- WILDLIFE TRAPPING-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New restrictions on wildlife foot traps and wire snares are being proposed by New Mexico Game and Fish officials amid conflicts arising from trapping traditions, evolving attitudes about animal suffering and outdoor enthusiasts with dogs.The agency that oversees trapping rules and regulations on Thursday suggested a prohibition on traps and snares for public lands on the outskirts of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces and Taos. It also suggested a half-mile no-trapping buffer at certain hiking trailheads as well as training requirements for trappers.
The proposal initiates a months-long rulemaking process with opportunities for public comment. Rule changes are decided by the New Mexico State Game Commission, appointed by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Trapping regulations holds implications for wildlife and recreation across an estimated 30 percent of New Mexico.
- PRISON-SEXUAL ASSAULT
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Three former inmates of a New Mexico prison say they were repeatedly sexually assaulted by guards and their complaints were met with indifference or retaliation.The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the women recently filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court over assaults that allegedly occurred in a Springer, New Mexico, prison from 2016 to 2018.
According to the lawsuit, the prison guards forced the women to show their body parts and kiss each other.
One woman says her abuser harassed her when she was in solitary confinement by turning the lights on every half hour to wake her up and made derogatory comments about her body.
New Mexico Corrections Department spokesman Ricardo Montoya says the department has not seen the lawsuit.
- NEWBORN DEATH
ALCALDE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a newborn baby found in a trash bag inside a residence in northern New Mexico.According to the State Police, the baby's body was found during a welfare check of a residence in Alcalde where the baby's mother was staying.
Officials say a man had reported Aug. 17 that he returned to his home in La Madera from a trip and found that his unborn child's mother was no longer showing signs of being pregnant and wouldn't disclose the child's location.
No identities were released and officials said their investigation continues.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine cause and manner of death.
Alcalde is 28 miles (46 kilometers) north of Santa Fe. La Madera is 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Santa Fe.
- JEFFREY EPSTEIN
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed up to 20 staff members at the jail where Jeffrey Epstein killed himself.That's according to a person familiar with the investigation who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because grand jury proceedings are secret.
The subpoenas suggest authorities may be pursuing criminal charges against employees at New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center, where Epstein took his own life Aug. 10.
Since Epstein's death, there has been mounting evidence that employees at the jail abdicated their responsibility to keep the 66-year-old from killing himself while he awaited trial on charges of sexually abusing teenage girls.
A Justice Department official told the AP last week that several people, including guards, were not cooperating with the investigation.
- BEHAVIORAL HEALTH-SETTLEMENTS
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has reached settlements with two more providers whose Medicaid claims were frozen as part of a shake-up in the state's behavioral health care system.The state agreed Tuesday to pay TeamBuilders Counseling Services more than $1.9 million.
It agreed last month to pay more than $173,000 to Counseling Associates.
Gov. Susana Martinez's administration froze payments to 15 mental health service providers in 2013 after an audit identified $36 million in Medicaid overpayments.
The state attorney general later cleared the providers of any criminal wrongdoing, but 10 filed lawsuits.
Neither the state nor providers admitted to liability or fault under the settlement agreements.
The state Human Services Department says in a statement that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration is working to resolve the remaining cases.
- HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY-DECLINING FACULTY
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Highlands University officials are worried about the declining number of faculty and are reporting its lowest number of tenured positions in school history.The Las Vegas Optic reports Vice President of Finance and Administration Max Baca told the school's Board of Regents this week that officials want to address the falling numbers at the northern New Mexico college.
Baca says the school would be pushing legislators for money to increase salaries to make Highlands University more competitive with other institutions.
Faculty association president Kathy Jenkins says there is a certain level of dissatisfaction with some of the faculty that led them to start looking for employment elsewhere.
Faculty Senate Chair Orit Tamir says she worried about the impact on the students with the declining numbers of faculty.
- LGBTQ CHURCH-VANDALIZED
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Vandals continue to target a New Mexico church known for welcoming LGBTQ residents and immigrants.KRQE-TV reports Metropolitan Community Church members said this week the Albuquerque church has been the target of vandalism seven times in less than three weeks.
The most recent vandalism happened Monday night. Members say that's when someone threw a rock through the window on the front door, knocking out the newly installed plexiglass.
Albuquerque police are investigating.
No arrests have been made.
Church board members said it will cost an estimated $5,000 to fix the damage.
The Christian church has been at the same location for 18 years and it has reported only a few minor episodes in its history.
- PENCE-TRADE WAR CAMPAIGN
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence is renewing efforts to promote the Trump administration's trade deal with Mexico and Canada as he travels to the border state of New Mexico and then Salt Lake City.The Office of the Vice President announced that Pence will talk about the trade pact Wednesday while visiting an Artesia-based service company for oil and natural gas production in the Permian basin that straddles New Mexico and Texas.
The trip provides Pence with an additional forum for the administration's efforts to ease federal environmental regulations and boost employment prospects in a critical location for U.S. oil and exploration.
Congressional Democrats have signaled that the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico needs stronger protections for workers and the environment before it can be ratified.