DEMING – U.S. Border Patrol agents working near the Antelope Wells Port of Entry apprehend 225 illegal aliens in the early morning hours of July 30. The group is comprised primarily of Central American families and unaccompanied juveniles.
     Border Patrol EMT’s and the Border Patrol’s Search, Trauma, and Rescue team (BORSTAR), conducted initial medical screenings and determined no member of the group required additional attention.  All members of the group was transported to the Lordsburg and Deming Border Patrol Stations for initial intake and processing.
     According to the media release by the Border Patrol, even as temperatures rise to dangerous levels, criminal organizations continue to exploit innocent human lives in order to enhance their illicit gains without regard to the risks associated with the hazardous practice. In most cases these smugglers never cross the border themselves in order to avoid apprehension. 

VIRTUAL REALITY STARTUP
Santa Fe startup gets $1M grant for virtual reality tech
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Santa Fe startup has received a $1 million federal Small Business Innovation Research grant to complete its virtual reality data visualization technology.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports SciVista is developing a product called Summit VR — a platform to add three-dimensional data into virtual reality.
Summit VR is being developed in partnership with Intel, Kitware, the Texas Advanced Computing Center, the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and others.
SciVista, a builder of data visualization programs, was established in 2018 and is a spinoff from Woodruff Scientific, a Santa Fe research and development company focused on electromagnets.
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ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
Congresswoman Torres Small still outraising GOP opponents
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Xochitl (ZOH'-cheel) Torres Small continues to outraise her Republican opponents in her re-election bid for a key Congressional seat in southern New Mexico.
Federal election records show the Las Cruces Democrat pulled in $1,091,386 during her first six months in office after winning the seat in November. Records show she had around $1 million cash on hand.
Republican Yvette Herrell, who lost to Torres Small last year and is seeking a rematch, raised $312,000 during the same period and reported having $307,000 cash on hand.
But to win the GOP nomination Herrell will have to go through Las Cruces businessman Chris Mathys who is also running. Records show Mathys reported raising $180,000 and had around $160,000 cash on hand.
No other candidates have declared for the seat.

HAZMAT SITUATION-NEIGHBORHOOD EVACUATED
Albuquerque neighborhood is evacuated in a hazmat situation
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Bernalillo County Sheriff's officials say a hazmat situation in Albuquerque has caused the closure and evacuation of a neighborhood.
They say deputies are assisted county firefighters after responding to reports Tuesday evening about an unknown leaking substance.
Officials didn't immediately say what caused the leak or what is leaking.
The Albuquerque Journal reports deputies are asking residents in the area to evacuate to the Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center.
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ELECTION 2020-WARREN ENDORSEMENT
Native American congresswoman endorses Elizabeth Warren
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — One of two Native American women in Congress has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren.
U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland of New Mexico on Tuesday announced her endorsement in social media posts that describe Warren as a great friend and partner on policies that affect Indian Country.
On Instagram , a tinted photograph of Haaland and Warren accompanies praise for the senator's efforts related to working families, student loan debt and missing and murdered indigenous women.
Warren has been criticized for claiming Native American identity early in her career and apologized recently to the Cherokee Nation for releasing DNA test results as evidence she had Native American ancestry, albeit at least six generations back.
Haaland is a tribal member of Laguna Pueblo and represents a district centered in Albuquerque.

BOARDING HOMES REGULATIONS
New Mexico governor aims to up oversight of boarding homes
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration is working on regulations to increase oversight of boarding homes for people with mental illnesses.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Tuesday that the administration is aiming to require licenses and periodic inspections of the homes.
The Democratic governor says the rules would also set standards for fire safety, staffing levels, crowding and bathroom facilities.
Grisham says the state has about 100 boarding homes that are unregulated.
Most of the facilities are near Las Vegas, New Mexico, where the only state psychiatric hospital is located.
State Department of Health spokesman David Morgan says the rules aim to ensure residents of the homes have "safe and supported" living conditions.
He says they aim to release the proposed rules in the coming weeks.
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AMBER ALERT SYSTEM-TRIBES
Tribes train to implement Amber Alert under new federal law
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The mother of a Navajo girl who was abducted and killed in 2016 is urging tribal officials to take advantage of tools and funding that have been made available for responding to reports of missing Native American children.
Pamela Foster's comments Tuesday came during a training in Albuquerque for tribes to implement the alert system. Organizers say more than 20 tribes are participating in the training.
A federal law signed last year expanded the alert system to tribal land. It gives tribes direct access to grants and training long available in other jurisdictions.
The law is named for Foster's daughter Ashlynne Mike. She was 11 when she was kidnapped near her school bus stop and killed.
An Amber Alert wasn't issued for her until early the next morning.

