- BORDER-ARMED GROUP-PLEA
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The leader of an armed group that detained asylum-seeking families near the U.S.-Mexico border has pleaded guilty in New Mexico to a firearms charge. Larry Mitchell Hopkins pleaded guilty to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The conviction stems from a 2017 visit by an FBI agent to Hopkins' home. Hopkins was arrested April 20 in Sunland Park, New Mexico, near the U.S. border with Mexico where his group has been stopping migrants and ordering them to wait as they alerted Border Patrol. He acknowledged possessing nine guns. Hopkins faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.
- DRY NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal agriculture officials say December's weather patterns brought mountain snow and rain to parts of New Mexico, but below-average accumulations have left many locations dry. The U.S. Agriculture Department's statistic service for the region reported Thursday that snowpack levels in Mora County were excellent, but temperatures statewide were generally warmer than normal for the month. While the latest map showed drought-free conditions across more than half of the state, reports from the northeastern plains indicated that wheat was showing signs of drought stress. Officials said corn and cotton harvests were finished while the red chile harvest was almost complete.
- DRUG SEARCH RULING-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a Curry County man on drug trafficking charges by reversing an appeals court ruling about how state police obtained evidence from the defendant's car. The Supreme Court found that a state police officer reasonably suspected that he had witnessed drug sales by Mikel Martinez at a Clovis gas station before pulling over the car and finding a baggie of white powder by the rear tire. That led to a search of the car by warrant that uncovered methamphetamine, marijuana, a scale, cash and drug paraphernalia.
- RESEARCH LAB-COMPLAINT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An animal advocacy group has filed a complaint about the treatment of monkeys and other animals at a research facility in New Mexico. The Ohio-based group Stop Animal Exploitation Now outlined its claims against the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in a letter sent Thursday to the U.S. Agriculture Department. The group accuses the lab of a pattern of negligence and carelessness that resulted in the deaths of monkeys. The lab did not immediately return a message seeking comment about the complaint. The group wants regulators to investigate what it claims are violations of federal laws meant to protect lab animals.
- NUKE REPOSITORY-ACTING MANAGER
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — A longtime U.S. Energy Department official has been appointed to lead the agency's office in New Mexico that oversees the federal government's only underground repository for nuclear waste. Gregory Sosson took over as acting manager in December. Before coming to Carlsbad, Sosson served in numerous high-level positions at the DOE's Office of Environmental Management. That included stints as the chief of nuclear safety, chief security officer and associate deputy assistant secretary for oversight of field operations. During his tenure, Sosson has worked closely on operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, including its restart in 2017 following a radiation release.
- NAVAJO NATION TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Transportation officials for the Navajo Nation have reported it would take 116 years and $7.9 billion to meet current infrastructure needs. Gallup Independent reported Tuesday that officials from the Navajo Nation Division of Transportation reported the figures as part of a $320 million bonding plan drafted to fund bridges, pavement preservation projects and earth road improvements. Officials say the Navajo Nation Council's Budget and Finance Committee unanimously accepted the plan in early December. Officials say the plan identified $1.4 billion in needs to address pavement deficiencies and $6.5 billion for upgrades to the existing roadway system.
- NEW MEXICO ENERGY FUTURE
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — Residents in northwestern New Mexico will have an opportunity to weigh in on the future of a coal-fired power plant slated for closure in 2022. Public Regulation Commission Chairwoman Theresa Becenti-Aguilar has scheduled a hearing Monday in Farmington. The commission is considering Public Service Co. of New Mexico's application to shutter the plant and replace the lost capacity with a mix of natural gas, renewables and battery storage. At issue is whether the state's energy transition law applies and if the plant's owners can recover investments by selling bonds that would be paid off by utility customers. The plan also includes $40 million in economic aid for the area.
- ALBUQUERQUE AIRPORT-RENOVATIONS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Renovations at New Mexico's largest airport are scheduled to wrap up in February, but officials acknowledge that the project is 18 months behind schedule and about $2.5 million over the initial budget. Albuquerque's aviation director tells the Albuquerque Journal that the delays are due in part to inadequate scoping of the project and problems with an electrical subcontractor. Officials say that while crews have become a familiar site at the airport, the work has had little effect on travelers. The work began in 2017, with the objective being to refurbish and upgrade the terminal's ticketing, baggage claim and exterior areas.