Morning Word: News from Around New Mexico

While one tax

dispute is settled in Taos County, another one in Eddy County leads to a standoff with the feds. A prison warden is off the job in Central New Mexico, and who are you going to call? Better Call Saul sets a cable viewership record. Plus, a complete legislative news roundup in the Morning Word.

It's Tuesday, February 10, 2015

A Northern New Mexico ranch owned by Ted Turner gets a big tax break in Taos County. The property, which is used for logging and raising bison, will now be treated as agricultural land with a tax of about  $17,000. Read it at the Santa Fe New Mexican. Yet, another tax and land dispute in Eddy County led to a standoff between a local sheriff and US Marshals.

The sheriff sent a letter to the IRS requesting the agency cancel the auction, but he hasn’t said what he’ll do if the IRS says no. See more at KRQE.  After an illegal cougar hunt, former New Mexico Game Commission chair and rancher Scott Bidegain of Tucumcari has agreed to complete a two-year probation-style program. Once it's completed charges will be dropped.

Read it at the Clovis News Journal.  The warden at the Central Mexico Correctional Facility in Los Lunas is on administrative leave, but officials aren’t saying why. See it at KOAT. The Human Rights Defense Center in Florida is suing the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center for banning legal self help books it sent to help inmates. See it at KOB.  New Mexicans for a Better Tomorrow has filed petitions to recall three Las Cruces city councilors because they are “too heavily influenced by local progressives.” The business group had been warned in December about collecting petitions under false pretenses. Read it at the Las Cruces Sun-News. Santa Fe’s public campaign financing program is still being panned because of outside spending by some groups on last year’s mayoral campaign. Read it at the ABQ Journal.  As Santa Fe Public School Superintendent John Boyd considers moving to a new job in Fort Worth, Texas, Board President Steven Carrillo wants the search to find his replacement to focus on local leaders. Read more at SFR.  Meanwhile, the Rio Rancho Public School Board has offered its superintendent a $22,000 raise. Read more at the ABQ Journal.  Three-day eviction notices were handed out to ‘Tent City’ residents in Albuquerque on Monday. Reporter Dan McKay has more.   Joe Anthony Montoya, the former owner of Advantage Asphalt, has been sentenced to 18 years for multiple counts of bribery of a public official and fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. Journalist Phaedra Hayward has the story.  Legislative Session News:

• A repeat DWI driver says he supports a bill that stiffens penalties –
• KOB
• . 
• Maybe it’s just better to have your booze delivered to the house –
• KRQE
• . 
• The New Mexico Secretary of State’s office has a hard time collecting fines from campaign finance violations -
• Las Cruces Sun-News
• . 
• Lobbyist disclosure reforms stall in NM House -
• New Mexico In-Depth.
•  
• Education bills are in limbo after tie votes –
• New Mexico Political Report.
•  
• New Mexico judges call for boost in courts budget –
• Santa Fe New Mexican.
•  
• A bill that would make government corruption penalties stiffer passes NM House –
• KOB 4.
•  
• A bill to help pregnant workers faces another committee –
• Santa Fe New Mexican. 
• New Mexico House panel eyes truancy driver’s license bill –
• Albuquerque Journal.
• New data breach rules proposed for businesses –
• Albuquerque Business First.
•  
• New Mexico website drops easy scanning feature on lobbyists –
• Albuquerque Journal.
•  
• State lawmaker seeks PGA event for New Mexico –
• Albuquerque Business First.
•  
• House committee splits on vote over truancy driver's license suspensions –
• KOB 4.
•  

The premier of Better Call Saul on Sunday night set a cable viewership record and appears to quickly becoming a fan favorite.

Read it at Variety Magazine. 

Santa Fe Reporter