- Open Senate, House races test Democratic hold on New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democrats are pushing to maintain control of New Mexico's delegation to the U.S. Senate and hand Joe Biden a presidential victory. Republicans are trying to flip a Senate seat and change the course of statewide politics. In the open Senate race, northern New Mexico Congressman Ben Ray Luján was vying Tuesday to succeed Sen. Tom Udall and take a seat in the upper chamber of Congress. His challenger is Republican former television meteorologist Mark Ronchetti, who is seeking to tap into discontent over crime amid President Donald Trump's deployment of federal agents to Albuquerque. The state's voters have not selected a Republican presidential candidate since 2004.
- New Mexico marks high for COVID-19 hospitalizations
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has marked another daily high for the number of patients hospitalized as a result of a COVID-19 infection. State health officials say there are more than 380 people hospitalized around the state. They also reported an additional 877 coronavirus cases Monday, boosting the statewide total to more than 48,100 since the pandemic began. Another 10 deaths also were reported, bringing that statewide tally to 1,036. Monday also marked the first day for flags across the state to fly at half-staff in recognition of those who have died. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's order calling for a week of mourning runs through sundown Friday.
- Navajo energy company to acquire shares in coal power plant
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Navajo Nation would expand its investment in coal-fired electricity generation as part of a plan to acquire more shares in one of the Southwest's last remaining coal power plants. The tribe's Navajo Transitional Energy Co. has negotiated an agreement with New Mexico's largest electric utility to take on the utility's share of the Four Corners Power Plant in 2024. If approved by state regulators, the transaction would preserve jobs at the plant and the adjacent tribally-owned mine for several more years. Many of the workers are Navajo. The deal would also allow the New Mexico utility a faster exit from coal.
- Navajo Nation lawmakers approve casino reopening plan
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Lawmakers on the Navajo Nation have approved legislation to reopen the tribe's four casinos. The action Monday came despite a tribal health expert warning that the coronavirus is spreading uncontrollably. Navajo President Jonathan Nez has not said whether he'll support the measure. The tribe reported 47 additional cases of the coronavirus as of Monday and three confirmed deaths. The latest figures bring the total number of reported cases to 11,875 and the known death toll to 584 on the reservation. A shelter-in-place order, mask mandate, daily curfews and weekend lockdowns remain in effect on the reservation that extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- US judge blocks Trump immigration rule on public benefits
CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge in Chicago has struck down a Trump administration rule that would deny green cards to immigrants who use food stamps or other public benefits. In a decision Monday that applies nationwide, the judge says the rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act, among other things. It's the latest turn in a complex legal battle over the rule that had taken effect recently after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a hold on the policy. A lawsuit in Chicago had been filed by immigrant rights advocates and Cook County. A U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services spokesman said the agency would comply with the ruling.
- Voter participation and virus infections surge in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico election officials are bracing for a final day of in-person voting and absentee-ballot deliveries as Democratic candidates seek to extend their domination in federal elections and Republicans try to reclaim a footing in Congress and reelect the president. New Mexico has open races for a U.S. Senate and a northern congressional seat and there is a hard fought rematch in the southern 2nd congressional district along the U.S. border with Mexico. Election authorities announced Monday that voter participation has surpassed 770,000. That nearly exceeds overall participation of about 804,000 in 2016. New Mexico has about 1.3 million registered voters.
- Under Trump, citizenship and visa agency focuses on fraud
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The U.S. agency that reviews citizenship and visa applications has shifted to emphasize fraud detection, enforcement and vetting under President Donald Trump. Applicants, attorneys and some U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employees call it overkill. Immigration critics say it's overdue. Curbing legal immigration has been a priority for Trump as he's reshaped the immigration system, arguably more than any U.S. president. New rules make asylum more difficult to get and disqualify more low-income applicants from green cards. Processing times are longer, and the agency's backlog of cases stands at 5 million. Trump adviser Stephen Miller says the agency was plagued by a "huge amount of fraud." Some critics say it hasn't provided enough evidence of that.
- Navajo judge dismisses lawsuit over tribe's primary election
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A Navajo Nation judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to force a primary election that was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Elouise Brown filed the complaint in August, claiming the voting rights of Navajos were violated when all of the primary election candidates moved on to the tribe's general election ballot. Window Rock Judicial District Judge Malcolm Begay dismissed the lawsuit last week. He says the court didn't have jurisdiction because Brown didn't follow provisions in tribal law to sue the tribal government. The decision came days after the tribe filed a motion to dismiss the case.