BABY SHOT IN FACE
Mom of New Mexico infant shot in face released from jail
(Information from: Gallup Independent, http://www.gallupindependent.com)
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — The teen mother of an infant who was shot in the face at a New Mexico motel has been released from jail.
The Gallup Independent reports a district court judge on Monday ordered the release of Shayanne Nelson after ruling she was not a flight risk.
Nelson had been in jail following the Dec. 8 shooting of her 8-month-old girl at the Zia Motel in Gallup, New Mexico.
The 18-year-old told police she and her boyfriend, 21-year-old Tyrell Bitsilly, were taking a shower when her 3-year-old son found a gun and accidentally shot his sister.
Police said the girl will likely lose on eye and part of her hearing.
Nelson and Bitsilly are facing child abuse charges. Both have pleaded not guilty.

CHACO CANYON-DRILLING
APNewsBreak: US moves ahead with oil leases near sacred park
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. land managers will move forward in March with the sale of oil and gas leases that include land near Chaco Culture National Historical Park and other sites sacred to Native American tribes.
The sale comes as Democratic members of Congress, tribal leaders and environmentalists have criticized the federal Bureau of Land Management for pushing ahead with drilling permit reviews and preparations for energy leases despite the recent government shutdown.
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall tells The Associated Press that he's concerned about the latest attempt to lease potentially culturally significant land in New Mexico without a more comprehensive plan in place.
Officials have previously declined oil and gas leases on land within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of Chaco. Last year, then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke halted a lease over cultural concerns after hundreds of people protested.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico officials confront disclosure deadline
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An annual deadline is arriving for New Mexico legislators and statewide officeholders to file personal financial disclosure statements with the Secretary of State's Office.
State law gives certain state officials until the last day of January that falls on Thursday to list significant sources of income, political lobbying activity, contracts with state agencies and more to avoid undisclosed conflicts of interest.
Cabinet secretaries have 30 days from the time of their appointment to file the same information. Completed forms are posted online by the Secretary of State's Office.
The nonpartisan group New Mexico Ethics Watch has described persistent shortcomings in the state's financial disclosure system for public officials.

PNM-POWER PLANT
New Mexico regulators clear way for hearings on power plant
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — State regulators have cleared the way to begin public hearings on Public Service Co. of New Mexico's plans to abandon a coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the utility had asked the Public Regulation Commission to wait until mid-2019 so it could prepare a detailed plan for closing the San Juan Generating Station and replacing the lost electricity with alternative resources.
The commission voted unanimously Wednesday, citing a requirement that it immediately review the issue with public input. It was not immediately clear when the abandonment proceedings would begin.
The utility first announced last summer that it planned to close the plant in 2022, but it did not formally notify the commission until December.

COLORADO RIVER-DROUGHT PLAN
Arizona lawmakers to debate drought plan ahead of deadline
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona lawmakers face a Thursday deadline to let the state join a drought plan for the Colorado River or risk blowing up a compromise years in the making for the seven states that draw water from the constrained river.
Arizona is the only state that requires legislative approval to join the agreement, which will require the states to take less water from the river in hopes of keeping major reservoirs from reaching catastrophically low levels.
The House and Senate are scheduled to debate the legislation Thursday.
The Legislature's approval would be the final puzzle piece that avoids potentially more severe cutbacks imposed by the federal government.
The river serves 40 million people in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California.

PAT GARRETT FESTIVAL
Sheriff who shot Billy the Kid focus of New Mexico festival
(Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com)
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP) — Pat Garrett, an Old West sheriff who is remembered for killing outlaw Billy the Kid, is scheduled to be the focus of a new festival in southern New Mexico.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports the first Pat Garrett Western Heritage Festival is slated for Friday and Saturday in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Organizers say they plan to unveil a new photograph of Garrett.
In addition, organizers say several of Garrett's descendants will be attending the event.
The festival comes as Las Cruces city officials are considering changing the name of Motel Boulevard to Pat Garrett Boulevard.
Garrett shot and killed Billy the Kid in 1881 after the outlaw escaped from the Lincoln County jail in New Mexico.
Garrett was later killed following a dispute over a ranch.
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FATAL COLLISION-SENTENCE
Tuba City man sentenced to 19 years in fatal collision
PHOENIX (AP) — A Tuba City man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to a count of second-degree murder.
Eric Iron was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Phoenix. Prosecutors agreed to drop five other charges against him.
Iron will be in his early 50s when he's set to get out of prison. His sentence also includes five years of supervised release.
Prosecutors say he had been driving recklessly in December 2016 and collided with another vehicle after failing to stop at a stop sign. Two people in the other vehicle, including a young girl, died and two were seriously injured.
Iron's blood-alcohol content was .308 percent, nearly four times the state's legal limit for driving.
The collision happened in Tuba City on the Navajo Nation.

LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: Legislators send vetoed items to new governor
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Legislature is sending a string of bills to New Mexico's Democratic governor for consideration that were vetoed by her Republican predecessor.
The state House of Representatives on Monday gave final approval Wednesday to bills that would expand cave exploration opportunities, require greater reporting of expenses by lobbyist and limit the ability of police to seize information from personal electronic devices.
A House- and Senate-approved bill from Senate majority leader Peter Wirth would require a court order before law enforcement agencies can take electronic information from mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets.
The House gave final approval to a bill from Democratic Sen. Daniel Ivey Soto of Albuquerque and Rep. Christine Chandler of Los Alamos that would close a loophole that allowed lobbyist buy politicians meals and drinks of up to $100 without reporting it.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also will consider a bill sponsored by Sen. Bill Soules of Las Cruces aimed at allowing cave exploration underneath private property by waiving liability for land owners.

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reports the leading cause of death for both men and women in the state is heart disease - this as the department raises awareness of American Heart Month in February and National Wear Red Day® Friday, February 1st.
 
“Heart health should never be ignored by New Mexicans,” said Department of Health Secretary Designate Kathyleen Kunkel. “Heart disease not only can cost you your life but an unhealthy heart also adds to the estimated $1.8 billion dollars spent every year in our state on heart disease-related medical bills.
 
NMDOH’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program is kicking off the month of February asking both health department employees and residents statewide to wear red on Friday, February 1st. National Wear Red Day® encourages everyone around you to take better care of themselves to prevent heart disease and helps raise awareness of the effect bad heart health can have on the people closest to you.
 
Over the last 10 years, heart disease has been responsible for an average of 3,406 deaths per year in New Mexico. In 2017, it accounted for 21 percent of all deaths in the state.
 
Heart disease is preventable, and you can make healthy changes to lower your chance of developing it. Risk factors include:

• High blood pressure
• Smoking and second-hand smoke exposure
• Diabetes and prediabetes
• High cholesterol
• Unhealthy diet
• Physical inactivity
• Being overweight or obese
• Excessive alcohol use

 
For more information on heart disease in New Mexico and prevention tips, visit https://nmtracking.org/health/cardio/HeartAttack.html.  You can also find additional details about National Wear Red Day® at https://www.heart.org/.

​MARIJUANA-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico considers lighter punishment for drug possession
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic state lawmakers in New Mexico are proposing to reduce drug possession offenses from felony to misdemeanor classification in an effort to decrease incarceration costs and more effectively treat addiction.
A bill introduced Tuesday by Democratic Sen. Jacob Candelaria of Albuquerque and Rep. Andrea Romero of Santa Fe would reclassify as a misdemeanor the possession of drugs including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines and various psychedelics when there is no intent to distribute or traffic.
The initiative follows the example of reforms in states such as Oklahoma, Connecticut, Alaska and California.
Candelaria says felony penalties for possession of trace amounts of illegal drugs are dividing families and preventing access to gainful employment and public housing.
New Mexico Chief Public Defender Bennett Baur says prosecutors would retain discretion over the severity of charges.

OIL ROYALTIES-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico proposal calls for hike in oil and gas royalties
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Royalty rates for the most productive oil and natural gas wells on state trust land would increase under a measure introduced in the New Mexico Legislature.
State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard and other supporters say additional revenues from the industry will help fund public education reforms.
Under the legislation, the royalty cap would be increased to a high of 25 percent on future leases. The State Land Office currently can charge up to 20 percent.
The measure introduced Tuesday also calls for royalties to be paid on vented and flared gas.
Industry experts say the proposal could push more development to federal lands.
The oil boom in southeastern New Mexico hasn't slowed down, and a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey suggests parts of the Permian Basin hold even more potential.

OPEN PRIMARIES-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico 'open primaries' bill passed House committee
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico proposal that would allow independent voters to participate in the state's primary elections has passed its first test.
The New Mexico House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee voted 3-2 to move along a bill sponsored by Democratic Rep. Natalie Figueroa that would let "decline-to-state" voters cast ballots in either the Democratic and Republican primaries.
The committee's two Republicans opposed the measure.
Proponents of the bill say open primaries would allow more voters to participate in primaries.
But Republican Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell says the open primary proposal would be "an absolute nightmare" for county clerks offices.
About 22 percent for registered voters decline party affiliations in New Mexico. State law requires voters to register with a party 28 days before participating in a primary election.

