- FAKE BEARD BANDIT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico woman is facing charges after authorities say she robbed stores while wearing a fake beard.
Court documents show that Tamala Cole was arrested Thursday following heists at the Nothing Bundt Cake store and a Boba Tea cafe in Albuquerque. In each case, police say the 51-year-old year Cole demanded money while holding a gun and wearing a "black beanie style hat" and a fake brown beard.
Investigators say Cole also is suspected of robbing a Subway and the religious goods store FaithWorks.
Police say Cole was tracked down through caller ID after she called the tea shop moments before the robbery and asked for her mother.
She is facing seven counts of robbery.
It was not known if she had an attorney.
- ICE CREAM HEIST
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — A northern New Mexico man is facing charges after he was accused of committing a cold crime on a hot day: an ice cream heist.
The Las Vegas Optic in New Mexico reports authorities say 31-year-old Paul Trujillo was arrested last week after he was one of two men who entered a walk-in freezer at a Dairy Queen store and stole 22 boxes of Dilly Bars.
Police say the July 29 footage shows Trujillo walking up to the freezer following a stakeout. The second man has not been identified.
Trujillo was charged with felony commercial burglary and misdemeanor larceny.
It was not known if he had an attorney.
- HOBBS-FATAL SHOOTING
HOBBS. N.M. (AP) — Police in Hobbs say three people are dead after a shooting at a house party.
They say three other people were airlifted to a hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries.
Police say officers were dispatched to a home shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday in response to reports of a loud party and shots fired.
When police arrived, they found several people with gunshot wounds.
Police say 18-year-old Khalil Carter of Hobbs, 24-year-old Kristal Avena of Hobbs and 22-year-old Lamar Lee Kane Jr. of Washington, D.C., died at the scene.
They say four people were found injured at the scene, but one was treated and released from a hospital.
Police say the shooting is under investigation and there was no immediate information on any suspects or arrests in the shooting case.
- ALBUQUERQUE-FATAL SHOOTING
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police say one man is dead and another is in custody after a neighbor dispute escalated to a shooting in northeast Albuquerque.
They say the shooting occurred around 7 p.m. Saturday.
Police say a man was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead.
They say the alleged shooter was arrested and will be booked into jail.
Police haven't released the name of the victim or alleged shooter yet or what charges the suspect is facing.
- DEMOCRACY-NATIVE AMERICANS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A new book by a noted historian attempts to show how expanding American democracy hurt Native Americans in the early days of the nation.
University of Oregon history professor Jeffrey Ostler's "Surviving Genocide: Native Nations and the United States from the American Revolution and Bleeding Kansas" argues that the emergence of American democracy depended on the taking of Native lands.
Ostler's book is the first of two volumes on Native American history.
The book comes as scholars and writers are challenging the narrative around American history and how it hurt people of color. These efforts are drawing criticism from some conservative columnists.
Columbia University history professor Karl Jacoby called Ostler's book an exciting work in Native American history.
- MONUMENT LAWSUIT FEES-GOFUNDME
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico city has asked residents to help fund the remaining balance of fees resulting from a Ten Commandments monument lawsuit.
The Farmington Daily Times reported Thursday that the city of Bloomfield launched an online fundraiser asking for help coming up with $467,000 it owes the American Civil Liberties Union lawyers after courts ruled against them.
Officials say the ACLU represented several residents who said the monument violated their First Amendment rights.
Officials say the city owes lawyers $700,000 by June 30, 2021, and has already paid more than $200,000.
Anything not raised will be paid for using the gross receipts tax and is currently budgeted.
Officials say the resident-funded monument was displayed in front of city hall before being moved to a nearby church.
- STATE SENATOR-DWI ARREST
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico state official has announced plans to remain in office and seek reelection after a drunken driving arrest.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Friday that Democratic Sen. Richard Martinez of New Mexico stated Friday following a legislative hearing in Los Alamos that he has no intentions to step down despite calls for his resignation.
Authorities say the 66-year-old has pleaded not guilty after being charged with aggravated DWI, and is free on his own recognizance awaiting trial.
Officials say he has skipped other committee meetings since his arrest nearly two months ago.
The state Republican Party called on Martinez to resign.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says no one is above the law and that elected officials should be held to a higher standard.
- CENSUS 2020-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is pushing forward with a multimillion-dollar effort to encourage participation in the U.S. census to preserve federal funding for schools, health care and various public benefits.
The state launched its "I Count New Mexico" website Friday that includes a video message from Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham encouraging residents to participate in the national population count next year.
The state is offering $2.4 million in grant money to county governments that can encourage traditionally undercounted communities to participate in the first census with online access.
The state website estimates New Mexico would lose about $3,750 in annual federal spending for each person that goes uncounted. The state estimates that a 1% undercount would reduce annual federal Medicaid spending by $32 million and undercut health care services.