SPACE STATION CHAT
University of New Mexico hosts student chat with astronauts
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The University of New Mexico is hosting a live chat with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The school says hundreds of students grades kindergarten through high school are expected to pack UNM's Student Union Building in Albuquerque for Tuesday's event. Officials say it will be a chance for students to engage with NASA astronauts, space experts and others.
CLIMATE-NEW MEXICO UTILITY
New Mexico utility chief among those at UN climate meeting
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The head of New Mexico's largest electric utility says the state can be a leader in clean energy. Public Service Co. of New Mexico's chief executive took her message to Spain this week for the U.N. climate meeting. She was asked to participate in a series of panel discussions about how U.S. utilities are dealing with the transition away from fossil fuels. New Mexico earlier this year adopted renewable energy mandates that call for zero emissions by 2045. PNM has pledged to beat that deadline by five years.
ACCIDENTAL POLICE SHOOTING
Lawsuit: New Mexico officer mistakenly fired gun during stop
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Two New Mexico men say a Las Cruces police officer accidentally shot at them during a routine traffic stop and unlawfully held them for three hours. A civil rights lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court last week says officer Jeremiah McDaniel "negligently fired his gun" at Keith Anderson and Carlos Cooper after pulling them over in August 2018. According to court documents, the bullet missed Anderson's head by mere inches. The lawsuits say the men were then held unlawfully for three hours while investigators searched for the bullet. Court documents say police later told them to "go home."
RODENT INFESTATION-FIRING
Scientist: Complaints about rodent infestation led to firing
SOCORRO, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico scientist says she was fired from a New Mexico Tech lab job after complaining about a rodent infestation. KOB-TV in Albuquerque reports chemical engineer Glenanne Johnson was terminated from her position as a lab manager at the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center following her complaints about mouse droppings and dead rodents. Johnson says the work environment got her sick and she later tested positive for Hantavirus _ an infectious disease spread by rodents. The university would not comment on why she is no longer employed.
ENERGY FUTURE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico utility regulators weigh costs of coal phase-out
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Coal miners, environmentalists and utility customers weighed in about the future of a major coal-fired power plant in New Mexico and a financial plan to shutter the facility to make way for cleaner sources of electricity. Hearings this week at the Public Regulation Commission have thrown into limbo much of a plan recently approved by state lawmakers to decommission the San Juan Generating Station near Farmington and move New Mexico toward cleaner sources of power. The plan includes $40 million in aid to the workforce attached to the plant.
ALBUQUERQUE CRIME
Albuquerque breaks homicide record amid worries over crime
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's largest city has broken its modern homicide record amid concerns over violent crime. The city of Albuquerque confirmed that a man was found dead Sunday night in the southwest part of town, bringing the homicide total to 74 so far this year. The previous record was in 2017 when the city recorded 72 homicides. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller says city officials are working to "modernize" the police department and hire 100 new officers next year. The city recently faced questions over how officials were calculating crime statistics.
BUDGET SURPLUS-NEW MEXICO
Oil bonanza sustains state budget surplus in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Government income in New Mexico is expected to outpace spending obligations by nearly $800 million for the coming fiscal year, a result of the continued oil boom. Economists from three state agencies and the Legislature's budget office delivered a twice-annual revenue forecast to a panel of lawmakers Monday. Revenues are on track to exceed current general fund spending of $7 billion by 11%. But both Democratic and Republican lawmakers urged extreme caution, warning that over-spending and another downturn in the oil market could have devastating consequences for the state's ability to fund education, health care and government services.
ALBUQUERQUE RAPID TRANSIT-CRASHES
Albuquerque's new rapid service on Route 66 sees 5th crash
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A fifth crash has struck Albuquerque's new rapid transit system along the city's historic Route 66 just days into operation. City officials say the accident took place Sunday across the street from the El Vado Motel when a car over-corrected into a left lane and hit the Albuquerque Rapid Transit bus. No injuries were reported. The city has seen five crashes involving the new buses in just nine days. Authorities say officers are issuing warnings to drivers who cross bus lanes and have plans to write tickets starting in January.
