ALBUQUERQUE–Quickly after the Second Judicial District Court announced restrictions to journalists covering cases, journalists denounced and mocked the restrictions. The court admitted it was “overbroad” and said that the restrictions were being rewritten.

A memo to members of the press titled “Media Access to the Courthouse” laid out the new restrictions and is dated June 2, though journalists received it on Wednesday morning, June 3.

The memo acknowledges that “cameras and recording devices are allowed in the courtroom” as long as they abide by a rule set forth by the New Mexico Supreme Court.

More from the memo, with quotes from the Supreme Court:

In addition, the...

A bill to stop the bulk collection of data as allowed through the post-9/11 Patriot Act passed the Senate on Tuesday and was quickly signed by President Barack Obama.Both members of the Senate from New Mexico voted in the majority on the 67-32 vote on the bill dubbed the USA Freedom Act.

The bill had overwhelmingly passed the House weeks ago, but the Senate failed to get 60 votes to pass the bill and instead tried to pass a full reauthorization of the Patriot Act. That effort by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., failed because of bipartisan opposition, highlighted by a filibuster by his fellow Kentuckian, Sen. Rand Paul.

New Mexico’s junior Senator Martin Heinrich was...

CARLSBAD, NM - Attorney General Hector Balderas’ office today charged four top personnel at Carlsbad Mental Health Center with Medicaid fraud and also brought charges against the center as a corporation. Criminal complaints against the four individuals— Michael Stoll, Noel Clark, Darrill Woodfield and John Bain—and the corporation were filed June 2, 2015, in Eddy County Magistrate Court. The corporation and each of the individuals was charged with eight counts of Medicaid fraud under the Medicaid Fraud Act, one count of conspiracy and one count of fraud involving non-Medicaid funds.

“We will aggressively defend victims of fraud and abuse by prosecuting providers who violate the...