Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety

Prosecutors charge a South Carolina man with carjacking and the killing of a New Mexico officer

Susan Montoya Bryan/Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) โ€” A South Carolina man has been charged with two federal counts stemming from theย killing of a New Mexico state police officer, federal and state prosecutors announced Friday. An unsealed criminal complaint charges Jaremy Smith, 33, with two counts: carjacking resulting in death and discharge of a firearm […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.

The Opinions of Political Candidates

Possibly my favorite thing about writing this column is interacting with readers. That goes for the critical comments as well as the positive. I try to reply as my day job and bourbon consumption allow. (Hereโ€™s a tip: if you want to criticize me, please make it conversational. Screeds that just focus on calling me […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.

Nine Stealth City Elections

Nine municipal governments around New Mexico held local elections a couple of weeks ago. If you didnโ€™t know anything about this, youโ€™re in good company.  For these municipalities, according to the Secretary of State, there were a total of 122,035 eligible voters. Of those, 9,785 voted. That is 8.02%. In the off-year consolidated local elections […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.

Trail Mix: Winter Escape to the Jemez

Winter is always a treat in New Mexico, especially with a highly prolific El Nino season. Powder was in abundance and the smell of pinon burning punctuated the night. But, the sweetness of spring is always on the horizon. With longer and warmer days itโ€™s difficult not to daydream of escaping into the mountains for […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.

The Opinions of Political Candidates

Possibly my favorite thing about writing this column is interacting with readers. That goes for the critical comments as well as the positive. I try to reply as my day job and bourbon consumption allow. (Hereโ€™s a tip: if you want to criticize me, please make it conversational. Screeds that just focus on calling me […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety

Attorney: DWI corruption scheme โ€˜goes outward and upwardโ€™

Editorโ€™s note: This story has been updated to include details recently obtained from Joshua Montaรฑoโ€™s resignation letter. When officer Joshua Montaรฑo was put on administrative leave after the news broke on Jan. 18 that the FBI was investigating him, his colleagues in the DWI unit and a local defense attorney, he said he thought heโ€™d […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

U.S. Supreme Court questions both positions in Rio Grande water case

WASHINGTON โ€” The nationโ€™s highest court will decide whatโ€™s next for a 10-year-old case over Rio Grande water. On Wednesday, attorneys for Texas and New Mexico came to the defense of a proposed deal allocating Rio Grande water between the states against federal opposition to the agreement at the U.S. Supreme Court.  Justices scrutinized both […]