- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo Nation reports 5 more COVID-19 cases, 4 more deathsWINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported four more COVID-19 related deaths and five new cases as the total number of cases approaches the 30,000 mark since the pandemic began. The latest numbers released Saturday night pushed the tribe's pandemic total to 29,998 confirmed cases and 1,233 known deaths. The Navajo Nation had a soft reopening Monday with 25% capacity for some businesses under certain restrictions. Still, mask mandates and daily curfews remain. The reservation covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- AIRPORT BODIES
Prosecutor: Man accused of 1 murder says he really killed 16WOODBURY, N.J. (AP) — Officials say a man charged with beating to death a New Jersey resident he said sexually abused him as a child now claims he has killed a total of 16 people, including his ex-wife and three others in New Mexico. Authorities say there is no indication his claim is true, but they will investigate. NJ.com reported that a New Jersey prosecutor alleged Friday in court that 47-year-old Sean Lannon of Grants, New Mexico, said he confessed to 16 killings in all. A public defender tried to get Lannon released from jail and said his client was provoked in the New Jersey killing. Lannon has been named a person of interest in the four New Mexico slayings.
- LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS-NEW MEXICO
Legislature delivers virus aid, civil rights; falters on potSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico lawmakers are closing out a 60-day legislative session that charts an economic exit from the pandemic. As the session ended Saturday, progressive legislators in the Democratic majority have pushed forward policing reforms, shored up abortion rights, and approved medical aid in dying. In the final hours, lawmakers passed proposals that would guarantee paid sick leave for private-sector workers and ramp up state tax breaks for working families. Proposals to legalize recreational marijuana faltered. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says she will call a special legislative session in coming weeks to give cannabis reforms another try.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico to launch app for COVID-19 exposure alertsALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Department of Health is launching an app that will enable your phone to tell you in some instances if you have been exposed to COVID-19. KRQE-TV reports that the app called NM Notify and intended to help slow spread of the coronavirus will go live Tuesday. The department says NM Notify is a voluntary program that works by exchanging anonymous keys through Bluetooth with other nearby phones that also have the exposure notification app activated. When a person tests positive for COVID-19, they will get a text with a verification that, when activated, will let other phones nearby know of exposures. New Mexico on Saturday reported 191 additional confirmed cases and seven more deaths.
- COURT OF APPEALS-APPOINTMENT
New Mexico governor appoints judge to court of appealsSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed a judge to the state Court of Appeals to fill a vacancy created by Justice Julie J. Vargas' appointment to the state Supreme Court. The state's 4th Judicial District Chief Judge Gerald E. Baca was appointed to the New Mexico Court of Appeals on Friday. Baca will now be one of 10 judges tasked with reviewing appeals from the state's lower courts. Baca, a registered Democrat, will have to win the 2022 primary and general elections to remain on the Court of Appeals. This is Baca's third gubernatorial appointment.
- BIDEN-BORDER
Biden aims to prevent border crossings from swamping agendaWASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is scrambling to manage a growing humanitarian and political challenge at the U.S.-Mexico border that threatens to overshadow its ambitious legislative agenda. Administration officials say Biden inherited an untenable situation that resulted from what they say was President Donald Trump's undermining and weakening of the immigration system. But as Congress pivots to immigration legislation, stories of unaccompanied minors and families trying to cross border have begun to dominate the headlines, distracting from the White House's efforts to promote the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The White House dispatched Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to four news shows in an effort to stress that it was working to get things under control.
- MARIJUANA-NEW MEXICO
Pot legalization bill falters in New Mexico LegislatureSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in New Mexico appeared to falter in the final hours of a 60-day legislative session as the Senate postponed a floor debate and turned to other bills. Legislators had until noon Saturday to send the legalization initiative to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Advocates for marijuana reforms have clashed amid divergent approaches to complex issues of taxation, public safety, regulatory oversight and licensing rules. Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett said Friday evening that the governor would call a special session of the legislature later if the legalization effort does not come to fruition on Saturday.
- PASS THE TRASH
New Mexico lawmakers aim to crack down on abusive teachersSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico state Senate has unanimously passed a bill to expand background checks on school employees. It also directs state agencies to more closely track teachers who abuse children and mandated school staff and volunteers to take training on how to recognize and report abuse. The Public Schools Insurance Authority says the number of abuse cases stemming from public schools has decreased in recent years. But the severity of the cases has increased, and so have the court settlements for victims. Settlements don't affect individual school budgets but have driven up liability insurance costs for schools by 9% since 2018.