- BORDER-MIGRANT COMPLAINTS
Migrants complain of poor conditions at US holding centersEL PASO, Texas (AP) — The Trump administration is facing growing complaints from migrants about severe overcrowding, meager food and other hardships at border holding centers.
Some people at an encampment in El Paso, Texas, have been forced to sleep on the bare ground during dust storms.
The Trump administration has blamed the worsening crisis on inaction by Congress.
The U.S. is seeing a record surge of migrant families coming into the country from Central America.
- TRUMP-IMMIGRATION-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico county near border invites Trump to visit(Information from: Alamogordo Daily News, http://www.alamogordonews.com)
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP) — Officials in a southern New Mexico county near to the U.S.-Mexico border want President Donald Trump to visit.
The Alamogordo Daily News reports Otero County Commissioners issued an invitation in a letter this week amid calls to reopen closed checkpoints. The commissioners say the closed checkpoints have allowed an increase in narcotics and crime in the county.
U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints in the El Paso Sector, which includes West Texas and all of New Mexico, were closed temporarily in late March. Agents then were reassigned to help process a growing number of immigrants claiming asylum at the border.
Otero County borders Texas and its southwestern tip is around 20 miles (32.2 kilometers) from the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas.
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- NEW LAWS-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico enacts greater labor rights for household workersSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A state law is taking effect to ensure domestic household workers receive minimum wage and standard workplace protections.
The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty praised provisions of Domestic Service in Minimum Wage Act that went into effect on Friday.
The legislation ends longstanding exemptions from New Mexico wage laws for domestic workers including housekeepers and care givers for the elderly and disabled. It enables the Department of Workforce Solutions to investigate more complaints when people are not paid properly.
The legislation was sponsored by Democratic Sen. Liz Stefanics and Rep. Christine Trujillo.
Center on Law and Poverty Supervising Attorney Stephanie Welch says the law is the result of people sharing stories of hardship and speaking up for fairness.
- STADIUM-BRIAN URLACHER
New Mexico football stadium may be named for Brian UrlacherLOVINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A southeastern New Mexico school district is looking into a proposal to rename its high school football stadium after retired Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Lovington Municipal Schools Athletic Coordinator Robert Arreola proposed this week changing the name of Wildcat Stadium to Brian Urlacher Stadium in honor of the Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Arreola says Urlacher graduated from Lovington High School in 1996 and maintained close ties with his hometown during his college and professional football career.
Lovington school board members asked Arreola and Lovington High School principal Pam Quinones to prepare a formal proposal including the cost associated with making the name change.
Urlacher played 13 seasons with the Bears after his college career at the University of New Mexico.
- PEDESTRIAN FATAL-ALBUQUERQUE
Pedestrian killed in downtown Albuquerque crash(Information from: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police are investigating a downtown crash that killed a pedestrian.
Police closed Mountain Road between 2nd and 3rd streets Friday evening while they investigated the accident.
KOB-TV reports a truck was hit by an SUV at the intersection of Mountain and 3rd and spun out onto the sidewalk, killing the pedestrian who was pinned between the truck bed and a traffic light pole.
Police say the man who died may have been homeless.
Investigators say neither speed nor alcohol appear to be factors in the crash.
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- ALBUQUERQUE-POSTAL INVESTIGATION
New Mexico delegates want postal problems addressedALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation want the U.S. Postal Service to implement recommendations prompted by an independent audit of postal facilities serving the state's largest city.
U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Rep. Deb Haaland wrote a letter this week to Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan, referring to what they described as troubling conditions and serious deficiencies.
The recommendations include filling staff vacancies, maintaining safe and secure facilities, and ensuring the timely delivery of mail.
Concerns were first raised by local postal union leaders. Requests for an investigation followed last year.
The subsequent audit found that postal facilities in Albuquerque failed to meet necessary building maintenance, safety and security standards.
The lawmakers also are requesting regular updates on the Postal Service's efforts to implement the audit's recommendations.
- 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.
- FIREWORKS EXPLOSION-THE LATEST
The Latest: New Mexico city cancels fireworks show(Information from: Roswell Daily Record, http://www.roswell-record.com)
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico city is cancelling its Fourth of July fireworks show after an explosion critically injured two firefighters while they were moving fireworks for the event.
Roswell officials announced Friday there will be a concert and other activities but no fireworks in light of the June 5 accident. The two firefighters remain hospitalized.
The city was forced to destroy the remainder of the fireworks for safety reasons. Related city equipment also was damaged.
Officials say they do not plan to manage fireworks through the Roswell Fire Department or any other city department in the future.
Whether fireworks — through hiring a contractor or using another option — will be part of future city Fourth of July events has yet to be decided. A laser light show is another possible option.