- DAYLIGHT SAVING-NEW MEXICO
Bill advances to exempt New Mexico from time changesSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico would eliminate seasonal time changes under a bill endorsed by the New Mexico state Senate. On a 22-18 vote Friday, the Senate endorsed a Republican-sponsored bill that would keep New Mexico on daylight saving time throughout the year and do away with spring and fall clock adjustments. The bill moves to the House, where the level of support for it is uncertain. Republican Sen. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell has championed the initiative since 2013 without success. He says time changes are disruptive and that many people prefer to have extra daylight in the evening.
- LAS CRUCES-SUSPECT KILLED
Wanted Las Cruces man killed in shootout with Mexican policeLAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A Las Cruces man suspected of seriously injuring a city police officer with his vehicle during a February incident at a fast-food restaurant has died after a shootout with law enforcement officers in Juarez, Mexico. Las Cruces police say 40-year-old Mark James Esquibel was hit during an exchange of gunfire Thursday and died Friday. Police spokesman Danny Trujillo says reports from Mexico show one officer there was killed in the shootout with Esquibel and two others wounded. Esquibel was suspected of running over a Las Cruces officer on Feb. 15 after police tried to arrest him.
- ALBUQUERQUE AIRPORT-BODY FOUND
Body found in vehicle at Albuquerque airport parking garageAlbuquerque police say the body of a homicide victim has been found inside a vehicle in a parking garage at the city's airport. No information was immediately released about the person whose body was found Friday after Albuquerque International Sunport security personnel contacted police about a foul odor. Interim police Chief Harold Medina said the victim was not killed at the airport but that investigators didn't immediately know where the homicide occurred. Medina said the investigation was in its early stages but that detectives had some leads. Aviation Director Nyika Allen said said airport operations were functioning normally.
- TRIPLE SHOOTING-TEEN ARRESTED
Teen arrested in Albuquerque triple shooting; 2 women killedALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say a 15-year-old boy has been arrested in the shootings of three people, including two women killed in the Jan. 27 incident. Police said the teen is accused of going to an apartment complex and fatally shooting 21-year-old Aerial Mallam and 31-year-old and Jessica Casaus Lucero and of shooting Stephen Mitchell, who survived his wounds. Police said the youth was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with another person as the youth tried to take a vehicle before running away. The Associated Press generally does not identify juvenile crime suspects. An arrest warrant charged the youth with murder and multiple other crimes.
- LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO
Legislature approves bill to waive liquor license feesSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Legislature has approved a bill that would provide a one-time waiver of annual liquor license fees, amid discussions of a broad regulatory overhaul of alcohol sales. A 64-0 vote of approval by the House of Representatives on Thursday sent the measure to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has embraced a variety of economic relief measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Bill co-sponsor Rep. Matthew McQueen of Galisteo called the fee waiver a gesture of good will to liquor license holders. Many state lawmakers want to relax state restrictions on liquor sales in efforts to energize the hospitality industry.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo Nation reports 19 new COVID-19 cases, 7 more deathsWINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Thursday reported 19 new COVID-19 cases with seven additional deaths. The latest figures from tribal health officials bring the total number of COVID-19 cases to 29,816 cases since the pandemic began. The death toll now is 1,194. Health facilities on the reservation and in border towns are conducting drive-thru vaccine events or administering doses by appointment. The Navajo-area Indian Health Service has vaccinated more than 135,000 people so far. A daily curfew from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. and a mask mandate remain in effect for residents of the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah to prevent the spread of the virus.
- NEW MEXICO CHILE
2020 marks increase for hot pepper production in New MexicoALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — For chiles, 2020 wasn't all bad as New Mexico farmers reported increased production and yield levels for the state's most famous crop. Numbers released Thursday by the U.S. Agriculture Department's statistics service show 68,000 tons of red and green chile were produced in 2020. That's an 8% increase over the previous year. The crop's value also increased to nearly $52 million. Growers had reported labor shortages and reduced demand last year due to the pandemic. State Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte says the positive numbers are a testament to New Mexico's farmers. He said the crop forms the basis of salsas, sauces and other valuable products.
- GOVERNOR'S SPENDING-AUDIT
New Mexico governor's grocery bills prompt calls for auditSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Senate Republicans are asking for a special audit of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's use of a discretionary fund following reports that the Democrat spent thousands of dollars on liquor and groceries during the pandemic. Fourteen GOP lawmakers sent a letter Thursday to the state auditor requesting the review. Lujan Grisham recently acknowledged that her spending on goods and services such as dry cleaning, tuna steaks, tequila and Wagyu beef over a six-month period in 2020 didn't look good. The governor's office had said that some of the groceries were used to feed her cabinet and staff at long meetings during the second half of last year.