Bills raise public records issues on costs, expunction By Robert Nott rnott@sfnewmexican.com State Sen. John Sapien says he wants the general public to bear a greater share of the cost for public records. Sapien, D-Corrales, has introduced a bill that would require people to pay up to a dollar per page for electronic copies of these documents. “It’s not nefarious,” …

Oil and gas companies face a 1,400 percent increase in the penalty cap for violations of state oil conservation rules if Senate Bill 186 becomes law. Sponsored by Sen. Richard C. Martinez, D-Espanola, and Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Santa Fe, the bill calls for increasing a maximum of $1,000 per day to a maximum of $15,000 per day for violation of …

Residents of New Mexico compound indicted on federal charges ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Five residents of a ramshackle desert compound in New Mexico are scheduled for arraignments and detention hearings after being indicted by a federal grand jury on firearms and conspiracy charges. Federal prosecutors say the group was preparing for violent attacks on government, military, educational and financial institutions …

Ex-Democratic governor backs GOP’s Pearce Democrats say the endorsement of Republican gubernatorial hopeful Steve Pearce by a former Democratic governor is connected to the former governor’s son losing the Democratic nomination for governor. However, in a news release issued Sunday by the Pearce campaign, Pearce said former New Mexico Gov. Jerry Apodaca, a Democrat, is a great New Mexican and …

Santa Fe, NM – Gov. Susana Martinez and the New Mexico Department of Health announced the launch of a new campaign to combat prescription opioid abuse and misuse in New Mexico – the campaign is called “There Is Another Way”. The statewide, multifaceted campaign aims to educate patients and caregivers about safer pain management options and alternative pain management strategies. …

Pearce would replace teacher evaluations By MORGAN LEE, Associated Press SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Pearce said Thursday he would immediately suspend New Mexico’s embattled teacher evaluation system if elected. He said educators are being judged unfairly as the state struggles to improve student academic performance. Pearce, currently a U.S. congressman, said he would he would devise …

Judge dismisses historic preservation claim in drilling case By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN, Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A U.S. district judge has dismissed claims by environmentalists who argued that the approval of drilling permits violated historic preservation laws because of potential threats to culturally significant sites in northwestern New Mexico. Despite an earlier ruling that signaled the claims had merit, Judge …

New Mexico adopts annual sales tax break at small businesses SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has signed a bill that allows tax-free purchase at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Martinez on Friday approved a deduction that allows businesses with 10 employees or fewer to leave sales taxes off many items one day a …

House Dems block expansion of three-strikes law on violent crime By Andrew Oxford The New Mexican The rift over how to stem New Mexico’s rising crime rates burst into the open Thursday, with Democrats blocking a proposal to expand the state’s three-strikes law. The bill would have allowed prosecutors to seek life sentences for criminals convicted of three violent felonies. …

  The first proposed hours of operation and admission fees for the Center of Recreational Excellence were discussed Monday night during a Hobbs Community Affairs Board meeting. CORE officials presented their proposals to the board to receive input and feedback before moving forward in presenting the fees to be considered by the Hobbs City Commission. “We want to start down …