VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico reports 210 more coronavirus cases, nine deaths
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New Mexico has increased by 210. State health officials also reported nine more deaths Saturday. The deaths include three residents of Bernalillo County and two in Dona Ana County. The state has logged 651 deaths due to the coronavirus since the pandemic began. De Baca County is the only county in New Mexico without a confirmed case. Lea, McKinley and Luna counties were leading the state in number of cases per capita over the past two weeks. That's according to an Associated Press analysis of data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

​BASKETBALL PLAYER KILLED
Standout New Mexico prep basketball player fatally shot
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A 16-year-old has been arrested after a standout high school basketball player was fatally shot in northern New Mexico. The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office says the teen has been charged in the death of FeDonta "J.B." White, who was killed early Saturday. White had planned attend the University of New Mexico this year on an athletic scholarship. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds last season with the Santa Fe High School Demons. The school's principal tells the Santa Fe New Mexican that White was an incredible young man who was ready to fulfill his dream in college.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo lawmakers pass massive virus relief spending bill
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Lawmakers on the Navajo Nation have approved a massive spending bill to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation includes money for water projects, power lines, broadband and casino employees who no longer are receiving paychecks. The Navajo Nation Council passed the more than $650 million measure late Friday after discussing it for more than 28 hours in a special session over three days. The money comes from the Navajo Nation's share of $8 billion in federal coronavirus relief funding that was set aside for tribes. Navajo President Jonathan Nez has 10 days to act on the bill once it reaches him.

DEPUTY-LOST EVIDENCE
Doña Ana Sheriff slams ex-deputy in evidence hoarding case
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A county sheriff in southern New Mexico has criticized a former deputy after boxes containing bags of police evidence and scattered pages of police case files were found in the deputy's foreclosed home. A cleaning crew discovered 72 pieces of case evidence May 23 after going to prepare the home for resale. The Las Cruces Sun-News reported that Doña Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart called it a failure in leadership while speaking at a press conference Friday. None of the cases can be prosecuted. Former Deputy Vincent Lopez was charged with tampering with public records and tampering with evidence. Online records don't list an attorney for Lopez.

JESUITS LEAVE NEW MEXICO
Priest shortage forcing Jesuits to leave New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A shortage of Jesuit priests is forcing the storied Society of Jesus Catholic order to abandon New Mexico after more than 160 years. The Albuquerque Journal reports the St. Louis, Missouri-based Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province is pulling out the last remaining four Jesuit priests next year. Rev. Warren Broussard, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church and Parish in Albuquerque will be the last to depart next June 30. Broussard says the Jesuits are just stretched too thin to continue ministering to all the places that they've been ministering. The Jesuit Order was founded in the early 1500s by Ignatius Loyola. 

AP-US-SUPREME-COURT-BORDER-WALL
Supreme Court won't halt challenged border wall projects
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has declined by a 5-4 vote to halt the Trump administration's construction of portions of the border wall with Mexico following a recent lower court ruling that the administration improperly diverted money to the project. The court's four liberal justices dissented, saying they would have prohibited construction while a court challenge continues,  after a federal appeals court ruled in June that the administration had illegally sidestepped Congress in transferring the Defense Department funds. Friday's order means the court is not likely even to consider the substance of the issue until after the November election, while work on the wall continues.

COWBOYS FOR TRUMP
Cowboys for Trump leader: Trump campaign distancing from us
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — The leader of Cowboys for Trump says the reelection campaign for President Donald Trump is distancing itself from the group after the leader posted a video saying some Black athletes should "go back to Africa." Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin told The Associated Press on Friday that the Trump campaign contacted him and said it would distance itself from the group's activities. Griffin faced criticism this week after he posted the Facebook live "go back to Africa" video. Griffin says he chose his words poorly. Griffin also is facing a recall petition to remove him from his Otero County Commissioner's seat. 

ELECTION 2020-SENATE-NEW MEXICO
GOP US Senate hopeful blasts New Mexico virus campaign rules
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — A Republican U.S. Senate hopeful is blasting New Mexico's health orders, which limits public political fundraisers and traditional door-to-door campaigning. Mark Ronchetti said Friday the Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's restrictions are violating free and are "tilting the playing field" toward Democrats, including his opponent, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján. The Democratic governor said Thursday the health orders aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 allows for peaceful protests but not public "political organizing" by candidates. Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Sackett called Ronchetti's criticism "nonsense" and said candidates can find other creative ways to reach voters.

