MISSING AUTISTIC BOY
Missing 12-year-old Albuquerque boy with autism is found OK 
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a 12-year-old Albuquerque boy with autism who went missing earlier this week is safe and is being reunited with his family.
They say Xander Mares went missing Tuesday night.
Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies made contact with the boy Friday afternoon and confirmed he's physically OK.
The boy's father told KOB-TV that his son was being bullied at school and got into a fight Tuesday and was then suspended for three days.
James Mares says he thinks his son decided to run away from home because he got embarrassed.


BEATING DEATH-TEENS ARRESTED
Teenagers arrested in beating death of Torrance County woman
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two teenage boys have been arrested in the beating death of a 62-year-old woman during a burglary in Torrance County.
Court documents indicate the youths ages 16 and 17 were arrested in the April 6 killing of Deborah "Debbie" Michele Zeutzius of Edgewood.
Her husband found her dead in a backyard workshop after returning to their home and finding it had been ransacked and her car missing.
According to court documents, the youths face charges of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, larceny of a firearm and other crimes.
The youths could be sentenced to life in prison if tried and convicted as adults. Online court records don't indicate whether they have attorneys who could comment on the allegations.
The Associated Press doesn't generally publish the names of juveniles accused of crimes.


TRAILER PARK CRASHES
Officials: Woman accused of DWI after crashing car 3 times
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Dona Ana County authorities say a 50-year-old woman on probation for aggravated DWI was arrested on suspicion of again committing that crime while crashing her car several times in her trailer park.
The Sheriff's Department says deputies arrested Diane Tarr late Friday after she returned from a fast-food run.
According to the department, neighbors reported seeing Tarr crash her vehicle into a gas line, a water line and another vehicle. No injuries were reported.
Records indicated Tarr remained jailed after being booked Friday night without bond pending arraignment on charges of aggravated DWI, driving with a suspended license and probation violation.
Online court records don't show that she has an attorney who could comment on the allegations.

POLICE CRUISER-CRASH
Police trying to ID suspect in store incident before crash
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police are trying to identify a machete-wielding man who punched a supermarket employee in an incident that led to a serious collision involving a family and an officer hurrying to the store last Monday evening.
Police described the suspect as African American, about 18 years old, 5-foot-6 with a medium build and said he was wearing a red shirt, jeans and carrying a gray and black backpack.
Police said the suspect charged and punched an Albertsons employee after yelling at the employee and a security guard.
The responding officer's vehicle collided with the family's SUV at an intersection, injuring the officer, the mother and her two children.
Authorities on Friday confirmed that woman's 6-year-old son died after his family decided Thursday night to remove him from life support.

​
KILLED BY OWN CAR
Police: Woman killed by own car in apparent accident
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Las Cruces police say a 62-year-old woman is dead after being struck and pinned under her own car in what appears to be an accident.
Police say investigators believe Jill Thompson mistakenly started the car while the automatic transmission was in reverse instead of park and that she then was struck as the car drove in reverse while she was opening gates at the end of the driveway Thursday.
According to police, investigators placed the car's transmission in reverse and turned on the ignition, which started the car.
A relative found Thompson under the car after becoming concerned when she heard the car's engine running.


JUNIOR ENTREPRENEURS
Young entrepreneurs launch their own startups in Las Cruces
(Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com)
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A new group of entrepreneurs has emerged in the Las Cruces business scene, and they're too young to drive themselves to the office.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports the roughly 40 junior executives from the Acton Academy and other city schools will be participating in a nationwide Children's Business Fair on Saturday during the downtown Las Cruces Farmers & Crafts Market.
The students, ages 6 to 14, will be introducing various projects for sale, which include arts and crafts, spa services, custom-crafted woodwork, jewelry and other items.
One of the founders of Acton's Las Cruces school, Anna Biad, says the goal was for students to work on the projects independently to learn the challenges of developing their own startup business.

