PENCE-TRADE WAR CAMPAIGN
Vice president keeps up pressure for Mexico trade deal
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence is renewing efforts to promote the Trump administration's trade deal with Mexico and Canada as he travels to the border state of New Mexico and then Salt Lake City.
The Office of the Vice President announced that Pence will talk about the trade pact Wednesday while visiting an Artesia-based service company for oil and natural gas production in the Permian basin that straddles New Mexico and Texas.
The trip provides Pence with an additional forum for the administration's efforts to ease federal environmental regulations and boost employment prospects in a critical location for U.S. oil and exploration.
Congressional Democrats have signaled that the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico needs stronger protections for workers and the environment before it can be ratified.
MURDER-CRIME OF VIOLENCE
Court ruling: Second-degree murder not 'crime of violence'
PHOENIX (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a man's second-degree murder conviction but threw out another conviction based on the first while ruling that the murder isn't always a crime of violence under federal law.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel's 2-1 ruling Monday said Randly Begay couldn't be convicted of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence because second-degree murder can be committed recklessly and therefore isn't legally considered a "crime of violence."
Begay was convicted of second-degree murder in a 2013 killing in Tuba City, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation's reservation.
Roderick Ben was shot in the head as he, Begay and two other people sat in a van outside a home.
Begay had been complaining about claims his girlfriend was cheating on him with Ben.
SCHOOL-GUNSHOT-NEW MEXICO
Parents of accused Rio Rancho High School shooter indicted
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — Parents of a 16-year-old boy accused of firing a gun in a New Mexico high school have been indicted.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the couple was indicted Thursday by a grand jury after authorities say they failed to secure their gun despite warning signs.
Police say he reported hearing voices telling him to "shoot up the school."
Authorities say the teen on the anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, shooting tried to shoot at three fellow V. Sue Cleveland High School students in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, before firing into the air and fleeing.
Police say he reported hearing voices telling him to "shoot up the school" 11 months before.
The Associated Press is not naming the student because of his age. He is facing charges of attempting to commit murder.
___
ARMED GUARDS-COLLEGE
College's Roswell campus may arm security guards
(Information from: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.com)
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — A college campus in southeastern New Mexico is mulling a plan to arm its security guards.
KOB-TV reports a proposal to arm guards at Eastern New Mexico University's Roswell campus was presented to the school board last week.
University President Shawn Powell says the school's location makes it hard for local police agencies to respond quickly to possible danger on campus.
He says the school is around 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Roswell's downtown.
Under the proposal, campus guards would need to go through training and be certified to carry a firearm under state guidelines.
The proposal will be reviewed by the college board in September.
If approved, the new rule will go into effect by fall or early spring.
___
FATAL MOBILE HOME FIRE
New Mexico suspect in fatal mobile home fire ordered held
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico woman accused of setting a mobile home fire that killed an 8-year-old girl has been ordered held until her trial.
KVIA-TV reports a state district judge ruled Monday that Jocelyn Ontiveros posed a danger and would remain in a county jail until her trial in November.
Investigators say Ontiveras set a Sunland Park mobile home on fire in December to kill a woman who was in a relationship with Ontiveros' boyfriend.
Authorities say the fire killed the woman's 8-year-old daughter and injured two other children.
The 30-year-old woman has been charged with arson with intent to commit a violent felony and child abuse resulting in death.
Her trial is now set for Nov. 8.
She has pleaded not guilty.
ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICER FIRED
Albuquerque police officer fired for using unnecessary force
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Albuquerque Police Department says an officer has been fired for using unnecessary force in an incident earlier this year.
The department announced Tuesday that findings of an investigation into alleged misconduct revealed Officer John Hill shoved a handcuffed suspect from behind and that caused the suspect to strike the wall head-first.
Police officials say the suspect wasn't resisting Hill at any point during the Feb. 17 encounter.
The findings were forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for review on March 19.
Following that review, Albuquerque police submitted a complaint/summons to Metro Court with a misdemeanor charge of battery.
MINING-NATIONAL FOREST
Mining proposal in Santa Fe National Forest draws opposition
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
PECOS, N.M. (AP) — A proposed exploratory mining operation on Santa Fe National Forest land is drawing fierce opposition from some northern New Mexico residents.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports residents near the village of Pecos, New Mexico are vowing to take on mining outfits seeking to search for copper, zinc and gold on a 2-acre (.8-hectare) spread.
The Australian-based New World Cobalt and its American subsidiary, Comexico LLC, have put in a request to conduct exploratory mining operations on land near Tererro, New Mexico.
But Upper Pecos Watershed Association Vice President Lela McFerrin says residents are worried about the water quality coming out of the watershed.
New World Cobalt CEO and general manager Mike says "hysteria and misinformation" are clouding residents' perspective.
State officials are reviewing New World Cobalt's request.
___
ACTIVE SHOOTER VIDEO-NEW MEXICO
Parents get final choice on schools' active-shooter video
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — One of New Mexico's largest school districts will give parents the final say on whether their children can see an instructional video on strategies for staying alive and safe in an active shooter situation.
Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Veronica Garcia said Monday that families will be allowed to opt out of the video after some parents expressed concern about potentially traumatic effects of the training itself.
She says the video was posted on the school district website so that parents could review it first before children watch it.
It follows a "run, hide, fight" security strategy supported by a national police association and the Department of Homeland Security. Garcia said the Santa Fe school board shunned other videos that portray gunmen on school grounds and developed its own.
