NMSU PARKING CITATIONS-PEANUT BUTTER
New Mexico State to drop parking citations for peanut butter
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State University is offering anyone with a campus parking citation the chance to get out of their jam with some peanut butter. University officials said they will accept at least 80 ounces of peanut butter _ the equivalent of five-six small jars _ as payment for a citation for parking without a permit. Donations will be accepted through Friday at the parking and ID card services office on the Las Cruces campus. But donated peanut butter will only cover one citation per person. It does not apply to other parking citations and violations. All the peanut butter will go to campus food pantry Aggie Cupboard.

WORKER SAFETY-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico sees lower costs worker's compensation insurance
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico insurance regulators are reducing a key component in rates for workers' compensation coverage that should help employers spend less, starting next year. The Superintendent of Insurance Office on Monday announced a 5.5% reduction in "loss costs" for insurance policies that are renewed or issued on or after Jan. 1, 2022. Workers' compensation is a no-fault system of insurance aimed at protecting workers and employers financially from on-the-job accidents as well as job-related illness. Insurance regulators said that compensation claims are being filed less frequently than in the past, reflecting a commitment to safety.

OIL AND GAS-SEISMIC ACTIVITY
New Mexico oil regulators aim to limit seismic activity
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico oil regulators are watching closely as increased seismic activity is being reported in the Permian Basin along the Texas state line. State officials are now requiring additional review of pending permits for wastewater injection in certain areas. More reporting and monitoring also could be required and, if things worsen, the state could limit how much wastewater is injected. State officials say the protocols were developed in partnership with New Mexico Tech and after getting feedback from the oil and gas industry. There are some areas in Texas where regulators already have imposed limits on injection rates at disposal wells.

SNOWBOARDER DEATH
Rio Rancho man dies while snowboarding at resort near Taos
TAOS, N.M. (AP) — A Rio Rancho man has died while snowboarding at a popular northern New Mexico ski resort. Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe confirmed Monday that 28-year-old Jario Hernandez died over the weekend at Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort. Hogrefe says his office is still completing an investigation of the Saturday incident. But so far, there is nothing to indicate the resort was at fault. Initially, Hogrefe reported that Hernandez had hit a tree. Resort officials say the ski patrol arrived within minutes of receiving reports of a snowboarder in distress and administered CPR. Paramedics then took over and transported Hernandez to a hospital but he was pronounced dead.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo Nation reports 27 more COVID-19 cases, but no deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Monday reported 27 more COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths. The latest daily virus figures brought the tribe's totals to 39,403 cases and 1,542 know deaths since the pandemic began. Tribal health officials had reported 38 new cases and two deaths on Sunday. Based on cases from Nov. 12-25, the Navajo Department of Health on Monday issued an advisory for 65 communities due to uncontrolled spread of COVID-19. Tribal President Jonathan Nez says some public health experts believe the newly discovered omicron variant is already in the U.S. Nez has again called for everyone in Indian Country to get fully vaccinated or get a booster shot and wear masks.

UNM GRADUATE STUDENTS-UNION
UNM to appeal allowing grad student workers to unionize
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The University of New Mexico plans to appeal a ruling that graduate student employees can unionize. The Albuquerque Journal reported Sunday that UNM has filed notice of intent to appeal in 2nd Judicial District Court. A university spokeswoman says the school wants a correct and thorough legal examination of the issues" by the courts." University graduate student workers first petitioned for union recognition in December 2020. A hearing officer on the the state Public Employees Labor Relations Board determined that graduate students were not regular employees. Graduate students filed an appeal. Both sides made arguments in front of the board. In August, the board sided with the student workers. 

AP-US-COMMUNITY-SOLAR
Community systems offer alternative paths for solar growth
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — As demand for renewable energy surges, "community solar" installations are popping up around the U.S. They're larger than home rooftop systems but smaller than utility-scale complexes. Community solar gardens are located atop buildings, or on abandoned factory grounds and farms. Customers subscribe to portions of energy sent to the grid and get credits that reduce their electricity bills. The model attracts people who can't afford rooftop solar or live where it's not accessible, such as renters. More than 40 states have at least one community solar operation. But in some places, growth is hampered by debates over who should be allowed to enter the market.
​
POLICE SHOOTINGS
2 suspects dead after 2 separate New Mexico police shootings
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Law enforcement officers in New Mexico are investigating two separate shootings where officers fired at suspects. Two suspects were killed and another wounded but no officers were hurt. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department said at least one deputy fired at a man in northwest Albuquerque at about 2 p.m. Friday while investigating a hit-and-run crash. The man was killed and a rifle was found outside his crashed Subaru Outback. Another shooting was reported Friday by New Mexico State police about 100 miles east of Albuquerque after state police and Santa Fe and Torrance deputies chased a car suspected in a robbery. Two people inside the car were shot, one fatally.

