- NBCUNIVERSAL-NEW MEXICO
NBCUniversal to build state-of-the-art studio in New MexicoALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — NBCUniversal has announced plans for a state-of-the-art television and film studio in a warehouse district just north of downtown Albuquerque.
The announcement Friday comes as state officials are offering more than $10 million in incentives and promising that the economic impact from the venture will top $1 billion over the next decade.
The media giant said it has entered a 10-year venture with a developer to redevelop an empty free-span warehouse in Albuquerque into a studio with two sound stages, offices and a mill.
NBCUniversal will be joining Netflix, which solidified its footing in New Mexico last year.
In recent months the state has experienced a big jump in film productions. The state is set to more than double its annual spending cap on film incentives.
- RACIAL HARASSMENT-ELEMENTARY
Lawsuit: Black student faced racial taunts, called 'snitch'ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Court documents say a black elementary student endured months of racial taunts in New Mexico and was called a "snitch" when he reported the verbal abuse.
A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque this week said the boy faced "escalating race-based and physical harassment" early this year at Parkview Elementary School in Socorro, New Mexico, and teachers often did little or nothing to stop it.
According to the lawsuit, other students used a racial epithet toward the boy and made racist "your mama" jokes about the boy's mom, who is also black. Court documents say one student repeatedly called the boy a "snitch" after he reported an episode to a teacher.
Socorro Consolidated Schools Superintendent Ron Hendrix says the district couldn't comment on pending litigation.
- POLICE SHOOTING-SETTLEMENT
Albuquerque pays nearly $4M to family of man shot by police(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque has agreed to pay $3.75 million to the family of a man who was left disabled after being shot about seven times by police.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Thursday the city has reached a settlement with the family of 24-year-old Rodrigo Garcia, who was unarmed when police fired dozens of times at him in May 2015.
A lawsuit filed in federal court last year claimed excessive force and civil rights violations.
Attorney Shannon Kennedy says Garcia is not expected to live much longer.
Kennedy says officers waited about 90 minutes before giving him medical aid after the shooting.
Mayor's office spokeswoman Jessie Damazyn says the settlement was among the last few remaining cases pending from the previous administration.
A police spokesman did not respond to the newspaper's questions.
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- IMMIGRATION-PREMATURE BABY
Advocate: Immigrant mom and premature newborn detainedPHOENIX (AP) — Advocates were shocked to find a teenage mom and her premature newborn daughter huddled in a Border Patrol facility in what they say was another example of the poor treatment immigrants receive.
The mother is a Guatemalan teen who crossed the border without a parent and was held at a facility in McAllen, Texas.
Hope Frye, a volunteer who visits detention centers to ensure they comply with federal guidelines, said the baby was born in Mexico in early May has a head the size of her fist. She says the baby should have immediately received medical care.
Frye said the mom was in a wheelchair and in extreme pain.
Advocates say they are being sent to a facility for underage immigrants on Friday.
Customs and Border Protection has not commented.
- CRIMINAL RECORDS-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico bans criminal histories from job applicationsSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has made it illegal for private employers to ask about a person's criminal history on an initial job application.
Workforce Solutions Secretary Bill McCamley said the new law goes into effect Friday under oversight of the state Human Rights Bureau.
Private employers are allowed to discuss prior arrests or convictions later in the hiring process. State agencies already leave out criminal history questions on initial employment applications.
Democratic state Sen. Bill O'Neill and Republican Rep. Alonzo Baldonado sponsored the legislation in an effort to give formerly incarcerated residents access to face-to-face interviews and the opportunity to provide for themselves and family.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says people deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives after a criminal incident.
- ENERGY POLICY-NEW MEXICO
Oil, nuclear technology firms visit New Mexico governorSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A major shale oil producer and developers of advanced nuclear reactor technology have held discussions with New Mexico's governor as the state overhauls pollution regulations and electricity production.
The office of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday confirmed recent meetings with executives from Denver-based natural gas and petroleum producer Cimarex Energy and California-based Kairos Power. Kairos is developing a molten-salt cooled reactor.
Lujan Grisham's administration is drafting regulations to reduce emissions of heat-trapping methane gasses by the energy industry, and a state law enacted this year requires that utilities shift to carbon-free electricity production by 2045 that could include nuclear reactors.
Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Sackett says discussions this month with Cimarex CEO Tom Jordan touched on methane mitigation. Kairos executives discussed their technology and prospects for business.
- TRASH-COLLECTION-FRAUD CLAIMS
Grand jury probe urged on New Mexico trash-collection group(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Rio Arriba County man has filed a petition in the state's First Judicial District alleging fraudulent practices by a regional trash-collection organization.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Antonio De Vargas filed papers this week requesting a grand jury investigation into the North Central Solid Waste Authority. He says a grand jury probe was necessary because he sees a conflict of interest for District Attorney Marco Serna, who is running for the state's 3rd Congressional District in northern New Mexico.
The 72-year-old De Vargas is accusing the authority of misappropriating public money, billing customers for services not rendered and fraud.
Solid Waste Authority officials did not immediately respond to emails.
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- MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED
Suspect in Massachusetts homicide is arrested in New MexicoLORDSBURG, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a man suspected in a Massachusetts homicide has been taken into custody in New Mexico.
New Mexico State Police say they received information early Thursday that 27-year-old Gilfrey Gregory may be travelling through the state in a vehicle with a Florida license plate.
A State Police officer located a vehicle on Interstate 10 west of Lordsburg.
After a high-risk felony traffic stop on the vehicle, authorities say Gregory was taken into custody without incident.
Police say five juvenile passengers in the vehicle with Gregory were placed into the custody of New Mexico Children Youth and Family Department.
Gregory, of Springfield, was booked into the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on an arrest warrant out of Massachusetts.
Police didn't disclose details of the murder case.