- Cleanup of US nuclear waste takes back seat as virus spreads
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. government's efforts to clean up Cold War-era waste from nuclear research and bomb making at federal sites around the country has lumbered along for decades, often at a pace that watchdogs and other critics say threatens public health and the environment. Now, fallout from the global coronavirus pandemic is resulting in more challenges as the nation's only underground repository for nuclear waste finished ramping down operations Wednesday to keep workers safe. Shipments to the desert outpost will be limited for the foreseeable future while national laboratories and defense sites around the country have shifted to only those operations considered "mission critical."
- Hotel that hosted John Wayne to house homeless patients
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A western New Mexico hotel that once hosted John Wayne and future U.S. President Ronald Reagan will use one of its buildings to house homeless respiratory patients. The Gallup Independent reports El Rancho Hotel agreed this week to offer its space in the event health care workers needed places for critical patients affected by COVID-19. El Rancho Hotel officials say patients will be placed in a separate building located across the parking lot from the central hotel. Located on Route 66 near the Arizona state line, El Rancho Hotel played host to actors Reagan, Wayne, Katherine Hepburn, and Spencer Tracy.
- New Mexico city mayor sworn in after predecessor indicted
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — The northern New Mexico city of Las Vegas has officially sworn in a new mayor whose predecessor resigned amid bribery charges. The Las Vegas Optic reports Louie Trujillo took the oath of office Wednesday during a special ceremony that was live-streamed to the public. The ceremony was limited to five people due to order restrictions over the spread of COVID-19. Trujillo was elected during the March municipal election, when he received 57.4% of the votes. He replaces Tonita Gurule-Giron, who resigned in January two weeks after she was indicted on charges of bribery and accepting kickbacks.
- Man faces prison sentence in attempt to arrange killing
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A southwestern New Mexico man faces nine years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court in Las Cruces to crimes stemming from a 2019 attempt to arrange a murder-for-hire. The U.S. Attorney's Office says 30-year-old Jacob Grijalva of Silver City pleaded guilty Wednesday to using a cellphone to try to arrange a killing and to obstruction of justice. The office says Grijalva wanted to avoid prosecution for a weapons offense and has now admitted he called a person whom he mistakenly thought was a hitman. The person called by Grijalva was actually an undercover federal agent. The office says Grijalva's plea agreement calls for him to be sentenced to nine years in prison.
- New Mexico sees another huge spike in unemployment claims
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — More than 28,000 New Mexico residents have applied for unemployment benefits — over 50% more than the amount filed the previous week. The U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that 28,182 people in the state applied for unemployment benefits last week compared to a record-setting 18,105 the week before. Filings for unemployment aid generally reflect the pace of layoffs. The numbers show the widespread economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus continues to inflict damage to the nation's economy. The Labor Department said more than 6.6 million Americans applied for benefits last week _ doubling a record set just a week earlier.
- US judge dismisses New Mexico's immigration lawsuit
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A U.S. judge has granted a motion to dismiss claims by New Mexico that immigration officials shirked their duties by quickly releasing thousands of mostly Central American migrants into communities after they crossed into the United States. New Mexico claimed in a 2019 lawsuit that the practice left communities to pick up the tab for housing and feeding the asylum-seekers until they moved on to find relatives or other hosts elsewhere in the U.S. The judge found that federal officials acted within their powers and discretion and that sovereign immunity protected the federal government from liability.
- New Mexico has few medical masks to spare as virus spreads
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State officials say new Mexico's health care system has a limited statewide stock of about 44,000 snug-fitting N95 face masks that can protect medical workers from the coronavirus by filtering out small airborne particles. Confirmed COVID-19 cases across New Mexico increased Thursday by 11% to 403, with seven deaths and about 30 people hospitalized. New Mexico has about 2.4 million exam gloves, 70,500 medical gowns and 234,000 surgical masks that offer less protection from virus infections than N95 masks. State officials provided the figures on protective equipment after The Associated Press requested details about the state's supplies.
- With US border work on track, rural towns fear virus spread
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Major construction projects are moving forward along both U.S. borders and raising fears that the influx of workers could spread the coronavirus. Along the northern border, a Canadian company says it will start work this month on a disputed oil pipeline that could bring thousands of workers to rural areas in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Along the southern border, workers travel every day from camps in New Mexico to build President Donald Trump's border wall. Residents, tribal leaders and state officials worry that the work could make problems worse in rural areas with little or no medical infrastructure capable of handling an outbreak.