UNM GRADUATE STUDENTS-UNION
UNM to appeal allowing grad student workers to unionize
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The University of New Mexico plans to appeal a ruling that graduate student employees can unionize. The Albuquerque Journal reported Sunday that UNM has filed notice of intent to appeal in 2nd Judicial District Court. A university spokeswoman says the school wants a correct and thorough legal examination of the issues" by the courts." University graduate student workers first petitioned for union recognition in December 2020. A hearing officer on the the state Public Employees Labor Relations Board determined that graduate students were not regular employees. Graduate students filed an appeal. Both sides made arguments in front of the board. In August, the board sided with the student workers. 

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo Nation reports 23 new COVID-19 cases, another death
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported 23 new COVID-19 cases and one new death. Tribal officials on Saturday reiterated previous calls for residents on the vast reservation to get fully vaccinated or get the booster. The total number of COVID-19 deaths on the reservation now stands at 1,540. The number of total cases was not given since a full report will not be made until Monday. But there were over 39,000 cases at last count. The reservation covers 27,000 square miles and extends into parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

POLICE SHOOTINGS
2 suspects dead after 2 separate New Mexico police shootings
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Law enforcement officers in New Mexico are investigating two separate shootings where officers fired at suspects. Two suspects were killed and another wounded but no officers were hurt. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department said at least one deputy fired at a man in northwest Albuquerque at about 2 p.m. Friday while investigating a hit-and-run crash. The man was killed and a rifle was found outside his crashed Subaru Outback. Another shooting was reported Friday by New Mexico State police about 100 miles east of Albuquerque after state police and Santa Fe and Torrance deputies chased a car suspected in a robbery. Two people inside the car were shot, one fatally.

JEFFREY EPSTEIN-MAXWELL TRIAL-PROFILE
Who is the real Ghislaine Maxwell: Epstein enabler or pawn?
NEW YORK (AP) — Ghislaine Maxwell spent the first half of her life with her father, a rags-to-riches billionaire who looted his companies' pension funds. She spent the second with another tycoon, Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself while facing charges he sexually abused teenage girls. Now, after a life of both scandal and luxury, a U.S. trial will decide whether Maxwell's next act will be serving decades in prison. Starting Monday, prosecutors in New York will argue that even as she was sipping cocktails with the likes of Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, Maxwell was secretly abetting Epstein's crimes with girls as young as 14.

TRAIL RACE-NEW MEXICO
Delegation members urge agency to allow mountain foot race
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation are urging the U.S. Forest Service to again allow a decades-old foot race that goes through a wilderness area and up into mountains overlooking Albuquerque. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan and Rep. Melanie Stansbury asks the agency to reverse its 2020  decision that the La Luz Trail Race couldn't be held in the Sandia Mountains. The lawmakers wrote in a letter that the 9-mile event "is a point of pride for New Mexicans and an important source of recreation and tourism." A U.S. Forest Service official said in 2020 that the race should not have been permitted in the wilderness area since it was a commercial event. 

ATTORNEY GENERAL-ETHICS
Offices dismiss ethics complaints against attorney general
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Three state watchdog offices have dismissed a nonprofit group's complaints accusing New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas of ethics violations in connection with the proposed merger involving Public Service Co. of New Mexico. The actions were taken  by the state Ethics Commission, the State Auditor's Office and the New Mexico Supreme Court's disciplinary board on complaints filed by New Energy Economy. The complaints alleged a conflict of interest was created when the company seeking to merge with PNM hired an attorney who previously represented Balderas in other matters. 

ATTORNEY GENERAL-ETHICS
Offices dismiss ethics complaints against attorney general
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Three state watchdog offices have dismissed a nonprofit group's complaints accusing New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas of ethics violations in connection with the proposed merger involving Public Service Co. of New Mexico. The actions were taken  by the state Ethics Commission, the State Auditor's Office and the New Mexico Supreme Court's disciplinary board on complaints filed by New Energy Economy. The complaints alleged a conflict of interest was created when the company seeking to merge with PNM hired an attorney who previously represented Balderas in other matters. 

LAS CRUCES-DEROGATORY TERM
Las Cruces mulls changing street name with a derogatory term
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — The city of Las Cruces is considering whether to change a street name that contains a word that's used as a slur toward Indigenous women. Las Cruces Sun-News reports that City Councilor Johana Bencomo recently proposed to change the name of Squaw Mountain Drive. Last week, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland formally declared "squaw" a derogatory term and said she was taking steps to remove it from federal government use and to replace other derogatory place names. Bencomo raised the issue of the street name during a council discussion on earlier this month.

