- Authorities search for 3 swept away after Albuquerque storm
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities were searching for three people who were swept into an arroyo after storms hit Albuquerque. AFR Lt. Tom Ruiz told KOAT-TV on Tuesday that the search was a recovery mission, not a rescue. He says the water was some of the fastest officials have seen. Authorities say a fourth person who was also swept away by the water pulled themselves out.
- Navajo Nation: 17 new COVID cases, no deaths 3rd day in row
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported 17 new COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the third consecutive day. The latest numbers brought the total number of coronavirus-related cases on the vast reservation to 31,218 since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The number of known deaths remained at 1,366. The Navajo Nation recently relaxed restrictions to allow visitors to travel on the reservation and visit popular attractions like Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley. The reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. While cases are down, Navajo leaders are urging residents to continue wearing masks and get vaccinated.
- Police ID man whose body was recovered from Tempe Town Lake
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Police have identified a man whose body was recovered from Tempe Town Lake last weekend. Tempe police said Tuesday that the circumstances surrounding 35-year-old Aaron Lee Yazzi running into the lake still are not known. Police had responded to the man-made lake after receiving a call about a man seen running into the water around 4 p.m. Friday and not resurfacing. The search was called off hours later due to a lack of visibility and incoming storms. A Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Dive team recovered the body Saturday morning. Police didn't have a hometown for Yazzi, but said he was believed to have lived on the Navajo Nation.
- Trial in Las Cruces girl's death put on hold by state court
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico Supreme Court order has brought a trial in the death of a 2-year-old Las Cruces girl to an abrupt halt. The Las Cruces Sun-News reports opening statements were given Monday before the trial of 26-year-old Lalo Anthony Castrillo had to stop. The issue stems from prosecutors' appeal of the judge's decision to exclude exhibits involving Faviola Rodriguez's 2018 death. According to the judge, prosecutors had missed too many deadlines to turn over exhibits to the court and defense attorneys. Castrillo, who was dating Faviola's mother, is accused of abusing the girl to the point of death. The judge has until July 26 to respond to the order.
- Las Cruces lawmaker says politics led to denial of Communion
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico lawmaker says he was denied Communion by his local Catholic priest because of his politics. Democratic state Sen. Joseph Cervantes said Monday that he has been treated differently by the church since voting to repeal a state law banning abortion under most circumstances. Cervantes' statement came after he tweeted over the weekend about not getting Communion from the bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces. Cervantes, of Las Cruces, says the outdated law, which would have jailed women for getting an abortion, was unconstitutional. The diocese said in a statement that it regrets Cervantes chose to go on Twitter rather than engage in a dialogue.
- Navajo Nation reports 6 new COVID-19 cases, but no deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Monday reported six new COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths. The latest numbers brought the total number of coronavirus-related cases on the vast reservation to 31,201 since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The number of known deaths remained at 1,366 for the second consecutive day. The Navajo Nation recently relaxed restrictions to allow visitors to travel on the reservation and visit popular attractions like Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley. The reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. While cases are down, Navajo leaders are urging residents to continue wearing masks and get vaccinated.
- Navajo Nation revives horse ride for new council session
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation Council is commencing its summer session with a return to tradition. The Farmington Daily Times reports tribal officials marked the beginning of the session Monday with a horse ride to the council chamber in Window Rock, Arizona. The horse ride was canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The ride's participants typically would travel to various chapters before arriving at the session. Delegates say more than two dozen others made the ride. Still, some delegates chose to attend the session by telephone. The reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- New Mexico marks record year of spending by film industry
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Despite the coronavirus pandemic that led to a shutdown for months in film production, the show did go on in New Mexico. The New Mexico Film Office announced Monday that 2021 broke records in the state with film and TV productions spending roughly $623 million. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham touted the numbers. She says continued investment in the industry is needed to boost economic recovery and attract more outside spending. The industry employs about 9,000 residents in New Mexico. Netflix and NBCUniversal both have production hubs in the state.