INTERSTATE 25-BARRICADE SITUATION
State Police: Man shot, ending barricade situation on I-25
HATCH, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico State Police says a barricade situation involving a vehicle stopped along Interstate 25 in southern New Mexico ended when a State Police officer shot and wounded an armed man who was holding a 7-year-old child hostage.
The State Police said in a statement that the incident began Wednesday when a vehicle failed to stop at a Border Patrol checkpoint on I-25, prompting a pursuit that led to the vehicle stopping near Hatch.
The statement said the injured suspect was taken to a hospital and his condition wasn't immediately available, while the child "was safely rescued" and no officers were injured.
No additional information was released.
Hatch is a73 miles (118 kilometers) north of El Paso, Texas.

​LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO
Bill advances to ban coyote-killing contests in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The state Senate has passed a bill that would ban contests to see who can shoot and kill the most coyotes.
The bill from Democratic Sen. Jeff Steinborn of Las Cruces and Republican Sen. Mark Moores of Albuquerque passed on a 22-17 vote Wednesday and now moves to the New Mexico state House for consideration.
Ranchers and outfitters from across the state have argued over the years that the contests are a tool for managing packs of coyotes that threaten livestock. Opponents say the practice is barbaric and ineffective, and this year's bill would make it a misdemeanor crime to organize a contest. Participation would be a petty misdemeanor.
Coyote killing contests were banned on state trust land earlier this year by State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard.

AP-US-WILDLIFE-TRAPPING-BAN
Trapping-ban bill signals shift in attitudes toward animals
TIERRA AMARILLA, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico may become the latest state in the American West to place major restrictions on wildlife trapping as frontier ethics and suburban attitudes toward animal suffering collide.
A Democrat-backed bill that bans traps, snares and animal poison on public land with few exceptions was poised for a crucial vote in in the state House of Representatives as soon as Thursday.
Final approval would banish independent trappers from public lands that span nearly a third of the state.
Trapping traditions date back to the Spanish colonial era and include celebrity 19th century frontiersman Kit Carson.
Lining up against the ban are trappers and ranchers who depend on each other to tamp down livestock predators and harvest pelts for international markets.

BORDER ARRESTS-NEW MEXICO
Group of 180 migrants arrested at New Mexico border
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (AP) — Federal border authorities say 180 migrants have been arrested for illegally crossing into the United States near a border community in southern New Mexico.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday the group crossed near Sunland Park early Tuesday, marking the latest wave of Central Americans to arrive in the state in recent months. Earlier this month, a total of 640 people crossed at two separate locations in less than 24 hours.
While more than two dozen large groups of 100 migrants or more have been apprehended in the region since Oct. 1, authorities say this marks the second large group encountered at Sunland Park.
Like the previous instances, the latest group included families and unaccompanied juveniles. Sunland Park medical technicians responded and treated some of the migrants while others were transported to a local hospital.

ALAMOGORDO ASSAULT-CONVICTION
Man is convicted in aggravated assault case in Alamogordo
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP) — Prosecutors say a man is facing up to 12 ½ years in prison after being convicted of multiple felony charges in a 2017 Alamogordo assault case.
They say 43-year-old Orlando Marroquin was found guilty of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, child abuse and criminal damage to property.
Otero County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the scene of a car crash in August 2017.
They reported seeing a truck ramming an SUV off the roadway and the driver was later identified as Marroquin.
Authorities say Marroquin earlier saw his estranged wife and another man in the SUV and began shooting at them.
They say Marroquin chased the SUV in his truck and eventually crashed into it and rammed the vehicle repeatedly.

BORDER WALL-PROTOTYPES-THE LATEST
The Latest: 7 of 8 prototype border walls demolished
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Less than two hours after crews began demolishing eight prototypes of the president's prized border wall in San Diego, seven of the barriers were destroyed.
A large hydraulic jackhammer attached to an excavator pounded the walls repeatedly on Wednesday as slabs fell into small clouds of dust. Crews had previously drilled small holes in the concrete and stuffed them with grout that softens the cement and makes them easier to destroy.
A panel made of steel poles was also dismantled.
The Trump administration says elements of the prototypes have been melded into current border fence designs and they have served their purpose.
The eight prototypes cost $300,000 to $500,000 each to build.
For Trump's allies, the towering models were a show of his commitment to border security and fulfilling a core campaign promise. For detractors, they were monuments to wasted taxpayer dollars and a misguided display of aggression toward Mexico and immigrants.

DOLORES HUERTA-BIRTHPLACE
Dolores Huerta to visit New Mexico as birthplace sits vacant
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Dolores Huerta, the Mexican-American social activist who formed a farmworkers union with Cesar Chavez, is visiting the New Mexico Statehouse amid a push to name a street in her honor.
But her scheduled visit Wednesday comes as lawmakers and state officials have ignored pleas to do something around her northern New Mexico birthplace that now sits abandoned.
The 88-year-old civil rights advocate is expected to appear before the state Senate and House in honor of Dolores Huerta Day. She then is slated to speak before activists who are working to rename an Albuquerque street after her.
Huerta was born in the mining town of Dawson, New Mexico. The ghost town is surrounded by a gated fence and is not open to the public.
She later moved to Stockton, California.

GUN CONTROL-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: Gun background check bill advances
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A proposal to expand background checks to nearly all gun sales in New Mexican is advancing as advocates and opponents clash in a final series committee hearings at the Legislature.
Republican Rep. Candy Ezzell of Roswell called into questioned the constitutionality of a Democrat-sponsored bill on Tuesday while brandishing printed copies of the U.S. and state constitutions.
A House panel endorsed legislative amendments that would exempt sales between family members and limit fees for background checks to $35. The House and Senate have approved nearly identical background check bills, with the Senate version now advancing toward final approval.
Senate bill sponsor Richard Martinez of Espanola says he is asking the state attorney general for an opinion on the bill and urged sheriffs who have protested the initiative to review their oaths to uphold state law.

