- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported three new COVID-19 cases but no additional deaths. It was the third consecutive day that the tribe has not recorded a coronavirus-related death. The death toll remains at 1,233 since the pandemic began with the number of confirmed cases at 30,010 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The Navajo Nation had a soft reopening last week with 25% capacity for some businesses under certain restrictions. Still, mask mandates and daily curfews remain.
- PANDEMIC RELIEF-STATES
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's Legislature is asserting its budgetary authority over $1.6 billion in new federal aid that dwarfs year-to-year spending adjustments, setting an agenda for economic recovery that Gov. Lujan Grisham can challenge only with her veto pen. Legislators want to replenish the state's unemployment fund, bail out public museums and historic sites and endow the state's lottery scholarship with $100 million. Some states are only beginning to sort out spending priorities for federal funds. Congress and President Joe Biden approved the $1.9 trillion relief package this month that funnels billions of dollars directly to New Mexico's state government, school districts and local governments.
- AP-US-EXPLAINER-BIDEN-VS-OIL
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — President Joe Biden shut down oil and gas sales from the nation's vast public reserves over worries about climate change. Now the administration has to figure out what do with that multi-billion dollar program without crushing a significant sector of the U.S. economy. On the campaign trail, Biden pledged to end leasing and new drilling permits for public lands and waters. The leasing ban announced Jan. 27 is only temporary, and it's unclear how much legal authority the government has to stop drilling on about 23 million acres previously sold.
- NEW MEXICO WEATHER
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Much of New Mexico was blanketed by winter weather warnings and advisories as forecasters warned that snow in mountains and rain in valleys could make driving conditions hazardous in some areas through Wednesday. The National Weather Service said the storm was expected to produce strong winds with blowing snow in the Albuquerque area and potentially damaging winds in the Rio Grande Valley. Forecasts called for moderate to heavy snowfall in much of northern and central New Mexico. Travel impacts were likely in mountain passes and along Interstate 25 between Santa Fe and Raton and Interstate 40 between Santa Rosa and Clines Corners.
- PHONE DIALING-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State utility regulators say New Mexico in late April will start a six-month transition period to prepare telephone callers for when they'll have to include an area code when making local calls. Starting April 24, callers can start using 10-digit dialing for telephone calls within the state. The Public Regulation Commission said the permissive transition period will lead up to Oct. 24 when 10-digit dialing will become mandatory. The switch is a result of a federal plan to implement a new three-digit number — 9-8-8 — for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. And that will make 10-digit dialing mandatory for all local calls in New Mexico because some customers' phone numbers start with 988.
- ALBUQUERQUE MAYORAL RACE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller has formally declared his candidacy for reelection. The 43-year-old Albuquerque native made the announcement Monday. There are at least three possible contenders hoping to unseat Keller. Among those candidates is Nicholas Bevins, a 25-year-old grassroots activist. Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III has submitted a candidate registration form for the race. But the Albuquerque Journal reports that Gonzales has declined to confirm he's running, saying earlier this month he filed the paperwork to "better explore" a potential run. Patrick Ben Sais also has filed a candidate registration for the mayoral race.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Monday reported no new COVID-19 cases and no deaths. It was the second consecutive day that the tribe has not recorded a coronavirus-related death. The death toll remains at 1,233 since the pandemic began with the number of confirmed cases at 30,007 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The Navajo Nation had a soft reopening last week with 25% capacity for some businesses under certain restrictions. Still, mask mandates and daily curfews remain. Tribal health officials say more than 191,000 vaccine doses have been distributed.
- AIRPORT BODIES
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say charges are imminent against a man suspected of killing his ex-wife and three others in New Mexico in a series of slayings that included the beating death of a New Jersey resident he claimed sexually abused him as a child. Investigators over the weekend searched a house where Sean Lannon, his ex-wife and their children were believed to have lived in Grants, New Mexico. A police official wouldn't specify what investigators were looking for, only that the warrants were for anything of "evidentiary value." Lannon is in custody in New Jersey. Authorities also are still looking into his claims that he killed 11 other people in New Mexico.