POLICE SHOOTINGS
2 suspects dead after 2 separate New Mexico police shootings
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Law enforcement officers in New Mexico are investigating two separate shootings where officers fired at suspects. Two suspects were killed and another wounded but no officers were hurt. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department said at least one deputy fired at a man in northwest Albuquerque at about 2 p.m. Friday while investigating a hit-and-run crash. The man was killed and a rifle was found outside his crashed Subaru Outback. Another shooting was reported Friday by New Mexico State police about 100 miles east of Albuquerque after state police and Santa Fe and Torrance deputies chased a car suspected in a robbery. Two people inside the car were shot, one fatally.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo Nation reports 50 new virus cases, no deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation is reporting 50 new coronavirus cases but no new deaths after tallying 12 fatalities in the previous two daily reports. The total number of COVID-19 deaths on the sprawling reservation remained at 1,539 on Friday. Officials say a full report wasn't available because the day is a holiday known as Navajo Nation Family Day. Tribal President Jonathan Nez says the holiday is for giving thanks and showing love to parents, grandparents, children and all relatives. He says the best way to do that is by taking precautions to avoid infections during the coronavirus pandemic. 

JEFFREY EPSTEIN-MAXWELL TRIAL-PROFILE
Who is the real Ghislaine Maxwell: Epstein enabler or pawn?
NEW YORK (AP) — Ghislaine Maxwell spent the first half of her life with her father, a rags-to-riches billionaire who looted his companies' pension funds. She spent the second with another tycoon, Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself while facing charges he sexually abused teenage girls. Now, after a life of both scandal and luxury, a U.S. trial will decide whether Maxwell's next act will be serving decades in prison. Starting Monday, prosecutors in New York will argue that even as she was sipping cocktails with the likes of Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, Maxwell was secretly abetting Epstein's crimes with girls as young as 14.

TRAIL RACE-NEW MEXICO
Delegation members urge agency to allow mountain foot race
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation are urging the U.S. Forest Service to again allow a decades-old foot race that goes through a wilderness area and up into mountains overlooking Albuquerque. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan and Rep. Melanie Stansbury asks the agency to reverse its 2020  decision that the La Luz Trail Race couldn't be held in the Sandia Mountains. The lawmakers wrote in a letter that the 9-mile event "is a point of pride for New Mexicans and an important source of recreation and tourism." A U.S. Forest Service official said in 2020 that the race should not have been permitted in the wilderness area since it was a commercial event. 

POLICE SHOOTINGS
2 suspects dead after 2 separate New Mexico police shootings
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Law enforcement officers in New Mexico are investigating two separate shootings where officers fired at suspects. Two suspects were killed and another wounded but no officers were hurt. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department said at least one deputy fired at a man in northwest Albuquerque at about 2 p.m. Friday while investigating a hit-and-run crash. The man was killed and a rifle was found outside his crashed Subaru Outback. Another shooting was reported Friday by New Mexico State police about 100 miles east of Albuquerque after state police and Santa Fe and Torrance deputies chased a car suspected in a robbery. Two people inside the car were shot, one fatally.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo Nation reports 50 new virus cases, no deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation is reporting 50 new coronavirus cases but no new deaths after tallying 12 fatalities in the previous two daily reports. The total number of COVID-19 deaths on the sprawling reservation remained at 1,539 on Friday. Officials say a full report wasn't available because the day is a holiday known as Navajo Nation Family Day. Tribal President Jonathan Nez says the holiday is for giving thanks and showing love to parents, grandparents, children and all relatives. He says the best way to do that is by taking precautions to avoid infections during the coronavirus pandemic. 

TRAIL RACE-NEW MEXICO
Delegation members urge agency to allow mountain foot race
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation are urging the U.S. Forest Service to again allow a decades-old foot race that goes through a wilderness area and up into mountains overlooking Albuquerque. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan and Rep. Melanie Stansbury asks the agency to reverse its 2020  decision that the La Luz Trail Race couldn't be held in the Sandia Mountains. The lawmakers wrote in a letter that the 9-mile event "is a point of pride for New Mexicans and an important source of recreation and tourism." A U.S. Forest Service official said in 2020 that the race should not have been permitted in the wilderness area since it was a commercial event. 

ATTORNEY GENERAL-ETHICS
Offices dismiss ethics complaints against attorney general
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Three state watchdog offices have dismissed a nonprofit group's complaints accusing New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas of ethics violations in connection with the proposed merger involving Public Service Co. of New Mexico. The actions were taken  by the state Ethics Commission, the State Auditor's Office and the New Mexico Supreme Court's disciplinary board on complaints filed by New Energy Economy. The complaints alleged a conflict of interest was created when the company seeking to merge with PNM hired an attorney who previously represented Balderas in other matters. 

