Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico

New Mexico State Police chief defends CDL policy after federal criticism

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler defended his agency’s commercial driver’s license policies after federal officials criticized the state’s compliance with English language proficiency requirements for truck drivers. The dispute centers on a July 3 traffic stop involving commercial truck driver Harjinder Singh, who was later involved in a fatal crash in Florida that […]

USDOT blames New Mexico State Police for fatal Florida semi accident involving undocumented driver

Federal Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says New Mexico State Police officers are partially responsible for a fatal semi-truck accident over 1,000 miles away earlier this month in Florida. According to a statement first reported locally by the Albuquerque Journal, the U.S. Department of Transportation initiated an investigation after a truck driver conducted an illegal U-turn […]

Appeals court blocks New Mexico’s new 7-day waiting period for gun purchases

A 2024 state law requiring a 7-day waiting period for the purchase of firearms will not go into effect, at least for now. A federal appeals court on Tuesday agreed with challengers to the law, backed by the National Rifle Association, who sued to block one of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s cornerstone gun laws. “Cooling-off […]

Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety

Failed New Mexico House candidate sentenced to 80 Years for role in shootings at local Democrats’ homes

A failed Republican legislative candidate was sentenced to 80 years in federal prison on Wednesday for hiring gunmen to shoot at the homes of four Democratic elected officials in the Albuquerque area following his 2022 election defeat. A U.S. District Judge handed down the sentence to Solomon Peña, 41, during an 11 a.m. hearing in […]

Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico

Snapchat faces legal battle in New Mexico over child exploitation allegations

Social media company accused of easing exploitation The State of New Mexico’s lawsuit against the parent company of Snapchat over allegations of enabling child exploitation is gathering steam. The lawsuit, filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez in September 2024, accuses Snap Inc., the parent company of social media platform Snapchat, of designing its […]

Posted inNew Mexico

New lawsuits allege systemic abuse and concealment by Catholic Dioceses

This report is supported by NM Political Report, a nonprofit newsroom working to increase New Mexicans’ engagement in politics and public policy. Reported by: Josh Lee, Las Cruces, New Mexico This report is original reporting by a New Mexico-based independent journalist with support NMreports.org and its readers and sponsors. The Catholic Church’s handling of decades-old […]

Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety

Supreme Court saves politico from recall over Rio Arriba Oñate statue dispute

This report is supported by NM Political Report, a nonprofit newsroom working to increase New Mexicans’ engagement in politics and public policy. Reported by: Connor Currier This report is original reporting by a New Mexico-based independent journalist with support NMreports.org and its readers and sponsors. New Mexico’s highest court has dismissed a petition attempting to […]