FBI: New Mexico agencies reported 55 hate crimes in 2020
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The FBI says law enforcement agencies in New Mexico reported 55 hate crime incidents last year, an increase from 50 reported in 2019. The data was included in the Hate Crime Statistics 2020, a report released by the FBI on Monday. Authorities say there were 35 reported hate crime incidents in New Mexico last year involving a bias against race, ethnicity or ancestry. The Albuquerque FBI Division is trying to build public awareness of hate crimes and encourage reporting to law enforcement.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
36 Navajo Nation communities have uncontrolled COVID spread
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Monday reported 17 new COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the second consecutive day. The latest numbers pushed the tribe's total to 32,545 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The known death total remained at 1,403. Based on cases from Aug. 13-16, the Navajo Department of Health has issued an advisory notice for 36 communities due to uncontrolled spread of COVID-19. The Navajo Nation reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
NEW MEXICO FLOODING
New Mexico governor signs another declaration for flooding
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed another emergency declaration due to flooding. This time it's for Rio Arriba County, where heavy rainfall recently overwhelmed drainage systems and caused damage to roads and infrastructure. The declaration clears the way for the local government to access funding to help with recovery efforts. Similar declarations were made previously for Lincoln, Chaves, Valencia, Eddy, Doña Ana and Mora counties. Forecasters with the National Weather Service say the potential for flash flooding will increase sharply Wednesday through Friday as more heavy rain is expected across the western half of the state.
NEW MEXICO POWER PLANT
New Mexico panel considers future of coal-fired power plant
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's largest electric provider wants to transfer its share of a coal-fired power plant to an energy company backed by the Navajo Nation, but environmentalists argue that approving the deal would prolong the life of the plant and run counter to the state's renewable energy goals. State regulators are taking public comments Monday about the Public Service Co. of New Mexico's plans. A two-week hearing begins Tuesday on whether the transaction would benefit the public. Some tribal members argue the plant and the coal mine that feeds it are key economic drivers for the region.
INTERIOR SECRETARY-WEDDING
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, partner wed in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland got married to longtime partner Skip Sayre Saturday night in New Mexico. Interior Department spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz says Haaland wore a dress designed and sewn by her sister. The ceremony incorporated elements honoring her Native American ancestry. The former New Mexico congresswoman is a member of the Laguna Pueblo. Guests had to be vaccinated to attend and wear masks per CDC and New Mexico guidelines. But pictures on social media that show some people, including Haaland, not wearing masks indoors have drawn criticism. Her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
Santa Fe hotel first to call for guests' vaccine proof
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Santa Fe hotel will likely be the first such establishment in the city and New Mexico to mandate proof of vaccination for access. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Ten Thousand Waves guests who want to book a room, use the spa or eat indoors will have to be vaccinated or submit a recent negative COVID-19 test. This new policy starts Wednesday. In July, the hotel owners decided to mandate all 150 employees and contractors get vaccinated. They said seeing the delta variant's prevalence helped sway them. More than 1 million people age 18 and up in New Mexico have been fully vaccinated.
FATAL SHOOTING-APARTMENT COMPLEX
1 man dead, 1 wounded in shooting at Albuquerque apartment
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police in Albuquerque say they're investigating a shooting that left one man dead and another injured. They say officers responded about 1 a.m. Saturday to a report of multiple shots fired outside an apartment complex. Police arrived one the scene and found multiple casings in the street and multiple impact holes in the apartment complex. Officers did a welfare check on the tenants and found a man dead in one of the apartments. Another man was injured at the scene but transported himself to the hospital before police arrived and is in stable condition. The names and ages of the dead man and wounded man haven't been released yet as police say their investigation is ongoing.