In a setback for the Martinez administration—and its teacher evaluation system—a Santa Fe judge on Wednesday issued a temporary injunction against the evaluation system now in place statewide—until a lawsuit against it is heard. State District Judge David Thomson ruled that the state Public Education Department could no longer use the system to punish or reward teachers until the lawsuit goes to trial in April. Public Education Department spokesman Robert McEntyre says the suit is a "disappointing distraction" from the agency's mission of providing a quality education. The American Federation of Teachers New Mexico and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation sought the injunction while their lawsuit against the evaluation system goes through the court system. They say the evaluation system is forcing veteran educators to retire or have their licenses jeopardized.
A proposal to add law enforcement officers as a protected class to New Mexico's hate crimes law is expected to be considered by lawmakers in the next legislative session. The proposal went before a legislative interim committee Wednesday as lawmakers consider a number of justice system reforms following a string of high-profile crimes in the Albuquerque area. The shooting deaths of two police officers this year are among those crimes. Representative Nate Gentry, an Albuquerque Republican, is pushing the legislation that would amend the state hate crimes statute. He says it's become clear "that our protectors need additional protection." His proposal comes as law enforcement advocates say outrage over officer-involved shootings and officers' use of force has sparked anti-police rhetoric in the U.S.
Saying there’s “tremendous urgency” on the issue of global warming, New Mexico Senator Tom Udall is off to Paris to attend the Global Climate Summit. Udall telling KSFR news: *****120315-Udall-2 :17***** Udall says he thinks all the nations who sign the agreement coming out of the summit will agree to real carbon reduction targets in a five year period.
A new company has taken over providing protective security at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The New Mexican reports that a new five year contract has been provided to a company called Centerra – which had been known as Wackenhut Services. The company will provide security police officers who are armed, trained, and certified by the Department of Energy.
The New Mexico Department of Health’s nearby health officers will be hosting flu shot clinics this month. The state Health Department says there is no charge to those attending the clinics, but everyone should bring their insurance card, including Medicaid or Medicare, with them. The Health Department suggests that everyone six months of age and older get a flu vaccine each flu season. The clinics at the Santa Fe, Espanola and Los Alamos County Health offices take place Fridays in December, except Christmas.
Bernalillo County is nearing an agreement that could end a 20-year legal battle over crowding and other conditions in its jail system. The Albuquerque Journal reports that county commissioners and attorneys representing jail inmates have approved the agreement and are awaiting final approval from a U.S. District Court judge. The settlement outlines steps the jail would be required to take for the suit to be dismissed. The proposed settlement would cap the jail population at just less than two-thousand inmates and prohibit holding three inmates in cells that are designed for two. Inmates filed the class-action lawsuit in 1995, alleging that jail conditions violated their constitutional rights. The county estimates it spends about one-million dollars’ a year on legal fees related to the suit.
A state District Court judge has thrown out a lawsuit disputing the appointment of District Court Judge Judith Nakamura of Albuquerque to fill a vacancy on the New Mexico Supreme Court The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that District Judge David Thomson ruled on Tuesday that Nakamura's appointment was constitutional. Former attorney Stuart Stein, of La Cienega argued her selection is unconstitutional and that the process was illegally rushed. Governor Martinez chose Nakamura, a former chief judge in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Richard Bosson. Stein argued that starting the process before Bosson's last day in office violated the state constitution. Thomson said Stein had raised a good point, but that moving efficiently to replace a judge who has announced his retirement is allowed.
Santa Fe Weather: Sunny today and tomorrow…today’s high 48, climbing to 50 tomorrow. Tonight: Mostly clear skies with the overnight low down to 24.