- OIL AND GAS-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
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
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation is reporting 38 new COVID-19 cases and two new deaths. Navajo health officials released the latest daily virus figures Sunday, bringing the reservation's pandemic death toll to 1,542. The number of total cases was not immediately available but there have been more than 39,000 cases reported so far. Tribal President Jonathan Nez says some public health experts believe the newly discovered omicron variant is already in the U.S. He again called for everyone in Indian Country to get fully vaccinated or get a booster shot. The reservation covers 27,000 square miles and extends into parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- UNM GRADUATE STUDENTS-UNION
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
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
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
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.