GOOD SAMARITAN FATALLY STRUCK
Sunland Park man killed trying to help driver of stalled car
DONA ANA COUNTY, N.M. (AP) — A Sunland Park man is dead after trying to help the driver of a stalled car in Dona Ana County and getting fatally struck by a passing vehicle.
New Mexico State Police say 46-year-old Byron Wade Cross was pronounced dead Monday night at a hospital.
They say a car driven by an 18-year-old man from Mexico stalled out in the middle of Interstate 10.
Cross stopped to assist the driver when that car was hit by a pickup, then another vehicle reportedly struck Cross as he was standing on the highway's shoulder.
State Police say 72-year-old Daniel Terrazas of Las Cruces is jailed on suspicion of careless driving, having no car insurance and driving on an expired license.
Terrazas also had an unrelated arrest warrant out of Dona Ana County.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico bill to rename Columbus Day clears hurdle
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico proposal that would trade the Columbus Day holiday for a tribute to Native Americans instead has cleared another hurdle.
The New Mexico House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee unanimously passed Tuesday a measure to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Sandia Pueblo tribal member and Democratic state Rep. Derrick Lente sponsored the bill that renames the state holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October.
He says the tribute to explorer Christopher Columbus should be dropped in a state with 23 designated Native American communities.
But Republican Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell says she was concerned the attempt to rename Columbus Day was linked to the effort to remove Confederate Monuments.
At least five states have done away with Columbus Day celebration in deference to Native Americans, though the federal Columbus holiday remains in place.

SEX ABUSE-SUSPECT ARRESTED
Alamo man accused of sexual abuse; Could get life in prison
ALBUQUERQUE, N. M. (AP) — Authorities say an Alamo man has been accused of aggravated sexual abuse and could be facing a life prison sentence if convicted.
Federal prosecutor say 35-year-old Thomas Abeyta made his initial court appearance Tuesday in Albuquerque.
It's not immediately clear if he has a lawyer yet who can speak on his behalf.
According to a criminal complaint, Abeyta physically assaulted the victim at a residence last Friday.
Authorities say Abeyta allegedly injected the victim with a substance and sexually abused her over the course of several hours.
The victim later went to the hospital for treatment of her injuries and staff members reported the matter to law enforcement.
The Albuquerque office of the FBI investigated the case along with the Navajo Nation Police Department.

RIGHT TO WORK-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico bill would prohibit right-to-work ordinances
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico are supporting a measure that would prohibit local governments from enacting right-to-work ordinances, arguing that the state should have exclusive jurisdiction over the issue.
After an hours-long hearing Tuesday, a House panel voted 6-3 along party lines to advance the legislation .
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that government workers can't be forced to contribute to labor unions that represent them in collective bargaining. The ruling involved an Illinois state worker who argued that everything unions do, including bargaining with the state, is political and employees shouldn't be forced to pay for it.
In New Mexico, several counties have approved ordinances that prevent employees from being required to join a union or pay union fees.
Union leaders contend the ordinances create confusion and are undermining the labor groups.
​
NEW MEXICO-RABID FOX
Fox bites homeowner in New Mexico, tests positive for rabies
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Department of Health says a fox that bit a Las Vegas homeowner has tested positive for rabies.
State Game and Fish authorities responded to a call last Saturday from the homeowner who believed the fox was starving when she attempted to feed it.
The homeowner offered the fox a bowl of dog food when it bit her on the wrist and hand.
A Game and Fish conservation officer was able to locate the fox and noticed it was exhibiting abnormal behaviors consistent with rabies.
The officer first attempted to capture the fox but after it became aggressive, he euthanized it.
Game and Fish submitted the fox for testing to the state's Scientific Laboratory Division and results came back positive for rabies on Monday.

NEW MEXICO ATHLETICS
Push to save New Mexico soccer, skiing comes amid anxiety
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Key Democratic lawmakers are getting behind an effort to force the University of New Mexico to reinstate the men's soccer team.
A proposal sponsored by House Speaker Brian Egolf and House Appropriations and Finance Committee chairwoman Patricia Lundstrom would set aside $2 million for the school to reinstate the men's and women's skiing teams, beach volleyball and men's soccer programs.
The University of New Mexico Board of Regents voted last year to cut the programs to get spending under control within its troubled athletics department. But the decision drew wide condemnation.
University of New Mexico spokeswoman Cinnamon Blair told the Albuquerque Journal the school didn't ask for the bill and is examining it.
But the men's soccer team says the school asked team members to meet with lawmakers this week.

MONUMENT BATHROOMS-SHUTDOWN
Official: 'Mystery' volunteer cleaned bathrooms at monument
(Information from: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A park official is expressing his gratitude for a "mystery person" who cleaned the bathrooms at Petroglyph National Monument during the federal government shutdown, and kept them stocked with toilet paper.
Dennis Vasquez, the superintendent for the monument in Albuquerque, told KOB-TV on Monday that people who visited the site during the 35-day shutdown appeared to be respectful of it overall.
Elsewhere in the country, including in Joshua Tree National Park in California, reports emerged of federal sites being trashed.
President Donald Trump on Friday agreed to end the shutdown for three weeks. The National Park Service said then that it was preparing to resume regular operations nationwide.
Petroglyph National Monument is a protected site with carved symbols and designs dating back centuries.
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CHILD ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM
UNM seeks funding to expand child abuse response team
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center is asking state lawmakers for more funding to expand a program that evaluates children in cases that might involve child abuse.
Officials say the University of New Mexico Hospital's Child Abuse Response Team helps provide a measure of safety for the state's most vulnerable residents.
Leslie Strickler is the team's medical director and is the state's only board-certified child abuse pediatrician. She has the expertise to determine whether a child's injuries may have been caused deliberately or by accident.
According to Strickler, New Mexico has high rates of child abuse and neglect and has a pediatric population at very high risk of maltreatment.
Additional funding for the program is one of the legislative priorities for the Health Sciences Center this year.