BUDGET CRISIS-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: New Mexico governor won't be bullied by lawsuit
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says lawmakers are suing her because they want to raise taxes and that she won't back down.
Martinez spokesman Michael Lonergan said Friday the Legislature is attempting to bully the Republican governor and avoid compromise in a standoff over the state's financial crisis.
Lawmakers are asking the New Mexico Supreme Court to rescind the governor's line-item budget vetoes that effectively eliminate the Legislature by canceling its funding in the coming fiscal year. Lawmakers say the governor also overstepped her authority in vetoing all funding for institutions of higher education.
Martinez says the vetoes were within her authority as governor and necessary to avoid a deficit.

MDC ADMINISTRATOR
​MDC looking for permanent jail administrator in Albuquerque 
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Bernalillo County is looking for a permanent jail chief to run the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque.
The man hired for the job last summer backed out at the last minute and the Metropolitan Detention Center has been under the temporary leadership of Tom Ruiz.
Bernalillo County says it has successfully reduced inmate population and is improving medical care, overhauling mental health services and increasing staff and inmate safety.
MDC has had issues with jail conditions that led to a settlement after a years-long federal lawsuit. The Bernalillo County Correction's Officer Association recently announced a no-confidence vote in Ruiz, saying officers had no faith in his leadership. The county has defended Ruiz and credited him with many jail improvements.

NM PASSPORTS
USPS to hold New Mexico fairs for fast passport access 
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is hosting passport fairs around New Mexico over the next two weekends to speed up the process for customers looking to get them.
USPS says it'll hold two fairs at Albuquerque's main post office on Broadway Boulevard NE and at the Roswell post office on Pennsylvania Avenue on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Another two fairs will be at the Aztec post office and at the Farmington one on April 28 and 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The postal service says the fairs make the passport process fast and convenient for customers who can't make appointments.
A passport book for adults costs $135 while one for children under age 16 costs $105.

ABQ BUSINESS LOANS
ABQ partners with nonprofit for business loans 
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The city of Albuquerque has partnered with a nonprofit to introduce a financial assistance program for small and local businesses along Central Avenue.
The program is called Central Loan Fund and it currently has $700,000 in donations. The fund will give low-interest loans of up to $15,000 for businesses who qualify.
If recipients of the loans meet certain conditions, their loans could be forgiven.
The city says the program hopes to meet the growing needs of Central Avenue's most vulnerable businesses impacted by the construction of a public transit project.
Business owners who get the loans can use them to pay for basic expenses, payroll, inventory, rent, utilities, taxes, marketing and insurance.

VETERANS AFFAIRS
VA makes curbing veteran suicides a top priority
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Scott Blackburn says a top priority of the agency is to find ways to curb suicides among veterans and boost access to mental health care.
Blackburn visited with patients, doctors and administrators at the VA hospital in Albuquerque on Friday. Staffing shortages were among the concerns raised.
Blackburn, an Army veteran, said it's unacceptable that about 20 veterans a day commit suicide. Of those, data shows about six receive care through the VA system and only half of them see a mental health provider.
Administrators acknowledged that recruiting psychiatrists has been a challenge in New Mexico but that the shortage extends beyond the VA system.
Hospital officials said New Mexico currently has a shortage of about 130 psychiatrists and is in need of dozens of primary care physicians.

NATIVE AMERICAN VOTERS
Secretary of State announces Native American voting group
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver announced Friday that she's creating a taskforce focused on increasing voter registration and turnout in tribal communities.
Toulouse Oliver says the Native American Voting Taskforce will include members from the Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Mescalero Apache tribe and Fort Sill Apache tribe, among others.
It will be tasked with analyzing tribal community needs and ways that Native Americans can be better informed about elections. The goal is to increase voter education and turnout in Native communities.
Toulouse Oliver says Native precincts have the lowest voter turnout. In the 2016 general election, only 56 percent of voters cast a ballot. That figure was 62 percent for overall turnout in New Mexico.

DWI ARRESTS-SANTA FE
Santa Fe Police step up efforts to curb drunken driving
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Santa Fe Police Chief has announced the department will step up efforts to curb drunken driving.
The Santa Fe Mexican reported Thursday that the number of alcohol-related crashes in Santa Fe continues to climb, while the number of arrests for drunken driving continues to decrease.
In response, officers will be keeping a closer eye on the number of arrests.
Police say the department had 99 alcohol-related crashes in the city in 2016, which was more than double the number of crashes in 2013. Meanwhile, officers made 363 alcohol-related arrests in 2016, which was the least since 2013.

