Census: more people leaving NM than coming in

According to the latest census numbers, more people are leaving New Mexico than moving in. 

This might be a result of fewer jobs in the state. Those same census numbers show that a number of recent grads are heading to cities in Texas such as Austin, Houston and Dallas, all of which had a surge in population last year. 

Between July 2011 and July 2012, 5,200 people moved out the Land of Enchantment, nearly the entire population of Tucumcari, per census data.

 Paralleling the overall decline is what officials call a “very slow growth.” Jobs from the oil industry and newborns have contributed to this growth. 

New Mexico has lost 43,000 jobs since the recession began six years ago, according to a local economist.  

Census: more people leaving NM than coming in

New meeting notice and agenda law to take efffect

School boards, city councils, state agencies and other governmental groups must soon start giving New Mexicans greater notice of scheduled meetings and their planned agenda. 

A state law taking effect on June 14 requires governmental organizations to make their meeting agendas available to the public 72 hours in advance and post it on their web site. Current law requires a 24-hour public meeting notice. 

For governmental groups that meet more than once a week, a draft agenda must be provided 72 hours in advance and the final agenda has to be posted at least 36 hours before a meeting. 

New meeting notice and agenda law to take efffect

New NMSU pres. wants other finalists for provost

Garrey Carruthers

New Mexico State University President-designate Garrey Carruthers may hire one of the other finalists for president of the university as its next top academic administrator.

 The NMSU Faculty Senate on June 6 will consider allowing Carruthers to waive normal search procedures if he hires one of the finalists as provost. 

Faculty Senate Chair Dennis Clason says the finalists were carefully vetted during the presidential search process. 

Carruthers was named NMSU president May 6 and officially begins those duties Saturday. 

The other finalists were Guy Bailey, David Ashley, Elsa Murano and Daniel Howard.

New NMSU pres. wants other finalists for provost

Hospital considering Las Cruces Country Club location

Part of the site of the former Las Cruces Country Club is being proposed as the site for a new hospital that would specialize in cardiac medicine.

  If rezoning of the 30-acre site is approved, the 42-bed Park Ridge Medical Center project proposed by Galichia Hospital Group LLC would help fill an area that is the largest open space within the city limits of Las Cruces. 

The entire former country club property is 110 acres, and other development could include a hotel, a small office park, multi-family housing and a combination assisted-living center and rehabilitation hospital.

Hospital considering Las Cruces Country Club location

Alamogordo judge resigns to avoid disciplinary action

Judge William Brogan

New Mexico's highest court has allowed a state district court judge in Alamogordo to resign to avoid disciplinary action for alleged misconduct and failing to carry out his duties. 

District Judge William Brogan resigned Friday under an agreement approved by the state Supreme Court, which released a copy of its order on Tuesday. 

The Judicial Standards Commission had started disciplinary proceedings against Brogan for violating the Code of Judicial Conduct since 2011, including repeatedly failing to follow rules for handing criminal cases. 

The commission said the judge "failed to maintain competence in the performance of judicial duties" or was "unable to perform judicial duties competently and diligently."

Alamogordo judge resigns to avoid disciplinary action