Two more top-level employees at the state Public Education Department recently left their jobs, taking the number to at least five since the beginning of the year.

Terese Vigil, who headed the PED’s human resources bureau, left the department in mid-February. Aimee Barabe, director of Strategic Outreach for the department, left around the same time period.

Vigil and Barabe’s exits make at least five resignations from top-level PED staffers since the end of January. The three others were Deputy Secretary for Policy and Program Leighann Lenti, Chief Information Officer Michael Archibeque and National Assessment of Educational Progress and Internal Assessments State Coordinator...

A lawsuit challenges a ban on “disparaging” school tests by public education students that has been called a “gag rule” in the past.

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico filed the lawsuit in First Judicial District Court Wednesday morning on behalf of six public schools teachers and one parent of a student in public schools.

A regulation from the state Public Education Department (PED) says that public education employees cannot “disparage or diminish the significance, importance or use of standardized tests.” Penalties for violating the provision include “suspension or revocation of a person’s educator or administrator licensure or other PED...

—Judge keeps candidate on ballot.

A judge ruled that Jeremy Tremko will remain on the ballot for the Republican primary in House District 50. Matthew McQueen, the Democratic incumbent from Galisteo, challenged a number of his signatures, including from an individual who signed multiple times; McQueen said none of these should count, while Tremko argued at least one should count.

McQueen can still appeal to the Supreme Court.

Tremko was represented by a Republican state Representative, Zach Cook of Ruidoso.

The race will be a tough one for Republicans; it has been solidly Democratic and McQueen beat Republican Rep. Vickie Perea after Gov. Susana Martinez appointed her to the position...

State AG’s Charities Unit was a lead agency in the action against the sham charities

SANTA FE –  Attorney General Hector Balderas along with the Federal Trade Commission and an unprecedented group consisting of all fifty states and the District of Columbia, announced that the last two nationwide sham cancer charities named in the largest charity regulation case in history, are to be dissolved, their assets transferred to a receiver for liquidation, and their president banned for life from profiting from fundraising, consulting or conducting charitable activity March 30.

The stringent ban and total forfeiture of all assets available under the law was obtained through settlement...