- AMERICA PROTESTS-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of people marched peacefully Monday night in downtown Albuquerque a day after a similar protest against the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis preceded the setting of dozens of small fires and other damage in New Mexico's most populous city. There was a heavy police presence as the crowd that gathered Monday evening near the University of New Mexico marched in rain while chanting "I can't breathe." The crowd began to disperse around 10 p.m. and most had left by midnight. Mayor Tim Keller said agitators for violence were to blame for damage that occurred hours after Sunday' evening's largely peaceful march.
- RURAL CHILDHOOD DISPARITIES-REPORT
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — A new report says childhood disparities are worst among rural, black-majority counties in the American South and isolated counties with large Native American populations. A Save the Children report released Tuesday found that children in the most disadvantaged counties die at rates up to five times of children elsewhere in the same state. The report says children in those counties also are 14 times as likely to drop out of school and are three times as likely to lack healthy food and consistent meals. The report examined 2,600 counties using federal data from 2018. The group recommends expanding early childhood education programs.
- ELECTION 2020-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Seven Democratic contenders for Congress including a famous former CIA operative, a district attorney and a professional advocate for Native American communities are facing off Tuesday in a likely decisive congressional primary in northern New Mexico. Polls are opening amid the coronavirus pandemic as election officials saw a surge in absentee balloting ahead of Election Day. U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan is leaving his congressional seat as the presumptive Democratic nominee to succeed retiring Sen. Tom Udall. Republicans were picking favorites in hopes of winning back a congressional swing district in southern New Mexico and seizing control of Udall's Senate seat in the November general election.
- ELECTION 2020-NEW MEXICO-LEGISLATURE
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Liberal advocacy groups are angling to unseat some of New Mexico's longtime legislative leaders. In Tuesday's primary, progressive candidates are facing off with fellow Democrats who are in key Senate leaderships posts, including chamber President Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces and finance leader John Arthur Smith of Deming. Clemente Sanchez of Grants, George Muñoz of Gallup and Gabriel Ramos of Silver City also have challengers. Critics say the incumbent lawmakers have resisted spending increases and watered down a House-approved version of the state's 2019 minimum wage hike. Democrats hold a 46-24 majority in the House and a 26-16 advantage in the Senate.
- SPACEPORT AUTHORITY APPOINTEES
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed three new members to the New Mexico Spaceport Authority and re-appointed three other members. The Spaceport Authority is administratively attached to the New Mexico Economic Development Department. It consists of eight members with six appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate. The lieutenant-governor and the cabinet secretary of the Economic Development Department are also members. By statute, no more than three of the appointed members shall belong to the same political party. The three new appointees are Ethan Epstein of Los Rancho, Peggy Johnson of Williamsburg and Eric Schindwolf of Tijeras. The members reappointed are Michelle Coons of Albuquerque, Laura Conniff of Las Cruces and Richard Holdridge of Deming.
- AP-US-ELECTION-2020
Nine states and the District of Columbia are voting. Tuesday's elections will be the largest slate of presidential primaries in almost three months. Voters and campaigns alike will be asked to navigate coronavirus concerns and curfews in place amid protests of George Floyd's killing. There's been a sharp increase in mail balloting as voting takes place from Maryland to Montana. Many political groups are focusing on Pennsylvania, which represents a high-profile test case for the November general election. Former Vice President Joe Biden needs to win 89% of all delegates at stake on Tuesday to formally clinch the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials are reporting an additional 113 positive tests for the novel coronavirus as the state begins easing some of the restrictions that had been placed on businesses to limit spread. Officials said Monday that the state now has 7,800 cases, with more than half of those originating in McKinley and San Juan counties. The death toll is now 362. Six new deaths were reported Monday, with one of those involving an inmate in state custody in Otero County who had underlying conditions. Monday marked the first day restaurants could resume indoor seating at 50% occupancy under an amended public health order.
- AMERICA PROTESTS-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The mayor of New Mexico's largest city is blaming small groups what he called agitators for violence that broke out hours after a peaceful protest in downtown Albuquerque. Dozens of small fires were set, windows were broken and police officers say they were fired upon early Monday. Mayor Tim Keller says Albuquerque welcomes protests but that gunfire and violence cross the line. On Sunday evening, several hundred people took part in a march along historic Route 66 in protest of the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Protesters gathered again Monday night, braving the rain to march along the same road near the University of New Mexico.