STREET RACING-FATAL CRASH-VIGIL
Vigil held for an Albuquerque woman fatally struck by a car
(Information from: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Friends and family held a candlelight vigil for a woman killed in a possible street-racing crash in southeast Albuquerque.
KOB-TV reports that people gathered Saturday evening at the spot where 39-year-old Angelica Baca died on March 23 to share memories and sell baked goods to raise money for her funeral.
Baca was crossing a street when she was fatally hit by a car.
The driver of the car was taken into custody and police are looking into whether street racing played a role in the crash.
Baca's children attended the vigil. Her family says Baca loved life, music and was a happy person.
Police investigators are reconstructing the accident scene to determine whether it stemmed from drag racing.
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TV-TRE MAISON DASAN
New Mexico filmmaker examines the children of prison inmates
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico filmmaker's four-year project to document the lives of children with parents in prison is set to air.
Denali Tiller's "Tre Maison Dasan" is scheduled to air Monday on most PBS stations as part of the series "Independent Lens" and comes after she captured more than 350 hours of three Rhode Island boys coping with incarcerated parents.
The Albuquerque Academy says she began the project as a student at Rhode Island School of Design. She eventually was introduced to Tre Janson, Maison Teixeira, and Dasan Lopes who regularly visited a Rhode Island prison to spend time with parents. The film follows the boys of color as the deal with their anger about their situations.
Maison Teixeira, now 14, says he hopes the film opens minds.

CLERGY ABUSE-NEW MEXICO
Fugitive priest accused of abusing boy faces trial
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A priest who was captured after fleeing the U.S. decades ago is facing a federal trial on charges that he sexually abused a New Mexico boy in the early 1990s at an Air Force base and veterans' cemetery.
Arthur Perrault, a one-time pastor in Albuquerque, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual abuse and others counts. His trial is set to begin Monday in Santa Fe with jury selection.
The church sent Perrault to New Mexico in the 1960s for treatment at a center for pedophile priests.
Federal authorities have said in court documents that he had as many as eight other victims. But the charges against him only involve an 11-year-old altar boy.
Perrault was returned to the United States in September after his arrest in Morocco.
His attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

HUNTING ROADBLOCKS
New Mexico to put up roadblocks for hunting, fishing seasons
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico wildlife managers will be setting up roadblocks statewide during the upcoming hunting and fishing season to gather harvest data and to look for people who are violating state wildlife laws.
The next season starts Monday, and the state Game and Fish Department says all hunters and anglers are required to purchase a new license. Guides and outfitters also must register with the state.
At the roadblocks, conservation officers also will be checking compliance with the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act, and drivers of those vehicles hauling wood will be asked to show their permits under the Forest Conservation Act.
The agency also is asking people to report any wildlife crimes or suspected crimes to the Operation Game Thief toll-free hotline or online.

GUN CONTROL-NEW MEXICO
Recall effort targets 3 Aztec officials amid gun debate
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An effort is underway in Aztec to recall three city commissioners who did not support a resolution protesting new state gun-control measures approved by the Legislature.
The Farmington Daily Times reports that Aztec resident Diane Hathcock has volunteered to circulate petitions to recall Commissioners Rosalyn Fry and Mark Lewis and Mayor Victor Snover. The three voted against a resolution that would have banned local authorities from enforcing gun laws they believe violate constituents' constitutional right to bear arms.
The vote at the recent commission meeting led to an unruly debate that ended with police intervening.
If enough signatures are gathered for the petitions, then it would be sent to a district court judge for approval. The judge must find the mayor and commissioners violated their oath of office, or acted in malfeasance or misfeasance to approve the petition.

FILM INCENTIVES-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico raises cap on annual rebates for film industry
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico politicians are banking on more film and television producers bringing their business to the state now that annual tax rebate payouts are doubling.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham visited Albuquerque Studios on Friday to sign the film incentive legislation.
The state is increasing the annual rebate cap from $50 million to $110 million. Other major provisions include one-time spending of up to $225 million to address a backlog of unpaid incentives. The backlog is projected to hit $382 million by the end of the year.
Incentives also will be sweeter for productions centered in rural New Mexico.
Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, says producers should know the state wants their creativity and their business. She also mentioned the ripple effect, in which restaurants, hotels and other service industries can benefit.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: Marijuana embraced as salve in opioid crisis
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An advisory board of physicians has revived its calls for New Mexico to expand medical marijuana access to people struggling with opioid addiction.
The state Medical Cannabis Advisory Board voted 4-0 on Friday to recommend the addition of opioid use disorder to the list of qualifying conditions for access to medical marijuana.
The board's recommendation will weigh in a decision by newly appointed Health Secretary Kathyleen Kunkel. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham campaigned for office last year in support of extending medical marijuana access to patients contending with adverse effects of opioid use.
New Mexico has one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the Western United States, with opioids including heroin listed as a leading cause.
The advisory board separately endorsed medical cannabis treatment for other addiction-related medical diagnosis that could include alcohol, stimulants, hallucinogens and a variety of prescription drugs.

CLERGY ABUSE-NEW MEXICO
Fugitive priest accused of abusing boy faces trial
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A priest who was captured after fleeing the U.S. decades ago is facing a federal trial on charges that he sexually abused a New Mexico boy in the early 1990s at an Air Force base and veterans' cemetery.
Arthur Perrault, a one-time pastor in Albuquerque, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual abuse and others counts. His trial is set to begin Monday in Santa Fe with jury selection.
The church sent Perrault to New Mexico in the 1960s for treatment at a center for pedophile priests.
Federal authorities have said in court documents that he had as many as eight other victims. But the charges against him only involve an 11-year-old altar boy.
Perrault was returned to the United States in September after his arrest in Morocco.
His attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

OIL BOOM-LEASE SALE
Disputed oil, gas lease sale brings in $15M
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An oil and gas lease sale that drew criticism from tribal leaders and environmentalists has netted more than $15 million in revenue.
The Bureau of Land Management says nearly half of the money from Thursday's sale of parcels in New Mexico and Oklahoma will go to the two states and the rest to the U.S. Treasury.
The parcels up for bid covered more than 13,800 acres (56 square kilometers). The highest bid was for land in southeast New Mexico, where a boom has resulted in record production during the past year.
In northwestern New Mexico, tribal leaders had asked that the sale be put off until federal managers update a resource management plan for the San Juan Basin. They say the agency needs to consider the cultural significance of sites in the area before allowing more leasing.

