- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Health officials say two more people in New Mexico have tested positive for the coronavirus. A man in Taos County in his 50s and man in Santa Fe County in his 40s both recently tested positive for COVID-19. That brings the total number in New Mexico to 23. It's the first positive test in Taos County. The National Guard is helping deliver food to some school districts scrambling to feed children on the first day of a statewide school shutdown. Nine districts lacked supplies because students there were supposed to be on spring break.
- NEW MEXICO WEATHER
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The National Weather Service says a storm system producing widespread rain, mountain snow and strong wind will move eastward across New Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday. The weather service says impacts on travel are possible over high terrain and strong winds are likely Thursday with gusts of 55 mph possible. Forecasters say a few thunderstorms are likely and that snow levels will be at 8,000 feet but fall to near 5,000 feet by Thursday morning.
- ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Las Cruces businessman says he has collected enough signatures to qualify to be placed on the ballot in a crucial U.S. House race in southern New Mexico. Chris Mathys told The Associated Press he will submit more than 3,000 signatures and is planning to be on the Republican primary ballot for New Mexico's 2nd Congressional seat. His announcement comes days after failing to obtain enough delegates at a statewide GOP convention. Mathys, former state lawmaker Yvette Herrell and oil executive Claire Chase are seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small. Herrell earned top billing at a statewide GOP convention on the Republican primary ballot for the 2nd Congressional District.
- UNEARTHED RADIOACTIVE WASTE
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A crew in northern New Mexico has found low-level radioactive waste buried on land the U.S. Energy Department had transferred to Los Alamos County. The discovery has stopped construction of an affordable housing project northwest of Santa Fe. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that the state Environment Department ordered the agency to provide more information about the waste found last month at a former Los Alamos National Laboratory site. The Energy Department has supplied documents to the state and is now analyzing the waste. There are concerns over the potential threat to human health and the environment. Officials say dozens of housing units were scheduled to be built.
- POLICE SHOOTING-LUNA COUNTY
DEMING, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico authorities have identified a man fatally shot by a State Police officer during an encounter after the man allegedly fired at a Luna County sheriff's deputy in Deming last month. State Police Officer Daniel Soliz shot 36-year-old Rodrigo Aguirre after Aguirre disregarded commands by the officer to put down a shotgun during the Feb. 22 incident, the State Police said Tuesday in a statement. According to the State Police, Aguirre previously had led Deming police on a pursuit and later ired the shotgun at a sheriff's deputy who was not injured. The agency said the fatal shooting occurred after earlier gunfire when Aguirre's minivan got stuck and he got out and fired several times at the deputy.
- WATER PLANNING
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Three New Mexico organizations will be sharing nearly $300,000 for projects aimed at improving watersheds. The Bureau of Reclamation says the money will go toward work being done by the Jornada Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Santa Fe Watershed Association and New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. The alliance will work with experts from the University of New Mexico and the U.S. Geological Survey to assess water quality and ecological resiliency in the Rio Chama. In southern New Mexico, one of the projects involves forming a task force to develop a comprehensive watershed plan for the Hatch and Mesilla valleys.
- IMPERSONATING DEPUTY
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico teen has pleaded no contest after being arrested for impersonating a sheriff's deputy. KRQE-TV reports Brenden Wysynski was sentenced to a year of probation following his arrest in last year. Authorities say Wysynski pulled over a car in Albuquerque. An officer was driving by and noticed the situation didn't appear right. The officer found Wysynski was driving what looked like a police car and he also had a badge on his belt. He told police he was a Bernalillo County deputy. Wysynski was arrested after the officer checked and found he was not with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office.
- BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — An Oklahoma man accused of robbing a bank in New Mexico has had his initial court appearance. Federal prosecutors say 47-year-old Randy Matthew Peraza of Oklahoma City is charged in a criminal complaint with bank robbery. Peraza is in custody awaiting a detention hearing. Prosecutors say he faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. According to the criminal complaint, Peraza allegedly robbed a bank in Roswell on March 13. Witnesses say Peraza demanded money from a teller and walked out of the bank and across a street before sitting in a grassy area where police arrested him a short time later. It was unclear Monday if Peraza has a lawyer yet.