- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Public school students in New Mexico will not return to classrooms or athletic fields during the current academic year due to the coronavirus. Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart made the announcement Friday, calling it a painful decision. He says students are likely to be graded for coursework completed at home on a pass-fail basis. High school seniors will be able to graduate by demonstrating competency through a series of assignments and tests including a college entrance exam. A stay-at-home order is in effect across New Mexico with exceptions for essential tasks and businesses, and the governor on Friday ordered all air travelers arriving in the state to self-isolate for 14 days.
- SHERIFF-DRUNK-OBSTRUCTION
ESPAÑOLA, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico sheriff is facing an obstruction charge after police say he showed up drunk to a SWAT standoff and tried to order officers away. A criminal complaint filed Thursday said Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan, in plain clothes, attempted to take over the scene involving a barricaded subject in Española on Saturday. Española's police chief says officers reported Lujan smelled of alcohol and ignored commands to leave the "kill zone" in front of the house of the barricaded subject. Lujan told the Santa Fe New Mexican that the accusations in the criminal complaint are false.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO TOURISM
RIO RANCHO, N.M (AP) — New Mexico is canceling its national tourism campaign and is halting related events as coronavirus restrictions have brought tourism in the state to a halt. New Mexico Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Jen Schroer said Friday the state's popular destinations have suffered because of the health-ordered restrictions to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Schroer warned that hotels and tourist hot spots will continue suffering until restrictions are lifted. She says hotels can only operate until to 50% capacity but can house more guests if they include health care workers.
- ROUTE 66 INVESTMENT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's largest city will be investing a half-million dollars to promote local businesses that line its stretch of historic Route 66. The city of Albuquerque announced the effort Friday, saying it's looking for a marketing firm to develop a plan to promote the corridor as a destination. The plan will also highlight the city's rapid transit bus route as a way to access the area. City officials say the campaign would be aimed at bringing back locals to Central Avenue and attracting new visitors. Shop owners along the road had complained as years of construction related to Albuquerque Rapid Transit hampered business and forced some stores to close.
- WRESTLER STOPS KIDNAPPING
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a 16-year-old wrestling champion helped stop a kidnapping and assault near Las Cruces, New Mexico, by pinning a man to the ground until deputies arrived. The Las Cruces Sun-News reported Thursday that Mayfield High School student Canaan Bower is being lauded as a hero after body-slamming and putting 22-year-old suspect Daniel Arroyo Beltran of Phoenix in a chokehold. Deputies arrested Beltran Wednesday on suspicion of battery, assault and kidnapping. Witnesses say he tried to take three children from their mother. Online court records did not list an attorney for Beltran who could comment on his behalf.
- FATAL FIRE-ALBUQUERQUE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say one person is dead and a firefighter was injured in a house fire early Friday morning. Albuquerque Fire Rescue says the person who died was found inside the two-story home. The department says a firefighter was taken to a hospital for treatment after suffering minor injuries in falling through the second floor while searching the home. No identities were released and cause of the fire wasn't immediately determined.
- CRIME STOPPERS-EMBEZZLEMENT
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A Crime Stoppers official in New Mexico is facing charges after investigators say he used a donated SUV for personal use. A criminal complaint filed Wednesday says Johnny Adams drove the gifted Ford Expedition SUV meant for the San Juan County Crime Stoppers during off hours and also let his wife drive it. Adams is the executive director of the group. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office donated a vehicle to Crime Stoppers last year, but investigators say Adams drove it hundreds of miles for his personal use. The 49-year-old Adams was charged with embezzlement. It was not known if he had an attorney.
- PRISON RIOT-SUICIDE
GRANTS, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say they have put down a prison riot in western New Mexico after a reported suicide of an inmate. The Gallup Independent reports inmates at Northwestern New Mexico Correctional Center in Grants rioted March 20 after they were placed on lockdown following the early morning death of an unidentified inmate. Investigators say around 300 inmates became unruly and damaged the facility. Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace says the inmates didn't want to be all cooped up together because of the new coronavirus scare. The Department of Corrections used less-than-lethal bean bag rounds and paintball guns containing irritants to regain control. No injuries were reported.