Morning Word: Historic Church Fire Leaves Congregation Reeling

After the Fire
A historic Albuquerque church community is reeling from a suspected electrical fire that heavily damaged the building's interior. The Joy of Light Church of God in Christ was the former home of the Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of New Mexico's oldest predominantly black congregations and a hub for the civil rights movement in the city in the 1950s.

Bottom Feeders

Our state's schools have earned another sad grade from

Education Week

magazine's "Quality Counts" report. No states earned an A grade in the analysis, but nine are labeled with B or B-. New Mexico has a D. Here's a

that breaks it down.

The Santa Fe New Mexican

analyzed the Wednesday report on today's

.

Action!

SFR's Alex De Vore takes a deep dive on the status of

that helped New Mexico lure productions and their spending. The story re-introduces Eric Witt, the director of the new regional film office opened by the city and county of Santa Fe.

Election Question

Did

Breaking Bad

actor Steven Michael Quezada fill out his own candidacy paperwork before his recent election to the job of Bernalillo County commissioner? Breaking reports

indicate State Police are looking into the question as part of a criminal investigation. A civil case about the election is already pending.

The City of Santa Fe says it has updated its HR policies after an internal audit showed temporary and seasonal employees were

despite being eligible. 

A new

alleges gender discrimination and nepotism at the Mora Independent Schools. Dora Romero, former superintendent, says the board fired her to make way for Charles Trujillo, a nephew of a board member who later stepped down from the job after reports in the 

that Trujillo faked his credentials to obtain his administrative license.

Police dashcam footage published this week by KRQE News 13 shows a man near Las Vegas

chase before getting nabbed on his 12th DWI. It's the kind of repeated news story that's right on time for the upcoming legislative session, in which Gov. Susana Martinez says she will push for

.

Even though it appears massive social media outcry stopped the madness, the big news of the last couple days has been the Republican plan to gut the independent ethics office. New Mexico Political Report says New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce was

. 

Santa Fe Reporter