Lt. Gov. Sanchez drops bid for U.S. Senate
Steve Terrell | The New Mexican
Lt. Gov. John Sanchez's decision Thursday to drop his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Jeff Bingaman is great news for former congresswoman Heather Wilson, who already was considered the front-runner in the Republican prima ...Story, »

Foreclosure settlement brings some aid to N.M.
Kate Nash | The New Mexican
Tens of thousands of New Mexicans who have tangled with foreclosure will benefit from a national settlement that will bring about $92 million to the state, Attorney General Gary King said. The landmark $25 billion settlement between major banks and ...Story, »

Feds charge campus owner with fraud
Tom Sharpe | The New Mexican
The owner of the campus of the former St. Catherine Indian School has been indicted on charges of obtaining nearly $11 million in federal contracts by making fraudulent statements to qualify for a program for disabled veterans. Max R. Tafoya, 62, o ...Story, »

Unions spar over public pension reforms
Trip Jennings | The New Mexican
A tightening of national accounting rules in recent years has required states to set aside more money to pay pensions for both current and future retirees. For New Mexico's two public retirement systems -- Public Employees Retirement Association an ...Story, »

Artwork goes up as weather slows St. Francis Drive underpass
Tom Sharpe | The New Mexican
It could be midsummer before the new South St. Francis Drive underpass is completed -- more than half a year later than originally planned. But one panel of the project's artwork, with the "sister water" verse from St. Francis of Assisi's poem "Can ...Story, »

'Transparency' guv declines to release schedule
Jeri Clausing | The Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE -- Gov. Susana Martinez bills herself as the transparency governor, promoting her mandate that all state employee salaries be posted publicly, touting her support for a bill that would require agencies and elected bodies to post notices o ...Story, »

Forestry officials brace for fire season
Staci Matlock | The New Mexican
If weather predictions hold true, and the drying trend caused by La Niña continues, New Mexico could be in for another big fire season. "We're hoping for the best but preparing for the worst," said Dan Ware, spokesman for New Mexico State Fo ...Story, »

Legislative roundup, Feb. 10, 2012
| The New Mexican
Days remaining in session: 6 Anti-corruption bill passes Senate: The Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a bill that would add prison time to sentences of public officials convicted of corruption-related crimes and make it possible for such offic ...Story, »

Local news in brief, Feb. 10, 2012
| The New Mexican
Woman struck by truck near Capitol A female pedestrian was hit by a truck in front of the east side of the Capitol on Thursday evening. Police say the woman, whom they have not identified, was wearing dark clothing when she was struck by a red Fo ...Story, »

Custom fishing rods fulfill a dream
Karl F. Moffatt | For The New Mexican
When the doors open and the crowds start to filter in at Bob Gerding's annual hunting and fishing show this weekend, fledgling bamboo fly-rod builder Bruce Smith of Edgewood will be there to realize his dream. "It's pretty exciting," the retired ma ...Story, »

Court rules in favor of governor in union dispute
| The Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE -- Republican Gov. Susana Martinez won a court fight with labor unions Thursday over her appointee to a board that enforces New Mexico’s collective bargaining law for government employees.  State District Court Judge Nan Nash t ...Story, »

House OKs change in legislative pension plan
Barry Massey | The Associated Press
The House has approved a proposal to require legislators to contribute more into their pension plan, but the sponsor of the measure says the Legislature needs to scale back its retirement program. Legislators don't receive an annual salary, but the ...Story, »

Rio Arriba fugitive, cage fighter surrenders
Tom Sharpe | The New Mexican
An Abiquiú cage fighter wanted on charges of beating his girlfriend voluntarily surrendered earlier this week. Margarito Velasquez, 43, remained in the Rio Arriba County Detention Center in Tierra Amarillo on Thursday, in lieu of a $10,000 c ...Story, »