Friday

August 13, 2010

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PNM Granted Additional Time to Meet Federal Rule (posted August 13, 2010)  
Extension Provides More Time to Consider Environmental Effectiveness, Cost Impact on Customers

( ALBUQUERQUE ) – A hearing officer for the N.M. Environmental Improvement Board yesterday granted PNM’s request to postpone for three months a public hearing on a proposed state emissions rule.
PNM asked for more time so that it and other parties can fully consider which technology at a PNM coal-fired plant can best reduce regional haze in national parks and federal wilderness areas while controlling the cost impact on customers.
PNM filed a motion Aug. 10 with the EIB asking for an extension from Oct. 4 to early January to consider and respond to a plan recently proposed by the N.M. Environment Department requiring new emissions reductions at PNM-operated San Juan Generating Station. NMED did not object to PNM’s motion, and an EIB hearing officer yesterday agreed to extend the hearing date to Jan. 10, 2011.
“We are pleased that additional time was granted to fully consider this proposal,” said PNM president and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn. “PNM electric customers deserve thorough and thoughtful consideration of how we improve visibility in national parks and wilderness areas, and equally careful consideration of how we accomplish that at the least cost.”
Located near Farmington , N.M. , San Juan is the only plant in New Mexico that would be affected by NMED’s proposed state implementation plan for meeting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations to address haze and improve visibility in federal wilderness areas and national parks.

NMED’s proposal calls for installation of selective catalytic reduction, a technology that would add significantly to costs passed along to customers. PNM’s analysis, conducted by a well respected engineering firm that specializes in air emissions, concluded that the plant’s recently completed $320 million environmental upgrade meets EPA’s Best Available Retrofit Technology – or “BART” – standards. Technologies installed as part of that environmental upgrade have reduced plant emissions of nitrogen oxide, or NOx – the primary emission targeted by the NMED proposal -- by about 33 percent. Other emissions also have been reduced.

The outcome of the hearing now scheduled for January on the state’s proposal would be submitted to EPA Region 6 for approval. The EPA process will include a 60-day public comment period. PNM will have five years to achieve compliance with the requirements that come out of that process.

UPDATE - Two Found Dead in Burned Camper (posted August 10, 2010)  

Santa Rosa – The Office of the Medical Investigator has confirmed the identities of the two bodies that were recovered from the ashes of a burned camper trailer in Colonias.

The remains were of Gary W. Haas 61, and his wife Linda A. Haas 61, of Oklahoma.

Two Found Dead in Burned Camper (posted August 10, 2010)

Santa Rosa—The burned bodies of two people were found Wednesday morning by a rancher 10 miles west of Santa Rosa.   The bodies were found in a burned camper on a ranch about 3 miles north of I-40.  The New Mexico State Police is currently investigating this as a double-homicide.

The victims are believed to have left the Oklahoma City., OK early Monday morning and traveled west towards NM along Interstate 40. The victims were traveling in a white 4-door 2008 Chevrolet pickup truck pulling a light colored 32’ travel trailer.

The travel trailer was found west of Santa Rosa and the truck was located at approximately 2:00 p.m. Wednesday abandoned in a parking lot near Edith & Osuna in Albuquerque.

Anyone who may have seen this vehicle traveling along I-40 or may have information related to this crime is requested to contact the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau.

Governor Acts on Health Care Reform Plan   (posted July 22, 2010)

SANTA FE– Governor Bill Richardson announced July 20, the state is moving forward on several initial recommendations from the New Mexico Health Care Reform Leadership Team’s Strategic Plan. Governor Richardson appointed the leadership team to develop a plan for the state to implement the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed by Congress earlier this year.

“I appreciate the hard work this team put forward to lead New Mexico down the right path in implementing health care reform,” Governor Richardson said.  “Now the even harder work must begin with implementing some of the recommendations, including developing New Mexico’s own strong health insurance exchange.”

Developing a Health Insurance Exchange is one of the recommendations in the Strategic Plan.

“The Leadership Team felt strongly about establishing our own health insurance exchange rather than using one operated by the federal government with the purpose of the Exchange being an active marketplace that helps drive the development of quality, affordable plans for New Mexicans,” said Katie Falls, Human Services Department Secretary and chair of the Health Care Reform Leadership Team.

The other recommendations the Governor has directed the state to move forward with include:

• ·          Continue convening the Health Care Reform Leadership Team to assure coordination across state agencies, report directly to the Office of the Governor, and be accountable for recommendations made to the Executive.

