Commentary: Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement after Senate Republican leadership announced that they intend to vote on the dangerous last-ditch Graham-Cassidy TrumpCare bill next week before the September 30th deadline: 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A member of the Albuquerque Public Schools education board on Wednesday denied any role in the alleged embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars from a troubled charter school that she helped to establish.

Mark Lowry, an attorney for Analee Maestas, said in a statement his client was not aware of any alleged criminal activity involving her daughter, Julieanne Maestas, who once worked as the assistant business manager at La Promesa Early Learning Center.

AgSprint, an accelerator program launched this year at New Mexico State University’s entrepreneurship hub, Arrowhead Center, has been selected as the first and only U.S. host site for the global Future Agro Challenge, an international innovation and entrepreneurial competition for the agricultural technology sector and for all businesses that touch on agriculture.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's latest monthly oil and gas lease sale has netted $6.7 million for the State Land Office.

The agency says that brings earnings for the first quarter of this fiscal year to nearly $50 million. That's more than six times the amount collected during the same period last year.

Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn says the agency is on track for a top-performing year and that means more money flowing into education.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Las Cruces woman has been sentenced to four months in prison for her conviction on theft of government property and forgery charges stemming from a scheme to defraud the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Federal prosecutors said 55-year-old Donah Davison will also be required to pay more than $147,000 in restitution as part of the sentence handed down Tuesday.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is pressing forward with plans to limit increases in state spending on Medicaid health care for low-income and disabled residents by adding monthly premiums and copays from patients, as Senate Republicans in Washington contemplate fundamental changes to Medicaid.

State officials will brief lawmakers Wednesday on an array of proposed changes to the state's Medicaid health care program designed to keep costs down while improving the delivery of health care for New Mexico's poorest residents.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico campaign finance regulators are sticking to conclusions that drastically limit Republican Congressman Steve Pearce's access to federal campaign funds as he runs for governor.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver filed a response Tuesday to a lawsuit by Pearce that seeks access to $1 million in campaign contributions held in a federally registered account.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a woman who allegedly jumped from her fiance's moving car near Las Cruces.

Dona Ana County Sheriff's officials say 26-year-old Brenda Lenderman was pronounced dead at the scene Saturday night.

They say 26-year-old Lauro Hinojosa was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and released on his own recognizance Sunday.

Sheriff's officials say foul play isn't suspected, but the incident remains under investigation.