- Election revives recreational pot initiatives in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State legislators are rekindling efforts to open New Mexico to recreational marijuana production and sales, with an emphasis on economic opportunity amidst the turmoil of the coronavirus pandemic. State Rep. Javier Martinez told a panel of lawmakers Tuesday that he will again introduce legislation to regulate and tax recreational marijuana. Elections this year ousted several conservative-leaning Democratic senators who opposed past legalization efforts. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last week reiterated her support for recreational marijuana as an opportunity to expand and diversify the economy. Four other states approved ballot initiatives on recreational cannabis in the Nov. 3 election.
- Police: Man livestreamed part of fatal New Mexico shooting
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities in New Mexico have arrested a man after police say he fatally shot two people and streamed part of the assault on Facebook. New Mexico State Police said in a statement Monday that 23-year-old Alejandro Alirez of Las Vegas was arrested Sunday on multiple charges including first-degree murder. Police said his 33-year-old girlfriend Cristal Cervantes and her 89-year-old grandfather Victor Cervantes died at the scene. San Miguel County Sheriff's deputies originally responded after being called by Alirez's mother. Alirez allegedly told officers he believed he was being molested in his sleep. Online court records didn't list an attorney for Alirez who could comment on his behalf.
- Santa Fe schools end in-person learning experiment
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — After three weeks of trying to make in-person learning work, Santa Fe Public Schools are calling it quits. With the city posting its own record numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospital beds filling up, Superintendent Veronica García says it is time to pump the brakes. Around 200 elementary school students had been allowed in-person learning thanks to 58 school teachers and other staff who volunteered to teach. Starting Nov. 20, the district will return to remote-only classes. The news comes as more students in Santa Fe and around the state are failing at least one class.
- New Mexico college athletes issue plea to practice, play
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Athletes from five New Mexico universities are asking Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for more flexibility that would allow them to hold full practices and play like their counterparts at most colleges in other states. They issued their formal plea to the Democratic governor in a letter sent Monday, as the state marked another daily high for confirmed COVID-19 cases. The letter says positivity rates in the community are not indicative of the caseloads being seen among athletes. They say that shows they've been adhering to safe protocols. The governor is expected this week to impose tougher public health mandates.
- Albuquerque police: Worker shot trying to detain shoplifter
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say a loss prevention officer for a department store was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot while attempting to detain a suspected shoplifter. The shooting occurred Monday at a Dillard's store at Cottonwood Mall. Police said the employee suffered a "non-critical wound" but did not provide additional information on the circumstances of the shooting and it wasn't immediately known whether anyone was arrested.
- Indigenous candidates' wins in Congress give hope for change
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Internet access, health care and basic necessities like running water and electricity within Indigenous communities have long been at the center of congressional debates. But until recently, Congress hasn't had many Indigenous members who were pushing for solutions and funding for those issues. Hope is growing after the Native delegation in the U.S. House expanded by two on Election Day. Wins by Cherokee member Yvette Herrell in New Mexico and Native Hawaiian Kai Kahele in Hawaii brought the number in Congress to six. Scholars say representation is progress and the product of efforts to put forth Indigenous candidates, increase voter turnout and Native communities flexing their political muscle.
- Contractor sues over work at US nuclear waste repository
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — A contracting company is suing the manager of the U.S. government's nuclear waste dump. Critical Applications Alliance alleges in a federal lawsuit that Nuclear Waste Partnership breached its contract to rebuild the repository's air system. The contractor was hired in 2018 to build the ventilation system at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant for $135 million but the contract was terminated in August. The lawsuit argues that the project was troubled from the start, suffering from delays and frequent design changes resulting from Nuclear Waste Partnership's inexperience in major construction projects. Nuclear Waste Partnership declined to comment on the pending litigation.
- New Mexico hospitals seeing strain as COVID-19 cases climb
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Top medical officers for some of New Mexico's largest hospital systems say they are now at or above normal capacity as the coronavirus pandemic surges across the state. They briefed reporters Monday, saying they're seeing the strain on staff and they won't be able to sustain the pace over the long term. New Mexico set another record with 1,418 additional COVID-19 cases reported in a single day. Presbyterian Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Mitchell says hospitals are operating under contingency plans. He's among those pleading with people to stay home to curb the spread of the virus.