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

  • IMMERSION ARTS STARTUP-NEW MEXICO

Taxpayer money, state endorsement fuels Meow Wolf expansionSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Arts and entertainment company Meow Wolf has been awarded more than a half-million dollars in state job-training funds.
The board of the New Mexico Job Training Incentive Program on Friday approved the $528,000 grant to the production arm of Meow Wolf as the Santa Fe-based startup plans new venues to Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix and Washington D.C.
Expansion efforts are anchored at a one-acre warehouse in New Mexico's state capital city. The tax-payer funded incentives support training for 26 new employees at Meow Wolf.
The Economic Development Department says previous job-training awards to Meow Wolf total $910,000.
Meow Wolf board member Vince Kadlubek says state incentives have helped the company reassure investors as it secures financing from the private sector and recruits entertainment executives to guide expansion.

  • URANIUM PLUMES-AQUIFER

New Mexico: More wells needed to grasp uranium plumes(Information from: Gallup Independent, http://www.gallupindependent.com)
MILAN, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico environmental officials say more wells are needed to measure uranium plumes in a major aquifer in western New Mexico.
The Gallup Independent reports the state Environment Department is asking federal authorities to collaborate with the state to ensure accurate measurement of a plume of uranium contamination leaving the Bluewater Disposal Site.
State officials are concern the full nature of the groundwater plume within the San Andres-Glorieta aquifer has not been defined because of the lack of a comprehensive monitoring well network.
Bernadette Tsosie, site manager at the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Legacy Management, said the path of the San Andres-Glorieta aquifer plume remains 2 miles (3 kilometers) north of the nearest drinking water supply well.
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  • ALBUQUERQUE GIRL KILLED-RELEASE

Release of suspect in Albuquerque girl's death draws protestALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A judge's decision to release a defendant charged in the 2016 killing of a 10-year-old Albuquerque girl is drawing outrage.
More than a hundred people protested downtown Sunday over the pending release of Fabian Gonzales while he awaits trial.
Gonzales has been in jail for more than three years and faces a charge of child abuse resulting in death.
He was initially accused of raping and murdering Victoria Martens. But prosecutors since determined that he wasn't at the girl's apartment when she was killed.
His cousin, Jessica Kelley, pleaded no contest to the same charge and other offenses.
The girl's mother pleaded guilty to reckless child abuse resulting in death.
The Administrative Office of the Courts says prosecutors failed to show Gonzales would be a danger to the community.

  • SUPREME COURT-ATTORNEY'S DEATH

New Mexico Supreme Court asked to review lawyer's 2010 death(Information from: KRQE-TV, http://www.krqe.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The family of a prominent Albuquerque attorney found dead in her home in 2010 wants the New Mexico Supreme Court to review the case.
Mary Han was found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning, and Albuquerque police ruled the death a suicide. Her estate recently filed a petition with the state's high court.
Her family members argue that police violated state constitutional protections for the 53-year-old Han as a crime victim when the department investigated her death.
According to Albuquerque TV station KQRE, Han's estate says the city police department had a conflict of interest in investigating her death and should have requested an outside law enforcement agency handle it.
Last August, a First Judicial District judge affirmed a decision changing Han's manner of death on her autopsy report from suicide to undetermined.
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  • LAS CRUCES-MURDER INVESTIGATION

Police: Woman found dead at a Las Cruces home; Man arrestedLAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Police in Las Cruces say they are investigating a domestic dispute that led to a murder and an attempted suicide.
They say officers were dispatched to a home around 9:30 p.m. Saturday and reported finding a woman dead from stab wounds and a man alive with a knife to his chest.
Police have identified the dead woman as 41-year-old Amberly Lopez.
They say the suspect is identified as 44-year-old Juan Lopez-Banos.
Police say officers were able to render aid to Lopez-Banos and take him into custody.
He's being held on suspicion of murder.
It was unclear Sunday if Lopez-Banos has a lawyer yet.

  • TV-THE WARRIOR TRADITION

Film probes history of Native Americans in the US militaryALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A new PBS film, "The Warrior Tradition," seeks to examine the history of Native Americans in the U.S. military since World War I.
Through interviews with veterans, the documentary shows how Native American veterans transformed the life for tribal members and used their service to expand civil rights.
The film illustrates the mixed feelings some Native Americans felt toward the U.S. military and how tribal members embraced those who served as "warriors."
Director Larry Hott says the Native American veterans in the film believed military service was part of their family history and wasn't just about a way to escape poverty.
The one-hour documentary co-produced by WNED-TV Buffalo Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions, Inc., is scheduled to air on most PBS stations Monday.

  • IMMIGRATION-DEFERRED ACTION

For 30-somethings, stakes are high over future of DACAPHOENIX (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday about President Donald Trump's attempt to end the program, and the stakes are particularly high for the older generation of people enrolled in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA.
The program dating back to the Obama administration allows immigrants brought here as children to work and protects them from deportation. Roughly 18% of the 669,000 people enrolled in DACA are 31 and older.
On Sept. 15, 2017, the Trump administration announced the end of the program, setting off a series of legal challenges that will culminate before the Supreme Court. A decision is expected in the spring.
DACA remains in existence, but only for people who were already enrolled when Trump ended it.

  • JAIL EMPLOYEE-METH

New Mexico jail employee accused of bringing meth to workSANTE FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico deputies have arrested a Santa Fe County Jail corrections officer after he acknowledged bringing meth to work.
Cohen Mangin was arrested and charged with bringing contraband into places of imprisonment and possession of a controlled substance. He was released Friday.
Authorities say another officer found a plastic bag filled with meth near the main entrance Thursday.
Investigators say surveillance video showed Mangin dropping it as he got out of a car.
Investigators say Mangin said in an interview that he used it to stay awake.
Online court records do not list a defense attorney for Mangin who could comment on the allegations.
A county spokesperson said an investigation is underway.
He is scheduled to appear in court in December.