Woman indicted for helping foreign nationals obtain fraudulent licenses

From KOB-TV.com - By: Charlie Pabst, KOB.com - An Albuquerque woman is indicted on more than 300 counts of creating fake residency documents for foreign nationals so they could get New Mexico driver's licenses. An indictment alleges 45-year-old Ana Hernandez signed the documents using different names and notarized the signatures. Investigators say Hernandez helped 29 people get driver's licenses by using her previous business address on Central for their residential address. A check of court records shows she is currently out on a $25,000 bond stemming from a May arrest related to drug charges. Read More

Woman indicted for helping foreign nationals obtain fraudulent licenses

Pearce is cruising toward re-election

From NM Politics.net - by Heath Haussamen - U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., appears, at least at this point, to be cruising toward re-election. Pearce currently has no challenger except a little-known candidate from Roswell, even though Washington expects serious challengers to incumbents to already be raising money. The latest potential challenger to bite the dust is Sunland Park Mayor Martin Resendiz, a Democrat who the Albuquerque Journal reported this morning admitted during a deposition to signing city contracts while he was drunk – and to not even knowing what he was signing. That’s not going to earn him any points with voters in the 2nd Congressional District. Resendiz told NMPolitics.net in early May that he would officially form an exploratory committee the following week, but said it was a formality and that his decision to run for Congress “has already been made.” Since then, we’ve heard nothing from him about running against Pearce. Read more

Pearce is cruising toward re-election

Jerome Block, Jr. faces questions on gas card and more

From Capitol Report New Mexico.com - It’s been a rocky few days for Jerome Block Jr. — not that the last few years have been smooth sailing for the Public Regulation Commission member who seems to attract controversy on a regular basis. On Thursday (Aug. 4), the intrigue rose to a new level as state workers outside the Public Employees Retirement Association Building were treated to the sight of investigators cracking open Block’s Dodge Durango as allegations swirled that Block had been fraudulently using a state gas card. a report from Gadi Schwartz of KOB-TV on Thursday said that a string of suspicious charges had been put on Block’s state gas account between January and May, totalling about $4,000 — about twice as much as any other member of the PRC racked up despite the fact that Block lives closer to the PRC offices in Santa Fe than any other member of the commission:On May 6 of this year, Block’s PIN and a PRC gas card were used to buy $29 of unleaded at a Conoco in Espanola. Nine minutes later, $40 was charged on the card for unleaded plus. Two hours after that, another charge at the same gas station for $80.92. Similar charges took place at almost a dozen gas stations. Block said Thursday, “I wouldn’t abuse state property or abuse a position that people have entrusted me to do that.” He says someone else must have made those charges. Read more

Jerome Block, Jr. faces questions on gas card and more

Dow falls 512 in steepest decline since '08 crisis

From the Santa Fe New Mexican.com - NEW YORK (AP) — Gripped by fear of a new recession, Wall Street suffered its worst day Thursday since the financial crisis in the fall of 2008. The firestorm of selling that erased more than 500 points off the Dow Jones industrial average then spread overseas. The sell-off wiped out the Dow's remaining gains for 2011. It put the Dow and broader stock indexes into what investors call a correction — down 10 percent from their highs in the spring. In Friday trading in Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average was down more than 3 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 4 percent. "We are continuing to be bombarded by worries about the global economy," said Bill Stone, the chief investment strategist for PNC Financial. Across the financial markets, the day was reminiscent of the wild swings that defined the financial crisis in September and October three years ago. Gold prices briefly hit a record high. Oil fell even more than stocks — 6 percent, or $5.30 a barrel. And frightened investors were so desperate to get into some government bonds that they were willing accept almost no return on their money. It was the most alarming day yet in the almost uninterrupted selling that has swept Wall Street for two weeks. The Dow has lost more than 1,300 points, or 10.5 percent. By one broad measure kept by Dow Jones, almost $1.9 trillion in market value has disappeared. For the day, the Dow closed down 512.76 points, at 11,383.68. It was the steepest point decline since Dec. 1, 2008. Read more

Dow falls 512 in steepest decline since '08 crisis

Farmington Bench donated by local family honors National Guardsmen

From the Farmington Daily Times - A local Farmington family is doing its part to honor New Mexico veterans. The family of Steve and Diana Rogge helped honor the New Mexico National Guard with a bench at the All-Veterans Plaza in Farmington. While the plaza was designed to honor all New Mexico veterans, it fails to recognize National Guard veterans. Donor Diana Rogge said it is important to her family that all branches of the military are equally honored. "We thought it was a disservice that they have nothing to honor them." Master Sgt. Louie Estrada said it was a great feeling when he found out the Rogge family wanted to honor the National Guard. "I have been in the National Guard for 20 years and I have never seen civilians go out of their way like this," Estrada said. Rogge said her family purchased the bench to match the rest of the benches in the All-Veterans Plaza with the approval of the city of Farmington. The bench was installed, with a dedication ceremony to follow this fall. The dedication ceremony will be informal, Estrada said. Read more

