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Latest New Mexico news, sports, business and entertainment at 11:20 a.m. MDT

  • CATHOLIC LAWMAKER-NO COMMUNION

Las Cruces lawmaker says politics led to denial of CommunionSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico lawmaker says he was denied Communion by his local Catholic priest because of his politics. Democratic state Sen. Joseph Cervantes said Monday that he has been treated differently by the church since voting to repeal a state law banning abortion under most circumstances. Cervantes' statement came after he tweeted over the weekend about not getting Communion from the bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces. Cervantes, of Las Cruces, says the outdated law, which would have jailed women for getting an abortion, was unconstitutional. The diocese said in a statement that it regrets Cervantes chose to go on Twitter rather than engage in a dialogue.

  • VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION

Navajo Nation reports 6 new COVID-19 cases, but no deathsWINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Monday reported six new COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths. The latest numbers brought the total number of coronavirus-related cases on the vast reservation to 31,201 since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The number of known deaths remained at 1,366 for the second consecutive day. The Navajo Nation recently relaxed restrictions to allow visitors to travel on the reservation and visit popular attractions like Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley.  The reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. While cases are down, Navajo leaders are urging residents to continue wearing masks and get vaccinated.

  • NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL-SUMMER SESSION

Navajo Nation revives horse ride for new council sessionWINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation Council is commencing its summer session with a return to tradition. The Farmington Daily Times reports tribal officials marked the beginning of the session Monday with a horse ride to the council chamber in Window Rock, Arizona. The horse ride was canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The ride's participants typically would travel to various chapters before arriving at the session. Delegates say more than two dozen others made the ride. Still, some delegates chose to attend the session by telephone. The reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. 

  • VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO FILM

New Mexico marks record year of spending by film industrySANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Despite the coronavirus pandemic that led to a shutdown for months in film production, the show did go on in New Mexico. The New Mexico Film Office announced Monday that 2021 broke records in the state with film and TV productions spending roughly $623 million. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham touted the numbers. She says continued investment in the industry is needed to boost economic recovery and attract more outside spending. The industry employs about 9,000 residents in New Mexico. Netflix and NBCUniversal both have production hubs in the state.

  • MEXICO-WOLVES

Mexican wolf breeding program gets boost from zooMEXICO CITY (AP) — The five gray wolf pups born at Mexico City's Chapultepec Zoo are giving a boost to efforts to broaden the endangered species' genetic diversity amid continuing efforts to reintroduce the animals to the wild decades after they were reduced to captive populations. The pups' father, Rhi, alerts them every morning to the delivery of breakfast, in the form of chicken and quail meat brought by zookeeper Jorge Gutiérrez. He's cared for Rhi since he was born and is proud to see he has formed a pack with the pups' mother, Seje. Gutiérrez calls the experience "marvelous" and "unique." 

  • GAS STATIONS-DRUNKEN DRIVING LIABILITY

New Mexico is 2nd state to make gas stations liable for DUISANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court says gas stations have a legal obligation not to sell fuel to drivers who are believed to be intoxicated. The court issued a divided decision Monday that could have far-reaching effects on businesses and that only one other state applies so strictly. The decision resolves a question of state law about the potential liability of a retailer that sold gasoline to an intoxicated driver in 2011 who later got into a fatal crash. The decision notes that only Tennessee also applies the law in such a way to create a "duty of care" for businesses to not supply fuel to drunken drivers because of the risk of driving while intoxicated.OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING
Las Vegas, NM officers shoot and kill armed suspect
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — Police in Las Vegas, New Mexico, are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting. The Las Vegas authorities say officers were responding Saturday night to a domestic call when they encountered 30-year-old Jeffery Scott walking out of the home. According to investigators, Scott had a gun and pointed it at the officers and fired several rounds. Two officers returned fire. Scott fled on foot but officers found him a short time later dead from a gunshot wound. Police say no officers were wounded by the gunfire. The incident remains under investigation. The officers' names will not be released until interviews with them have been completed. 

  • VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION

Navajo Nation reports 30 new COVID-19 cases, 2 more deathsWINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported 30 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths. Navajo Department of Health officials said 17 of the cases were from Saturday with the other 13 reported Sunday. They say the two deaths were reported Saturday. The latest numbers brought the total number of coronavirus-related deaths of the vast reservation to 1,366 since the pandemic began more than a year ago. Health officials said the total number of cases would be announced Monday. It stood at 31,160 cases as of Friday.  The reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.