KRQE News 13 headlines in briefs.
Veterans and officials clash over cemetery
ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - The fight over the new Veterans Cemetery in Roswell is getting uglier.
Several members of the veterans board, who worked to get the cemetery built have now resigned.
The cemetery opened in July of 2014, and is operated by the city.
Veterans state they are angry the city is charging to have their ashes placed in the cremation wall, when there was an agreement for it to be free. Now there is controversy over how much it will cost for actual burials.
The veterans say the whole point of the cemetery was to provide a low cost place for veterans to be buried in that part of the state, however Veterans say the City has broke the agreement.
The mayor says they’ll continue to work with the board and says there will be an official vote on the prices over the next few weeks.
Dave and Buster’s set to open at Uptown
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The new Dave and Busters is set to open in a couple of months at ABQ Uptown, and is now hiring for 260 jobs. The restaurant and game center will measure more than 25-thousand square feet.. It stands where the old movie theater was at Winrock mall.
The restaurant is set to open in November and applications are now being taken. We posted more information about how to apply on our website.. Just look under links.
Programming Note
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Due to CBS Coverage of the US Open on Monday, September 8, 2014, KRQE News 13 at 4:00pm and KRQE News 13 at 5:30pm will not be aired. Please stay with KRQE.com for all of your latest News, Weather and Headlines.
Janitor who admitted to rape faces judge
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) – A janitor at Rio Rancho High School who confessed to raping young girls was in court this morning.
Gary Briceno pled not guilty Monday morning and his bond was set at $500,000 cash or surety.
Rio Rancho Public Schools fired Gary Briceno last month The same day a grand jury indicted him on rape charges. Police say all of the young women are family members and one girl was as young as 6. They say at least one rape happened at the high school, but that case did not involve a student.
Longtime judge resides amid new health diagnosis
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Longtime Second Judicial District Court Judge Kenneth Martinez is leaving the bench because of health issues.
Judge Martinez issued the statement Monday morning saying he’s been diagnosed with early onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Martinez was going to be on the November ballot seeking retention. He stated that he is saddened by the decision but that he must do what’s best for his health and his family.
Berry, Eden head to Nevada to study police reform
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Albuquerque Mayor R.J. Berry and the city’s police chief are in Las Vegas, Nev., to study how that city reformed following a series of police shootings.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Berry and Police Chief Gorden Eden are attending sessions on how Las Vegas police changed its use of force policies. Also attending are members of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce’s Albuquerque Police Department Reform Task Force and ACLU representatives.
Unlike the Albuquerque Police Department, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department was not investigated by the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
The DOJ and Albuquerque officials are finalizing a plan to reform the city’s police department following a harsh report earlier this year.
Unions contribute $625,000 to super PAC
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – Labor unions have contributed $625,000 recently to a Democratic-leaning political group that was a top spender in New Mexico’s legislative races two years ago.
Patriot Majority New Mexico received $350,000 in the past two months from the National Education Association and a political committee affiliated with the teachers’ union; $250,000 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; and $25,000 from the Communication Workers of America, which represents some government workers.
The group spent nearly $164,000 and reported cash-on-hand of $574,000 at the start of this month.
Patriot Majority is a “super PAC” that’s free from campaign contribution limits because it independently advocates the election or defeat of candidates.
Monday is the deadline for political committees and state office candidates to file their latest fundraising reports.
Investigation into SE ABQ house fire begins
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Firefighters are investigating a house fire that sparked around 9 p.m. Sunday in the southeast part of Albuquerque.
A neighbor sprung into action and called 911 when he saw smoke coming from the house. It didn’t take long for firefighters to get the fire on San Pedro under control.
No one was hurt. The family who lives in the home was not there at the time.
New Child Advocacy Center opens in Los Lunas
LOS LUNAS, N.M. (KRQE) – In the wake of several high profile child neglect cases the state has just opened a Child Advocacy Center in Los Lunas.
DPS Secretary Greg Fouratt said the center allows law enforcement, treatment professionals and service providers a way to work in one building which minimizes the trauma that a child feels when being questioned after an incident.
Gov. Susana Martinez signed an executive order in April to establish the Child Advocacy Center. Officials hope to add more of these centers around the state and say Valencia County is an area in need. Albuquerque has a similar center called the Family Advocacy Center.
Taxpayers may pay bill for inmate ICE holds
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – After paying out more than $10 million because of overcrowding at the Metro Detention Center, Bernalillo County taxpayers could now be on the hook again because of a request from the feds to keep inmates locked up while ICE checks their immigration status.
Attorney Ryan Villa is representing a number of past MDC inmates who he says were held an additional 48 hours after a judge released them or they posted bail while their immigration status was checked.
Jails across the country have stopped the practice known as ICE holds because of federal court rulings against it.
Mdc changed its policy in July and stopped ICE holds, but the practice was in place for years. From January through July this year, more than 300 people were put on ICE holds according to MDC.
There’s no telling at this point how many could be represented in the potential lawsuit.
NM tourism film to be screened this month
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – A film project about life in New Mexico is ready to be showed off statewide. It is composed of photos and clips from New Mexicans who wanted to share something about their life in the Land of Enchantment.
The state’s tourism department partnered up with the New Mexico Film Foundation for the project. The showing will be on Sept. 20 and 21. The idea of the project is to attract movie and TV producers to New Mexico. For more information, click here.
