SANTA FE – Education Secretary-Designate Christopher Ruszkowski announced Ivonne Orozco as the 2018 New Mexico Teacher of the Year Oct. 24. Orozco is a Spanish teacher in grades 8-12 at the Public Academy for the Performing Arts in Albuquerque. Ruszkowski joined students, staff, and Orozco’s family to surprise her with the award.

“Mrs. Orozco represents the very best of our teachers across the state,” said Ruszkowski. “Her innovation in teaching and passion for her students extends far beyond the scope of the classroom, as she is a fierce advocate for all of her students. We are proud to have her represent New Mexico’s educators.”

Orozco was among 14 semi-finalists...

Manipulation of interest rates hurt NM businesses, not for profits

SANTA FE – Attorney General Hector Balderas announced $1,362,709 million settlement with Deutsche Bank for fraudulent conduct involving the manipulation of LIBOR Oct. 25.

This is a benchmark interest rate that affects financial instruments worth trillions of dollars and has a widespread impact on global markets and consumers. The vast majority of the settlement will go to the New Mexico Finance Authority and the Office of the Attorney General’s expert’s opinion is that this will fully compensate NMFA and other entities in New Mexico for their losses.

“We have recovered over a million dollars for the critical...

Scores of unwanted pets brought in daily

Dog and cat lovers, your attention please.

Love of both animals, and their adorable litters of puppies and kittens, has resulted in the obvious pet overpopulation problem plaguing McKinley County and the Navajo Nation, where an estimated 250,000 unwanted dogs roam.

No entity here locally has been able to euthanize its way out of the problem.

But, there is a solution to this madness.

And it begins with pet owners spaying and neutering their pets. It’s a problem that the public can’t see from the outside of an animal shelter, but it’s the never-ending faucet that doesn’t shut off for shelter workers dealing with the scores of...