Associated Press

• BORDER WALL-FUNDRAISER-THE LATEST

The Latest: Group behind private border wall has more plansSUNLAND PARK, N.M. (AP) — The man behind an online fundraising campaign to build a privately funded barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border says his group has 10 more projects in the pipeline but he declined to provide details about where the sections of wall would be located.Veteran Brian Kolfage made the announcement during a news conference in Sunland Park, New Mexico, where We Build the Wall Inc.

• ELDERLY ADVOCATE-NEW MEXICO

New Mexico chooses ombudsman for nursing home complaintsSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has hired attorney and social worker Linnea Forsythe as the state's new ombudsman for long-term care to address concerns and complaints from the residents of nursing homes.Aging and Long-Term Services Secretary Alice Liu McCoy announced the appointment Wednesday.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The fatal shooting of a New Mexico man who authorities have said was killed by a ride-share driver early this year stemmed from "a large amount of vomit" in an Uber vehicle, according to court documents.Court documents submitted by the Bernalillo County District Attorney last week said the shooting was prompted by the vomit and an argument over a "clean-up fee," the Albuquerque Journal reported .Police have said driver Clayton Benedict shot and killed passenger James Porter, 27, after stopping along Interstate 25 in Albuquerque on March 17.

• ELDERLY ADVOCATE-NEW MEXICO

New Mexico chooses ombudsman for nursing home complaintsSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has hired attorney and social worker Linnea Forsythe as the state's new ombudsman for long-term care to address concerns and complaints from the residents of nursing homes.Aging and Long-Term Services Secretary Alice Liu McCoy announced the appointment Wednesday.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Northern New Mexico District Attorney Marco Serna is diving into his campaign for the Democratic nomination to an open Congressional race in 2020.Serna was scheduled Thursday to kick off a campaign tour of 16 communities in the 3rd Congressional District with an event at his mother's jewelry store in Espanola.Serna already has pledged to make solutions to the state's opioid addiction crisis a top priority if elected to Congress.

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — A troubled northern New Mexico school district that has had eight superintendents in three years has hired another one.The Las Vegas Optic reports the Mora Schools Board of Education voted last week to offer a two-year contract to Peñasco Schools Superintendent Marvin MacAuley.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has hired attorney and social worker Linnea Forsythe as the state's new ombudsman for long-term care to address concerns and complaints from the residents of nursing homes.Aging and Long-Term Services Secretary Alice Liu McCoy announced the appointment Wednesday. She says the position is critical to protecting the health, safety and rights of vulnerable residents of long-term care facilities.States are required to have an ombudsman program for long-term care under the federal Older Americans Act.

By WILL WEISSERT Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential contenders are in a feverish battle to one-up each other with ever-more-ambitious plans to beat back global warming , curb gun violence , offer universal health care coverage , slash student debt and preserve abortion rights . Largely left out of the policy parade: Immigration.The field of 20-plus candidates is united in condemning President Donald Trump's support for hard-line immigration tactics, particularly his push to wall off as much of the U.S.

• CENSUS 2020-MINORITIES

Census head vows 'independent' count amid heated politicsALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Census director is promising the 2020 Census will remain independent and will avoid political pressures amid uncertainty over how the bureau will question immigrants.U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham told reporters in Albuquerque on Wednesday bureau workers have taken a "lifetime oath" not to share private information from residents.

• CHACO CANYON-DRILLING

US officials to put off oil leases near sacred tribal landALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt has agreed to put off oil and gas leasing for a year on land that tribes consider sacred surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico.Officials say that will allow time to finish an updated management plan to guide energy development across the region.

• MEMORIAL PROCESSION-CODE TALKER

Memorial procession for Navajo lawmaker traverses stateSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A procession in honor of deceased state Sen.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Public comments are being sought on a plan to increase annual Medicaid spending on reimbursements to hospitals in New Mexico by $169 million.Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday announced the increased reimbursement rates designed to shore up professional health care networks.All told, lawmakers have arranged a quarter-billion dollar increase in annual spending on Medicaid services starting July 1.For hospitals, about $34 million of the $169 million increase will come from the state general fund, while the federal government pays the rest.

• MEMORIAL PROCESSION-CODE TALKER

Memorial procession for Navajo lawmaker traverses stateSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A procession in honor of deceased state Sen.

• CHACO CANYON-DRILLING

Interior secretary, tribes meet amid drilling fightCHACO CANYON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt has met with tribal leaders who are supporting legislation to prevent drilling on land they consider sacred around Chaco Culture National Historical Park.The meeting Tuesday at the centuries-old site in northwest New Mexico came at the urging of Democratic U.S. Sen.

• SCIENTIST CHARGED-NUCLEAR LAB

US lab scientist charged with lying about China contactALBUQUERUE, N.M. (AP) — A scientist for a U.S. laboratory in New Mexico is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on accusations he lied about contacts with a state-run program in China that seeks to draw foreign-educated talent.Prosecutors say 67-year-old Turab Lookman, of Los Alamos National Laboratory, had been asked on an employment questionnaire and by officials if he had been recruited by China's Thousand Talents Program or applied to work there.

