CIMARRON RIVER-FISHING
Stretch of Cimarron River reopens for fishing
EAGLE NEST, N.M. (AP) — State wildlife managers say a stretch of the Cimarron River in northern New Mexico is open to fishing again following restoration work.
A 1.5 mile stretch of the river along N.M. Highway 64 east of Eagle Nest was closed in December 2016 after a tanker truck overturned and spilled about 1,100 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel into the river.
Despite the restoration work, Eric Frey of the state Game and Fish Department is cautioning anglers not to eat more than three meals of fish per month from the spill area.
The effected stretch of the river passed through the Colin Neblett Wildlife Area and Cimarron Canyon State Park.

NMSU-AG SCIENCE CENTERS
NMSU hopes to not close agricultural science centers
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State University is not closing any of its 12 agricultural science centers in the state -- at least not yet.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reported earlier this month that the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences conducted a self-evaluation of the centers as it grapples with less funding in the face of a statewide budget crisis.
College of ACES Dean Rolando A. Flores says closing any of the centers is a "last recourse."
Flores says the College of ACES needs to rationalize its funds and properly manage its resources.
New Mexico State has formed a committee to figure out ways to operate the centers more efficiently. The committee includes private industry professionals, as well as some agricultural science center superintendents, college department heads and faculty members.

EXHIBITION-ZUNI FETISHES
Albuquerque Museum to display work of Zuni carvers
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The work of one of Zuni Pueblo's most famous fetish carvers will going on display this summer at the Albuquerque Museum.
Officials say it will be the first retrospective exhibit of Leekya Deyuse's work.
His carvings began gaining notoriety in the early 1900s thanks to the marketing of regional traders in the American Southwest. By the 1950s, his work was sought out by museums and was part of private collections worldwide.
The exhibition — titled The Leekya Family: Master Carvers of Zuni Pueblo — will be on display from June 24 through Sept. 24.
More than 350 works will make up the exhibit and will include pieces made by his contemporaries and descendants.
The family's story will be presented through the voices of his grandsons, Freddie and Francis Leekya, and his daughter, the late Sarah Leekya.

DEPUTY SHOOTS DEPUTY-JURORS
Jurors discuss ex-deputy's second mistrial in murder case
(Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com)
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Jurors deliberated the murder case of former Santa Fe County sheriff's deputy Tai Chan for less than four hours and were unable to reach a unanimous decision, leading to a second mistrial.
Defense attorneys for Chan said Tuesday that no juror agreed to a first-degree murder conviction in shooting death of deputy Jeremy Martin during an alcohol-fueled dispute. But some jurors told the Las Cruces Sun-News said that statement was misleading.
Two jurors said three panelists believed Chan had killed Martin with deliberate intent, but the others weren't convinced. So, deliberations turned to second-degree murder.
Only five jurors supported that conviction, sending the deliberations to voluntary manslaughter. But after the jury voted 6-6 on that charge they informed the judge that they were deadlocked. A second vote also ended in a stalemate, then a mistrial was declared.
District Attorney Mark D'Antonio said he expected to make a decision next week on whether to seek another trial.

ELVIS PLANE-AUCTION
Jet owned by Elvis auctioned after sitting 30 years
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A private jet once owned by Elvis Presley has been auctioned after sitting on a runway in New Mexico for more than 30 years.
GWS Auctions Inc. says the plane sold for $430,000 on Saturday at a California event featuring celebrity memorabilia.
The auction house says Elvis designed the interior that has gold-tone woodwork, red velvet seats and red shag carpet. But the red 1962 Lockheed Jetstar has no engine and needs a restoration of its cockpit.
Liveauctioneers.com says the 1962 red Lockheed JetStar was owned by Elvis and his father, Vernon Presley.
It has been privately owned for 35 years and sitting on a tarmac in Roswell, New Mexico.

LOS ALAMOS PLUTONIUM FUTURE
New Mexico lab's future up in the air after recent fire
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A recent fire has put a national laboratory's ability to operate safely into question.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board announced Friday that it will hold a hearing next month to discuss the future of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
A fire broke mid-April at the lab in section where the plutonium cores of nuclear weapons are produced. Lab officials said that the fire was put out quickly and caused minor injuries.
According to the report, the board is unsure if the lab is fit to continue to operate and handle increasing quantities of plutonium in coming years. The board will have the chance to get the opinion of a number of experts at its June 7 hearing.