OPIOID LAWSUIT-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico expands lawsuit centered on opioid crisis
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is seeking a sweeping expansion of its ongoing lawsuit over the opioid crisis by targeting pharmacies and other companies that are part of the supply chain for the prescription medications.
State Attorney General Hector Balderas said Tuesday that Walmart, Walgreens, CVS and others have been profiting from the sale of opioids and should be reinvesting part of those profits into community treatment centers, education campaigns and law enforcement intervention programs.
The state filed its initial claim in state district court in 2017 against five of the nation's major opioid manufacturers and three wholesale distributors. Three more manufacturers were added to the lawsuit later that year.
The motion seeking to expand the list of defendants was filed Tuesday. The judge is expected to rule soon on the state's request.

CORRECTIONS SECRETARY-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico governor's pick for prisons chief opts out
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's pick to run New Mexico's prison system says she can no longer accept the position, citing personal issues.
The governor had named Julie Jones last month as her appointment for corrections secretary. The post would have tasked Jones with overseeing a system with 7,300 inmates and 20,000 people serving time on probation or parole.
Jones had recently served as corrections secretary for the state of Florida.
In a brief letter to Lujan Grisham, Jones said Tuesday she was declining the appointment with a "heavy heart." She says she will no longer able to move to New Mexico because unexpected personal issues.
She previously had been expected to start work in New Mexico in March.

HISPANIC STATE HOLIDAY
New Mexico Cesar Chavez, Dennis Chavez holiday clears House
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A proposed state holiday in honor of the late U.S. Sen. Dennis Chavez of New Mexico and the late farmworker union leader Cesar Chavez of California has passed the New Mexico House.
A bill designating the first Friday of every April as "Dennis Chavez and Cesar Chavez Day" cleared the House of Representatives on Monday and now heads to the state Senate.
The New Mexico-born Dennis Chavez served in the U.S. Senate from 1935 to 1962 and earned a reputation as a defender of Mexican-Americans civil rights.
The Yuma, Arizona-born Cesar Chavez co-founded the United Farm Workers of America with Dolores Huerta and the pair organized boycotts and strikes to push for better working conditions for farmworkers.
New Mexico Rep. Miguel P. Garcia, a Democrat, sponsored the proposal.

DOLORES HUERTA-BIRTHPLACE
Dolores Huerta to visit New Mexico as birthplace sits vacant
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Dolores Huerta, the Mexican-American social activist who formed a farmworkers union with Cesar Chavez, is visiting the New Mexico Statehouse amid a push to name a street in her honor.
But her scheduled visit Wednesday comes as lawmakers and state officials have ignored pleas to do something around her northern New Mexico birthplace that now sits abandoned.
The 88-year-old civil rights advocate is expected to appear before the state Senate and House in honor of Dolores Huerta Day. She then is slated to speak before activists who are working to rename an Albuquerque street after her.
Huerta was born in the mining town of Dawson, New Mexico. The ghost town is surrounded by a gated fence and is not open to the public.
She later moved to Stockton, California.

PUBLIC LANDS-NEW MEXICO
More wilderness on tap for New Mexico in public lands bill
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico will see more than a dozen new wilderness areas created under a sweeping public lands bill approved by Congress.
The House approved the measure Tuesday, sending it to the White House for the president's signature. It marks the largest public lands bill considered by federal lawmakers in a decade.
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan said the bill marks a momentous step toward safeguarding public lands and natural resources.
The New Mexico Democrat specifically pointed to language that would permanently reauthorize the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. He says the fund has resulted in more than $312 million for the state.
The new wilderness designations would cover more than 270,000 acres (1,093 square kilometers), most of it within the boundaries of two national monuments on opposite ends of the state.

TRUMP-BORDER SECURITY
House to vote on measure revoking Trump's emergency order
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are moving quickly to try to roll back President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency to siphon billions of dollars from the military to fund construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Tuesday's vote in the Democratic-controlled House comes on legislation to revoke Trump's executive order from earlier this month and would send it to the Republican-held Senate, where it would take only a handful of GOP defections to pass it.
Trump is likely to prevail in the end since he could use his first-ever veto to kill the measure if it passes Congress, but the White House is seeking to minimize defections among the president's GOP allies to avoid embarrassment.

MISSING LATINO SITES
Proposal seeks memorial for US Civil War site in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico lawmaker wants the state to honor Hispanic Civil War Union soldiers who helped win a key battle in northern New Mexico.
Sen. Linda Lopez of Albuquerque is pushing a proposal asking the state to create a task force that would suggest a plan for a memorial at the Battle of Glorieta Pass.
The site marks where Union soldiers beat back the advancing Confederate Army, ending the battle for the West during the Civil War. Hispanic soldiers from the New Mexico territory played a key role in that fight.
Under the proposal, the task force would be made of state officials, civil rights leaders and historians.
Currently, the site around 20 miles (32 kilometers) southeast of Santa Fe only contains a makeshift memorial.

WORKERS HOSPITALIZED-CARBON MONOXIDE
6 overcome by fumes at a Las Cruces pecan processing plant
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say six employees of a Las Cruces pecan processing plant are recovering after being overcome by toxic fumes.
City firefighters say four people required advanced medical treatment and were transported to local hospitals, but their conditions aren't considered life-threatening.
Firefighters were dispatched to a hazardous material call at the pecan processing plant around 5 a.m. Sunday.
The employees are part of a cleaning crew.
Firefighters ultimately determined the employees' symptoms were a result of two gas-powered pressure washers that were used inside the enclosed building, which resulted in a buildup of carbon monoxide.

​TRUMP-BORDER SECURITY
House to vote on measure revoking Trump's emergency order
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are moving quickly to try to roll back President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency to siphon billions of dollars from the military to fund construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Tuesday's vote in the Democratic-controlled House comes on legislation to revoke Trump's executive order from earlier this month and would send it to the Republican-held Senate, where it would take only a handful of GOP defections to pass it.
Trump is likely to prevail in the end since he could use his first-ever veto to kill the measure if it passes Congress, but the White House is seeking to minimize defections among the president's GOP allies to avoid embarrassment.