GUN CONTROL-NEW MEXICO
Recall effort targets 3 Aztec officials amid gun debate
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An effort is underway in Aztec to recall three city commissioners who did not support a resolution protesting new state gun-control measures approved by the Legislature.
The Farmington Daily Times reports that Aztec resident Diane Hathcock has volunteered to circulate petitions to recall Commissioners Rosalyn Fry and Mark Lewis and Mayor Victor Snover. The three voted against a resolution that would have banned local authorities from enforcing gun laws they believe violate constituents' constitutional right to bear arms.
The vote at the recent commission meeting led to an unruly debate that ended with police intervening.
If enough signatures are gathered for the petitions, then it would be sent to a district court judge for approval. The judge must find the mayor and commissioners violated their oath of office, or acted in malfeasance or misfeasance to approve the petition.

FILM INCENTIVES-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico raises cap on annual rebates for film industry
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico politicians are banking on more film and television producers bringing their business to the state now that annual tax rebate payouts are doubling.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham visited Albuquerque Studios on Friday to sign the film incentive legislation.
The state is increasing the annual rebate cap from $50 million to $110 million. Other major provisions include one-time spending of up to $225 million to address a backlog of unpaid incentives. The backlog is projected to hit $382 million by the end of the year.
Incentives also will be sweeter for productions centered in rural New Mexico.
Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, says producers should know the state wants their creativity and their business. She also mentioned the ripple effect, in which restaurants, hotels and other service industries can benefit.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: Marijuana embraced as salve in opioid crisis
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An advisory board of physicians has revived its calls for New Mexico to expand medical marijuana access to people struggling with opioid addiction.
The state Medical Cannabis Advisory Board voted 4-0 on Friday to recommend the addition of opioid use disorder to the list of qualifying conditions for access to medical marijuana.
The board's recommendation will weigh in a decision by newly appointed Health Secretary Kathyleen Kunkel. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham campaigned for office last year in support of extending medical marijuana access to patients contending with adverse effects of opioid use.
New Mexico has one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the Western United States, with opioids including heroin listed as a leading cause.
The advisory board separately endorsed medical cannabis treatment for other addiction-related medical diagnosis that could include alcohol, stimulants, hallucinogens and a variety of prescription drugs.

ELECTION 2020-SENATE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico AG Hector Balderas says he won't seek Senate seat
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says he has decided not to run for the state's open U.S. Senate seat in 2020, leaving open the chance for more jockeying among some of the state's top Democratic politicians.
Balderas made the announcement Thursday on a New Mexico radio station, citing personal and professional reasons.
Balderas says he loves being New Mexico's top prosecutor. He also said he serves as a legal guardian for his 20-year-old daughter and wants to continue advocating for the special needs community.
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced Monday he would not seek a third term.
Another Democrat, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, has said he's consulting with family and supporters about getting into the race. He holds the No. 4 leadership post in the House, and commands a federal campaign account with $380,000.

TV-LATINO-THEMED SHOWS
Cancellations of Latino-themed shows spark anger, reflection
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Fans and those who want to see more diversity on television are lamenting the end of two Latino-themed television shows — Netflix's "One Day at a Time" and CW's "Jane the Virgin."
Other shows featuring U.S. Latino characters are hoping to step in and capture the attention of fragmented audiences, including those hungry for shows about Latino Americans.
Starz is scheduled in May to unveil the second season of "Vida," a series following two Mexican-American sisters in East Los Angeles. This month, Netflix is releasing the second season of the teen dramedy "On My Block," which is set in a working-class Latino and black neighborhood in Southern California.
"Vida" actress Melissa Barrera says it's up to Latino audiences to watch the shows and send a message that Latinos matter.

JENNER-TRESPASSER ARRESTED
ICE arrests man convicted of trespassing at Jenner home
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. immigration authorities have arrested a Canadian man who has twice been convicted of trespassing at the California home of model and Kardashian family member Kendall Jenner.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Friday that 38-year-old John Ford was recently arrested in the parking lot of an Albuquerque motel after agents received a tip that he was in New Mexico.
Authorities say Ford has an expired visitor's visa. He remains in federal custody in El Paso, Texas, awaiting a hearing on his immigration case.
It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.
Los Angeles police have arrested him twice, resulting in misdemeanor convictions and jail time.
Jenner's family thanked Los Angeles police and immigration authorities for their swift response.

PILEUP-GOOD SAMARITAN KILLED
Good Samaritan killed at scene of 5-car pileup in New Mexico
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a 16-year-old girl is accused of careless driving and driving under the influence following a five-car pileup in which a woman who stopped to help was killed.
The New Mexico State Police says the teenager was driving a car that crashed and blocked a westbound lane of U.S. 70 near Las Cruces on Wednesday evening, leading to the pileup with four other vehicles.
The State Police says 51-year-old Lorenza Nunez stopped at the initial crash scene to help and to warn oncoming traffic.
Nunez died at the scene of injuries suffered when an SUV, a car and a pickup pulling a horse trailer struck the stopped vehicles.
The State Police says the dark road and no lighting contributed to the crash.
The 16-year-old girl's identity wasn't released.

ELECTION 2020-SENATE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico AG Hector Balderas says he won't seek Senate seat
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says he has decided not to run for the state's open U.S. Senate seat in 2020, leaving open the chance for more jockeying among some of the state's top Democratic politicians.
Balderas made the announcement Thursday on a New Mexico radio station, citing personal and professional reasons.
Balderas says he loves being New Mexico's top prosecutor. He also said he serves as a legal guardian for his 20-year-old daughter and wants to continue advocating for the special needs community.
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced Monday he would not seek a third term.
Another Democrat, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, has said he's consulting with family and supporters about getting into the race. He holds the No. 4 leadership post in the House, and commands a federal campaign account with $380,000.

