SANTA FE – State Auditor Tim Keller publicly released the report of a special examination of financial issues in the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office July 7.

The report is the result of an investigation that the Office of the State Auditor announced earlier this year. The examination focused on the potential misuse of DWI prevention program funds by the MCSO from 2010 to 2014 under former Sheriff Felix Begaye.

“New Mexicans deserve to have their public safety funds accounted for and spent on the important programs for which they were designated, such as DWI prevention,” Keller said. “The auditor’s office has made recommendations to the Sheriff’s office to strengthen its...

SANTA FE – Attorney General Hector Balderas sent a letter to Secretary of State Dianna J. Duran June 17 making recommendations for increasing transparency and accountability in the campaign finance reporting process.

“When dealing with millions of dollars of campaign donations, candidates should strictly comply with the law and not violate transparency standards,” Balderas said in describing shortcomings in the current system of campaign finance reporting. “We need to put teeth back into the law, which is why I’ll be supporting the reinstatement of mandatory fines for violation of the Campaign Reporting Act during the upcoming legislative session.”

In addition to...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.— On June 13, Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan Nez was in attendance at the Northern Agency Council meeting at Sanostee, N.M.

The meeting was scheduled during the same time President Begaye was at the funeral services for Navajo Code Talker Bahe Ketchum at Navajo Mountain. Vice President Nez provided an update on the Executive Branch issues he and President Russell Begaye have addressed since taking the oath of office on May 12.

Information included details of meetings with congressmen, congresswomen and senators on Capitol Hill, Navajo Nation Treaty Day, the Tódínéeshzheé Public Safety Complex, San Juan County fire support services, Birdsprings...

ALBUQUERQUE — Governor Susana Martinez signed into law a bipartisan jobs package designed to recruit new businesses to New Mexico June 15, make it easier for small businesses to get off the ground and grow, expand trade and commerce along our southern border, and increase employment in the technology sector of New Mexico’s economy.

“This jobs package provides us with additional tools to help us compete for new jobs, new investment, and new businesses,” Martinez said. “We must diversify our economy and grow our private sector, and that requires us to make it easier for those with great ideas to start a new business in New Mexico. We also need to ensure that investments in...