IMMIGRATION-SEPARATING FAMILIES
House committee to vote on approving Trump admin subpoenas
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats are laying the groundwork to subpoena Trump administration officials over family separations at the southern border.
The Oversight Committee will vote Tuesday on whether to authorize subpoenas to the heads of Justice, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services. With Democrats as a majority the authorization is expected, but it's still not clear whether the subpoenas will actually be served.
If they are, they would be some of the first issued in the new Congress. House Democrats have promised to hold the administration aggressively to account.
More than 2,700 children were separated from their parents at the border last year. An internal watchdog report recently found that thousands more children than previously thought could have been separated.

NATIONAL LABS-TAXES
New Mexico bill aims to preserve tax revenue from labs
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The House has passed legislation that would allow New Mexico to continue taxing the contractors that manage national laboratories operating in the state — even when they have nonprofit status.
The chamber voted unanimously Sunday in favor of the measure. It would go to the governor if the Senate approves of a change made by the House.
At stake are tens of millions of dollars in gross receipts taxes paid annually by the contractor at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the contractor at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque.
Sandia is currently run by a for-profit. The management group that took over Los Alamos last year includes Battelle Memorial Institute, the Texas A&M University System and the University of California — all of which are nonprofits.

NUKE REPOSITORY-WORKERS
DOE to investigate nuclear repository after alleged exposure
(Information from: Carlsbad Current-Argus, http://www.currentargus.com/)
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Energy Department will be looking into the federal government's underground nuclear waste repository in southern New Mexico after workers were allegedly exposed to hazardous chemicals last year.
The Carlsbad Current Argus reports that the federal agency's Office of Enterprise Assessments filed a notice in late January of its intent to investigate Nuclear Waste Partnership, the contractor that runs the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
The notice says employees were potentially "overexposed" to carbon tetrachloride, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide between July and October 2018.
The DOE says it intends to investigate the circumstances leading up to the alleged events and fines could result based on what's uncovered.
Nuclear Waste Partnership says it plans to work with the DOE.
An official with the Carlsbad Mayor's Nuclear Task Force says the problem arose due to inadequate airflow in the repository.
___
NDABA MANDELA-NEW MEXICO
Nelson Mandela's grandson urges on New Mexico Legislature
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Legislature is seeking inspiration from a grandson of anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela as it seeks to expand career and educational opportunities for minority youth.
Ndaba Mandela fielded questions Monday from New Mexico legislators who specialize in education, at a forum in the state Capitol.
Mandela highlighted his efforts to cultivate pride, confidence and career skills in young people in his native South Africa and across the continent through is his foundation Africa Rising. He also described a crisis of youth unemployment across much of Africa.
Initiatives are advancing through the New Mexico Legislature this year to dramatically reform and increase spending on public education.
Mandela said he wants to make sure the world has more leaders like those in New Mexico and not like President Donald Trump.

IMMIGRATION-STILLBORN
Woman in immigration custody gives birth to stillborn baby
HIDALGO, Texas (AP) — Immigration officials say a 24-year-old woman delivered a stillborn baby while in custody last week.
They say the Honduran woman was about six months pregnant when she went into premature labor and delivered a stillborn boy on Friday after having been hospitalized but cleared for release a day earlier.
Authorities said the woman, who was not identified, was arrested by Border Patrol agents on Feb. 18 near Hidalgo, Texas. She was taken to a hospital and released on Feb. 21.
The woman was then transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which was in the process of releasing her when she complained of stomach discomfort. An ambulance was called, but the woman delivered the baby before she could be sent to the hospital.

NEW MEXICO WEATHER
Blustery, slick conditions remain across New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The impact from a strong winter storm continued Saturday with drivers in many areas of New Mexico facing blustery and slick conditions that included blowing snow, strong crosswinds, low visibility and snow and ice on roadways.
The National Weather Service said snow would end in northeastern New Mexico by midday with 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 centimeters) of snow across much of the area and double that amount in some mountains and highlands, with strong winds along and south of Interstate 40 and east of Interstate 25.

AP-NM-NATIONAL-NEW-DEAL-MUSEUM
New Mexico angling to become home of New Deal art museum
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An effort is underway in New Mexico to build support for a national museum dedicated to the New Deal, the Great Depression-era series of work programs and art initiatives aimed at pulling America from destitution more than 80 years ago.
Supporters say New Mexico would be an ideal for such an institution because the state received generous funding from the programs for new schools, post offices, visitor centers and art.
A memorial that requests New Mexico's congressional delegates investigate the possibility of establishing a national New Deal art museum in Santa Fe sailed through a House committee this week.
The proposal suggests the museum could be located in a landmark building on Museum Hill that was built during the period and houses National Park Service offices.

CLIENTS DEFRAUDED-SENTENCING
Operator of guardianship firm gets 12-year prison sentence
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The operator of a New Mexico guardianship form has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for looting millions of dollars from trust accounts of dozens of people needing help with their financial affairs.
Paul Donisthorpe of Bloomfield, New Mexico, apologized for his actions as he was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, and U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson later said in a statement that Donisthorpe's conduct was "particularly odious" because he enriched himself at the expense of vulnerable people he was entrusted with protecting and serving.
Anderson's office said Donisthorpe previously entered into a plea agreement acknowledging that he embezzled from client trust accounts managed by Donisthope's now-closed company, Desert State Life Management, a state-regulated guardian firm.
Terms of the plea agreement include restitution of $6.8 million.

GUN LEGISLATION-RURAL COUNTIES
New Mexico sheriff in most populous county backs gun rights
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The sheriff in New Mexico's most populous county is joining colleagues from more rural areas in pushing back against sweeping gun-control proposals pending before the state Legislature.
Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales said Friday he would support a "Second Amendment Sanctuary County."
A dozen other counties have already passed sanctuary resolutions, including neighboring Sandoval and Valencia counties.
Whether Bernalillo County joins the growing list will be up to the county commission, but Gonzales says he will not support any legislation that would infringe upon the right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms.
He said there are enough laws on the books to effectively deal with unlawful possession and use of firearms. He added that he would support measures that mandate consistent, swift and appropriate penalties for any illegal possession or use of a gun.

