- AP-US-RUDOLFO-ANAYA-CHILDREN'S-BOOK
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An author known as the father of Chicano literature has left behind a bilingual children's tale after his 2020 death. The book from Rudolfo Anaya about Christmas in the American Southwest is being published posthumously this year, extending a cycle of illustrated children's books with a playful cast of youthful animal characters. Teacher Michelle Garcia says works like this help children inhabit and understand a unique culture and think about a few of life's lessons from Anaya. Enrique Lamadrid collaborated with Anaya to translate the work, welcoming children to explore both English and Spanish literature.
- AP-US-ALBUQUERQUE-BIG-TIP
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two servers at an Albuquerque restaurant got a big surprise when a group of business owners left a $5,555 tip. It was the idea of Battle Tested Business, a local entrepreneurship and leadership organization. Founder Ramon Casaus told KOB-TV that he and his colleagues look for ways to invest back into the community. Casaus said after the recent dinner party, each person left a $505 tip. They called it "The 505 Dinner" in reference to Albuquerque's area code. Battle Tested Business said on its Facebook page that local restaurants and their staff were devastated during the pandemic and that the group believes in the mission of helping in its own backyard.
- NEW MEXICO WEATHER
Forecasters say a weather system is expected to produce strong to damaging winds Friday across much of New Mexico as well as rain, with snow expected in higher mountains. The National Weather Service issued a warning in eastern New Mexico for high winds up to 40 mph into Friday evening from Mexico on the south to Colorado on the north. The warning says winds are expected to blow down trees and utility poles and power lines, resulting in widespread power outages and making travel difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. High winds are also forecast for multiple mountain ranges across the state.
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT-HOBBS
HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — It will be up to residents in Hobbs to approve a proposed change to the New Mexico city's economic development ordinance that could result in larger retailers locating in the community. Under the proposal, the ordinance would include cultural facilities and retail businesses as qualifying entities for receiving public support as defined by the state Local Economic Development Act. The proposal will be on the March 1 ballot. State lawmakers earlier this year expanded the types of support and the definition of retail businesses to account for municipalities with populations of more than 15,000. Hobbs officials have said the change could boost competitiveness.
- AP-US-WATER-RIGHTS-TRIBES
WASHINGTON (AP) — Native American tribes are awaiting a one-time windfall that could help deliver reliable, clean water to their residents. The federal infrastructure bill signed last month includes $2.5 billion for tribal water rights settlements. The Interior Department hasn't said how it will be doled out. But the agency says tribes included in more than 30 settlements are eligible. Among them is the White Mountain Apache Tribe in eastern Arizona. Congress approved the tribe's water settlement more than a decade ago. But the tribe says it hasn't received the money it needs for water storage, surface water treatment facilities and miles of water pipelines.
- AP-US-DRY-NEW-MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The last three months have been very dry in New Mexico and it's going to get worse. That's the word from forecasters with the National Weather Service and other climate experts in the state. They said during a meeting this week that New Mexico reservoirs continue to be far below historical averages and that ranchers are bracing for a winter with little moisture out on the range. Some snow is expected in the higher elevations on Christmas Eve, but it will be less than the precipitation that has helped to ease drought conditions elsewhere in the West in recent weeks.
- MEDICAL MALPRACTICE-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed emergency legislation to tweak New Mexico's new law on medical malpractice to head off a possible loss of insurance coverage for some health care providers. Lujan Grisham's office said she signed the legislation Wednesday and appreciated that the Legislature acted on the issue during a recent special session on redistricting and pandemic relief. Officials said the new medical malpractice law, which takes effect Jan. 1, needed to be changed so that numerous physician-owned small businesses could keep their insurance coverage and stay open. A coalition of plaintiffs' lawyers, hospital officials, physicians and patient advocates supported the special session legislation.
- CARJACKING KILLING-ALBUQUERQUE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque authorities are searching for two teenagers who are accused in a February carjacking that police said started with an online sting and that led to a fatal shooting. According to police, 24-year-old Elias Otero was killed in a confrontation with robbers who wanted a $1,000 ransom after his younger brother was lured into meeting a woman he'd met over Snapchat. The Albuquerque Journal reports that arrest warrants seek 18-year-old Anna Bella Dukes and a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of murder, kidnapping and other crimes, and police said they're trying to identify two other people. The Associated Press generally does not identity juveniles who are crime suspects.