- AGENCY WEBSITE HACKED
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico state agency's website is down as a result of what officials say is a ransomeware hack. The Public Regulation Commission says its website hasn't been operational since Jan. 9 and likely won't be back in service again for a week or so. In the meantime, the commission says filings with the commission either must submitted on paper and sent by postal mail or by hand-delivery to the agency's office in Santa Fe. The commission regulates utilities, insurance companies, pipeline operators and other entities. Officials say the breach was contained to the commission and didn't result in compromise to sensitive or confidential data. The state Department of Information Technology is the lead agency in the hacking investigation.
- ROSWELL-SUSPECT DEATH
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Roswell police say a crime suspect who allegedly fired at police is dead after shooting himself while he was the subject of a search. Police say the man fired at least one shot at one or more officers who responded to a report of an aggravated assault Wednesday night at or near Roswell Mall. Police say the initial gunfire occurred as the man ran away from the mall and that a search was then launched. According to police, the man shot himself about a half-hour later in a residential neighborhood elsewhere in northern Roswell. The man's identity wasn't released but police said he appeared to be in his 20s. No officers were injured.
- NAVAJO OFFICIAL-FUNERAL
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A former Navajo Nation Council delegate is being remembered for his years of public service and inspiration to others. The tribe says a funeral for John Perry Jr. is scheduled Thursday morning at Cope Memorial Chapel in Gallup. Meanwhile, flags across the Navajo Nation will be lowered. Perry died earlier this month at the age of 71. Tribal officials say two other former Tribal Council members died this month. Benjamin Hogue, who served between 1963 and 1979, died Jan. 3 at age 88. James Tomchee, who served in the 1990s, died Jan. 7 at age 86.
- TRI STATE-RENEWABLE ENERGY
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has started contracting for new solar power projects in western Colorado as it works to end operations at a coal-fired power plant and coal mine. The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reports that the utility will end coal-fired power generation to transition about half of its consumable energy to renewable sources by 2024. Officials say they expect these and other wind and solar projects to provide enough renewable power to serve 850,000 homes when completed. Tri-State is moving toward renewable sources in response to state laws and goals and pressure from its members for its reliance on coal.
- TROUBLED NEW MEXICO CITY
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — A northern New Mexico city plagued by lawsuits and a former mayor charged with felony bribery and abuse of power is facing more problems. The Las Vegas Optic reports the New Mexico Attorney General's Office announced last week the city of Las Vegas and its police violated open records and open meetings laws. In letters sent to city officials, the office warned that continued violations could result in criminal charges. Las Vegas City Attorney Esther Garduno-Montoya nor Interim City Manager Ann Marie Gallegos immediately returned emails.
- NEW MEXICO STATE-LAWSUIT
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A former criminal justice professor at New Mexico State University says he lost his job in retaliation for reporting misconduct at his department. The Las Cruces Sun-News reports Francisco Alatorre last month filed a lawsuit in state district court. He alleged the university interfered with his promotion and tenure after he cooperated with investigations into discriminatory conduct at the department in 2015. According to court documents, his department refused to grant him reasonable accommodations for a disability arising from his diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. New Mexico State University spokeswoman Minerva Baumann said the school was proud of its anti-discrimination policies and practices.
- DEPUTY SHOOTING-LAWSUIT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The family of a New Mexico woman fatally shot more than 20 times by sheriff's deputies is suing. KOB-TV reports the family of Elisha Lucero has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in state district court against the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. The lawsuit says the family called authorities in July 2019 as the 28-year-old Lucero was suffering a mental health crisis. But court documents say deputies escalated a tense situation when they showed up. The lawsuit alleges that deputies never called for a crisis intervention specialist despite at least one deputy knowing Lucero had mental health issues. A Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office spokesman declined to comment.
- GOVERNOR'S AGENDA-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced an ambitious policy agenda ahead of a 30-day legislative session. Lujan Grisham says she'll consider bills to reinstate New Mexico's tax credit for rooftop solar panels, to facilitate pharmaceutical imports and to criminalize terrorist threats and conduct. She confirmed her support for legislative efforts to provide tuition-free college to about 55,000 New Mexico residents, shore up a major public pension fund, authorize recreational marijuana sales and adopt so-called red flag gun legislation that sets up procedures for temporary firearms seizures.