- ALBUQUERQUE-SHOOTINGS
6 people die in shootings in AlbuquerqueALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say six people were killed in separate shootings in the city.
There have been no arrests in Thursday night's shootings, which also left five people wounded.
Officers responded shortly after 9 p.m. to a call of shots fired at 1028 Lura Place. Three people were found dead, a fourth died at the hospital and two others suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.
At 8:44 p.m., officers received a report of gunfire at the Rio Volcan Apartments at 1919 Ladera. Two people later died at the hospital and two others were injured.
Earlier, at 7:30 p.m., officers went to the Casa Bonita Apartments and found a man who was shot in the neck after confronting a couple who'd broken into a neighbor's apartment and stolen a purse by force.
- CLERGY ABUSE-NEW MEXICO
Fugitive priest faces sentencing in US sex abuse caseALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A former Roman Catholic priest found guilty of aggravated sexual abuse in New Mexico is scheduled to be sentenced Friday in Santa Fe.
Federal prosecutors are requesting a sentence of more than 30 years in prison for Arthur Perrault, once a pastor at an Albuquerque parish and a chaplain at Kirtland Air Force Base. The 81-year-old maintained his innocence throughout his trial in April.
A jury found him guilty of sexually abusing an altar boy at the base in Albuquerque and a veterans' cemetery in Santa Fe. Both sites are within federal jurisdiction.
He vanished from New Mexico in 1992 as he faced accusations that he had sexually assaulted children. He was captured in Morocco and returned to the United States in 2017.
- OIL BOOM-WASTE WATER
New Mexico team to study uses for oil industry's waste waterALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — State environmental regulators are teaming up with New Mexico State University to study how waste water from the booming oil and gas industry can be treated and reused.
State officials announced the formation of a new consortium Thursday. The group is charged with filling in scientific gaps and researching technological solutions for dealing with what's known in the oilfield as produced water.
Some oil companies already have been reusing the waste water in their operations to cut down on fresh water use.
Officials are looking to learn more to establish regulations and policies for the treatment and potential reuse of the water beyond the oilfield.
The memorandum of understanding between the state Environment Department and New Mexico State is aimed at spurring economic investment opportunities.
The Environment Department also is planning public meetings on the topic this fall.
- COMPLAINT-RACIAL HARASSMENT
Agency backs black student's complaint vs. convenience storeSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico agency says there is probable cause that a Santa Fe convenience store clerk discriminated against a black customer last year.
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico announced this week the New Mexico Human Rights Bureau's ruling that now allows Jordan McDowell to pursue legal action.
In December, the ACLU of New Mexico filed a complaint in New Mexico on behalf of McDowell who says a convenience store employee called police on him for "being arrogant because he's black."
According to the complaint, McDowell, a pre-med student at Xavier University in New Orleans, drew attention from an employee at the Allsup's Convenience Store. The complaint says the employee felt McDowell was being "suspicious and sneaky."
The Clovis, New Mexico-based Allsup's did not immediately return phone messages.
- GILA RIVER-PROTECTION
New Mexico county supports protecting portions of Gila RiverSILVER CITY, N.M. (AP) — The Grant County Commission is joining the call to protect portions of the Gila and San Francisco rivers.
Commissioners voted Thursday in favor a resolution supporting a possible legislative effort to designate under federal law hundreds of miles of the rivers and their tributaries as "wild and scenic."
Supporters contend such a designation would sustain rural economies that depend on the anglers, hunters and other outdoor recreationists who visit southwestern New Mexico.
They say the designation could spur more visits, noting that the outdoor recreation industry generates an estimated $10 billion annually in consumer spending in addition to wages and tax revenues.
Supporters are asking members of New Mexico's congressional delegation to introduce legislation to designate the rivers under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
- SKELETAL REMAINS IDENTIFIED
Skeletal remains in Arizona ID'd as missing New Mexico womanWILLCOX, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities say skeletal remains found last year in Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains have been identified as a New Mexico woman missing since 2015.
Cochise County Sheriff's officials say bone fragments and a braid of hair located in August 2018 were identified by DNA as being from 44-year-old Lydia "Janet" Castrejon.
She was reported missing in June 2015 while on a family camping trip.
Castrejon was disabled and suffered from poor eyesight and a traumatic brain injury that resulted in a diminished mental capacity.
She was last seen outside a restroom in Rustler Park as her mother was inside using the facilities.
Authorities searched for months with no success.
Forest Service employees found the bone fragments and hair and the items were sent to Tucson and Texas for testing to determine identification.
- FATAL ROLLOVER
1 dead, 4 injured in rollover crash east of BloomfieldBLOOMFIELD, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Police say a Farmington woman has been killed and four other people injured in a rollover crash east of Bloomfield.
They say the fatal crash occurred Wednesday afternoon on U.S. Highway 64 when an SUV left the roadway for an unknown reason and rolled.
State Police say 35-year-old Tyeshea Atole was a passenger in the SUV and was ejected.
She was airlifted to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Police say the 35-year-old Farmington man who was driving the vehicle and three other passengers suffered injuries not believed to be life threatening.
The others injured were a 36-year-old man, a 33-year-old woman and a 4-year-old girl.
Police say alcohol doesn't appear to be a contributing factor to the crash, which remains under investigation.
- ELECTION 2020-TRUMP-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico preps for Trump after past rallies sparked unrestRIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico law enforcement agencies are prepping for an upcoming President Donald Trump rally three years after previous ones sparked turmoil in Albuquerque.
Police say they will be prepared Monday for the Trump event in the Albuquerque suburb of Rio Rancho as protesters vow to step up acts of civil disobedience and demonstrations.
Police say several law enforcement agencies will help with security at the Santa Ana Star Center.
Demonstrators who participated in previous New Mexico Trump protests say they have discussed blocking traffic and lying down on highways to halt the scheduled appearance. Activist Javier Benavidez says he's insulted that Trump is visiting the state with the highest percentage of Hispanics on Sept. 16 — Mexican Independence Day.
Trump is making his first visit to New Mexico as president.