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

  • ELECTION 2020-EMBATTLED LAWMAKER

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — State Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, one of the most liberal lawmakers in New Mexico, is facing a Democratic primary challenge from a former campaign worker.Edwina Cisneros recently announced she will seek to unseat Roybal Caballero from her southwest Albuquerque seat. Roybal Caballero last month launched her re-election fundraising kickoff in El Paso, Texas.
Cisneros worked as Roybal Caballero’s field coordinator in 2018.
The 69-year-old lawmaker has been criticized for refusing to work with other elected officials to help a district in dire need of roads, lights, and jobs.
State Sen. Michael Padilla and Bernalillo County Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada, both Democrats, say they support Cisneros and denounced Roybal Caballero as ineffective.
Roybal Caballero says her opponents want her to be a “puppet for the big developers.”

  • NEW MEXICO ENERGY FUTURE

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s largest electric utility is reaching out to vendors and energy companies around the world for ideas as it works toward going emissions-free.The Public Service Company of New Mexico announced Friday it’s seeking information on the types of resources and emerging technologies capable of helping it reach the goal.
That ranges from storage systems and carbon emissions controls to hydrogen technologies.
New Mexico earlier this year adopted renewable energy mandates that call for zero emissions by 2045. PNM vows to beat that deadline by five years.
The utility is seeking indicative pricing for modeling and analysis purposes. Separate requests for proposals are possible in the future.
The call for input comes as the utility embarks on a tri-annual resource planning effort centered on how it will serve customer needs for the next 20 years.

  • PRIEST ABUSE ALLEGATIONS-LAWSUITS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two new lawsuits have been filed that allege three Jesuit priests who once ministered at a downtown Albuquerque church sexually abused two victims.In a copyright story Sunday, the Albuquerque Journal reports one of the alleged victims contends he was sexually abused eight years ago at Immaculate Conception Church.
In the other lawsuit, a woman contends she was molested by two Jesuit priests from Immaculate Conception beginning in 1968 when she attended first grade at a nearby school.
The Journal says the two priests accused in that suit have since died.
Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province has denied the allegations in the lawsuits, saying their investigations don’t support the claims.
Albuquerque attorney Brad Hall says his firm expects to file more lawsuits in the coming months against religious orders.

  • REMOVING FLAG-SCHOOL APOLOGIZES

HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico school district has apologized because administrative staff asked a high school student to remove a U.S. flag from his car on Veterans Day.Hobbs Municipal Schools said on the district’s Facebook page that the school’s staff was acting under a policy instituted “due to past incidents” barring students from flying flags of any kind on their vehicles.
The district’s statement continued by saying the student involved in the incident Monday was “demonstrating patriotism” and that asking him to remove the car was “a mistake” and not intended to be unpatriotic.
Dozens of comments posted on the district’s Facebook page included criticism of the rule and its enforcement and support for the rule and for flying the flag.

  • INSURANCE REGULATOR

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s top insurance regulator is stepping down.The Albuquerque Journal reports that state Superintendent John Franchini has withdrawn his application to serve another four-year term and instead plans to retire.
A state nominating committee has already begun screening applicants for the position. There are eight remaining candidates.
Franchini worked in the insurance industry for 35 years before becoming superintendent in 2010.

  • BOEING CAPSULE-ARIZONA

BISBEE, Ariz. (AP) — Cochise County officials don’t have to consider possible emergency responses or road closures when thousands of migratory birds drop in on the Wilcox Playa annually.Not so with Boeing Corp.’s plan to use the flat desert grassland in southeastern Arizona as one of five preferred landing sites in four states for its new reusable space capsule.
County supervisors briefed recently by Boeing representatives and county officials were told that parts such as heat shield doors might be jettisoned from the parachuting capsule and that a Boeing contractor would clean up hazardous materials.
Also, roads might have to be closed with dozens of law enforcement officers being deployed to secure the landing site. Viewing areas would be designated for VIPs and the media, and an ambulance would be on standby.

  • VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS ARRESTED

AZTEC, N.M. (AP) — Authorities in New Mexico’s San Juan County say two volunteer firefighters have been arrested and accused of misusing a fuel card intended for fire department vehicles.The county said Friday that one firefighter is a current volunteer who has been suspended indefinitely and the other is a former volunteer.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office investigated after fire department staff auditing fuel spending reported possible abuse.
County officials did not say how much money was stolen. The firefighters were not identified.