DUI ARREST-RESERVE DEPUTY
Ruling: Arrest by reserve deputy OK despite limited status
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A state court ruling says that it was constitutionally reasonable for a reserve sheriff's deputy to briefly arrest a DWI suspect although the reserve deputy wasn't a commissioned peace officer.
A trial judge had suppressed evidence from a regular deputy's subsequent arrest of the suspect. But the Court of Appeals said the public's "strong interest in apprehending and prosecuting drunk drivers outweighed the minor intrusion" on the suspect's privacy rights.
The recent ruling revives the Torrance County case against Somer Wright by reversing the suppression order and sending case back to District Court for further proceedings.
The ruling said the reserve deputy told Wright to "hang tight" after he saw her drive erratically before her vehicle hit a parked truck in her driveway and nearly hit the reserve deputy's vehicle.

FIESTA DANCERS-SCULPTURE
University of New Mexico 'Fiesta Dancers' sculpture restored
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A famous sculpture by the late Luis Jimenez at the University of New Mexico has been restored.
KRQE-TV reports the restoration of "Fiesta Dancers," a standing piece of Hispanic dancers, recently was completed after university officials noticed it was showing its age.
Silo Workshop carefully applied new layers of paint to bring back the piece's original vibrancy.
Jimenez crafted the sculpture in 1996, and it sits in the middle of campus.
Students now will be in charge of the sculpture's yearly maintenance.
Jimenez was killed in his studio in Hondo, New Mexico, in June 2006, after a sculpture fell on him.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS
New Mexico proposal seeking environmental reviews stalls
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Business and city leaders, energy companies, electric utilities, farmers and others are all voicing concerns about proposed legislation in New Mexico that would require sweeping environmental reviews by state agencies for many projects.
The bill, known as the Environmental Review Act, stalled in a House committee Friday as some lawmakers sought more information.
The bill was initially drafted by an attorney for the conservation organization New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and has undergone numerous changes.
Supporters say it would create a state framework similar to what the federal government has for reviewing proposed activities on lands it manages.
Opponents say existing laws and permitting requirements already address environmental protections and adding another layer would stifle economic development in New Mexico.
State agencies also have said they would need more money and staff to implement such a proposal.
​
NAVAJO NATION-ELECTRICITY
Utah cities to help bring electricity to more Navajos
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Several Utah municipal governments are planning to send city workers this spring to help the Navajo Utility Tribal Authority bring electricity to members of the Navajo Nation who have waited for years.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the test project is expected to get electricity to about 200 families. An estimated 60,000 people on the Navajo Nation live without electricity.
The Salt Lake City suburb of Murray became the latest to join then project called "Light Up Navajo" when its City Council voted to participate at a recent meeting.
Other cities that plan to join include: Heber, Lehi, St. George, Santa Clara and Washington.
.

CLIENTS DEFRAUDED-SENTENCING
Operator of guardianship firm gets 12-year prison sentence
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The operator of a New Mexico guardianship form has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for looting millions of dollars from trust accounts of dozens of people needing help with their financial affairs.
Paul Donisthorpe of Bloomfield, New Mexico, apologized for his actions as he was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, and U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson later said in a statement that Donisthorpe's conduct was "particularly odious" because he enriched himself at the expense of vulnerable people he was entrusted with protecting and serving.
Anderson's office said Donisthorpe previously entered into a plea agreement acknowledging that he embezzled from client trust accounts managed by Donisthope's now-closed company, Desert State Life Management, a state-regulated guardian firm.
Terms of the plea agreement include restitution of $6.8 million.

NEW MEXICO WEATHER
Blustery, slick conditions remain across New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The impact from a strong winter storm continued Saturday with drivers in many areas of New Mexico facing blustery and slick conditions that included blowing snow, strong crosswinds, low visibility and snow and ice on roadways.
The National Weather Service said snow would end in northeastern New Mexico by midday with 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 centimeters) of snow across much of the area and double that amount in some mountains and highlands, with strong winds along and south of Interstate 40 and east of Interstate 25.

GUN LEGISLATION-RURAL COUNTIES
New Mexico sheriff in most populous county backs gun rights
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The sheriff in New Mexico's most populous county is joining colleagues from more rural areas in pushing back against sweeping gun-control proposals pending before the state Legislature.
Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales said Friday he would support a "Second Amendment Sanctuary County."
A dozen other counties have already passed sanctuary resolutions, including neighboring Sandoval and Valencia counties.
Whether Bernalillo County joins the growing list will be up to the county commission, but Gonzales says he will not support any legislation that would infringe upon the right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms.
He said there are enough laws on the books to effectively deal with unlawful possession and use of firearms. He added that he would support measures that mandate consistent, swift and appropriate penalties for any illegal possession or use of a gun.

DUI ARREST-RESERVE DEPUTY
Ruling: Arrest by reserve deputy OK despite limited status
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A state court ruling says that it was constitutionally reasonable for a reserve sheriff's deputy to briefly arrest a DWI suspect although the reserve deputy wasn't a commissioned peace officer.
A trial judge had suppressed evidence from a regular deputy's subsequent arrest of the suspect. But the Court of Appeals said the public's "strong interest in apprehending and prosecuting drunk drivers outweighed the minor intrusion" on the suspect's privacy rights.
The recent ruling revives the Torrance County case against Somer Wright by reversing the suppression order and sending case back to District Court for further proceedings.
The ruling said the reserve deputy told Wright to "hang tight" after he saw her drive erratically before her vehicle hit a parked truck in her driveway and nearly hit the reserve deputy's vehicle.