COUNTERFEIT MONEY-WARNING
New Mexico state auditor issues counterfeit money warning
(Information from: Artesia Daily Press, http://www.artesianews.com)
ARTESIA, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico state auditor has issued a warning about counterfeit money found in the southern part of the state.
The Artesia Daily Press reports the Office of the State Auditor last week issued a risk advisory alerting the public, business owners, and governmental agencies about counterfeit money in circulation.
Officials say counterfeit money has been spotted in communities in southern New Mexico, particularly Alamogordo.
Authorities say the fake money is printed on low-quality paper and appears to have Chinese lettering.
Alamogordo police say the bills have been presented at various retailers, including dollar stores, nail salons, restaurants, and gas stations.
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INDIAN ARTS-RESEARCH CENTER
Institute of American Indian Arts plans for research center
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An effort by the Institute of American Indian Arts to create a new research center is getting support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
The institute says the center will focus on the advancement of contemporary Native American arts and culture by streamlining the care of museum collections and records as well as supporting training through internships and fellowships.
The three-year planning grant is worth $434,000.
IAIA President Robert Martin says the partnership with Mellon is a critical step in expanding the institute's capacity to contribute to the field and build upon its legacy as the birthplace of contemporary Native arts.
The institute also plans to start a scholarly fellowship program to provide financial support for a series of fellows working on projects related to contemporary Native American art.

LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico may allow mercy for dogs that hurt livestock
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico lawmakers are reconsidering the state's mandatory death sentence for dogs that injure or kill livestock.
The bill from Democratic Rep. Joanne Ferrary of Las Cruces was scheduled for initial consideration Tuesday by a legislative committee.
Owner of livestock or poultry would still be allowed to kill a dog if it remains on their property after attacking livestock.
Dog owners continue to be liable for livestock killed by a canine companion.

MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION-NEW MEXICO
Multicultural education reforms advance in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Bills designed to improve academic achievement among Native American and Hispanic students and to revitalizing local cultural traditions including indigenous languages are advancing at the New Mexico Legislature.
A House panel on Monday endorsed bills that would expand training for teachers of English as a second language and bilingual instruction, while enlisting the help of education cooperatives.
A separate bill would add two administrative posts at the Public Education Department to oversee progress among Hispanic students and better tailor teaching to local cultures.
The bills respond to a state district judge's findings that New Mexico fails to provide an adequate education to students from low-income and minority communities, especially children who speak Spanish or Native American languages at home. A court order gives lawmakers until April to provide solutions.
​
NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL-SPEAKER
Seth Damon selected as speaker of 24th Navajo Nation Council
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation officials say delegate Seth Damon has been selected as speaker of the 24th Navajo Nation Council.
They say Damon got 14 votes during Monday's opening day of the Winter Council Session and will serve a two-year term as speaker.
Damon was administered the oath of office following the votes of the council.
A New Mexico native, Damon served as the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee during his first term as a council delegate.
Other nominees who sought the speaker position included council delegates Jamie Henio, Edmund Yazzie and Amber Kanazbah Crotty.

RIGHT TO DIE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico considers authorization of life-ending medication
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Legislature is beginning public deliberations on a new bill that would legalize medically assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.
A New Mexico House panel for health policies was scheduled Monday to hear the proposal from Democratic Rep. Deborah Armstrong of Albuquerque and Sen. Liz Stefanics of Santa Fe sets out protocols for the prescription of life ending drugs.
The New Mexico Republican Party and local Roman Catholic church are opposed to the initiative. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham supports it.
Similar legislation has been enacted in six states since 1998 and Washington, D.C. In addition, Montana's judiciary says doctors can use a patient's request for life-ending medication as a defense against any criminal charges.
The New Mexico bill would require authorization from two medical providers to obtain life-ending drugs.

