- Hispanic Catholics asked to skip healing sites amid outbreak
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — El Santuario de Chimayó is one of many historic Hispanic Catholic healing sites limiting access — or outright closing — to pilgrims as the novel coronavirus spreads. From Colorado to France, Catholic officials are discouraging big gatherings and halting traditional excursions to sites devotees visit to seek miracles or healing. Public Masses have been canceled and Holy Week events likely won't occur. Catholic Studies scholar Andrew Chesnut says the restrictions are unprecedented and forcing believers to take their petitions and prayers online. Visitors to various sites said they had planned to pray for those inflicted by COVID-19 and ask for protection from the virus.
- Artist sues Meow Wolf over copyright infringement claim
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An artist whose quirky Space Owl features prominently in Meow Wolf's wildly successful interactive art exhibit is suing the company and its founder for copyright infringement. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Lauren Adele Oliver says in her lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court that the art collective convinced her to install a sculpture of Space Owl in its House of Eternal Return by offering her membership in the group and an "artist revenue share." Oliver says the group then backpedaled and offered her a choice between selling the character outright for pennies on the dollar or removing it without any additional compensation. Meow Wolf Vice President of Marketing Didi Bethurum calls the allegations "baseless."
- Report: Las Cruces officer used neck restraint on suspect
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Police have confirmed that Las Cruces police used a controversial vascular neck restraint and a stun gun on a suspect before he died. A state police report released Tuesday said Officer Christopher Smelser used a vascular neck restraint on Antonio Valenzuela who fled from a traffic stop last month. According to authorities, the 40-year-old Valenzuela had an open bench warrant for a parole violation. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The police use of vascular neck restraint, sometimes called a chokehold, has been the subject of protests in some communities.
- New Mexico cracks down on hoarding of medical supplies
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has confirmed a coronavirus infection that has no apparent link to travel as the governor takes new steps to limit the spread of the contagion by restricting restaurants to take-out service and closing down movie theaters, gyms and shopping centers. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday announced five new positive tests for coronavirus, bringing the state total to 28 infections. A woman in her 40s in the Albuquerque area is the first case of so-called community spread. Purchases of over-the-counter medical and some sanitary supplies are being limited to prevent hoarding and shortages.
- Coronavirus tests rural health networks in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is bracing for the possible spread of coronavirus to some of America's most remote, impoverished communities, as hospitals across the state prepare to convert operating rooms into acute respiratory care units. Health officials are outlining medical triage strategies in the state that struggles to keep physicians in rural areas. Those preparations take place as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham clamps down on social gatherings that might spread infection. In rural areas, doctors are still concerned about shortages in protective medical equipment and limited access to ventilator machines that may be needed to save lives.
- Endangered gray wolf population on the rise in southwest US
THE EDGE OF THE GILA WILDERNESS, N.M. (AP) — There are more Mexican gray wolves in the wild now than at any time since the U.S. government began reintroducing the endangered species in the American Southwest more than two decades ago. Federal officials on Wednesday announced the result of the latest survey, saying there are at least 163 wolves in the wild in New Mexico and Arizona. That marks a nearly 25% jump in the population from the previous year. No matter the number, ranchers and rural residents say the situation for them has become untenable. They point to thousands of dollars in losses as 2019 marked a record year for cattle killed by the wolves.
- New Mexico seeks dismissal of lawsuit on education changes
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The state of New Mexico has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that resulted in a 2018 ruling that the state failed to provide a sufficient education for every student. Attorneys for the state public education system say New Mexico has complied with the ruling by increasing education funding and revising programs designed to assist at-risk students. The state education department did not respond to a request for comment. A private law firm representing the state has argued the court should determine whether the state has complied with the terms of the ruling. Attorneys for the students and their families have argued otherwise.
- Getting coronavirus updates in Spanish is a mixed bag in US
PHOENIX (AP) — As government officials across the country warn about the dangers of the coronavirus, they're doing so predominantly in English. They're potentially not reaching the millions of Spanish speakers in the U.S. who aren't proficient in English to make sure they know how to stay healthy during a global pandemic. In Arizona, the health department website doesn't have Spanish-language updates. But in Washington state, where most coronavirus deaths in the U.S. have occurred, officials have led the way in Spanish messaging and reaching people in many other languages. Advocacy groups and Spanish-language media are filling in the gaps as cities and states say they're working to translate guidance.