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

  • Lawsuit: Eddy County detective used excessive force

CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — A southeastern New Mexico man says Eddy County Sheriff's detectives illegally searched his home and used a stun gun on him seconds after making contact. The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports a lawsuit filed by Brandon Chandler says the detectives used excessive force. According to court records, detectives came to Chandler's home after a woman called authorities to report she was being held captive. The woman later told authorities she had taken drugs and wasn't being held. The lawsuit says authorities violated Chandler's constitutional rights. The Eddy County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on the pending litigation.

  • New Mexico church sues US over religious discrimination

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico branch of a church that uses hallucinogenic tea is suing the federal government for failing to process immigration documents for one of its religious leaders. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports O Centro Espirita Beneficente União do Vegetal filed a lawsuit last week over claims of religious discrimination. The lawsuit comes after a Brazilian man who has led the church's Florida congregation since 2013 applied for visas that would allow him and his family to continue living in the United States while their immigration cases are pending.

  • New 'Breaking Bad' store to cater to fans of the AMC series

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A store will be opening in Albuquerque that will cater to fans of the AMC-TV hit series "Breaking Bad." A co-owner of The Breaking Bad Store ABQ says local artists have been commissioned to create unique items inspired by the long-running series and its cast of characters. The shop will also carry items inspired by the show that aren't readily available in the U.S. Co-owner Edward Candelaria tells Albuquerque station KOB-TV that the store's grand opening will be Jan. 4. "Breaking Bad" followed a high school chemistry teacher turned meth lord. The series ran from 2008 to 2013.

  • Commission extends deadline to fill empty legislative seat

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The deadline for anyone interested in filling a vacant seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives has been extended. The Bernalillo County Commission is meeting Jan. 7 to appoint a replacement for Democratic Rep. William Pratt, who died last week. The deadline for applications now is Jan. 6. Pratt served in a northeastern Albuquerque district where registered Republicans slightly outnumber Democrats. Applicants to replace him must live within the district's boundaries and be at least 21 years old. At least two Republicans and two Democrats have indicated they'll run for the seat in 2020. 

  • New Mexico lawmakers seek accountability on tax incentives

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico legislators want greater accountability regarding state grants and tax incentives for businesses that are designed to create jobs. The push comes as the state ramps up financial support to a variety of industries. Proposed legislation by Democratic Rep. Bill Tallman of Albuquerque would require businesses that receive public support to provide the state with details about the number of related new full-time jobs, annual wages for those jobs and spending on local infrastructure. The proposal holds implications for hundreds of businesses that receive more than $100 million in incentives each year.

  • Father who made kids panhandle for drug money gets 20 years

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A judge sentenced a New Mexico father to 20 years in prison after he was convicted of forcing his children to panhandle to get him money for drugs. The office of Attorney General Hector Balderas said Monday the man was sentenced in Albuquerque, nearly three months after a jury found him guilty of three counts of human trafficking. Authorities say the father forced all three of his children to panhandle around Albuquerque between 2015 and 2018. The children later testified against him. The father denied the charges during the trial and said he doesn't do drugs.

  • Gila River diversion project misses out on extra funding

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Interior Department has decided not to extend a deadline involving a proposal to divert part the Gila River to aid rural communities, a move that cuts off access to more than $50 million in construction funds. U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat, and environmentalists praised the federal government's decision, saying the river that flows through southwestern New Mexico and into Arizona will be protected. Timothy Petty, Interior's assistant secretary for water and science, says the "slow pace of progress" reflected a lack of urgency and priority for delivering water to rural communities.

  • Pocket of severe drought lingers over Southwest US

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Drought has yet to give up its hold over parts of the southwestern United States despite a series of storms that have brought rain and snow to the region in recent weeks. The latest federal map shows a pocket of moderate and severe drought centered over the Four Corners region _ where Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah meet. Despite the continued dry conditions, forecasters say things are better than they were last year at this time when exceptional and extreme drought _ the worst categories _ had set in. They say average moisture levels resulting from snowfall are above normal across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.