- ENDANGERED MOUSE-LAWSUIT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Environmentalists say U.S. land managers are failing to keep livestock and wild horses out of streams and other wetlands in Arizona's White Mountains, resulting in damage to habitat that a rare species of mouse depends on. They are suing in federal court. The battle over the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse has been ongoing for years. The mouse was listed as an endangered species in 2014. That prompted the U.S. Forest Service to fence off streams and watering holes in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado to protect habitat thought to be ideal. Forest officials said Friday that work is continuing and disputed the allegations.
- MARIJUANA-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has stopped issuing medical marijuana enrollment cards to people who live outside the state but will soon allow nonresident patients enrolled in other state programs to buy pot. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday reinstated a residency requirement for participation in the state's medical cannabis program by signing a measure passed by lawmakers. At least 613 nonresidents have enrolled in the medical pot program since the residency requirement was dropped last year. On July 1, New Mexico will recognize medical marijuana cards issued by other states. Officials say the goal of recognizing out-of-state cards is to allow patients to access cannabis just like other medications.
- EX-DEPUTY-SENTENCING
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a former Colfax County sheriff's deputy to seven years in prison for drug trafficking and theft in New Mexico. The Albuquerque Journal reported that the former deputy said at his sentencing hearing Thursday that he was tempted by the money and had disgraced his law enforcement agency, the public and his family. Prosecutors say he hid $4,200 in cash in the tailpipe of his truck, stole more than $13,000 and confiscated marijuana from two men, and accepted $10,000 to escort a load of cocaine through Colfax County. He pleaded guilty in 2016.
- GOOGLE-NEW MEXICO LAWSUIT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is suing Google over allegations the tech company is illegally collecting personal data generated by children in violation of federal and state laws. The state attorney general's office has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court. Attorney General Hector Balderas claims Google is using its education services package that is marketed to school districts, teachers and parents to spy on children and their families. He says the company is mining data without parental consent on physical locations, websites visited, saved passwords and other information. Google disputes the allegations, saying the service allows schools to control account access and requires they obtain parental consent when necessary.
- FOUR CORNERS-FREIGHT RAILROAD
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — The Navajo Nation and New Mexico's San Juan County have entered into an agreement to pursue a freight railroad to serve the Four Corners area. Thursday's agreement means cooperation between both governments to pave the way for rail service and the improvement of the local economy. Over the last few decades, there have been several feasibility studies to examine proposed alignments of freight rail service to Four Corners. The rail system would be a short line intended to carry freight from the area of San Juan County, south through the Navajo Nation and to the established Interstate 40 corridor railroad.
- OUT-OF-STATE APPLICATIONS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The University of New Mexico has confirmed an increase in the number of nonresident applications for the coming school year. The Albuquerque Journal reported Wednesday that there are 5,694 out-of-state applications. That's a 56% increase from last year, when the school had received less than 3,700 out-of-state applications during the same period. University President Garnett Stokes told the Board of Regents d Tuesday that nonresident applications for the upcoming academic year have increased while in-state student applications are down about 6%. It is unclear how many of the students who applied will end up enrolling.
- ELECTION 2020-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico House Republicans say they see path to majoritySANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico House Republicans say voter anger over a red-flag gun bill and overspending will help them reclaim the majority in 2020. House Minority Whip Rod Montoya said Thursday that Republicans will take back the New Mexico House in 2020 and challenge Democrats in key swing seats. Republicans captured the House in 2014 for the first time since the President Dwight Eisenhower era. Democrats retook the House in 2016. The New Mexico Legislative Session ended Thursday after the Democratic-controlled body passed a $7.6 billion budget with big spending increases. Rep. Jason Harper says Republicans are working on a strategy to explain to voters the effects over overspending.
- LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico legislators forged a budget agreement Thursday that increases annual spending on government programs and school districts by more than half a billion dollars. The spending includes new investments in early childhood education and college scholarships in a state afflicted by high rates of childhood poverty. In the predawn hours, the state House endorsed a $7.6 billion general fund budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. It raises annual spending by $536 million, or nearly 8%. In the final hours of the session, lawmakers approved the reinstatement of a rooftop solar tax credit that expired in 2016.