FIESTA DANCERS-SCULPTURE
University of New Mexico 'Fiesta Dancers' sculpture restored
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A famous sculpture by the late Luis Jimenez at the University of New Mexico has been restored.
KRQE-TV reports the restoration of "Fiesta Dancers," a standing piece of Hispanic dancers, recently was completed after university officials noticed it was showing its age.
Silo Workshop carefully applied new layers of paint to bring back the piece's original vibrancy.
Jimenez crafted the sculpture in 1996, and it sits in the middle of campus.
Students now will be in charge of the sculpture's yearly maintenance.
Jimenez was killed in his studio in Hondo, New Mexico, in June 2006, after a sculpture fell on him.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS
New Mexico proposal seeking environmental reviews stalls
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Business and city leaders, energy companies, electric utilities, farmers and others are all voicing concerns about proposed legislation in New Mexico that would require sweeping environmental reviews by state agencies for many projects.
The bill, known as the Environmental Review Act, stalled in a House committee Friday as some lawmakers sought more information.
The bill was initially drafted by an attorney for the conservation organization New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and has undergone numerous changes.
Supporters say it would create a state framework similar to what the federal government has for reviewing proposed activities on lands it manages.
Opponents say existing laws and permitting requirements already address environmental protections and adding another layer would stifle economic development in New Mexico.
State agencies also have said they would need more money and staff to implement such a proposal.

NAVAJO NATION-ELECTRICITY
Utah cities to help bring electricity to more Navajos
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Several Utah municipal governments are planning to send city workers this spring to help the Navajo Utility Tribal Authority bring electricity to members of the Navajo Nation who have waited for years.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the test project is expected to get electricity to about 200 families. An estimated 60,000 people on the Navajo Nation live without electricity.
The Salt Lake City suburb of Murray became the latest to join then project called "Light Up Navajo" when its City Council voted to participate at a recent meeting.
Other cities that plan to join include: Heber, Lehi, St. George, Santa Clara and Washington.

LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico may ban conviction question on job applications
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico state Senate has approved a bill that would remove criminal history questions from initial job applications in the private sector.
The Senate voted 28-11 to pass the initiative from Democratic Sen. Bill O'Neill of Albuquerque. The bill moves the House.
A similar bill was vetoed in 2017 by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. The arrival of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has opened the door to new criminal-justice reform proposals that stress rehabilitation.
Under the new bill, private employers may take prior convictions into consideration after an initial review of the job application and a discussion of employment.
Similar "ban-the-box" regulations that eliminate prior convictions from check lists on job applications have been adopted in at least 11 states that include California, Illinois and Washington.

GUN LEGISLATION-RURAL COUNTIES
New Mexico sheriff in most populous county backs gun rights
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The sheriff in New Mexico's most populous county is joining colleagues from more rural areas in pushing back against sweeping gun-control proposals pending before the state Legislature.
Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales said Friday he would support a "Second Amendment Sanctuary County."
A dozen other counties have already passed sanctuary resolutions, including neighboring Sandoval and Valencia counties.
Whether Bernalillo County joins the growing list will be up to the county commission, but Gonzales says he will not support any legislation that would infringe upon the right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms.
He said there are enough laws on the books to effectively deal with unlawful possession and use of firearms. He added that he would support measures that mandate consistent, swift and appropriate penalties for any illegal possession or use of a gun.

DUI ARREST-RESERVE DEPUTY
Ruling: Arrest by reserve deputy OK despite limited status
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A state court ruling says that it was constitutionally reasonable for a reserve sheriff's deputy to briefly arrest a DWI suspect although the reserve deputy wasn't a commissioned peace officer.
A trial judge had suppressed evidence from a regular deputy's subsequent arrest of the suspect. But the Court of Appeals said the public's "strong interest in apprehending and prosecuting drunk drivers outweighed the minor intrusion" on the suspect's privacy rights.
The recent ruling revives the Torrance County case against Somer Wright by reversing the suppression order and sending case back to District Court for further proceedings.
The ruling said the reserve deputy told Wright to "hang tight" after he saw her drive erratically before her vehicle hit a parked truck in her driveway and nearly hit the reserve deputy's vehicle.

FIESTA DANCERS-SCULPTURE
University of New Mexico 'Fiesta Dancers' sculpture restored
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A famous sculpture by the late Luis Jimenez at the University of New Mexico has been restored.
KRQE-TV reports the restoration of "Fiesta Dancers," a standing piece of Hispanic dancers, recently was completed after university officials noticed it was showing its age.
Silo Workshop carefully applied new layers of paint to bring back the piece's original vibrancy.
Jimenez crafted the sculpture in 1996, and it sits in the middle of campus.
Students now will be in charge of the sculpture's yearly maintenance.
Jimenez was killed in his studio in Hondo, New Mexico, in June 2006, after a sculpture fell on him.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS
New Mexico proposal seeking environmental reviews stalls
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Business and city leaders, energy companies, electric utilities, farmers and others are all voicing concerns about proposed legislation in New Mexico that would require sweeping environmental reviews by state agencies for many projects.
The bill, known as the Environmental Review Act, stalled in a House committee Friday as some lawmakers sought more information.
The bill was initially drafted by an attorney for the conservation organization New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and has undergone numerous changes.
Supporters say it would create a state framework similar to what the federal government has for reviewing proposed activities on lands it manages.
Opponents say existing laws and permitting requirements already address environmental protections and adding another layer would stifle economic development in New Mexico.
State agencies also have said they would need more money and staff to implement such a proposal.

LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico may ban conviction question on job applications
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico state Senate has approved a bill that would remove criminal history questions from initial job applications in the private sector.
The Senate voted 28-11 to pass the initiative from Democratic Sen. Bill O'Neill of Albuquerque. The bill moves the House.
A similar bill was vetoed in 2017 by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. The arrival of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has opened the door to new criminal-justice reform proposals that stress rehabilitation.
Under the new bill, private employers may take prior convictions into consideration after an initial review of the job application and a discussion of employment.
Similar "ban-the-box" regulations that eliminate prior convictions from check lists on job applications have been adopted in at least 11 states that include California, Illinois and Washington.