CLERGY ABUSE-NEW MEXICO
Religious orders targeted in New Mexico clergy abuse case
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Religious orders once associated with a now-shuttered Catholic boarding school for Native Americans are being accused of failing to protect students from sexual abuse by clergy and faculty.
The lawsuit naming an Ohio-based order of Franciscan Friars and the Pennsylvania-based Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament was filed this week in a New Mexico court by a law firm that has represented dozens of abuse survivors over the years.
The accusations stem from the 1980s while the unnamed plaintiff was a student at St. Catherine's Indian School in Santa Fe.
The religious orders did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
The case comes as the Catholic church wrestles with a sex abuse and cover-up scandal that has spanned the globe. New Mexico's largest diocese is among the religious organizations seeking bankruptcy protection as a result.

ETHICS COMMISSION-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico forges ahead with independent ethic commission
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is moving forward with the creation of an independent ethics commission to investigate complaints about the conduct of public officials, political candidates, lobbyists and government contractors.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday signed legislation to create the commission that underwent dozens of revisions and substitutions as it passed the Legislature earlier this month.
Voters approved the commission concept by statewide ballot last year, leaving lawmakers to assign investigative powers and decide the extent of public access to proceedings.
The commission must go through a district court judge to subpoena documents or witness testimony.
Six commissioners will be appointed by the governor and legislative leaders, and a seventh is appointed by those commissioners. Complaints are made public 30 days after a probable-cause finding.

BORDER SECURITY
Officials say flood of immigrants prompting quick release
PHOENIX (AP) — The Border Patrol says the number of immigrant families traveling to the U.S. is now so high that the agency is immediately letting some go instead of transferring them to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for release.
The situation has forced local governments to help coordinate housing, meals and travel for the immigrants.
The direct release of border crossers by the Border Patrol also means fewer people will have ankle monitors to help ensure they show up to court hearings.
Yuma, Arizona Mayor Douglas Nicholls said the city is working with various non-governmental organizations to make sure the families have temporary housing, food, medical care and help with travel to their intended destinations.
The Border Patrol says it's on track to make 100,000 arrests at the southern border this month, over half of which are families with children.

USDA DROUGHT DISASTER AREAS
USDA: Arizona, New Mexico areas eligible for drought loans
PHOENIX (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it has designated four counties in Arizona and 21 counties in New Mexico as primary disaster centers eligible for emergency loans because of drought.
The agency said Thursday that producers in Arizona's Apache, Coconino, Greenlee and Navajo counties suffering drought-related losses may apply.
Twenty-one New Mexico counties are primary natural disaster areas: Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Eddy, Grant, Lincoln, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos and Union.
Producers in the contiguous Arizona counties of Cochise, Gila, Graham, Mohave and Yavapai, along with Colorado's Montezuma; New Mexico's Catron, Cibola, Grant, Hidalgo, McKinley and San Juan counties; and Utah's Kane and San Juan counties also can apply.
The deadline is Nov. 22.

AP-NM-MISSING WOMAN-ALBUQUERQUE
Albuquerque police search for missing woman
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police say they are searching for a 33-year-old Albuquerque woman after her mother reported her missing.
Officer Simon Drobik said in a statement Thursday that police were searching for Andreanna Yellowhair, who was last seen at her mother's apartment Wednesday.
Police say her mother reported receiving a text message stating Yellowhair was dead, which police have not confirmed.
They say the message her mother reported receiving was from an unknown person.
Police say attempts to reach Yellowhair and her boyfriend, who are homeless, have not been successful.
Anyone with information on her location is asked to call the police's Missing Persons Unit at 505-924-6094.
​
TRIBAL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
Tribal college scholarship program could lose its funding
(Information from: KNAU-FM, http://www.knauradio.org/)
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A federal grant program that provides college scholarships to Native American students reportedly could lose funding.
Flagstaff radio station KNAU reports the Trump administration has proposed defunding the grant program.
The program survived last year's proposed cuts, but it's on the table again this year.
The administration's fiscal year 2020 budget would slash nearly $40 million from tribal scholarship and education programs administered by the Bureau of Indian Education.
Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt says the budget proposal supports tribal self-determination and improves education services in Indian Country.
But Navajo officials say the federal Higher Education Grant is crucial for thousands of students to attend and graduate from college.
KNAU reports that just over 4 percent of Navajo tribal members have a bachelor's degree.
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BORDER SECURITY
US shuts interior checkpoints to focus on Mexico border
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (AP) — U.S. immigration authorities are temporarily closing highway checkpoints in New Mexico and much of West Texas to shift their focus to an influx of Central American families arriving at the Mexican border.
The Border Patrol is assigning agents to processing migrant arrivals and converting the checkpoints into staging areas to help accommodate the growing numbers. Last week, 430 migrants were detained in El Paso, Texas, in just three hours.
The checkpoints, located up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the border, are designed to be a final line of defense against illegal crossings.
The unusual move comes as the Trump administration says the border is in a state of crisis. CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan will be in El Paso, Texas, Wednesday to discuss "the dramatic increase in illegal crossings."

LOS ALAMOS LAB-CONTAMINATION
Contaminated soil cleaned up at Los Alamos' Omega site
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) — A contractor has finished cleaning up contaminated soil at a former research reactor site at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Environmental officials with the U.S. Energy Department confirmed Tuesday that the work was done by Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos.
Officials believe the polychlorinated biphenyl, or PCB, contamination was caused by electrical transformers that served the reactor site. The chemicals were discovered during sampling of a former storm drain adjacent to the transformers.
Workers removed 300 cubic yards (230 cubic meters) of contaminated soil and graded the site. The soil was put into large sacks and will be hauled off to a disposal site in Utah.
Several reactors were located at the Omega site. The first was built in 1943 at the start of the Manhattan Project. The last one operated until 1992.

COLORADO RIVER-DROUGHT PLAN
Colorado River drought plan gets first congressional hearing
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A plan that outlines how seven states will deal with declining flows in a major river in the U.S. West is getting its first hearing in Congress.
The drought contingency plan aims to keep two Colorado River reservoirs from crashing.
Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming recently agreed to push for federal legislation to implement the plan.
Their goal is to have a bill approved by April 22 so that Mexico's water contributions also kick in next year, though nothing's been introduced yet.
The head of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is among those testifying before a U.S. Senate subcommittee Wednesday on the drought plan.
The Colorado River serves 40 million and about 7,812 square miles (20,232 square kilometers) of farmland in the West.

