- DRY NEW MEXICO-PECOS RIVER
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal water managers say the Pecos River Basin in New Mexico is likely to experience growing water shortages as temperatures continue to rise over the next century. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on Wednesday discussed the findings of a recently completed study on the basin. The Pecos River flows through eastern New Mexico into Texas, where it joins the Rio Grande near the U.S.-Mexican border. It's home to more than 130,000 acres of crops and orchards. The study was aimed at getting a better understanding of the threats to the basin's water supply due to climate change. Officials also looked at what tools could be used to stretch resources.
- CHILD CARE GRANTS
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico state officials are sending $157 million to around 1,000 child care providers. The money can be used to pay rent, utilities, and labor costs. Gov. Michell Lujan Grisham said Wednesday that a strong child care industry is needed to support parents in the workforce. It's the latest investment in child care made possible by federal pandemic relief funds. The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department has also used federal money to make more families eligible for child care subsidies. Eligibility now includes families of four with incomes as high as $93,000.
- POLICING-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Legislators are drafting a plan to ease restrictions against retired police officers coming back to work in an effort to add more officers across New Mexico in the midst of a labor shortage. At a legislative hearing Tuesday, retired police officer and state Rep. Bill Rehm of Albuquerque outlined a proposal for changes to reemployment provisions for retired police to incentivize a return to work. He said officers might continue to draw on pension benefits or wait for a bigger payout later. New Mexico's governor wants to deploy 1,000 more police officers amid public frustration with crime.
- ELECTION 2021-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Nearly 13,000 absentee and early ballots have been cast in local elections that will determine the next mayors of New Mexico's largest city as well as its state capital, with two weeks remaining before Election Day. The secretary of state's office on Tuesday released its first tally of voter participation in the consolidated Nov. 2 election for local government offices including school boards and bond initiatives that influence local tax rates. More than 25,000 absentee ballots have been requested. Mayors Tim Keller in Albuquerque and Alan Webber in Santa Fe are running for reelection in three-way races.
- ARTS-THE BELIEVER
NEW YORK (AP) — One of the country's most acclaimed and innovative literary magazines is shutting down. The Believer was founded nearly 20 years ago. It had been part of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' College of Liberal Arts since 2017. The bi-monthly publication's final issue, No. 139, is scheduled for February/March 2022. The school is calling the decision part of a strategic realignment shaped by the coronavirus pandemic. The Believer was founded in 2003 by authors Vendela Vida, Ed Park and Heidi Julavits. In their words, it was committed to journalism, essays that are frequently very long and book reviews that are not necessarily timely.
- AIR FORCE CONTAMINATION-ALBUQUERQUE
CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico environmental protection officials have wrapped up testing of nearly five dozen private wells near a U.S. Air Force base in eastern New Mexico for so-called "forever chemicals" known as PFAS. The chemicals can be toxic to humans and animals. The state Environment Department said Monday that neither of two PFAS contaminants the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established health advisories for were detected in the samples collected during the study. However, other types of PFAS compounds were found at very low levels in some wells. Contamination with the chemicals has been documented at and around Cannon and Holloman air force bases, leading to a legal fight with the Air Force.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported 85 more COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the 14th time in the past 20 days. The latest numbers pushed the tribe's totals to 34,999 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the virus since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The known death toll remains at 1,464. Tribal officials still are urging people to get vaccinated, wear masks while in public and minimize their travel. Based on cases from Oct. 1-14, the Navajo Department of Health issued an advisory for 31 communities due to the uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus. The tribe's reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- AMAZON-CARGO FACILITY-ALBUQUERQUE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Amazon is eying the airport of New Mexico's most populous city as the site for construction of a new cargo facility. Albuquerque City Council members on Monday formally proposed a lease agreement for Seattle-based Amazon to build a 30,750-square-foot cargo facility at the Albuquerque International Sunport. Amazon spokeswoman Eileen Hards declined comment beyond a prepared statement saying that the company hasn't signed a lease for the site yet, but is "actively exploring options locally." Albuquerque officials said existing cargo operations at the airport are at capacity. The city recently secured a $6.5 million federal grant to expand the airport's cargo apron.