- RACIAL INJUSTICE-LAS CRUCES
A New Mexico city has agreed to pay $6.5 million to the family of Mexican American man who was choked to death by a police officer. A settlement agreement made public by the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico this week calls for the city to pay the family of Antonio Valenzuela within 30 days and embark on police reforms. Police say then-Las Cruces Officer Christopher Smelser applied the chokehold after Valenzuela fled during a traffic stop in February. Valenzuela died at the scene. Smelser was later fired and faces a murder charge. His lawyer says the charge was a political move.
- ELECTION 2020-SENATE-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Mark Ronchetti, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate in New Mexico, has released his first general election commercial. The forward-looking ad released this week focuses on Ronchetti's support for law enforcement, fighting crime, and small businesses. The former television meteorologist vows in the ad to "never support defunding the police." Ronchetti is facing Democrat U.S. Senate hopeful Ben Ray Luján for New Mexico's open Senate seat. Earlier this month, Luján released a television ad touting his support for expanding Medicaid while pointing to his father's fight with cancer. The commercial highlighted Luján's father, Ben Luján, the late Speaker of the New Mexico House, and his access to insurance.
- ELECTION 2020-DNC-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The governor of a major state for energy production praised Joe Biden for his approach to combating climate change and supporting the clean energy sector. She made the comments in an online appearance Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham stood amid a solar panel array in northern New Mexico to assure voters that Biden would renew U.S. participation on cooperative international efforts to combat global warming if elected. Lujan Grisham has helped set aggressive mandates for increasing electricity production from renewable sources such as solar and wind. New Mexico state government remains heavily dependent on income from the oil sector.
- NEW MEXICO ENERGY FUTURE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Environmentalists have lined up behind the shift to renewable energy required by New Mexico's energy transition act. But some are challenging language in the law that they say derails due process and eliminates standards of regulatory review meant to protect customers. New Energy Economy and Citizens for Fair Rates and the Environment filed their brief this week with the state Supreme Court. Legal wrangling has been ongoing since the state adopted the landmark legislation in 2019. Aside from mandating more renewable energy, the law includes a financing mechanism that supporters say is necessary for the 2022 closure of a major coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is expressing hope that most elementary school students will be able to return to classrooms after Labor Day under a hybrid mode, citing declining statewide rates of coronavirus infection. In a live video interview with The Washington Post on Wednesday, Lujan Grisham said New Mexico is "crushing it" when it comes to meeting the state's criteria for reopening the economy. She expressed hope that K-5 classrooms can reopen just after Labor Day to rotating pods of students who also study remotely from home. State health officials on Wednesday announced an additional 174 coronavirus infections and six related deaths.
- RACIAL INJUSTICE-LAS CRUCES
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico city has agreed to pay a family more than $6 million in a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the choking death of a Latino man in February. The Las Cruces Sun News reported Wednesday that the city of Las Cruces reached the agreement July 17 and would pay the family of Antonio Valenzuela, who died at the hands of a former police officer. Police say then-Officer Christopher Smelser applied the chokehold after Valenzuela fled during a traffic stop. Smelser was later fired and faces a murder charge. His attorney Amy L. Orlando previously said the charge was a political move meant to grab headlines.
- ALBUQUERQUE-COLD CASE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities have identified a suspect in the killing of an Albuquerque woman outside of her home last November. The killing garnered national attention last month after President Donald Trump invited the woman's husband to the White House. The Albuquerque Journal reports authorities have focused on Luis Talamantes, a purported member of the Juaritos Maravilla street gang. He has been held in Texas since Jan. 21 on federal charges of illegal re-entry into the country. Talamantes has not been charged in the death of Colombian-immigrant Jacqueline Vigil. But Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and Police Chief Mike Geier said Wednesday the suspect is facing new firearms charges.
- PRINCIPAL-EMBEZZLEMENT
LOVINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A southeastern New Mexico school principal has been charged in a fraud case linked to his previous role as a superintendent. The Hobbs News-Sun reports Lovington Sixth Grade Academy principal Steve Barron was indicted last month in connection with an investigation into spending at Dora Schools. The New Mexico Attorney General's Office says Barron was involved in a scheme with a cleaning company. He is charged with making or permitting false public vouchers. Defense attorney Daniel R. Lindsey says Barron is innocent and was never arrested. Two others were charged in connection to the alleged embezzlement.