BORDER SECURITY-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico congresswoman says military projects at risk
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico congresswoman whose district borders Mexico says local military projects are at risk of being defunded to pay for border projects based on President Trump's declaration of an emergency.
Democratic Rep. U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small on Tuesday explained her vote in support of a futile attempt to override Trump's border-emergency declaration.
She says project listed by the Defense Department as being at risk of defunding include training facilities at Holloman Air Force Base and an information systems facility slated for White Sands Missile Range.
The House and Senate previously approved a resolution annulling the national emergency that Trump declared at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump vetoed the measure almost immediately. A House override attempt fell 38 votes shy of the required two-thirds margin.

ELECTION 2020-SENATE-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: Republican Mick Rich weighs 2nd Senate campaign
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Republican construction contractor Mick Rich says he is contemplating another run for U.S. Senate in 2020 after his defeat last year to Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich in a three-way race.
Potential candidates have begun jockeying for position Tuesday to succeed Sen. Tom Udall after he announced he will not seek a third term.
Rich asserted Tuesday in a statement that liberal politicians control the entire New Mexico delegation to Capitol Hill and that voters want a candidate who can unite Republicans, Libertarians and conservative Democrats.
Rich received 31 percent of the vote in last year's Senate race. Heinrich earned 54 percent. Former presidential candidate and Gov. Gary Johnson ran under the Libertarian banner and secured 15 percent of ballots.
Among Democrats, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan says he is consulting his family and supporters about the opportunity to run for Senate.
midnight
A rare open race for a U.S. Senate in New Mexico has been scheduled in 2020 with the announcement that Democrat Tom Udall won't seek re-election.
Udall's announcement Monday was timed to give the Democratic Party a few months of breathing room after sweeping fall election victories.
The open Senate race now is sure to touch off political jockeying, especially among ambitious Democratic politicians amid calls for more ethnically diverse representation.
The Senate opportunity arrives as the Republican Party struggles to find its footing in a state on the border with Mexico that President Donald Trump lost by 9 percentage points in 2018.
Answering to speculation, Democratic Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller says it's an honor to be considered for Senate and that he is committed to Albuquerque right now.

INTOXICATED SCHOOL BUS DRIVER-PLEA
New Mexico school bus driver admits to driving intoxicated
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A school bus driver in New Mexico accused of driving while intoxicated has pleaded guilty to felony child abuse.
Federal prosecutors say 49-year-old Duane Aaron Skeet entered his plea at a court hearing Tuesday in Albuquerque.
Skeet faces up to three years in prison at sentencing, which hasn't been scheduled yet.
Prosecutors say Skeet, of Chichiltah, admitted to drinking alcohol before arriving for work at the Chi Chi Tah Jones Ranch School last Sept. 24.
They say Skeet was intoxicated as he drove a bus with 25 Navajo Nation children aboard ranging in age from 5 to 12.
Court records show the bus swerved on the roadway, hit an embankment, almost flipped over while making a sharp turn at a high rate of speed and nearly drove off a bridge.

INTERSTATE CRASH-4TH DEATH
4th person dies in Lordsburg crash involving big rigs, truck
LORDSBURG, N.M. (AP) — A fourth person has died after a tractor trailer hit two other vehicles in southwestern New Mexico last weekend.
State Police say the driver of a pickup truck — 51-year-old Arnold Rojo of Sierra Vista, Arizona — died from his injuries at a hospital Tuesday.
The collision occurred Sunday near Lordsburg on Interstate 10.
State Police say it appears a Freightliner crossed the center median and hit another big rig head-on and a pickup truck.
Three people were pronounced dead at the scene.
They were the second tractor trailer's driver, 47-year-old Jose Apodaca of El Paso, Texas; a passenger in the pickup, 47-year-old Susan Rojo of Sierra Vista; and the Freightliner driver, 50-year-old Sean White of West Covina, California.
A 13-year-old female passenger in the pickup was critically injured.
​
WHITE SANDS-NATIONAL PARK
Push renewed to elevate White Sands to national park status
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The push to elevate a vast expanse of shifting white sand dunes in New Mexico to national park status is being renewed.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and Rep. Xochitl Torres Small are reintroducing the legislation, saying turning White Sands National Monument into a national park could draw more visitors and infuse more money into the region's economy.
The legislation also comes as New Mexico formalizes its efforts to join other western states in tapping opportunities for more outdoor recreation.
White Sands was established as a monument in 1933 by President Herbert Hoover to preserve the dunes and additional features of scenic, scientific and educational interest.
Supporters say the monument contains a more diverse set of archaeological and scientific resources than were first known, including recently discovered Ice Age fossilized footprints and sloth tracks.

INTERSTATE CRASH-THREE DEAD
3 dead in interstate vehicle collision near Lordsburg
LORDSBURG, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say three people were killed after a tractor trailer hit two other vehicles in southwestern New Mexico.
State police said Monday the collision happened near Lordsburg on Interstate 10 around 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
An initial investigation indicates a Freightliner tractor trailer crossed the center median.
It hit another tractor trailer head-on and a Dodge pickup also in the opposite lane.
Authorities pronounced three people dead at the scene.
They were the driver of the second tractor trailer, 47-year-old Jose Apodaca of El Paso; a passenger in the pickup, 47-year-old Susan Rojo of Sierra Vista, Arizona; and the Freightliner driver, 50-year-old Sean White of West Covina, California.
The 51-year-old male driver of the pickup and a 13-year-old female passenger suffered critical injuries.
The crash investigation remains ongoing.

NAVAJO NATION JAIL
Navajo Nation searches for funding to replace decrepit jails
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — Navajo Nation officials are in search of funding to replace two, deteriorating tribal jails.
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan toured one in Shiprock last week that has asbestos, lead and mold.
The Farmington Daily Times reports Lujan saw cracks in walls, plumbing issues and cramped spaces in what he said was an "eye-opening experience."
The Indian Health Service has issued multiple closure notices, with the most recent calling for the building to shut down April 30.
Tribal officials say they've secured land for a new judicial and public safety complex. But, they don't have the $77 million needed for construction.
About $3.5 million is included in a capital outlay bill that awaits Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's review.
The tribe also wants to replace a public safety complex in Window Rock, Arizona.

