- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico hospitals seeing strain as COVID-19 cases climbALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Top medical officers for some of New Mexico's largest hospital systems say they are now at or above normal capacity as the coronavirus pandemic surges across the state. They briefed reporters Monday, saying they're seeing the strain on staff and they won't be able to sustain the pace over the long term. New Mexico set another record with 1,418 additional COVID-19 cases reported in a single day. Presbyterian Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Mitchell says hospitals are operating under contingency plans. He's among those pleading with people to stay home to curb the spread of the virus.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
Navajo Nation reports 124 additional virus cases, 2 deathsWINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Health officials have reported 124 additional coronavirus cases and two additional deaths from the virus for the Navajo Nation as of Sunday. In all, the tribe has reported more than 12,000 known cases and 593 deaths from the virus since the pandemic began. The tribe imposed a weekend curfew that ended early Monday due to the uncontrolled spread of the virus in 29 of its communities that has affected 29 communities throughout the reservation, which spans more than 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) in parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- AP-US-GRAY-WOLVES-ENDANGERED
Groups fight to keep gray wolf protections for most of USBILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Wildlife advocates and environmental groups are challenging the removal of federal protections for gray wolves across most of the U.S. Two coalitions of groups have filed notice that they plan to sue the U.S. Interior Department in federal court unless protections are restored. The Trump administration last week ended longstanding federal safeguards for gray wolves in the Lower 48 states. That put states and tribes in charge of overseeing the predators and opens the door to more hunting. Gray wolves have recovered from near extinction in parts of the country but remain absent from much of their historical range. Colorado wildlife officials plan to reintroduce wolves in coming years.
- NAVAJO-HEMP FARMS
Search warrants served on Navajo Nation amid hemp crackdownSHIPROCK, N.M. (AP) — A team of federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers are serving search warrants on the Navajo Nation near Shiprock. The warrants are sealed and FBI spokesman Frank Fisher could not provide any details Monday, saying only that they stemmed from an ongoing investigation. In October, more than a dozen people were arrested on drug charges at a motel in the area. Authorities alleged the suspects were trimming marijuana plants in multiple motel rooms as marijuana was being stored in other rooms. Investigators were trying to determine whether the suspects were tied to illegal hemp farm operations on the reservation.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico again reports nearly 1,300 additional COVID casesSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico on Saturday for the second day in a row reported nearly 1,300 additional COVID-19 cases and 16 additional deaths. Officials say there are 1,287 additional cases, a one-day record that was the same number reported Friday. But officials on Saturday also said that 10 of the cases reported Friday had turned out to be duplicates or not lab-confirmed. With those adjustments and the latest reported cases, the statewide case total reached 53,671 with 1,104 deaths. State officials warned Thursday that new records would be set over the coming weeks as the rate of spread remains high.
- BLACK DISTRICT ATTORNEY
County elects New Mexico's first Black district attorneyLAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Officials say voters in Dona Ana County have elected the first Black district attorney in New Mexico after he ran unopposed. The Las Cruces Sun-News reported that 62-year-old Gerald Byers said he believes people will be able to work together toward the elusive goal of total justice. Henry Valdez, director of the administrative office of district attorneys, has said he isn't aware of any other African Americans in the state who have held the office. Byers said he began his career at the Bernalillo County district attorney's office while in school through a program that allowed third-year law students to prosecute cases under the supervision of a prosecutor.
- MAN DROWNS-RETRIEVING DOG
Man drowns attempting to retrieve his dog from pondSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico man has drowned while attempting to retrieve his dog from a pond. Police Chief Freddie Trujillo says the Santa Fe man was seen heading into the pond at the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino to retrieve his dog on Thursday night. Another man jumped into the pond to try to save the man. Trujillo says a crew from the Santa Fe County Fire Department found the man's dog later in the evening. Trujillo says police recovered the man's body late Friday afternoon after draining the pond. The man has not yet been publicly identified.
- SPOUSAL PRIVILEGE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico high court revisits issue of spousal testimonySANTA FE, N.M . (AP) — he New Mexico Supreme Court has revisited a 2019 decision that barred the state's court system from continued use of a longstanding legal privilege that disallows testimony by a defendant's spouse. The 2019 ruing said the so-called spousal communication privilege was based in misogyny and had "outlived its useful life," but the state high court on Thursday reinstated the privilege while ordering an advisory committee to study whether the privilege should be modified or abolished. The 2019 decision abolishing the privilege upheld the murder conviction of a Clovis man, David Gutierrez II, and the latest order affirms that part of the 2019 decision.