- GENDER NEUTRAL RULEBOOKS-NEW MEXICO
She can take it, but not 'him': Gender-specific nouns nixedSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The first female to oversee New Mexico's multibillion-dollar mineral resources is proposing to do away with gender-specific pronouns such as "he," ''his" or "him" in state agency rulebooks.
Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard says her agency will hold a public hearing Friday in Santa Fe on the proposed changes. Gender-specific pronouns would be replaced by more neutral or specific references.
Garcia Richard says current agency rules use male pronouns throughout to refer to her position. She says it's no surprise that some written wording has grown outdated at the 120-year-old agency.
The commissioner has final say on the language changes.
The State Land Office oversees energy leases across about 14,000 square miles (36,000 square kilometers) of state trust land to help fund schools, universities and hospitals.
- CONGRESS-IMPEACHMENT-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico candidates diverge on oversight of White HouseSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Secretary of State and U.S. Senate candidate Maggie Toulouse Oliver says it's time for Congress to start impeachment proceedings against President Trump over concerns about obstruction of justice.
Toulouse Oliver said Wednesday in a statement that it's time to hold the president accountable for possible obstruction of justice and that there is more than enough evidence to move forward with the impeachment process.
The rival contender for the Democratic nomination is U.S. Rep Ben Ray Luján.
He takes credit for helping build the House Democratic majority that is seeking closer oversight of the White House through investigations, legal proceedings and subpoenaed testimony.
In a statement, Luján says impeachment proceedings still are a tool that can be used by Congress if the Trump administration continues to obstruct inquiries.
- ENDANGERED WOLVES-ILLEGAL KILLINGS
Politics, killings stifle wolf recovery amid hefty price tagRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Illegal killings and political resistance have undercut the return of two species of endangered wolves despite more than $80 million in government spending.
Wildlife officials warn the red wolves of North Carolina could be gone from the wild within a decade. In the Southwest, Mexican gray wolves continue to struggle despite recent gains.
Biologists say poaching has a big effect.
The Associated Press found that over the last two decades, more than half of Mexican wolf deaths and about one in four red wolf deaths resulted from gunshots or were otherwise deemed illegal.
Their recovery has been further hindered by opposition over attacks on livestock or game animals.
A third wolf type — the Western gray wolf — has thrived since reintroduction and could soon lose federal protection.
- SANDIA LABS-HIRING
Official: Sandia National Laboratories sees surge in hiringALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A top official with Sandia National Laboratories says the Albuquerque-based weapons research and development facility expects to hire 1,900 new employees this year.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Scott Aeilts told the Albuquerque Economic Forum on Wednesday that 1,100 of the hires will be for new positions and the rest will fill openings resulting from normal attrition.
Aeilts is associate labs director for mission services for Sandia, and he attributes the jobs surge partly due to efforts to modernize and extend the life of the country's nuclear weapons.
Sandia also plans to employ a record 500 student interns this summer, with 60 percent of those coming from New Mexico schools, and Aeilts says all of the hiring is a struggle because the economy is very competitive.
- NAVAJO-DISASTER DECLARATION
Trump signs disaster declaration for Navajo NationWINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for the Navajo Nation and directed that federal officials provide aid as reimbursement for expenses stemming from a major snowstorm and subsequent flooding in late February.
The White House announcement Wednesday said Trump on Tuesday ordered that federal aid be used to supplement tribal efforts in the affected areas.
Tribal officials said in a separate statement that tribal President Jonathan Nez signed an emergency declaration on Feb. 19 and that tribal officials asked Vice President Mike Pence and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials in early March for assistance.
- TRUMP-NATIONAL MONUMENTS
Interior boss: No monument changes planned, but up to TrumpWASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt says he has no plans for additional changes to national monuments as recommended by his predecessor, but says it's ultimately up to President Donald Trump.
Trump in 2017 shrank two sprawling Utah monuments at the recommendation of former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.
The president has not acted on Zinke's proposal to shrink two monuments in Oregon and Nevada and change rules at six others.
During a Wednesday Senate Appropriations subcommittee meeting, New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall asked if there were plans to move forward on the other eight monuments.
Bernhardt replied: "I think the answer is no." He added he wouldn't take action without word from Trump.
Zinke left in January. The White House in March said further action on monuments remained under consideration.
- BEHAVIORAL HEALTH-HOUSING
New Mexico behavioral health program to tackle housing needsALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Officials in New Mexico's most populous metro area are teaming up to provide housing and intensive services for certain people with behavioral health conditions.
The goal is to reach those who are homeless or in precarious housing situations and have a recent history of frequent visits to the emergency room or detox facilities or multiple bookings into the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Bernalillo County will contribute $1 million annually for services and $2 million one-time dollars for capital investments.
The city of Albuquerque's one-time funding contribution of $2 million will help cover construction costs.
The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority also is contributing to the project.
HopeWorks, formerly St. Martins, is the social service provider that will own and operate the facility. Officials say a groundbreaking is scheduled this fall.
- COAL-CLIMATE CHANGE
US says Trump coal moves hasten but don't increase emissionsBILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Federal officials say the Trump administration's decision to lift a moratorium on coal sales from public lands could hasten the release of more than 5 billion tons of greenhouse gasses.
But Bureau of Land Management officials said in a report released Wednesday that the emissions would occur regardless of the administration's decision. They also say the huge quantity of greenhouse gases involved represents a small percentage of the nation's total emissions.
The report comes after a court ruled last month that the administration failed to consider the environmental effects of its resumption in 2017 of coal sales. A moratorium had been imposed under President Barack Obama over worries about climate change.
Environmentalists who sued to reinstate the moratorium say it's absurd to argue federal coal sales have negligible effects on climate-changing emissions.