TRUMP-BORDER SECURITY-THE LATEST
The Latest: Trump vows veto if border resolution passed
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is pledging a veto if Congress passes a resolution blocking his use of a national emergency declaration to fund a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he would veto the resolution introduced by House Democrats earlier in the day.
Trump said, "Will I veto it? 100 percent."
The move by House Democrats starts the clock on a constitutional clash between Trump and Democrats and sets up a vote by the full House as soon as next week.
The Democratic-controlled House is sure to pass the measure, and the GOP-run Senate may adopt it as well despite Trump's opposition.
Any Trump veto would likely be sustained, but the upcoming battle will test Republican support for Trump's move.

MISSING TURTLE MYSTERY
Turtle disaster? 100-pound tortoise missing in New Mexico
(Information from: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.com)
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico woman is on a desperate hunt for her disappearing pet that can't run fast and can't be missed — a 100-pound tortoise.
KOB-TV reports Dusty the Turtle went missing earlier this month in Roswell, New Mexico after strong winds knocked open a gate that housed him.
Shana Emmert, who was pet sitting Dusty for her niece, says she believes the turtle strolled away from the backyard and into the desert during the wind storm.
According to Emmert's neighbors, the 100-pound (45-kilogram) Dusty was last spotted near Berrendo Creek in Roswell and hasn't been seen since.
The family is offering a $500 reward for the turtle's safe return.
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GOVERNOR-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico governor travels to nation's capital
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is traveling to Washington, D.C., to attend a meeting of the National Governors Association.
Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki said the governor planned to attend a panel discussion Friday related to the work of female governors and return Sunday.
The meeting in Washington takes place amid tensions between several states and Donald Trump over the president's emergency declaration to fund a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. New Mexico is among 16 states that are suing Trump over his move to bypass Congress and use money from the Pentagon and other budgets.
The association held its previous meeting in Santa Fe in July before Lujan Grisham was elected.
The source of funding for Lujan Grisham's trip was unclear.

JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT
Albuquerque attorney appointed as state district judge
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has chosen an Albuquerque attorney to fill a vacancy on the bench that serves New Mexico's busiest judicial district.
Erin O'Connell will fill the seat left open by the retirement of Judge Nan Nash, who served as the 2nd District's chief judge before stepping down.
O'Connell has managed a solo practice since 2013. She previously worked as an associate attorney at another Albuquerque law firm and clerked under former New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Charles Daniels.
She also was a member of the high court's Appellate Rules Committee for five years and serves on the New Mexico Trial Lawyers board.
Once a farmer and rancher in Mora County, O'Connell earned her law degree from the University of New Mexico in 2007.

LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico bill to boost school funding heads to House vote
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Democrat-led New Mexico House of Representatives is poised to approve a spending plan for the coming fiscal year that would channel a windfall of state income toward public education, infrastructure projects and pay raises for public officials.
The House scheduled floor deliberations for Thursday on the $7 billion general fund budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1. It increases annual state spending by nearly $700 million.
About $450 million would go toward education initiatives as lawmakers grapple with a judicial order to provide more resources to struggling schools and minority students in particular.
The bill also includes $150 million in one-time subsidies for the film industry and would reinstate intercollegiate soccer, skiing and beach volleyball teams at the University of New Mexico.

TORTURE-KILLING
Report: New Mexico man used machete, sword to torture victim
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a New Mexico man facing murder and kidnapping charges tortured his victim with a number of items.
The Albuquerque Journal reports prosecutors say Allister Danzig Quintana tortured and killed the victim in February 2018 using a machete, sword, broken broomsticks, and a flashlight.
According to a criminal complaint and a new indictment, the 25-year-old suspect killed a man with the help of at least one accomplice. The name of the victim has not been released.
The Jicarilla Apache Police Department says tribal officers found the victim's body in a closet during a search of Quintana's home.
It was not known if Quintana had an attorney.
Quintana is in custody awaiting trial. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
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BODY IN ARROYO-ID
Albuquerque police ID girl whose body was found in arroyo
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police are investigating the death of a teenager whose body was found in an arroyo as a homicide.
Police identified the girl Thursday as 16-year-old Tomica Yellowhorse.
The medical examiner's office is working to determine exactly how she died.
Authorities had responded to a call about a body in an arroyo in northeast Albuquerque on the morning of Feb. 10.

MURDER CASE-PLEA
Dulce man pleads not guilty in first-degree murder case
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Dulce man has pleaded not guilty in the death of another man at a home on the Jicarilla Apache reservation.
Allister Quintana entered the plea in federal court Wednesday to charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
Prosecutors say Quintana tortured and killed a man at Quintana's home on Feb. 3, 2018. Police found the victim's body with his hands and feet bound in a closet 11 days later.
The 25-year-old Quintana faces up to life in prison if convicted.
A medical examiner ruled the man's death a homicide.
Authorities say Quintana beat the victim with his fists, a flashlight, and a stick, and stabbed him with a machete and a sword.
Quintana was arrested last May. A grand jury issued a superseding indictment last week.

OILFIELD ENFORCEMENT-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico weighs new authority for oilfield regulators
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico oilfield regulators would recover the authority to directly levy civil fines against well operators who fail to properly maintain equipment or spill waste under proposed legislation backed by the Democratic administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Initial committee deliberations were scheduled Thursday on a bill that is being closely watched by the oil industry and advocates for tighter state oversight.
State fines against oilfield operators in New Mexico have ground to a halt in the aftermath of a 2009 state Supreme Court decision that required the involvement of state prosecutors.
The bill from Sen. Richard Martinez of Espanola would give new authority to the Oil Conservation Division to pursue sanctions directly through administrative hearings or litigation. It would increase potential penalties from $1,000 a day to $15,000.

