- ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: New Mexico candidate warns against warSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Congressional candidate and former CIA operative Valeria Plame says a war with Iran would be devastating for all involved and is warning of warmongering tendencies within the Trump administration.
In a broadcast interview with SiriusXM's The Press Pool with Julie Mason on Wednesday, Plame urged the Trump administration to use diplomatic tools to ease strained relations with Iran.
Tensions are sweeping the Persian Gulf region over unspecified threats that the Trump administration says are linked to Iran.
In a wide-ranging conversation about national security, Plame says the U.S. lost leverage in its relationship with Iran when the Trump administration withdrew a year ago from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers. Plame says U.S. national security adviser John Bolton "never saw a war that he didn't want to jump in."
Plame, who lives in Santa Fe, became a national figure after her identity as a CIA operative was leaked by an official in President George W. Bush's administration in an effort to discredit her then-husband, diplomat Joe Wilson. She is seeking the Democratic nomination in 2020 for an open congressional race in northern New Mexico.
- TRUMP-IMMIGRATION
Trump to deliver immigration speech ThursdayWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will deliver an immigration speech on Thursday.
Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working to finalize a plan that focuses on border security and changes to the legal immigration system. Kushner presented the plan to senators on the Hill Tuesday.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters after the presentation that White House officials seemed "well on their way" to winning consensus for a plan that would unite Republicans on the contentious issue. But he added, "Whether it will or not, I don't know."
One Republican official briefed on Tuesday's meeting said Kushner provided few details.
Trump's speech Thursday hasn't been publicly announced, but a person familiar with the plans discussed them on condition of anonymity.
- BASEBALL PLAYER KILLED-SUSPECT
No bond before trial for suspect in killing of UNM pitcherALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A man accused of fatally shooting a University of New Mexico baseball player outside an Albuquerque bar earlier this month will be held without bond pending trial.
A judge made that decision Wednesday during a court hearing.
Authorities say 23-year-old Darian Bashir is charged with an open count of murder in the death of Jackson Weller.
Witnesses told Albuquerque police that Weller was shot after he got into a fight at a bar on May 4 and the shooter fled the scene in a car.
Bashir was arrested last Saturday.
Weller was a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher from Keller, Texas who wasn't on the Lobos' active roster due to an injury.
He had transferred to UNM from Gateway Community College in Phoenix.
Weller's funeral was held Monday in Colleyville, Texas.
- BODIES FOUND-MOBILE HOME
3 people found dead amid gas fumes in New Mexico mobile homeSANTA CRUZ, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a man and his two children have been found dead inside a mobile home in the Santa Cruz area of northern Santa Fe County.
County Sheriff's officials say deputies went to the home around 6 p.m. Tuesday after a report of a heavy smell of gas fumes.
They say two bodies were found in the kitchen and the other body was discovered in a bathtub.
A Sheriff's Office search warrant affidavit identified the three dead as 39-year-old Dominic Mansanarez, 19-year-old Isa Mansanarez and 9-year-old Ventura Mansanarez.
Authorities say it's unclear what caused the mobile home to fill with gas.
They say Dominic Mansanarez's mother discovered the bodies on the floor of the home after becoming concerned when no one answered the door Tuesday.
- FACEBOOK DATA CENTER
Facebook buys land in New Mexico but mum on purpose(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Facebook has more than doubled its New Mexico footprint with the purchase of more than 400 acres near its new data center.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the social media giant confirmed this week that it purchased the land in March, adding to the 300 acres in Los Lunas, New Mexico, it already owns. But the Menlo Park, California-based Facebook declined to say what it plans to do with the property adjacent to its data center.
The recent purchase was disclosed last week in a joint letter from two state cabinet secretaries to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
New Mexico does not publicly disclose property sale prices.
Facebook is constructing a six-building, $1 billion data center on the 300-acre parcel it purchased in 2016.
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- NEW MEXICO RIVER-SUSPECT MISSING
New Mexico man missing after jump into river to elude police(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
SANTA FE, New Mexico (AP) — New Mexico police say a man who jumped into a river while being chased by officers remains missing.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Tuesday that 46-year-old Brian Encinias ran from New Mexico State Police May 9.
Police say Encinias jumped into the river in Pecos to elude officers and the flowing water took him downstream around 4:30 p.m.
Encinias' brother says an officer told him Encinias' body was seen floating upside down a short distance downstream from the place where he entered the water in the village 26 miles (42 kilometers) east of Santa Fe.
Police say officers investigating a larceny case in the area recognized Encinias as someone with an active arrest warrant. When they approached, Encinias fled on foot and jumped into the Pecos River.
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- IMMIGRATION-CHILD'S DEATH
Migrant child dies in US custody; 4th since DecemberHOUSTON (AP) — A Guatemalan official says a 2½-year-old migrant child has died after crossing the border, becoming the fourth minor known to have died after being detained by the Border Patrol since December.
Tekandi Paniagua, the consul for Guatemala in Del Rio, Texas, said Wednesday that the boy had entered the United States with his parent at El Paso, Texas, in early April. Paniagua said the boy had a high fever and difficulty breathing, and authorities took him to a children's hospital where he was diagnosed with pneumonia.
The boy remained hospitalized for about a month before dying Tuesday. The Washington Post first reported his death.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection didn't respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Advocates have long questioned the Border Patrol's ability to care for the thousands of parents and children in its custody. The agency says it's overwhelmed by the surge of migrant families crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
- MAGDALENA-HOMICIDE VICTIM
Nebraska man ID'd as victim of fatal shooting in New MexicoMAGDALENA, N.M. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a Nebraska man who was killed in New Mexico earlier this week.
New Mexico State Police say the victim was 30-year-old Stuart Gordon of Lincoln.
His name was released Wednesday after his relatives were notified of his death.
State Police say 39-year-old Jo Hill is jailed without bond on suspicion of an open count of murder.
The Magdalena Marshals Office was dispatched Monday afternoon to the High Country Lodge about a gunshot victim.
Gordon was pronounced dead at the scene and State Police was brought in to investigate.
They say Hill and Gordon got into a physical altercation in the parking lot of the lodge.
Hill then reportedly shot the victim.
It was unclear Wednesday if Hill has a lawyer yet.