- ELECTRIC SCOOTER-DWI ARREST
Albuquerque police make 1st DWI arrest of e-scooter driverALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say a Belen woman's arrest on suspicion of DWI while driving an electric scooter is the first such arrest since the city allowed the vehicles on local streets a week ago.
Police say 26-year-old Lily Romero was arrested Wednesday evening on suspicion of aggravated DWI after being stopped while driving the wrong way on a one-way street Wednesday night and that she said she was going from one bar to another.
According to police, Romero blew twice above the legal limit and performed poorly on a sobriety test
Court records don't list an attorney for Romero who could comment on the allegations.
Albuquerque officials May 24 issued a permit to e-scooter company Zagster for a one-year pilot program.
Officer Simon Drobik said drivers must operate the vehicles responsibly.
- 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. has been installing a concrete and metal barrier on private property.
Contractor Jimmy Fisher said Thursday the section will be just under a half-mile (less than 1 kilometer) long.
Kris Kobach, the group's legal counsel, said We Build the Wall plans to sign an easement allowing Border Patrol agents to patrol the private property without having to hand over ownership of the land to federal officials.
- TRUMP-IMMIGRATION-THE LATEST
The Latest: Trump says Mexico taking advantage of US lawsWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says Mexico has been taking advantage of the United States for decades because of ineffective U.S. immigration laws.
In a tweet Friday, Trump blamed Democrats for what he called "BAD" laws and said it was time for Congress to pass legislation to address illegal immigration.
Trump says he is placing a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports, starting June 10, to pressure Mexico to crack down on the surge of Central American migrants trying to cross the U.S. border.
Asked what Mexico can do to avoid the tariff, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that a "very big first step" would be for Mexico to send home Central American migrants crossing through Mexico to get into the United States.
- BORDER ACTIVIST TRIAL
Lawyer: Activist on trial showed 'kindness' helping migrantsTUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A lawyer for a border activist being tried in federal court in Arizona says his client was just trying to be kind by helping two migrants with water, food and lodging last year.
But prosecutors said they have evidence 36-year-old Scott Daniel Warren conspired to harbor the migrants.
The prosecutors also say the migrants were not in distress when arrived at a privately-owned building used to provide aid to immigrants who crossed the desert from Mexico into Arizona.
The Arizona Daily Star reports defense attorney Greg Kuykendall said in his opening statement Wednesday that prosecutors must prove Warren intended to break the law to be found guilty of harboring migrants and conspiring to transport and harbor the two immigrant men found with him who were in the U.S. illegally.
- RIDE-SHARE SHOOTING
Document: Fatal Uber shooting stemmed from 'vomit' in carALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Court documents show a fatal shooting of a New Mexico man killed by a ride-share driver stemmed from "a large amount of vomit" in an Uber vehicle.
The Albuquerque Journal reports documents submitted by the Bernalillo County District Attorney last week said the shooting was sparked by an argument over a "clean-up fee."
Police say a driver Clayton Benedict shot and killed 27-year-old passenger James Porter along Interstate 25 in Albuquerque on March 17. Benedict has not been charged and has declined to comment.
District Attorney's Office spokesman Michael Patrick says a charging decision may come in the next few weeks.
Last month, the family of Porter filed a lawsuit against Uber and Benedict over the shooting.
Uber told the Journal that Benedict no longer has access to the Uber app as a driver.
- MAINE-ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Maine lawmakers split on changing way president gets electedAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine House has voted against a proposal to join states pledging to award Electoral College tallies to the national popular vote winner in presidential elections.
The House voted 76-66 Thursday against the proposal that's aimed at sidestepping a constitutional amendment needed to create a national popular vote. Now the proposal goes back to the Senate, which approved the measure, 19-16, two weeks ago.
Popular vote supporters say it's time to replace the Electoral College, for which votes are linked to the size of each state's congressional delegation.
To date, 14 states and the District of Columbia have joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Governors in New Mexico, Delaware, and Colorado signed legislation this year, while Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak vetoed a proposal. Oregon is considering legislation.
- ELECTION 2020-IMMIGRATION
Immigration largely absent from Democrats' 2020 policy blitzWASHINGTON (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 and offer universal health care coverage.
But largely left out of the policy parade: immigration.
The 20-plus-candidate field is united in condemning President Donald Trump's support for hard-line immigration tactics. They've particularly bashed his push to wall off the U.S. border with Mexico and roll back asylum rights.
But only two contenders, ex-Obama Housing Secretary Julián Castro and former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke, have released detailed, written policies addressing the future of the immigration system.
Trump has continued to view the issue as a winner heading into 2020 and may have a clear path on it if Democratic presidential hopefuls don't eventually go deeper.
- BORDER WALL-CEMETERIES
Cemeteries and family memories stand in border wall's waySAN JUAN, Texas (AP) — Two historic graveyards are among the properties on the Mexican border that are under threat as the Trump administration rushes to build hundreds of miles of wall.
Under current plans, one of the 19th century cemeteries could be lost entirely. Some graves would have to be exhumed; others without a headstone might be paved over.
The people who would lose land have hired lawyers and staged protests. They're determined to fight in court to tie up construction and explain to the rest of the U.S. the hidden costs of a border wall.
Congress agreed last year to fund 33 miles of new walls and fencing in South Texas's Rio Grande Valley.