FATAL SHOOTINGS-ARREST
Albuquerque police: Suspect in 2 fatal shootings is arrested
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police in Albuquerque say a man wanted in connection with the fatal shootings of two people at a gas station is in custody.
They say 32-year-old James Alex Chavez was booked Saturday into the Bernalillo County Metro Detention Center on suspicion of two counts of murder.
It was unclear Sunday if Chavez has a lawyer yet.
According to a criminal complaint, Chavez tried to barter with the employees at a convenience store on Jan. 14 because he didn't have money.
When they asked him to leave, police say Chavez allegedly shot 24-year-old James Ronquillo and 27-year-old Jesus Lopez.
Police say Lopez died at the scene and Ronquillo later died at a hospital from his injuries.
They say Chavez also had outstanding arrest warrants for drug possession and stolen vehicle charges.

NEW MEXICO LAND BOSS
New Mexico land boss ready to 'dance' with oil industry
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard says she and the oil and gas industry have the same goal — to make money.
The Democrat says the big challenge will be managing the effects of the oil boom on southeastern New Mexico by incentivizing policies aimed at conserving and recycling water and increasing environmental protections.
Garcia Richard is the first woman to serve as New Mexico's land boss. In a recent interview, she said ensuring responsible development over the long term will enable the State Land Office to keep generating money for public education and other beneficiaries through leases, royalties and other fees related to activities on state trust land.
A month into the job, Garcia Richard has been busy meeting with lawmakers, landowners, oil executives and renewable energy advocates.

COLORADO RIVER-DROUGHT PLAN
Western states near deadline for Colorado River drought plan
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Western states are watching as Arizona comes up against a deadline to approve a plan on how to manage a dwindling supply of Colorado River water.
The other six states in the river basin have agreed to drought contingency plans.
Arizona's has broad support among those who negotiated it, but it needs approval from the state Legislature.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation set a Thursday deadline. Without a consensus plan, the agency says it will make the rules.
Arizona arguably has the most to lose without a drought plan that would spread cuts more widely. It is the lowest priority for water among the states, and would be hit first and hardest under existing guidelines.
Most of that falls on farmers in central Arizona. The drought plan would help lessen the blow.

SALESMAN-SEXUAL ASSAULT
Judge: Salesman's sentence in sexual assault is inadequate
CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — A salesman who sexually assaulted a Clovis woman who allowed him into her home to demonstrate a vacuum cleaner has been sentenced to three years in prison, a sentence that the judge called inadequate for the crime.
District Judge Fred Van Soelen said during Thursday's sentencing that it was ridiculous that state law specified only three years as the maximum prison sentence for third-degree criminal sexual penetration and said 29-year-old Brandon Barron of Albuquerque was getting a break.
The judge also said Barron hadn't shown remorse and that the March 2017 offense "strikes at a person's right to feel safe in their homes."
A jury convicted Barron Nov. 1.

FATAL SEMITRAILER COLLISION
2 killed in head-on semitrailer collision on I-40
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say two people died in a head-on collision involving two semitrailers on I-40 west of Albuquerque.
Investigators say another person remains in a hospital in critical condition following the crash Thursday afternoon.
Officials with the Bernalillo County Fire Department say a man and a woman were dead when they arrived at the scene. Another man was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital.
It is unclear what caused the incident.

SANTA FE-HOME PRICES
Group: Santa Fe median home prices hit record levels
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The median home price in New Mexico's capital city hit a record level last year.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Santa Fe Association of Realtors numbers show the median home price in the city of Santa Fe in 2018 was $370,000.
The group says that figure, based on sales over the year, surpassed the pre-recession peak of $360,000 in 2007.
The number of home sales in Santa Fe also has increased in the past few years, rising from 842 in 2016 to 1,079 in 2018.
The resurgent housing market comes as the Santa Fe area struggles with a shortage of affordable homes and lack of inventory overall.
Home sales across Santa Fe County saw an even higher median price of $420,000 in 2018 for single-family detached homes.
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STATE SUPREME COURT-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico governor picks 2 for state Supreme Court
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has named two district judges to fill a pair of vacancies on the New Mexico Supreme Court.
The governor on Friday announced Shannon Bacon and David K. Thomson as her choices for the high court. They will replace recently retired Justices Charles Daniels and Petra Maes.
Bacon has served in the state's busiest judicial district since 2010. She's the presiding judge over the Albuquerque-based district's civil division and is an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law.
Thomson has served as a judge in Santa Fe since 2014. He previously worked for more than a decade in the state attorney general's office.
Bacon and Thomson were chosen from a list of finalists provided by a nominating commission that had interviewed more than a dozen candidates.

BORDER PATROL-ARRESTS
Migrant with flesh-eating bacteria detained at US border
LORDSBURG, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Border Patrol agents say a man among hundreds of migrants detained in New Mexico in recent days has been diagnosed as having been infected with flesh-eating bacteria.
The man was transported to a hospital after telling an agent that he had a growing rash on his leg.
Officials said in a statement Friday the unidentified migrant will require extensive treatment.
Flesh-eating bacteria is a rare condition called necrotizing fasciitis that spreads quickly and can be fatal.
The bacteria usually gets into the body through a minor cut or scrape and can cause a serious infection that can destroy muscle, skin and other tissue.
Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the infected area.
It's rare for the infection to spread to other people.
The man's home country was not disclosed.

