Associated Press

• Baldwin: It's 'a lie' that he's not helping shooting probe

NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Alec Baldwin says any suggestion that he's not cooperating with a probe into last fall's shooting on his movie set that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is a lie. He responded via Instagram to stories that discussed why authorities who served him with a search warrant for his phone haven't gotten it yet. Baldwin says the process takes time because it involves two states and clear instructions on what material is sought from the phone.

BOYS 

• PROP FIREARM-SHOOTING

NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Alec Baldwin says any suggestion that he's not cooperating with a probe into last fall's shooting on his movie set that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is a lie. He responded via Instagram to stories that discussed why authorities who served him with a search warrant for his phone haven't gotten it yet. Baldwin says the process takes time because it involves two states and clear instructions on what material is sought from the phone.

• NMSU PRESIDENT

LAS CRUCES, N.M, (AP) — New Mexico State University President John Floros is stepping down and Chancellor Dan Arvizu is becoming the leader of the university's main campus in Las Cruces and the NMSU system. Floros and Arvizu said Friday in separate letters to the university community that Arvizu decided to reduce what has been their separate posts to one position.

• EDUCATION FUNDING-NEW MEXICO

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants to make New Mexico teacher salaries the highest among neighboring states. Tapping into a glut of oil and gas tax revenue, she's proposing raising educator salaries anywhere from 7% to 20%, depending on their role and level of experience. The cost would be around $275 million. Minimum salaries for entry-level teachers would increase from $41,000 to $50,000. In Texas, starting salaries average around $44,500.

On Jan. 8, 1935, Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. He died at his Graceland mansion in Memphis in 1977.

Today is Saturday, Jan. 8, the eighth day of 2022. There are 357 days left in the year.  

• Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 8, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in his State of the Union address, declared an "unconditional war on poverty in America." 

On this date: 

• EDUCATION FUNDING-NEW MEXICO

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants to make New Mexico teacher salaries the highest among neighboring states. Tapping into a glut of oil and gas tax revenue, she's proposing raising educator salaries anywhere from 7% to 20%, depending on their role and level of experience. The cost would be around $275 million. Minimum salaries for entry-level teachers would increase from $41,000 to $50,000. In Texas, starting salaries average around $44,500.

BOYS 

• COLORADO RIVER-DROUGHT

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The city of Phoenix has outlined what it will contribute voluntarily to a regional plan to shore up a reservoir that delivers Colorado River water to three states and Mexico. The river already can't provide seven Western states what they were promised a century ago. Phoenix, the nation's fifth largest city, is among entities that will pitch in to fulfill the so-called 500+ Plan.

• VOTING RIGHTS-NEW MEXICO

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's top election regulator and governor wants to designate Election Day as a state holiday to encourage voting and make it easier to request and cast ballots by mail. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a news release Thursday that the proposal responds to "a wave of anti-democratic sentiment nationwide," discriminatory ballot access policies in other states, and a refusal by Republicans to fortify voting rights at the federal level.

• VOTING RIGHTS-NEW MEXICO

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's top election regulator and governor wants to designate Election Day as a state holiday to encourage voting and make it easier to request and cast ballots by mail. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a news release Thursday that the proposal responds to "a wave of anti-democratic sentiment nationwide," discriminatory ballot access policies in other states, and a refusal by Republicans to fortify voting rights at the federal level.

BOYS 

• New Mexico weighs voting reforms, holiday on Election Day

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's top election regulator and governor wants to designate Election Day as a state holiday to encourage voting and make it easier to request and cast ballots by mail. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Gov.

• BUDGET SURPLUS-NEW MEXICO

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's governor and leading state legislators are proposed a $1 billion increase in general fund spending for the coming fiscal year. The budget proposals unveiled on Thursday call for a spending boost of about 14% aimed at shoring up access to health care, improving public education and providing new investments in child wellbeing and public safety. The lead budget-writing committee for the Democrat-led Legislature outlined its spending priorities ahead of a 30-day session starting Jan.

• SPACEPORT-WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The former chief financial officer for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority has filed a whistleblower lawsuit. Zach DeGregorio alleges he was forced to resign after raising concerns about financial malfeasance. DeGregorio also claims top officials committed securities fraud by refinancing spaceport gross receipts tax bonds under false pretenses. He also says in the lawsuit last week that secret meetings were held between state officials and Spaceport America's most notable tenant, Virgin Galactic.

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL

• Atrisco Heritage 71, Del Norte 48
• Clayton 59, Mosquero/Roy 57
• Cleveland 76, Highland 68
• La Cueva 71, West Mesa 46
• Rio Grande 64, Eldorado 54
• Sandia 59, Manzano 40
• Volcano Vista 73, Rio Rancho 57

POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS

• Silver vs. Morenci, Ariz., ccd

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL

• SPACEPORT-WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The former chief financial officer for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority has filed a whistleblower lawsuit. Zach DeGregorio alleges he was forced to resign after raising concerns about financial malfeasance. DeGregorio also claims top officials committed securities fraud by refinancing spaceport gross receipts tax bonds under false pretenses. He also says in the lawsuit last week that secret meetings were held between state officials and Spaceport America's most notable tenant, Virgin Galactic.