Vice president keeps up pressure for Mexico trade deal
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence is renewing efforts to promote the Trump administration's trade deal with Mexico and Canada as he travels to the border state of New Mexico and then Salt Lake City.
The Office of the Vice President announced that Pence will talk about the trade pact Wednesday while visiting an Artesia-based service company for oil and natural gas production in the Permian basin that straddles New Mexico and Texas.
The trip provides Pence with an additional forum for the administration's efforts to ease federal environmental regulations and boost employment prospects in a critical location for U.S. oil and exploration.
Congressional Democrats have signaled that the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico needs stronger protections for workers and the environment before it can be ratified.
MURDER-CRIME OF VIOLENCE
Court ruling: Second-degree murder not 'crime of violence'
PHOENIX (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a man's second-degree murder conviction but threw out another conviction based on the first while ruling that the murder isn't always a crime of violence under federal law.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel's 2-1 ruling Monday said Randly Begay couldn't be convicted of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence because second-degree murder can be committed recklessly and therefore isn't legally considered a "crime of violence."
Begay was convicted of second-degree murder in a 2013 killing in Tuba City, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation's reservation.
Roderick Ben was shot in the head as he, Begay and two other people sat in a van outside a home.
Begay had been complaining about claims his girlfriend was cheating on him with Ben.
SCHOOL-GUNSHOT-NEW MEXICO
Parents of accused Rio Rancho High School shooter indicted
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — Parents of a 16-year-old boy accused of firing a gun in a New Mexico high school have been indicted.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the couple was indicted Thursday by a grand jury after authorities say they failed to secure their gun despite warning signs.
Police say he reported hearing voices telling him to "shoot up the school."
Authorities say the teen on the anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, shooting tried to shoot at three fellow V. Sue Cleveland High School students in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, before firing into the air and fleeing.
Police say he reported hearing voices telling him to "shoot up the school" 11 months before.
The Associated Press is not naming the student because of his age. He is facing charges of attempting to commit murder.
___
ARMED GUARDS-COLLEGE
College's Roswell campus may arm security guards
(Information from: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.com)
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — A college campus in southeastern New Mexico is mulling a plan to arm its security guards.
KOB-TV reports a proposal to arm guards at Eastern New Mexico University's Roswell campus was presented to the school board last week.
University President Shawn Powell says the school's location makes it hard for local police agencies to respond quickly to possible danger on campus.
He says the school is around 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Roswell's downtown.
Under the proposal, campus guards would need to go through training and be certified to carry a firearm under state guidelines.
The proposal will be reviewed by the college board in September.
If approved, the new rule will go into effect by fall or early spring.
___
FATAL MOBILE HOME FIRE
New Mexico suspect in fatal mobile home fire ordered held
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico woman accused of setting a mobile home fire that killed an 8-year-old girl has been ordered held until her trial.
KVIA-TV reports a state district judge ruled Monday that Jocelyn Ontiveros posed a danger and would remain in a county jail until her trial in November.
Investigators say Ontiveras set a Sunland Park mobile home on fire in December to kill a woman who was in a relationship with Ontiveros' boyfriend.
Authorities say the fire killed the woman's 8-year-old daughter and injured two other children.
The 30-year-old woman has been charged with arson with intent to commit a violent felony and child abuse resulting in death.
Her trial is now set for Nov. 8.
She has pleaded not guilty.
ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICER FIRED
Albuquerque police officer fired for using unnecessary force
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Albuquerque Police Department says an officer has been fired for using unnecessary force in an incident earlier this year.
The department announced Tuesday that findings of an investigation into alleged misconduct revealed Officer John Hill shoved a handcuffed suspect from behind and that caused the suspect to strike the wall head-first.
Police officials say the suspect wasn't resisting Hill at any point during the Feb. 17 encounter.
The findings were forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for review on March 19.
Following that review, Albuquerque police submitted a complaint/summons to Metro Court with a misdemeanor charge of battery.
MINING-NATIONAL FOREST
Mining proposal in Santa Fe National Forest draws opposition
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
PECOS, N.M. (AP) — A proposed exploratory mining operation on Santa Fe National Forest land is drawing fierce opposition from some northern New Mexico residents.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports residents near the village of Pecos, New Mexico are vowing to take on mining outfits seeking to search for copper, zinc and gold on a 2-acre (.8-hectare) spread.
The Australian-based New World Cobalt and its American subsidiary, Comexico LLC, have put in a request to conduct exploratory mining operations on land near Tererro, New Mexico.
But Upper Pecos Watershed Association Vice President Lela McFerrin says residents are worried about the water quality coming out of the watershed.
New World Cobalt CEO and general manager Mike says "hysteria and misinformation" are clouding residents' perspective.
State officials are reviewing New World Cobalt's request.
___
ACTIVE SHOOTER VIDEO-NEW MEXICO
Parents get final choice on schools' active-shooter video
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — One of New Mexico's largest school districts will give parents the final say on whether their children can see an instructional video on strategies for staying alive and safe in an active shooter situation.
Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Veronica Garcia said Monday that families will be allowed to opt out of the video after some parents expressed concern about potentially traumatic effects of the training itself.
She says the video was posted on the school district website so that parents could review it first before children watch it.
It follows a "run, hide, fight" security strategy supported by a national police association and the Department of Homeland Security. Garcia said the Santa Fe school board shunned other videos that portray gunmen on school grounds and developed its own.
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