COWBOYS FOR TRUMP
Cowboys for Trump leader: Trump campaign distancing from us
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — The leader of Cowboys for Trump says the reelection campaign for President Donald Trump is distancing itself from the group after the leader posted a video saying some Black athletes should "go back to Africa." Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin told The Associated Press on Friday that the Trump campaign contacted him and said it would distance itself from the group's activities. Griffin faced criticism this week after he posted the Facebook live "go back to Africa" video. Griffin says he chose his words poorly. Griffin also is facing a recall petition to remove him from his Otero County Commissioner's seat. ​

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
Supreme Court weighs New Mexico restrictions on restaurants
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The administration of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is defending its decision to ban indoor restaurant service as a reasonable precaution against the coronavirus. A challenge of the indoor dining prohibition by the restaurant industry reached the hands of the state Supreme Court on Friday after a flurry of written briefings were filed by the governor's office. State health officials on Friday announced 216 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections and seven additional virus-related deaths. The pandemic has claimed 642 lives in New Mexico.

JESUITS LEAVE NEW MEXICO
Priest shortage forcing Jesuits to leave New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A shortage of Jesuit priests is forcing the storied Society of Jesus Catholic order to abandon New Mexico after more than 160 years. The Albuquerque Journal reports the St. Louis, Missouri-based Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province is pulling out the last remaining four Jesuit priests next year. Rev. Warren Broussard, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church and Parish in Albuquerque will be the last to depart next June 30. Broussard says the Jesuits are just stretched too thin to continue ministering to all the places that they've been ministering. The Jesuit Order was founded in the early 1500s by Ignatius Loyola.
 
AP-US-SUPREME-COURT-BORDER-WALL
Supreme Court won't halt challenged border wall projects
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has declined by a 5-4 vote to halt the Trump administration's construction of portions of the border wall with Mexico following a recent lower court ruling that the administration improperly diverted money to the project. The court's four liberal justices dissented, saying they would have prohibited construction while a court challenge continues,  after a federal appeals court ruled in June that the administration had illegally sidestepped Congress in transferring the Defense Department funds. Friday's order means the court is not likely even to consider the substance of the issue until after the November election, while work on the wall continues.

ELECTION 2020-SENATE-NEW MEXICO
GOP US Senate hopeful blasts New Mexico virus campaign rules
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — A Republican U.S. Senate hopeful is blasting New Mexico's health orders, which limits public political fundraisers and traditional door-to-door campaigning. Mark Ronchetti said Friday the Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's restrictions are violating free and are "tilting the playing field" toward Democrats, including his opponent, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján. The Democratic governor said Thursday the health orders aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 allows for peaceful protests but not public "political organizing" by candidates. Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Sackett called Ronchetti's criticism "nonsense" and said candidates can find other creative ways to reach voters.

AP-US-TRIBES-INTERNET-ACCESS
Deadline extended for tribes to seek broadband licenses
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Tribes have another month to apply for a band of wireless spectrum to establish or expand internet on their lands. The Federal Communications Commission had opened a priority filing window for tribes to access a mid-band spectrum that largely is unassigned across the western United States. The commission on Friday extended the deadline to Sept. 2. Tribes had sought more time because of the coronavirus pandemic. They said tribes have struggled to gather the information needed to apply for the licenses once reserved for educational institutions. The FCC says setting the deadline further out would delay the granting of licenses to those who already have applied.

INMATE DEATH
Death of northern Arizona inmate under investigation
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a northern Arizona inmate who refused medical attention and reportedly had a strange cut on his finger. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office said Friday it is looking into the death of the inmate from the Coconino County Detention Facility. Officials said he died at Flagstaff Medical Center. According to investigators, the arrestee refused to answer any medical-related questions during his booking on Wednesday. Officers reported seeing a laceration on the arrestee's finger that "appeared red, swollen, and hot to the touch." His cause of death remains unknown. His name has not been released.

FILMING POLICE-LAWSUIT
Lawsuit: Man arrested without justification for filming raid
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — A Black man alleges in a lawsuit against New Mexico State Police that he was arrested without justification after shooting video of a police raid at a neighbor's home in Albuquerque and declining requests from officers to identify himself. The lawsuit said D'Andre Ravenel was jailed for four days on a charge of resisting an officer, though it was dismissed days after his April 2019 arrest. The American Civil Liberties Union said Ravenel was engaging in constitutionally protected conduct when he recorded the video from a safe distance on a public sidewalk. A State Police spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit.

IMMIGRATION-DETAINED CHILDREN
Government moves migrant kids after poor conditions exposed
The U.S. government has removed most of the children from a remote Border Patrol station in Texas following reports that more than 300 kids were detained there and caring for each other with inadequate food, water and sanitation.
Rep. Veronica Escobar said 30 children were at the facility near El Paso as of Monday. Her office was briefed on the situation by an official with Customs and Border Protection.
Attorneys who visited the station in Clint, Texas last week said older children were trying to take care of infants and toddlers, The Associated Press first reported Thursday. Some had been detained for three weeks, and 15 children were sick with the flu.
It's unclear where all the children have been moved. But Escobar said some were sent to another facility in El Paso.

