- Report highlights voting inequities in tribal communities
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Native American voting rights advocates are cautioning against states moving to mail-in ballots without opportunities for tribal members to vote safely in person. The Native American Rights Fund released a wide-ranging report on voting rights Thursday. In it, the group outlined the challenges that could arise as states move to rely more heavily on mail-in ballots. The report says online voter registration could be hampered by spotty or no internet service on reservations, ballots will be delivered to Post Office boxes that rarely are checked and turnout may be low because of a general reluctance to vote by mail.
- GOP House race drags on after vote-counting board walks out
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Republican congressional primary remained undecided as local election regulators in northern New mexico tallied a deluge of absentee ballots. Vote tabulation was stretching into a third day on Thursday in Santa Fe County, as three Republicans competed for the 3rd Congressional District nomination and the chance to succeed U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan as he runs for U.S. Senate. The GOP contenders are Navajo Nation member Karen Evette Bedonie of Mexican Springs, environmental engineer Alexis Johnson of Santa Fe and former Santa Fe County commissioner Harry Montoya. The race has been complicated by complaints of unsent absentee ballots and polling stations closed due to COVID-19.
- Navajo police warn against illegal marijuana, hemp farms
SHIPROCK, N.M. (AP) — Authorities on the largest Native American reservation in the U.S. are warning people against illegally growing marijuana and hemp. Navajo Nation police issued the warning Wednesday after confirming that officers were investigating complaints about marijuana or hemp being grown near the northwestern New Mexico community of Shiprock. Police Chief Phillip Francisco says his department has turned over its findings to tribal prosecutors for further review. Police say the fields found near Shiprock were connected to a business called "Navajo Gold," but they could not find a valid license for the operation. Navajo lawmakers haven't passed any legislation that would allow for growing hemp or marijuana for industrial production or distribution.
- Police: Pregnant woman tried to run car off the road
HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — A pregnant New Mexico woman is facing charges after police say she tried knocking a car off the road while two children sat in her backseat. The Hobbs News-Sun reports Shaniece Langley was arrested Sunday and charged with abuse of a child and criminal damage to property. According to police, the 31-year-old Langley was involved in a car crash in Hobbs stemming from a domestic dispute. The driver of the vehicle that Langley was accused of hitting with her car told police she picked up a friend and was being followed by Langley. It was not known if she had an attorney.
- New Mexico Senate leaders lose primary bid amid liberal push
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two key leaders in the New Mexico Senate have lost their primary bids amid a push by liberal advocacy groups to unseat Democratic lawmakers who have resisted their progressive agenda. Senate President Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces and Senate finance committee leader John Arthur Smith of Deming were defeated as more votes were tallied Wednesday. Papen lost to Carrie Hamblen, the CEO of the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce. Neomi Martinez-Parra of Lordsburg, a former vice chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, defeated Smith. Three other Democrat incumbents also lost their primary bids.
- More coronavirus cases confirmed among inmates in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State health officials say they have confirmed 25 more coronavirus cases among federal inmates being held at a lockup in southern New Mexico. The state Health Department on Wednesday said the cases from the prison in Otero County brought the statewide total to 8,140. The state also reported eight additional deaths _ all from McKinley and San Juan counties. Those areas have been hit the hardest and account for more than half of New Mexico's infections. More than 40 long-term care and acute care facilities around the state also have reported at least one case among residents are staff over the last month.
- New Mexico voting surges, shifts to absentee balloting
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Local election official are tallying an avalanche of absentee ballots in a primary election that locked in several female nominees for Congress and marked a progressive uprising in the state Senate. Tabulation delays left the outcome uncertain Wednesday in a three-way Republican contest in the 3rd Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan is running for U.S. Senate as Sen. Tom Udall retires. The contenders are Navajo Nation member Karen Evette Bedonie of Mexican Springs, environmental engineer Alexis Johnson of Santa Fe and former Santa Fe County commissioner Harry Montoya. In state legislative races, progressive Democratic candidates ousted leading incumbent senators.
- New Mexico close to historic all-female US House delegation
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has moved closer to possibly sending a historic delegation of all women of color to the U.S. House. Democrats nominated two Latinas and a Native American woman in primaries on Tuesday. Republican voters also nominated a member of the Cherokee Nation and a Hispanic woman for two of those races. A third GOP primary hasn't been decided but a Hispanic woman is leading. Democratic Rep. Deb Haaland, who is Laguna Pueblo, is running for re-election for her Albuquerque seat and Democratic Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, who is Mexican American, is running for re-election for her southern New Mexico seat.