- New Mexico seeks court's protection from business lawsuits
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Written arguments are due as the New Mexico state Supreme Court weighs whether businesses deserve compensation for losses linked to state emergency health orders during the coronavirus pandemic. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has asked the court to decide the fate of at least 14 lawsuits filed in district courts, with crucial written arguments due Monday from her office. The lawsuits against the state allege that pandemic-related health orders constitute a regulatory "taking" and that businesses deserve just compensation under provisions of the state Constitution and health-emergency statutes.
- Vaccine alone won't save New Mexico hospitals, leaders say
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico hospital officials are updating the public on the overburdened healthcare system as cases and hospitalizations remain high. They're begging the public to cancel social visits, wear a mask and wash hands to drive down the COVID-19 cases. They're working to manage congested hospitals and exhausted medical staff. On Monday, the state's top insurance regulator announced directives aimed at safeguarding access to health insurance, COVID-19 testing and treatment. On directive puts a freeze on recent proposals by commercial insurers to exclude coverage for various risks presented by COVID-19. That delays any potential approval until the Legislature can meet next year.
- ID of man who found Rocky Mountains treasure chest revealed
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A grandson of the late author and art dealer Forrest Fenn has confirmed that a medical school student from Michigan found an over $1 million treasure chest that Fenn stashed in the wilds of Wyoming more than a decade ago. Shiloh Forrest Old wrote Monday on a website dedicated to the treasure that 32-year-old Jonathan "Jack" Stuef found the treasure in June. Stuef had met with Fenn soon after finding the treasure. Stuef also identified himself to Daniel Barbarisi for an article published Monday by Outside Magazine. Fenn left clues to finding the treasure in a poem in his memoir, "The Thrill of the Chase."
- New Mexico reports 1,250 new COVID-19 cases, 11 more deaths
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Health officials in New Mexico on Sunday reported 1,250 new COVID-19 cases with 11 additional deaths. The latest numbers pushed the state's totals since the pandemic began to 108,088 cases and 1,749 known deaths. On Saturday, New Mexico reported 1,925 cases and 32 deaths as the state continues to deal with a COVID-19 surge. Health officials had been warning that cases could go up in weeks following family gatherings over the Thanksgiving holiday and related travel. Meanwhile, the New Mexico Human Services Department has been appropriated $5 million by the state Legislature to provide emergency financial assistance to low income state residents who didn't get a federal COVID-19 tax relief economic impact payment.
- Navajo Nation reports 213 new COVID-19 cases, 15 more deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation health officials on Monday reported 213 new COVID-19 cases and 15 more deaths. In all, the tribe has now reported 18,163 cases and 682 knows deaths since the pandemic began. The Navajo Department of Health now has identified 77 communities with uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 from Nov. 20 to Dec. 3. Tribal officials say nearly all intensive care unit beds on the reservation are being are used as coronavirus cases surge. They warn that the tribe is nearing a point where health care workers will have to make difficult decisions about providing care with limited hospital resources. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said Sunday evening that there are few options to transport patients to other regional hospitals that are near full capacity.
- Concerns raised about costs of New Mexico Civil Rights Act
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A proposed New Mexico Civil Rights Act that would allow legal claims to be filed in state court over alleged infringements on free speech, freedom of religion and other constitutional rights is getting mixed reviews. Some members of the state's nine-member Civil Rights Commission are predicting that the proposed law would increase local governments' insurance costs and lead to law enforcement officers leaving New Mexico. The measure had its first vetting before a legislative panel earlier this week. It's expected to generate a contentious debate during the 60-day legislative session that begins in January.
- Native Americans critique data, surveys following election
PHOENIX (AP) — The lack of visibility of Native Americans in exit poll data on network television hit a nerve in Indian Country in the days following the election. Some Natives responded with an outcry while others turned to humor to address what many describe as a longstanding problem. Native Americans make up less than 2% of the U.S. population and often are listed as "other" or denoted with an asterisk in datasets. Even when surveyed, the results can be considered statistically insignificant because the sample size isn't large enough or the margin of error is too great to accurately reflect the population.
- Energy payments to states in US West plummet in 2020
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Payments to western U.S. states have plummeted for oil, natural gas and coal extracted by private companies from U.S. lands. The revenue drop comes after low crude prices and the pandemic idled drilling in many areas in 2020. Federal data shows payments to states for drilling on public lands and in U.S. waters were down by $630 million, or about 26%, in this fiscal year. New Mexico and Wyoming took the biggest fiscal hits. Companies pay the U.S government for the right to drill for fossil fuels on public lands and in U.S. waters. The money is split with the states where drilling occurs.