ELECTION 2020-SENATE-NEW MEXICO
Political vacuum opens with 2020 exit of Sen. Tom Udall
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A rare open race for a U.S. Senate in New Mexico has been scheduled in 2020 with the announcement that Democrat Tom Udall won't seek re-election.
Udall's announcement Monday was timed to give the Democratic Party a few months of breathing room after sweeping fall election victories.
The open Senate race now is sure to touch off political jockeying, especially among ambitious Democratic politicians amid calls for more ethnically diverse representation.
The Senate opportunity arrives as the Republican Party struggles to find its footing in a state on the border with Mexico that President Donald Trump lost by 9 percentage points in 2018.
Answering to speculation, Democratic Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller says it's an honor to be considered for Senate and that he is committed to Albuquerque right now.

AP-US-BORDER-SECURITY-PENTAGON
Defense secretary OK's $1 billion for border fencing help
WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning and building 57 miles of 18-foot-high fencing in Yuma, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas, along the U.S. border with Mexico.
The Pentagon says it will divert up to $1 billion to support the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection. The funding would also go toward installing lighting and constructing roads in those areas.
Shanahan says the Corps' focus will be on blocking "drug-smuggling corridors."
The El Paso sector has suddenly become the second-busiest corridor for illegal border crossings after Texas' Rio Grande Valley, many of them asylum-seeking families from Central America. The Yuma sector has also witnessed a jump in illegal crossings, particularly Guatemalan families in remote areas.

DYING TREES
Report: Drought, heat in New Mexico wiped out acres of trees
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A new report says near-record heat and persistent drought in New Mexico wiped out more than 120,000 acres of ponderosa pine, spruce, pinon and other trees last year.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports an annual report on the health of the state's forests found that forest mortality increased nearly 50 percent across New Mexico in 2018.
State entomologist John Formby says the heat and drought weakened the ability of trees to fight off beetles and other pests.
Formby says the health of the state's forests should improve this year due to heavier winter snows and a wet start to spring.
Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have said it is highly likely New Mexico will lose the vast majority of its forests by 2050.
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NEW MEXICO-WILDLIFE COMMISSION
APNewsBreak: New Mexico game commissioners asked to resign
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Members of a state panel that oversees wildlife management and sets hunting and fishing regulations across New Mexico have been asked to resign.
The game commission serves at the pleasure of the governor, and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office confirmed Monday the resignations of the sitting commissioners were requested last week. They have until Wednesday to respond.
Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, took office in January and has been working to install her own appointees on a number of boards and commissions. As for the wildlife board, several dozen candidates are being vetted.
A commission meeting scheduled for this week was postponed, prompting questions from sportsmen groups about the commission's future.
A measure that would have revamped the way the commission is appointed stalled during the recent legislative session.

SENATE-TOM UDALL-THE LATEST
The Latest: Departing senator warns against unauthorized war
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall is being praised by Democratic colleagues for his activism on environmental and Native American issues as he prepares to retire from the Senate.
Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Monday referred to Udall on Twitter as a friend who has helped build a stronger future for working people, especially in Native American communities.
Udall has announced he will not seek a third Senate term in 2020 and will look for different public service opportunities.
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein calls Udall a champion for the environment, renewable energy and tribal land issues.
Long active on Native American concerns, Udall recently sought a permanent land buffer to keep oil and gas drilling away from Chaco Culture National Historical Park and other sites held sacred by Native American tribes.

STREET RACING-FATAL CRASH
Kirtland airmen involved in fatal street racing crash
(Information from: KOAT-TV, http://www.thenewmexicochannel.com/index.html)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Kirtland Air Force Base says airmen were involved in a possible street-racing crash in Albuquerque that left a female pedestrian dead.
KOAT-TV reported Monday that base officials confirmed that four airmen were inside a vehicle involved in the collision that fatally injured a woman.
Messages left with the base were not immediately returned.
Police say the vehicle hit 39-year-old Angelica Baca she was crossing the street Saturday night before crashing into an apartment building.
Authorities say three of the four men in the car, including the driver, were hospitalized in stable condition.
The fourth person was questioned by police.
Police spokesman Simon Drobik says investigators will have to reconstruct the accident scene before they determine whether it stemmed from drag racing.
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MURDER SUSPECT EXTRADITED
Suspect wanted in fatal shooting extradited to Albuquerque
(Information from: KRQE-TV, http://www.krqe.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a woman wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Albuquerque last year has been extradited to New Mexico to face charges.
KRQE-TV reports 37-year-old Latrice Thomas was arrested recently in California after being on the run since May.
Authorities say she likely will be arraigned on the open count of murder.
It was unclear Sunday if Thomas has a lawyer yet.
Albuquerque police say 27-year-old Hilarie Humbles was found dead at an apartment complex last summer.
Police say they believe the two women got into an argument after Humbles helped Thomas move, but Thomas refused to pay for Humbles' help.
Police identified Thomas as the person who allegedly shot and killed Humbles.
The case was one of the unsolved homicides featured on the Albuquerque Police Department's website.
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OIL BOOM-KEY HIGHWAY
Key highway in New Mexico's oil country getting upgrade
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — A key highway in southeastern New Mexico's oil country is getting a much-needed upgrade.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports the New Mexico Department of Transportation is working to renovate U.S. Highway 82 — the main highway for oilfield traffic between Eddy and Lea counties. The agency is investing around $58 million in federal and state funds into the project, which would improve 32 miles of U.S. Highway 82 between Artesia and Maljamar, New Mexico.
Officials say the rehabilitation project is expected to be completed this winter.
U.S. 82 was previously only a two-lane road. Officials say that road has been overburdened during the recent boom in oil and gas.
The improvements come as Texas is working to improve a portion of U.S. Highway 285.