PRESIDENTS-RACIST GESTURES
Presidents have made racist gestures throughout US history
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — President Donald Trump's recent tweets aren't the first time a president has drawn attention for racist gestures.
Throughout American history, presidents have uttered comments, issued decisions and made public and private moves that critics said were racist, either at the time or in later generations.
Thomas Jefferson wrote that black slaves smelled and couldn't produce art or poetry. Woodrow Wilson screened the racist film "The Birth of a Nation" at the White House without apology. Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon used racist epithets in secretly recorded conversations with aides.
Many of the early presidents owned black slaves. They also held power when African Americans, Native Americans and Latinos did not have the right to vote or serve on juries and could be refused service in public accommodations.
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IMMIGRATION-MIGRANT DETENTION
Border Patrol detains adults with no end _ until lawyers sue
HOUSTON (AP) — Immigration lawyers allege adults are being detained in packed Border Patrol cells — malnourished, poorly treated and incommunicado — only to be moved within hours once the government is sued on their behalf.
One group of lawyers has filed lawsuits on behalf of the spouses, siblings and relatives of 18 migrants — all of whom were removed from their cells almost immediately.
The lawyers believe the government is trying to avoid a federal judge issuing a sweeping order that would require the release of potentially thousands of people detained by the Border Patrol.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection declined to comment.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHING-REGULATIONS
New regulations limit experienced New Mexico sub teachers
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A new law and regulations are requiring more retired New Mexico teachers to limit the amount of time they spend in a classroom or take off a year.
The Albuquerque Journal reports legislative and Educational Retirement Board rule changes altered eligibility requirements for retirees who go back to work in education while collecting a pension.
New Mexico Educational Retirement Board executive director Jan Goodwin says retirees who collect their pension can't work more than a quarter of full-time equivalent hours unless they are part of the "return to work program."
Under the program, which is already in place, retirees can work as many hours as they like, but can't join the program until they take a year off from education.

​NEW MEXICO-JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT
New Mexico's journalism department to lose accreditation
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The University of New Mexico's Department of Communication and Journalism soon will no longer be accredited by an outside agency that evaluates the nation's journalism departments.
The Albuquerque Journal reports department chair David Weiss said last week faculty members were in favor of not seeking reaccreditation, saying the process was expensive and not worth the time and resources.
That means the department won't meet the requirements set by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.
The council says the University of New Mexico is one of 113 journalism programs around the country, and the only one in New Mexico.
Peter Bhatia, the executive director at the council and the editor of the Detroit Free Press, says accreditation is about holding everyone to a high standard of teaching.
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LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKENS-LAWSUIT
Some in New Mexico vow to fight prairie chicken lawsuit
(Information from: Roswell Daily Record, http://www.roswell-record.com)
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Officials in southeastern New Mexico say they won't stop fighting to keep the lesser prairie chicken off the federal protected list despite a pending federal lawsuit.
The Roswell Daily Record reports Chaves County Board of Commissioners chair Will Cavin said last week officials protest the listing because it could affect grazing rights and other issues in New Mexico.
Three conservation groups are suing the federal government to force it to protect the lesser prairie chicken and its habitats.
The lawsuit alleges that the U.S. Interior Department's Fish and Wildlife Service has not done enough to protect the bird. The groups want the agency to determine whether the lesser prairie chicken is a threatened or endangered species.
The bird roams parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.
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ROSWELL-HOMICIDE CASE-ARREST
Roswell police arrest a suspect in shooting death of woman
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Police say they've arrested a suspect in the shooting death of a woman in west Roswell.
They say 20-year-old Alessandro Alva was taken into custody Sunday night on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Alva remained jailed without bond Monday in Chavez County. It's unclear if he has a lawyer.
Roswell police say Alva has denied shooting 40-year-old Jennifer Morro.
They say Alva was linked to the case by witnesses and video surveillance at the scene of the shooting Friday night.
Investigators say Morro was a passenger in Alva's pickup truck when the two argued and Morro got out.
They say at least one gunshot was fired minutes later from the pickup and Morro was hit as she was sitting or kneeling on a sidewalk.
She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

NEW CAMPAIGN RULES-NEW MEXICO
Legislative leaders take command of campaign resources
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New rules for funneling resources to political campaigns in New Mexico may provide legislative and party leaders with a stronger hand in influencing the outcome of elections, as Democrats assert their control over the Legislature and governor's office.
The Democratic House speaker and Republican minority leader have registered specialized political committees this month that can command vast resources through unlimited non-cash contributions.
Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf says his legislative caucus committee is likely to provide campaign strategy services and door-to-door canvassing in key legislative races.
The committees are one outcome of legislation aimed at disclosing more about the sources of political contributions by independent expenditure groups and others.
Transparency advocate Austin Graham of the Campaign Legal Center describes some provisions as a "power grab by legislative leadership."

CITY MANAGER-HARASSMENT
Fired New Mexico city manager says settlement exonerates him
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (AP) — A former New Mexico city manager who says he was fired without cause is receiving a $211,000 settlement in a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Former Sunland Park city manager Bob Gallagher says he received the payout last week. He described the settlement as vindication following his August 2017 firing.
Sunland Park is not admitting to any fault and officials declined to comment on the settlement.
Gallagher says he was fired after he refused to comply with several directives from three city councilors who wanted him to engage in questionable actions.
An independent investigation did not to turn up evidence of corruption and no charges were brought.
Gallagher also faced allegations of sexual harassment as the city manager of Jal in southeast New Mexico. But a lawsuit there was dismissed.

PRIVATE WATERWAYS-RECREATIONISTS
Ruling may open New Mexico's private waterways to public
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A state commission's decision may reopen New Mexico's private waterways to recreationists.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the New Mexico Game Commission last week handed fishermen and other recreational boaters a partial victory by temporarily halting a program for private property owners. Under the 2017 program, private property owners have say over whether the public can access waterways on their land.
The current commission, appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, decided Wednesday to impose a 90-day moratorium on the rule until it can receive advice from Attorney General Hector Balderas as to whether it is legal under state law.
A previous commission, appointed by Republican then-Gov. Susana Martinez, implemented a program in 2017 that allowed landowners to certify rivers and streams that cut through their property as "non-navigable."
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