- SUPREME COURT-ATTORNEY'S DEATH
New Mexico Supreme Court asked to review lawyer's 2010 death(Information from: KRQE-TV, http://www.krqe.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The family of a prominent Albuquerque attorney found dead in her home in 2010 wants the New Mexico Supreme Court to review the case.
Mary Han was found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning, and Albuquerque police ruled the death a suicide.
Her estate recently filed a petition with the state's high court.
Her family members argue that police violated state constitutional protections for the 53-year-old Han as a crime victim when the department investigated her death.
According to Albuquerque TV station KQRE, Han's estate says the city police department had a conflict of interest in investigating her death and should have requested an outside law enforcement agency handle it.
Last August, a First Judicial District judge affirmed a decision changing Han's manner of death on her autopsy report from suicide to undetermined.
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- URANIUM PLUMES-AQUIFER
New Mexico: More wells needed to grasp uranium plumes(Information from: Gallup Independent, http://www.gallupindependent.com)
MILAN, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico environmental officials say more wells are needed to measure uranium plumes in a major aquifer in western New Mexico.
The Gallup Independent reports the state Environment Department is asking federal authorities to collaborate with the state to ensure accurate measurement of a plume of uranium contamination leaving the Bluewater Disposal Site.
State officials are concern the full nature of the groundwater plume within the San Andres-Glorieta aquifer has not been defined because of the lack of a comprehensive monitoring well network.
Bernadette Tsosie, site manager at the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Legacy Management, said the path of the San Andres-Glorieta aquifer plume remains 2 miles (3 kilometers) north of the nearest drinking water supply well.
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- LAS CRUCES-MURDER INVESTIGATION
Police: Woman found dead at a Las Cruces home; Man arrestedLAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Police in Las Cruces say they are investigating a domestic dispute that led to a murder and an attempted suicide.
They say officers were dispatched to a home around 9:30 p.m. Saturday and reported finding a woman dead from stab wounds and a man alive with a knife to his chest.
Police have identified the dead woman as 41-year-old Amberly Lopez.
They say the suspect is identified as 44-year-old Juan Lopez-Banos.
Police say officers were able to render aid to Lopez-Banos and take him into custody.
He's being held on suspicion of murder.
It was unclear Sunday if Lopez-Banos has a lawyer yet.
- TV-THE WARRIOR TRADITION
Film probes history of Native Americans in the US militaryALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A new PBS film, "The Warrior Tradition," seeks to examine the history of Native Americans in the U.S. military since World War I.
Through interviews with veterans, the documentary shows how Native American veterans transformed the life for tribal members and used their service to expand civil rights.
The film illustrates the mixed feelings some Native Americans felt toward the U.S. military and how tribal members embraced those who served as "warriors."
Director Larry Hott says the Native American veterans in the film believed military service was part of their family history and wasn't just about a way to escape poverty.
The one-hour documentary co-produced by WNED-TV Buffalo Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions, Inc., is scheduled to air on most PBS stations Monday.
- IMMIGRATION-DEFERRED ACTION
For 30-somethings, stakes are high over future of DACAPHOENIX (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday about President Donald Trump's attempt to end the program, and the stakes are particularly high for the older generation of people enrolled in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA.
The program dating back to the Obama administration allows immigrants brought here as children to work and protects them from deportation. Roughly 18% of the 669,000 people enrolled in DACA are 31 and older.
On Sept. 15, 2017, the Trump administration announced the end of the program, setting off a series of legal challenges that will culminate before the Supreme Court. A decision is expected in the spring.
DACA remains in existence, but only for people who were already enrolled when Trump ended it.
- JAIL EMPLOYEE-METH
New Mexico jail employee accused of bringing meth to workSANTE FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico deputies have arrested a Santa Fe County Jail corrections officer after he acknowledged bringing meth to work.
Cohen Mangin was arrested and charged with bringing contraband into places of imprisonment and possession of a controlled substance. He was released Friday.
Authorities say another officer found a plastic bag filled with meth near the main entrance Thursday.
Investigators say surveillance video showed Mangin dropping it as he got out of a car.
Investigators say Mangin said in an interview that he used it to stay awake.
Online court records do not list a defense attorney for Mangin who could comment on the allegations.
A county spokesperson said an investigation is underway.
He is scheduled to appear in court in December.
- ALBUQUERQUE RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT
New Mexico public transportation project to begin operationsALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico city officials have announced a new public transportation project is expected to begin operations in Albuquerque this month.
City officials say the Albuquerque Rapid Transit project includes designated bus-only lanes and stops that would carry riders along Central Avenue every 10 minutes.
Officials say the ART project is set to launch Nov. 30 with free rides until Dec. 31. Riders must pay $1 starting Jan. 1.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller says officials plan to time routes starting Sunday.
Law enforcement says there are plans to issue warning citations starting Nov. 30 to educate the community on safe driving practices around the buses before $80 fines are issued in January.
Officials say the $133 million project includes 20 new buses expected to replace the existing Rapid Ride lines.
- LUNCH SHAMING
Proposal to end school lunch shaming moves aheadBANGOR, Maine (AP) — A federal proposal designed to prevent lunch shaming has moved ahead thanks to a vote in the U.S. Senate.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico added an amendment to a funding bill that would ban schools from singling out children because their parents or guardians haven't paid school lunch bills. The proposal would also encourage schools to find new ways that shield children from such embarrassment.
Collins says the funding bill passed the Senate by a wide margin recently.
Some states, including Maine and New Mexico, have state laws designed to protect children from lunch shaming. Shaming sometimes comes in the form of making children wear hand stamps or perform extra chores because of their lunch debts.