• ·          Expand membership of the HCR Leadership Team to include representation from the Higher Education Department; Public Education Department; Department of Finance and Administration; General Services Department, Risk Management Division; Office of the Governor’s Council on Women’s Health; and the Workers’ Compensation Administration.

• ·          Create an Office of Health Care Reform generally based on the NM Office of Recovery and Reinvestment (NMORR) model utilizing existing staff resources to plan, coordinate, and administer implementation of federal health care reform while reporting to the Health Care Reform Leadership Team. 

• ·          Host the Office of Health Care Reform at the Human Services Department

• ·          Determine state statutes requiring amendment/enactment to be in compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

• ·          Conduct tribal consultation regarding health care reform initiatives and policies that will impact American Indians.

The HCR Leadership Team was put together by Executive Order earlier this year and consisted of several state agencies and offices.  The Leadership Team held three meetings, where the public and stakeholders had the opportunity to give input.

The Strategic Plan, Federal Health Care Reform – A Roadmap for New Mexico, highlights the need to further analyze the fiscal and policy implications presented for our state given various provisions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  The complete report can be found on the HSD website at http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/pdf/hcr/NM%20Federal%20Health%20Care%20Reform%20Strategic%20Plan%207-12-10%20FINAL.pdf.

9-year old missing  (posted July 18, 2010)

Farmington – Authorities were contacted  today and informed that Christopher a. Martinez-Smith was reported to be at a family member’s house.  Authorities learned that Christopher walked away from his dads roadside business in Kirtland, hitchhiked for about a mile and a half when a stranger stopped to pick him up and dropped him off at his aunt’s house approximately 20 miles away. 

Kirtland — A 9 year old boy is missing from the Kirtland area.  Christopher A. Martinez-Smith was last seen walking eastbound on US 64 in Kirtland at approximately 7:00 PM. The San Juan County Sheriff’s department responded to the scene and began a search of the immediate area, since then they have recruited the assistance of the New Mexico State Police and Search and Rescue personnel to assist.

Christopher A. Martinez-Smith is described as a 4 foot 6 inch tall male, weighs approximately 70 pounds. Christopher has short stubby black hair and brown eyes, he was last seen wearing a multicolored button down shirt black/white/gray, with gray denim shorts and white Nike tennis shoes. 

Anyone with information should contact the San Juan County Sheriff’s Department at (505) 334-6622 or the New Mexico State Police at (505) 325-7547. 

Homicide suspect arrested  (posted June 10, 2010)

SOCORRO – John James Hayden, 56 of Socorro, NM will face charges in the homicide of Theresa Saiz-Chavez.

Through the course of the day, investigators conducted numerous interviews compiling information surrounding the homicide of Theresa Saiz-Chavez and by late this afternoon investigators concluded Hayden the boyfriend of the victim was the suspect in question.  Hayden will be facing charges of; Open Count of Murder, Aggravated Battery Against a Household Member and Kidnapping.

Hayden was booked into the Socorro County detention center on a no bond hold.

Socorro - Shots fired call leads investigators to crime scene in Socorro County.

Late yesterday evening State Police, Socorro County Sheriffs Office and Socorro Police Department were dispatched to a shots fired call. While law enforcement personnel were searching for the suspect’s vehicle in the shots fired call, a different vehicle was located parked under a bridge off Chaparral Rd. The unidentified vehicle parked under the bridge had a deceased female within it, there has been no definitive information indicating the two vehicles were related to each other.

State Police Investigations Bureau with the assistance of the Socorro Police Department have processed the crime scene.  The deceased has not been identified as of yet, investigators are following all leads at this point. 

Suspect Dies in Officer Involved Shooting (posted May 18, 2010)

Raton — Domestic Dispute turned deadly after Anthony Higareda, 43, of Chicago, Illinois fired upon Raton Police officers.

State Police were called just before 9:00 p.m. Sunday evening, May 16, by Raton Police Department, to investigate an officer involved shooting.  Criminal Investigations Bureau Agents arrived at the crime scene and began piecing together the evening’s chain of events at 300 North 3^rd street in Raton.  The Agents learned that just after 3:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon Juanita Armijo-Gallegos called Raton PD reporting a domestic dispute between her and known felon Higareda.  Upon arrival of Raton PD officers and after several hours of attempted negotiations Raton PD officers made entry into the residence. 

