- CHILD CARE AID
New Mexico moves to limit eligibility for child care aidSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's child welfare department is proposing to limit income eligibility for child care assistance, saying the agency didn't get the legislative funding needed to keep a higher limit in place.
A public hearing on the Children, Youth and Families Department's proposed regulation to place the cap at 160% of the federal poverty line or about $41,200 for a family of four is set for next month in Santa Fe.
It comes after the agency agreed to a significantly higher income cap of 200% of the poverty level following a class-action settlement.
Parents last year sued the agency, accusing it under former Republican Gov. Susana Martinez of denying aid to families without providing proper notice or establishing proper policy for lowering income requirements for aid.
- CHURCH FIRE-FARMINGTON
US, local agencies investigating church fire in FarmingtonFARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — Federal and local authorities are investigating a church fire in Farmington.
The Farmington Fire Department said in a statement that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church sustained substantial smoke and fire damage during the fire early Saturday morning but that nobody was injured.
The Fire Department said cause wasn't immediately determined.
It said a San Juan County task force's investigation includes the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives because the fire involves a church.
- ALBUQUERQUE-BUS LAWSUIT
Albuquerque, company settle lawsuit over electric busesALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque and a company that was to provide electric buses for a transit project have settled the city's lawsuit claiming that vehicles were faulty.
A May 24 notice in federal court said Albuquerque and a California unit of BYD, short for Build Your Dreams, "have settled all claims" and agreed to dismiss the lawsuit filed last December.
The company disputed Albuquerque's claims that buses delivered by BYD had brake failures and batteries that didn't work properly.
The Albuquerque Journal reported that the settlement doesn't require BYD to pay the city and prevents BYD from countersuing, and Jessie Damazyn, a spokesman for Mayor Tim Keller, told KOB-TV that the settlement allows both sides to move forward without any additional cost
The Albuquerque has ordered low-emission diesel buses from a different company.
- SPORTS BETTING ADS
Bet responsibly? A struggle for some as sportsbook ads widenATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — It's hard enough for compulsive gamblers to stop betting.
Now, in a growing number of places, they're bombarded with ads urging them to gamble on sports.
It's a temptation they didn't face a year ago.
And it's raising questions as to how tightly regulated sports betting advertising should be in the United States.
Aside from requiring a mention of a compulsive gambling telephone hotline, the U.S. takes a much lighter hand with these ads than some European governments.
Gambling ads are increasingly being banned or restricted in several European countries. The gambling companies themselves say they are sensitive to compulsive gamblers and try not to target them with ads.
- STUN GUN-SLUR-STUDENT
Video: Deputy used stun gun on student with special needsESPANOLA, N.M. (AP) — A northern New Mexico sheriff's deputy is facing criticism after a video showed him using a stun gun on a high school student with special needs.
The May 10 episode at Española Valley High School has attracted the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico and state Attorney General Hector Balderas.
According to a lapel video, Rio Arriba County sheriff's deputy Jeremy Barnes used a stun gun a 15-year-old boy after he refused to follow orders and called the deputy a homophobic slur. The story on the video was first reported by the Rio Grande Sun .
Officials say the boy had been detained on suspicion of taking part in a drug deal.
Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office spokesman Randy Sanches said the office has launched an internal investigation.
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This story corrects a previous version to say student used slur not the deputy.
- INFANT-FRACTURED SKULL
New Mexico mom arrested after infant suffers skull fractureLAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico woman is facing charges after police say her 4-week-old infant suffered skull and rib fractures.
Las Cruces police say Elvia Hilaria Dorado was arrested Thursday following an investigation into the boy's injuries.
According to police, the 27-year-old Dorado and her boyfriend took their son to a Las Cruces hospital Sunday after claiming the young boy fell from a bed. Doctors discovered the infant had a fracture to the left side of his skull and was transferred to El Paso Children's Hospital for more advanced care.
Dorado told investigators her son fell from the bed and landed on a pile of clothes and a heating pad.
She was charged with child abuse and ordered held without bail.
It was not known if Dorado had an attorney.
- TRUMP-IMMIGRATION-THE LATEST
The Latest: Business group may take legal action vs tariffsWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says it's looking into possible legal action to block President Donald Trump from imposing a 5% tariff on imports from Mexico if the nation doesn't crack down on Central American immigrants trying to get into the United States.
Chamber spokesman Eric Wohlschlegel says the group is exploring legal action.
Neil Bradley, executive vice president of the Chamber, called the tariff "exactly the wrong move."
He says it will be paid by American families and businesses without doing anything to remedy problems at the border.
Bradley called on Congress and the president to work together to address the problem.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of more than 3 million businesses.
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- TRUMP-IMMIGRATION-SO MANY MIGRANTS-THE LATEST
The Latest: Group of 116 Africans arrested at borderEL PASO, Texas (AP) — Border officials in Texas say a group of 116 Africans was arrested Thursday after wading through the Rio Grande to enter the United States.
The migrants were from Angola, Cameroon and other African nations and include families with children and young people who were not with relatives.
This was the first large group that agents in the Del Rio sector have arrested, although big groups have been showing up every day in other areas of the southern border. Agents have encountered 182 large groups, or those with more than 100 people, since October.
It's unclear if the migrants in Texas were seeking asylum, and the agency is still processing them.
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