- METHANE FIGHT-NEW MEXICO
Associated Press (AP) — New Mexico oil and gas regulators have adopted new rules to limit most venting and flaring in the oilfield as a way to reduce methane emissions. The Oil Conservation Commission took the final vote Thursday, following a two-year process that involved testimony from environmental advocates and technical experts from the oil and gas industry. The first phase of implementation will include data collection and reporting to identify natural gas losses at every stage of the process. The rules are one part of a two-pronged approach by the state to address climate change. Still pending are rules that would target oilfield equipment that emits volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides.
- DR. DEATH TV SERIES-NEW MEXICO
The New Mexico Film Office says a new television series based on a popular true-crime podcast by the Wondery network has started production in Albuquerque and Moriarty. The UCP production "Dr. Death" stars actors Joshua Jackson, Alec Baldwin and Christian Slater and is directed by Maggie Kiley, So Yong Kim and Jennifer Morrison. Film Office Director Amber Dodson said the series will be the first production to use NBCU's new studio in Albuquerque. The Film Office says "Dr. Death" is about a neurosurgeon whose operations start going wrong, prompting intervention by two fellow physicians.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is preparing to relax restrictions on visits to nursing homes and assisted living facilities as the spread of COVID-19 wanes and more people get vaccinated. Aging and Long Term Services Secretary Katrina Hotrum-Lopez announced the new guidelines Wednesday. Starting on Friday, the outdoors is still preferred for visiting residents of long-term care facilities. Indoor visits will be allowed with rules on room size and capacity. Prohibitions and tight restrictions on visitors were put in place amid dozens of deadly virus outbreaks at congregate living facilities for the elderly and disabled.
- SUPREME COURT-POLICE SHOOTING
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is siding with a New Mexico woman who was shot by police as she drove away from them. The justices have ruled 5-to-3 for Roxanne Torres. The case will allow more excessive force lawsuits against police to go forward. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the question for the justices was "whether a seizure occurs when an officer shoots someone who temporarily eludes capture after the shooting." The majority said the answer was yes. The decision does not end the case but just allows it to continue. Lower courts will still have to weigh in on the "reasonableness of the seizure," among other things.
- SUPERMARKET SHOOTING-VICTIMS
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — One victim of the Colorado supermarket shooting was just leaving after fixing a coffee machine. Another worked at the store but was only there because he stopped in to shop during his time off. A third was the police officer who was first to respond to the gunfire. Some died just as they began adulthood. Others were on the verge of milestones like an upcoming marriage or a new grandchild. The 10 deaths left a trail of pain from California to southeastern Europe.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Wednesday reported 10 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths. It was the first deaths reported by the tribe after three days without any coronavirus-related fatalities. The latest numbers pushed the tribe's numbers to 30,021 cases and 1,235 known deaths since the pandemic began. The Navajo Nation had a soft reopening last week with 25% capacity for some businesses under certain restrictions. Still, mask mandates and daily curfews remain on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Tribal health officials say nearly 197,000 vaccine shots have been administered so far.
- CLIMATE CHANGE-OIL INDUSTRY
WASHINGTON (AP) — The oil and gas industry's top lobbying group has endorsed a federal price on carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming. The move on Thursday comes as the Biden administration has pledged dramatic steps to address climate change. The American Petroleum Institute, whose members include ExxonMobil and Chevron, announced the policy change ahead of a virtual forum by the Interior Department as it launches a months-long review of the government's oil and gas sales. API also called for fast-tracking commercial deployment of technology to capture and store carbon emissions and federal regulation of methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas wells. The industry strongly resisted proposed methane regulations under the Obama administration.
- RADIATION EXPOSURE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The president of the Navajo Nation and New Mexico residents who live downwind from the site of the world's first atomic blast are among those seeking compensation from the U.S. government following uranium mining and nuclear testing carried out during the Cold War. A congressional subcommittee took testimony Wednesday about who should be eligible for payouts. Some lawmakers and residents from western states have been urging Congress to expand a compensation program for years, and advocates say the latest push takes on added weight because it's set to expire next year. Some say their communities have been plagued by cancer, birth defects and stillbirths.