Farmington Bench donated by local family honors National Guardsmen

Swickard: Column - Dreams of generations in a new century

Commentary by Michael Swickard, Ph.D. - Most people in America today cannot remember where they were when the dreams died. This includes me. What dreams? Over the last few decades America has not had dynamic proactive dreams for young people to follow. I know I am painting with a broad brush and exceptions can be found. However, from my time in school to now we have gone from a country focused on achievement to one that is most concerned with getting more than they give. Only chumps give more than they get. As a generation this group of kids does not think about going to the moon. Our young people today do not seem to represent any dream. With the retirement of the Space Shuttles and nothing really on the horizon in space we are not giving our young any dreams to lift them up. So very sad. Read column

Swickard: Column - Dreams of generations in a new century

ICE agents confiscate 34,500 rounds from El Paso pawn shop

From the El Paso Times - At least 34,500 rounds of assault-caliber ammunition were seized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as part of an undercover ammunition smuggling investigation, resulting in a raid on a Downtown pawn shop. Federal authorities say the seizure is expected to be the largest in El Paso's history -- once agents sort through the evidence. The owner of Geneva Loan and Jewelry Co., 222 S. El Paso on the corner of Overland and El Paso streets, and five employees allegedly sold and repackaged all 34,500 rounds, along with 180 large-capacity magazines, to undercover ICE agents, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas. The repackaging was designed to make the rounds easier to smuggle across the border. Read more

ICE agents confiscate 34,500 rounds from El Paso pawn shop

Sports: Chad Roanhaus calling Clovis home again

From the Clovis News Journal - Chad Roanhaus is back in the Wildcat fold. Roanhaus, who turned 36 in July, has been a head coach at the high school level and college level in Las Vegas, N.M. He went 42-21 in five seasons at Robertson High with three straight Class 3A title appearances and two titles. He resigned from New Mexico Highlands, where he also played quarterback, after compiling a 5-28 record in three seasons. He joins his father, longtime coach Eric Roanhaus, and many of his former coaches and teammates on the Wildcat sidelines as offensive coordinator. It’s his second stint as a Wildcat assistant, as he was a junior varsity coach in 2000. He also played quarterback for the Wildcats and was part of a 1991 state championship and 1993 state runner-up teams. Read more

Sports: Chad Roanhaus calling Clovis home again

Carlsbad: Lack of local officials puts games in danger

From the Carlsbad Current-Argus.com - CARLSBAD - With summer winding down, local athletes, coaches and parents can all look forward to school sports seasons starting up. Excuse the local referees, however, if they are not so eager. Mike Thompson, group leader of Carlsbad's basketball officials, expects to lose one to three local referees this season, which would bring the group's size down to 10-12. In the "worst case" scenario of trying to cover the season with only 10 officials, Thompson said approximately 10 lower-level games could be cancelled due to their inability to cover them. Carlsbad is losing referees to work related conflicts, injuries and age. At age 48, Thompson is still one of the youngest local basketball officials and can cite at least seven current injuries he is dealing with - after the offseason. After him there is a big drop off in age down to Michael Barnhart, 27, the only new referee willing to join the crew last year. Even if they do make it through this season without any cancellations the situation won't get any better because the group isn't getting any younger. With the crew's average age reaching into the 50's it is only a matter of time before they see drastic turnover. Thompson can only hope there are new, younger officials to turnover to when that time comes. Read more

Carlsbad: Lack of local officials puts games in danger

iPad not part of tax holiday time

From the Alamogordo Daily News.com - By Barry Massey, Associated Press Writer - Shoppers looking for a new laptop computer can buy it tax-free this weekend in New Mexico, but those hoping for tax savings on a tablet computer like Apple's iPad are out of luck. Tablet devices like the highly popular iPad remain subject to taxation under the state's annual tax holiday, which starts Friday and runs through Sunday. That tax treatment likely will change next year, however. Taxation and Revenue Deputy Secretary John Monforte said Wednesday the agency is revising the regulations for New Mexico's tax holiday because they haven't kept pace with changes in technology, such as tablets like the iPad that have computer functions. Those revamped regulations should be in place for next year's tax holiday, he said. The tax holiday is intended to help shoppers with school-age children, but it's not limited to them. Anyone can benefit if they buy covered items at a retailer participating in the tax-relief program. Read more

iPad not part of tax holiday time