- VALLES CALDERA-LAND PURCHASE
JEMEZ SPRINGS, N.M. (AP) — A national preserve in northern New Mexico that is sometimes referred to as the "Yellowstone of the Southwest" has added another piece of property to its land holdings that contains sulfuric acid hot springs, volcanic fumaroles and steaming mud pots. The National Park Service recently completed the purchase of a 40-acre parcel known as Sulphur Springs within the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Officials say many of the geothermal features on the property are found nowhere else in New Mexico, and similar sites are very rare in the Western U.S. The acidic pools and streams also are home to a range of "extremophile" algae and bacteria.
- GAME COMMISSION-LEADERSHIP
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A panel charged with overseeing hunting and fishing regulations and managing wildlife across New Mexico is meeting for the first time following a shakeup. There is an ongoing dispute that involves public access to rivers and streams that flow through private property. Former Game Commission chairwoman Joanna Prukop ran afoul of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last fall when she and other commissioners voted to reconsider the contested rule that limits access. Questions have been raised about its constitutionality. The commission had the support of sportsmen groups, conservationists and members of Congress, but the governor's office opted to replace her.
- WINTER WEATHER-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Winter weather caused school closures and delayed openings Friday due to slick roads from snow and freezing rain across much of northern New Mexico as authorities warned that strong winds could create hazardous driving conditions. Public schools in Santa Fe were closed while Albuquerque's public schools and the University of New Mexico delayed their openings by two hours. The National Weather Service said gusts near 60 mph were expected across the Sangre de Cristo Mountains southward toward Clines Corner, which is 60 miles east of Albuquerque along Interstate 40. Forecasters also warned of freezing fog in some areas.
- LOBBYISTS-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A watchdog group on ethics in government is highlighting the influence of paid lobbyists on the legislative process in New Mexico. A report published Friday advocates for greater public disclosures on lobbying and a change in the culture of local Statehouse politics. New Mexico Ethics Watch issued the report that names that state's top registered lobbyists in terms of expenditures and how many clients they represent. It also traces the influence of lobbyists on recent initiatives for gun control, recreational marijuana legalization, film industry incentives and taxes on tobacco products.
- TRIBAL CASINOS-HURT WORKERS
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The state Supreme Court says at least some tribal casino workers injured on the job can't receive New Mexico workers' compensation benefits. A ruling Thursday precludes an Isleta Pueblo casino employee who hurt her knee while working from bringing a claim against the pueblo or its insurer under the program. Program administrators dismissed Gloria Mendoza's claim, saying the pueblo can't be sued in state court or administrative proceedings without its consent under the tribal sovereign immunity doctrine. Thursday's ruling says Mendoza's claims can't proceed because the pueblo isn't part of the case and there's no indication it ever agreed to participate in the program. The decision cautions that its conclusions may not apply to all workers' compensation cases involving tribes.
- TEJANO SINGER-SHOOTING
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A slain Tejano singer from New Mexico will posthumously receive the New Mexico Hispano Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the group recently announced it will give Ernestine Saucedo, known to music fans by her maiden name, Ernestine Romero, the award at their annual Hispano Music Awards. The event will be held Saturday at the Ohkay Hotel Casino Conference Center. Organizers and Romero's loved ones said the award is one way to help ensure her legacy is not forgotten. Police said the 32-year-old singer and songwriter was fatally shot in July by her husband, 34-year-old Jessie Saucedo. Authorities say he then killed himself.
- ODD-MEDICAL POT-SWAT STANDOFF
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a SWAT team was forced to smoke out suspects in an Albuquerque marijuana dispensary burglary that sparked a standoff. Police said 35-year-old Kyle Minard was arrested Tuesday after the SWAT team dispatched tear gas into the R. Greenleaf business. Around four hours later, 32-year-old Bronson Jeremy Vigil came running out of the dispensary and was also arrested. Sgt. Tanner Tixier says officers had responded to a break-in alarm around 2:30 a.m. Tixier says officers searched the dispensary with a police dog when they spotted a man inside and he began "scaling the interior walls" before hiding in the roof. Police used police dogs and then tear gas to get the men out.
- IMPEACHMENT-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's senior U.S. senator says he intends to hear all the evidence at the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump before making a decision. Democratic Sen. Tom Udall was sworn in Thursday for the upcoming trial. Udall spokesman Ned Adriance said in an email that Udall is pushing for a full and fair trial to ensure that the facts are fully uncovered. Two articles of impeachment charge Trump with abuse of power by pressuring Ukraine to help him politically and obstructing Congress's probe into what happened. Udall has been a critic of Trump on a wide range of issues.