- DRONE ACCIDENT-NEW MEXICO
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. military says an Air Force attack drone was damaged Wednesday when it went off a runway during takeoff at Holloman Air Force Base in southern New Mexico. Base officials said in a statement that the remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper assigned to the 49th Wing was the only aircraft involved. The statement said a board of Air Force officers will investigate the accident to determine the cause. The base is 79 miles north of El Paso, Texas.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials have reported 110 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and eight related deaths. Tuesday's coronavirus statistics show that Dona Ana County had the most new infections, with 32 cases. Cumulative statewide deaths from the coronavirus now number 787. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in New Mexico has decreased over the past two weeks, going from 156 new cases per day on Aug. 17 to 127 new cases per day on Aug. 31. That's according to an analysis by The Associated Press of data collected by Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
- AIR POLLUTION-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico environmental regulators have issued citations against natural gas processing plants on allegations they vastly exceeded permitted air pollution limits while burning off excess natural gas. The New Mexico Environment Department on Tuesday announced compliance orders against plant operators DCP Operating Company and Energy Transfer Partners with potential fines in excess of $7 million. The agency said the excess pollutants may contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and other hazardous air-quality conditions.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation officials are extending partial weekend lockdowns and daily curfews through September to help control the spread of the coronavirus on the tribe's reservation. The lockdowns on the vast reservation in the Four Corners region start at 9 p.m. Saturday and run until 5 a.m. Monday. Daily curfews run from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. President Jonathan Nez says residents still have time on Saturdays to prepare for the winter season by gathering firewood, food, water and other supplies. But the public should avoid traveling to nearby towns and cities on the weekends. Travel increases the risk of infection and bringing it home to family.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-FEDERAL RELIEF-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Santa Fe area emerged as a major beneficiary of federal relief funds for local government, as the state of New Mexico assigned nearly $100 million to towns, cities and counties to offset spending on the pandemic response. The city of Santa Fe was awarded $17.6 million in possible reimbursements and Santa Fe County can receive up to $10.5 — accounting together for 28% of direct grant awards announced on Tuesday. McKinley County, which has the state's highest tally of COVID-19 infections per capita, received an outsized direct grant award of $16.1 million.
- NUCLEAR WEAPONS-FALLOUT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — After years of study, the National Cancer Institute says some people probably got cancer from the radioactive fallout that wafted across New Mexico after the U.S. government detonated the first atomic bomb in 1945. However, the exact number is unknown. Researchers said in studies released Tuesday that it's impossible to know if New Mexico's cancer rates changed in the first decades after the test, given the lack of data. They did conclude that whatever excess cancer cases did arise would have been limited to those alive at the time and that effects on those born later would be too small to expect additional cases.
- BIKE THEFT-HOMICIDE ARREST
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say a 19-year-old man has been arrested n the 2019 killing of another man during the theft of the victim's bicycle. Police said Elijah Amos was arrested Monday in the fatal shooting of Isaac Candelaria on Jan. 16, 2019 as the two fought over Candelaria's bike at a bus stop. The shooting triggered a massive but unsuccessful search along the Rio Grande. Police said homicide detectives identified Amos as a potential suspect within days and that an arrest warrant was issued recently after additional information linked him to the killing. Online court records didn't list an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
- STATE OFFICE VACATE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has been asked to vacate its office space by Sept. 30, but a top official says it is ill-prepared to do so. The Albuquerque Journal reports officials had previously issued an order for the commission to vacate its building in Santa Fe by June in order to make room for the newly created Early Childhood Education and Care Department. That order was later extended to September. PRC chief of staff Jason Montoya says the office is in no position to move due to a lack of funds. The commission is seeking either a grant or loan from the state in order to find new housing.