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Latest New Mexico news, sports, business and entertainment at 3:20 a.m. MDT

  • US agents encounter more single adults are crossing border

LA JOYA, Texas (AP) — While asylum-seeking families and children dominate public attention, single adults represent a growing number of encounters with U.S. border agents. They made up nearly two of every three Border Patrol encounters in April. They are less likely to surrender to authorities than families and children, making them less visible. Single adults drove border encounters to the highest level in more than 20 years. But the figures aren't directly comparable because so many are quickly expelled from the country under federal pandemic-related powers. April was also the second-busiest month on record for unaccompanied children encountered at the border, following March's all-time high.

  • US cities see surge in deadly street racing amid pandemic

Across America, illegal drag racing has surged in popularity since the coronavirus pandemic began. Officials have reported a dangerous uptick in the activity from Oregon and New Mexico, to New York and Georgia. People have been killed. The roar of engines and traffic tie-ups have become huge annoyances. Police and elected leaders are trying to fight back. A sports psychologist who participates in legal drag racing believes shutdowns associated with the pandemic contributed to the increase by emptying normally clogged highways and streets. She also says those with a passion for fast cars had more time to modify them and show them off.

  • Albuquerque police investigating a triple homicide case

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police in Albuquerque say they are investigating a triple homicide. They say officers responded around 3 p.m. Wednesday to reports of multiple gunshot victims arriving in a vehicle to Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital in northeast Albuquerque. Police say two people were dead inside the vehicle and another died after paramedics were unsuccessful in life-saving measures. The names and ages of the three people weren't immediately released. Police say it's unclear where the victims were shot before they were driven to the hospital. Detectives have not released information about any potential suspects, but say they are questioning a person of interest in the triple homicide case.  

  • Navajo Nation has no COVID-related deaths for 3rd day in row

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Wednesday reported 20 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the third consecutive day. Tribal health officials say the latest figures pushed the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago to 30,662 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The known death toll remains at 1,285. Several health care facilities on the Navajo Nation will begin offering the Pfizer vaccine for adolescents ages 12 to 15 as early as Thursday, while others will begin on Friday and Saturday.  

  • In-person graduations planned amid New Mexico vaccine push

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A year after holding only drive-thru graduations, the school district for New Mexico's second most populous city has scheduled in-person graduation ceremonies at the district's soccer stadium for its six high schools. Las Cruces Public Schools scheduled ceremonies for the various schools on May 21 and May 22. New Mexico State University also has two in-person ceremonies planned this weekend. Social distancing and mask-wearing will be required. And as the pace of vaccination slows, state officials also announced that vaccines would be available at New Mexico United home games in Albuquerque starting this weekend.

  • Farmington police: Officers shot, wound man who pointed gun

Farmington, N.M. (AP) — Farmington police say four officers responding to reports of a person firing a gun downtown shot and wounded a man who pointed a gun at one officer. Police on Monday released a video statement on the Sunday incident but did not release the identity of the man who was shot and then hospitalized or specify his injuries. According to police, the initial reports of gunfire prompted them to order people in the area to shelter in place. No officers were injured. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident.

  • Rare plants to be reviewed amid New Mexico oil and gas fight

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning to take a closer look at two rare plants found only in northwestern New Mexico to see if they warrant protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. Environmentalists are pointing to the small cactus and the flowering herb as more reasons oil and gas development should be limited in the San Juan Basin. They say federal land managers aren't doing enough to preserve the plants. The fight over drilling in the region has been ongoing for decades, with the driving force being protection of areas beyond Chaco Culture National Historical Park that are considered significant to Native American tribes.

  • Santa Fe County to exit regional coalition on national lab

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Santa Fe County commission has voted unanimously to withdraw from the Regional Coalition of Los Alamos National Laboratory Communities. The coalition is a group of nine local governments in New Mexico that advocates for environmental cleanup and jobs at the laboratory, one of the world's largest science and technology research institutions. Santa Fe County followed the Taos County Commission in voting to exit the coalition. The exodus is occurring as the coalition struggles with funding and leadership. It has lacked an executive director since last year and lost its federal backing over concerns that funding was improperly used for lobbying.