VIETNAM WAR MEDALS-LAWMAKER
New Mexico Rep. Alcon presented with Vietnam War medals
(Information from: Gallup Independent, http://www.gallupindependent.com)
VILLAGE OF MILAN, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico state lawmaker has finally received his medals for his service during the Vietnam War.
The Gallup Independent reports Democratic Rep. Eliseo "Lee" Alcon was presented last week with a Bronze Star for his service as a combat medic and other honors. The medals came almost 50 years after Alcon was discharged from the U.S. Army and was never presented his medals.
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969, Alcon served in Vietnam in the 6th Battalion 11th Artillery.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich says Alcon asked for his assistance to get a service medal last year. Heinrich presented Alcon with the Bronze Star at a special ceremony.
Alcon also was presented with an Army Commendation and a Good Conduct award.
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SUPERINTENDENT-FLEEING ACCIDENT
Ex-New Mexico superintendent in crash still on payroll
(Information from: Las Vegas Optic, http://www.lasvegasoptic.com)
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — A northern New Mexico school superintendent who resigned after he was cited by police for driving through a resident's fence is still on the payroll.
The Las Vegas Optic reports a letter signed by Las Vegas City Schools Board President Dennis Romero shows that Kelt Cooper will continue to collect his salary until June 30. The letter was acquired by the Optic through an open-records request.
Cooper was placed on paid leave in November. Hours later, police say he crashed his pickup into a resident's fence.
Hired in May 2016, Cooper had been under contract through the 2020-2021 school year. His annual salary was $110,000.
Romero says he could not comment on why Cooper was placed on leave, nor could he speak about Cooper's resignation.
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STREET RACING-FATAL CRASH
1 killed, 3 injured after street racing crash in Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say street racers in southwest Albuquerque have killed a pedestrian and crashed a vehicle into an apartment building.
Police say it appears a woman was crossing a street Saturday night when she was fatally struck by one of the vehicles racing down a street.
They say one of the vehicles then crashed into an apartment building.
Police say three of the four people in the car that crashed were taken to a hospital where they were listed in critical condition.
They say the driver is in police custody and the other car involved in the race didn't stop.
The names of the dead woman, the three injured people and the arrested driver haven't been released yet by police.

SANTA MUERTE-CATHOLIC CHURCH
New Mexico archbishop again denounces 'Santa Muerte'
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico archbishop is renewing his call for Catholics to stop worshipping the skeleton folk saint known as La Santa Muerte, or "Our Lady of Holy Death."
Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester recently told The Associated Press he fears some Catholics mistakenly believe Santa Muerte is a saint sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church.
Santa Muerte is popular in Mexico. Shrines and statues of the folk saint can be found in New Mexico, California, Louisiana, Texas and elsewhere. They usually depict the skeleton figure wearing a black nun's robe and holding a scythe.
Wester is one of only a handful of U.S. Roman Catholic bishops who have denounced the figure.
Virginia Commonwealth University religious scholar Andrew Chesnut says church officials in Latin America decry Santa Muerte almost weekly.

NUKE REPOSITORY
First-of-its-kind US nuclear waste dump marks 20 years
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — In a remote stretch of desert in southern New Mexico, the U.S. government set in motion an experiment that, if successful, would prove to the world that radioactive waste could be safely disposed of deep underground.
Twenty years and more than 12,380 shipments later, tons of Cold War-era waste from decades of bomb-making and nuclear research have been stashed in the salt caverns that make up the underground facility — and not without issues.
A 2014 radiation leak forced an expensive nearly three-year closure and delayed the federal government's cleanup program.
Supporters still consider the repository a success, saying it provides a viable option for dealing with a multibillion-dollar mess. That success is checkered at best for those who worry about mounting pressures on the repository to become a dumping ground for high-level waste.
​
ALBUQUERQUE AIRPORT-OUTAGE
Power line problem causes outage at Albuquerque airport
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico utility said a problem with an underground line caused a power outage in Albuquerque on Saturday, delaying flights and creating long wait times for passengers.
Albuquerque International Sunport spokeswoman Stephanie Kitts said passengers began making their way through security checkpoints after power was restored around 8:30 a.m.
Kitts told the Albuquerque Journal that the outage began around 3:30 a.m.
During the outage, many travelers sat in the main lobby as they waited for updates.
Public Service Co. of New Mexico later said it had identified the problem with the line and that repairs were underway.
After power was restored, Mayor Tim Keller said on Twitter that officials "still expect significant arrivals and delays" and airport officials advised passengers to check with airlines for updated flight information.

STREET RACING-FATAL CRASH
1 killed, 3 injured after street racing crash in Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say street racers in southwest Albuquerque have killed a pedestrian and crashed a vehicle into an apartment building.
Police say it appears a woman was crossing a street Saturday night when she was fatally struck by one of the vehicles racing down a street.
They say one of the vehicles then crashed into an apartment building.
Police say three of the four people in the car that crashed were taken to a hospital where they were listed in critical condition.
They say the driver is in police custody and the other car involved in the race didn't stop.
The names of the dead woman, the three injured people and the arrested driver haven't been released yet by police.

SANTA MUERTE-CATHOLIC CHURCH
New Mexico archbishop again denounces 'Santa Muerte'
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico archbishop is renewing his call for Catholics to stop worshipping the skeleton folk saint known as La Santa Muerte, or "Our Lady of Holy Death."
Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester recently told The Associated Press he fears some Catholics mistakenly believe Santa Muerte is a saint sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church.
Santa Muerte is popular in Mexico. Shrines and statues of the folk saint can be found in New Mexico, California, Louisiana, Texas and elsewhere. They usually depict the skeleton figure wearing a black nun's robe and holding a scythe.
Wester is one of only a handful of U.S. Roman Catholic bishops who have denounced the figure.
Virginia Commonwealth University religious scholar Andrew Chesnut says church officials in Latin America decry Santa Muerte almost weekly.

NUKE REPOSITORY
First-of-its-kind US nuclear waste dump marks 20 years
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — In a remote stretch of desert in southern New Mexico, the U.S. government set in motion an experiment that, if successful, would prove to the world that radioactive waste could be safely disposed of deep underground.
Twenty years and more than 12,380 shipments later, tons of Cold War-era waste from decades of bomb-making and nuclear research have been stashed in the salt caverns that make up the underground facility — and not without issues.
A 2014 radiation leak forced an expensive nearly three-year closure and delayed the federal government's cleanup program.
Supporters still consider the repository a success, saying it provides a viable option for dealing with a multibillion-dollar mess. That success is checkered at best for those who worry about mounting pressures on the repository to become a dumping ground for high-level waste.

