Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Latest New Mexico news, sports, business and entertainment at 6:20 a.m. MDT

  • SAFETY VIOLATIONS-SANTA FE

Santa Fe cited for 7 safety violations after worker's deathSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Environment Department has cited Santa Fe for seven safety violations after a city employee died in an accident five months ago.
The department has proposed civil penalties of nearly $184,000 for the violations.
The April 1 accident occurred at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center as a maintenance worker was replacing interior lighting fixtures.
The man working from a scissor lift came in contact with a 277-volt circuit.
The Environment Department cited the city for failure to properly train employees in electrical safe work practices, failure to institute safe procedures and failure to properly de-energize, lock out and verify de-energization of the circuits.
Santa Fe is required to correct the violations or notify the department's Occupational Health and Safety Bureau if it intends to contest the citations.

  • THREATENED OWL-FIREWOOD PERMITS-THE LATEST

The Latest: Group seeks to limit scope of tree-cutting banFLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — An environmental group is seeking to limit the scope of a court order that bans tree cutting across national forests in New Mexico and one in Arizona.
U.S. District Judge Raner Collins earlier this month sidelined timber management projects on the forests until federal agencies can get a better handle on the population of the threatened Mexican spotted owl.
The U.S. Forest Service said Thursday it has suspended permits for firewood cutting that many residents in rural areas rely on to heat their homes.
WildEarth Guardians has asked the court to modify the tree-cutting ban to exclude firewood permits for personal use.
The Forest Service said it would agree.
It's unclear when the judge will rule on the motion.
In the meantime, residents are looking for other firewood options.

  • RAPE CASES-MULTIPLE ARRESTS

More than dozen charged in New Mexico rape kit backlog cases(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico authorities have charged over a dozen people after prosecutors began clearing thousands of backlogged rape cases.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Wednesday that 16 Albuquerque rape cases have been filed stretching from 2010 to 2017.
Authorities say one man started his sentence, another is awaiting sentencing, two are on the loose and a dozen are headed to trial.
Authorities say the current cases include charges of criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual penetration of a minor, aggravated assault and kidnapping.
Authorities say a 2016 report drew attention to about 5,400 rape kits that had been collected but never processed, about 4,000 were from Albuquerque.
Court officials say thousands of cases were closed because of expired statute of limitations, lack of sufficient evidence, no DNA or someone has passed away.
___

  • ARMED SCHOOL SECURITY

New Mexico college board votes to allow armed security(Information from: Roswell Daily Record, http://www.roswell-record.com)
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico community college board has voted to approve a request to allow armed security on the school campus.
The Roswell Daily Record reported Wednesday that Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell community college board voted 5-0 Wednesday to allow some officers to carry firearms.
Campus security head Brad McFadin says the request gives officers another option and tool to enhance security.
Authorities say officers who did not want to carry firearms could receive training on how to use non-lethal devices such as batons, tasers or pepper spray.
Campus authorities say they have encountered people with dangerous weapons on the campus despite state law prohibiting firearms at New Mexico universities.
Board officials say the transition could cost more than $270,000 initially with estimated $7,000 recurring costs a year.
___

  • IMMIGRATION-HUNGER STRIKE

Asylum seeker released from US custody after hunger strikeEL PASO, Texas (AP) — One of two Indian nationals who refused to eat for more than 70 days while seeking asylum in the U.S. has been released after a year in immigration detention.
Ajay Kumar left a detention processing center near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in El Paso on Thursday accompanied by human rights advocates.
Kumar and fellow Indian national Gurjant Singh say they fled India facing political persecution. Both stopped eating July 8. Kumar's lawyer said in August that her client had been force-fed.
Lawyers for the men say their clients agreed to start eating again after ICE agreed to their release.
An ICE spokeswoman declined to comment.
Attorney Jessica Miles represents Singh and says she expects him to be released Friday.
Kumar was denied asylum. He will live with a human rights advocate in New Mexico while appealing the ruling.

  • DRUG TRAFFICKING-POLICE LINK

DEA: New Mexico police employee may have tipped trafficker(Information from: Las Vegas Optic, http://www.lasvegasoptic.com)
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — Federal officials say one or more employees for a northern New Mexico police department may have tried to help a suspected drug trafficker.
The Las Vegas Optic reports a search warrant affidavit filed in U.S. District Court shows the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration believes someone within the Las Vegas Police Department alerted suspected trafficker Robert Corbin Padilla about an investigation against him.
The recently-unsealed search warrant affidavit details DEA agents' months-long investigation of Padilla. The warrant alleges Padilla was responsible for 70% of the cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine coming into Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Padilla was arrested and faces multiple federal charges.
Las Vegas Police David Bibb says it would be a criminal offense if any employee provided confidential information to an investigation's target.
___

  • AP-US-VAPING-ILLNESSES-MARIJUANA-INDUSTRY

High-flying marijuana vapes take hit from health scarePORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Vaping products are taking a hit as health experts scramble to determine what's causing a mysterious lung disease.
More than 500 people have gotten ill, and nine have died after smoking vapes.
Vaping products have been one of the fastest-growing segments of the United States' legal marijuana industry. But the scare caused a 15% decline in market share for vapes.
Industry analyst firm New Frontier Data says states like Oregon and New Mexico saw more than a 60% drop in vape market share.
Experts say the crisis won't stop marijuana legalization but will mean tighter regulation overall.
Public health officials haven't pinpointed any one substance or product that's to blame.
Many patients say they used vapes containing marijuana oil, but some patients say they smoked nicotine-only vapes.
___
Flaccus and Peltz, who reported from New York City, are members of AP's marijuana beat team. Follow the AP's complete marijuana coverage: https://apnews.com/Marijuana .

  • PECAN GROWERS-TARIFFS

Senators press Trump administration on India pecan tariff(Information from: Carlsbad Current-Argus, http://www.currentargus.com/)
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's U.S. senators want the Trump administration to defend the state's pecan growers from tariffs during ongoing trade negotiations with India.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall recently signed on to a bipartisan letter from 12 senators urging U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to negotiate a lift of a trade barrier.
Records show India charges a 36% tariff on pecan imports, while other tree nuts such as pistachios and almonds are charged tariff rates of 10% or less.
New Mexico became the largest pecan-producing state last year, after Hurricane Michael ravaged Georgia's crop.
New Mexico was estimated to have produced about 90 million pounds of pecans in 2018, down about 2 million from 2017.
___