- CHACO CANYON-DRILLING
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Archaeologists and Native American leaders are pointing to a recent survey of an area around Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico that's considered sacred to some tribes in the Southwest. They say work done this summer shows there are around 4,200 sites outside the park's boundaries that deserve protection. They released some details from the pilot project Monday. A public comment period wrapped up Friday as federal land managers consider revisions to a plan that would govern oil and gas development in northwestern New Mexico. Officials say they have received more than 14,000 comments. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is among those who sent letters.
- AP-US-MOBILE-APPS-PRIVACY
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A U.S. district judge has dismissed New Mexico's privacy claims against Google. The judge concluded in a ruling Friday that federal laws and regulations do not require direct consent from parents when schools participate in Google's education platforms. The company had asked that the case be dismissed, saying in court filings that it hasn't violated any laws. New Mexico can amend its complaint, and Attorney General Hector Balderas said Monday he will continue to litigate to protect child privacy rights. The lawsuit was filed in February 2020, alleging that Google violated state and federal laws by collecting personal information.
- LATINO CONVENTION
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — The oldest Latino civil rights group in the U.S. has decided to move its 2021 national convention online over the uncertainty caused by COVID-19. The League of United Latin American Citizens' board of directors voted Saturday to hold a virtual gathering for its members instead of a July 2021 in-person gathering in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The state currently limits the number of people for large gatherings and the group's national conventions typically attract thousands. The virtual convention means the 90-year-old organization won't hold elections and members will not vote on any measures. Voting currently requires members to be physically present.
- ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — Democratic Rep. Xochitl Torres Small and Republican challenger Yvette Herrell have finally met in a televised debate in southern New Mexico's closely watched U.S. House race. Torres Small stressed bipartisanship during the KOAT-TV/Albuquerque Journal-sponsored debate on Sunday. Herrell tried to link the Democrat to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Herrell says she would be a conservative voice and stressed her Christian values. Torres Small repeatedly highlighted her votes on oil and gas that bucked the Democratic Party. The race is a rematch of the 2018 campaign. Torres Small won that one by less than 4,000 votes and flipped the traditionally Republican-leaning district.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation health officials are reporting 22 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus but no additional deaths. The latest figures released Monday bring the total number of cases to 10,312 with the known death toll remaining at 555. Tribal officials said 105,451 people have been tested on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah and 7,253 have recovered from COVID-19. The Navajo Nation has implemented a stricter weekend lockdown as it looks into new clusters of coronavirus cases from family gatherings and off-reservation travel. Residents now are being required to stay home from Friday evening until early Monday morning.
- RACIAL INJUSTICE-NEW MEXICO PROTEST
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque's police chief says he's making a priority out of finding the suspect who reportedly drove a vehicle into racial injustice protesters near the campus of the University of New Mexico. No one was hurt in Friday's incident. Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said in a statement Saturday that the city "will not tolerate this kind of behavior." Demonstrators claim the driver was disparaging them before driving through the crowd. They had gathered for a third night of protests after a grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, decided not to indict any of the officers directly involved in the death of Breonna Taylor.
- CRIME SWEEP-ALBUQUERQUE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say the latest in a series of city-wide crime sweeps has netted 36 arrests, including many suspects with a history of gun violence. Police Chief Harold Medina said Saturday that the "anti-crime operation" has resulted in 151 arrests since Aug. 19. The majority of the 36 offenders booked into jail Wednesday through Friday during the fourth edition of the crack down have a criminal history for gun violence and property crimes. Officers and detectives cleared 53 felony warrants, made 20 felony arrests; recovered nine firearms, nine stolen vehicles and issued 183 citations.
- OIL INVESTMENTS
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — An American energy investment company has pledged $8.5 million to develop oil and gas assets in the Permian Basin that are owned by Shell Oil Co. The announcement this month by U.S. Energy Development Corp. to acquire interest in a horizontal well project near the New Mexico-Texas state line is an indication that some operations are looking to expand their footprint in what is still considered one of the country's most productive oilfields. The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that the project will target part of what government scientists have identified as the largest continuous oil and gas resource in history.