- COVID-19 testing to expand across southern New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials are partnering with the federal government to expand COVID-19 testing across the southern part of the state. The state Health Department said Wednesday the effort is aimed at driving down positivity rates in counties that are currently on the "red" list. Once a county improves, it moves to the "green" list and some restrictions can be relaxed. Starting Thursday, the Health Department will open 12 new testing sites in areas where positivity rates have skyrocketed. That includes Las Cruces, Clovis, Hobbs, Carlsbad, Portales and several other locations. New Mexico's confirmed COVID-19 cases have topped 50,250.
- Key GOP win wrinkles Democratic wave in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted that voters were turning out in droves Tuesday and electing Democrats up and down the ticket. But that didn't happen in a key congressional district where oil and gas development provides thousands of jobs and underpins New Mexico's state budget. Amid the blue wave, Republican Yvette Herrell marked a decisive victory to unseat Democratic incumbent Xochitl Torres Small in a campaign centered on jobs, personal liberties and reopening businesses shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic. Aside from Herrell's win, political observers suggest that margins in presidential and Senate races would have been larger if New Mexico voters had aligned more with Democrats.
- New Mexico Democrats gain steam for progressive priorities
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democrats have expanded their control of the New Mexico Legislature, giving momentum to progressive priorities on marijuana, education and abortion. But Republicans reclaimed a conservative-leaning congressional district in southern New Mexico and fended off some progressive Democrats who had unseated centrists in legislative primaries. Democrats successfully defended legislative majorities in the state House and Senate, and women expanded their political representation in both chambers. Three Senate races and five House races are still undecided. County election boards are wrapping up counts Wednesday of a few thousand outstanding absentee and provisional ballots.
- Albuquerque police: Woman found dead, man gravely wounded
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say officers responding to a report of a shooting in progress early Wednesday morning found a woman dead and a man gravely wounded, A brief statement released by the Police Department said the woman was found dead outside an apartment and the wounded man was found inside the unit with an apparent gunshot wound. The statement said the wounded man was taken to a hospital "where he is not expected to survive his injuries." No identities were released and the statement said detectives were in the initial stages of investigating circumstances of the incident.
- Trump immigration rule takes effect again during appeal
CHICAGO (AP) — A Trump administration immigration rule that would deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits like food stamps is back in effect while a U.S. appeals court considers the case. The Election Day move was the latest twist in the legal battle over the controversial rule. Government attorneys on Tuesday appealed a federal judge's decision to strike down the rule. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put a hold on the ruling, allowing the restrictions to proceed. Under the policy, immigration officials could deny permanent residency to legal immigrants over their use of food stamps, Medicaid or other public benefits.
- Republican rout caps decade-long Montana political shift
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Election Day left no doubt: Republicans now run Montana. Democrats stood firmly atop Montana's political scene just a short decade ago with control of the governor's mansion, both U.S. Senate seats and every other statewide post but one. As of Wednesday, Sen. Jon Tester is the last Democrat of the bunch still standing. The Republicans' Election Day rout of Democrats is likely to cement GOP power in Montana for years to come. Tuesday's GOP sweep was decisive: Gov-elect Greg Gianforte beat Democratic Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney while Gianforte's friend and former employee, Sen. Steve Daines, won another six-year term over Gov. Steve Bullock.
- New Mexico governor seeks tourism stimulus as cases increase
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has proposed a $25 million stimulus package for the state's tourism industry. The proposal comes after a recent employment report said the state's leisure and hospitality industry has lost 24,500 jobs this year, about a 24.5% decrease from a year ago. The governor's office says the pandemic has cost the industry $4.3 billion this year. The U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics estimates that without substantial funding, it may take up to seven years for the industry to return to pre-pandemic spending levels. Confirmed COVID-19 cases topped 50,250 in New Mexico on Wednesday.
- New Mexico sets record for daily COVID-19 cases amid surge
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has set a new record for the number of COVID-19 cases reported in a single day. State health officials reported an additional 1,141 cases Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 49,240 since the pandemic began. New Mexico has been dealing with a surge for weeks now despite having some of the toughest public health restrictions in place, including mandates that call for face coverings and limited interaction with others. The death toll related to the virus also has increased to 1,045 and hospitalizations topped 400 to reach a new high Tuesday. Officials have been concerned about added pressure on the health care system.