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

  • New Mexico again reports nearly 1,300 additional COVID cases

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico on Saturday for the second day in a row reported nearly 1,300 additional COVID-19 cases and 16 additional deaths. Officials say there are 1,287 additional cases, a one-day record that was the same number reported Friday. But officials on Saturday also said that 10 of the cases reported Friday had turned out to be duplicates or not lab-confirmed. With those adjustments and the latest reported cases, the statewide case total reached 53,671 with 1,104 deaths. State officials warned Thursday that new records would be set over the coming weeks as the rate of spread remains high.

  • Man drowns attempting to retrieve his dog from pond

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico man has drowned while attempting to retrieve his dog from a pond. Police Chief Freddie Trujillo says the Santa Fe man was seen heading into the pond at the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino to retrieve his dog on Thursday night. Another man jumped into the pond to try to save the man. Trujillo says a crew from the Santa Fe County Fire Department found the man's dog later in the evening. Trujillo says police recovered the man's body late Friday afternoon after draining the pond. The man has not yet been publicly identified. 

  • New Mexico high court revisits issue of spousal testimony

SANTA FE, N.M . (AP) — he New Mexico Supreme Court has revisited a 2019 decision that barred the state's court system from continued use of a longstanding legal privilege that disallows testimony by a defendant's spouse. The 2019 ruing said the so-called spousal communication privilege was based in misogyny and had "outlived its useful life," but the state high court on Thursday reinstated the privilege while ordering an advisory committee to study whether the privilege should be modified or abolished. The 2019 decision abolishing the privilege upheld the murder conviction of a Clovis man, David Gutierrez II, and the latest order affirms that part of the 2019 decision.

  • Some veteran teachers skip wave of pandemic-era retirements

FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — Some veteran teachers are sticking it out during the pandemic while others confronted with the headaches of distance learning and the health risks have retired early or taken leave. New Mexico is tied with Maine for having the oldest teachers in the country. A 2018 National Center for Education Statistics survey of teachers and principals showed one in four are older than 55. And the New Mexico education department says 6% of the state's teachers and teaching assistants are 65 or older. One 86-year-old teacher in Farmington, New Mexico, says he has been adapting to distance learning with help from colleagues.

  • New Mexico woman arrested in Florida in grandfather's death

FORT SUMNER, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a woman sought on suspicion of killing her grandfather in New Mexico has been arrested in Florida. New Mexico State Police say Candy Jo Webb, 27, was arrested Thursday by U.S. Marshals in Jacksonville, Florida on a warrant for first degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of her grandfather A.J. Harden.Harden's remains were found Oct. 15 inside a tool chest at a Fort Sumner property. Agents believe Harden's granddaughter gave him the drugs Xanax and Ambien, then after he died concealed his remains in the chest and drove them to the property. Webb is awaiting extradition to new Mexico. 

  • Forecasters: More snow headed to New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is in line for some more snow. Forecasters with the National Weather Service say two storms are expected to hit northern and central parts of the state through Monday night. The first storm will bring high winds and some snow to the northern mountains starting Saturday night. The next storm will bring more snow with cooler temperatures starting Sunday night. This follows an epic storm that blew through New Mexico in late October. The record snowfall provided some relief for the persistent drought conditions. Overall, precipitation was below normal in October in the central and southern parts of the state.

  • New Mexico reports new high for COVID-19 daily case count

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials are reporting a new high for the COVID-19 daily case count, surpassing a record set just days ago. Cases reported Friday totaled 1,287 — bringing the statewide total to nearly 52,400. The latest figures come as the New Mexico Supreme Court says state officials have the power to impose civil penalties as they enforce mandates that are part of public health orders. The unanimous written opinion was issued Friday. It provides more detailed legal reasoning for the court's oral decision made in August in a case brought by businesses that challenged fines imposed by the state amid the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Legislature may meet in convention center amid pandemic

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico legislators are grappling with the public health risks of convening their next session in January amid surging statewide rates of infection and deaths. A panel of leading legislators on Friday unveiled a proposal to move committee meetings to the downtown Santa Fe convention center to provide more spacious rooms for in-person committee hearings. Democratic House speaker Brian Egolf described a possible hybrid attendance model for the upcoming 60-day session that would close off public access to the Statehouse for floor debates and votes — but allow public attendance and comment at committee meetings in the convention center.