- OPIOID CRISIS-PURDUE-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico state prosecutors have reversed course to join in a tentative financial settlement over the role that OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma played in the nation's opioid addiction crisis.Attorney general's office spokesman Matt Baca confirmed this week that New Mexico will participate in a settlement involving about half of states under bankruptcy proceedings for Purdue.
Baca said the attorney general's office wants to ensure an accurate accounting of assets held by Purdue and the Sacklers that would go toward services to communities ravaged by opioids.
More than 2,600 opioids-related lawsuits have been filed against Purdue.
Prosecutors initially said New Mexico would decline to join the settlement because it was insufficient. New Mexico sued the Sacklers last week on allegations of deceptive practices that helped flood the state with opioids.
- GALLUP-POLICE CHIEF
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A judge has tossed out a lawsuit filed by former Gallup Police Chief Phillip Hart against the western New Mexico city.The Gallup Independent reports Eleventh Judicial District Judge Robert Aragon dismissed Friday a complaint by Hart, who claimed the city of Gallup violated his rights and prevented him from carrying out his job duties.
Hart was fired in August 2018 as he and the city of Gallup were embroiled in year-long legal disputes.
Hart disputed the city's policy of allowing community service aides to pick up and commit intoxicated residents to the detoxification center.
Hart's attorney JoHanna Cox says the ex-chief plans to appeal Aragon's decision.
- POJOAQUE WATER SYSTEM
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Federal managers, Native American tribes and others have renegotiated the costs of a drinking water system that will serve communities in northern New Mexico.The Bureau of Reclamation says with the signed agreement, the start of construction on the Pojoaque Basin regional water system is one step closer. Work is expected to begin next year.
The system will consist of treatment facilities, storage tanks and transmission and distribution pipelines.
It will be able to supply more than 1 billion gallons (3.8 billion liters) of drinking water annually to the pueblos of Nambé, Tesuque, San Ildefonso and Pojoaque and other customers in Santa Fe County.
The agreement is a product of nearly a year of negotiations. It contains about $15 million in cost-saving measures and additional financial commitments from the partners.
- NATIONAL PRESERVE-TRIBAL DISPUTE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A federal judge has rejected an effort by a Native American tribe to reclaim Valles Caldera National Preserve.U.S. District Judge James Browning issued a sealed opinion denying Jemez Pueblo's claim that its aboriginal property rights were never extinguished. He found that the federal government had clear title to the land.
The ruling came Aug. 31 following a trial held last year in Albuquerque.
Tribal officials and their attorneys could not be reached for comment. It's unclear if they plan to appeal.
Valles Calderas is home to vast grasslands, the remnants of one of North America's few super volcanoes and one of New Mexico's most famous elk herds.
The pueblo considers the nearly 140-square-mile (362.6-square kilometer) swath of federally managed public land as a spiritual sanctuary and part of its traditional homeland.
- LOS ALAMOS LAB-CONTAMINATION
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) — Environmental groups are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over storm water contamination downstream of Los Alamos National Laboratory.The groups claim the runoff contains heavy metals, byproducts from decaying radioactive elements and manmade chemicals known as PCBs. They say some of the pollutants are more than 10,000 times public safety limits and should be considered a threat to public health.
In a complaint filed late Monday, the groups say the pollution should have triggered federal action to reduce or eliminate discharges through permit requirements but that the EPA failed to act.
The groups say the federal agency has not responded to previous petitions and letters asking that the pollution be addressed. They first threatened legal action in June , saying they would sue over violations of the Clean Water Act.
- HOMICIDE CASE ARREST
ESPANOLA, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State police say a suspect has been arrested in a homicide case.They say 34-year-old Adam Lovato of Espanola has been booked into the Santa Fe County Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a felon.
State Police say they were called Monday night to investigate a homicide after 39-year-old Ivan Maestas was found dead in a car in Espanola.
They say Maestas had been at a residence in La Puebla where he reportedly got into an altercation with Lovato and was shot.
Police say someone tried to drive Maestas to a hospital for treatment, but the vehicle ran out of gas on State Road 68.
Maestas was pronounced dead at the scene by arriving medical personnel.
- OBIT-CARLOS CISNEROS
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Legislature's lead attorney says long-serving New Mexico state Sen. Carlos Cisneros of Questa has died.Cisneros's death on Tuesday morning was confirmed by Legislative Council Service Director Raúl Burciaga and a spokesman for the Democratic Senate majority caucus. Caucus spokesman Chris Nordstrum says Cisneros had a heart attack.
Cisneros served 35 years in the state Senate starting in 1985. The Democratic lawmaker played a leading role in annual budget negotiations about state government spending as well as legislation on tax policy.
Cisneros represented a vast Senate district that stretches from the state line with Colorado to the outskirts of Los Alamos, including the communities of Taos, Peñasco, Truchas and Pojoaque Pueblo.
- CLOVIS-AGGRAVATED ASSAULT SENTENCE
CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — A Clovis man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for assaulting some of his girlfriend's family members.Prosecutors say 39-year-old Alfonso Rodriguez was convicted Tuesday of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, child abuse and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
A Curry County jury deliberated about 90 minutes before returning guilty verdicts and Rodriguez was given the maximum sentence.
Judge Matthew Chandler says the trauma the children went through because of the incident weighed heavily on the court's conscience.
Prosecutors say Rodriguez became enraged for some reason while dropping his girlfriend's three children at their grandparent's home on April 29.
They say Rodriguez pointed a gun at the kids and their grandfather before fleeing the scene.
Rodriguez was arrested days later by Clovis police.