- VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS-NEW MEXICO
ALBQUQUERQUE (AP) — New Mexico Democrats Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan were both in the razor-thin majority Saturday as the U.S. Senate approved a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The 50-49 vote gives President Joe Biden and his Democratic allies a victory that they say is crucial for hoisting the country out of the pandemic and economic doldrums. Senate passage sets up final congressional approval by the House next week. Heinrich said New Mexico's residents "are facing daunting economic hardships and need assistance to help weather this crisis," while Lujan said the bill "provides crucial relief at a time when New Mexicans are still struggling financially."
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico on Saturday reported 288 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths. increasing the state's pandemic totals to 186,742 cases and 3,796 deaths. About a quarter of the additional cases were reported in Bernalillo County. Counties with double-digit numbers of additional cases included Lea , Dona Ana, Eddy, Otero, Sandoval, San Juan, Santa Fe and Valencia. Four deaths were from Bernalillo County while Dona Ana and Otero counties hat two each and Rio Arriba and Socorro counties had one each. Most of the dead were at least 60 years old but one woman was in her 20s and one man was in his 30s.
- POLICE SHOOTING-VALENCIA COUNTY
LOS LUNAS, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico State Police says Valencia County sheriff's deputies were involved in a shooting in which a suspect was wounded. The State Police said no deputies were injured in the incident in Los Lunas and that the suspect was transported to a hospital. No additional information was released, including the suspect's condition and whether that person was shot by one or more deputies.
- PRISON GANG TRIAL-ARRESTS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal authorities have arrested four people, suspected of making threats against a judge and other officials, hours before testimony in the racketeering and murder trial of a Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang member began this week in Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Journal reported that FBI agent Bryan Acee testified on Wednesday that 41-year-old Jody Rufino Martinez was linked to two threats to kill FBI agents and prosecutors, including threats that have since surfaced. Martinez faces a potential life sentence. Acee said the threats involved an unidentified judge. An FBI spokesman said he had no details about who was arrested on Wednesday or their charges.
- ALBUQUERQUE POLICE-SETTLEMENT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Albuquerque Police Department on Saturday announced that the city will make $175,000 payments to a police sergeant and a police officer to settle retaliations claims. The department said in a statement that Sgt. Steven Martinez and Officer Tillery DiCenzo both alleged violations of a whistleblower law after then-Police Chief Mike Geier transferred them after they reported misconduct by a now-former commander of the police academy. The department said investigation substantiated allegations of threats directed at cadets and of retaliation against staff. The department said Martinez and DiCenzo had been reassigned to their previous positions at the academy.
- LEGISLATURE-EDUCATION FUNDING
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Senate is backing sweeping education funding reforms that will result in more money being sent to Native American school districts. The bill passed on Friday eliminates a credit long used by the state to send less education funding to schools surrounded by non-taxable lands like Native American reservations and army bases. Some senators argue the changes will sully a statewide funding formula focused on equality. But recent court judgments have ordered additional funding to underserved students, especially those serving Native American and low-income students. The Senate will also consider increasing funding for two-year colleges and payouts from the state's $20 billion endowment.
- ETHICS COMPLAINT-GOVERNOR
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A former trustee for New Mexico's retirement system for its public employees has filed an ethics complaint against Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's chief operating officer. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Tuesday that Claudia Armijo has accused Teresa Casados of pressuring her to take part in voting to endorse a state Senate bill Lujan Grisham strongly backed in an attempt to eventually bring the state's pension system out of debt. In 2020, the system had an estimated $6.6 billion in unfunded liabilities. Casados' office did not respond to requests for comment made by the Santa Fe New Mexican.
- DAYLIGHT SAVING-NEW MEXICO
SANTA 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.