ALBUQUERQUE AIRPORT-OUTAGE
Power line problem causes outage at Albuquerque airport
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico utility said a problem with an underground line caused a power outage in Albuquerque on Saturday, delaying flights and creating long wait times for passengers.
Albuquerque International Sunport spokeswoman Stephanie Kitts said passengers began making their way through security checkpoints after power was restored around 8:30 a.m.
Kitts told the Albuquerque Journal that the outage began around 3:30 a.m.
During the outage, many travelers sat in the main lobby as they waited for updates.
Public Service Co. of New Mexico later said it had identified the problem with the line and that repairs were underway.
After power was restored, Mayor Tim Keller said on Twitter that officials "still expect significant arrivals and delays" and airport officials advised passengers to check with airlines for updated flight information.

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE-FUNDING
Indian Health Service receives funds for planning, building
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The agency responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians has received funding to continue planning for and building facilities in New Mexico and Arizona.
The Gallup Independent reports that Indian Health Service Navajo Area spokeswoman Jenny Notah said Thursday that Congress appropriated about $218 million for projects for fiscal year 2019.
Notah says the Gallup Indian Medical Center Relocation Project in Gallup, New Mexico, which will cost more than $550 million, has been awarded $2 million for planning.
Construction projects of three outpatient facilities on the Navajo Nation received the largest allocation in 2019. Notah says construction for an outpatient facility in Dilkon, Arizona, received $59.1 million.
Notah says construction of an outpatient facility in Pueblo Pintado, New Mexico, received $87.2 million, while construction of an outpatient facility in Bodaway-Gap, Arizona, received $28.1 million.

COYOTE CARCASSES
Coyote carcasses found as New Mexico governor weighs ban
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Some animal activists and state officials are pushing for New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to sign a bill outlawing coyote-killing contests.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Los Lunas resident Elisabeth Dicharry was informed of discarded coyote carcasses by a friend who came across them on Wednesday.
Dicharry says duct tape tags dated Jan. 12 were found on some of the animals' snouts, indicating they might have been targeted in a coyote-killing contest.
Dicharry says she found a third pile of coyote remains Thursday in the same area of eastern Valencia County.
The discovery of the carcasses comes as Lujan Grisham contemplates whether to sign Senate Bill 76, a bipartisan measure that would prohibit coyote-killing contests on both public and private lands in New Mexico.

NUKE REPOSITORY
First-of-its-kind US nuclear waste dump marks 20 years
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — In a remote stretch of desert in southern New Mexico, the U.S. government set in motion an experiment that, if successful, would prove to the world that radioactive waste could be safely disposed of deep underground.
Twenty years and more than 12,380 shipments later, tons of Cold War-era waste from decades of bomb-making and nuclear research have been stashed in the salt caverns that make up the underground facility — and not without issues.
A 2014 radiation leak forced an expensive nearly three-year closure and delayed the federal government's cleanup program.
Supporters still consider the repository a success, saying it provides a viable option for dealing with a multibillion-dollar mess. That success is checkered at best for those who worry about mounting pressures on the repository to become a dumping ground for high-level waste.

ALBUQUERQUE AIRPORT-OUTAGE
Power restored at Albuquerque airport after lengthy outage
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Power has been restored at the airport in Albuquerque, New Mexico, following a lengthy outage Saturday morning that delayed flights and created long wait times for passengers.
Albuquerque International Sunport spokeswoman Stephanie Kitts said passengers were making their way through security checkpoints after power was restored around 8:30 a.m.
Kitts told the Albuquerque Journal that the outage began around 3:30 a.m.
During the outage, many travelers sat in the main lobby as they waited for updates.
Public Service Co. of New Mexico said on Twitter it was investigating the outage's cause and called the situation "a super frustrating experience."
After power was restored, Mayor Tim Keller said on Twitter that officials "still expect significant arrivals and delays."
Airport officials advised passengers to check with airlines for updated flight information.

NEW MEXICO UNEMPLOYMENT
New Mexico's February unemployment rate remained 3.1 percent
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's unemployment rate held steady in February.
The Department of Workforce Solutions' monthly report released Friday said February's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, unchanged from January 2019 and February 2018.
The state's non-farm economy grew by 7,400 jobs, or a little under 1 percent, in the year since February 2018.
The private sector accounted for all of the increase, led by serving-providing industries' gain of 4,700 jobs while goods-producing industries added 3,500 jobs.
The leisure and hospitality sector had the biggest gain with 3,700 additional jobs.
Meanwhile, government lost 800 jobs.

ENDANGERED WOLVES-DEATHS
3 Mexican gray wolves found dead in Arizona, New Mexico
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona wildlife officials say three endangered Mexican gray wolves, including two in New Mexico, died last month.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department said in a news release Friday that the latest incidents means there have been four wolf deaths so far this year.
One from a pack in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest died after it was captured to replace a faulty GPS collar.
Another from a pack in the north-central area of the Gila National Forest was found dead.
The third wolf was a single collared one in New Mexico. Officials did not say in what part of the state it dwelled.
All the deaths are under investigation.
Efforts to reintroduce the endangered wolves in Arizona and New Mexico have been ongoing for two decades.
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CLEAN ENERGY-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico governor signs landmark clean energy bill
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Making good on a campaign promise, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed landmark legislation that will mandate more solar panels and wind turbines as the state sets ambitious new renewable energy goals.
The Democratic governor, environmentalists and others gathered at the state capitol Friday for a signing ceremony.
The measure requires that investor-owned utilities generate at least 50 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030. That jumps to 80 percent by 2040.
A 100 percent carbon-free mandate would kick in five years later. Electric co-ops that provide power to more rural areas would have until 2050 to meet that goal.
Aside from the renewable energy quotas, funds will be established to help ease the economic pains of closing the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station near Farmington.

