- OFFICER-STREAMING YOUTUBE-CRASH
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A lapel video shows an Albuquerque police officer accused of running a red light and crashing into a vehicle was streaming YouTube on a laptop before the accident.The footage obtained by KOB-TV shows Officer Bryce Willsey streaming on a department-issued laptop inside the patrol car a clip on how to play a popular video game moments before the December 2017 crash.
Records show Willsey's patrol car struck a female victim who was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The victim later received a $40,000 payout in a settlement with the city of Albuquerque.
Willsey told investigators he saw a green light. But a witness told police he ran a red light.
Officials say Willsey was disciplined but not for streaming YouTube.
- PUBLIC WATERS-ACCESS FIGHT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Game Commission has voted to reconsider a rule governing access to streams and rivers adjacent to private property.The commission voted 6-1 Thursday to order the Game and Fish Department to come up with a plan to either amend or repeal the measure.
The rule was adopted by the previous commission two years ago. It allows landowners to petition the department to certify waters on private property as "non-navigable" and prohibit public access without written permission.
The department has approved five applications certifying waters as "non-navigable." A few others are pending.
State Attorney General Hector Balderas says his office will work with the commission in the coming months to ensure the rule balances landowner interests in protecting their property from trespass and damage while ensuring New Mexicans' rights of access to public waterways.
- PUBLIC LANDS-PRESCRIBED FIRE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal land managers are teaming up with the state Game and Fish Department to conduct a series of prescribed fires across hundreds of acres in three New Mexico counties.The work is scheduled to begin next week and is aimed at clearing out brush to reduce the severity and risk of wildfire.
One project involves about 1,000 acres (405 hectares) within the El Malpais National Conservation Area near Grants. Fire managers estimate it will take a few days to complete the burning operations.
The exact timing will largely depend upon weather.
The other project will cover about 500 acres (202 hectares) within the Ignacio and Chamisa Wilderness Study Areas southwest of San Luis.
- MEDICAL MARIJUANA-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is considering whether to extend its medical cannabis program to dogs with epilepsy and people with attention deficit disorder.Petitions for new qualifying medical conditions have been filed with the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board at its upcoming meeting in December. The Department of Health withheld the names of petition sponsors.
One petition cites recent studies in veterinary medicine to suggest authorization of cannabis for animals coping with seizures. Cannabidiol derived from hemp or marijuana already is widely marketed for pets.
Another petition would allow marijuana for attention deficit-hyperactivity, anxiety disorder and Tourette's syndrome.
New Mexico's medical cannabis program has opened its doors to nearly 80,000 patients who cope with conditions from cancer to HIV. A large majority are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or severe chronic pain.
- NEW MEXICO-CLIMATE CHANGE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says her administration is committed to addressing the causes and effects of climate change.She reiterated her environmental focus Thursday with the release of a report prepared by her climate task force.
The document summarizes the steps taken by the first-year Democratic governor since assuming office and details upcoming regulatory strategies.
It also suggests New Mexico officials need to work faster if they want to reach a statewide target of reducing net emissions by 45% over the next decade.
According to the report, New Mexico's top greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants and the transportation sector as well as methane, largely from oil and natural gas production.
The state is in the midst of drafting methane rules for the industry.
- JEFFREY EPSTEIN
NEW YORK (AP) — A woman who says she suffered lasting damage from sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein when she was 17 years old has sued his estate.Teala Davies on Thursday joined the growing list of women who have sued the wealthy financier. She filed her lawsuit in Manhattan federal court.
Davies appeared at a news conference with attorney Gloria Allred.
She says she still hurts from abuse suffered over two years at Epstein's residences in New York, Paris, Florida, New Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
Epstein killed himself in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. A message was left seeking comment from a lawyer for his estate.
- PLUMES-AIR FORCE BASES
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's Environment Department is asking state lawmakers for $1.2 million to study a plume of toxic chemicals seeping from two U.S. Air Force bases.The Santa Fe New Mexican reports state Environment Secretary James Kenney said the requested money would be used to investigate the plume and is "a critical first step" in knowing how to contain it.
He says the department would hire a private contractor to study the pollution if the Legislature approves the special funding request.
New Mexico regulators first issued a notice of violation to the Air Force last year for failing to address the contamination at the base near Clovis adequately. They followed up earlier this year on Holloman, saying that base had yet to respond to concerns about the pollution near Alamogordo.
- HOMICIDE RECORD
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico authorities have announced three people were shot in less than two days pushing the number of homicides in Albuquerque to 72 and matching the highest year-end total in recent history.The Albuquerque Journal reported Wednesday that the Albuquerque Police Department confirmed two people were killed and another was rushed to the hospital after suffering from gunshot wounds, each in unrelated cases.
Authorities say neither of the alleged homicide cases have been solved.
Mayor Tim Keller says officials expect this year to be one of the worst years on record and announced plans to double the number of homicide detectives among other initiatives.
Keller says Albuquerque was regarded as worst or second-worst nationwide in violent crime, auto theft and robbery leading into 2018.