- Trump backs off border shutdown but threatens auto tariffs
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is threatening to slap tariffs on cars coming to the U.S. from Mexico unless the Mexicans do more to stop the flow of migrants trying to enter the U.S.
Trump had threatened to close down the border this week unless Mexico immediately halted "ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States," but he backtracked Thursday. He told reporters he would try the "less drastic measure" before resorting to his standing border-closure threat.
He will visit the border Friday during a trip to California.
It was the latest, seemingly sudden attempt at new leverage by a president struggling to solve what his administration has called a border "crisis."
- LEGISLATION-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: New Mexico scraps A-F school rating system
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's governor has signed a bill to replace an A-F system for rating the quality of individual public schools with a variety of measurements.
Lujan Grisham made the widely anticipated move on Thursday to establish a "dashboard" style evaluation system and eliminate letter grades for schools.
School dashboards likely would include information on graduation rates, federal subsidies, student academic proficiency, and teacher performance.
A-F school ratings were a hallmark effort by the administration of former Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. Students at "F'' rated schools were given top priority on requests to transfer to a different school under the prior system.
- BORDER WALL LAWSUIT
ACLU asks judge to bar Trump from building border wall
WASHINGTON (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union is asking a judge to block the Trump administration from constructing a border wall with money obtained through his national emergency declaration.
The civil rights group filed the request Thursday in California on behalf of communities along the border and the Sierra Club environmental group. The court papers say President Donald Trump is overstepping his executive powers by diverting funds from the Department of Defense to Homeland Security for a border wall.
The request was filed as part of a February legal challenge. The request comes after Congressional efforts to stop Trump from diverting funds failed.
In addition, a group of 16 states, including California, New York and Colorado, have also filed against the emergency declaration on similar grounds.
Trump has blasted the legal action.
- BORDER SECURITY-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico says its border with Mexico has fallen quiet
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's Homeland Security Department secretary says the flow of asylum seekers to the state's border with Mexico appears to have tapered off during March after earlier arrivals of several large groups.
Homeland Security and Emergency Management Secretary Jackie White told reporters Thursday that the brunt of immigration pressure is being felt at ports of entry in neighboring Texas and not along New Mexico's portion of the border.
White said that the New Mexico Department of Health has dispatched a mobile health care unit to the border area as a humanitarian precaution in case migrants need care.
Six state police are stationed in remote Hidalgo County to reinforce the local contingent of four law enforcement officers. New Mexico has 18 National Guard troops at the border.
- BUDGET SURPLUS-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico governor signs spending, pay increases
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has authorized a nearly 12 percent increase in general fund spending for the coming fiscal year that includes across-the-board pay increases for teachers and state workers.
The governor on Thursday signed a $7 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 without major adjustments to the spending plan from the Democratic Legislature.
Spending on public schools alone will increase by $446 million to $3.2 billion. Substantial funding increases also are slated on economic development incentives and for child protective services, with enough money to fund 26 new positions.
Record-breaking oil and natural gas production in Southeast New Mexico has produced a windfall in state income.
The signed bill sets aside reserves equal to 20 percent of annual spending obligations.
- DEAD BODY IDENTIFIED
Man found dead near a Dona Ana County drainage canal is ID'd
DONA ANA COUNTY, N.M. (AP) — Authorities have identified a man found dead near a drainage canal in Dona Ana County last week.
They say 55-year-old Manuel Nieto of Chamberino had been released from the Dona Ana County Detention Center on March 26.
His body was located Tuesday afternoon.
County Sheriff's officials say it appears Nieto didn't suffer any obvious trauma.
His body has been sent to the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner for autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Detectives say an employee who works on the drainage canals in the area reported seeing Nieto on March 29.
It's still unclear when Nieto died.
- CLERGY ABUSE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico man describes abuse in trial against ex-priest
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico man has testified in federal court that a fugitive priest who was returned to the United States last year from Morocco made inappropriate physical contact with him as many as 100 times when he was a child.
The man testified Thursday during a jury trial in Santa Fe.
Arthur Perrault has been charged with aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact amid accusations he sexually abused the witness at Kirtland Air Force Base and Santa Fe National Cemetery — which fall under federal jurisdiction. The man says Perrault also abused him at an Albuquerque amusement park and church rectory.
Perrault has pleaded not guilty.
His attorney questioned the witness' decision to come forward with claims against Perrault after media reports emerged of other abuse accusations against the priest.
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This story replaces a previous version to correct the day of the week in the second paragraph.
- NEW MEXICO RACINO LICENSE-THE LATEST
The Latest: Lawyers criticize 'secret' deal in racino case
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — More questions are being raised about a lack of transparency and conflicts of interest as New Mexico stumbles through a process that will decide who wins a lucrative license to operate the state's sixth and final horse racetrack and casino.
A state district judge on Thursday instructed attorneys for the enterprises vying for the license to weigh in on a motion to dismiss a legal challenge over a study done as part of the selection process.
The lawyers have argued that the study was flawed.
Also at issue is a proposed settlement to resolve the challenge. Some attorneys told the judge it appeared to been negotiated in secret by Hidalgo Downs, the state attorney general's office and the chair of the state racing commission.
The attorneys say it's possible that open meeting laws were violated.