OIL BOOM-AIRPORT EXPANSION
Booming New Mexico oil region may get daily flight to Denver
(Information from: Hobbs News-Sun, http://www.hobbsnews.com)
HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — A southeastern New Mexico county airport in the heart of New Mexico's booming oil region may include Denver to its list of growing destinations.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports Corporation of Lea County board of directors chairman Finn Smith presented a proposal at a Hobbs City Commission meeting last week to add Denver to the United Airlines contract.
Smith told the News-Sun the county is in the process of negotiating an agreement with United to add that flight. He says it would be one flight a day, direct from Hobbs, New Mexico, to Denver.
He told the commission United Airlines is ready to start the new flight to Denver on October 28. Flights to Houston began in June 2011.
___
CONGRESS-IMMIGRATION
White House threatens to veto aid bill for migrant families
WASHINGTON (AP) — A White House veto threat is raising fresh questions about the fate of a House bill that would provide $4.5 billion to improve the treatment of migrant families detained after crossing the U.S. southern border.
In a letter to lawmakers Monday, the White House says the measure would hamstring the administration's border security efforts. The warning comes as Hispanic and liberal Democrats press House leaders to add provisions to the legislation strengthening protections for migrant children.
Though revisions are possible, House leaders are still hoping for approval as early as Tuesday. Congress is in recess next week.
The Senate planned to vote this week on similar legislation that has bipartisan backing, but many House Democrats say the Senate version's provisions aimed at helping migrant children are not strong enough.

ILLEGAL FIREWORKS-APPS
Albuquerque joins others to use app to spot banned fireworks
(Information from: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's largest city is joining a growing number of communities asking residents to use an app to report illegal fireworks on July 4th instead of calling 911.
KOB-TV reports city officials are directing residents to the "OneABQ" app so authorities can streamline complaints instead of dispatching first responders.
Albuquerque Fire Rescue spokesman Tom Ruiz says the app sends notices to fire enforcement units when a complaint is made instead of sending first responders going to 911 calls.
Officials say last year, when the app was used for the first time, 911 calls reporting illegal fireworks fell by 80% from the year before.
Three years ago, firefighting agencies from the Sacramento, California, area launched the "Nail 'Em" app to encourage residents to report illegal fireworks sales and usage.
___
AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS
New Mexico airports get federal funds for improvements
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Several New Mexico airports have been awarded grants to make infrastructure improvements.
The funding was announced Monday by the Federal Aviation Administration as part of the agency's airport improvement program. Nearly $500 million is being awarded nationwide in a second installment of grants.
Airports can receive a certain amount of improvement funds each year based on activity levels and project needs.
Roswell's airport will get about $740,000 to rehabilitate its taxiway. Airports in Moriarty, Las Vegas and Navajo Dam also will get money for taxiway work.
Lea County's airport in Jal will use its $150,000 grant for a guidance system.
In northern New Mexico, Springer's municipal airport will get funding for a perimeter fence and for a building to house its snow-removal equipment.

METHANE FIGHT-NEW MEXICO
Methane proposal draws fire from environmental groups
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants the state to craft its own rules to curb methane emissions from oil and gas development as federal regulations remain stalled by legal challenges.
The industry says it has a roadmap that will help, but environmentalists argue the proposals aren't enough.
The battle lines are being drawn as regulators prepare for what could be a rancorous process in a state where government coffers ebb and flow with the pace of drilling and market prices.
The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association released its plan for reducing emissions Monday, saying its members are willing to work with government to strike a balance that will result in reduced pollution while not compromising the industry's growth.
Some other states already have adopted their own methane rules.

MILITARY DEATH-SOUTHWEST BORDER
Military service member found dead in southern Arizona
AJO, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities say another military service member assigned to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border has died in southern Arizona.
Officials at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, said in a statement that the military service member with the Southwest Border Support Mission was found dead Sunday near Ajo, Arizona.
They say the incident is under investigation, but foul play isn't suspected.
The name of the military service member wasn't released.
It's the second such death this month.
The base previously announced the June 1 death of another military service member near Nogales, Arizona, who also was assigned to the Southwest Border Support Mission.
Base officials said foul play wasn't suspected in that death either.
President Donald Trump assigned several thousand troops to the southwest border in recent months to support the U.S. Border Patrol.

NEW MEXICO WILDFIRE
Wildfire in Lincoln Nation Forest continues to grow
ARABELA, N.M. (AP) — A wildfire in south-central New Mexico continues to grow in the Lincoln National Forest.
State and federal fire officials say the fire grew Sunday to more than 9 square miles (24 square kilometers) and is uncontained.
The blaze outside of the small community of Arabela, New Mexico, began Thursday and the cause remains under investigation.
The fire area includes multiple cabins, communication structures, archaeological and historical sites, and the unique wilderness characteristics of the Capitan Mountains Wilderness.
Around 300 firefighters are working to calm the inferno.
Arebela is about 220 miles (354 kilometers) southeast of Albuquerque.

