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Latest New Mexico news, sports, business and entertainment at 1:20 a.m. MST

  • New Mexico Senate backs bill to change school funding

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Senate is backing sweeping education funding reforms that will result in more money being sent to Native American school districts. The bill passed on Friday eliminates a credit long used by the state to send less education funding to schools surrounded by non-taxable lands like Native American reservations and army bases. Some senators argue the changes will sully a statewide funding formula focused on equality. But recent court judgments have ordered additional funding to underserved students, especially those serving Native American and low-income students. The Senate will also consider increasing funding for two-year colleges and payouts from the state's $20 billion endowment.

  • New Mexico governor's top aide accused of ethics violation

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A former trustee for New Mexico's retirement system for its public employees has filed an ethics complaint against Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's chief operating officer. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Tuesday that Claudia Armijo has accused Teresa Casados of pressuring her to take part in voting to endorse a state Senate bill Lujan Grisham strongly backed in an attempt to eventually bring the state's pension system out of debt. In 2020, the system had an estimated $6.6 billion in unfunded liabilities. Casados' office did not respond to requests for comment made by the Santa Fe New Mexican.

  • Bill advances to exempt New Mexico from time changes

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico would eliminate seasonal time changes under a bill endorsed by the New Mexico state Senate. On a 22-18 vote Friday, the Senate endorsed a Republican-sponsored bill that would keep New Mexico on daylight saving time throughout the year and do away with spring and fall clock adjustments. The bill moves to the House, where the level of support for it is uncertain. Republican Sen. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell has championed the initiative since 2013 without success. He says time changes are disruptive and that many people prefer to have extra daylight in the evening.

  • Wanted Las Cruces man killed in shootout with Mexican police

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A Las Cruces man suspected of seriously injuring a city police officer with his vehicle during a February incident at a fast-food restaurant has died after a shootout with law enforcement officers in Juarez, Mexico. Las Cruces police say 40-year-old Mark James Esquibel was hit during an exchange of gunfire Thursday and died Friday. Police spokesman Danny Trujillo says reports from Mexico show one officer there was killed in the shootout with Esquibel and two others wounded. Esquibel was suspected of running over a Las Cruces officer on Feb. 15 after police tried to arrest him.

  • Navajo Nation reports 12 virus cases, 1 death on Friday

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Friday reported 12 additional COVID-19 cases and one death from the virus. In all, the tribe has reported nearly 30,000 confirmed cases and 1,195 deaths from the virus since the pandemic began a year ago. Health facilities on the reservation and in border towns are conducting drive-thru vaccine events or administering doses by appointment. The Navajo-area Indian Health Service has vaccinated more than 135,000 people so far. A daily curfew from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. and a mask mandate remain in effect for residents of the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

  • Body found in vehicle at Albuquerque airport parking garage

Albuquerque police say the body of a homicide victim has been found inside a vehicle in a parking garage at the city's airport. No information was immediately released about the person whose body was found Friday after Albuquerque International Sunport security personnel contacted police about a foul odor. Interim police Chief Harold Medina said the victim was not killed at the airport but that investigators didn't immediately know where the homicide occurred. Medina said the investigation was in its early stages but that detectives had some leads. Aviation Director Nyika Allen said said airport operations were functioning normally.

  • Teen arrested in Albuquerque triple shooting; 2 women killed

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say a 15-year-old boy has been arrested in the shootings of three people, including two women killed in the Jan. 27 incident. Police said the teen is accused of going to an apartment complex and fatally shooting 21-year-old Aerial Mallam and 31-year-old and Jessica Casaus Lucero and of shooting Stephen Mitchell, who survived his wounds. Police said the youth was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with another person as the youth tried to take a vehicle before running away. The Associated Press generally does not identify juvenile crime suspects. An arrest warrant charged the youth with murder and multiple other crimes.

  • Rice lifts New Mexico St. over Dixie State 76-66

ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) — Jabari Rice tied his season high with 20 points and New Mexico State beat Dixie State 76-66. Hunter Schofield led the Trailblazers with 20 points and seven rebounds.