ROUTE 66-LOSING PRESERVATION?
Last grants coming for endangered Route 66 program
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Final grant season for an endangered federal program that's helped preserve the historic Route 66 Highway for two decades is ending next month.
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is accepting grant applications until April 12 and it's not clear if Congress will continue the project.
At risk are millions of dollars in grants aimed at reviving old tourist spots in struggling towns.
The program has helped finance projects like the El Vado Motel neon sign restoration in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Station restoration in Kansas. It's administered by the National Park Service.
Decommissioned as a U.S. highway in 1985, Route 66 went through eight states, connecting tourists with friendly diners and motor lodges in small towns.

NAVAJO COAL PLANT
Navajo Nation company ends bid to buy power plant, mine
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Navajo Nation company has ended its bid to buy a coal-fired power plant on the reservation and the mine that feeds it.
The decision Friday means the Navajo Generating Station and the Kayenta Mine will close this year, ending decades of operation in northeastern Arizona.
The bid by the Navajo Transitional Energy Company had been considered a long-shot since tribal leaders asked the company last year to consider the acquisition. Coal is falling out of favor across the country.
The company's negotiations with the power plant owners recently came to a halt over who ultimately would be responsible for cleanup.
Environmentalists have urged the Navajo Nation to ditch coal for renewable energy.
The power plant initially was built to move Colorado River water to Arizona's major metropolitan areas.

ROUTE 66-LOSING PRESERVATION?
Last grants coming for endangered Route 66 program
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Final grant season for an endangered federal program that's helped preserve the historic Route 66 Highway for two decades is ending next month.
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is accepting grant applications until April 12 and it's not clear if Congress will continue the project.
At risk are millions of dollars in grants aimed at reviving old tourist spots in struggling towns.
The program has helped finance projects like the El Vado Motel neon sign restoration in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Station restoration in Kansas. It's administered by the National Park Service.
Decommissioned as a U.S. highway in 1985, Route 66 went through eight states, connecting tourists with friendly diners and motor lodges in small towns.

GALLUP-POLICE CHIEF
Ex-police chief turns over audio file in Whistleblower case
(Information from: Gallup Independent, http://www.gallupindependent.com)
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A former Gallup police chief has turned over secretly recorded audio files in connection with his complaint against the western New Mexico city.
The Gallup Independent reports Phillip Hart gave a state court his cellphone with 43 audio files containing secretly recorded conversations he had with the city manager.
Hart was fired in August as he and the city of Gallup were embroiled in year-long legal disputes.
Hart disputed the city's policy of allowing community service aides to pick up and commit intoxicated residents to the detoxification center.
He also said that the city violated the Whistleblower Protection Act by placing him on administrative leave and prohibiting him from fulfilling his duties after he sought clarification on the city's detox policy.
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STUPID JOKE-KILLING
Prosecutors: New Mexico man killed man over a 'stupid joke'
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico man is standing trial for the 2017 murder in Santa Fe connected to what prosecutors say was anger over a "stupid joke."
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports lawyers gave opening statements this week in the murder trial of Christopher Owens. Prosecutors say the 32-year-old Owens shot and killed 30-year-old Timothy Baca after Baca made fun on his singing after a night of partying.
Assistant District Attorney Blake Nichols told jurors the pair got into a fight over the comment but Baca eventually offered to shake hands. Nichols says that's when Owens shot the father of four.
Defense attorney Kelly Golightly says accounts vary on what happened and the story has many holes.
Owens is charged with murder, tampering with evidence and trafficking of a controlled substance.
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WATER ROLLBACK-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico raises concerns over proposed federal water rule
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Environment Department wants to withdraw from a federal lawsuit challenging Obama-era protections for waterways and wetlands across the country.
The department filed a motion Thursday, saying the positions taken in the lawsuit are inconsistent with its stance on proposed revisions to the water rule that were issued last month by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The department says the proposed definition for waterways that would be protected under the rule would exclude most of New Mexico's waters.
Environment Secretary James Kenney says all water in New Mexico — from the Rio Grande to groundwater and seasonal streams — must be afforded legal protections.
Combined with the effects of climate change, the state argues that New Mexico's waters may become more intermittent and therefore even less protected under the proposed rule.

GUN CONTROL-NEW MEXICO
Elections regulator nixes referendum on gun control law
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Republican-led attempt to hold a statewide referendum by signature petition on a newly signed gun control law has been turned away by the New Mexico Secretary of State's Office.
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver on Thursday said the proposed petition did not satisfy legal requirements.
In a letter to Republican House minority leader James Townsend of Artesia, she says the new state law to expand background checks to nearly all private gun sales is a matter of public safety and cannot be overturned by referendum under state law.
The law to expand background checks against a federal database of prohibited buyers has generated a backlash from county sheriffs and others who say it will be difficult to enforce and do little to address gun violence.

CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED
New Mexico high court affirms murder, kidnapping convictions
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has upheld the convictions of an Albuquerque man for a 2014 kidnapping and murder in Bernalillo County.
Trinidad Gallegos was sentenced to life in prison for the shooting death of Sergio Bickham.
The victim's body was found in a tunnel underneath Interstate 40 near a casino west of Albuquerque.
In a unanimous decision Thursday, the state's high court rejected arguments by Gallegos that he failed to receive a fair trial because of what he claimed were mistakes by the trial court and his defense attorney.
Gallegos contended that the testimony of a key prosecution witness should have been excluded.
The court concluded it was harmless error that the trial court allowed police officer testimony concerning an anonymous tip about Gallegos hiding a possible murder weapon.
​
CHACO CANYON DRILLING
Tribes push to protect sacred New Mexico site from drilling
ACOMA PUEBLO, N.M. (AP) — Native American leaders are banding together to pressure U.S. officials to ban oil and gas exploration around a sacred tribal site that features massive stone structures and other remnants of an ancient civilization.
Creating a formal buffer around Chaco Culture National Historical Park has been a long-running issue.
But tribes face the Trump administration's pro-drilling stance as they push for further protections surrounding the world heritage site. They're meeting Thursday at Acoma Pueblo, a Native American community in New Mexico.
Federal officials are revamping the management plan for the area around Chaco. They repeatedly have denied drilling leases within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of the park.
Tribes, environmentalists and archaeologists have raised concerns about the potential effects on culturally significant sites like ceremonial structures called kivas outside the park's boundaries.