Morning Word: Griego Arraignment Set

Griego Arraignment Scheduled

Former state Sen. Phil Griego, who is accused of using his political influence to earn a real estate commission on the sale of a state-owned historic building,

. Griego has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police Tactics Revealed

Jeff Proctor, who is spending a year writing about criminal justice and policing for New Mexico In Depth, discovered that APD

at the end of June. The incident “highlights the complicated push and pull between the sacred duty of the police to enforce the law and another sacred duty: protecting the health of the public, particularly its most vulnerable segments.” Proctor also reports that eyewitness accounts paint a different picture than the one described by officers in their official reports.

Study: Charter Schools Have Funding Advantage

A new study prepared by the Legislative Education Study Committee reveals that

. “In Albuquerque, for example, traditional public schools receive about $7,400 for each student while that city’s charter schools get about $8,700 per student,” Robert Nott reports.

Lawmakers on the committee also heard that

College graduation rates are on the rise in New Mexico, but the

in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia and Torrance counties by 2020.

As New Mexico State University colleges and divisions look for ways to

 up to 6.2 percent, Heath Haussamen reports NMSU is eliminating the school’s surveying engineering degree program and the women’s equestrian team, while outsourcing employee health services to a private clinic. The University’s athletic department has also agreed to return $454,300 to the general fund.

Three forest fires in Otero County have burned 30 structures and consumed hundreds of acres, according to the Ruidoso News , which has local coverage and pictures.

Wildlife advocates are expressing concerns about an amendment Rep. Steve Pearce added to a spending measure passed Thursday by the US House of Representatives. The plan could transfer management control of the federal Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program to state officials, a change activists contend would ensure the animals’ extinction. Read Rebecca Moss’ story at the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Donald Trump plans to announce Friday that he’s picked Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to be his running mate. Before they head to Cleveland for the National Republican Convention,

Her numbers appear to have slipped after the US Department of Justice announced she wouldn’t face criminal charges for storing US State Department emails on a personal computer server.

An Italian restaurant in Albuquerque

with some people for writing “Black Olives Matter” on a sign to promote its evening dinner special. A picture of the sign was posted on social media and some people have criticized if for being insensitive to the Black Lives Matter movement. 

The peak river rafting season is over in New Mexico, but KOAT reports the river waters are deeper this time of year than they have been in prior years. So, if you’re looking to dip your toes in some cool water this weekend,

, and head north for a cool splash this weekend.

Santa Fe Reporter