LAS CRUCES-DEROGATORY TERM
Las Cruces mulls changing street name with a derogatory term
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — The city of Las Cruces is considering whether to change a street name that contains a word that's used as a slur toward Indigenous women. Las Cruces Sun-News reports that City Councilor Johana Bencomo recently proposed to change the name of Squaw Mountain Drive. Last week, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland formally declared "squaw" a derogatory term and said she was taking steps to remove it from federal government use and to replace other derogatory place names. Bencomo raised the issue of the street name during a council discussion on earlier this month.
​
AP-US-CHACO-CANYON-OIL-AND-GAS
Native American leaders say Chaco prayers being answered
CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, N.M. (AP) — A stillness enveloped Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico as Native American leaders gathered under a warm sun. They made the trip to Chaco Culture National Historic Park on Monday to celebrate a recent decision by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to begin the process of withdrawing federal mineral interests from development around the park for 20 years. The Indigenous leaders from New Mexico and Arizona are optimistic the needle is moving on cultural preservation now that one of their own holds the reins of the federal agency that oversees energy development and tribal affairs. Haaland is from Laguna Pueblo, one of the communities that traces its roots to Chaco.

OBIT-DAVE HICKEY
Art critic Dave Hickey, known for book 'Air Guitar', dies
Dave Hickey, a prominent American critic whose essays covered topics ranging from Liberace to Norman Rockwell, has died. The brash style and mixing of high- and low-brow culture that characterized his work earned him legions of fans and leaves a lasting influence on a generation of artists and critics. Art historian Libby Lumpkin says her husband died Nov. 12 at home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after years of heart disease. He was 82. Hickey, who won a MacArthur "Genius" grant in 2001, wrote prolifically about topics ranging from Norman Rockwell paintings to basketball player Julius Erving.

ROAD RAGE SHOOTING
Police arrest 29-year-old man in October road-rage shooting
ALBUQUEQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police have made an arrest in connection with an October shooting during an alleged road-rage incident in Old Town. Police arrested 29-year-old Joshua Butler on Wednesday. They say witnesses saw a road-rage incident involving a minivan and Chevy pickup. They say the minivan stopped in the road, the driver got out and threw a piece of drywall that hit the pickup's driver's side door. Witnesses then heard a gunshot and the man fell to the ground. Nelson Gallegos was pronounced dead at the scene. KRQE reports the criminal complaint says detectives received a tip that Butler was driving the pickup. Butler declined to comment to KRQE and it was not clear if he had an attorney. 

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
Visiting New Mexico's Capitol? Bring vaccine proof, not guns
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexicans can attend the upcoming Legislative sessions, but only if they are vaccinated. Security officials at the state Capitol announced Tuesday that members of the public will have to show proof of vaccination to enter the Roundhouse, the building that houses legislative chambers and the governor's office. The mandate doesn't apply to lawmakers. The new virus restrictions also prohibit festivities common before the pandemic, including musical performances, lobbying booths and massage tables. Separately, Democratic lawmakers have banned firearms in the building, and visitors will have to go through metal detectors starting Dec. 6. Legislative meetings will continue to be broadcast online.

TRAIL RACE-NEW MEXICO
Delegation members urge agency to allow mountain foot race
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation are urging the U.S. Forest Service to again allow a decades-old foot race that goes through a wilderness area and up into mountains overlooking Albuquerque. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan and Rep. Melanie Stansbury asks the agency to reverse its 2020  decision that the La Luz Trail Race couldn't be held in the Sandia Mountains. The lawmakers wrote in a letter that the 9-mile event "is a point of pride for New Mexicans and an important source of recreation and tourism." A forest official said in 2020 that officials had determined that the race should not have been permitted in the wilderness area since it was a commercial event. 

LAS CRUCES-DEROGATORY TERM
Las Cruces mulls changing street name with a derogatory term
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — The city of Las Cruces is considering whether to change a street name that contains a word that's used as a slur toward Indigenous women. Las Cruces Sun-News reports that City Councilor Johana Bencomo recently proposed to change the name of Squaw Mountain Drive. Last week, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland formally declared "squaw" a derogatory term and said she was taking steps to remove it from federal government use and to replace other derogatory place names. Bencomo raised the issue of the street name during a council discussion on earlier this month.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo Nation reports 72 new virus cases, 9 deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported 72 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths as of Wednesday evening. The tribe is urging residents on the vast reservation to limit in-person gatherings to help prevent the spread of the virus during the Thanksgiving holiday. In all, 39,158 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,536 deaths from the virus have been reported by the tribe since the pandemic began. The reservation covers 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and extends into parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

AP-US-CHACO-CANYON-OIL-AND-GAS
Native American leaders say Chaco prayers being answered
CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, N.M. (AP) — A stillness enveloped Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico as Native American leaders gathered under a warm sun. They made the trip to Chaco Culture National Historic Park on Monday to celebrate a recent decision by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to begin the process of withdrawing federal mineral interests from development around the park for 20 years. The Indigenous leaders from New Mexico and Arizona are optimistic the needle is moving on cultural preservation now that one of their own holds the reins of the federal agency that oversees energy development and tribal affairs. Haaland is from Laguna Pueblo, one of the communities that traces its roots to Chaco.

