- ENDANGERED WOLVES-DEATHS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Wildlife managers are investigating the deaths of two Mexican gray wolves found in May in New Mexico. The team that oversees recovery of the endangered species in New Mexico and Arizona has documented a dozen mortalities among the wild population over the first five months of this year. Environmentalists have also raised concerns that the leader of a different pack was killed for preying on livestock. They say that alpha male was the 21st wolf shot by the government since reintroduction began in 1998. Environmentalists also say it was the fifth shot by federal employees this year.
- HOMICIDE-ALBUQUERQUE PARTY
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say officers stopped two suspicious vehicles leaving the scene of a fatal shooting on the southeast side of town early Monday and have interviewed several people at the residence as they continue to investigate. Police say they found one man dead after they responded to a call at about 3 a.m. at a residence on Tomatillo Lane. A neighbor reported he heard people arguing before gunshots rang out. Investigators are treating it as a homicide but they haven't released any other details. The victim's name is being withheld. He was shot in the back yard of the residence.
- EDUCATION LAWSUIT-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico judge is reconsidering a 2018 ruling that the state failed to provide children with sufficient education as required by the state constitution. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham argues her administration is on its way to addressing the ruling and the case should be dismissed. The lawsuit has brought racial and socioeconomic inequity to the forefront in a state where per-student spending and educational achievement hover near the bottom of national rankings. Newly appointed state District Court Judge Matthew Wilson is considering motions Monday afternoon to dismiss or more aggressively enforce the ruling.
- ALBUQUERQUE APARTMENT FIRE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a 12-unit apartment complex that was under construction in Albuquerque. A plume of smoke was visible from the edge of downtown when the fire broke out about 6 a.m. Sunday near Atrisco and Central. No one was injured. The three-story apartment complex was supposed to be The Atrisco Lofts, part of a project intended to help revitalize the neighborhood. The owners told KOB-TV they had dealt with squatters before and suspect the fire may have been started by a homeless person. The blaze spread to a neighboring kennel before firefighters brought it under control.
- SUPREME COURT-BORDER WALL
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is leaving in place a decision that rejected environmental groups' challenge to sections of wall the Trump administration is building along the U.S. border with Mexico. The high court on Monday declined to hear an appeal involving construction of 145 miles of steel-bollard walls along the border in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. Environmental groups had challenged a federal law that allows the secretary of Homeland Security to waive any laws necessary to allow the quick construction of border fencing. Environmental groups argued that violates the Constitution's separation of powers. But a lower court dismissed the case.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Health officials in New Mexico reported 192 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday with one additional death. That raises the state's totals to 11,809 confirmed cases with at least 492 known deaths. The bulk of the reported additional cases were in Bernalillo County (45) San Juan County (34), McKinley County (28) and Dona Ana County (27). The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.
- EDUCATION LAWSUIT-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico judge will reconsider a 2018 ruling that found the state failed to provide children a sufficient education as required by the state constitution. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham argues her administration is on its way to addressing the ruling and the case should be dismissed. The lawsuit has brought racial and socioeconomic inequity to the forefront in a state where per-student spending and educational achievement hover near the bottom of national rankings. Newly appointed state District Court Judge Matthew Wilson will consider dueling motions Monday to dismiss or more aggressively enforce the ruling.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Hospitals in New Mexico have started to loosen restrictions that kept family and friends from visiting patients. San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington says patients who have not tested positive for COVID-19 will be allowed one visitor. Visitations are still prohibited for patients who have tested positive. Lovelace Medical Center, Presbyterian and the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque have also announced similar visitation policies with only one visit each day with facial covering requirements. On Saturday, the state reported 209 additional confirmed cases with two additional deaths.