WIND FARM
New wind farm coming to southeast New Mexico
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — A new wind farm is coming to southeast New Mexico, and the project will bring turbines and transmission lines to key counties.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports the San Diego-based EDF Renewables recently announced that construction on the Oso Grande Wind Project will start this year and the farm will go into full operations by the end of 2020.
The project between EDF Renewables and Tucson Electric Power will consist of 61 turbines in Chaves, Eddy and Lea counties in New Mexico.
EDF Renewables says the energy generated will be delivered to Tucson, Arizona, and the system will have a capacity of about 247 megawatts.
Tucson Electric Power President David Hutchens says the project will be his company's largest renewable energy asset and advance its goal of increasing renewable resources.

MOTHER-DAUGHTER SLAYINGS
Man suspected of killing 2 in New Mexico in custody in Texas
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A suspect in the deaths of a 19-year-old woman and her mother in southeast Albuquerque has turned himself in to police in Texas.
Albuquerque police announced Sunday that 20-year-old Jesus Cartagena Jr. is being held by El Paso police on suspicion of two counts of murder in the deaths of Shanta Hanish and her 58-year-old mother, Laura Hanish.
According to a criminal complaint, Shanta Hanish had recently broken up with Cartagena.
She was a student at the University of New Mexico while her mother was due to retire this year after 24 years as a social worker at the Public Defender's Office.
The women's bodies were found in their home Friday morning when an employer went to go check on Laura Hanish after she didn't show up for work.

BORDER-ARMED GROUP-INDICTMENT
Member of armed border group indicted for impersonation
GUTHRIE, Okla. (AP) — A man who has been a spokesman for a group of armed civilians patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border has been charged with impersonating a U.S. officer or employee.
Federal prosecutors in New Mexico say an indictment returned Wednesday by a grand jury in that state charged 44-year-old James Christopher Benvie with two counts of false personation of a U.S. officer or employee. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors said that Benvie, of Albany, Minnesota, made an initial appearance in federal court Friday in Oklahoma after the FBI arrested him there.
The indictment alleges Benvie committed the offenses in Dona Ana County on April 15 and April 17.
A detention hearing is set for Tuesday. He'll be transported to New Mexico for prosecution.

CENSUS 2020-TECHNOLOGY
US Census Bureau using aerial tech to help with 2020 count
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Census Bureau is using new high-tech tools to help get an accurate population count next year as it faces criticism for the way it plans to reach out to people of color.
Census employees are taking images captured from satellites and planes to verify addresses in rural communities and compare them to previous maps from 2010.
It comes as the bureau is planning internet and telephone questionnaires, which advocates say would be more likely to overlook rural areas without reliable communication infrastructure.
Deirdre Dalpiaz Bishop of the bureau's geography division says employees check the data through computers and then plan how to send staff to hard-to-reach areas if census questionnaires aren't returned.
City University of New York Mapping Service director Steven Romalewski calls the technology promising.
​
INFANT'S DEATH-AUTOPSY
Autopsy: Albuquerque baby girl found dead had meth in system
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A recently released autopsy report shows a 1-year-old Albuquerque girl found dead in January had methamphetamine in her system.
But according to the Albuquerque Journal, the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator couldn't determine how the Anastazia Zuber died.
Police found the baby's body on Jan. 4 at an Albuquerque home, ending a search for the child that began after her father reportedly told a relative that she drowned in a bathtub.
Authorities say the infant was found wrapped in two plastic bags, stuffed inside a duffel bag and buried in a backyard.
Police say the child's parents — 26-year-old David Zuber and 23-year-old Monique Romero — have been charged with child abuse resulting in death.
The couple's cases are pending. They're out of jail while awaiting their trials.
___

MILITARY DEATH-SOUTHWEST BORDER
Military service member found dead in southern Arizona
AJO, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities say another military service member assigned to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border has died in southern Arizona.
Officials at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, said in a statement that the military service member with the Southwest Border Support Mission was found dead Sunday near Ajo, Arizona.
They say the incident is under investigation, but foul play isn't suspected.
The name of the military service member wasn't released.
It's the second such death this month.
The base previously announced the June 1 death of another military service member near Nogales, Arizona, who also was assigned to the Southwest Border Support Mission.
Base officials said foul play wasn't suspected in that death either.
President Donald Trump assigned several thousand troops to the southwest border in recent months to support the U.S. Border Patrol.

MOTHER-DAUGHTER SLAYINGS
Man suspected of killing 2 in New Mexico in custody in Texas
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A suspect in the deaths of a 19-year-old woman and her mother in southeast Albuquerque has turned himself in to police in Texas.
Albuquerque police announced Sunday that 20-year-old Jesus Cartagena Jr. is being held by El Paso police on suspicion of two counts of murder in the deaths of Shanta Hanish and her 58-year-old mother, Laura Hanish.
According to a criminal complaint, Shanta Hanish had recently broken up with Cartagena.
She was a student at the University of New Mexico while her mother was due to retire this year after 24 years as a social worker at the Public Defender's Office.
The women's bodies were found in their home Friday morning when an employer went to go check on Laura Hanish after she didn't show up for work.