University of New Mexico hosts student chat with astronauts
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The University of New Mexico is hosting a live chat with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The school says hundreds of students grades kindergarten through high school are expected to pack UNM's Student Union Building in Albuquerque for Tuesday's event. Officials say it will be a chance for students to engage with NASA astronauts, space experts and others.
CLIMATE-NEW MEXICO UTILITY
New Mexico utility chief among those at UN climate meeting
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The head of New Mexico's largest electric utility says the state can be a leader in clean energy. Public Service Co. of New Mexico's chief executive took her message to Spain this week for the U.N. climate meeting. She was asked to participate in a series of panel discussions about how U.S. utilities are dealing with the transition away from fossil fuels. New Mexico earlier this year adopted renewable energy mandates that call for zero emissions by 2045. PNM has pledged to beat that deadline by five years.
ACCIDENTAL POLICE SHOOTING
Lawsuit: New Mexico officer mistakenly fired gun during stop
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Two New Mexico men say a Las Cruces police officer accidentally shot at them during a routine traffic stop and unlawfully held them for three hours. A civil rights lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court last week says officer Jeremiah McDaniel "negligently fired his gun" at Keith Anderson and Carlos Cooper after pulling them over in August 2018. According to court documents, the bullet missed Anderson's head by mere inches. The lawsuits say the men were then held unlawfully for three hours while investigators searched for the bullet. Court documents say police later told them to "go home."
RODENT INFESTATION-FIRING
Scientist: Complaints about rodent infestation led to firing
SOCORRO, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico scientist says she was fired from a New Mexico Tech lab job after complaining about a rodent infestation. KOB-TV in Albuquerque reports chemical engineer Glenanne Johnson was terminated from her position as a lab manager at the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center following her complaints about mouse droppings and dead rodents. Johnson says the work environment got her sick and she later tested positive for Hantavirus _ an infectious disease spread by rodents. The university would not comment on why she is no longer employed.
ENERGY FUTURE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico utility regulators weigh costs of coal phase-out
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Coal miners, environmentalists and utility customers weighed in about the future of a major coal-fired power plant in New Mexico and a financial plan to shutter the facility to make way for cleaner sources of electricity. Hearings this week at the Public Regulation Commission have thrown into limbo much of a plan recently approved by state lawmakers to decommission the San Juan Generating Station near Farmington and move New Mexico toward cleaner sources of power. The plan includes $40 million in aid to the workforce attached to the plant.
ALBUQUERQUE CRIME
Albuquerque breaks homicide record amid worries over crime
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's largest city has broken its modern homicide record amid concerns over violent crime. The city of Albuquerque confirmed that a man was found dead Sunday night in the southwest part of town, bringing the homicide total to 74 so far this year. The previous record was in 2017 when the city recorded 72 homicides. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller says city officials are working to "modernize" the police department and hire 100 new officers next year. The city recently faced questions over how officials were calculating crime statistics.
BUDGET SURPLUS-NEW MEXICO
Oil bonanza sustains state budget surplus in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Government income in New Mexico is expected to outpace spending obligations by nearly $800 million for the coming fiscal year, a result of the continued oil boom. Economists from three state agencies and the Legislature's budget office delivered a twice-annual revenue forecast to a panel of lawmakers Monday. Revenues are on track to exceed current general fund spending of $7 billion by 11%. But both Democratic and Republican lawmakers urged extreme caution, warning that over-spending and another downturn in the oil market could have devastating consequences for the state's ability to fund education, health care and government services.
ALBUQUERQUE RAPID TRANSIT-CRASHES
Albuquerque's new rapid service on Route 66 sees 5th crash
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A fifth crash has struck Albuquerque's new rapid transit system along the city's historic Route 66 just days into operation. City officials say the accident took place Sunday across the street from the El Vado Motel when a car over-corrected into a left lane and hit the Albuquerque Rapid Transit bus. No injuries were reported. The city has seen five crashes involving the new buses in just nine days. Authorities say officers are issuing warnings to drivers who cross bus lanes and have plans to write tickets starting in January.
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