New Mexico In Depth

Loophole and vague laws create ambiguity in lobbyist reporting

By Sandra Fish, New Mexico In Depth | May 19, 2017

State lawmakers have repeatedly killed efforts to require greater disclosure by lobbyists that also would clarify the rules, reducing the ambiguity. Bills to tighten lobbyist reporting laws, including requiring details on all expenses, died in committee during this year’s 60-day session.

In Depth articles

ATF used traveling, well-paid informants in ABQ sting

One of the men who helped the federal bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) search for potential targets in a sweeping undercover drug and gun sting operation in Albuquerque last year is paid an $80,000 annual salary, court filings show. The man appears to have been released early from a 10-year federal prison […]
Parole board moves to release man on ‘30-year lifer’ sentence, bucking yearslong trend

On the line was Carole Royal’s husband of 25 years, OC Fero. A caseworker from the Lea County Correctional Facility in Hobbs had handed the phone to him. “Hello, Carole,” Fero said. “Yes,” she replied. “I heard back from the Parole Board today,” Fero continued. “Yes,” was all Royal could manage. “They are granting […]
Feds’ sting ensnared many ABQ blacks, not ‘worst of the worst’

For three days Yusef Casanova hunted for methamphetamine and a gun. On June 4, 2016, a friend met a man in the heart of a hardscrabble area of Albuquerque pocked with pawn shops but dotted with well-loved front yards. They stood outside the Allsup’s convenience store at Zuni Road and Kentucky Street SE. The stranger […]
City contractors give to ABQ mayoral candidates

Employees of companies that do business with the city, and a few of those companies themselves, donated more than $74,000 to Albuquerque mayoral candidates through the end of March, an analysis by New Mexico In Depth found. That’s more than twice the amount the city found in an official report submitted last week, which was […]
NMID wins top honors in regional journalism contest, including 1st place multi-media award

New Mexico In Depth took top honors at a regional journalism contest over the weekend, including a 1st place multi-media journalism award for its examination of New Mexico’s broken bail system. The Society for Professional Journalists’ Top of the Rockies contest covers New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. We also won a 1st place […]

Fathom: from our blog

New Mexico dairy company gave big bucks for Trump inaugural

Four New Mexico donors kicked in $145,500 to the committee that paid President Donald Trump’s inauguration. That’s a fraction of the $107 million the inaugural committee reported raising in a report filed last week. Select Milk Producers, an Artesia-based dairy company, kicked in $100,000. That company is likely to benefit from an executive order to promote […]
Mayoral candidates notified of campaign filing issues

The Albuquerque City Clerk is asking six mayoral and two city council candidates to fix campaign filing mistakes ranging from anonymous contributions to missing employers and occupations. The candidates have 10 days to remedy the errors or face fines. Susan Wheeler-Deischel received the most reprimands. As New Mexico In Depth previously pointed out, her campaign listed […]
NM In Depth wins top honors from NM Press Women, including investigative journalism

New Mexico In Depth won four 1st place awards over the weekend, including top honors for investigative journalism. The New Mexico Press Women’s Association conferred that honor on Puff of Smoke, a story reported and written by Jeff Proctor and published in collaboration with the Santa Fe Reporter. The issue at heart of the story […]
Executive Director of Parole Board resigns, takes new state job

The executive director of the New Mexico Parole Board has moved to another state job, as fresh controversy surrounds the board’s handling of parole hearings for the state’s “30-year lifer” inmates and lawmakers consider a bill that would check the board’s power. Sherry Stephens’ last day as executive director was Friday, Parole Board Operations Manager […]

Community forum

“Actually, NMID has reported on this - we were the first to do so, in fact. Here's the link: http://nmindepth.com/2016/06/03/soros-funded-super-pac-supports-torrez-in-bernco-da-race-with-107k/”
— Sandra Fish, New Mexico In Depth on New Mexico dairy company gave big bucks for Trump inaugural
“Congrats. Well deserved.”
— gkn on NMID wins top honors in regional journalism contest, including 1st place multi-media award
“Can we talk about how the new State's Attorney in Albuquerque is bought and paid for by George Soros to…”
— Dianne on New Mexico dairy company gave big bucks for Trump inaugural
“Excellent reporting as usual, Trip! It's important to understand ties and connections to candidates. This type of reporting…”
— Gov Ethics on City contractors give to ABQ mayoral candidates

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