SALESMAN-SEXUAL ASSAULT
Judge: Salesman's sentence in sexual assault is inadequate
CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — A salesman who sexually assaulted a Clovis woman who allowed him into her home to demonstrate a vacuum cleaner has been sentenced to three years in prison, a sentence that the judge called inadequate for the crime.
District Judge Fred Van Soelen said during Thursday's sentencing that it was ridiculous that state law specified only three years as the maximum prison sentence for third-degree criminal sexual penetration and said 29-year-old Brandon Barron of Albuquerque was getting a break.
The judge also said Barron hadn't shown remorse and that the March 2017 offense "strikes at a person's right to feel safe in their homes."
A jury convicted Barron Nov. 1.

FATAL SEMITRAILER COLLISION
2 killed in head-on semitrailer collision on I-40
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say two people died in a head-on collision involving two semitrailers on I-40 west of Albuquerque.
Investigators say another person remains in a hospital in critical condition following the crash Thursday afternoon.
Officials with the Bernalillo County Fire Department say a man and a woman were dead when they arrived at the scene. Another man was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital.
It is unclear what caused the incident.

SANTA FE-HOME PRICES
Group: Santa Fe median home prices hit record levels
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The median home price in New Mexico's capital city hit a record level last year.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Santa Fe Association of Realtors numbers show the median home price in the city of Santa Fe in 2018 was $370,000.
The group says that figure, based on sales over the year, surpassed the pre-recession peak of $360,000 in 2007.
The number of home sales in Santa Fe also has increased in the past few years, rising from 842 in 2016 to 1,079 in 2018.
The resurgent housing market comes as the Santa Fe area struggles with a shortage of affordable homes and lack of inventory overall.
Home sales across Santa Fe County saw an even higher median price of $420,000 in 2018 for single-family detached homes.
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MEXICO-US MIGRATION
Mexico: US to send back 20 migrants daily in new asylum plan
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government says the United States plans to return 20 migrants per day to Mexico as they await an answer to their U.S. asylum claims.
The spokesman for Mexico's Foreign Relations Department says Mexico doesn't agree with the move, but will accept the migrants.
Roberto Velasco said Friday the first 20 migrants to be returned at the San Ysidro crossing are all Central Americans and all had temporary visas in Mexico.
He said the U.S. government wants to "gradually" extend the practice, known as "Remain in Mexico," to the rest of the border crossing points.
Velasco said Mexico won't accept migrants who have appealed a denial of asylum, unaccompanied children or people who have health problems.

OIL BOOM-POLICE SHORTAGE
Hobbs, facing staffing shortage amid oil boom, OKs pay study
(Information from: Hobbs News-Sun, http://www.hobbsnews.com)
HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — A southeastern New Mexico city in the heart of the state's oil boom will launch a study focusing on police and firefighters pay.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports the city commission in Hobbs, New Mexico, voted this week to approve a $59,000 compensation study for city employees. The vote comes months after a veteran police officer told city leaders that officers are leaving the Hobbs Police Department in "a mass exodus" due to insufficient pay.
Officials have acknowledged lucrative oil jobs are creating staffing shortages in the police and fire departments.
Hobbs Human Resources Director Nicholas Goulet says the city hasn't had a major overhaul or review of its compensation system in more than 12 years.
The compensation study by Evergreen Services of Tallahassee, Florida, will take about 3 1/2 months.
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BORDER PATROL-ARRESTS
Migrant with flesh-eating bacteria detained at US border
LORDSBURG, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Border Patrol agents say a man among hundreds of migrants detained in New Mexico in recent days has been diagnosed as having been infected with flesh-eating bacteria.
The man was transported to a hospital after telling an agent that he had a growing rash on his leg.
Officials said in a statement Friday the unidentified migrant will require extensive treatment.
Flesh-eating bacteria is a rare condition called necrotizing fasciitis that spreads quickly and can be fatal.
The bacteria usually gets into the body through a minor cut or scrape and can cause a serious infection that can destroy muscle, skin and other tissue.
Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the infected area.
It's rare for the infection to spread to other people.
The man's home country was not disclosed.

STATE SUPREME COURT-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico governor picks 2 for state Supreme Court
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has named two district judges to fill a pair of vacancies on the New Mexico Supreme Court.
The governor on Friday announced Shannon Bacon and David K. Thomson as her choices for the high court. They will replace recently retired Justices Charles Daniels and Petra Maes.
Bacon has served in the state's busiest judicial district since 2010. She's the presiding judge over the Albuquerque-based district's civil division and is an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law.
Thomson has served as a judge in Santa Fe since 2014. He previously worked for more than a decade in the state attorney general's office.
Bacon and Thomson were chosen from a list of finalists provided by a nominating commission that had interviewed more than a dozen candidates.