PUBLIC PENSIONS-NEW MEXICO
Task force to address New Mexico's public pension problems
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Officials who oversee one of New Mexico's major public pension funds say they're encouraged Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is creating a task force to address mounting unfunded liabilities.
The board chair of the Public Employees Retirement Association, Jacquelin Kohlasch, is among those who will serve on the 19-member task force. She said Thursday the goal is developing meaningful solutions to "our very real solvency challenges."
The Public Employees Retirement Association, or PERA, covers roughly 50,000 active state and municipal workers and 40,000 retirees. It had an unfunded liability of $6 billion at the end of the 2018 budget year.
Lujan Grisham issued an executive order Monday calling for the task force. The panel's recommendations are due Aug. 30 and will serve as the basis for legislation during the 2020 session.
​
OIL BOOM-LEASE SALE
New Mexico oil and gas lease sale nets $35 million
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The State Land Office says this month's oil and natural gas lease sale has netted more than $35 million.
Officials say that includes the largest open bid sale in the agency's history, with numerous tracts in southeastern New Mexico closing at more than $12 million.
Most of the money generated by the State Land Office supports public education and other beneficiaries.
Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard says New Mexico is continuing to see the benefits of the boom in the Permian Basin, which straddles parts of New Mexico and West Texas.
Federal energy forecasters expect the United States to pump 12.4 million barrels of crude a day in 2019 and 13.2 million barrels a day in 2020. Most of the increase is expected to come from the Permian Basin.

GUN LEGISLATION-RURAL COUNTIES
More New Mexico counties adopt resolutions against gun bills
Two more rural counties in New Mexico have passed resolutions saying they will not require their sheriffs to enforce a series of gun-control proposals that have gone before state lawmakers.
Commissioners in San Juan County in the state's northwest corner and in Eddy County in the southeast have adopted "Second Amendment Sanctuary County" resolutions Tuesday.
Sheriffs in Curry, Quay, Socorro and Union counties recently presented similar resolutions that commissioners have adopted in response to the proposed state legislation.
The proposals include a bill that would expand requirements for background checks on gun sales. Another measure would allow for courts to order people who are deemed to be a threat to themselves or others to temporarily surrender their guns to law enforcement.

OIL BOOM-LEASE SALE
New Mexico oil and gas lease sale nets $35 million
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The State Land Office says this month's oil and natural gas lease sale has netted more than $35 million.
Officials say that includes the largest open bid sale in the agency's history, with numerous tracts in southeastern New Mexico closing at more than $12 million.
Most of the money generated by the State Land Office supports public education and other beneficiaries.
Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard says New Mexico is continuing to see the benefits of the boom in the Permian Basin, which straddles parts of New Mexico and West Texas.
Federal energy forecasters expect the United States to pump 12.4 million barrels of crude a day in 2019 and 13.2 million barrels a day in 2020. Most of the increase is expected to come from the Permian Basin.

OIL BOOM-PROTESTS
Thousands of protests submitted against New Mexico oil sale
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Thousands of protests have been lodged with U.S. land managers in opposition of next month's oil and natural gas lease sale despite a decision to remove from the offering several parcels near a national park in northwestern New Mexico.
Environmentalists say they turned in 33,000 protests to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Wednesday, the last day of the protest period.
It will be up to the federal agency to review the information ahead of the March 28 sale. The agency earlier this month deferred nine parcels that were within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
Aside from ongoing criticism over development in the Chaco region, environmentalists also voiced concerns about parcels up for bid near Carlsbad Caverns National Monument in southeastern New Mexico.

RAILWAY INVESTMENT
BNSF Railway plans $80 million investment in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — BNSF Railway plans to invest $80 million in New Mexico this year.
The freight company made the announcement Wednesday, saying the money will go toward maintenance projects as well as rail upgrades to ensure its network remains safe and reliable.
According to the company, nearly 4.5 million carloads of freight move along BNSF lines in New Mexico each year.
This year's maintenance program includes more than 850 miles (1,368 kilometers) of track surfacing and/or undercutting work as well as the replacement of about 20 miles (32 kilometers) of rail and more than 200,000 ties.
Plans also call for BNSF to extend its quadruple main tracks in Belen to boost capacity.
Over the last five years, BNSF has invested about $555 million to expand and maintain its network in the state.

OILFIELD ENFORCEMENT-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico weighs new authority for oilfield regulators
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico oilfield regulators would recover the authority to directly levy civil fines against well operators under proposed legislation backed by leading Democratic lawmakers and the administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Initial committee deliberations were scheduled Thursday on a bill that is being closely watched by industry representatives and advocates for tighter state oversight of oil wells and waste-water disposal sites.
State fines against sloppy oilfield operators in New Mexico have ground to a halt in the aftermath of a 2009 state Supreme Court decision that required the involvement of state prosecutors.
The bill from Sen. Richard Martinez of Espanola would give new authority to the Oil Conservation Division to pursue sanctions directly through administrative hearings or litigation. It would increase potential penalties from $1,000 a day to $15,000.

LEGISLATURE-CHARTER SCHOOLS
Moratorium on new charter schools passes first hurdle
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — No new charter schools would be allowed to open in New Mexico until 2022 under a proposal that has cleared its first legislative hurdle.
The bill has the support of Democrats and teacher unions. It passed the House Education Committee on a 10-3 vote Wednesday.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also has voiced support for imposing a moratorium on opening new charter schools until state leaders have time to review how those in place are performing.
Some parents testified that putting the brakes on new charter schools would limit options for families in a state that has struggled for decades to boost success rates within the public school system.
The bill's supporters argue that charter schools siphon money from traditional schools and that the state is facing costly court mandates for improving opportunities for minority and low-income students.

TRAVEL-GREEN BOOK
Travelers can retrace 'Green Book' path with some research
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Oscar-nominated interracial road trip movie "Green Book" has spurred interest in the real guidebook that helped black travelers navigate segregated America.
With a little research, travelers can find copies of "The Negro Motorist Green Book" online and retrace the route in the movie. Travelers also can develop their own tours of sites that once provided refuge to African-Americans during Jim Crow.
In Birmingham, Alabama, the A.G. Gaston Motel is abandoned and owned by the city. The motel once was an upscale haven with a restaurant and live music for blacks seeking safety in a place known as the most segregated city in America.
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the De Anza Motor Lodge along the historic Route 66 is undergoing renovations.
​
IMMIGRANT ADVOCATE-SENTENCING-THE LATEST
The Latest: Immigrant advocate in Arizona gets 18-month term
PHOENIX (AP) — A longtime advocate for immigrants in Arizona has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for a felony conviction stemming from his tax preparation business.
Elias Bermudez had previously pleaded guilty to assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.
He had acknowledged that he falsely added dependents — including three children who lived in Mexico — to his clients' tax returns to maximize refundable credits.
Bermudez led protests more than a decade ago against Arizona's immigration laws and then-Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crackdowns on immigrants.
He also owned a business that helped immigrants prepare immigration and tax documents.
Bermudez previously worked as a talk show host for a Spanish-language radio show in Phoenix and served as a vice mayor in San Luis, Arizona.