SANTA FE-BUDGET
Santa Fe schools' budget shortfall not as grim as expected
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Santa Fe Public Schools' budget shortfall for next year might not be as bad as it once appeared.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Thursday that the district thought its shortfall would be between $4 million and $9 million, but now realizes it will be closer to $1.7 million.
District officials, however, say their worst case scenarios are still possible since state legislators and Gov. Susana Martinez have not reached a deal on a state budget.
Officials have been talking about possibly closing two district elementary schools if need be.
The district spokesman says the update is a better outlook, but not a good outlook.

COAL-RENEWABLES
New Mexico company plans to end coal-fired electric power
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Public Service Company of New Mexico has proposed to stop using all its coal-fired electricity within the next 14 years.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Friday that the company plans to replace coal entirely with solar, wind, natural gas and nuclear power.
The company has found through its 20-year resource plan that consumers will save money in the long run if it shuts down its coal generating station in San Juan by 2022 and relinquishes the utility's 13 percent share in the nearby Four Corners Generating Station by 2031.
The company will close two of four generating units at the San Juan plant next year to meet environmental regulations.
The plan is in its first draft and a final version will be filed in July.

DRUG TREATMENT-ATTORNEYS GENERAL
Attorneys general to Trump: Don't cut drug treatment funds
The top government lawyers from 19 states are telling President Donald Trump and the Republican leaders of Congress not to cut federal money for drug treatment programs.
A group of Democratic state attorneys general sent a letter Friday to federal officials saying the government "cannot abandon this commitment to our communities."
It's the latest of several actions from Democratic attorneys general objecting to Trump policies.
In this case, it's a pre-emptive argument that comes as Trump says Republican lawmakers are closing in on an agreement on how to replace former President Barack Obama's health insurance overhaul.
It's not clear what any new plan would mean for drug treatment, which has become a major issue amid an epidemic of addiction to opioid drugs.

Latest New Mexico news, sports, business and entertainment.

11TH DWI ARREST
Colorado man arrested in New Mexico on 11th DWI charge
PECOS, N.M. (AP) — A Colorado man has been arrested for the 11th time on suspicion of driving drunk after authorities received numerous calls about an erratic driver near the northern New Mexico community of Pecos.
State police identified the driver as 56-year-old Terry Huff of Greeley. He was booked into the San Miguel County jail on charges of DWI, child abuse and reckless driving. It wasn't clear if he had an attorney.
Police say Huff's breath alcohol content was three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
When the officer pulled over Huff last Friday, he noticed a child standing on the seat looking out the vehicle's windows. The officer said Huff smelled of alcohol and was mumbling incoherently.
Officers made arrangements for the child to stay with family members.

CRIME VICTIMS-MARIJUANA
Audit: Federal grant funds tapped for medical marijuana
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An audit by independent investigators with the U.S. Justice Department has determined a New Mexico program that helps crime victims allowed federal grant funds to be used to reimburse the purchase of medical marijuana.
The review by the agency's inspector general was released this week. It identified $7,630 in questioned costs.
Officials noted that while medical marijuana is legal in New Mexico, the substance is still banned under federal law and not an expense that can be covered by grant funding.
New Mexico's Crime Victims Reparation Commission has received more than $21 million in grants in recent years to help victims of crime by connecting them with counseling, therapy and other services.
Documents show the commission has changed its policies as a result of auditors' recommendations and if medical marijuana is prescribed, it will be covered with state funding.

NAVAJO NATION NAME
Navajo name change fails to garner enough support
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — A proposal that called for changing the name of the Navajo Nation to Dine Nation has failed to win enough support from the tribal council.
Legislation proposing the official name change went before the council Tuesday, with only nine delegates voting in favor. The measure was previously tabled in January in an effort to gather more perspective from elders and study the costs of making such a change.
Had it been approved, Council Delegate Jonathan Hale said the change would have only applied to tribal departments, divisions, agencies and other Navajo government enterprises.
Opponents argued that it would create confusion among Navajos and others.
Dine is the Navajo word meaning "the people" and is commonly how tribal members refer to themselves.