• SCIENTIST CHARGED-NUCLEAR LAB

US lab scientist charged with lying about China contactALBUQUERUE, N.M. (AP) — A scientist for a U.S. laboratory in New Mexico is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on accusations he lied about contacts with a state-run program in China that seeks to draw foreign-educated talent.Prosecutors say 67-year-old Turab Lookman, of Los Alamos National Laboratory, had been asked on an employment questionnaire and by officials if he had been recruited by China's Thousand Talents Program or applied to work there.

ALBUQUERUE, N.M. (AP) — A scientist for a U.S. laboratory in New Mexico is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on charges that he lied about contact he had with a state-run program in China that seeks to draw foreign-educated talent.Turab Lookman, who lives in Santa Fe and until recently worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, was asked on an employment questionnaire and by federal officials if he had been recruited by China's Thousand Talents Program or applied to work there, authorities said.

• CENSUS-NEW MEXICO

US Census Bureau director to visit New MexicoALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The head of the U.S. Census Bureau will be in New Mexico this week.U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich say Steven Dillingham will be in the state for a series of meetings and visits centered on the importance of ensuring an accurate count for the upcoming 2020 Census.The senators earlier this year extended an invitation to Dillingham.

• CENSUS-NEW MEXICO

US Census Bureau director to visit New MexicoALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The head of the U.S. Census Bureau will be in New Mexico this week.U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich say Steven Dillingham will be in the state for a series of meetings and visits centered on the importance of ensuring an accurate count for the upcoming 2020 Census.The senators earlier this year extended an invitation to Dillingham.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The head of the U.S. Census Bureau will be in New Mexico this week.U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich say Steven Dillingham will be in the state for a series of meetings and visits centered on the importance of ensuring an accurate count for the upcoming 2020 Census.The senators earlier this year extended an invitation to Dillingham.

• MINI ALCOHOL BOTTLE BAN

New Mexico city eyes banning miniature liquor bottles(Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com)ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A northwestern New Mexico city is examining if it can ban the sale of miniature liquor bottles littering the grounds across town.The Farmington Daily Times reports Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett recently asked City Attorney Jennifer Breakell to investigate if the city could pass an ordinance banning the small liquor bottles.Duckett made the request during the May 14 City Council meeting.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Latest on the death of Navajo Code Talker and state Sen. John Pinto (all times local):3:40 p.m.Navajo Nation officials are expressing their sadness and condolences over the death of New Mexico state Sen.

• OBIT-CODE TALKER-PINTO-THE LATEST

The Latest: Governor: Navajo lawmaker was American heroSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is paying tribute to deceased Navajo Code Talker and state Sen.

• CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE-LIFE

Man faces life in prison for child sexual abuse convictionsALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a San Felipe Pueblo man faces life in prison after being convicted by a jury of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.The U.S. Attorney's Office for New Mexico says a life sentence is mandatory for 48-year-old Tyrone Coriz because he had a previous federal conviction for a sex crime in 1992 involving a different victim.Federal court jurors in Albuquerque convicted Coriz in the latest case on Wednesday.

• FILM-COMEBACK TRAIL

Big names headed to New Mexico to film 'The Comeback Trail'SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Oscar winners Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman soon will be on their way to New Mexico to start work on "The Comeback Trail."The feature film will begin shooting in early June in Albuquerque, Tojajilee and other locations. Work is expected to last about a month and will include more than a dozen New Mexico actors and about 300 extras.Directed by George Gallo, the film is about two movie producers who owe money to the mob.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A woman who oversees regulatory compliance at a private medical practice in southern New Mexico has been named to the state's fledgling ethics commission.Republican House minority leader James Townsend announced Thursday his appointment of Judy Villanueva of Carlsbad to the seven-member commission.A news release says Villanueva previously held administrative posts at Texas Tech University and El Paso Community College. Townsend credits Villanueva with being fair and thorough.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Oscar winners Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman soon will be on their way to New Mexico to start work on "The Comeback Trail."The feature film will begin shooting in early June in Albuquerque, Tojajilee and other locations. Work is expected to last about a month and will include more than a dozen New Mexico actors and about 300 extras.Directed by George Gallo, the film is about two movie producers who owe money to the mob.

• SUPREME COURT-MURDER CASE

Court upholds Albuquerque man's 2nd-degree murder conviction
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has upheld the second-degree murder conviction of an Albuquerque man for a fatal shooting in a dispute over a $30 drug debt.
But the state's high court threw out a first-degree felony murder conviction for the same killing.
Jason Comitz was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 15 years for the murder and other crimes during the shooting at the home of Paul Randy Rael in February 2015.

By MORGAN LEE Associated Press
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's congressional delegation appears to be in no hurry to initiate impeachment hearings against President Donald Trump.
Two of the state's three House representatives — all Democrats — indicate they favor tough oversight of the president without endorsing impeachment hearings, while a third declined to state her position.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has upheld the second-degree murder conviction of an Albuquerque man for a fatal shooting in a dispute over a $30 drug debt.
But the state's high court threw out a first-degree felony murder conviction for the same killing.
Jason Comitz was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 15 years for the murder and other crimes during the shooting at the home of Paul Randy Rael in February 2015.
Rael died and his son and stepson were wounded.