New Mexico senator won't seek re-election
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Sen. John Sapien, a key moderate Democratic senator who represents a swing district outside of Albuquerque, says he will not run for re-election. Sapien told The Associated Press on Sunday he concluded during the current legislative session that it was time to retire as a state lawmaker. The insurance salesman and financial adviser says he's entertaining new career opportunities. Sapien has represented for 12 years a district that includes poor Bernalillo, affluent liberal areas of Placitas and Corrales, and part of conservative Rio Rancho. Democrats hold a 26-16 edge over Republicans in the New Mexico Senate.
- GALLUP DIOCESE-SCHOOL
Diocese of Gallup to sell historic school property in uproarGALLUP, N.M. (AP) — The Diocese of Gallup has announced it will sell the property of the historic Sacred Heart School to a secular charter school. The Gallup Independent reports word of the pending sale recently stunned school officials and parents amid concerns about a conflict of interest. Sacred Heart School interim principal Amy Jo Mulvaney says she was caught off guard when Aequitas Education and Hozho Academy representatives toured the school late January. The representatives said they were purchasing the campus. Gallup attorney Patrick T. Mason led the Aequitas and Hozho group. He is also the attorney for the Diocese of Gallup.
- BOSS ATTACK
Report: New Mexico ex-mall employee knocked out former bossFARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A former mall employee in northwestern New Mexico is facing charges after authorities say he knocked out his former boss and broke his nose. Court documents show that Justin Nachreiner is scheduled Wednesday to appear before a magistrate judge in Farmington, New Mexico, on aggravated battery. According to an arrest warrant, the 24-year-old Nachreiner attacked Journey shoe store manager Cameron Tadeo last month after he fired Nachreiner. Other employees say Tadeo had sent a group message to employees to pick up their checks. Witnesses say Nachreiner was angry when he arrived and left after they heard a loud noise. Employees say they found Tadeo unconscious and bleeding from his nose. Nachreiner is being held without bond.
- SANTA FE-LOS ANGELES FLIGHTS
Santa Fe officials want daily flights to LA amid film boomSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Economic development officials are seeking the return of daily flights between Santa Fe and Los Angeles to support the ongoing growth of film production in New Mexico's capital city. The Albuquerque Journal reported that the officials said such flights would have a significant impact on the economy of northern New Mexico. American Airlines is set to temporarily restore weekly direct flights to Santa Fe Regional Airport. The flights beginning April 11 are currently scheduled on Saturdays only, meaning round-trip passengers would have to stay a week if they wanted a nonstop flight. The airline plans to maintain the Saturday schedule through Oct. 24.
- PENAL REFORMS-SETTLEMENT
Judge approves penal reform settlement in New MexicoSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A judge has given final approval to a settlement ending a 40-year-old civil case that forced significant penal reforms in New Mexico. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Friday that U.S. Magistrate Judge Kirtan Khalsa approved Friday an agreement that would end the Duran Consent Decree if the state complies with certain requirements. The settlement says those requirements include moving about 300 inmates from overcrowded prisons to those with more capacity, requiring regular exterminator visits, prohibiting punishment for reporting sexual misconduct and banning facilities from operating at 120% of their capacity. Corrections Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero did not respond to a request seeking comment Friday.
- JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT-NEW MEXICO
Former prosecutor appointed to New Mexico Court of AppealsSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A former state and federal prosecutor now in private practice in Albuquerque will be the newest judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office announced Friday her appointment of Shammara Haley Henderson to fill a vacancy created by the Jan. 31 retirement of Judge M. Monica Zamora. A statement issued by the governor's office said Henderson is the first African-American to be appointed to the state Court of Appeals, according to Aja Brooks, president of the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association.