Anthony Higareda fired upon officers and shot veteran employee Sergeant B.J. Holland of the Raton Police Department, officers fired back and struck Higareda.  Sergeant B.J. Holland and Higareda were transported to Miners Colfax Medical Center for medical attention, Higareda later passed away and Sergeant Holland was later released from the hospital.  Agents will complete their investigation and submit it to the District Attorney’s office in Colfax County for their review.

Suspects Arrested in teen's death (posted May 14, 2010)

Gallup – Stretching across the state early Friday morning, four of the six suspects were arrested in connection with the death of Tryan Denetso, 16, of Crownpoint.

Just after sunrise this morning, agents with the State Police Criminal Investigations Bureau and the US Marshal’s Office, hit Newcomb, Clovis, and Gallup simultaneously arresting Dylan Madewell, 18, and his father Tommy Madewell, 44,  of Crownpoint at a relative’s home in Clovis. Allen Eberth, 24, of Gallup was arrested in Gallup, and Eric Edwards, 38, of Newcomb was arrested in Newcomb, N.M. In addition to these arrests, we are working with tribal authorities on the pending arrest of the last two, Roman Yazzie, 19, and his father Norman Yazzie, 44, of Crownpoint.

Friday, May 7^th, students from Crownpoint High School gathered for the Blue Water Bash 2 ½ miles south of Blue Water Lake in Cibola County. Through extensive interviews it was learned that several students to include freshman Tryan Denetso and a few adults were drinking alcoholic beverages.  Sometime in the early morning hours after consuming a heavy amount of the beverages, Tryan Denetso went to his tent, passed out, and never woke up.  Friends took Tryan Denetso to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Preliminary results exhibited Denetso’s blood alcohol level at a .40.

Eric Edwards is facing:  Selling or giving alcoholic beverages to a minor, Child Abuse resulting in death, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

Tommy Madewell is facing:  Selling or giving alcoholic beverages to a minor. 

Allen Eberth is facing:  Selling or giving alcoholic beverages to a minor and Tampering with Evidence.

Dylan Madewell is facing:  Selling or giving alcoholic beverages to a minor and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

Roman Yazzie is facing:  Selling or giving alcoholic beverages to a minor and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. 

Norman Yazzie is facing:  Selling or giving alcoholic beverages to a minor.

Grand Jury Indicts Jeremiah Jackson (posted May 14, 2010)

A federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment against Jeremiah Jackson, 31, in connection with the April 6, 2010, robbery of the New Mexico Bank and Trust on Louisiana NE Albuquerque.

Jackson is accused of leading police officers on a high-speed pursuit after the robbery which ended in a fatal crash at Coors Road and Sequoia. Two Albuquerque women died from injuries sustained in the accident. The indictment charges Jackson with robbing the bank and with two counts of causing a death while fleeing or attempting to avoid apprehension in the wake of the robbery.

The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charles Barth and Presiliano Torrez.

An indictment is only an accusation. All criminal defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Double Fatal in Dona Ana County  (posted May 10, 2010)

Las Cruces – Manuel Campos, 42 and Robert Walters, 28 of Las Cruces were fatally injured in a four vehicle collision that tied up traffic for several hours Friday, May 7.

State Police Officers from the Las Cruces office were summoned to a four vehicle crash just after 8:30 PM Friday evening in Southern New Mexico. Through the officers investigation they learned that Ruben Espinoza, 28 of Alamogordo, NM was traveling west on US 70 near mile post 154 when his 2004 Chrysler struck Robert Walters 2004 GMC pick-up and forced both vehicle across the median striking two east bound vehicles head on.  The east bound vehicles were a 2002 Ford pick-up driven by Manuel Campos and a 2005 Volvo Semi driven by David Hayes, 55, of Independence, MO.

Manuel Campos and Robert Walters were both pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.  Ruben Espinoza and Isaiah Campos, 10 year old passenger and grandson of Manuel Campos were transported to University Hospital in El Paso, Texas.  Ruben Espinoza was listed in critical condition and Isaiah Campos was listed in stable condition as of this afternoon. David Hayes was transported to Memorial Medical Center is Las Cruces for minor injuries and was listed in stable condition as of this afternoon.  

The cause of the crash is still under investigation into why Ruben Espinoza left his lane of travel causing the four vehicle collision, and alcohol is listed as a contributing factor in the collision.