OIL AND GAS-LEASE SALE
New Mexico earns $4M in latest oil and gas lease sale
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The latest oil and gas lease sale has netted nearly $4 million for public schools and other beneficiaries.
The State Land Office said this month's sale attracted two dozen bidders from six states. Up for auction were 35 tracts covering nearly 9,000 acres in Eddy, Chaves and Lea counties in southeastern New Mexico.
With two months left in the fiscal year, revenues earned from monthly oil and gas lease sales have surpassed $61 million. Officials say earnings for the 2016 fiscal year totaled only $36 million.
Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn says it's fortunate that interest in drilling in the Permian Basin remains strong. He says more than 90 percent of revenues earned from oil and gas activity go toward teacher salaries, books and education infrastructure.

SODA TAX
Roman Catholic church backs soda tax in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Roman Catholica Church is endorsing a proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in New Mexico's state capital city.
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe threw its support Wednesday behind a soda tax of 2 cents per fluid ounce that would go toward expanding prekindergarten programs. Santa Fe voters will decide on the local tax May 2.
In a news release the archdiocese says municipal governments are being left with little choice other than to fund their own early childhood education programs because of a lack of state funding.
Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester previously criticized state lawmakers this year for not approving a proposed constitutional amendment to fund early childhood education with money from a state sovereign wealth fund.

FIRE DEPARTMENT-DRUGS
Clovis investigating possible tampering with ambulance drugs
CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — Clovis officials say possible tampering has prompted them to remove and replace all drugs on the Fire Department's 11 ambulances used for emergency calls.
The Eastern New Mexico News reports that police began investigating after tampering with some narcotics was discovered Saturday night.
City Manager Larry Fry says all of the department's 72 uniformed personnel are being drug tested and that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration is assisting Clovis police with the investigation.
Fry says the extent of the problem isn't yet known, including whether the drug supplies on all the ambulances were suspect, but he says there's no evidence anyone has been harmed.
Emergency officials from other agencies said ambulances typically carry a variety of medications that include controlled substances.

SANTA FE-BANKING PROPOSALS
Santa Fe requests local proposals for Wells Fargo deposits
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Santa Fe is looking to spread its city accounts to community banks and credit unions now that its contract with Wells Fargo is set to expire in December.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Tuesday that the city wants to spread about $210 million in various accounts to community banks and credit unions.
The city has put out a request for proposals for banking services. City officials say community reinvestment practices, local employment and financial education will all come into play.
Wells Fargo has been under federal scrutiny for alleged fraudulent account practices.
The city's spokesman says community advocates have been concerned about those claims and Wells Fargo-backed projects threatening the environment.
A bank official, however, says the city's money might remain with Wells Fargo.

MESILLA-MAN SETS FIRE
Sheriff's Dept.: Man throws knife, sets self himself on fire
MESILLA, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a man threw a knife at a town marshal in a Las Cruces suburb and then set himself on fire.
The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department says 48-year-old Gaspar Ayala-Arellano doused himself with gas and used a lighter to set the fire.
The sheriff's department says deputies who arrived to help the marshal were able to quickly extinguish the fire. The suspect was jailed on suspicion of aggravated assault on a peace officer after being treated at a hospital for burns on his legs and torso.
The thrown knife struck the marshal, but she wasn't injured. The incident happened Tuesday night in the Las Cruces suburb of Mesilla.

Latest New Mexico news, sports, business and entertainment.

6TH DWI ARREST
New Mexico State Police: Anthony man arrested for 6th DWI
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Police say an Anthony man has been arrested for DWI for the sixth time.
They say a uniformed officer was dispatched to a single vehicle crash last Friday afternoon in Berino.
Police say the 53-year-old Mario Martinez had crashed his vehicle in a dry canal off the road.
The state police officer says he noticed Martinez had bloodshot, watery eyes and smelled of alcohol.
He also says Martinez had slurred speech, appeared to be confused and allegedly admitted to drinking prior to the crash.
Police say Martinez failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for DWI.
They say Martinez had five prior DWI arrests.
He's been booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center.
It was unclear Tuesday if Martinez has a lawyer yet.

