- NAVAJO NATION-ELECTRICITY
No longer in the dark: Navajo Nation homes get electricityKAIBETO, Ariz. (AP) — A project to connect homes on the country's largest American Indian reservation to the electric grid is wrapping up.
Utility crews from across the U.S. have volunteered their time from March through May to hook up about 300 Navajo Nation homes.
The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority typically connects from 400 to 450 homes per year. At that rate, it would take the utility about 35 more years to get electricity to the 60,000 of the reservation's 180,000 residents who don't have it.
The vast reservation lies on land in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Walter Haas of the tribal utility says hooking up a single home can cost up to $40,000.
The latest project called LightUpNavajo relied on donations and volunteer utility crews to lower the cost.
- OIL BOOM-NEW MEXICO
Report: 2 New Mexico counties among top oil producers(Information from: Hobbs News-Sun, http://www.hobbsnews.com)
HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — Federal numbers say two New Mexico counties remain among the top oil-producing counties in the U.S.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that Lea County was the No. 2 oil-producing county in January behind North Dakota's McKenzie County.
According to the numbers, Lea County produced 14.6 million barrels of oil in January while McKenzie County which produced 17.3 million barrels.
Meanwhile, New Mexico's Eddy County was listed as the No. 6 top oil-producing county. It produced 10 million barrels during the same month.
The 18 major oil companies that comprise the Permian Strategic Partnership said the Permian Basin is an oil-producing superpower, becoming one of the most strategically important oil-producing regions in the world.
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- WILDFIRE-STATE PARK EVACUATED
New Mexico wildfire forces evacuation of state parkROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Dozens of firefighters from multiple agencies are battling a grass and brush fire that forced the evacuation of a state park, one home and other structures in southeastern New Mexico.
The State Forestry Division says the fire burning Saturday along the Pecos River about 14 miles (23 kilometers) southeast of Roswell in Chaves County apparently was started by lightning Thursday evening and by Saturday had burned 1.2 sq. mile (3 sq. kilometers) on private land but no structures.
Dozens of campers were ordered to evacuate Bottomless State Park on Friday.
More than 70 personnel from multiple local fire departments and state and federal agencies were working to contain the fire and were aided by a plane dropping retardant.
Dexter Fire Chief Justin Powell said firefighters were hampered by shifting winds.
- CLEAN ENERGY-NEW MEXICO
Group raises concerns over New Mexico's landmark energy lawALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Natural gas and coal proponents say emails exchanged among environmentalists and a key member of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's cabinet represent a conflict of interest as the state was creating landmark legislation that set ambitious new renewable energy goals.
In one email, state energy secretary Sarah Cottrell Propst asked a renewable energy trade group to review some of the bill's language.
Officials with the organization Power the Future say the emails show the secretary was coordinating with several groups that included the same renewable energy firm she led before taking her job with the state. They argue the Energy Transition Act will result in higher electricity prices and cost industry jobs.
Cottrell Propst is defending her role, saying the administration has been clear about prioritizing its renewable energy agenda.
- NEW MEXICO UNEMPLOYMENT
New Mexico unemployment rate declines in April from MarchALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined in April, dipping to 5% from 5.1% in March.
The unemployment rate in April 2018 was 4.9%, and the state Department of Workforce Solutions reports that total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 13,000 jobs, or 1.5%, between April 2018 and April 2019.
The department says the growth in the private sector accounted for all of the year-over-year employment increase as the public sector lost 800 jobs.
In the private sector, goods-producing industries added 5,800 jobs and service-providing industries were up by 8,000 jobs.
Mining and construction reported the largest employment increase with a gain of 5,500 jobs, or 7.7%.
- STATE POLICE-SHOOTINGS
2 shootings by state police in Albuquerque spur concernALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police reform advocates say they're concerned state police patrolling Albuquerque are not being held to the same use-of-force and training standards as Albuquerque police.
The group APD Forward, which includes the American Civil Liberties Union, issued its statement Friday, following two shootings a day earlier by state police. The shootings happened within an hour of each other.
APD Forward noted the shootings came less than a week after Mayor Tim Keller outlined a coordinated public-safety push in the city across agencies amid a crime wave. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham assigned 50 state police to bolster law enforcement's presence in Albuquerque.
APD Forward called for the mayor and governor to ensure state police follow the same protocols as Albuquerque police.
Albuquerque police in recent years have undergone an overhaul of their policies as a result of a federal settlement agreement.
- BORDER WALL-LAWSUITS-THE LATEST
The Latest: Court hears 2 cases against Trump's border wallSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Arguments have concluded in a federal courtroom in California where billions of dollars that would allow President Donald Trump to build his border wall is at stake.
U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. heard arguments in two cases that seek to block the White House from spending money secured for wall construction under Trump's declaration of a national emergency in February.
California and 19 other states brought one lawsuit; the Sierra Club and a coalition of communities along the border, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, brought the other.
They plaintiffs sought an injunction to block the government from moving forward with its construction plans. The judge said he will make a decision next week.
- EDUCATION REFORM-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico awards funding to schools to extend learning timeSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Public Education Department says more than 101,000 New Mexico students will gain access to a variety of extended learning opportunities beyond the traditional school year starting this summer.
Public Education Secretary Karen Trujillo announced Friday funding approval and enrollment figures for two programs at the core of state reforms to improve student achievement.
A second program that extends the elementary school year by five weeks is expected include nearly 24,000 students, up from 18,000.
State legislators set aside enough money for 90,000 students to participate in that "K-5 Plus" program if school districts, teachers and parents are willing.
State lawmakers and education officials say low-income students consistently miss out on enriching educational activities, and that research demonstrates the effectiveness of more learning time with their year-round teachers.