New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Air Force has spent years trying to keep a jet fuel leak from reaching Albuquerque's drinking water supply and now says it has enough information to outline its work, paving the way to wrapping up the cleanup efforts.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico education officials released updated guidance on COVID-19 case reporting, masking requirements and vaccine considerations for K-12 schools this fall.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico man accused of fatally shooting five people in 2017, including three family members, is set to go on trial this week for four of the killings.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas’ handling of a now-settled case involving a large solar installation company has spurred a request from a state lawmaker for an investigation.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and top health officials are closely monitoring the increase in COVID-19 cases. But there was no indication Thursday of whether officials were considering reinstating any public health restrictions to curb spread.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A lack of oversight within the New Mexico Department of Health likely was a factor in high COVID-19 infection and death rates among residents at the New Mexico State Veterans’ Home, according to a review by legislative analysts.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Federal education officials have approved New Mexico’s spending plan for recovery aid, clearing the way for another $327 million to be distributed to the state.

The money is intended to help the state Education Department sustain safe operation of schools and boost learning opportunities, particularly for students who have been most affected by the pandemic.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico officials are looking for ideas for restoration projects to repair damage caused by a 2015 spill that fouled rivers in three western states with a bright-yellow plume of arsenic, lead and other heavy metals.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have reached a settlement with a Santa Fe hospital over claims of fraudulent billing.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico announced Wednesday that Christus St.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is seeing a noticeable uptick in COVID-19 cases and vaccinations have slowed despite continued pressure by state health officials to get more people inoculated.

The New Mexico Health Department reported Wednesday that another 271 cases have been confirmed, marking one of the highest daily totals in months and certainly the highest since public health restrictions were lifted July 1.

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Police said Wednesday that they're investigating the death of a volunteer firefighter who was fatally struck by a fire truck.

They said 59-year-old Janet Tracy of Caballo was at a crash scene south of Truth or Consequences on Tuesday providing aid and support to a victim.

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation Council is commencing its summer session with a return to tradition.

Tribal officials marked the beginning of the session Monday with a horse ride to the council chamber in Window Rock, Arizona, the Farmington Daily Times reported.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Despite the coronavirus pandemic that led to a shutdown for months in film production, the show did go on in New Mexico.

The New Mexico Film Office announced Monday that this fiscal year, which began in July 2020, broke records in the state with film and TV productions spending roughly $623 million.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gas stations have a legal obligation not to sell fuel to drivers who are believed to be intoxicated, the New Mexico Supreme Court said Monday in a decision that could have far-reaching effects on businesses and that only one other state applies so strictly.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police in Albuquerque are investigating the death of a man seen dressed in a hospital gown whose body was later found in a campus police car.

Albuquerque TV station KOB reports that surveillance video Saturday showed the man wandering over to the University of New Mexico campus before getting into the back of the patrol car.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico plans to convert two privately run state prisons in rural areas into facilities operated by the Department of Corrections, the agency says.

The department said Friday that it will take over operations of the Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Grants and the Guadalupe County Correctional Facility in Santa Rosa by November, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Fentanyl-related deaths in New Mexico more than doubled in 2020 from the previous year, surpassing both heroin and prescription-opioid-related deaths in the state, health officials said Friday.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A State Ethics Commission hearing officer has dismissed the third and final complaint accusing New Mexico House Speaker Brian Egolf of failing to disclose a conflict of interest when he pushed for civil rights legislation approved earlier this year.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State Court of Appeals Judge Briana Zamora has been named to the New Mexico Supreme Court, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Barbara Vigil.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office announced the appointment Friday..

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The State Auditor's Office says New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's spending from her contingency fund for items such as food and alcohol apparently didn't violate the law but said lawmakers should consider tightening up on what spending is allowed.

PORTALES, N.M. (AP) — Eastern New Mexico University officials announced Thursday that Paul Weir has been hired as the school’s athletic director.

Weir will begin his new job on Monday.

He was the head men’s basketball coach at New Mexico for four seasons starting in 2017 and had a 58-63 overall record before being fired.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — While many businesses have reopened and restrictions have been lifted, New Mexico's top public health officials said Wednesday that the coronavirus pandemic is not over.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Surgeon General Vivek Murthy met with New Mexico officials and spoke at an awards ceremony honoring health care workers.

Murthy thanked nurses, doctors, and a laboratory manager for their work fighting the pandemic, but warned that the task of caring for the sick and inoculating the hesitant is not over.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) —

Crews have cleared debris from flooding and a mudslide that closed a 7-mile (11-kilometer) stretch of U.S. 70 across San Augustine Pass east of Las Cruces for 24 hours, officials said Tuesday.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico regulatory agency hopes to avoid a possible shortage by raising the number of marijuana plants that licensed producers could produce.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The University of New Mexico will continue to encourage that students, faculty and staff get vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus in August for the fall semester but no longer plans to require it.

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Thursday reported 24 new COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the fourth consecutive day.

Tribal health officials said the total number of coronavirus-related cases on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah is 31,067 since the pandemic began more than a year ago.

SHIPROCK, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of children from several Navajo communities in northwestern New Mexico soon will have new kicks.

A relief fund created by former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah teamed up with four-time PGA Tour winner Notah Begay III and his foundation to deliver 300 pairs of Nike shoes on Thursday.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a suspect was killed during an encounter with Santa Fe County sheriff's deputies responding to a reported stabbing in a residential area.

The shooting occurred Wednesday in an area north of Santa Fe and was under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP) — A man has been found dead at White Sands National Park, authorities said Tuesday.

New Mexico State Police have identified the man as 63-year-old Jeffrey Minshew of Moriarty.

Gila National Forest and Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands officials on Tuesday announced the lifting of fire restrictions due to reduced wildfire danger.

Officials cited the arrival of summer rains accompanied by higher humidity levels and lower temperatures.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Sen. Martin Heinrich says the Senate should make major changes to its filibuster rule though the New Mexico Democrat acknowledges that would allow Republicans in the future to approve policy changes he opposes.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A city in New Mexico is tapping into federal grant money and other funding to pilot an initiative aimed at getting more children to ride their bicycles and walk to school.

GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A company that runs dozens of convenience stores and gas stations in New Mexico is suing the state over new liquor laws that took effect last week.

Western Refining Retail claims a new provision that singles out McKinley County is unconstitutional because it prohibits gas stations from selling liquor based on population.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the third shooting by law enforcement officers in Santa Fe in the past two weeks.

In the latest case, New Mexico State Police officers shot and wounded a suspect Sunday morning during a foot chase in a neighborhood on the city's south side.

CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Police have identified the body of a man who died after being swept away by floodwaters in Carlsbad.

Police said it’s unclear why 63-year-old John Paul Koch drove past barricades and into rapid moving floodwaters over the roadway Tuesday.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's new redistricting committee has rejected a rule proposed by its chairman to bar or require disclosure of members' conversations with non-members about maps for new congressional and legislative districts.