• Former New Mexico spaceport CFO alleges fraud, retaliation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The former chief financial officer for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority has filed a whistleblower lawsuit. Zach DeGregorio alleges he was forced to resign after raising concerns about financial malfeasance. DeGregorio also claims top officials committed securities fraud by refinancing spaceport gross receipts tax bonds under false pretenses.

• SPACEPORT-WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The former chief financial officer for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority has filed a whistleblower lawsuit, alleging that he was forced to resign after raising concerns about financial malfeasance. Among the numerous allegations, Zach DeGregorio said top officials committed securities fraud by refinancing spaceport gross receipts tax bonds under false pretenses. He also said secret meetings were held between state officials and Spaceport America's most notable tenant — Virgin Galactic.

• RANSOMWARE ATTACK-BERNALILLO COUNTY

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Bernalillo County says it has discovered a suspected ransomware attack directed at its computer systems, prompting the county government to take affected systems offline and to close most county buildings to the public on Wednesday. According to a county statement, public safety agencies such as the sheriff's office and the fire and rescue department were operating normally by using unspecified ""backup contingencies" but the county jail canceled inmate visits Wednesday.

• AP-US-JEFFREY-EPSTEIN-MAXWELL-TRIAL-SKETCH-ARTIST

NEW YORK (AP) — Elizabeth Williams was the eyes of the public throughout Ghislaine Maxwell's monthlong sex-trafficking trial. With the general prohibition of cameras in federal court, the courtroom artist estimates she drew around 100 sketches for distribution by the wire service. Williams has been rendering courtroom scenes in pen and pastel since 1980 and has drawn for The Associated Press since 2004.

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• 'Substitute camera' sketches Ghislaine Maxwell trial beats

NEW YORK (AP) — Elizabeth Williams was the eyes of the public throughout Ghislaine Maxwell's monthlong sex-trafficking trial. With the general prohibition of cameras in federal court, the courtroom artist estimates she drew around 100 sketches for distribution by the wire service. Williams has been rendering courtroom scenes in pen and pastel since 1980 and has drawn for The Associated Press since 2004.

• EDUCATION LAWSUIT-NEW MEXICO

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's plan to address the needs of underserved Indigenous students hasn't been shared with tribal leaders or the public despite promises to do so last year. Indigenous education advocates say they were expecting to provide feedback on the plan in October. The New Mexico Public Education Department promised to release the draft to the public Dec. 1, to provide time for public comment before the legislative session that begins in mid-January. But Gov.

• EDUCATION LAWSUIT-NEW MEXICO

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's plan to address the needs of underserved Indigenous students hasn't been shared with tribal leaders or the public despite promises to do so last year. Indigenous education advocates say they were expecting to provide feedback on the plan in October. The New Mexico Public Education Department promised to release the draft to the public Dec. 1, to provide time for public comment before the legislative session that begins in mid-January. But Gov.

• VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation reported 10 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and no deaths Monday, but tribal health officials said the first case of the omicron variant has been detected on the vast reservation. Based on cases from Dec. 17-30, the Navajo Department of Health has issued an advisory for 42 communities due to uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus. The latest numbers pushed the number of cases on the Navajo Nation at 41,657 since the pandemic began. The death roll remains at 1,590.

• 1st case of the omicron variant is detected on Navajo Nation

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation reported 10 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and no deaths Monday, but tribal health officials said the first case of the omicron variant has been detected on the vast reservation. Based on cases from Dec. 17-30, the Navajo Department of Health has issued an advisory for 42 communities due to uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus. The latest numbers pushed the number of cases on the Navajo Nation at 41,657 since the pandemic began.

• NAVAJO POLICE-NEW CHIEF

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Daryl Noon has been sworn in as the Navajo Police Department's new chief. Window Rock District Court Judge Malcolm P. Begay administered the oath to Noon during a ceremony Monday at the offices of Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer. Noon succeeds Phillip Francisco, who resigned on Nov. 30 and now is the chief of the Bloomfield Police Department in New Mexico. Noon was born in Fort Defiance, Arizona, and previously resided in Shiprock, New Mexico.

• ALBUQUERQUE-RECORD HOMICIDES

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque has shattered its annual homicide record, marking 117 killings within city limits in 2021. The previous record of 80 was set in 2019. The Albuquerque Journal reports that all but three of the 2021 killings are being investigated by Albuquerque police. City officials and family members of many victims have pointed to a lack of consequences for repeat offenders as one of the reasons Albuquerque continues struggling with crime.