VOTER REGISTRATION-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico House considers same-day voter registration
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico House of Representatives is poised to vote on bills to allow same-day voter registration and to automatically register eligible voters during transactions at state motor vehicle offices.
Democratic House legislators pushed forward Tuesday with the initiatives aimed at increasing voter participation.
Under current state law, voter registration closes 28 days before Election Day. Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf says that deadline prevents voter registration when political campaigns often are attracting the most public interest.
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver is the state's top election regulator and says technology is readily available to provide accurate same-day voter registration.
A separate bill would register eligible voters or update their existing registration as they apply for driver's license or state identity card unless they explicitly opt out.

JICARILLA APACHE-PRESIDENT
Jicarilla Apache Nation president resigns
(Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com)
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — The president of the Jicarilla Apache Nation has resigned.
The Farmington Daily Times report s the northwestern New Mexico tribe announced Levi Pesata resigned from office on Friday, citing personal reasons.
The tribe says Vice President Edward Velarde will serve as interim president until a new president takes office.
During a special meeting in Dulce on Friday, the Jicarilla Apache Nation Legislative Council passed a resolution to hold a special election within 60 days to fill the vacancy.
Council members also thanked Pesata for serving five terms in office and for his contributions to the tribe.
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LEGISLATURE-WATER DATA
Bill calls for curating data on New Mexico water resources
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A council focused on curating data related to water use and resources in New Mexico would be created under legislation introduced in the state House of Representatives.
Supporters said Tuesday the bill would help address water management needs as New Mexico continues to weather the effects of long-term drought.
The council would be led by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and the Interstate Stream Commission. Its mission would be to make the data more accessible.
The legislation notes that it would be the policy of the state to develop a modern, more integrated approach to collecting and sharing information to improve water resources planning and management.
The information would include state, federal and local data on streamflow; precipitation; reservoir and irrigation operations; groundwater use and levels; and other measurements.

LOS ALAMOS-SUPERCOMPUTER
Los Alamos Labs seeking bids on new supercomputer
(Information from: Los Alamos Monitor, http://www.lamonitor.com)
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) — Los Alamos National Laboratory has put out a request for proposals for a new supercomputer.
The Los Alamos Monitor reports one of the nation's premier nuclear labs announced recently it is seeking bids on a supercomputer dubbed "Crossroads."
Like the supercomputer the lab has now, "Trinity," Crossroads will be put to work helping to maintain the nation's nuclear stockpile.
Supercomputers employed by the U.S. Department of Energy often are used to test, through computer simulation, the components of nuclear weapons in the stockpile as well as the weapon's power and capabilities.
Crossroads' increased computational power is expected to be able to render simulations and modeling more accurately.
Responses to the lab's requests for proposal are due by March 18.
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SCHOOL-GUNSHOT-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: Police: Student heard 'voices' before shooting
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — Police say a 16-year-old boy accused of firing a gun at a New Mexico high school told officers 11 months prior voices were telling him to "shoot up the school."
The Albuquerque Journal reports police were called to V. Sue Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, in March 2018 after a girl told staff the teen had sent her text messages about bringing a weapon to campus.
The teen was not charged in connection with that episode and it's unclear if school officials took any action
Police said the teen opened fire on campus last week before leaving the gun behind and running from the scene. No one was hurt.
A state district judge ordered Monday the teen to remain in detention while he undergoes mental health evaluations.

WIRE GOLD MYSTERY
Neutrons used to examine Harvard's priceless gold specimen
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Scientists at a federal laboratory have helped to unravel some of the mysteries of a rare specimen of wire gold discovered at a Colorado mine more than 130 years ago.
Officials at Harvard University's mineral museum had asked Los Alamos National Laboratory for help in understanding more about the structure of the gold specimen known as the Ram's Horn. They say it's the finest known example of its kind.
No scientific studies previously had been published on the internal nature of the specimen.
Scientists used neutrons from a half-mile-long particle accelerator at the New Mexico lab to see deeper into the sample. They determined it's a mix of gold and silver and is composed of only a few single crystals.
The specimen will be the centerpiece of an exhibit at Harvard's Museum of Natural History in 2020.

CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico to provide US Capitol its next Christmas tree
TAOS, N.M. (AP) — This year's U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will be coming from northern New Mexico.
U.S. Forest Service officials announced Tuesday that a tree will be cut from the Carson National Forest just outside of Taos.
The chosen tree will be displayed on the Capitol's west lawn next December.
The state will also send along 70 smaller companion trees to adorn other government buildings in Washington.
Forest rangers say communities across New Mexico will be invited to help hand-make ornaments for the tree throughout the year.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says it is an honor for the state to be represented in this way.
​
LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: New Mexico House speaker wary of delay tactics
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's Democratic House speaker says he is contemplating rule changes to limit the length of floor debates as the end of the legislative session approaches on March 16.
House speaker Brian Egolf of Santa Fe told reporters Tuesday that Republicans colleague may be prolonging floor debates as a delay tactic that eventually could threaten major reform proposals on public education and more.
Republican House minority whip Rod Montoya of Farmington attributed lengthy House floor debates this year to hastily written bills that require amendments and said the House is rapidly taking up Democrat-sponsored bills.
Current House rules allow for up to three hours of deliberations on each bill before a motion can be made to close debate and vote. Deliberations lasted three hours Monday on a Democrat-sponsored bill to allow the utility customers without access to rooftop solar electricity to subscribe to community solar energy installations. It passed on a 42-25 vote over unified Republican opposition.
Rule changes to reduce debate time would require majority approval of a rules committee and the full House, and have not yet been formally proposed.