- JON JONES-STRIP CLUB ASSAULT
UFC's Jon Jones disputes strip club waitress' assault claimALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is denying allegations that he assaulted a waitress in a New Mexico strip club.
Denise White, a representative for Jones, said in a statement Monday that he is confident he will be cleared of the "baseless claim."
According to White, the fighter only became aware of the battery charge against him Sunday through Albuquerque news outlets.
Jones is accused of placing the waitress in a chokehold and slapping her genitals during an April visit.
Court records show a bench warrant was issued for Jones when he never attended a bond arraignment last month.
White says Jones has since paid the bond and the warrant was lifted.
Jones is coming off of a 15-month suspension last year for doping.
He plans to fight in December.
- ELECTION 2020-SENATE-NEW MEXICO
Senate candidate reads Mueller report aloud from kitchenSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Democratic contender for U.S. Senate is reading aloud special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election to highlight her support for immediate impeachment proceedings against President Trump.
New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver on Monday read the report from her home kitchen table for a social media broadcast , in anticipation of Mueller's scheduled testimony this week before Congress.
Campaign spokeswoman Heather Brewer said Toulouse Oliver would spend about seven hours reading aloud the second of two volumes from the report that focuses on obstruction of justice.
Toulouse Oliver is competing with U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján for the Democratic nomination in 2020 to succeed Sen. Tom Udall as he retires. Luján has resisted attempts to begin impeachment before additional evidence is collected.
- NEW MEXICO-EQUIFAX FINE
New Mexico to get $2.3M in Equifax data breach settlementALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico will receive more than $2 million as part of a settlement between Equifax and the U.S. government over a massive 2017 data breach.
Attorney General Hector Balderas' office announced in a news release Monday that New Mexico residents are among consumers who will receive restitution.
The $700 million settlement includes up to $425 million for consumers and $175 million for various states.
The company will also extend credit monitoring services for 10 years for impacted consumers.
The breach was one of the largest ever to threaten private information including Social Security and other data on nearly 150 million people.
It is estimated 860,000 of them live in New Mexico.
The consumer reporting agency, based in Atlanta, did not detect the attack for more than six weeks.
- IMMIGRATION-FAST-TRACK DEPORTATIONS
Trump expands fast-track deportation authority across USSAN DIEGO (AP) — The Trump administration is expanding the authority of immigration officers to deport migrants without requiring them to appear before judges ahead of deportation.
The Homeland Security Department said Monday that fast-track deportations will apply to anyone in the country illegally less than two years.
Until now those deportations applied only to people caught crossing the U.S. border by land and not entering by boat or plane.
The department says the expansion "expedited removal" authority will allow it to more efficiently pursue large numbers of people in the country illegally and promptly remove them.
Omar Jawdat of the American Civil Liberties says his group and the American Immigration Council will challenge the measure in court.
The announcement came a week after the administration adopted a major policy shift to limit asylum.
- INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE-OPIOIDS-THE LATEST
The Latest: Navajo Nation wants feds to address opioid riskFLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation leaders are troubled by a federal audit that found government hospitals have put Native American patients more at risk for opioid abuse and overdoses.
President Jonathan Nez, who leads the country's largest Native American reservation, said Monday the findings are "very concerning."
He says his administration plans to reach out to Indian Health Service officials and Congress to ensure the matter is addressed.
The report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General asserts five hospitals failed to follow the agency's protocols for prescribing and dispensing drugs.
The Navajo Nation is among several tribes, local governments and other agencies suing pharmaceutical companies and drug distributors over the opioid crisis.
The tribe has said American Indians suffer disproportionately from opioid dependency or abuse.
- FIREWORKS EXPLOSION
New Mexico firefighter dies from firework explosion injuriesROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico firefighter who was seriously injured last month in a fireworks explosion has died.
Roswell Fire Chief Devin Graham announced that Roswell firefighter Jeff Stroble died Sunday in Lubbock, Texas, where he was hospitalized for injuries suffered in a June 5 explosion. He was 46.
Robert "Hoby" Bonham of the Roswell Fire Department also was injured in the blast. He was sent home from the hospital in late June.
The pair were critically injured while moving fireworks material at a New Mexico storage area for a planned show.
Twelve firefighters in all were hurt. Most sustained minor injuries.
The city officials in Roswell destroyed the remainder of the fireworks for safety reasons.
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This story corrects a previous version to say the fireworks explosion happened in June.
- ALBUQUERQUE DEPUTY SHOOTING
New Mexico deputies fatally shoot woman near AlbuquerqueALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office says a woman was fatally shot after multiple deputies fired at her during a domestic violence call.
Undersheriff Rudy Mora told reporters early Monday the woman was shot after she jumped out of an RV and "aggressively approached" the deputies. Mora says the female was armed but it's unclear what type of weapon she held.
Mora says the female, whose name was not released, was declared dead at the scene and one deputy was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The shooting occurred in Albuquerque's South Valley neighborhood after deputies responded to a domestic violence report. It is being investigated by a multi-agency task force.
- ALBUQUERQUE-HOMICIDE ARREST
Police: Transgender woman accused of killing Albuquerque manALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a transgender woman has been arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man.
Albuquerque police say 25-year-old Tyrone Benito — who also is known as Beverly or Bev — was booked into jail Saturday night on suspicion of murder and tampering with evidence.
They say 53-year-old Jack Kyselka was found bleeding from the stomach early Friday outside a convenience store.
A store employee called 911, but Kyselka was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy report says Kyselka had a stab wound to the left side of his chest that punctured his heart and caused him to bleed out.
The report also says Kyselka had cuts to his face, feet and left palm.
It was unclear Sunday if Benito has a lawyer yet.