- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Health officials have been telling people for weeks to wash their hands thoroughly to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. That's not always an easy task on the Navajo Nation, where 30% of residents on the vast reservation don't have running water in their homes. The Navajo Department of Health and Navajo Area Indian Health Service says the number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 has reached 115 for the Navajo Nation, which covers parts of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez announce Sunday a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for reservation residents that will go into effect Monday. The stay-at-home order that Nez announced last week will remain in effect. New Mexico's coronavirus cases grew to 237 Sunday.
- ELECTION 2020-NEW MEXICO
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — Restrictions limiting person-to-person contact to stop the spread of COVID-19 is hindering Democratic primary challengers seeking to unseat incumbent state lawmakers in New Mexico. Challengers are barred for weeks from campaigning by knocking on doors and shaking hands at public events. Instead, many are moving to aggressive social media pushes, multiple mailers, and virtual town halls. Most Democratic voters in the state's closed primary system tend to be older, and many live in rural areas where broadband internet access and cell service is limited. But candidate Carrie Hamblen says voters are more connected online than ever before. She's seeking to oust Sen. Mary Kay Papen — one of the most powerful Democratic incumbents in the New Mexico Senate.
- AP-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-VIRUS-FREE-COUNTIES
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — As the coronavirus rages through Europe, and major American cities like New York and Los Angeles, more than a third of counties across the U.S. still have not reported a positive test result for infection across what are predominantly rural areas. A data analysis by The Associated Press shows that 1,297 counties have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 out of 3,142 counties nationwide. Counties with zero positive tests for COVID-19 tend to have older, rural populations with lower incomes where rural health networks might be overwhelmed. The demographics hold major implications as the administration of President Donald Trump develops guidelines to rate counties by risk of virus spread, empowering local officials to revise social distancing orders
- SHERIFF-DRUNK-OBSTRUCTION
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Attorney General's Office is reviewing a case involving a sheriff who police said showed up drunk to a SWAT standoff and tried to order officers away. Attorney General spokesman Matt Baca told The Associated Press late Friday a complaint naming Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan has been referred to the office and the prosecutors are reviewing it. Española Police Chief Richard Jimenez wrote that officers reported Lujan smalled of alcohol and ignored commands to leave the "kill zone" in front of the house of the barricaded subject. Lujan told the Santa Fe New Mexican that the accusations in the criminal complaint are false.
- TECH STARTUP-INVESTMENT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico startup has landed $5 million in private equity from investors to accelerate the marketing of super-fast cell-screening and analysis technology. The Albuquerque Journal reports that BennuBio Inc. won the funding from New Mexico and international investments, including money from Co-Win Ventures. BennuBio President and CEO Steven Graves says Co-Win's participation could substantially boost BennuBio's marketing success because that firm has extensive experience in the cytometer industry. Flow-through cytometers are used to analyze millions rapidly, and often billions, of cells for medical diagnostics and drug discovery. But today's cytometers can process only about 10,000 cells per second because tissue samples are pushed through cytometers one at a time.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-STIMULUS-TRIBES
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Tribes say their persistent efforts to be included in a massive stimulus bill to respond to the new coronavirus have paid off. Tribes have been lobbying Congress to help address shortfalls in an already underfunded health care system that serves Native Americans. They secured $10 billion in the bill that President Donald Trump signed Friday. Most of it is set aside as a relief fund that will be distributed based on need. More than $1 billion will go to the federal agency that provides primary health care for more than 2 million Native Americans. The Navajo Nation in the U.S. Southwest has been hardest hit by the virus with more than 90 confirmed cases.
- AP-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-WHAT'S-ESSENTIAL
The coronavirus pandemic is defining for the globe what's essential and what things we really can't do without, even though we might not need them for survival. Attempting to slow the spread of the virus, authorities in many places are determining what shops and services can remain open. They're also restricting citizens from leaving their homes. Whether it's Asia, Europe, Africa or the United States, there's general agreement on what's essential: Health care workers, law enforcement, utility workers, food production and communications are generally exempt from lockdowns. But some activities reflect a national identity, or the efforts of lobbyists.
- POLLINATOR LICENSE PLATE
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — For the love of bees, New Mexico is now offering motorists a chance to help the pollinators through the purchase of a special license plate. The state Transportation Department says proceeds from the new plates will help fund planting projects along state roads. The pollinator project also will create educational gardens and reduce mowing and spraying of herbicides along roadways as a way to improve habitat for bees and other pollinators. The plate features the artwork of a student from the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy. It costs $25 for the initial purchase and $15 for yearly renewal.