VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
Republicans push back on coronavirus business restrictions
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Republican Party is urging New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to reopen nonessential small businesses with some requirements for social distancing. The first-term Democratic governor and state health officials have suspended nonessential business through at least April 30 in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus and ensure health care facilities are not overwhelmed by a surge of patients. The state Republican Party says the precautions are too drastic and put small businesses at a disadvantage. GOP leaders scheduled a news conference Monday afternoon to explain their views further. Lujan Grisham says her first priority is safeguarding public health and safety.
TROUBLED SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Rio Arriba County settles over Mexican flag-flying episode
ESPAÑOLA, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico county has settled with a man who said a troubled sheriff pulled him over for flying a Mexican flag on his truck on the Fourth of July. The attorney for Joshua Talamante said last week that Rio Arriba County has agreed to settle for $55,000 nearly six months after Talamante filed a tort claim notice, a precursor to a lawsuit. Talamante says Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan pulled him over during Chama, New Mexico's July Fourth parade, last year and told them he needed to take down the Mexican flag flying from this truck. Lujan did not return phone messages.
VIRUS OUTBREAK NAVAJO NATION
Number of coronavirus cases rises 17% on Navajo reservation
The number of coronavirus cases on the nation's largest Native American reservation jumped by 17% Saturday as the Navajo Nation prepared to get new rapid-test kits. The Navajo Nation said in a statement that the number of cases on the 27,000-square-mile (70,000-square-kilometer) reservation that sprawls across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah rose to 698 Saturday, up 101 from the day before. So far, a total of 24 people have died from complications of COVID-19. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer said they have been told that Abbott ID rapid test kits will become available at Navajo Area IHS facilities and tribal health care centers in the next few days.
SCHOOL BOARD-ASSAULT
Police: School board president fired gun at family member
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — The president of a northern New Mexico school board is facing charges after police say he fired a gun at a family member's feet. The Las Vegas Optic reports Las Vegas City School Board of Education president Robert Duran was arrested last week following an argument with a family member. According to police, Duran told the officer that the family member had called him to question him about allegedly slapping another family member. When the family member tried to approach Duran, police say Duran took a firearm out of his pickup truck and fired at the ground near the family member's feet. He was charged with aggravated assault and negligent use of a deadly weapon.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SOCIAL DISTANCE POWWOW
Drums, dancers livestream as virus moves powwows online
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The largest powwows in the country have been canceled and postponed amid the spread of the coronavirus. Tribal members have found a new outlet online with the Social Distance Powwow. They're sharing videos of colorful displays of culture and tradition that are at their essence meant to uplift people during difficult times. The posts have become a nearly daily dose of medicine, songs, dances, well wishes, humor and happy birthdays. The site also hosts a live powwow on the weekend where an emcee patches in drum groups, singers and dancers from across the country.
NURSING HOME ARBITRATION RULING
New Mexico High Court rules against nursing home arbitration
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has ruled against a nursing home agreement requiring residents to settle their most likely claims, setting a precedent for consumers to dispute arbitration agreements. The Albuquerque Journal reported that the ruling stems from a case against multiple defendants, including the Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque for requiring all legal claims to go to mediation and then move on to arbitration rather than to court. The agreement still allowed the facility to file lawsuits over its most likely claims against patients. The Supreme Court affirmed Monday that there was not enough evidence to show that the one-sidedness of the agreement was justified.
IMMIGRATION DETENTION WASTE
GAO: Border Patrol needlessly spent $12M at Texas facility
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A congressional watchdog says the Border Patrol needlessly spent millions on a little-used immigration detention center in Texas. The adult detention center in Tornillo has been closed since January. A Government Accountability Office report says immigration officials paid $5.3 million for meals that were never needed as part of a fixed contract for 2,500 detainees. The office says the facility never had more than 68 at one time. On average, each detainee had eight guards. The Department of Homeland Security defending the spending, saying that it would have been worse to close the facility too early and force immigrants into inadequate locations.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO-EASTER
Holy Week: New Mexico faithful find God beyond church walls
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — While it pains him, the head of one of the oldest Catholic dioceses in the United States says this Holy Week will be different for tens of thousands of parishioners in New Mexico. It has to be. There will be no pilgrimages and no crowds packing the pews to celebrate Mass. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has been pleading with the faithful to heed public health orders and stay home. Despite the rich traditions that culminate with Easter weekend, Archbishop John Wester says the new coronavirus is nothing to play around with. He says: "It doesn't take a day off for Good Friday or Easter Sunday."
