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.
Jerome Block Jr.
KOB News has been investigating Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block, Jr., and found that he drove a state vehicle for 11 months with a suspended license and racked up $5,000 in charges to a state-issued gas card in six weeks.
Block said that he gave out his PIN number on the card to others, and here are the charges that got racked up:
On June 6, Block’s account shows charges made with a PRC gas card and Block’s pin starting at 5:57 p.m. when he purchased $42.00 in gas.
About 20 minutes later, there was a $60.00 charge for gas at the same gas station. Three minutes later, another $61.00 was purchased.
At 8:24 that same night, the record showed $82.00 in gas. Then at 9:17 p.m. at a different gas station, $47.00 was purchased for more gasoline.
The card has been canceled. The PRC’s review of all employees’ drivers licenses early last month found that Block’s license had been suspended since July 2010. Block has since voluntarily given up his driving privileges.
This isn’t the first time Block has been accused of financial impropriety: Last November, Bryant Furlow reported that Block had struggled to pay over $2,000 in debts to another commissioner and a youth group where he sits on the board of directors. In addition, he had spent $400,000 defending himself against campaign finance violations.
Both the state Democratic Party, of which he is a member, and Gov. Susana Martinez have called on Block to resign.