OBIT-DAVE HICKEY
Art critic Dave Hickey, known for book 'Air Guitar', dies
Dave Hickey, a prominent American critic whose essays covered topics ranging from Liberace to Norman Rockwell, has died. The brash style and mixing of high- and low-brow culture that characterized his work earned him legions of fans and leaves a lasting influence on a generation of artists and critics. Art historian Libby Lumpkin says her husband died Nov. 12 at home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after years of heart disease. He was 82. Hickey, who won a MacArthur "Genius" grant in 2001, wrote prolifically about topics ranging from Norman Rockwell paintings to basketball player Julius Erving.

ROAD RAGE SHOOTING
Police arrest 29-year-old man in October road-rage shooting
ALBUQUEQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police have made an arrest in connection with an October shooting during an alleged road-rage incident in Old Town. Police arrested 29-year-old Joshua Butler on Wednesday. They say witnesses saw a road-rage incident involving a minivan and Chevy pickup. They say the minivan stopped in the road, the driver got out and threw a piece of drywall that hit the pickup's driver's side door. Witnesses then heard a gunshot and the man fell to the ground. Nelson Gallegos was pronounced dead at the scene. KRQE reports the criminal complaint says detectives received a tip that Butler was driving the pickup. Butler declined to comment to KRQE and it was not clear if he had an attorney. 

PANHANDLING ORDINANCE-ALBUQUERQUE
Appeals court: Albuquerque ordinance violates 1st Amendment
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld a lower court's ruling that an Albuquerque ordinance aimed at curbing panhandling in certain places wasn't sufficiently narrow to avoid violating First Amendment rights. The ordinance prohibits pedestrians from congregating close to a highway entrance or ramp, occupying a median considered unsuitable for pedestrians or having an exchange of any kind with somebody in a vehicle in a traffic lane. City officials said the restrictions address pedestrian safety concerns and were narrowly tailored to not restrict speech more than necessary. The ordinance was challenged by panhandlers, protesters and people who pass out items to the needy. 

ROAD RAGE SHOOTING
Police arrest 29-year-old man in October road-rage shooting
ALBUQUEQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police have made an arrest in connection with an October shooting during an alleged road-rage incident in Old Town. Police arrested 29-year-old Joshua Butler on Wednesday. They say witnesses saw a road-rage incident involving a minivan and Chevy pickup. They say the minivan stopped in the road, the driver got out and threw a piece of drywall that hit the pickup's driver's side door. Witnesses then heard a gunshot and the man fell to the ground. Nelson Gallegos was pronounced dead at the scene. KRQE reports the criminal complaint says detectives received a tip that Butler was driving the pickup. Butler declined to comment to KRQE and it was not clear if he had an attorney. 

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
Visiting New Mexico's Capitol? Bring vaccine proof, not guns
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexicans can attend the upcoming Legislative sessions, but only if they are vaccinated. Security officials at the state Capitol announced Tuesday that members of the public will have to show proof of vaccination to enter the Roundhouse, the building that houses legislative chambers and the governor's office. The mandate doesn't apply to lawmakers. The new virus restrictions also prohibit festivities common before the pandemic, including musical performances, lobbying booths and massage tables. Separately, Democratic lawmakers have banned firearms in the building, and visitors will have to go through metal detectors starting Dec. 6. Legislative meetings will continue to be broadcast online.

PANHANDLING ORDINANCE-ALBUQUERQUE
Appeals court: Albuquerque ordinance violates 1st Amendment
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld a lower court's ruling that an Albuquerque ordinance aimed at curbing panhandling in certain places wasn't sufficiently narrow to avoid violating First Amendment rights. The ordinance prohibits pedestrians from congregating close to a highway entrance or ramp, occupying a median considered unsuitable for pedestrians or having an exchange of any kind with somebody in a vehicle in a traffic lane. City officials said the restrictions address pedestrian safety concerns and were narrowly tailored to not restrict speech more than necessary. The ordinance was challenged by panhandlers, protesters and people who pass out items to the needy. 
​
ATTORNEY-CLIENT CALL RECORDED
Judge: DA office off case because cops recorded lawyer call
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico judge has ruled that a district attorney's office must be replaced as prosecutors in a homicide case in which Farmington police violated the defendant's constitutional rights by recording him talking with his attorney. However, state District Judge David Pederson declined in his Nov. 5 ruling to also dismiss charges against John "Johnny" Marlowe Davidson in the 2020 fatal shooting of Justin Tapaha. Pederson said doing would be too harsh as it could deprive the victim's family of justice. Davidson is charged with second-degree murder and of shooting at or from a motor vehicle and causing great bodily harm.

