- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise is planning to reopen two of its casinos this week with reduced capacity. The casinos in northwestern New Mexico near Gallup and Farmington will open Friday after being closed for a year amid the coronavirus pandemic. The move comes as the tribe eases its restrictions on businesses and sees a downward swing in COVID-19 cases and deaths. The casinos will operate at 25% capacity with no food or drink services and allow only residents of the reservation. The enterprise will keep two other casinos east of Flagstaff and in northwestern New Mexico closed in the meantime.
- STATE BUDGET-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The state Senate opened deliberations Friday on the provisions of a $7.45 billion budget plan that would shore up educational spending and provide an array of relief to low-income workers and businesses. Recent amendments to the spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1 would tap into newly approved federal pandemic aid to pay down the state's unemployment insurance debt and funnel more dollars toward health care for the poor under Medicaid. Full Senate approval sends recent amendments to the House for approval or a negotiated settlement by conference committee. The Legislature has until noon Saturday to send the bill to Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
- POLICING REFORMS-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A bill that would end police immunity from prosecution in New Mexico to allow civil right lawsuits in state court cleared its last major hurdle with Senate approval, as Democratic legislators responded to concerns about police brutality and accountability. The state Senate on Wednesday endorsed the bill 26-15. The proposal would apply to violations of state civil rights guarantees ranging from racial discrimination to illegal search and seizure and freedom of speech violations. County sheriffs, police associations and insurance authorities for local governments assembled a united front against the initiative. The U.S. Justice Department has intervened in Albuquerque to resolve concerns about excessive force by police.
- AP-US-PRISON-GANG-TRIAL-CONVICTED-NEW-MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A federal court jury has convicted a self-proclaimed member of a New Mexico prison gang of ordering and participating in the 2008 killing of a man who allegedly disrespected the gang and was left dead, naked and facedown in an icy river. The Albuquerque Journal reported that 41-year-old Jody Rufino Martinez faces life in prison after the jury found him guilty on Tuesday of racketeering and murder in the death of 34-year-old David Romero to advance his own standing in the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico gang. Three other people who allegedly participated in Romero's killing gave statements that implicated Martinez. Martinez's defense attorney Nicholas Hart said the claims were false.
- FORMER TAX OFFICIAL-INDICTMENT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A former New Mexico state tax official faces charges of wire fraud and other crimes accusing him of stealing nearly $690,000 by altering taxpayers' refunds and routing them to his own bank accounts. George Martinez of Albuquerque was arrested Tuesday on 42 counts each of wire fraud and identity theft plus six counts of money laundering. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Martinez between May 2011 and July 2018 allegedly used his position as head of the Taxation and Revenue Department's questionable refund unit to manipulate the system. Online court records did not list an attorney for Martinez who could comment on the allegations.
- STATE GRANT-BUENO FOODS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Bueno Foods has been awarded a $500,000 state grant to expand its 70-year-old family business and help boost sales of New Mexico products nationwide. Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes announced Tuesday that Bueno Foods' economic assistance will be used to expand storage and manufacturing capacity and better distribute New Mexico chiles and food products throughout the U.S. The expansion will be on Bueno Foods property in Albuquerque. The $10 million project is expected to begin this summer and be completed by the end of 2022, at which time Bueno will start to add 49 employees over five years. The company already has about 280 full-time employees.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported two new cases of COVID-19 and one more death. The latest numbers pushed the tribe's pandemic total to 29,957 confirmed cases and 1,219 known deaths. The Navajo Nation had a soft reopening Monday with 25% capacity for some businesses under certain restrictions. Still, mask mandates and daily curfews remain. The Navajo Department of Health has identified two communities, Baca Prewitt and Coyote Canyon, as having uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 from Feb. 26 to March 11. That compares with 75 communities that were identified in January as having uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus.
- LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A budget bill is advancing toward a Senate vote in New Mexico that would boost public salaries, shore up spending on public education and provide at least $400 million in state spending on economic relief measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate finance committee voted 6-4 with majority Democrats in support and Republicans in opposition to endorse amendments to a House-approved budget plan for the coming fiscal year. State general funds spending would increase by $373 million to $7.45 billion under the proposal for the fiscal year starting July 1. State spending on public education would increase by 5.8% to $3.35 billion.