Morning Word: Independent Ethics Commission Proposed Again

Governor hasn't decided whether to put it on her agenda for the 2016 Legislature

Bold Ethics Proposal

Democratic lawmakers, according to Steve Terrell, plan to propose

with the goal of “overhauling the state’s campaign finance and lobbyist reporting system, toughening the forfeiture law for corrupt officials and giving some of the secretary of state’s election duties to an independent ethics commission.” According to Deborah Baker, the legislators' ethics

Food Stamp Fraud

Dan Boyd reports Joseph Martin Padilla, a former analyst with the New Mexico Human Services Department, faces five years in prison after he pled guilty on Tuesday to

for 25 people, including himself. Padilla will also have to pay $181,398.76 in restitution.

Bishops Support Refugees

Syrian refugees headed to the US have the support of New Mexico's three Catholic bishops, who are encouraging residents to write to the president to ask him to

Coal Divestiture

Peabody Energy, a publicly traded energy company, is

in New Mexico and Colorado.

Vote Halts Town's Incorporation

An effort to incorporate Santa Teresa, on the border with Sunland Park, has hit a snag. Diana Alba Soular reports, “After two closed-door sessions and rounds of legal debates,” Doña Ana County Board commissioners have voted to halt the process.

and claim Sunland Park can’t provide the services they need.

Tribal Water Problems

It’s 2015, and there’s still not

, according to a new report. According to Vice News:

Rideshare Regulations Considered

If you plan to connect with an Uber driver to get to the airport, you’ll save the hassle and costs of parking, but some are

and how it should be regulated in the future.

Holiday Traffic Safety

New Mexico State Police officers are ramping up patrols ahead of Thanksgiving Day to

We hope you all have a safe and fun Thanksgiving. We're taking the next four days off, so we'll see you back here on Monday.

Letters to the Editor

Mail letters to PO Box 4910 Santa Fe, NM 87502 or email them to editor[at]sfreporter.com. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter. Letters will be edited for space and clarity.

We also welcome you to follow SFR on social media (on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and comment there. You can also email specific staff members from our contact page.