- BORDER ARRESTS-NEW MEXICO
Border Patrol: More migrants cross illegally into New Mexico
ANTELOPE WELLS, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Border Patrol agents say more large groups of migrants are in custody after crossing into southern New Mexico.
Agents say they encountered 243 migrants around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday near the remote border crossing of Antelope Wells. The group was made up mostly of Central Americans.
On Thursday morning, another group of 209 people were stopped in the same area. Like the others, this group also included Central American families and unaccompanied juveniles.
Border Patrol agents have been overwhelmed by the ongoing surge of migrants who are illegally crossing into the U.S. in an attempt to claim asylum. They say the families and children are being exploited by smuggling operations.
- PENSION FUND-NEW MEXICO
Accusations, mistrust roil New Mexico pension fund
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's state treasurer is renewing accusations that past pay raises were not properly approved for the executive director at a state public pension fund.
In a public letter, Democratic State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg on Thursday described recent staff pay raises at the Public Employees Retirement Association as illegal and renewed calls for an investigation by the attorney general.
Eichenberg sits on the board of the pension fund for state and local government workers and alleges that executive director Wayne Probst violated his fiduciary duty by accepting raises without approval of the full board. Probst says staff at the retirement association have been compensated in accordance with the law.
The office of Attorney General Hector Balderas said Thursday that the allegations are being reviewed thoroughly and are of concern.
- SHERIFF-EMBEZZLEMENT
New Mexico authorities charge ex-sheriff with embezzlement
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — State authorities have charged a former New Mexico sheriff with embezzlement amid accusations he spent thousands of dollars in taxpayer money on guns and other equipment for his own personal use.
Court documents filed by New Mexico State Police on Thursday show Heath White, of Torrance County, is facing felony charges that include embezzlement over $20,000, receiving stolen property and misusing public money.
White's term as sheriff ended in December.
An investigation into White began earlier this year after authorities said items purchased by the sheriff's department during his tenure could not be found.
Online court records did not immediately list an attorney for White.
A Torrance County magistrate court manager tells the Albuquerque Journal that White has been suspended from the Bench.
- MISS USA-THE LATEST
The Latest: Lawyer from North Carolina wins Miss USA 2019
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Cheslie Kryst of North Carolina has been crowned Miss USA 2019.
Alejandra Gonzalez of New Mexico was the first-runner up, and Oklahoma's Triana Browne the second-runner up during the competition Thursday night in Reno, Nevada.
Kryst earned a law degree and an MBA at Wake Forest University before becoming a civil litigation attorney who does pro bono work to reduce sentences for inmates.
The 27-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, said during the final round that she was glad to be competing in Nevada because it's the first and only state in the nation with female majorities in both houses of the state legislature.
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- VEHICLE REGISTRATION MISTAKE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico botches 91,780 vehicle registration reminders
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Motor vehicle officials say an extra zero was mistakenly added to the cost of vehicle registration fees on postcard reminders sent to more than 90,000 New Mexico residents.
The Motor Vehicle Division on Thursday attributed the inflated numbers to a computer error and said no one would be charged the improper amount listed on the vehicle registration renewal notices. The state mailed out 91,780 erroneous cards.
Division Director Alicia Ortiz is apologizing for the confusion and says the error is being corrected before the next round of notices. She offered assurances that any possible overpayments would be refunded.
Accurate registration fees are listed on Motor Vehicle Division website .
- CHILD NUTRITION-TRIBES
US senators push nutrition legislation for Native youth
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal legislation has been re-introduced to allow tribal governments to administer child nutrition programs in their communities.
The legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, of Nevada, Tom Udall, of New Mexico, and Tina Smith, of Minnesota, was announced Thursday. All of the Senators are Democrats.
They say tribes are better positioned than federal agencies to know local youths' nutrition needs.
Many tribes historically have been forced to contend with limited access to affordable and nutritious food.
The lawmakers say that has placed Native American children at risk of facing hunger, diabetes and obesity.
Under the proposed legislation, tribes would administer several programs, including those that provide children with school lunch and breakfast.
- RIO GRANDE-NATIVE FISH
New Mexico students recharge Rio Grande with native fish
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — With the Rio Grande flowing bank to bank, dozens of children are releasing native fish they spent months raising into the river as part of an ongoing conservation program aimed at linking classrooms with the outdoors.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has teamed up with schools in New Mexico, Texas, California and states on the East Coast to bring more awareness to river systems and the fish that inhabit them.
In New Mexico, the Rio Grande has lost two of its native species in recent decades and the endangered silvery minnow will have an uphill battle this spring after a year in which tens of thousands of them were rescued from stretches of the river that went dry.
Officials say the work done to help the minnow also will benefit the fish reared by the students.
- CANNABIS DISPENSARIES BURGLARIZED
2 Santa Fe medical cannabis dispensaries burglarized
(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Police say burglars hit two medical cannabis dispensaries in Santa Fe in what appears to be a string of burglaries targeting dispensaries.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports New MexiCann Natural Medicine and Kure were struck early Wednesday.
Kure employee Judi Kubiak says surveillance video shows four men smashing Kure's front door and rummaging around inside before leaving. Kubiak says no items were stolen because valuables were locked in a safe.
A police report says New MexiCann Natural Medicine suffered property damage and larceny of between $2,500 and $20,000.
No arrests have been made.
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