I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
The former state Deputy Insurance Superintendent Joe Ruiz was sentenced yesterday to 48 months in prison. A federal judge also ordered him to pay $103,000 in restitution and $2,000 in special penalties.
Accusations against Ruiz, who was the deputy superintendent from June 2001 through July 2006, involved pushing insurance companies to donate to charities and non-profit organizations that he was involved with in exchange for reduced regulatory fines.
An indictment against Ruiz, 67, alleged that he largely directed that companies make payments to not-for-profit health foundation Con Alma or to the Southwestern Arts Institute, which bought bilingual books for children—mostly written by Ruiz.
Con Alma was founded by Eric Serna, who was superintendent of the state Insurance Division.
Serna retired in 2006 in an agreement with the state Public Regulation Commission after the agency suspended him over conflict-of-interest issues—including some involving donations to Con Alma. The PRC oversees the Insurance Division.
Ruiz testified that contributions were voluntary and that the companies would not necessarily have been fined if they hadn’t paid. He also said Serna signed off on everything he did.
… "Instead of upholding the public’s trust and doing his job, Mr. Ruiz instead shook down insurance companies and diverted the money that should have gone to the taxpayers to places of his own choosing. However you slice it, however you spin it, that is theft," said U.S. Attorney Greg Fouratt.