SALESMAN-SEXUAL ASSAULT
Judge: Salesman's sentence in sexual assault is inadequate
CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — A salesman who sexually assaulted a Clovis woman who allowed him into her home to demonstrate a vacuum cleaner has been sentenced to three years in prison, a sentence that the judge called inadequate for the crime.
District Judge Fred Van Soelen said during Thursday's sentencing that it was ridiculous that state law specified only three years as the maximum prison sentence for third-degree criminal sexual penetration and said 29-year-old Brandon Barron of Albuquerque was getting a break.
The judge also said Barron hadn't shown remorse and that the March 2017 offense "strikes at a person's right to feel safe in their homes."
A jury convicted Barron Nov. 1.

FATAL SEMITRAILER COLLISION
2 killed in head-on semitrailer collision on I-40
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say two people died in a head-on collision involving two semitrailers on I-40 west of Albuquerque.
Investigators say another person remains in a hospital in critical condition following the crash Thursday afternoon.
Officials with the Bernalillo County Fire Department say a man and a woman were dead when they arrived at the scene. Another man was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital.
It is unclear what caused the incident.

TEACHER STRIKES
Teachers succeed by framing strikes as for common good
Los Angeles teachers who declared a victory after a six-day strike have added momentum to a wave of activism by educators.
They've tapped a common theme and found success by framing their cause as a push to improve public education, not just get pay raises.
Los Angeles teachers, for example, demanded smaller class sizes and more nurses and counselors for students before returning to work in the nation's second-largest school district Wednesday.
Teachers in Denver, Oakland, Virginia, Texas, Washington and Illinois are planning rallies, marches and, in some cases, strikes of their own. The actions have fed off one another since the movement began last spring in West Virginia.
In several states, governors and lawmakers are moving pre-emptively to address grievances by proposing more money for education.

SANTA FE-HOME PRICES
Group: Santa Fe median home prices hit record levels
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The median home price in New Mexico's capital city hit a record level last year.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Santa Fe Association of Realtors numbers show the median home price in the city of Santa Fe in 2018 was $370,000.
The group says that figure, based on sales over the year, surpassed the pre-recession peak of $360,000 in 2007.
The number of home sales in Santa Fe also has increased in the past few years, rising from 842 in 2016 to 1,079 in 2018.
The resurgent housing market comes as the Santa Fe area struggles with a shortage of affordable homes and lack of inventory overall.
Home sales across Santa Fe County saw an even higher median price of $420,000 in 2018 for single-family detached homes.
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MEXICO-US MIGRATION
Mexico: US to send back 20 migrants daily in new asylum plan
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government says the United States plans to return 20 migrants per day to Mexico as they await an answer to their U.S. asylum claims.
The spokesman for Mexico's Foreign Relations Department says Mexico doesn't agree with the move, but will accept the migrants.
Roberto Velasco said Friday the first 20 migrants to be returned at the San Ysidro crossing are all Central Americans and all had temporary visas in Mexico.
He said the U.S. government wants to "gradually" extend the practice, known as "Remain in Mexico," to the rest of the border crossing points.
Velasco said Mexico won't accept migrants who have appealed a denial of asylum, unaccompanied children or people who have health problems.

OIL BOOM-POLICE SHORTAGE
Hobbs, facing staffing shortage amid oil boom, OKs pay study
(Information from: Hobbs News-Sun, http://www.hobbsnews.com)
HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — A southeastern New Mexico city in the heart of the state's oil boom will launch a study focusing on police and firefighters pay.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports the city commission in Hobbs, New Mexico, voted this week to approve a $59,000 compensation study for city employees. The vote comes months after a veteran police officer told city leaders that officers are leaving the Hobbs Police Department in "a mass exodus" due to insufficient pay.
Officials have acknowledged lucrative oil jobs are creating staffing shortages in the police and fire departments.
Hobbs Human Resources Director Nicholas Goulet says the city hasn't had a major overhaul or review of its compensation system in more than 12 years.
The compensation study by Evergreen Services of Tallahassee, Florida, will take about 3 1/2 months.
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BOMB THREATS-ARREST
Man is arrested in Dona Ana County for alleged bomb threats
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Dona Ana County authorities say a man has been arrested for allegedly making bomb threats.
County sheriff's officials say 37-year-old Samuel Gilpin was wanted on a federal warrant accusing him with malicious threat to injure by fire or explosives.
It was unclear Thursday if Gilpin had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.
Sheriff's officials say Gilpin was named as a suspect in an investigation of bomb threats made against the county's Government Center in 2017 and recently against the Third Judicial District Court building in Las Cruces.
Gilpin allegedly made the threats to the government center because he was upset over receiving a notification in the mail letting him know he could only vote in one state and needed to choose where he preferred to be a voter.