Rich Runs for Senate
New Mexico construction contractor announces US Senate bid
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Republican construction contractor Mike Rich of Albuquerque is the first challenger to seek the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Martin Heinrich.
Rich said Thursday he will seek the New Mexico GOP nomination for Senate in 2018 elections in his first bid for elected public office.
Rich is emphasizing his support for commercial development of natural resources on federal lands as a way to boost the New Mexico economy. He is criticizing Heinrich's vote against the confirmation of Energy Secretary Rick Perry as a liability for New Mexico in efforts to ensure federal funding.
He traces New Mexico's difficulties in addressing violent crime and drug overdoses to illegal drugs crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Democrats have held both New Mexico Senate seats since GOP Sen. Pete Domenici retired in January 2009.


MOTEL SHOOTING VICTIM
Police identify man found fatally shot at Albuquerque motel
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police have identified a man found fatally shot at a northeast Albuquerque motel last week.
They say the victim was 21-year-old Leroy Garcia.
Police say the man's body was discovered last Tuesday at the Motel 76.
A suspect in the homicide has yet been identified by police, who say their investigation is continuing.
Police say Garcia had a criminal history that included a recent arrest for receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of burglary tools.
They say an arrest warrant for Garcia was filed for failing to show up for a court hearing last month.

TRIBAL CRIME
Sessions expands program to combat crime on tribal lands
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has announced plans to allow more tribal nations to tap into national information systems to fight crime and bolster relationships with Native America.
His announcement on Tuesday is part of a broader program to support anti-crime efforts on reservations from the Puget Sound area of Washington state to the Adirondacks in New York.
Law enforcement officials on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana began training this week on accessing the federal data.
Fort Peck is among 10 tribal regions that will join nine other tribes that can already tap into the databases as part of the program launched by the Obama administration in 2015.
Fort Peck authorities hope the resources will help them deal with a meth problem and other crimes.

POLICE CRUISER-CRASH
Mother, children injured in crash with Albuquerque officer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say an Albuquerque police officer responding to a call collided with another vehicle, critically injuring a woman and two children.
The woman and both children were taken to the hospital after the Monday crash. Police say the officer suffered a broken leg and broken ankle.
Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deputy Felicia Romero said the children had been stabilized and remained in intensive care Tuesday. She had no other information to release since the investigation was ongoing.
Albuquerque police say the officer's lights and sirens were on as he headed to a call involving a man armed with a machete at a grocery store.
The crash happened at an intersection as the woman's vehicle turned in front of the police car.

OIL AND GAS-INVESTMENTS
New Mexico assets capture attention of oil and gas giants
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — As New Mexico's elected leaders wrangle over raising taxes to plug a budget shortfall, major energy companies have quietly spent more than $13 billion in recent months on assets in the state's oil and gas hot spots.
Analysts say the new wave of investment bodes well for the industry being able to generate much-needed revenues for the struggling state over the long haul.
Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's Global Ratings on Tuesday predicted a turnaround in economic output for New Mexico this year, pointing to growth in the oil and mining sectors.
Texas-based EOG Resources, ExxonMobil and Marathon Oil have already turned their attention to New Mexico, and analysts are expecting more demand going forward.
They say one indicator is the rapid increase in the value of land within New Mexico's portion of the Permian Basin.

WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM
New Mexico city steps up water conservation enforcement
(Information from: Carlsbad Current-Argus, http://www.currentargus.com/)
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — The southern New Mexico city of Carlsbad has started its annual crackdown on residents not in compliance with the city's water conservation schedule.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that to save water in the hotter spring and summer months the city prohibits residents from watering their grass on Mondays. There is also no watering allowed any day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. when temperatures reach above 100 degrees.
The water conservation schedule, approved in a 2011 city ordinance, is in effect from April through September.
Carlsbad's director of utilities, Mike Hernandez, says people found violating the schedule will get three reminders before additional violations can be forwarded to police.
The ordinance is part of the city's 100-year plan to conserve water.