- TAX HOLIDAY
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's tax holiday will be extended for another five years under a measure signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The legislation suspends the collection of gross receipts tax on the sale of qualified items at New Mexico small businesses. The governor says Small Business Saturday has become a tradition for many families during the holiday season and it's a way to support local businesses and save money on gifts. This year's tax holiday will be Nov. 28. Toys, electronics, sporting goods and other categories of merchandise qualify for the tax-free status as long as individual items cost less than $500.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials say they are placing a new focus on safeguarding the state's elderly population from potential transmission of the new coronavirus. The state has no known infections since testing began this week for people with an elevated risk of infection because of travel and other factors. The first 10 tests for the new coronavirus were negative. Symptoms can include fever, cough and breathing trouble. The U.S. Health and Human Services Department has awarded an initial $500,000 to the state for enhancing testing and surveillance.
- BALLOON FIESTA
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A colorful spectacle often described as one of the world's most photographed events will celebrate its 50th year in 2021. Organizers of the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and officials at the international balloon museum are wasting no time planning. They've already amassed $400,000 through donations and state and local funds. They will be raising more money this year for a new permanent exhibition dedicated to telling the story of how New Mexico's largest city became the ballooning capital of the world. It will feature historical artifacts, virtual flights and a digital timeline. The nine-day fiesta draws hundreds of thousands each year.
- AP-US-IMMIGRATION-METERING-
PHOENIX (AP) — A U.S. appeals court says a partial ban on asylum doesn't apply to anyone who arrived at the border before the policy was announced last summer. The Trump administration announced in July it would deny asylum to anyone who traveled through another country without applying there first. Immigrant advocates sued on behalf of asylum-seekers who had arrived at the border before the policy but hadn't been allowed to ask for asylum because of a different rule requiring them to wait on an unofficial list. That other rule, known widely as "metering" makes asylum-seekers wait months before they can even walk up to a border crossing and make an asylum claim.
- MURDER SENTENCE-MIGRANT
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — A migrant in the United States illegally will serve nine years in prison after pleading no contest to second-degree murder in the shooting death of a co-worker at a Roswell-area ranch. Jose Dominguez was sentenced Wednesday in the 2018 killing of 46-year-old Luciano Sifuentes, a fellow migrant from Mexico. The Roswell Daily Record reports that a prosecution recommendation accepted by District Judge Justin Hunter resulted in Dominguez being sentenced to 15 years in prison but with six years suspended. Hunter said Dominguez will be deported back to Mexico upon completion of his sentence. Dominguez acknowledged to investigators that he'd shot Sifuentes, He said Sifuentes had "disrespected" him and that he feared Sifuentes was going to hit or stab him.
- PUBLIC RECORDS-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed an overhaul of the state's collective bargaining laws pertaining to public employees over the objections of open-government advocates who say the changes could shield access to information about job titles, salaries and work locations for government workers. The Democratic governor also signed legislation Thursday that eliminates a six-month waiting period for public disclosure of financial settlements to resolve accusations of abuses or misbehavior by public officials. A spokesman for Lujan Grisham said the administration has worked to restore transparency and open access to public records.
- CALIFORNIA BAPTIST-NEW MEXICO ST
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Trevelin Queen scored 19 points and Ivan Aurrecoechea scored 13 and New Mexico State beat California Baptist 83-50. New Mexico State built a 20-3 lead and never trailed. Not until Milan Acquaah made a pair of free throws with 5:36 before intermission did the Lancers reach double figures. New Mexico State led 35-11 at the point and went on to a 46-20 lead at halftime. The Aggies finished perfect in league play for the first time in program history. Acquaah led California Baptist with 15 points.
- NEW MEXICO-UTAH ST
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sam Merrill scored 29 pointsand Justin Bean had a double-double and Utah State beat New Mexico 75-70 in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Conference Tournament. Merrill scored seven straight as he made four free throws and a 3-pointer. The free throws tied the game on both trips to the foul line, and the 3-pointer put Utah State up 68-65 with 2:43 left. Vance Jackson countered with a 3 to tie it. After Dioog Brito and Zane Martin traded baskets, Brito's 3 with 68 seconds to go gave the Aggies the lead for good. Jaquan Lyle led the seventh-seeded Lobos with 20 points