Republicans push back on coronavirus business restrictions
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Republican Party is urging New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to reopen nonessential small businesses with some requirements for social distancing. The first-term Democratic governor and state health officials have suspended nonessential business through at least April 30 in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus and ensure health care facilities are not overwhelmed by a surge of patients. The state Republican Party says the precautions are too drastic and put small businesses at a disadvantage. GOP leaders scheduled a news conference Monday afternoon to explain their views further. Lujan Grisham says her first priority is safeguarding public health and safety.
TROUBLED SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Rio Arriba County settles over Mexican flag-flying episode
ESPAÑOLA, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico county has settled with a man who said a troubled sheriff pulled him over for flying a Mexican flag on his truck on the Fourth of July. The attorney for Joshua Talamante said last week that Rio Arriba County has agreed to settle for $55,000 nearly six months after Talamante filed a tort claim notice, a precursor to a lawsuit. Talamante says Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan pulled him over during Chama, New Mexico's July Fourth parade, last year and told them he needed to take down the Mexican flag flying from this truck. Lujan did not return phone messages.
VIRUS OUTBREAK NAVAJO NATION
Number of coronavirus cases rises 17% on Navajo reservation
The number of coronavirus cases on the nation's largest Native American reservation jumped by 17% Saturday as the Navajo Nation prepared to get new rapid-test kits. The Navajo Nation said in a statement that the number of cases on the 27,000-square-mile (70,000-square-kilometer) reservation that sprawls across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah rose to 698 Saturday, up 101 from the day before. So far, a total of 24 people have died from complications of COVID-19. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer said they have been told that Abbott ID rapid test kits will become available at Navajo Area IHS facilities and tribal health care centers in the next few days.
SCHOOL BOARD-ASSAULT
Police: School board president fired gun at family member
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — The president of a northern New Mexico school board is facing charges after police say he fired a gun at a family member's feet. The Las Vegas Optic reports Las Vegas City School Board of Education president Robert Duran was arrested last week following an argument with a family member. According to police, Duran told the officer that the family member had called him to question him about allegedly slapping another family member. When the family member tried to approach Duran, police say Duran took a firearm out of his pickup truck and fired at the ground near the family member's feet. He was charged with aggravated assault and negligent use of a deadly weapon.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SOCIAL DISTANCE POWWOW
Drums, dancers livestream as virus moves powwows online
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The largest powwows in the country have been canceled and postponed amid the spread of the coronavirus. Tribal members have found a new outlet online with the Social Distance Powwow. They're sharing videos of colorful displays of culture and tradition that are at their essence meant to uplift people during difficult times. The posts have become a nearly daily dose of medicine, songs, dances, well wishes, humor and happy birthdays. The site also hosts a live powwow on the weekend where an emcee patches in drum groups, singers and dancers from across the country.
NURSING HOME ARBITRATION RULING
New Mexico High Court rules against nursing home arbitration
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has ruled against a nursing home agreement requiring residents to settle their most likely claims, setting a precedent for consumers to dispute arbitration agreements. The Albuquerque Journal reported that the ruling stems from a case against multiple defendants, including the Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque for requiring all legal claims to go to mediation and then move on to arbitration rather than to court. The agreement still allowed the facility to file lawsuits over its most likely claims against patients. The Supreme Court affirmed Monday that there was not enough evidence to show that the one-sidedness of the agreement was justified.
IMMIGRATION DETENTION WASTE
GAO: Border Patrol needlessly spent $12M at Texas facility
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A congressional watchdog says the Border Patrol needlessly spent millions on a little-used immigration detention center in Texas. The adult detention center in Tornillo has been closed since January. A Government Accountability Office report says immigration officials paid $5.3 million for meals that were never needed as part of a fixed contract for 2,500 detainees. The office says the facility never had more than 68 at one time. On average, each detainee had eight guards. The Department of Homeland Security defending the spending, saying that it would have been worse to close the facility too early and force immigrants into inadequate locations.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO-EASTER
Holy Week: New Mexico faithful find God beyond church walls
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — While it pains him, the head of one of the oldest Catholic dioceses in the United States says this Holy Week will be different for tens of thousands of parishioners in New Mexico. It has to be. There will be no pilgrimages and no crowds packing the pews to celebrate Mass. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has been pleading with the faithful to heed public health orders and stay home. Despite the rich traditions that culminate with Easter weekend, Archbishop John Wester says the new coronavirus is nothing to play around with. He says: "It doesn't take a day off for Good Friday or Easter Sunday."
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