- HOLLOMAN-DRONE CRASH
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Air Force says an unmanned aircraft has crashed on a runway during takeoff from Holloman Air Force Base in southern New Mexico. Officials with the 49th Wing say no injuries were reported in the Monday morning crash of an MQ-9 Reaper. Base access was not restricted. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Holloman Air Force Base is located west of Alamogordo next to the White Sands Missile Range. The MQ-9 Reaper drone is a remotely piloted aircraft used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as targeted missile strikes.
- REDISTRICTING-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Efforts to draw new political boundaries in New Mexico are starting in earnest as the Democrat-led Legislature convenes for an open-ended special session. The session is scheduled to begin at noon Monday. The stakes in the redistricting process are especially high for residents of a congressional swing district in southern New Mexico that flipped to Republican control in 2020. Native American communities are seeking greater political influence through a variety of strategies. Map recommendations were provided to legislators by a citizens' advisory panel. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham holds veto authority over the process.
- BUS CRASH-ALBUQUERQUE
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Police say a Greyhound bus crashed into a light pole as it was trying to exit Interstate 40 late Sunday night after a passenger grabbed the steering wheel during a dispute with another passenger. The driver was critically injured and at least four other people on the bus were brought to hospitals for injuries that weren't life-threatening. Police say the person who grabbed the steering wheel also was brought to a hospital to be evaluated for injuries. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
- TAOS-FATAL SHOOTING
TAOS, N.M. (AP) — Police in Taos say they have arrested a suspect in a homicide case. They say 38-year-old Ray Rivera was taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree murder and charges could be modified as investigators continue to gather evidence. Officers arrived at the shooting scene around 9:30 p.m. Thursday and found 25-year-old Antonio Martinez of Taos dead from a gunshot wound. Police say Rivera fled the scene, but was found a short time later and arrested. It was unclear Sunday if Rivera had a lawyer yet who can speak on his behalf.
- HOUSE FIRE-2 CHILDREN KILLED
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities are investigating a pre-dawn house fire near Española that left two children dead. New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials say the two victims were taken to a Santa Fe hospital Saturday where they both were pronounced dead. The names of the children weren't immediately released Sunday. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that authorities believe the kids were ages 10 and 12. The cause of the blaze is not known yet and the New Mexico State Fire Marshal's Office is leading the investigation. The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office received a report of a fire at 4:30 a.m. Saturday. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they reported finding the two victims in the one-story home near the Chimayó Museum.
- NEW MEXICO-FATAL CRASH
MADDALENA, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Police say two people are dead after a three-vehicle crash on Highway 60 near Magdalena. They say the crash involved a semi-truck and two other vehicles. The crash occurred about 10 a.m. Saturday. The names, ages and hometowns of the victims weren't immediately available Sunday. Magdalena is a small village in Socorro County.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported 100 more COVID-19 cases and four additional deaths. The latest daily virus figures released Saturday brought the tribe's totals to 40,019 cases and 1,551 known deaths since the pandemic began. The tribe had announced 142 new cases and one coronavirus-related death on Thursday and 88 more cases and no deaths on Friday. 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 11 states have confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, including several states near and around the Navajo Nation. The reservation covers 27,000 square miles and extends into parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- NATIONAL GUARD-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico National Guard's top uniformed general is stepping down. Maj. Gen. Kenneth Nava announced Friday his last day as the state adjutant general before retiring will be Dec. 31. Nava will have served 33 years in uniform, beginning as an enlisted man in 1988 as a mechanic in an air defense artillery unit. Nava was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992 and served in Iraq from 2008-2010 while commanding the 515th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. Then-Gov. Susana Martinez appointed Nava as adjutant general in 2017. Current Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, attended Nava's retirement ceremony in Santa Fe on Friday.