Local and State News for Friday August 31, 2012

Boy in suspected DWI crash in Albuquerque dies


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A 2-year-old boy injured in an Albuquerque crash involving a suspected drunken driver has died. 

KOB-TV  cites the Albuquerque  Police Department in saying that Vicente Griego's family took the boy off life support Thursday. The boy had sustained a broken neck and brain injuries in the Saturday  crash.

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Fewer weeks of jobless benefits to be offered


ALBUQUERQUE,  (AP) — Fewer weeks of unemployment benefits will soon be  available to jobless New Mexicans and the Department of Workforce Solutions says  it's because of a change in federal law.

A maximum of 54 weeks of unemployment compensation will be offered with  claims effective Sept. 2. That's down from 60 weeks currently.

The department says New Mexicans eligible for 60 weeks of benefits before  Sept. 2 can continue to receive payments for up to that amount of time during a phase-out period.

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Some closures lifted following Gila forest fire 

  SILVER CITY, N.M. (AP) — State and federal officials have lifted some of the  closure orders that were put in place while a massive wildfire burned through  parts of the Gila National Forest earlier this year.

The Whitewater-Baldy Fire charred more than 465 square miles to become the  largest fire in New Mexico's recorded history. It burned for several weeks after  being sparked by lightning.

Rehabilitation of some burned areas is wrapping up.  Still, forest officials say some trails will remain closed until assessments can be done.

Forest Supervisor Kelly Russell says the area is dealing with the effects of summer rains and officials are concerned about the stability of the trail beds.

Standing dead trees are also a concern.  Forest officials say an assessment of trails impacted by fallen trees will be completed next spring.

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Local Crime  Report    8/31/12    
 
(Deming) – Here’s the area crime  report:
    
Sharla Parra, age 30, was arrested for aggravated DUI and no driver’s   license.  William White, age 19, was arrested for battery against a household 
member, false imprisonment, interfering with communications, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.   Angel Padron, age 34,  was arrested for trafficking in methamphetamine, tampering with evidence and on  a District Court warrant for a probation violation.  Edward Lynch, age 39, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and child abuse.  
       
Benny Lerma, age 25, was arrested on a District Court warrant for a  probation violation and on a Columbus warrant for speeding.   Vicente Armendariz,  age 39, of Columbus, was arrested on a Dona Ana County warrant for failure to  pay fines.   Janeth Duran-Alfaro, age 20, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for  failure to appear, and Karie Wisenberg, age 45, of Silver City, was cited for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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New 'black berets' exhibit opens at NMSU 
 
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A new photo exhibit showcasing New Mexico's "Black  Berets" of the Chicano Movement has opened.

Photographs of the Black Berets are now display at the New Mexico State University's Conroy Honors Center Gallery until Oct. 26.

The Mexican-American community activist group, which operated in Albuquerque from 1969-73, created a health clinic and programs for youth. The group was  loosely based on the Black Panthers and formed chapters in California and other
states in the southwest to fight discrimination and police brutality. 

The Black Berets also are the subject of a new documentary, "New Mexico's  Black Berets: An Untold Story."

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Groups work to sign up new voters 

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A coalition of nonprofits are banding together to get more New Mexicans registered to vote.

According to census data, some 616,000 eligible New Mexicans are not  registered to vote. So organizations such as the League of Women Voters of New  Mexico, Common Cause New Mexico and the national Voter Participation Center are
working to get people signed up before the Oct. 9 deadline for participating in  the Nov. 6 election.

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