- ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — GOP voters in New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District will finally decide Tuesday which Republican will challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small. Oil executive Claire Chase, former state lawmaker Yvette Herrell and Las Cruces businessman Chris Mathys are vying for the GOP nomination amid a divided Republican Party of New Mexico. The primary campaign has been marred by personal attacks, dark money attack ads and claims over who's the most stalwart supporter of President Donald Trump. Herrell and Chase have exchanged the most punches, accusing the other of being a closeted "never Trumper." Candidates also have avoided offering any bold proposals to tackle issues like poverty in one of the nation's poorest congressional districts.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-AIRPLANE STORAGE
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — The downturn in the commercial air travel industry has turned into a boon for a former military base in New Mexico. The Roswell International Air Center has emerged as a major storage facility for planes that have been grounded by airlines due to age and lack of demand. Planes have arrived from carriers including American Airlines, United Airlines and Frontier Airlines. The Albuquerque Journal reports there are more grounded planes in Roswell now than at any point during the modern history of the former base. The commercial air travel industry has been hard hit as people stayed home to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-PETRIFIED FOREST
HOLBROOK, Ariz. (AP) — Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona is reopening some facilities and areas that have been closed to the public since March 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Park officials say a phased approach to increase recreational access and other services will have the park road, trails and wilderness areas reopen Friday. The Painted Desert Visitor Center, the Rainbow Forest Museum, Rainbow Forest Lodge and the Painted Desert Dinner and Gift Shop will reopen in future phases. Meanwhile, a project to repair and replace three bridges and sections of the park road continues with completion of the project's second phase scheduled for late June.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is being criticized for a jewelry purchase from a store in Albuquerque that had closed its retail locations after she issued a public health order prompting the closure of all non-essential businesses. The governor's office says the transaction was done remotely and didn't violate the order. But Republicans are calling he behavior hypocritical and dishonorable. They say the jewelry purchase exemplifies recent weeks of harsh and inequitable treatment of small businesses at a time when the governor was telling people to only go out for essential items. New Mexico has more than 7,250 coronavirus cases and 329 deaths.
- ELECTION 2020-NEW MEXICO PRIMARY
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is deciding on final contenders in open races for a U.S. Senate seat and a congressional slot that last changed hands a dozen years ago. The retirement of Sen. Tom Udall has thrown open a window of opportunity for U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, the presumptive Democratic Senate nominee in an increasingly blue state. Former CIA operative Valerie Plame is competing in the seven-way Democratic primary to succeed Luján in the northern 3rd Congressional District. Other candidates have connections to Hispanic political traditions and Native American communities.
- ELECTION 2020-MAIL-IN VOTING
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján is urging New Mexico´s top election regulator to provide more time for people to submit absentee ballots by mail in the June 2 primary. On Wednesday, he cited the delayed delivery of some absentee ballots in Santa Fe County and proposed that regulators allow ballots be counted if they are postmarked on the final day of the June 2 primary and arrive afterward. Under current procedures, ballots must reach election authorities by 7 p.m. on June 2. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver says the state's election codes do not give her the authority to extend the deadline.
- MISSING INDIGENOUS-TASK FORCE
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A presidential task force charged with addressing an epidemic of missing and slain Native Americans has resumed listening sessions with tribes. The task force held a handful of sessions in person before the coronavirus hit. It's now turning to teleconferences and webinars to update tribes on its work and get feedback. A session Wednesday drew dozens of people but few spoke up to provide input. The task force says it will meet a November deadline to submit a report to the White House. The task force is reviewing cold cases in Indian Country to find ways to improve investigations and respond more quickly to reports of missing Native Americans.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO-HEALTH CARE
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Public officials in New Mexico continue to contemplate a possible transition to single-payer health care in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Preliminary results of a study commissioned by New Mexico's Democrat-led Legislature in 2019 were released Tuesday that outline the consequences of combining nearly all financing for health care services behind a single, state-administered payer for all residents. Analysts found that significant additional funding sources would likely be needed to fully cover the cost of the plan despite new administrative efficiencies. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden opposes single-payer proposals even as the coronavirus reveals shortcomings of the current U.S. medical system.