- YOUTH CONCUSSIONS-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico seeks concussion safeguards for more youth sportsSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is seeking to shore up safeguards against brain injuries in youth sports beyond schools in non-scholastic athletic leagues and clubs.
Coaches and many youth athletes automatically would undergo training to detect signs of a concussion and potential consequences of a brain injury, under rules proposed by the Department of Health.
State Sen. Bill Soules of Las Cruces helped enact similar safeguards for school sports and on Thursday applauded the new, expanded effort.
Young athletes who receive a brain injury would sit out at least 10 days and return only with a written medical release. Annual education would be required of parents and children over 10.
In 2015, a New Mexico judge overruled concussion protocols to allow a high school football player to play in a title game.
- SEWAGE CLEANUP-INVESTIGATION
Sewage cleanup near Santa Fe hospital sparks probe(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Three wastewater workers say the city of Santa Fe failed to protect them from exposure to hazardous waste and needles during a sewer backup near a hospital.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the state Occupational Health and Safety Bureau has launched an investigation into the condition of the cleanup by Santa Fe Wastewater Management Division employees.
A complaint says city wastewater employees were assigned to clean up "effluent discharge from waste created" by Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center last month. Documents say the only protective gear they were given to clean the backup were steel-toe shoes, gloves and hard hats.
City Public Utilities Director Shannon Jones says the Wastewater Management Division and the City Manager's Office are cooperating with state investigators.
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- ARCHEOLOGISTS-CATHOLIC CHURCH
Archeologists searching area of historic New Mexico church(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
BELEN, N.M. (AP) — Archeologists are searching through the remnants of the first Catholic church in a central New Mexico community and hope to find details of its history.
KQRE-TV reports the team this summer worked to uncover the remains of Nuestra Senora de Belen in Belem, New Mexico, which was destroyed by floods more than 100 years ago.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst anthropology professor Ventura Perez says the church was built in 1793 and scientists are trying to find the church floor. He says scientists want to protect around 5,000 burials because human remains have been coming to the surface for the last 100 years.
Scientists say it could take three to five years to complete the excavation.
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- LUNG CANCER-LAWSUIT
Lawsuit: Urgent care center missed cancer that later spread(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Santa Fe singer-songwriter says an urgent care center failed to diagnose her condition in 2017 and 2018, leading to a terminal cancer diagnosis.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Elizabeth "Betsy" Scarinzi recently filed a lawsuit in state district court against Presbyterian Medical Group over the diagnosis.
According to the lawsuit, medical staff at Presbyterian Medical Group's urgent care facility in Santa Fe examined her three times between 2017 and 2018 and failed to notice an early indication of lung cancer.
The lawsuit says the lung cancer went undiagnosed and untreated for nearly a year.
Presbyterian Healthcare Services declined to comment on pending litigation.
The complaint alleged medical negligence, breach of warranty and breach of contract.
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- PRISON GUARDS ASSAULTED-INDICTMENTS
7 inmates indicted in attack on 2 Las Cruces prison guardsLAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Prosecutors say seven inmates have been indicted in an attack on two prison guards last month at the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Las Cruces.
The July 16 incident left the two correctional officers with severe but non-life-threatening injuries.
Prosecutors say two of the inmates involved are facing 11 counts in the attack while three others are facing eight counts apiece and two inmates for counts each.
They say one of the inmates indicted is 29-year-old Daniel Aragon.
He's serving time for the 2012 murder of his girlfriend's 22-month old baby in Albuquerque.
Authorities say six of the seven inmates were moved after the attack to the Penitentiary of New Mexico.
- MIGRANT DEATH-NEW MEXICO
Officials: El Salvador man dies in Border Patrol custodyLORDSBURG, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a 32-year-old man from El Salvador died while in Border Patrol custody in New Mexico.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say the man died Thursday after being taken into custody the night before.
He was at the Border Patrol's station in Lordsburg when he "fell into medical distress." Agents couldn't revive him.
CBP didn't release the man's name or say where he had been apprehended. The agency's oversight office will review the death.
On Tuesday, agents apprehended a group of 225 people near Antelope Wells, about 95 miles (152.88 kilometers) south of Lordsburg.
The Border Patrol has seen a spike in border crossers in that remote area, especially families with children. Guatemalan 7-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin crossed through there in December before later dying of sepsis shock.
- NEW MEXICO RACINO LICENSE
New Mexico regulators decline to grant 6th 'racino' licenseALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico horse racing regulators have declined to grant a sixth state horse track and casino license after months of uncertainty.
The New Mexico Racing Commission announced Thursday it would not approve another license following months of debates and millions spent by applicants.
Commission chair Beverly Bourguet says the decision was in "the best interest" of the state but the panel may reopen an application process in the future for another license.
The decision follows appointments to the commission by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. A commission previously appointed by former Republican Gov. Susana Martinez called for applicants.
Under the state's compacts with casino-operating tribes, only six racinos are allowed in New Mexico. The five existing racinos are in Hobbs, Ruidoso, Farmington, Albuquerque, and Sunland Park.
- MEDICAL MARIJUANA-SCHOOLS
Some school districts protest proposed medical cannabis rule(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico education officials have proposed requiring school districts to designate someone to administer and store students' medical cannabis — a rule some districts have protested.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Wednesday that Albuquerque and Rio Rancho public schools have submitted comments against the state Public Education Department rule set to go into effect next month.
State law and the rule prevent students from self-administering medical cannabis at school.
Matias Trujillo says his 14-year-old son who is entering Rio Rancho High School takes medical cannabis oil three times daily to treat a severe form of epilepsy.
He says he needs a school employee to give his son the midday dose or else his son could suffer seizures in school.
The department says the rule isn't finalized and it's reviewing the feedback.
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