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...

Warrant arrests were very thin for both the Gallup Police Department and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office during the last week.

GPD Warrants

Nathaniel Gabriel Joe (Municipal Court) and Earl James Vinson (Magistrate Court and Concealing Identity).

MCSO Warrants

Brian Begay, Terilene Boyd, and Morgan Murphy.

Police Activity

A family drinking day on Oct. 22, ended abruptly with one member dead and one at the UNM Hospital in Albuquerque with serious injuries. It could have been worse according to the report by McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Deputy Roxanne Slim, which stated the mother of the deceased victim told her two of her nieces (ages not given) had been forced out of...

Staff Reports

Dustinn Craig

10.20.17, 4:01 pm

Agg. DWI, 1st Offense

Craig, 41, of Mesa, Ariz. was stopped by McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Joey Guillen at exit 53 of Highway 612 after a call to Metro Dispatch. MCSO Lt. Eric D. Jim received more information from Guillen and administered a field sobriety test.

Craig failed the HGN test, the Walk and Turn, and the One Leg Stand and was transported to the Sheriff’s office for a breath test, which Craig had agreed to after being read the NM Implied Consent Advisory. He blew two samples, a 0.27 and a 0.28 and was taken to the McKinley County Detention Center and booked.

Charles Murphy

10.19.17, 1:52 am

Agg. DWI, 1st...

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...