Morning Word: Singleton Tosses PARCC Suit

Judge says nonprofit lacked standing because it was not a test bidder

It's Thursday, July 16, 2015

First Judicial District Court Judge Sarah Singleton has dismissed a nonprofit’s lawsuit challenging the state’s decision to award a lucrative contract to a firm closely connected to Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera because the group hadn’t offered its own bid to provide the standardized test. Joey Peters reports that American Institutes for Research will not be appealing the ruling. Read it at the New Mexico Political Report.  A few Santa Fe Police commanders are unhappy with the way Chief Eric Garcia is managing the department, and they’ve emailed their concerns to the city manager.

Read more at the Santa Fe New Mexican.  In Albuquerque, the police department is battling a soaring crime rate with fewer officers.

Read more at ABQ Free Press.  Scientists, impressed with photographic images being returned from a space probe flying by Pluto, have decided to name a heart-shaped area on the dwarf planet after the Las Cruces scientist who discovered it. Read more at the Las Cruces Sun-News.  Speaking of space, the director of Spaceport America told state lawmakers yesterday that she’s hopeful Virgin Galactic will begin commercial launches from southern New Mexico next year. That will help boost the financial viability of the facility, according to Christine Anderson. Read the AP story here.  New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has his sights set on aggressively prosecuting fraud on taxpayers, and he’s set up a team to deal with the crime.

Read it at KRQE.  New Mexico is still struggling to battle heroin overdoses; after two years of decline, the number of deaths is rising once again. Bruce Krasnow has details.  How about a roundabout to ease traffic at the corner of Cerrillos Road and St. Francis Drive? A Santa Fe architect thinks it might just help. See it at KRQE.  Speaking of roads, some folks want to turn a portion of the infamous Route 66 into a national monument. Claire Mena has details.  Fans of legendary New Mexico artist Georgia O’Keeffe will be excited to know that the center that runs the museum has received a donation of correspondence between her and another artist, Frances O’Brien, that "provides insights into the women’s shared work ethic and their sense of humor."

Anna Constable reports.  A group of protesters is lining up to protest US Rep. Steven Pearce’s sponsorship of legislation that would strip away protections for Mexican gray wolves.

Read it at the Las Cruces Sun-News. 

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