DARK MONEY-NEW MEXICO
- SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to Santa Fe campaign disclosure requirements stemming from a failed city ballot initiative in 2017 to tax sugary beverages. The Supreme Court decision Monday upholds the rejection of a lawsuit from the Rio Grande Foundation that sought to shield future financial contributions from public disclosure, in defiance of requirements enacted by the city of Santa Fe. The failed city ballot initiative to fund early childhood education was marked by millions of dollars in campaign spending.
HOBBS-DOGS ATTACK
- HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — A Hobbs woman is recovering after police say she was mauled by five dogs. Hobbs police said in a news release Monday the 46-year-old woman was recuperating at home. The incident happened Saturday after she was dropped off at a friend's house. Police determined she had been walking when five pit bulls attacked her. Investigators say the woman fended the dogs off with a knife. One pit bull was found dead. A second was euthanized by animal control officers at the scene. The remaining pit bulls are being quarantined and will be euthanized. The dogs' 61-year-old owner has received several citations for having animals loose.
ENDANGERED WOLVES
- ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Prompted by a court order, federal wildlife managers have issued a new draft plan for managing Mexican gray wolves in the Southwestern U.S. The changes aim to address illegal killings of the endangered predators through education, outreach and other means. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently reported that the Mexican wolf population marked another year of growth but that illegal killings are among the factors that have tempered that growth. Meanwhile, managers also struggle to curb wolf-livestock conflicts. Ranchers in Arizona and New Mexico say wolves are killing cattle despite efforts to scare the animals away from their herds.
MARIJUANA FESTIVAL-PERMIT
- ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Organizers of an Albuquerque festival for 4/20, the date known for celebrating marijuana, have had two permits denied by local police. The 420 Fest, scheduled for Wednesday in downtown Albuquerque, had submitted permit requests for streets to be blocked off. A New Mexico 420 Fest organizer told KOB-TV that she and her team have been communicating with the city about this since June. A police spokesman said the request was rejected because the department doesn't have the manpower to block off streets in the middle of the work week. This month New Mexico joined 17 other states that have legalized recreation marijuana.
BC-NM-ROSWELL-HOMICIDE CASE
- ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Police say two teenagers have been fatally shot at a Roswell park and it's being investigated as a homicide. They say the boys _ ages 15 and 16 _ were found dead at Cahoon Park. Their names are not immediately available. Police believe the teens were at the park to purchase a gun. They say officers were called to the scene around 5 p.m. Saturday According to investigators, the two teens were in a parked car when another car arrived. Police say multiple people got out of the second car and at least two people shot at the teenagers. They say one of the victims was found inside the vehicle and another was on the ground nearby. Police say they still are searching for suspects in the case.
BC-NM-NEW MEXICO WILDFIRE
- RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a wind-driven wildfire in southern New Mexico that destroyed more than 200 homes now is 56% contained and all remaining evacuation orders have been lifted. The wildfire that started Tuesday in the Village of Ruidoso and killed two people remains under investigation. New Mexico State Police say they still are awaiting confirmation on the identities of the elderly couple who died. Evacuation orders began to be lifted late Friday and covered about 60% of the estimated 4,500 people ordered to leave their homes. Two areas that remained under mandatory evacuations _ Gavilan Canyon and Lower Eagle Creek _ had the orders lifted Sunday morning. As of Saturday, the fire had burned 9.6 square miles (25 square kilometers) of timber and brush.
WESTERN WILDFIRES
- RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — Authorities have lifted some evacuation orders for a southern New Mexico mountain community hit by wildfire. Firefighters are working Saturday to contain a wind-driven blaze that killed two people and destroyed over 200 homes. A Village of Ruidoso spokesperson said about 60% of the estimated 4,500 people who were told to evacuate since the fire started Tuesday were allowed to return home late Friday. Evacuation estimates were previously reported to be around 5,000 people. Specific numbers weren't immediately available. Fire incident commander Dave Bales said crews on Saturday worked to put out hot spots and clear lines along the fire's perimeter to keep the fire from spreading.