DOG MAULING-BOY DIES
Sheriff: Boy dies after dog mauling at grandparents' home
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Dona County authorities say a 6-year-old boy died after being mauled by at least one dog at his grandparents' home. The Sheriff's Office said the boy died Monday shortly after being airlifted to a hospital from the Mesilla Park neighborhood where the mauling occurred outside Las Cruces. Sheriff Kim Stewart said the boy apparently got into a caged area containing multiple dogs and that at least one dog attacked him. It wasn't clear how the boy got into the caged area or what happened before the boy was attacked, and Stewart said an investigation into the boy's death continued. The boy's name wasn't released.

VIRUS OUTBREAK
Vaccines making Thanksgiving easier, but hot spots remain
The U.S. is in better shape approaching its second Thanksgiving of the pandemic, thanks to the vaccine. But some cold weather regions are reporting surges of COVID-19 cases that could get worse in the days ahead as families travel the country. Nearly 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated. That leaves millions without a shot in the arm. Hospitals in the cold Upper Midwest, especially Michigan and Minnesota, are filled with COVID-19 patients who are mostly unvaccinated. Dr. Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says vaccines make this fall holiday much different. 

VIRUS OUTBREAK
Vaccines making Thanksgiving easier, but hot spots remain
The U.S. is in better shape approaching its second Thanksgiving of the pandemic, thanks to the vaccine. But some cold weather regions are reporting surges of COVID-19 cases that could get worse in the days ahead as families travel the country. Nearly 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated. That leaves millions without a shot in the arm. Hospitals in the cold Upper Midwest, especially Michigan and Minnesota, are filled with COVID-19 patients who are mostly unvaccinated. Dr. Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says vaccines make this fall holiday much different. 

PROP FIREARM-FILM INCENTIVES
New Mexico unwavering on film incentives after set fatality
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico legislators are expressing nearly unfettered support for state tax incentives to the film industry at a pubic hearing in the wake of the shooting death last month of a cinematographer from gunfire on the set of a western movie production. New Mexico offers a rebate of between 25% and 35% for in-state spending for video production that helps filmmakers large and small underwrite their work. A gun fired by actor Alec Baldwin on the set of the western movie "Rust" killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded a director. The production registered to receive a state tax rebate but may never collect.

INTERSTATE 40-HOLIDAY CONSTRUCTION
Motorists to get break from traffic delays on westbound I-40
LAGUNA PUEBLO, N.M. (AP) — Travelers on Interstate 40 in northwestern New Mexico will get a break from construction delays this week. The state Department of Transportation will suspend work on a 5.5-mile project on the interstate near Laguna Pueblo from Wednesday through Sunday. Transportation Secretary Mike Sandoval says he understands drivers are frustrated by the often lengthy delays as westbound traffic was reduced to one lane and merging vehicles faced an uphill climb. The department says the work should be finished in mid-December, ahead of schedule. Other phases of the project will wrap up in the spring.

DAM REPAIRS-WATER STORAGE
El Vado Dam to undergo extensive repairs to prevent leaks
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Major repairs to a northern New Mexico dam will mean irrigation water will have to be stored elsewhere. Repairs on El Vado Dam are slated to start next spring. That will leave the lake in Rio Arriba County far below capacity and unusable for at least a year. Page Pegram of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission says Abiquiu Lake is the most likely backup for irrigation in the Middle Rio Grande Valley. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans to fix the dam's foundation and spillway, among other things. The dam was built in the 1930s.

CHACO CANYON-OIL AND GAS
Interior head: Chaco protections 'millennia in the making'
CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland met with state and tribal leaders Monday in northwestern New Mexico where a battle has waged for decades over oil and gas development. Haaland reflected on actions her agency took last week to curb new leasing around Chaco Culture National Historic Park. She says the celebration was "millennia in the making." While Navajo leaders support preserving parts of the area, they say individual Navajos stand to lose a source of income if a proposed buffer is created. The area holds significance for many Indigenous people in the Southwest. Haaland is a member of Laguna Pueblo.

MORTGAGE CRISIS-PENSIONS-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico recoups $24 million in mortgage-crisis settlement
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State prosecutors say New Mexico's public pension and investment funds will receive $24 million from several major financial institutions to resolve a lawsuit over mortgage-backed securities and the financial crisis more than a decade ago. New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas on Monday announced the settlement with seven financial institutions, including Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch. The settlement resolves allegations of inadequate disclosures about mortgage-backed securities that were purchased by the public pension and investment funds. Claims were dismissed with no admission of liability.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
2 New Mexico school districts close down, citing COVID surge
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — At least two New Mexico school districts are sending all of their students home early this week because of a coronavirus infection surge. Santa Fe Public Schools says students will go to remote learning starting Tuesday. That represents the the largest closure of K-12 schools since the spring. The smaller Los Lunas school district outside Albuquerque is closed to in-person learning on Monday and Tuesday ahead of the Thanksgiving break. While some schools had to close their doors in the past because of virus outbreaks, remote learning for an entire school district has been rare this semester. Online school comes at a cost, including parental child care struggles.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo Nation reports 59 COVID-19 cases, no recent deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation officials reported 59 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths from the virus as of Tuesday evening. In all, the tribe has seen 39,080 positive cases and 1,527 deaths from the virus since the pandemic began. The tribe is urging residents on the vast reservation to limit in-person gatherings to help prevent the spread of the virus as the Thanksgiving holiday nears. The reservation covers 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and extends into parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

