By Rachel Sams, Editor-in-Chief of Albuquerque Business First:

See why New Mexico was found wanting in accountability and transparency in today's 5 things.

Jefferson Green II may break ground next year

New Mexico received low marks from the Center for Public Integrity in a new assessment of… more

Albuquerque's had a long lag in new office building construction, but that could be about to change. The project that could come out of the ground first is Jefferson Green II. Developer Rick Davis initially envisions it as a 30,000-square-foot building, which could be larger if the right tenant wants more space. Stephanie Guzman reports.

That's one busy accounting firm

CliftonLarsonAllen just wrapped its second merger in three months, and has also acquired another firm. Camp Lowell CPAs of Arizona merged with CliftonLarsonAllen last week, and CLA acquired Katz Ferraro McMurtry of Pittsburgh. Sal Christ reports.

Klinger, Mullen Heller grab kudos for unique project

Talk about a challenge: Klinger Constructors and Mullen Heller Architecture built the Los Alamos Nature Center at the edge of a canyon. And they finished the project early and under budget. They just won a big award from Engineering News-Record for it.

Teen curfew idea could have legs

As Albuquerque crime makes headlines, some leaders are floating the idea of allowing New Mexico municipalities to impose a curfew on teenagers. Nate Gentry, the New Mexico House majority leader, told KRQE such a bill would pass the House in the first half of the 2016 legislative session. 

Martinez voices support for adviser

Gov. Susana Martinez voiced her support for adviser Jay McCleskey Monday. Her comments came days after the Santa Fe New Mexican reported that the FBI has interviewed some Republicans about Martinez's fundraising activities, and that one person confirmed being interviewed about money from Martinez's campaign and an inauguration committee going to McCleskey. Martinez told the Associated Press in a statement that complaints that have been raised came from political opponents, and she has confidence that McCleskey didn't do anything wrong.

AND: NM gets low marks in state integrity investigation

The Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity just put out a ranking of transparency and accountability in state governments, and New Mexico's showing wasn't strong. Our state received a D- grade and tied for 34th place. That was actually an improvement from 2012's ranking of 39. But the state was found wanting on its oversight of ethics, campaign finance and lobbying. And we had the biggest "enforcement gap" — the difference between our laws and their implementation — of all 50 states. Read the Center for Public Integrity's full findings here.