- US agency looks to open rare lizard's habitat to oil and gas
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — Federal wildlife managers are considering offering permits to landowners in the Permian Basin that environmentalists say could further compromise habitat for a rare lizard found only in parts of southeastern New Mexico and West Texas. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be accepting comments on the proposal through Dec. 21. The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that the permits would be available to landowners who are participating in candidate conservation agreements with the federal government. The permits would cover situations when lizards are harmed or killed during oil and gas operations, sand mining, renewable energy development, agriculture or construction activities.
- New Mexico reports 1,800 more virus cases; some slowing seen
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico on Saturday reported over 1,800 additional known COVID-19 cases as the coronavirus virus showed signs of slowing. The state reported 1,803 additional known cases and 24 additional deaths, increasing the state's totals to 118,358 cases and 1,913 deaths. According to data from Johns Hopkins University and The COVID Tracking Project, seven-day rolling averages of daily new cases and COVID-19 testing positivity declined over the past two weeks, though the rolling average of new daily deaths increased slightly. New cases and testing positivity are considered leading indicators that can show trends later seen in hospitalizations and deaths.
- 'Lost connection' hampers Virgin Galactic's test flight
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Virgin Galactic test flight Saturday ended prematurely as the spacecraft's rocket motor failed to ignite. It then glided down safely to its landing site in southern New Mexico. The spacecraft's engine is supposed to ignite moments after the craft is released from a special carrier jet, sending the craft into a near-vertical climb towards the edge of space. Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier said in a statement that the spaceship's onboard computer that monitors the motor lost connection, triggering a fail-safe scenario that halted ignition. It was to be the first rocket-powered flight to space from Virgin Galactic's headquarters at Spaceport America.
- Navajo Nation reports 231 new COVID-19 cases, 12 more deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation health officials are reporting 231 new COVID-19 cases and 12 more deaths as they prepared to implement a weekend-long lockdown for reservation residents. The tribe has now reported 19,199 cases and 711 known deaths since the pandemic began. The lockdown that begins at 8 p.m. Friday will require everyone on the reservation except essential workers to stay at home. All businesses are are required to remain closed until the locldown ends at 5:30 a.m. Monday. The tribe also has a generral stay-at-home order in place through Dec. 28.
- Education advocates push for early teacher vaccinations
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Education advocates are calling for teachers and other school workers to get priority in the national coronavirus vaccine rollout expected to start next week. In New Mexico, state legislators are calling for educators teaching in-person to receive the vaccine alongside healthcare workers and first responders. In separate statements this week, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and Indiana Congressman Rep. Jim Banks are saying that teachers should be in the second phase of vaccinations, after health workers but ahead of the general public. Teacher union officials from the National Education Association agree teachers should get priority, but caution that even with a vaccine for adults, schools will have to practice social distancing, mask-wearing and frequent hand-washing.
- Indian Health Service plans for COVID vaccine distribution
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The federal agency that provides health care to Native Americans says it's expecting more than enough vaccines to protect all the people working in the hospitals and clinics that it funds. The Indian Health Service was treated much like a state for distribution purposes. It submitted a plan to vaccinate more than 2 million Native Americans and Alaska Natives. The agency expects to receive 22,425 doses of the Pfizer vaccine next week and 46,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine by the end of the year. Those doses will cover the more than 44,000 people who work at hundreds of facilities that are receiving vaccine allocations through the Indian Health Service.
- Auditor: New Mexico MLK panel failed to meet fiscal duties
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colón says the Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission and its executive director are failing to meet their fiscal responsibilities. Colón this week released audit findings, saying his office has yet to see what procedures have been implemented to address what he called critical issues. He said the shortcomings are concerning. Commission executive director Leonard Waites vowed to provide details of new policies and procedures by Dec. 21. The commission's problems go back years. The former executive director and two others were convicted of felony embezzlement and fraud for offenses that occurred from 2013 through 2015.
- Wisconsin Air National Guard pilot was decorated combat vet
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin Air National Guard fighter jet pilot who died when his F-16 crashed during a training exercise over Michigan's Upper Peninsula was a decorated combat veteran who had flown three tours of duty. The Madison-based 115th Fighter Wing said 37-year-old Air Force Capt. Durwood "Hawk" Jones from Albuquerque, New Mexico, joined the Air National Guard in 2011. He was a decorated combat veteran who was deployed to Japan, Korea and Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife and two children. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers ordered flags to be flown at half staff starting Saturday. The Air National Guard unit has grounded its pilots while the crash is investigated.