- POLICE SHOOTING-ALBUQUERQUE
Albuquerque police: Man killed in shootout with detectiveALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say a man is dead following a shootout with a police detective who suffered minor injuries.
A Police Department spokesman says the gunfire occurred late Tuesday night when after an armed man approached the vehicle of the detective who was conducting a surveillance operation.
The spokesman, Officer Simon Drobik, says the detective wasn't transported to a hospital and that the shooting occurred after a surveillance operation began in one part of the city and shifted to another area.
No identities were released and no additional information on circumstances of the incident were immediately available.
- XCEL ENERGY-RATE INCREASE
Xcel Energy seeks rate hike for New Mexico customersROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Xcel Energy is asking New Mexico regulators to approve a rate increase so the utility can recover investments in power plants, transmission lines and other infrastructure.
The company filed its application with the Public Regulation Commission this week.
The utility has invested more than $1.6 billion in the regional power grid since the latter part of 2017. Xcel officials say the investments are helping sustain a booming economy in eastern New Mexico.
If approved, residential customer bills would increase by about $7.80 starting in mid-2020.
Xcel says natural gas will continue to be part of its portfolio as fuel costs have hit historic lows.
Wind turbines make up about 20% of the supply. The utility says the Sagamore Wind Project near Portales is expected to be completed next year.
- MOSQUITO SEASON-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico health officials warn about mosquito season(Information from: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials are predicting one of the worst mosquito seasons in decades thanks to wetter weather earlier this year.
KOB-TV reports health officials believe the mosquito population and the threat of West Nile Virus are on the rise as monsoon season approaches.
Mark DiMenna of the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department says the city is preparing for a bad mosquito season which the likes they haven't seen in 15 years.
Standing water along the arroyos, ditches, wetlands and even the side of the road are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
New Mexico's largest city uses larval control through water management and source reduction and with the use of environmentally friendly, EPA-approved chemicals.
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- STATE SENATOR-CAR CRASH-DWI
New Mexico lawmaker pleads not guilty to drunken driving(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico lawmaker who was arrested on a drunken driving charge after a crash has pleaded not guilty.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Tuesday that the lawyer for Democratic state Sen. Richard Martinez entered the not guilty plea to misdemeanor charges of aggravated DWI and reckless driving.
Martinez did not appear for his arraignment in Rio Arriba County Magistrate Court.
Martinez was arrested Friday after police say he crashed his Mercedes SUV into the back of a vehicle stopped at a red light in Espanola, north of Santa Fe.
Police say he smelled of alcohol and later said he had three glasses of wine. He refused a Breathalyzer test.
Martinez declined to comment. His attorney, David Foster, did not return the newspaper's call for comment.
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- ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
Sandoval County treasurer enters race for US House seatSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico county treasurer has entered the crowded race for Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján's seat.
Sandoval County Treasurer Laura Montoya announced her candidacy Tuesday for the 3rd Congressional District.
She was elected treasurer in 2012 and reelected in 2016. She previously worked as a constituent services representative for former Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman
The other Democratic candidates include First Judicial District Attorney Marco Serna, attorney Teresa Leger Fernandez, state Rep. Joseph Sanchez, and former CIA operative and author Valerie Plame.
Luján plans to run for Democratic U.S. Sen. Tom Udall's seat.
- BORDER PATROL-FACEBOOK PAGE-THE LATEST
The Latest: McAleenan calls Facebook posts disturbingSAN DIEGO (AP) — Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan has called some of the derogatory and sexually explicit posts in a secret Border Patrol Facebook group "disturbing" and "inexcusable."
In a tweet Wednesday, McAleenan reiterated that an investigation into the page was planned and that "any employee found to have compromised the public's trust in our law enforcement mission will be held accountable."
The Facebook group included sexual posts about New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and insensitive comments about recent deaths of immigrants in custody. Members also questioned the authenticity of a recent photo of a father and daughter who drowned in the Rio Grande.
- NIKE-FLAG SHOE-NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR
New Mexico governor reaches out to Nike amid Arizona flapSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has reached out to Nike to "explore whether there's a potential fit" after the governor in neighboring Arizona pulled funding amid a flap about an American flag-themed shoe.
Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki said Tuesday the Democratic governor contacted Nike because she wants the jobs in New Mexico that would go to a planned $185 million factory in Goodyear, Arizona.
It's not clear whether the move by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey would derail Nike's plans for the Arizona factor.
The Wall Street Journal reported Nike pulled the colonial-era American flag shoe after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick complained.
Stelnicki says New Mexico in recent months has attracted employers like Netflix and NBC Universal. He says Nike would find a friendly business climate in the state.
- IMMIGRATION-CHILD DETENTION-REPORT
Government photos show detained migrants pleading for helpHOUSTON (AP) — A report from government auditors includes images of people penned into overcrowded Border Patrol facilities, including one man pressing a cardboard sign to a cell window with the word "help."
The report released Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General warns that facilities in South Texas' Rio Grande Valley face "serious overcrowding" and require "immediate attention."
In one photo, women and children can be seen sleeping on the floor with only Mylar blankets for cover. Several people are wearing surgical masks.
In another, the auditors say 88 men were being held in a cell with a capacity of 41.
DHS has blamed the surge of families crossing the border for straining its capacity. But reports of filthy conditions in some facilities have sparked outrage.
BuzzFeed first reported on a draft version of the report.