- LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Lawmakers will push plans to legalize marijuana, underwrite tuition-free college and improve a beleaguered public education system during a 30-day legislative session that begins Tuesday. Political battle lines are forming on issues ranging from teacher pay increases to a proposed red-flag law that would allow police or relatives to ask a court to temporarily take away guns from people who might hurt themselves or others. New Mexico state government is forecasting an $800 million surplus for the coming fiscal year. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and allied majorities in the state House and Senate are suggesting a new round of spending increases for public education.
- OIL BOOM-NEW RULES
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico regulators have adopted a rule aimed at oil and natural gas companies as the industry touted the more than $3 billion that was pumped into the state's coffers through taxes and revenues during the last fiscal year. With the change, the Oil Conservation Division will be able to assess civil penalties for violating state laws. State officials and environmentalists say that will allow for better regulation of the booming industry. The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association had supported legislation that cleared the way for the change, saying some rules can ensure a level playing field among operators.
- WINTER WEATHER-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Parts of New Mexico are getting another dose of winter weather as a storm system brought a mix of snow, freezing rain and fog to the state. Authorities on Thursday afternoon warned of difficult driving conditions on some roads, and park officials at Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Jemez Mountains opted to close early due to the conditions. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque says the precipitation was expected to continue into the night. Mostly snow was falling over western, central and northeast New Mexico, while freezing rain was reported in the eastern plains.
- DNA-RAPE ARREST-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say DNA evidence checked against a genealogy website led to a man's arrest in a 2015 Albuquerque-area rape. The Albuquerque Journal reports that Bernalillo County officials said Thursday they had DNA evidence from the attack but no match in a law enforcement database. Officials said they then took note of California authorities' 2018 announcement of an arrest resulting from investigators' groundbreaking use of a publicly available commercial genealogy site. The New Mexico victim was attacked Dec. 24, 2015 while jogging along a drainage ditch next to the Rio Grande. Jail records indicate 23-year-old Angel Gurule was booked Wednesday on suspicion of criminal penetration. Online court records don't list a lawyer for Gurule who could comment on the allegation.
- ROSWELL AIR CENTER-JOBS
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — An aerospace company has announced it expects to hire more people after it received funding from New Mexico to train its employees at its Roswell Air Center location. Roswell Daily Record reported Wednesday that the state Economic Development Department gave more than $527,000 to Arkansas-based CAVU Aerospace Inc. Company officials say they expect to use the money for an audit fee and wage reimbursements to train 37 people for jobs at the company's New Mexico location. Officials say the new jobs are expected to include four warehouse clerks, four inspectors, 25 aviation maintenance technicians and four aircraft recycling services employees.
- AGENCY WEBSITE HACKED
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico state agency's website is down as a result of what officials say is a ransomeware hack. The Public Regulation Commission says its website hasn't been operational since Jan. 9 and likely won't be back in service again for a week or so. In the meantime, the commission says filings with the commission either must submitted on paper and sent by postal mail or by hand-delivery to the agency's office in Santa Fe. The commission regulates utilities, insurance companies, pipeline operators and other entities. Officials say the breach was contained to the commission and didn't result in compromise to sensitive or confidential data. The state Department of Information Technology is the lead agency in the hacking investigation.
- ROSWELL-SUSPECT DEATH
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Roswell police say a crime suspect who allegedly fired at police is dead after shooting himself while he was the subject of a search. Police say the man fired at least one shot at one or more officers who responded to a report of an aggravated assault Wednesday night at or near Roswell Mall. Police say the initial gunfire occurred as the man ran away from the mall and that a search was then launched. According to police, the man shot himself about a half-hour later in a residential neighborhood elsewhere in northern Roswell. The man's identity wasn't released but police said he appeared to be in his 20s. No officers were injured.
- NAVAJO OFFICIAL-FUNERAL
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A former Navajo Nation Council delegate is being remembered for his years of public service and inspiration to others. The tribe says a funeral for John Perry Jr. is scheduled Thursday morning at Cope Memorial Chapel in Gallup. Meanwhile, flags across the Navajo Nation will be lowered. Perry died earlier this month at the age of 71. Tribal officials say two other former Tribal Council members died this month. Benjamin Hogue, who served between 1963 and 1979, died Jan. 3 at age 88. James Tomchee, who served in the 1990s, died Jan. 7 at age 86.