- MURDER CONVICTION OVERTURNED
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A federal appeals court has overturned a Gallup man's first-degree murder conviction in a 2016 homicide, ruling that the defendant should have been allowed to present evidence that the man killed had used methamphetamine before a fatal fight. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling Tuesday grants Brian Tony a new trial in the killing of 44-year-old Pat Garcia on the Navajo reservation near Church Rock. Tony claimed self defense and the trial judge allowed him to present evidence that Garcia's behavior was erratic and violent. However, the judge didn't allow Tony to indicate that Garcia's alleged behavior resulted from methamphetamine use. The appeals court said allowing the drug-use evidence sought by the defense might have explained Garcia's behavior.
- ENERGY FUTURE-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A ruling from the New Mexico Supreme Court could determine how the state implements a landmark law that clears the way for the closure of a coal-fired power plant and sets goals for being carbon-free by 2045. Oral arguments are scheduled Wednesday in Santa Fe. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration has argued that the Energy Transition Act passed last year is the law of the land and should apply to Public Service Co. of New Mexico's application to close the San Juan Generating Station. Questions were raised when regulators opted to consider a portion of the application as part of an ongoing case that was initiated before the law was enacted.
- GUN LEGISLATION-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A proposal has advanced in the New Mexico state Legislature that would allow law enforcement officials or family members to seek court orders to seize firearms temporarily from people deemed a threat to themselves or others. A Senate committee endorsed the bill with support from Democrats on a party-line vote. Proponents invoked the toll of firearm suicides and mass shootings, while opponents warned that lawmakers risk treading on constitutional rights and the presumption of innocence. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also supports the legislation. The state Senate prohibited firearms in its public gallery and nearby rooms for the first time, with exceptions for law enforcement officials.
- COAL-TRANSITION FUND
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation is looking to Arizona utilities that shared in the power generated on the reservation to help make up for the financial losses from the coal industry. Navajo leaders asked utility regulators in Arizona to require that power companies contribute financially and with technical assistance as the tribe focuses on renewable energy projects. The appeal was made in a rate case involving Tucson Electric Power, but it could extend to another major state utility and aid other communities that have long depended on revenue from coal.
- RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A key committee has passed a Democrat-backed bill to legalize recreational marijuana businesses in all towns and counties across New Mexico. The Senate Public Affairs Committee voted Tuesday 4-3 to move along the measure that would subsidize medical marijuana and automatically expunge many past pot convictions. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has said she supports such a proposal. The initiative condemned as a threat to workplace and roadway safety by a coalition that includes the local Roman Catholic Church and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. Others like medical marijuana dispensaries and health care advocates came out in support of the measure.
- SANTA FE-UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The city of Santa Fe has named three finalists for the redevelopment of a city-owned campus that was left vacant when the Santa Fe University of Art and Design closed in 2018. The finalists include Central Park Santa Fe, Singapore-based Raffles Education Corp. and KDC Real Estate Development and Investments with Cienda Partners of Dallas. Santa Fe radio station KSFR reports that the finalists will be asked for additional information to clarify the confidential contents of their project submission packages. Based on community input, the mixed-use development project will include housing, higher education, arts and culture spaces and entrepreneurial businesses.
- BOOKS-AMERICAN DIRT-LATINOS
"American Dirt," a novel about migrants from Mexico and cartel violence, continues to draw criticism from some Latino writers and activists. It's written by Jeanine Cummins who is of Irish and Puerto Rican descent. Critics complain that the publishing industry is excluding Latino writers and say the novel contains incorrect cultural references. The publisher is defending the book, which had a huge promotional campaign and big-name endorsements. But some bookstores have canceled planned readings by the author amid promised protests.
- SHERIFF INTELLIGENCE DIVISION
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A sheriff in New Mexico has announced plans to add an intelligence division to her department in Las Cruces to consolidate information from federal databases to pursue criminal trends in the county. Las Cruces Sun-News reports that the in-house intelligence division will be staffed with sheriff's office staff and outside intelligence analysts from federal programs. It is unclear how much the division would cost. Dona Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart says her office is seeking to have access to federal databases meant for law enforcement with high security clearances, but clearances have not yet been provided.