- 1 complaint on New Mexico House speaker still being reviewed
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The State Ethics Commission said in a letter that two of three complaints filed by a retired judge against New Mexico state House Speaker Brian Egolf likely will be dismissed. The letter on Friday signed by Executive Director Jeremy Farris said the third charge — that Egolf failed to communicate a potential conflict of interest — is still under investigation. The two charges that will likely be dismissed are that Egolf used his legislative office for personal gain and that he failed to discharge his legislative duties in an ethical way. Egolf has referred to the complaints as a deliberate distraction and has denied all wrongdoing.
- Albuquerque schools to resume in-person learning on April 5
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — With the slowing of the coronavirus outbreak, Albuquerque Public Schools will resume in-person learning for five days a week on April 5, though students can continue remote learning for the rest of the school year. New Mexico's largest school district announced its startup date Friday after the state Public Education Department earlier in the week said all schools were expected to reopen classrooms after spring break. Interim Superintendent Scott Elder said mask-wearing will be required and social distancing will be expected. The state on Saturday reported 198 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and three additional deaths,
- FEMA to help manage unaccompanied minors at US-Mexico border
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The Biden administration is turning to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for help managing and caring for record numbers of unaccompanied immigrant children who are streaming into the U.S. from Mexico. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says FEMA will support a government-wide effort over the next three months to safely receive, shelter and transfer minor children who arrive alone at the U.S. southwest border. Government figures show a growing crisis at the border as hundreds of children illegally enter the U.S. daily from Mexico and are taken into custody.
- In a pandemic, Navajo community steps up for its vulnerable
TEESTO, Ariz. (AP) — A strong sense of community and taking care of one another has come to the aid of people like Raymond Clark on the Navajo Nation. The 71-year-old painter lives alone, without running water or transportation in the community of Teesto. He's content paying for wood deliveries, chipping in for gas money for a ride to town and carrying jugs to fill up at a water station. But sometimes, those things come to him. Officials at the Teesto Chapter House say they have even more of a duty now during a pandemic to ensure their most vulnerable residents get what they need to stay safe and at home.
- Wild population of endangered Mexican wolves keeps growing
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Once on the verge of extinction, the rarest subspecies of the gray wolf in North America has seen its population nearly double over the last five years. U.S. wildlife managers said Friday the latest survey shows there are now at least 186 Mexican gray wolves in the wild in New Mexico and Arizona. That marks the fifth straight year that the endangered species has increased its numbers. Reintroduction of Mexican wolves to the American Southwest began more than two decades ago. The program has pitted environmentalists, rural residents and wildlife managers against one another, prompting many legal challenges over the years.
- US says ranger tried to defuse run-in before using Taser
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The National Park Service says a ranger used a stun gun on a man who identifies as Native American after trying repeatedly to defuse a confrontation on federal land in New Mexico. The agency said Friday that an internal investigation determined the ranger's actions at Petroglyph National Monument were consistent with policy and appropriate given the circumstances. Darrell House posted video that drew outcry from Indigenous activists. House, who identifies as Navajo and Oneida, had been seen climbing on petroglyph cliff features off-trail in December. He was cited. Agency officials say they've met with Indigenous leaders to try to strengthen cultural awareness.
- Latest New Mexico film lineup includes independent features
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Film Office says four independent feature films headline the state's latest lineup of projects either recently in production or about to start up. The independent features include "Harem Complex Part 1," a love story revolving around a young couple, and "Peace River," a drama about the struggles and faith of a rodeo cowboy and military veteran. The other two independent films are "Land of Dreams," a political satire, and "Terror at Bigfoot Pond," which involves young adults who find trouble while camping. A silent short comedy, a short film and a docuseries pilot are the other productions.
- New Mexico coal plant to limit operations starting in 2023
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — The co-owners of the coal-powered Four Corners Generation Station in New Mexico say they will limit the facility's operations starting in 2023. The plant's five co-owners agreed to shut down one of the facility's two generators for seven months each year beginning in the fall of 2023. The other generator will operate year-round. The proposal could reduce the facility's carbon emissions by up to 25% every year. Arizona Public Service Co., which owns a majority of the plant, had already pledged to transition away from carbon sources by 2050 and close the Four Corners plant by 2031.