BORDER-ARMED GROUP-INDICTMENT
Member of armed border group indicted for impersonation
GUTHRIE, Okla. (AP) — A man who has been a spokesman for a group of armed civilians patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border has been charged with impersonating a U.S. officer or employee.
Federal prosecutors in New Mexico say an indictment returned Wednesday by a grand jury in that state charged 44-year-old James Christopher Benvie with two counts of false personation of a U.S. officer or employee. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors said that Benvie, of Albany, Minnesota, made an initial appearance in federal court Friday in Oklahoma after the FBI arrested him there.
The indictment alleges Benvie committed the offenses in Dona Ana County on April 15 and April 17.
A detention hearing is set for Tuesday. He'll be transported to New Mexico for prosecution.

COLORADO BUS CRASH
1 dead in charter bus crash in southern Colorado
PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado State Patrol says one person was killed in an accident involving a charter bus in southern Colorado.
Corporal Ivan Alvarado says the bus was carrying 10 children and five adults when it went off southbound Interstate 25 and struck a bridge structure about 2:40 p.m. Sunday.
Alvarado says the accident happened about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Pueblo. He says one person was killed and that ambulances were at the scene.
It wasn't immediately known how many were injured. Alvarado said the bus had New Mexico plates.
The accident caused extensive backups in both directions of the interstate.

CENSUS 2020-TECHNOLOGY
US Census Bureau using aerial tech to help with 2020 count
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Census Bureau is using new high-tech tools to help get an accurate population count next year as it faces criticism for the way it plans to reach out to people of color.
Census employees are taking images captured from satellites and planes to verify addresses in rural communities and compare them to previous maps from 2010.
It comes as the bureau is planning internet and telephone questionnaires, which advocates say would be more likely to overlook rural areas without reliable communication infrastructure.
Deirdre Dalpiaz Bishop of the bureau's geography division says employees check the data through computers and then plan how to send staff to hard-to-reach areas if census questionnaires aren't returned.
City University of New York Mapping Service director Steven Romalewski calls the technology promising.

INFANT'S DEATH-AUTOPSY
Autopsy: Albuquerque baby girl found dead had meth in system
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A recently released autopsy report shows a 1-year-old Albuquerque girl found dead in January had methamphetamine in her system.
But according to the Albuquerque Journal, the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator couldn't determine how the Anastazia Zuber died.
Police found the baby's body on Jan. 4 at an Albuquerque home, ending a search for the child that began after her father reportedly told a relative that she drowned in a bathtub.
Authorities say the infant was found wrapped in two plastic bags, stuffed inside a duffel bag and buried in a backyard.
Police say the child's parents — 26-year-old David Zuber and 23-year-old Monique Romero — have been charged with child abuse resulting in death.
The couple's cases are pending. They're out of jail while awaiting their trials.
___
ALZHEIMER'S CAFE
Santa Fe's monthly 'Alzheimer's Café' helps spark movement
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Monthly gatherings in Santa Fe focused on creative stimulus for those living with Alzheimer's or dementia are helping a growing trend nationwide.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the city hosts an initiative called Alzheimer's Café as part of a movement to accommodate the growing number of patients with forms of dementia.
The two-hour meeting focuses on snacking together and creating crafts as a way to stimulate the mind.
Founded in Santa Fe by Alzheimer's specialist and Denmark native Jytte Lokvig in 2008, Alzheimer's Café grew out of a concept introduced more than a decade earlier in the Netherlands by a psychiatrist.
The National Alzheimer's Café Alliance says the concept caught on quickly throughout Europe, but the Santa Fe gathering was the first official Memory Café in North America.
___
GEORGE ORWELL-NEW MEXICO
University of New Mexico gets rare George Orwell collection
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A longtime advocate and employee of the University of New Mexico University Libraries is donating his collection of rare George Orwell books.
The university announced last week that professor and curator emeritus Russ Davidson has agreed to donate his Orwell book collection, which includes first editions of "Animal Farm" and "1984" in various languages.
Davidson's extensive collection also includes scarce editions of many of Orwell's other books, essays and journalistic writings.
The collection will be part of an Orwell exhibit in Zimmerman Library from September 2019 through spring of 2020.
Davidson worked at University Libraries for 25 years.
The British-born Orwell was known for his allegorical novella "Animal Farm" and dystopian novel "1984," both of which tackled totalitarianism. Orwell's "1984" has become a best-seller in the U.S. again during the Trump administration.