INTERSTATE 40-HOLIDAY CONSTRUCTION
Motorists to get break from traffic delays on westbound I-40
LAGUNA PUEBLO, N.M. (AP) — Travelers on Interstate 40 in northwestern New Mexico will get a break from construction delays this week. The state Department of Transportation will suspend work on a 5.5-mile project on the interstate near Laguna Pueblo from Wednesday through Sunday. Transportation Secretary Mike Sandoval says he understands drivers are frustrated by the often lengthy delays as westbound traffic was reduced to one lane and merging vehicles faced an uphill climb. The department says the work should be finished in mid-December, ahead of schedule. Other phases of the project will wrap up in the spring.

DAM REPAIRS-WATER STORAGE
El Vado Dam to undergo extensive repairs to prevent leaks
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Major repairs to a northern New Mexico dam will mean irrigation water will have to be stored elsewhere. Repairs on El Vado Dam are slated to start next spring. That will leave the lake in Rio Arriba County far below capacity and unusable for at least a year. Page Pegram of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission says Abiquiu Lake is the most likely backup for irrigation in the Middle Rio Grande Valley. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans to fix the dam's foundation and spillway, among other things. The dam was built in the 1930s.

CHACO CANYON-OIL AND GAS
Interior head: Chaco protections 'millennia in the making'
CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland met with state and tribal leaders Monday in northwestern New Mexico where a battle has waged for decades over oil and gas development. Haaland reflected on actions her agency took last week to curb new leasing around Chaco Culture National Historic Park. She says the celebration was "millennia in the making." While Navajo leaders support preserving parts of the area, they say individual Navajos stand to lose a source of income if a proposed buffer is created. The area holds significance for many Indigenous people in the Southwest. Haaland is a member of Laguna Pueblo.

MORTGAGE CRISIS-PENSIONS-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico recoups $24 million in mortgage-crisis settlement
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State prosecutors say New Mexico's public pension and investment funds will receive $24 million from several major financial institutions to resolve a lawsuit over mortgage-backed securities and the financial crisis more than a decade ago. New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas on Monday announced the settlement with seven financial institutions, including Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch. The settlement resolves allegations of inadequate disclosures about mortgage-backed securities that were purchased by the public pension and investment funds. Claims were dismissed with no admission of liability.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
2 New Mexico school districts close down, citing COVID surge
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — At least two New Mexico school districts are sending all of their students home early this week because of a coronavirus infection surge. Santa Fe Public Schools says students will go to remote learning starting Tuesday. That represents the the largest closure of K-12 schools since the spring. The smaller Los Lunas school district outside Albuquerque is closed to in-person learning on Monday and Tuesday ahead of the Thanksgiving break. While some schools had to close their doors in the past because of virus outbreaks, remote learning for an entire school district has been rare this semester. Online school comes at a cost, including parental child care struggles.

STATE BUDGET-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico foresees robust growth in state government income
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Forecasts for state government income have increased slightly as New Mexico legislators prepare to meet in January to craft a general fund budget. State finance officials on Monday told a panel of lawmakers that state income is likely to exceed already robust expectations by at least $28 million for the fiscal year starting July 2022. That adds slightly to a forecasted $1.4 billion surplus in state general fund income over current annual spending obligations. The estimates hold implications amid the coronavirus pandemic for public school finances, health care subsidies, public worker salaries, public safety and more.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo officials urge COVID-19 safety as holiday nears
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation officials are urging residents on the vast reservation to limit in-person gatherings to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus around the holidays. The tribe reported 35 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and five more coronavirus-related deaths. The figures bring the total number of cases to 38,898, including 11 cases that belatedly were reported. The death toll is 1,527. Navajo Vice President Myron Lizer says far too many people have contracted COVID-19 because they gather in-person and do not adhere to social distance guidelines or wear a mask. Tribal officials are urging everyone to get vaccinated.

OIL AND GAS-QUAKES
Risk of quakes caused by oil, gas in New Mexico rising
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — Multiple earthquakes were felt earlier this fall in West Texas, leading regulators in that state to designate a seismic response area and call for less wastewater from oil and gas development to be injected in disposal wells. As more seismic activity was reported closer to the state line, officials in New Mexico have been watching closely and gathering data. While Texas limits the injection of produced water, some officials are concerned that could have affects in New Mexico. The Oil Conservation Division in New Mexico is encouraging operators to recycle and reuse water instead of injecting it.

