- EMERGENCY VEHICLE-PEDESTRIAN KILLED
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque Fire Rescue says one of its rescue units struck and fatally injured a pedestrian in the roadway while responding to a paramedic call. Department spokesman Tom Ruiz said the emergency vehicle had its emergency lights and siren on when the incident occurred early Friday morning near Coors Boulevard and Interstate 40 during a mutual aid call in Bernalillo County. Ruiz said the department personnel in the vehicle stopped and provided medical care to the person but that the person died after being taken to a hospital. Ruiz said an investigation is underway.
- NEW MEXICO-WATER LEADERSHIP
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's top water official says a persistent lack of financial support to protect the state's water resources is behind his decision to step down. A well-known water expert, John D'Antonio submitted his resignation Thursday. His last day as state engineer will be Dec. 31. His departure comes as New Mexico remains locked in a legal battle with Texas over management of the Rio Grande and as the state grapples with a decades-long drought that has resulted in record low reservoir levels and river flows. D'Antonio also served as the state engineer during former Gov. Bill Richardson's tenure and previously worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Thursday reported 103 more COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the 26th time in the past 42 days. The latest numbers pushed the tribe's totals to 37,876 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the virus since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The known death toll remains at 1,507. Based on cases from Oct. 22-Nov. 4, the Navajo Department of Health on Monday issued an advisory for 56 communities due to an uncontrolled spread of COVID-19. The tribe's reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- AP-DOUBLE-HOMICIDE-ARREST
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A 16-year-old youth sought in an Albuquerque double homicide has been arrested in Denver. Albuquerque police said Thursday the youth was sought in the January shooting deaths of 21-year-old Aerial Mallam and 31-year-old Jessica Casaus Lucero at an apartment complex where a third person was shot and wounded. Police said the youth exchanged gunfire with a fourth person while trying unsuccessfully to take a vehicle. Police said the youth was wounded but fled. Police said he is charged with murder and other crimes. Online court records don't list an attorney for the youth who could comment on the allegations. The Associated Press generally does not identify crime defendants who are juveniles.
- CHACO CANYON-OIL AND GAS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation are putting more pressure on U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to take administrative action to prohibit oil and gas development outside the boundaries of Chaco Culture National Historical Park. They sent a letter to Haaland this week. While there have been numerous short-term protections granted for the area over the years, they say an administrative withdrawal of federal mineral rights would provide long-term certainty pending legislation that calls for permanent protections. Haaland is from New Mexico and is the first Native American to be appointed to a cabinet position. She has yet to announce any decisions about the Chaco area.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Some of New Mexico's largest hospitals are being overwhelmed by the latest wave of patients. While most patients are not dealing with coronavirus infections, officials say the ability to grow the capacity that was built over the last year due to the pandemic is now limited by space and the availability of health care workers. Presbyterian Healthcare Services and University of New Mexico Health announced Thursday they are activating crisis standards of care. That means the hospitals will be focusing on patients who need care the most. Officials say they won't be denying care, but non-medically necessary surgeries will be delayed.
- VETERANS HOME-FUNDING
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has vowed to request $59 million in capital funding during the upcoming legislative session to finance improvements at the troubled New Mexico State Veterans' Home. She announced the plan during a ceremony Thursday at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial in Albuquerque. She said veterans deserve respect and support, including in their later years. A recent report by legislative analysts turned up numerous concerns about the facility in the city of Truth or Consequences. The governor's office also noted that the main building — constructed in 1936 — includes cramped resident rooms, inadequate ventilation and restrooms that do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- IMMIGRATION COURTS-SPEEDY DECISIONS
NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly six months ago, U.S. immigration courts established a fast-track docket for families who recently crossed the border. They go to the front of the line with the idea that others will be less likely to migrate knowing a backlog of more than 1.4 million cases will no longer buy them at least a few years in the United States. While it's still early, the effort faces some of the same challenges as similar programs under Biden's two predecessors. As of mid-September, the Biden effort was handling nearly 16,000 cases, and just over 100 had been decided by an immigration judge. Roughly 35 immigration judges are assigned to the docket in New York, Boston, San Francisco and elsewhere.