- RAPE CASES-MULTIPLE ARRESTS
More than dozen charged in New Mexico rape kit backlog cases(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico authorities have charged over a dozen people after prosecutors began clearing thousands of backlogged rape cases.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Wednesday that 16 Albuquerque rape cases have been filed stretching from 2010 to 2017.
Authorities say one man started his sentence, another is awaiting sentencing, two are on the loose and a dozen are headed to trial.
Authorities say the current cases include charges of criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual penetration of a minor, aggravated assault and kidnapping.
Authorities say a 2016 report drew attention to about 5,400 rape kits that had been collected but never processed, about 4,000 were from Albuquerque.
Court officials say thousands of cases were closed because of expired statute of limitations, lack of sufficient evidence, no DNA or someone has passed away.
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- ARMED SCHOOL SECURITY
New Mexico college board votes to allow armed security(Information from: Roswell Daily Record, http://www.roswell-record.com)
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico community college board has voted to approve a request to allow armed security on the school campus.
The Roswell Daily Record reported Wednesday that Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell community college board voted 5-0 Wednesday to allow some officers to carry firearms.
Campus security head Brad McFadin says the request gives officers another option and tool to enhance security.
Authorities say officers who did not want to carry firearms could receive training on how to use non-lethal devices such as batons, tasers or pepper spray.
Campus authorities say they have encountered people with dangerous weapons on the campus despite state law prohibiting firearms at New Mexico universities.
Board officials say the transition could cost more than $270,000 initially with estimated $7,000 recurring costs a year.
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- DRUG TRAFFICKING-POLICE LINK
DEA: New Mexico police employee may have tipped trafficker(Information from: Las Vegas Optic, http://www.lasvegasoptic.com)
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — Federal officials say one or more employees for a northern New Mexico police department may have tried to help a suspected drug trafficker.
The Las Vegas Optic reports a search warrant affidavit filed in U.S. District Court shows the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration believes someone within the Las Vegas Police Department alerted suspected trafficker Robert Corbin Padilla about an investigation against him.
The recently-unsealed search warrant affidavit details DEA agents' months-long investigation of Padilla. The warrant alleges Padilla was responsible for 70% of the cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine coming into Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Padilla was arrested and faces multiple federal charges.
Las Vegas Police David Bibb says it would be a criminal offense if any employee provided confidential information to an investigation's target.
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- PECAN GROWERS-TARIFFS
Senators press Trump administration on India pecan tariff(Information from: Carlsbad Current-Argus, http://www.currentargus.com/)
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's U.S. senators want the Trump administration to defend the state's pecan growers from tariffs during ongoing trade negotiations with India.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall recently signed on to a bipartisan letter from 12 senators urging U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to negotiate a lift of a trade barrier.
Records show India charges a 36% tariff on pecan imports, while other tree nuts such as pistachios and almonds are charged tariff rates of 10% or less.
New Mexico became the largest pecan-producing state last year, after Hurricane Michael ravaged Georgia's crop.
New Mexico was estimated to have produced about 90 million pounds of pecans in 2018, down about 2 million from 2017.
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- IMMIGRATION-ASYLUM BAN
Groups: Migrants told to wait in Mexico faced 'bait, switch'TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — Advocacy groups say the Trump administration played "bait and switch" by telling migrants to wait in Mexico to apply for asylum before imposing sharp restrictions on their eligibility.
The Southern Poverty Law Center and other groups asked a judge Thursday to prohibit the government from applying the new restrictions to anyone who appeared at an official border crossing to claim asylum before the policy was announced July 16.
The restrictions deny asylum to anyone who reached the U.S. after traveling through another country and failing to seek asylum there.
U.S. officials have repeatedly said the right way to seek asylum is to apply at border crossings, instead of entering illegally and asking for it after being detained by immigration authorities.
The Justice Department declined to comment on Thursday's filing in a federal lawsuit in San Diego.
- THREATENED OWL-FIREWOOD PERMITS
6 forests halt tree-cutting activities due to order on owlsALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Six national forests in New Mexico and Arizona have suspended firewood collection permit sales, timber sales, thinning and prescribed burns because of a federal court order related to a threatened owl.
A Forest Service statement released Thursday says the affected forests include all five in New Mexico and Tonto National Forest in Arizona.
U.S. District Judge Raner Collins' Sept. 11 order halted tree-cutting activities on the six forests until federal agencies get a better handle on how to monitor the population of the Mexican spotted owl and its habitat.
Collins' order didn't define timber management activities, only saying they cause irreparable harm and include timber harvesting.
The Forest Service said it may be able to provide people who collect wood for fuel with potential alternative options in their areas.
- NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE
Holtec prepping to build nuclear waste storage facilityALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Jersey-based company has reached an agreement with a construction trades group as it pushes for approval to build a multibillion-dollar facility for temporarily storing spent nuclear fuel from commercial reactors around the U.S.
Holtec International announced the labor agreement with the New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council on Wednesday to establish a framework for cooperation between labor groups and management.
The company is seeking a permit from federal regulators to build the facility in southern New Mexico. Holtec says the project will help the nation deal with growing stockpiles of spent nuclear fuel.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and others have voiced opposition, saying the federal government has no long-term plan for the waste and they don't want the state to get stuck with it.
- AP-US-VAPING-ILLNESSES-MARIJUANA-INDUSTRY
High-flying marijuana vapes take hit from health scarePORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Vaping products are taking a hit as health experts scramble to determine what's causing a mysterious lung disease.
More than 500 people have gotten ill, and nine have died after smoking vapes.
Vaping products have been one of the fastest-growing segments of the United States' legal marijuana industry. But the scare caused a 15% decline in market share for vapes.
Industry analyst firm New Frontier Data says states like Oregon and New Mexico saw more than a 60% drop in vape market share.
Experts say the crisis won't stop marijuana legalization but will mean tighter regulation overall.
Public health officials haven't pinpointed any one substance or product that's to blame.
Many patients say they used vapes containing marijuana oil, but some patients say they smoked nicotine-only vapes.
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Flaccus and Peltz, who reported from New York City, are members of AP's marijuana beat team. Follow the AP's complete marijuana coverage: https://apnews.com/Marijuana .