- NATIVE AMERICANS-VIETNAM WAR
2 Isleta Pueblo members receive lost Vietnam War-era medalsISLETA PUEBLO, N.M. (AP) — Two Isleta Pueblo members who served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War have been presented with military medals they earned but never received.
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall on Friday pinned the replacement medals to All Pueblo Council of Governors Chairman E. Paul Torres and former Isleta Tribal councilman Diego Lujan during a special ceremony at Isleta Pueblo.
The New Mexico Democrat says he sought the replacements after he learned Torres did not have his discharge papers nor his medals. Udall also found out Lujan never received five of his medals.
Torres served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972.
Lujan served in the U.S. Air Force from 1969 to 1972.
Both men say they rarely thought about their missing medals until family members asked about them.
- WESTERN GOVERNORS-NUCLEAR WASTE
Western governors: States not consulted on nuclear wasteBOISE, Idaho (AP) — Western governors say they're disappointed that the U.S. Department of Energy didn't consult their states' nuclear waste experts before releasing a five-year plan for a nuclear waste facility in New Mexico.
The Western Governors' Association in a Sept. 30 letter to the Energy Department said the plan released in August for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant could have benefited with contributions from the states concerning transportation and safety.
The underground repository near Carlsbad, New Mexico, takes in plutonium-contaminated clothing, tools and other material generated at 22 sites across the nation involved in Cold War-era nuclear research and bomb-making.
Western governors also say discussion devoted to a 2014 accident at the facility that shut down shipments is minimal and should contain lessons learned and actions to avoid future radiation releases.
- HUMAN PLAGUE-TORRANCE COUNTY
New Mexico man contracts plague, state's 1st case since 2017SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials say an elderly man in Torrance County has contracted the plague.
State officials said Friday the 72-year-old man is the first reported human case of the disease in New Mexico since 2017.
Staff of the New Mexico Department of Health have gone door-to-door in the affected area to warn neighbors and help them reduce the risk.
Health officials say plague is generally transmitted by the bites of infected fleas living among rodents and rabbits. It can also be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals.
Symptoms include a sudden fever, chills, headache and weakness. There may be painful swelling of lymph nodes.
- LOS ALAMOS LAB-TRACKING DRUGS
Report examines drug-handling practices at national labSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A government report says Los Alamos National Laboratory's procedures for storing and tracking controlled substances used in experiments violated federal rules and might have left drugs unaccounted for.
The report by the U.S. Department of Energy's office of inspector general said the lab mislabeled drug purchases, failed to account for amounts used in experiments and kept substances long after research was complete.
The report doesn't say there was evidence that anything illegal occurred, but it says that a failure to manage inventories properly could have serious consequences.
The lab says a new process for managing controlled substances has been in place for nearly a year.
Department of Energy's office of inspector general says it wasn't recommending any action because the lab recently adopted a new policy for managing controlled substances.
- BIGGEST LOSER-NEW MEXICO
Reboot of reality show on weight loss films in Santa FeSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A revamped version of the long-running reality show "The Biggest Loser" about physical fitness and weight-loss is filming in northern New Mexico.
The New Mexico Film Office announced Friday that work is under way in the Santa Fe area on a 10-episode season of the rebooted franchise, with its debut scheduled on USA Network in 2020.
During more than 15 seasons and 250 episodes, the original show staged cash-prize competitions on weight-loss. Producers say the new iteration emphasizes the overall well-being of contestants and serious lifestyle changes.
Filming under Universal Television Alternative Studios and Endemol Shine North America takes place as the state of New Mexico boosts available tax rebates to video productions for a portion of local spending. Anticipated rebates to "The Biggest Loser" were not immediately available.
- NEW MEXICO ENERGY FUTURE
Court leaves regulators to hash out coal plant closureSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court is leaving it up to state regulators to hash out whether a sweeping new energy law should be considered as they deliberate the closure of a coal-fired power plant.
The court on Thursday denied a request by environmentalists and the utility that operates the San Juan Generating Station to force regulators to abide by the Energy Transition Act.
The law allows Public Service Co. of New Mexico and other plant owners to recover investments by selling bonds that will be paid off by utility customers.
Environmentalists have criticized the Public Regulation Commission for not clarifying whether it will apply the law's financing mechanism.
The commission is leaving it up to hearing examiners to review. All parties in the case will be able to weigh in.
- LIVING UNDOCUMENTED
Netflix series ‘Living Undocumented’ probes migrant plightsALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A new Netflix documentary series investigates the diversity of migrants caught in the intricate U.S immigration system where uncertainty and pain often battle dreams.
“Living Undocumented” now airing on the streaming service follows the lives of eight families from Latin America, Israel, Laos, and Africa who try to live normal lives in the U.S. despite family members’ immigration status.
The six-episode series shows how the families do their best to go day by day while threats of deportation loom due to changing policy and laws. Crews follow families as they await immigration decisions and try to celebrate birthdays, bat mitzvahs and family cookouts in Florida, Texas and South Carolina.
Co-directors Anna Chai and Aaron Saidman say they wanted to create a series that allowed the immigrants to speak for themselves.
- ALBUQUERQUE PASTOR-CHILD ABUSE
Albuquerque pastor charged with sex abuse of 5-year-oldALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities are accusing a longtime pastor of sexually abusing a 5-year-old boy at his home in Albuquerque.
A criminal complaint shows 55-year-old Curtis Ray Brown has been charged with criminal sexual penetration and criminal sexual contact of a minor.
Brown, who was jailed late Thursday, is scheduled to make his first court appearance on the charges Friday afternoon.
Authorities say Brown was the pastor for 18 years at Grace Baptist Chapel in Albuquerque. Online court records did not yet list an attorney for Brown, and the public defenders' office did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Records show Albuquerque police began investigating Brown in late August after they say the boy told his parents he had a "secret" that involved him and Brown "playing" with their private parts.