Back-to-work educational company sues state pension fund
State law says educators who've been retired less than a year can't collect pension benefits if they return to work. What's more, they can't collect them even after that year passes ... unless they quit working. A company called Cooperative Educational Services is suing the state's educational retirement fund because it says the retired teachers it hires and then contracts out to schools don't technically work for the school. The state has cried foul on such plans before, arguing they unfairly deplete pension funds and reduce future gains.
South Capitol creeper?
Police took another report early Thursday morning of a man fondling himself while peering through the window of a home on Don Gaspar in the South Capitol neighborhood. A woman driving by noticed him, but police weren't able to find him. They haven't said if they think this or other similar crimes are connected to a series of frightening encounters last summer.
Clawback
The state now has control of the nonprofit trust company Desert State Life Management, but regulators face the more daunting task of trying to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars, maybe millions, in misappropriated money for clients. These aren't wealthy investors, they're mentally and physically vulnerable people whose assets are held in trust. Investigators think the company's CEO, Paul Donisthorpe, mishandled $4 million.
Española police arrest Rio Arriba deputy for DWI
Tuesday night, police say Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Aquino was arrested for aggravated DWI after they caught up with him in the Lowe's parking lot. Witnesses said he'd thrown a miniature bottle of booze at them and officers later found a beer can in his personal car. He refused a breathalyzer test. Due to the charge, Aquino can't have a gun, so after the sheriff's department finishes its internal investigation, he could only serve desk duty if he's allowed to go back to work.
SFPD flips the script on training
Wanting to make sure that the city doesn't spend $60,000 training a police officer candidate who decides the job isn't for her or him, Santa Fe police are letting prospects ride along with field officers for a week or two before hitting the law enforcement academy. The city has had a pair of cadets leave soon after going through training.
Records complaint tossed out
A state District Court judge has dismissed former New Mexico Secretary of State Mary Herrera's complaint against the attorney general. Herrera argued the AG was playing games when he claimed not to have received a records request because of a mistaken email address. Herrera was seeking public information on two employees she fired in 2010.
Secretly delicious
The last day of August doesn't have to be a mournful waking followed by a day of knowing once Labor Day has passed, so has summer. No, no, no, my friends. SFR has planned the perfect start to your holiday weekend with another secret supper. This one is in a fantastic spot, comes with wine and great food, and the chance to meet other adventurous souls. Sign up through the link.
Thanks for reading! The Word has a different version of a secret supper. Mostly it involves a taco truck, fast-food queso and, later, full-bellied shame.
Subscribe to the Morning Word at sfreporter.com/santafe/signup.
