Three top APS officials get pay bump to $125K

Three of Albuquerque Public Schools top brass got 6.6 percent raises recently.

The APS officials who received the pay bump are all associate superintendents. Eddie Soto, Diane Kerschen and Raquel Reedy now make $125,000 each year.

APS Superintendent Winston Brooks said the three have taken on an increased workload and the district is saving money because they haven't replaced associate and assistant superintendents who have left their jobs.

"The district is still saving money even with the 6.6 percent increase in compensation for the remaining associate superintendents. The net savings to the district is $107,500," Brooks said in a statement.

Teacher salaries have remained stagnant at APS since 2008, according to the Albuquerque Journal.  

Three top APS officials get pay bump to $125K

Newsbreak New Mexico 12pm Webcast 10/18/12

Newsbreak New Mexico 12pm Newscast with Vanessa Dabovich

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Carlsbad woman burns down house after hearing voices
NM man incorrectly released from jail three times
Heinrich and Wilson debate in Las Cruces
State to consider concealed weapons in parks

Newsbreak New Mexico 12pm Webcast 10/18/12

Two NM sites get National Historic designation

San José de los Jémez Mission

Two sites in New Mexico are being designated as national historic landmarks. 

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's designation of 27 sites nationwide includes the Rio Grande Railroad's San Juan Extension in Rio Arriba County. New Mexico's other new landmark is the San José de los Jémez Mission and Pueblo Site. 

The Interior Department says the site is associated with the spread of Spanish control into the present-day American Southwest and is an early representation of the intersection of European and native cultures.

 The department says landmark designations mean each site gets a designation letter, a plaque, and technical preservation advice.

Two NM sites get National Historic designation

Portales prepares for peanut festival despite major recall

The eastern New Mexico town of Portales is preparing for its 39th annual peanut festival this weekend. But the festivities may be overshadowed by anxiety over the shuttering of a local plant at the heart of a national peanut butter recall. 

Officials with Sunland Inc., the nation's largest USDA certified organic peanut processing plant, say they are scrubbing from top to bottom and hope to get some operations running within a week or two. But it could be two more months before they start making peanut butter again. T

The plant makes nut butters for several major retailers. It was shut and more than 200 products recalled after salmonella was found in Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter. 

Thirty-five illnesses in 19 states have been linked to the product.

Portales prepares for peanut festival despite major recall

"Bless Me, Ultima" movie debuts in NM

"Bless Me, Ultima" will make its New Mexico premiere tonight at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe. The movie opens in Albuquerque and Santa Fe this weekend.  

The movie, based on the beloved novel by Rudolpho Anaya, was shot entirely in New Mexico, but folks were outraged when the film premiered in El Paso. 

The film's stars say they believe it will make a big impact in New Mexico despite the controversy. 

Actor Benito Martinez says  he hopes the New Mexican audience will embrace it and see it as a tribute to New Mexico and see the story that unfolds.

"Bless Me, Ultima" movie debuts in NM

ABQ police officer leaves evidence at scene

An Albuquerque police officer investigating a disturbance busted a man for heroin.  According to the criminal complaint, after making the arrest, the officer indicated he had possibly left some of the drugs on the curb. 

Albuquerque Police Department is calling this an honest, human mistake and an error the office immediately owned up to. 

The incident happened near the intersection of Rhode Island St. and Copper Ave. NE. According to the criminal complaint, the officer searched 29-year-old Mark Rodriguez for weapons, and found two hypodermic needles along with a scale.

 In addition, the officer removed a green, leafy substance wrapped in clear cellophane from Rodriguez's pocket, which the officer placed on the curb and continued his search. 

The key evidence that was not left behind is what landed Rodriguez with a felony charge.  It was a large, brown ball, also wrapped in cellophane, which the officer tested positive as heroin.

ABQ police officer leaves evidence at scene

Carlsbad woman burns down house after hearing voices

Authorities say a Carlsbad woman burned down her own house after claiming to hear noises in the attic. 

Thirty-three year old Valerie Hernandez was arrested last week after a nearly six-month investigation. 

According to police, Hernandez moved into the home in March and told police she never liked living there because she believed someone was living in the attic and had bugged the house to listen to her conversations. 

Hernandez admitted buying lighter fluid but told police she just dropped the lighter fluid by the front door. Police say she repeatedly asked authorities if the person in the attic had died during the fire. No one was hurt in the fire police said originated on a mattress.

Carlsbad woman burns down house after hearing voices

Newsbreak New Mexico 8am Webcast 10/18/12

Newsbreak New Mexico 8am Newscast with Vanessa Dabovich

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State Rep wants NMSU president payout investigated
NM Senator Mary Jane Garcia fined
State considering concealed weapons in parks 

Newsbreak New Mexico 8am Webcast 10/18/12

NM legislator fined for campaign finance violations

Mary Jane Garcia

A New Mexico legislator has been fined $1,200 by the secretary of state for campaign finance violations. 

Democratic state Sen. Mary Jane Garcia of Dona Ana was notified of the fine in a letter dated Tuesday. Duran's office says Garcia's campaign disclosures had 12 instances of improper cash spending since 2010. Campaigns are prohibited from making payments for "cash" of more than $100.

 Garcia told Duran's office the campaign payments covered travel to attend legislative committee meetings and contended that's allowed by law. The Legislature separately reimbursed Garcia for mileage and daily expense allowances for attending the meetings.

NM legislator fined for campaign finance violations

State Rep wants NMSU president payout investigated

Barbara Couture

A state representative wants New Mexico's attorney general to investigate if a payout for New Mexico State University's president is legal. 

Barbara Couture resigned from NMSU in September. She is technically on leave until January. When her leave ends, she's scheduled to receive nearly $454,000. 

On Wednesday, state representative Bill Rehm sent a letter to Attorney General Gary King. The letter asked King to determine if the payout is a violation of the state's anti-donation clause, since Couture would be getting money from the state while not providing services to NMSU.

State Rep wants NMSU president payout investigated