- UNEMPLOYMENT-NEW MEXICO
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — Federal numbers show that nearly 73,000 people in New Mexico have lost their jobs over that last three weeks. The U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday 26,606 people in the state applied for unemployment benefits last week compared to a revised record of 27,849 the week before. The ongoing swell in applications in one of the poorest U.S. states represent more evidence that the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the economy. The Labor Department said 6.6 million Americans overall applied for unemployment benefits last week.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation say rural hospitals that suspended non-urgent procedures while bracing for a surge in coronavirus patients have begun receiving a temporary financial lifeline from the federal government. U.S. Rep Xochitl Torres Small and Sen. Martin Heinrich said in a statement that the Gila Regional Medical Center in Silver City will receive an advance Medicare payment of $6.8 million. Some rural hospitals and clinics are being starved of ordinary income as they postpone elective surgeries and procedures to open up beds for coronavirus patients. New Mexico has registered at least 16 virus-related deaths and 865 infections.
- VIRUS-OUTBREAK-BORDER ENFORCEMENT
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Trump administration has quietly shut down the nation's asylum system for the first time in decades amid the coronavirus. The U.S. has used an obscure public health law to justify one of its most aggressive border enforcement tactics ever. People seeking refuge in the U.S. are whisked to the nearest border crossing and returned to Mexico without a chance to seek asylum. The government has temporarily swept aside decades-old national and international laws, saying holding people in custody is considered too dangerous. A congressional aide tells The Associated Press that the U.S. has expelled more than 7,000 people in less than two weeks.
- COPPER THEFTS-STREET LIGHTS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Officials in New Mexico's largest city are warning that copper wiring thefts have put some street lights out of commission, resulting in dangerous conditions for pedestrians and drivers. In an effort to discourage would-be thieves, the city of Albuquerque is working with a lighting contractor to reinforce poles and switch out copper wiring for less valuable aluminum. Mayor Tim Keller says the copper thefts can create a safety problem as well as burden taxpayers. In February alone, the city saw $16,000 in copper theft, which accounted for more than one-quarter of all maintenance of street lights.
- ELECTION 2020-NEW MEXICO-UDALL
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's senior U.S. senator is throwing his support behind Joe Biden in the race for president. Democrat Tom Udall announced his endorsement in a message on social media Wednesday. Udall's post followed news that fellow Sen. Bernie Sanders was ending his presidential bid, leaving Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee to challenge President Donald Trump in the general election. The New Mexico Democrat said he believes Biden can provide steadfast leadership for New Mexico's working families and the rest of the nation.
- ENDANGERED WOLVES-DEATHS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. wildlife managers have drawn the ire of environmentalists for killing four endangered Mexican gray wolves in an effort to get the predators to stop killing cattle in New Mexico. The latest deaths highlight a conflict that has persisted since reintroduction of the wolves began in the southwestern U.S. two decades ago. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the action was taken in March after hazing, diversionary food caches and other non-lethal means failed. Ranchers have seen a record number of cattle kills over the past year, but environmentalists say lethal management of the wolves is undermining the species' recovery.
- 2020 CENSUS-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal officials say New Mexico ranks near the bottom when it come to the number of people who have responded to the 2020 Census. The latest update shows just over one-third of New Mexican households have replied either online or by phone _ far short of the 46% national response rate. Bernalillo County is slightly ahead of the national rate but other areas are lagging. About 5% of households in Rio Arriba County have responded. The 2020 census will guide the distribution of some $1.5 trillion in federal spending and help determine how many congressional seats each state gets.
- ELECTION 2020-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Legal battle lines were being drawn Wednesday in a standoff over emergency voting procedures in New Mexico as a Democrat-dominated state Supreme Court weighs alternatives to in-person voting in response to the coronavirus pandemic. With written arguments due Wednesday, Republicans say mail-in absentee ballots should be distributed only to eligible voters who make a request ahead of the June 2 primary. Voting rights experts say remote rural communities could easily be disenfranchised. Across the country, major parties are girding for a state-by-state legal fight over how citizens can safely cast their ballots should the coronavirus outbreak persist through November.