STUN GUN-STUDENT
Certification of New Mexico deputy in stun gun flap debated
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
ESPANOLA, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico sheriff's office is disputing a claim that a deputy under fire for using a stun gun on a teen doesn't have an active law enforcement certification.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office said this week Deputy Jeremy Barnes had a certification that is valid and he is eligible to be a commissioned officer in the state.
Barnes has faced criticism after a video showed him using a stun gun on an Española Valley High School student with special needs in May.
Department of Public Safety spokesman Herman Lovato says Barnes had let his certification lapse for too long.
The Rio Grande Sun reported that Barnes had previously been the subject of an excessive force lawsuit as a Grants police officer.
___
EMPLOYMENT-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico unemployment rate holds at 5%
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's unemployment rate in May remained unchanged from the previous month at 5%. Among states, only Alaska has higher unemployment.
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions on Friday published the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. It was an increase from 4.8% a year ago.
The national unemployment rate also held at 3.6% in May, down from 3.8%.
For New Mexico, mining and construction accounted for the most significant job gains. The sectors added 5,500 jobs for the year ending in May 2019. Retail sales employment fell.

CLERGY ABUSE-NEW MEXICO
APNewsBreak: 395 claims filed in church bankruptcy case
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Officials with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe say nearly 400 claims have been filed as part of a pending bankruptcy case that stems from the clergy sex abuse scandal.
The archdiocese released the numbers Friday, saying 374 claims involved allegations of sex abuse. The remaining 21 were related to other grievances.
The archdiocese shocked parishioners across much of New Mexico when it filed for Chapter 11 reorganization last year, joining other dioceses around the United States that have struggling with fallout from the abuse scandal.
Church officials say they're hopeful mediation through the bankruptcy proceeding will result in an equitable resolution for the claimants.
Lawyers will be gathering more information on the archdiocese's finances to determine how much is available to divvy up. It's expected to take many months for the case to be resolved.

NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE
Political opposition grows to nuclear waste storage plan
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Another member of New Mexico's congressional delegation is weighing in on plans to build a multimillion-dollar facility in the state to temporary store spent nuclear fuel from commercial reactors around the U.S.
Congresswoman Deb Haaland on Friday joined the growing list of politicians in opposition, sending a letter to the U.S. Energy Department and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that detailed her concerns.
New Jersey-based Holtec International is seeking a 40-year license from federal regulators to build the complex near Carlsbad.
Holtec says the project is needed since the federal government has yet to find a permanent solution for dealing with the tons of high-level waste building up at nuclear power plants.
The topic will be up for discussion when the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee meets next week.

GILA RIVER FIGHT
New Mexico regulators punt on Gila River plan
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's senior U.S. senator says plans for diverting water from the Gila River are fatally flawed and residents are rightly concerned about the cost of the proposed project.
Democrat Tom Udall made his comments Thursday after a panel of state regulators delayed action on a work plan that details environmental reviews, legal services and other activities needed as part of the project.
It could be September before the Interstate Stream Commission considers the plan again. Commissioners indicated they want to review a draft environmental impact statement prepared for the project.
Officials are facing a deadline this year to have the reviews completed. It would then be up to the U.S. Interior Department to grant approval.
Environmentalists have been fighting the proposal for years, suggesting that millions of dollars would be spent for little return.

ARIZONA WILDFIRE-THE LATEST
The Latest: Precautionary evacuations mount in Arizona fire
SUPERIOR, Ariz. (AP) — A wildfire in rugged country east of Phoenix that has forced evacuation orders for about 700 homes.
Gila County spokesman Josh Beck said Friday evening that those evacuations occurred stretching south from Roosevelt Lake in the Tonto National Forest.
There were no reports of structures burning, and fewer than a dozen people sought shelter at public facilities.
The fire was about 42 percent contained on Friday evening as its footprint extended across more than 100 square miles (260 square kilometers).

MS WHEELCHAIR NEW MEXICO-CROWN
Thief steals crown of Ms. Wheelchair New Mexico
(Information from: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A crown belonging to Ms. Wheelchair New Mexico was stolen just days before a national competition.
KOB-TV reports that Irene Delgado says someone broke into her car in Santa Fe and took the crown.
Delgado is set to compete in the Ms. Wheelchair America competition in Little Rock, Arkansas, during the week of July 1.
The contest seeks to educate and advocate for people with disabilities.
Delgado says she left the crown in her car overnight because she needed to wear it at an out-of-town event the next day.
No arrests have been made.
M&J Bridal Boutique in Santa Fe announced it was donating a new crown for Delgado.
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FATAL SHOOTING-ARREST
Lawyer says client fatally shot neighbor in self-defense
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — The lawyer for a Las Cruces man arrested in the death of his neighbor says the shooting was in self-defense.
Corban Serna is facing a voluntary manslaughter charge in Saturday's death of 28-year-old Nathan Froseth. Serna was arrested Wednesday and is being held at the Dona Ana County jail.
Serna's attorney, C.J. McElhinney, tells the Las Cruces Sun News that Serna saw Froseth attack a woman before turning on Serna. McElhinney says Serna had warned Froseth that he was armed.
Las Cruces police say Froseth was shot multiple times in his torso. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a local hospital.
Police say Serna left the scene and initially denied being involved in the shooting.