POLICE SHOOTING-CIBOLA COUNTY
State Police: Wanted person fatally shot by officers
SAN RAFAEL, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say one person is dead following a shooting by police in Ciibola County in northwestern New Mexico.
New Mexico State Police say the shooting occurred Friday at a residence in San Rafael near Grants when State Police and Albuquerque Police Department officers attempted to contact a wanted person.
According to the State Police, officers fatally shot the wanted person "during the process of attempt to apprehend the individual."
Identities of the person killed and officers involved were not released and no information was immediately available on why police were trying to take the wanted person into custody.
The incident is being investigated by the State Police Investigations Bureau.

SHOE LADY
Woman in Minot collects shoes for children in Mexico
MINOT, N.D. (AP) — A woman who spent part of her childhood in Mexico is collecting shoes from North Dakota children to donate during her next trip to the country.
Luz Derusse, who now lives in Minot, decided to start collecting the shoes when she encountered children at the border during a trip to Mexico.
Derusse has made multiple trips to Mexico in the past five years to give away shoes she's acquired from yard sales, thrift shops and donations.
The Minot Daily News reports Derusse is planning to make another trip this week, and will be bringing a trailer filled with shoes.
Local Starbucks stores and the Minot YWCA also have been assisting in the effort in collecting shoes.
Shoes have been donated from North Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Minneapolis.

FATAL CRASH
California man killed on New Mexico highway 
SANTA ROSA, N.M. (AP) — State police say a 20-year-old California man was killed Friday after being struck by a commercial truck on Interstate 40 near Santa Rosa.
Police say witnesses reported that it appeared Bayley Harley-Imler of Westlake Village, California, purposely walked in front of the truck that hit him around 9:30 p.m. on Friday.
Harley-Imler was sent to a local hospital, where he died.
The driver and passenger in the truck were not injured.
The crash is still under investigation.

SWAT STANDOFF
Man attempted burglary, set building on fire before arrest 
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a 38-year-old man broke into a restaurant while armed with an edged weapon, stole a car, barricaded himself in an empty building and set it on fire before police caught him.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office says deputies were called out noon Saturday.
The man, who was identified as Marcio Lujan, tried to steal items from a restaurant but was confronted by the owners. Lujan is suspected of then stealing car that stalled about a block away.
Police say that's when Lujan broke into an empty commercial building and barricaded himself.
The sheriff's office used a police-trained dog to get Lujan out.
Police say Lujan made comments about setting a fire, and deputies then noticed smoke coming from inside. The building was quickly engulfed in flames.
The Bernalillo County Fire Department contained the fire.

EXHIBITION-ZUNI FETISHES
Albuquerque Museum to display work of Zuni carvers
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The work of one of Zuni Pueblo's most famous fetish carvers will going on display this summer at the Albuquerque Museum.
Officials say it will be the first retrospective exhibit of Leekya Deyuse's work.
His carvings began gaining notoriety in the early 1900s thanks to the marketing of regional traders in the American Southwest. By the 1950s, his work was sought out by museums and was part of private collections worldwide.
The exhibition — titled The Leekya Family: Master Carvers of Zuni Pueblo — will be on display from June 24 through Sept. 24.
More than 350 works will make up the exhibit and will include pieces made by his contemporaries and descendants.
The family's story will be presented through the voices of his grandsons, Freddie and Francis Leekya, and his daughter, the late Sarah Leekya.

DEPUTY SHOOTS DEPUTY-JURORS
Jurors discuss ex-deputy's second mistrial in murder case
(Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com)
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Jurors deliberated the murder case of former Santa Fe County sheriff's deputy Tai Chan for less than four hours and were unable to reach a unanimous decision, leading to a second mistrial.
Defense attorneys for Chan said Tuesday that no juror agreed to a first-degree murder conviction in shooting death of deputy Jeremy Martin during an alcohol-fueled dispute. But some jurors told the Las Cruces Sun-News said that statement was misleading.
Two jurors said three panelists believed Chan had killed Martin with deliberate intent, but the others weren't convinced. So, deliberations turned to second-degree murder.
Only five jurors supported that conviction, sending the deliberations to voluntary manslaughter. But after the jury voted 6-6 on that charge they informed the judge that they were deadlocked. A second vote also ended in a stalemate, then a mistrial was declared.
District Attorney Mark D'Antonio said he expected to make a decision next week on whether to seek another trial.

ELVIS PLANE-AUCTION
Jet owned by Elvis auctioned after sitting 30 years
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A private jet once owned by Elvis Presley has been auctioned after sitting on a runway in New Mexico for more than 30 years.
GWS Auctions Inc. says the plane sold for $430,000 on Saturday at a California event featuring celebrity memorabilia.
The auction house says Elvis designed the interior that has gold-tone woodwork, red velvet seats and red shag carpet. But the red 1962 Lockheed Jetstar has no engine and needs a restoration of its cockpit.
Liveauctioneers.com says the 1962 red Lockheed JetStar was owned by Elvis and his father, Vernon Presley.
It has been privately owned for 35 years and sitting on a tarmac in Roswell, New Mexico.

