Morning Word: Educators' Credentials Questioned

Educators' Licenses Could Be Revoked

At least seven state-licensed educators’ credentials are being reviewed for being deficient after a Las Vegas Optic newspaper investigation revealed they’re likely

, including a principal in the Santa Fe Public Schools District. The Public Education Department is reviewing the problem and could decide to revoke the employees’ licenses. The licenses were issued by Charles Trujillo, the former licensing bureau chief, who faces his own accusations of falsifying credentials to obtain school district work himself before being arrested on forgery and fraud charges.

Baby Brianna's Mother Set to be Released from Prison

Stephanie Rene Lopez, the mother who was convicted for killing her own daughter known as Baby Brianna, is

from prison Sept. 25 after serving less than half of her sentence.

Torraco Accused of Conflict of Interest

The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office wants State Sen. Lisa Torraco, R-Albuquerque, a private practice criminal defense attorney, removed from a child solicitation case. Prosecutors allege Torraco has a conflict of interest after

used in the alleged crime. Torraco says the legal motion is “dirty, dirty politics” and says she was just doing her job.

After Gary Johnson stumbled over not knowing Aleppo is a war-torn town in Syria during a national television interview last week, Andy Lyman reports that the Libertarian Party wants their presidential nominee to be on the same footing as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to receive national security briefings. But it appears the party’s nominee

since the party didn’t receive at least 25 percent support in the 2012 election.

Immigrant advocacy groups are celebrating

in the number of people applying for US citizenship in New Mexico.

The Rio Grande Foundation is proposing

. The group’s plan includes more spending cuts and no new taxes, and “includes things Democrats might like including legalizing and taxing marijuana sales, eliminating corporate welfare programs, and addressing athletic department subsidies.” And stuff that Republicans will support, “including cutting K-12 spending, especially on administration; reducing the proliferation of branch campuses in higher education; and eliminating film subsidies.” For now, Gov. Susana Martinez still

to fix the budget crunch, and Andrew Oxford reports this fall’s

.

The number of murders in the state’s largest city is spiking and with

in the first nine and a half months of 2016. If the rate continues, Albuquerque is on track to match the 70 violent deaths recorded in 1996.

We still don’t know how many people attended the New Mexico State Fair, which ended Sunday, but the event is

.

Santa Fe Reporter