FATAL CAR CRASH
New Mexico State Police: 2 Arizona residents killed in crash
MAXWELL, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Police say two Arizona residents have died in a car crash north of Maxwell.
They identified the victims Thursday as 81-year-old Neal Ciocchetti and 70-year-old Christine Ciocchetti, both of Scottsdale.
State Police didn't say how the two were related.
They say the SUV driven by Neal Ciocchetti left the roadway on Interstate 25 last Sunday afternoon for unknown reasons and crashed.
The two victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to State Police, alcohol doesn't appear to be a factor in the crash and seat belts appeared to have been properly utilized.

GILA RIVER FIGHT
New Mexico regulators punt on Gila River plan
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's senior U.S. senator says plans for diverting water from the Gila River are fatally flawed and residents are rightly concerned about the cost of the proposed project.
Democrat Tom Udall made his comments Thursday after a panel of state regulators delayed action on a work plan that details environmental reviews, legal services and other activities needed as part of the project.
It could be September before the Interstate Stream Commission considers the plan again. Commissioners indicated they want to review a draft environmental impact statement prepared for the project.
Officials are facing a deadline this year to have the reviews completed. It would then be up to the U.S. Interior Department to grant approval.
Environmentalists have been fighting the proposal for years, suggesting that millions of dollars would be spent for little return.

ALBUQUERQUE-GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY
Municipal boards, commissions raise transparency questions
(Information from: KRQE-TV, http://www.krqe.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Open government advocates say the city of Albuquerque is shirking some open meeting requirements despite pledges from Mayor Tim Keller and other officials to push for transparency.
The city has 60 boards and commissions that focus on specific things, from golf courses and balloon fiesta park to landmarks and conservation.
They all fall under the Open Meetings Act, but television station KRQE reports one-third of them aren't compliant.
The agenda for the airport advisory committee wasn't posted in time, and the agendas for the arts board were nowhere to be found. The Mayor's Youth Advisory Council also was behind on posting agendas.
Melanie Majors with the New Mexico Foundation of Open Government says the act has certain requirements so the public knows how money is being spent and what officials are doing.
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CONGRESS-BORDER CRISIS
AP Interview: Border official says aid needed to save lives
WASHINGTON (AP) — The acting head of Customs and Border Protection says passing emergency funding is necessary for the health and well-being of migrants crossing the border.
John Sanders tells The Associated Press that Congress must act swiftly. The funding request passed a Senate committee Wednesday with bipartisan support and will be up for a floor vote next week.
Sanders says Border Patrol stations are not meant for long-term care. He says the death of a teenager in custody last month affected him profoundly.
There have been four other deaths in custody since late last year.
Border officials are overwhelmed by a surge in migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. They have opened a tent in Donna, Texas, and are building another in Yuma, Arizona, to help house people.

MINE WASTE SPILL-HEALTH RISKS
EPA: No serious health risk from southwestern Colorado mines
(Information from: Durango Herald, http://www.durangoherald.com)
DURANGO, Colo. (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says contamination from nearly 50 mining sites in southwestern Colorado doesn't pose a serious risk for human health.
The Durango Herald reports that the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund site assessment released Thursday didn't find any risks to people working or hiking, hunting or fishing there. However, it found a risk of exposure to lead or arsenic for children at four camping sites along the Animas River and at three mine sites used as recreational staging areas.
Most of those sites are set to be worked starting this summer.
The agency designated the Superfund site after it inadvertently triggered a spill at the Gold King Mine in August 2015. The spill released 3 million gallons (11.4 million liters) of wastewater, polluting rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
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IMMIGRATION-CHILDREN DETAINED
Lawyers claim dangerous situation at border detention site
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A legal team that recently interviewed over 60 children at a Border Patrol station in Texas is warning that a dangerous and traumatic situation is unfolding for some 250 infants, children and teens locked up for up to 27 days without adequate food, water and sanitation.
They say kids are caring for each other in the Customs and Border Protection station near El Paso: Three girls, ages 10 to 15, told attorneys they've taken turns keeping watch over a 2-year-old boy.
CBP did not immediately respond to the allegations about the conditions, but has said in recent weeks that it is overwhelmed and needs more money and help from the gridlocked Congress.
The lawyers visited the facility in Clint because they are involved in a legal case that governs detention conditions for migrant children and families.

AGENCY-QUESTIONABLE SPENDING
Pro-Los Alamos group loses federal grant amid spending probe
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An agency of New Mexico municipalities surrounding Los Alamos National Laboratory has lost $100,000 in federal funds amid a federal investigation into its spending.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities has seen half of its budget evaporate as the U.S. Department of Energy continues to investigate the handling of a five-year grant to the beleaguered organization.
The coalition became embroiled in controversy last year amid revelations of improper travel reimbursements, including for expensive alcohol and Major League Baseball tickets. It also was the subject of a stinging state audit.
Eric Vasquez, the coalition's executive director, says the group has adopted control measures the state auditor recommended and is now ready to resume working with the Department of Energy.
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CONGRESS-BORDER CRISIS
AP Interview: Border official says aid needed to save lives
WASHINGTON (AP) — The acting head of Customs and Border Protection says passing emergency funding is necessary for the health and well-being of migrants crossing the border.
John Sanders tells The Associated Press that Congress must act swiftly. The funding request passed a Senate committee Wednesday with bipartisan support and will be up for a floor vote next week.
Sanders says Border Patrol stations are not meant for long-term care. He says the death of a teenager in custody last month affected him profoundly.
There have been four other deaths in custody since late last year.
Border officials are overwhelmed by a surge in migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. They have opened a tent in Donna, Texas, and are building another in Yuma, Arizona, to help house people.