LOS ALAMOS PLUTONIUM FUTURE
New Mexico lab's future up in the air after recent fire
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A recent fire has put a national laboratory's ability to operate safely into question.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board announced Friday that it will hold a hearing next month to discuss the future of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
A fire broke mid-April at the lab in section where the plutonium cores of nuclear weapons are produced. Lab officials said that the fire was put out quickly and caused minor injuries.
According to the report, the board is unsure if the lab is fit to continue to operate and handle increasing quantities of plutonium in coming years. The board will have the chance to get the opinion of a number of experts at its June 7 hearing.

POLICE SHOOTING-CIBOLA COUNTY
State Police: Wanted person fatally shot by officers
SAN RAFAEL, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say one person is dead following a shooting by police in Ciibola County in northwestern New Mexico.
New Mexico State Police say the shooting occurred Friday at a residence in San Rafael near Grants when State Police and Albuquerque Police Department officers attempted to contact a wanted person.
According to the State Police, officers fatally shot the wanted person "during the process of attempt to apprehend the individual."
Identities of the person killed and officers involved were not released and no information was immediately available on why police were trying to take the wanted person into custody.
The incident is being investigated by the State Police Investigations Bureau.

DIOCESE-IMMIGRATION MEMO
Archdiocese tells workers to ask ICE agents for warrants
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Roman Catholic Church diocese for Albuquerque and much of New Mexico is advising its workers to ask for a search warrant if federal immigration officers enter church property.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the Archdiocese of Santa Fe sent employees a memo saying when church personnel must admit Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and when they can deny entry.
It also provides guidance on calling the archdiocese attorney and what employees can say to demand that agents leave the premises.
According to the memo, it was written in response to rumors of ICE raids of churches, schools and other locations.
However, Archdiocese Chancellor Tom Macken says he doesn't know of any actual ICE raids at church properties.
Las Cruces and Gallup dioceses oversee parts of New Mexico.

SEX CASE-SENTENCING
Man sentenced for raping women with mental disorders
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico man accused of raping three women with mental disorders will serve time in jail.
The Albuquerque Journal reports 76-year-old Benjamin Baca was sentenced to seven years in prison Friday. He pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal sexual penetration in February.
Prosecutors say Baca would drive past boardinghouse where patients released from a mental health institute lived. They say he got women to get into his car by offering them soda and cigarettes.
Some women say Baca forced them to have oral sex and intercourse.
His lawyer had previously asked the judge to sentence Baca only to sex offender counseling. The lawyer argued that due to Baca's old age, he was less likely to reoffend and would not do well in jail.

STATE POLICE-DWI CHECKPOINTS
New Mexico police to watch for drunken drivers
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico state police officers are planning a series of sobriety checkpoints around the state.
Officials say the checkpoints and advertising highlighting the state's enforcement efforts are aimed at reducing alcohol-related fatalities.
Data from the state Transportation Department and the University of New Mexico shows 31 people died in alcohol-related crashes in the first four months of 2017. That's less than the 55 alcohol-related deaths in the first quarter of 2016.
Officials say New Mexico's alcohol-related death rate has consistently been nearly twice the national rate for the past two decades.
State police says they'll also be checking driver's licenses and reviewing vehicle registrations and insurance during June's checkpoints.

STATE POLICE-DWI CHECKPOINTS
New Mexico police to watch for drunken drivers
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico state police officers are planning a series of sobriety checkpoints around the state.
Officials say the checkpoints and advertising highlighting the state's enforcement efforts are aimed at reducing alcohol-related fatalities.
Data from the state Transportation Department and the University of New Mexico shows 113 people have died in alcohol-related crashes in the first four months of 2017. That's less than the first quarter the previous year.
In 2016, a total of 175 people died in alcohol-related crashes. That accounted for more than 40 percent of New Mexico's traffic fatalities last year.
Officials say New Mexico's alcohol-related death rate has consistently been nearly twice the national rate for the past two decades.
State police says they'll also be checking driver's licenses and reviewing vehicle registrations and insurance during June's checkpoints.

DAM-GOATS EAT WEEDS
Las Cruces using herd of goats to clear vegetation along dam
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Las Cruces officials say dozens of rented goats is having success in reducing brush and other vegetation along a nearly 3-mile-long dam in the southern New Mexico city.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports the herd of goats started at one end of the dam about a year ago and have gradually moved toward the other end while enclosed by a movable fence.
Street and Traffic Operations Administrator Willie Roman says use of the goats is a safe way to clear the dam's slanted surface.
The city embarked on the project because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspected the dam and advised that the amount of vegetation on the barrier be reduced.
Las Cruces previously used goats to clear weeds at a lake and at a flood-control drainage.

