- TRUMP-IMMIGRATION
'Not just talking points': Kushner's new tack on immigrationWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's White House hasn't been known for its careful crafting of policy.
But the president's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, has spent months drawing up a long-awaited immigration overhaul plan that the White House began to roll out on Tuesday.
Frustrated by congressional inaction and stinging Republican defeats, Kushner has been meeting with GOP groups and speaking with lawmakers to try to craft a plan the president's party might be able to unite behind heading into the 2020 elections.
It's a new approach for an administration with few legislative achievements and facing the challenges of navigating a hostile Democratic House, where many members are more intent on investigating the president than working with him.
- NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE
US regulators reject calls for hearing in nuke storage caseALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. regulators have denied requests by watchdog and environmental groups that sought an evidentiary hearing challenging plans by a New Jersey-based company to build a storage facility for spent fuel from commercial nuclear reactors.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board announced its decision Tuesday after hearing arguments in Albuquerque earlier this year.
The multimillion-dollar project proposed by Holtec International would allow for spent fuel rods to be transferred from sites around the nation to a temporary home in southeastern New Mexico.
Opponents have raised concerns about the project's legality, the safety of transporting high-level waste and the potential for contamination if something were to go wrong.
Lawyers for the group Beyond Nuclear say they will continue to pursue a federal court appeal aimed at stopping the project.
- JEMEZ HISTORIC SITE-MULTIMEDIA
New Mexico students help redesign Jemez Historic SiteLAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — A group of New Mexico college students is helping redesign the Jemez Historic Site visitor center using multimedia tools.
New Mexico Highlands University announced this week that 15 of its media arts students are creating floor-to-ceiling video projections of historic images and oral histories at the Native American site. The students also are adding interactive touch-screen computer tablets that focus on artifacts and an event called "Light Among the Ruins."
Supervisory archaeologist Ethan Ortega says the students used oral histories and texts written by Jemez tribal members to create the new components.
The Jemez Historic Site includes the stone remains of a 500-year-old village and the San José church, which dates to 1622.
It is located at Jemez Springs, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Albuquerque.
- ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
Congressional candidate drops out, endorses local prosecutorSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Democratic contender for New Mexico's northern congressional seat in 2020 elections says he is leaving the race and endorsing another likely candidate.
Air ambulance business manager Mark McDonald of Raton on Wednesday said he's dropping out of the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján. McDonald is voicing support for a possible candidacy by Santa Fe-based District Attorney Marco Serna, who has launched an exploratory committee.
The 27-year-old McDonald ran unsuccessfully in 2018 as a Democrat and openly gay candidate for a state House seat held by Republican Jack Chatfield. McDonald says he likes Serna's approach to economic and public health issues.
Candidates actively pursuing the 3rd Congressional District seat include state Rep. Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde and Santa Fe-based attorney Teresa Leger. Both are Democrats.
- OFFICER KILLED-SENTENCE
Felon to spend life in prison for killing New Mexico officerALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A felon found guilty of killing an Albuquerque police officer during a 2015 traffic stop will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Davon Lymon was sentenced Tuesday after being convicted last month of first-degree murder in the shooting of Officer Daniel Webster after the officer pulled him over on suspicion of having stolen plates on the motorcycle he was riding.
Prosecutors said Lymon — whose prior convictions include manslaughter, fraud and forgery — chose to take the officer's life because he was a felon who had a firearm and didn't want to return to prison.
Lymon again argued self-defense, but the judge said he wasn't entitled to that claim and that he showed no remorse.
During the trial, attorneys showed police lapel video of the moment Webster attempted to handcuff Lymon to a motorcycle and was shot.
- PENSION DISPUTE-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: New Mexico pension puts staff raises on holdSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The board overseeing a $15 billion public pension fund has placed pay increases on hold for top staff members amid recriminations over prior raises and whether they were approved properly.
The New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association board on Tuesday delayed authorization of scheduled pay raises for 11 appointed employees including the executive director of the pension plan for state and local workers.
State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg says the pension's executive director orchestrated pay increases for himself and others without full board approval in violation of state statute and fiduciary obligations. Executive Director Wayne Propst says the accusations are misleading and that he has followed established practices of the agency for the approval of compensation increases.
The pension's unfunded obligations to retirees have negatively affected the credit rating for the state and the city of Albuquerque.
Both Eichenberg and Propst found affirmation Tuesday in an analysis from the state treasurer of procedures for staff pay increases.
State Auditor Brian Colón wrote that Propst acted reasonably and within his authority. He describes conflicting provisions of state statute and board policy on setting compensation as a "legal grey area."
- CHACO CANYON-DRILLING
US land managers ordered to review several drilling permitsALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A federal appeals court says U.S. land managers should have done more to consider the cumulative effects on water resources before approving a handful of oil and gas drilling permits in northwestern New Mexico.
Tuesday's ruling comes in a long-running dispute over hundreds of permits that have been issued in the San Juan Basin. Environmental groups and some Native Americans have voiced concerns about the effects of increased development on the region's culturally significant sites.
The groups claimed in their initial complaint filed in 2015 that the Bureau of Land Management violated environmental and preservation laws in approving the permits.
A panel of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the preservation claims but did rule that land managers needed to do another environmental review for six of the permits.
- RUSSIAN-PLANE FIRE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexican among those killed in Russian plane fireSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A recent college graduate from New Mexico who had just landed a dream job was among those killed when a Russian plane burst into flames during an emergency landing in Moscow.
Jeremy Brooks of Santa Fe was remembered as a fly-fishing expert by his former boss, Ivan Valdez, owner of The Reel Life fishing shop.
Valdez told reporters Monday that the 22-year-old Brooks had recently graduated from Colorado College in Colorado Springs and was on his way to serve as a fishing guide in northwest Russia.
The Russian airliner that took off Sunday from Moscow was airborne for 28 minutes before returning for an emergency landing while still heavy with unburned fuel, which then ignited after a rough touchdown. Flames quickly engulfed the aircraft, killing 41 of 78 people aboard.