Public Safety

Jemez Ranger District Begins Joaquin Prescribed Burn

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – To take advantage of unseasonably favorable conditions, to include fuel moisture levels, air quality and weather forecasts, fire managers on the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) expect to begin ignitions on the Joaquin fuelwood unit Thursday, Jan. 11 to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire.

Weather permitting, crews are expected to treat up to 90-acres of the 115-acre area. The Joaquin fuelwood unit is at the intersection of Forest Roads (FRs) 376 and 488. The window for the 115-acre Joaquin unit, a combination of slash and piles, is Jan. Read More

Governor Unveils Legislative Proposals To Fight Crime

Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

  • Measures Focus on Targeting Repeat Offenders, Supporting Police and Courts and Protecting Children

ALBUQUERQUE — Today, Gov Susana Martinez unveiled a comprehensive series of legislative proposals designed to crack down on crime throughout New Mexico. The measures focus on targeting repeat offenders, supporting police officers and the courts and protecting children.

“For too long, violent and repeat criminals have terrorized our families and communities,” Martinez said. “New Mexicans need and deserve to be safe from criminals – we must act once and Read More

FDA Indefinitely Delays Enforcing Four Food Safety Modernization Act Provisions

HSNW News:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that, for now, it will not enforce four rules related to the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), a law passed in 2011 that signaled the biggest overhaul in the U.S. food safety laws in seventy years.

In a press release, FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that although the FDA has been working hard to implement provisions of the law, “we recognize that such a fundamental change in our food safety approach may require adjustments along the way to address issues that had not been previously anticipated.” Read More

Attorney General Balderas Releases Distributed Generation Disclosure Statement

Attorney General Hector Balderas
 
AG News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE  In collaboration with the solar, energy and housing industries, consumer protection groups and regulators, Attorney General Hector Balderas has released the Distributed Generation Disclosure Statement.
 
This form is designed in an easily understood and visually distinct manner to help consumers understand the important terms of a solar power system purchase, lease or power purchase agreement.
 
The Attorney General is releasing the first version of the Distributed Generation Disclosure Statement
Read More

Reporters Without Borders: Chinese Court Sentences Anti-Corruption Blogger Wu Gan To 8 Years In Prison

A Chinese court sentences anti-corruption blogger Wu Gan to eight years in prison. Courtesy photo
 
Anti-corruption blogger Wu Gan
 
RSF News:
 
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is appalled by the eight-year prison sentence that a Chinese court has imposed on Wu Gan, a blogger who campaigned tirelessly against government corruption until his arrest in 2015.
 
A court in the northern city of Tianjin passed the sentence Dec. 26 after convicting Wu of “subverting state power” at the end of a trial held behind closed doors. 44, Wu, 44, had used the blog name of “Super
Read More

Federal Judge Imposes Sanctions On Attorney In Dismissed Lawsuit Challenging Bail Reform

U.S. District Judge Robert A. Junell

From Administrative Office of the Courts:

SANTA FE – A federal court has imposed sanctions on an attorney for making what the judge described as “groundless” and “frivolous” claims in a lawsuit that challenged New Mexico’s system of pretrial release and detention of criminal defendants.

U.S. District Judge Robert A. Junell dismissed the lawsuit last month, and Thursday ordered sanctions against the attorney representing those who brought the lawsuit – the Bail Bond Association of New Mexico, several legislators and an Albuquerque woman who was charged Read More

Heinrich, Wyden Call For Intelligence Assessment Of President’s Latest North Korea Tweet

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats requesting that the Intelligence Community assess the risk to the United States and to U.S. interests and personnel arising from President Trump’s latest North Korea tweet.

“In particular, we request that the assessment address the likely North Korean response to the President’s January 2 tweet and the President’s other threatening tweets and statements, and whether Read More

Pearce On UNM Suspending Lead Physician In Fetal Tissue Research While Investigation Moves Forward

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce

From the Office of U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce:

Washington, D.C. U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce issued the following statement regarding the recent suspension of Dr. Robin Ohls, lead physician in fetal tissue research at the University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences Center”

“For years, this issue has divided the University of New Mexico, board of regents, and the community. The University and Health Sciences Center has been in an incredibly difficult position working through a number of allegations and potential questions relating to research being conducted. Read More