MURDER CASE-CONVICTIONS
Jury convicts 2 suspected in death of an Albuquerque woman
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two people suspected in the death of an Albuquerque woman have been convicted by a Valencia County jury.
Prosecutors say Shane Foster was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder with a firearms enhancement, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to tamper with evidence.
They say Renee Foster was convicted of tampering with evidence and conspiracy to tamper with evidence.
Sentencing dates haven't been set yet.
New Mexico State Police say they received information in December 2015 about 30-year-old Casimirio Ramirez, who was missing at the time.
Police executed search warrants at two Los Lunas residences and evidence gathered led to the recovery of Ramirez's body from a shallow grave near the Rio Grande River in January 2016.
The Fosters were arrested and booked into jail. Their trial began last week.

NEW MEXICO-BUDGET CRISIS
New Mexico governor restores university funds, vetoes taxes
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has vetoed a string of tax proposals passed by lawmakers but has signed legislation that restores funding to state colleges and universities.
The Republican governor on Friday approved legislation to reinstate roughly $745 million in spending on state institutions of higher education that include university hospitals and medical research facilities.
The bill also reinstates funding to the Legislature for the fiscal year starting July 1.
She initially vetoed the funding in April as part of a standoff with lawmakers over how to resolve a budget crisis.
On Friday, she vetoed for a second time several tax increases that lawmakers say are needed to shore up state finances.
A rebound in tax revenues in February and March removed some of the pressure on recent budget negotiations.

GIRL ASSAULTED-SUSPECTS ARRESTED
Illinois men accused of sexually assaulting New Mexico girl
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say two Illinois men have been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a girl when she lived in New Mexico.
New Mexico State Police say 24-year-old Robert Hull and 31-year-old Bryan Huber were taken into custody in Loves Park, Illinois by the U.S. Marshals Service.
State Police say they received a report last June from an officer with the Albany, Oregon Police Department about a journal written by an alleged victim, who was 14 at the time.
The victim allegedly wrote in the journal details about how she was sexually assaulted when she lived in New Mexico.
The journal's discovery led to a multi-state investigation.
Police say Huber and Hull both are accused of criminal sexual contact of a minor.
It was unclear Friday if either man has a lawyer.

HIKER-FATAL FALL
Body of hiker who fell into canyon near Alamogordo recovered
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Police say the body of a hiker who fell about 250 feet into a deep canyon east of Alamogordo has been recovered.
They say 19-year-old David Morales was hiking with a teenage friend on the trails adjacent to the Tunnel Vista area when he fell into the canyon about 5 p.m. Thursday.
Police say the teen had to hike back out to get help and waved down vehicles on U.S. 82.
Crews from the U.S. Border Patrol, Otero County Sheriff's Office and volunteer fire departments from surrounding communities helped State Police start a search and rescue mission.
A Border Patrol helicopter used infrared technology to locate Morales' dead body Thursday night and rescuers recovered the Alamogordo man's body Friday morning.
State Police say they're investigating the death.

ALBUQUERQUE POLICE-ARRESTS
Albuquerque curbs arrests, jail time for minor crimes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A special order directing Albuquerque police to scale back on arrests for two dozen non-violent misdemeanor offenses marks the latest reform in New Mexico's largest city that aims to ease arrests and jail time for low-level offenders.
The May 10 order — spurred by a recent settlement agreement in a long-running lawsuit over local jail conditions — follows a voter-approved constitutional amendment in November that bars the courts from keeping inmates jailed solely because they can't afford bail, while allowing judges to deny bail to those considered exceptionally dangerous.
Criminal justice reform advocates nationwide have focused on reducing arrests and prosecutions for non-violent infractions — such as panhandling, prostitution and marijuana possession — that they say often disproportionately involve the homeless, people with mental illness and minorities.
This report is one of a series of stories from the CJ Project, an initiative to broaden the news coverage of criminal justice issues affecting New Mexico's diverse communities.

NAVAJO COAL PLANT
Navajo Nation proposes lease extension for coal power plant
(Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com)
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has introduced legislation to extend the lease on the coal-fired power plant in northern Arizona so it can operate through 2019.
The Arizona Republic reported Thursday that the lease extension would allow for the Navajo Generating Station to be used through December 2019 and then be torn down. If the tribe does not approve a lease extension by July 1, the plant will have to close at the end of this year to be torn down by 2020.
If the deal is approved, the Navajo Nation will earn $110 million in lease payments throughout the next 35 years. This is because the generating stations owners will be required to monitor the land after the facilities are removed.
The tribe also hopes to keep several pieces of the operation when it closes.