- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation officials reported 55 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths. The latest numbers released Sunday evening bring the total number of cases on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah to 29,269 since the pandemic began. There have been 1,111 deaths reported related to COVID-19. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez issued a statement reminding people to continue to take precautions to avoid spreading the virus and to protect their loved ones. He also encouraged people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The tribe has a nightly curfew in place from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to limit the spread of the virus.
- SWAT STANDOFF ARREST
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a man has been arrested after allegedly shooting at an Albuquerque police officer that led to a standoff with a SWAT team. Police say 33-year-old Johnny Ray Gonzales was taken into custody Saturday. They say Gonzales was barricaded inside a refrigerator and was eventually taken into custody after a police tactical team deployed chemical munitions. Police say Gonzales was probation for aggravated battery, armed robbery, battery on a peace officer and felon in possession of a firearm. They say when an officer tried to make contact with Gonzales, a foot pursuit ensued and several shots were fired at the policeman. Police say the officer's injuries were superficial and he wasn't taken to a hospital.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Health officials in New Mexico on Sunday reported 285 new cases of coronavirus and 13 additional deaths. The New Mexico Department of Health says the state has seen 180,571 cases and 3,529 known deaths related to COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Bernalillo County, the state's largest, had 64 of the new cases with Doña Ana County reported 63 cases. New infections in New Mexico have been trending downward and health officials said this week that vaccinations have helped bring the numbers down. However, they stressed that public health practices such as mask-wearing and hand-washing are still important as different variants continue to emerge.
- NEW MEXICO STORM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A blizzard warning has been issued for the Albuquerque metro area as a storm is bringing snow, wind and arctic air across New Mexico. Authorities say roads are snowy and icy across northern, central and eastern New Mexico. The National Weather Service says snow was forecast to continue falling in the southern half of the state through the afternoon while it tapers off across the northern half of New Mexico. State Department of Transportation officials say the storm may bring whiteout conditions along with bitter cold temperatures. The storm is expected to continue for southern New Mexico into Monday morning and result in below-freezing temperatures in some locations.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation officials have reported 35 new COVID-19 cases and five more deaths. The most recent numbers on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah bring the total number of cases to 29,205 and known deaths to 1,108 since the pandemic began. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez issued a statement reminding people that a mask mandate is in place on the reservation and he encouraged the wearing of two masks after a U.S. government study this week found that wearing two masks can be better than one in protecting against coronavirus spread. The tribe has a nightly curfew in place from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to limit the spread of the virus.
- TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial ended Saturday with an acquittal as both of New Mexico's two Democratic senators voted in a majority that fell short of the two-thirds needed for conviction. Sen. Martin Heinrich said Jan. 6 was a "violent and bloody attack on our democracy (that) was cultivated by months of Donald Trump repeating a completely baseless lie of election fraud..." Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he "took no pleasure" in voting to convict Trump but said there was "no doubt that the former president did everything in his power to overturn the results of the 2020 election."
- BIDEN-BORDER ENFORCEMENT
TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — President Joe Biden is facing mounting pressure at the border. Thousands of people are waiting to claim asylum and more come each day, falsely believing they will be able to enter the U.S. now that former President Donald Trump is out of office. Biden has made major changes to his predecessor's hardline immigration policies. But he hasn't lifted the major restrictions to people seeking asylum as he faces pressures from all sides. His administration has promised a more "humane" approach but hasn't said how or when it will act and is trying to discourage people from coming in the meantime.
- NEW MEXICO WEATHER
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Forecasters on Saturday warned that a strong storm system will blanket much of New Mexico with snow while pummeling the state with wind chills from strong winds and plummeting temperatures. The National Weather Service said several inches of snow were expected Saturday night through Sunday and that wind blowing through gaps in the central mountain chain will have gusts up to 60 mph in canyons. According to forecasters, record-breaking cold temperatures are likely, especially across eastern New Mexico. They said "dangerously cold wind chills" are expected Sunday and Sunday night and that road conditions are expected to quickly deteriorate as snow accumulates through Sunday.