- AP-US-DEADLY-BALLOON-CRASH-LAWSUIT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The family of a passenger on a hot air balloon that crashed and killed five people in Albuquerque in June is suing the estate of the deceased pilot and the companies that operated the commercial balloon. Martin Martinez's family filed the lawsuit last week in state district court. It names Hot Air Balloonatics LLC, Sventato LLC, and the estate of the pilot, Nicholas Meleski. The suit accuses Meleski of piloting the balloon in a reckless manner. A Federal Aviation Administration report shows the pilot had marijuana and cocaine in his blood and urine. The National Transportation Safety Board hasn't ruled on the cause of the crash.
- EDUCATION TESTING DATA
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico education officials say not enough students were tested last spring to gauge learning loss during the pandemic. All states skipped testing in 2020 when the pandemic hit. New Mexico also got a so-called "accountability wavier" allowing it to skip testing last spring, even as schools were opening up. It's the third year in a row that comparable education data will not be available to policymakers. That's because the New Mexico Public Education Department has changed standardized tests twice since 2018, and didn't implement them during the pandemic. The next tests are planned for spring of 2022, months after the Legislature sets the $3 billion education budget.
- TEXAS SUSPECT-NEW MEXICO ARREST
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a manhunt for a Texas homicide suspect ended Tuesday in southeastern New Mexico when ranchers detained the man at gunpoint and handed him over to sheriff's deputies. Officials said 29-year-old Kionne Lewis of Midland was captured north of Roswell in an area where officers had searched for Lewis late Monday after he abandoned his vehicle during a pursuit from Texas late Monday. Chaves County Undersheriff Charles Yslas said Lewis had a weapon on him when captured but nobody was injured. According to KOSA-TV, Lewis was sought in a Midland shooting in which a woman was killed and a man was wounded.
- MOUNTAINEERING DEATH
DURANGO, Colo. (AP) — Search and rescue crews have recovered the body of a Durango man who died while climbing Blanca Peak in southern Colorado. The Durango Herald reports 57-year-old Vaughn Fetzer was reported missing Sept. 20, and his body was found in treacherous terrain on the state's fourth highest peak Monday. Fetzer was a nurse at Mercy Regional Medical Center and worked on the medical surgical floor. Investigators have not said how he died.
- ALBUQUERQUE-MAYORAL DEBATE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque's struggle with violent crime and escalating homelessness took center stage Monday night as the three candidates running for mayor in New Mexico's largest city faced off during a forum sponsored by the New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative. Crime has been among the top issues for voters as the city deals with record homicides this year. Incumbent Tim Keller tried to defend his record, pointing to community policing efforts and a new public safety office. He also took aim at fellow Democratic challenger, Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales, saying crime is his problem too. Republican candidate Eddy Aragon described the city as being in crisis, saying things need to be turned around.
- AMBER ALERT-NEW MEXICO
BELEN, N.M. (AP) — A statewide Amber Alert has been issued for a 2-year-old Belen girl who allegedly was taken by her father. Belen police say Italy Hernandez was last seen around 8:30 a.m. Monday. Police say the child's 29-year-old father is wanted in a stabbing case. Authorities don't have any information about where the man was headed with his daughter in the car. Police also say they don't yet have the numbers on the car's New Mexico license plate for tracking purposes and are asking for the public's help in locating the man and child.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Monday reported 20 more COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths. The latest numbers pushed the tribe's totals to 33,800 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the virus since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The known death toll remains at 1,442. Based on cases from Sept. 10-23, the Navajo Department of Health issued an advisory for 40 communities due to an uncontrolled spread of COVID-19. Navajo officials are urging people to get vaccinated, wear masks while in public and minimize their travel. Officials said all Navajo Nation executive branch employees will need to be fully vaccinated against the virus by the end of this month or submit to regular testing.
- LOS ALAMOS-CONTAMINATION
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Energy Department wants to switch to less stringent testing for detecting cancer-causing chemicals at and around one of its premier nuclear weapons laboratories. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the federal agency is using the state's three-year review of surface water rules to push for a test at Los Alamos National Laboratory that's more limited in detecting PCBs. Environmentalists and New Mexico regulators oppose the proposed change. The Energy Department claims its testing would be sufficient and that the current method required by the state goes far beyond what's necessary.