DEATH AND DISAPPEARANCE-CONGRESS-THE LATEST
The Latest: Senators press feds on response to Native safety
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Lawmakers are pressing the Trump administration to respond with urgency in addressing violence against Native American women and children after two officials arrived at a key U.S. Senate hearing unprepared to take concrete positions on legislation.
Sen. John Hoeven, a Republican from North Dakota, says the federal officials failed to meet a deadline for written testimony ahead of the hearing.
Tracy Toulou, director of the Justice Department Office of Tribal Justice, apologized for the delay, saying the bills are complex and require wide review within the department.
Charles Addington, the director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Office of Justice Services, also apologized and said it got held up during a clearance process.
Sen. Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat, expressed "utter frustration" over the situation.

OIL BOOM-AIRPORT EXPANSION
Booming New Mexico oil region to get $5M in airport upgrades
(Information from: Hobbs News-Sun, http://www.hobbsnews.com)
LOVINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A southeastern New Mexico county has approved more than $5 million in upgrades to an airport in the heart of New Mexico's booming oil region.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports the Lea County Commission gave the green light last week to improvements to the Lea County Regional Airport — most funded by federal and state grants.
The improvements call for doubling the expansion of the holding area for flight patrons and renovating the apron area on the airside of the terminal. They also including upgrading a runway safety area and extending the primary runway.
Officials say increased ridership is spurring the recommended improvements.
The Lea County Regional Airport is located in Hobbs — a key city in the booming Permian Basin.
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NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE
New Mexico land boss concerned with nuke waste proposal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard says southeastern New Mexico isn't the right place to build a temporary storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.
She sent a letter Wednesday to the New Jersey-based company that wants to build the facility, saying the proposed site would be in the middle of the Permian Basin — one of the world's most productive oil and gas regions.
Nearly 2,500 wells and other mine sites are operated by dozens of businesses within a 10-mile (16-kilometer) radius of the site. Garcia Richard contends that storing the high-level waste above active oil, gas and mining operations raises serious safety concerns.
Fellow Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also has voiced opposition to the plan by Holtec International.
The company is seeking a federal license for the proposed facility.

SENIOR GAMES-103 YEAR OLD
At 103, 'Hurricane' Hawkins takes titles at US Senior Games
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — At 103, Julia "Hurricane" Hawkins has cemented her title as the oldest woman to compete on an American track after finishing the 50- and 100-meter dashes at the National Senior Games in New Mexico.
Event organizers say the Louisiana resident holds the world record for her age group of 100 and over in the 100-meter dash.
She didn't beat her previous time Tuesday but crossed the line in just over 46 seconds in Albuquerque.
On Monday, she was clocked at 21.06 in the 50-meter event, which appears to be a new Senior Games record for the women's 100-plus age division. There's no record of a past female competitor in that contest.
The retired teacher says staying active keeps her sharp and she hopes she can serve as an inspiration to others.

CORRECTIONS SECRETARY-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico picks corrections secretary after false start
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Career state corrections officer Alisha Tafoya Lucero has been named Cabinet secretary to oversee New Mexico's combination public-private prison system.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the appointment Wednesday and praised Tafoya Lucero for her toughness and dedication to the state prison system.
The governor initially appointed former Florida prisons chief Julie Jones to lead the New Mexico Corrections Department but saw Jones withdraw in February.
Tafoya Lucero began serving as a corrections officer in 2001 and later became deputy warden at the state penitentiary outside Santa Fe. She was promoted to interim corrections secretary in May.
The governor and Tafoya Lucero emphasized efforts to improve accountability at privately run prisons and expand inmate programs that can reduce recidivism. The state is limiting but not eliminating solitary confinement.

SENATE-PINTO REPLACEMENT
Commissioners name nominees for New Mexico Senate seat
(Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com)
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — Two former New Mexico county commissioners have been nominated to fill the seat of state Sen. John Pinto, who died last month at the age of 94.
The Farmington Daily Times reported Monday that the San Juan County Commission nominated its former commissioner Wallace Charley.
McKinley County commissioners nominated their former commissioner Carol Bowman-Muskett.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will choose one of the nominees or appoint someone else from the northwestern New Mexico district.
Pinto's term was set to expire next year, so the person appointed would have to run in 2020 election.
Pinto, a Democrat and a Navajo Code Talker in World War II, was the longest-serving state senator in New Mexico history.
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