COURT-PRIVACY RIGHTS
New Mexico Supreme Court rules in privacy rights case
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has provided new legal guidance on when police are justified to enter a private residence without a warrant.
In a ruling Thursday, the court found that authorities did not violate a Farmington man's constitutional right to privacy by entering an unlocked apartment without a warrant to check on the residents inside.
At issue was whether an officer's decision to enter the apartment was reasonable under the emergency assistance doctrine, which allows warrantless entry to aid injured occupants or to protect them from harm.
The officer heard an infant's cries and another child hollering after a neighbor reported hearing a loud thumping noise. Inside, the officer found two intoxicated people passed out on the floor with an infant and two other young children in the room.

GUN CONTROL-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico bills, governor test appetite for gun control
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's Democrat-led Legislature and allied governor are pushing to increase oversight of firearms sales and place new limitations on gun possession and ownership, as a slate of gun-safety bills comes up for discussion in the Statehouse.
An initial committee hearing was scheduled Thursday on a long list of bills to expand federal background checks on gun sales, deny firearms to perpetrators of domestic abuse and allow courts to temporarily seize guns from people who are considered dangerous. Another bill would penalize adults for unlocked guns that fall into the hands a minor, leading to injury or death.
Since taking office Jan. 1, Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has urged lawmakers to send her legislation that expands federal background check to all gun sales.

SHERIFF-MISSING CASH
Roosevelt County sheriff: Cash missing from evidence room
(Information from: The Eastern New Mexico News, http://www.easternnewmexiconews.com)
PORTALES, N.M. (AP) — Roosevelt County Sheriff Malin Parker is asking New Mexico State Police for help in investigating missing cash from its evidence room.
The Eastern New Mexico News reports Parker announced this week an audit found the cash missing after an employee notified him.
Officials say around $8,200 has vanished.
Parker says he contacted state police "and requested a full investigation."
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NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE
Holtec defends plans for nuclear waste storage facility
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Jersey-based company is defending plans to build a multibillion-dollar facility in the New Mexico desert to store spent fuel from commercial nuclear reactors around the United States.
An attorney representing Holtec International says the project would provide an option for dealing with waste that has been building up at nuclear power plants as the federal government has not met its obligations to establish a permanent repository.
Jay Silberg told members of a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission panel on Thursday the proposed facility would provide a more secure temporary home for the spent fuel.
Silberg says Holtec is seeking a license to store up to 8,680 metric tons of waste. He says the facility could eventually hold 100,000 metric tons.
Opponents are concerned about the safety of transporting the waste and potential environmental effects.

MILITARY VEHICLES CRASH-IDS
2 Fort Bliss soldiers killed in training crash identified
OTERO COUNTY, N.M. (AP) — Authorities have released the names of two soldiers from Texas' Fort Bliss who died when two military training vehicles crashed in southern New Mexico.
Officials at the Army base in El Paso say 24-year-old Cpl. Cole Trevor Wixom and 21-year-old Pfc. Jamie R. Riley were fatally injured in Tuesday night's collision between two Stryker vehicles at New Mexico's McGregor Range.
They say seven other soldiers still are being treated for their injuries and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Fort Bliss officials say Wixom was from Bloomingdale, Michigan, and served as an infantryman.
They say Riley served as a cavalry scout and was from Fair Haven, New Jersey.
Wixom joined the Army in August 2016 and Riley enlisted in January 2018.

FAMILY COURT JUDGE-DWI
Family court judge in Albuquerque accused of DWI after crash
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities in Albuquerque say a family court judge has been was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after being involved in a car accident.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Deborah Walker was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center early Thursday and has since been released. It's unclear if she has a lawyer.
A criminal complaint says the 65-year-old Walker was in a crash about 8 p.m. Wednesday and a breath test showed she was above the presumed level of intoxication.
The Journal says a police officer stated Walker smelled like alcohol, had slurred speech and performed poorly on three field sobriety tests before being taken into custody.
Walker has been a judge in the 2nd Judicial District since 1993. She has appointed and elected as a family court judge in 1997.
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UNITED STATES-MEXICO-ASYLUM
Official: Asylum seekers to wait in Mexico as soon as Friday
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A U.S. official says the Trump administration will force asylum seekers in San Diego to wait in Mexico starting as soon as Friday while their cases wind through U.S. courts.
If it survives an anticipated legal challenge, it would be one of the most significant changes to the U.S. immigration system of Donald Trump's presidency.
The official said Thursday that the changes are set to start at San Diego's San Ysidro border crossing, the nation's busiest. The official is familiar with the plan but spoke on condition of anonymity because it's not yet final.
The plan calls for U.S. authorities to bus asylum seekers back and forth to the border for court hearings in downtown San Diego.
U.S. officials anticipate the San Diego crossing will eventually process more asylum claims than it does now.