ALBUQUERQUE-FATAL CRASH
Man arrested in Albuquerque crash that killed 1, injured 4
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a 19-year-old Roswell man has been arrested in connection with a multi-vehicle crash in northeast Albuquerque that left one person dead and five others injured. Albuquerque police say Casino Salazar is jailed on suspicion of homicide by vehicle and other charges. Police say the crash occurred around 7 p.m. Saturday and involved three cars and a motorcycle. One person was pronounced dead at the scene. The name, age and hometown of the victim hasn't been released yet. Police say Casino Salazar's SUV allegedly was speeding down a street before crashing into a car with five people inside. Police say they believe Salazar was driving impaired and officers reported finding several containers of alcohol in his vehicle along with guns and marijuana.

​OIL AND GAS-QUAKES
Risk of quakes caused by oil, gas in New Mexico rising
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — Multiple earthquakes were felt earlier this fall in West Texas, leading regulators in that state to designate a seismic response area and call for less wastewater from oil and gas development to be injected in disposal wells. As more seismic activity was reported closer to the state line, officials in New Mexico have been watching closely and gathering data. While Texas limits the injection of produced water, some officials are concerned that could have affects in New Mexico. The Oil Conservation Division in New Mexico is encouraging operators to recycle and reuse water instead of injecting it.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo Nation reports 87 more COVID-19 cases, 4 more deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported 87 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 and four additional coronavirus-related deaths. The latest numbers released Saturday pushed the tribe's total to 38,852 cases since the pandemic started and 1,522 known deaths. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez visited the Pinon Health Center vaccination site Saturday to show his support for health care workers and families receiving the vaccines. He and his wife Phefelia received their booster doses and their 6-year-old son Alexander also received his first vaccine dose at the event. The tribe has maintained a mask mandate through most of the pandemic. The reservation covers 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and extends into parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

BC-DEFENDANT COLLAPSES-SENTENCING DELAYED
Defendant collapses in court; drug, alcohol testing ordered
A Gallup man convicted of DWI homicide was hospitalized after collapsing in court minutes before he was to be sentenced, prompting a judge to delay the proceeding but also to order that the man be tested for drugs and alcohol. Matthew Vargas faces up to 15 years in prison for his April conviction for homicide by vehicle involving DWI in a 2017 fatal head-on wreck. The Gallup Independent reports that after Vargas collapsed in the courtroom Friday and complained of pain while being taken to an ambulance, District Judge Robert Aragon postponed the sentencing but said it will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico court stays push for grand juries on COVID steps
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has put on hold several citizen requests that used petition drives to call for convening grand juries to investigate Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's handling of COVID-19. The Albuquerque Journal reports that the state high court on Tuesday granted Lujan Grisham's motion for a stay of requests filed in Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties in southeastern New Mexico pending further court filings. Republican legislators and others have criticized Lujan Grisham's imposition of public-health mandates as overly burdensome and infringing on personal freedoms. She has defended them as necessary to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

PLACE NAMES-DEROGATORY TERMS
Interior secretary seeks to rid US of derogatory place names
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has formally declared the word "squaw" to be a derogatory term. She announced Friday that she's taking steps to remove the term from use by the federal government and to replace other existing derogatory place names. Haaland is ordering a federal panel tasked with naming geographic places to implement procedures to remove what she called racist terms from federal use. Haaland says federal lands and waters should be places to celebrate the outdoors and shared cultural heritage and that they shouldn't perpetuate legacies of oppression. Haaland is the first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency. She is from Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.

AP-US-SCHOOL-BUS-CRASH-TEXAS
Band director among those killed in Texas school bus crash
Big Spring, Texas (AP) — The three men killed in a fiery West Texas crash involving a school bus carrying members of a high school band include the band director. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Justin Baker said Saturday that 53-year-old Andrews High School band director Darin Johns died of injuries from the collision with a pickup truck traveling the wrong way on Interstate 20. Bus driver Marc Elbert Boswell and pickup driver Nathan Haile also died. Baker said the bus was one of three Andrews buses headed to a football game when it was hit by the truck. Two of the 25 students on the bus were hospitalized in critical condition.

AP-US-NEW-MEXICO-DIGITAL-DIVIDE
New Mexico sees TV tech as one fix to K-12 internet divide
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico education officials are partnering with public television providers for a stopgap that could ease students' internet problems. A pilot program starting in Taos this week connects students to their schools through TV transmissions. New Mexico PBS affiliates are using some of their broadcast bandwidth to send files uploaded by local schools. Public Education Department officials say eight Taos families now have a device allowing them to connect their TV antenna to a computer to download those files. Internet access continues to be a problem for rural students. The pilot program will be expanded to Portales and Silver City.