- New Mexico reports 30 additional virus deaths
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Department of Health reports 747 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 30 additional deaths. That brings the total to around 138,000 documented cases and around 2,300 related deaths since the start of the pandemic. Officials say around 750 people are hospitalized across New Mexico for COVID-19. Around 60,500 people diagnosed with COVID-19 are considered to have recovered by the New Mexico Department of Health.
- Some New Mexico students go to Texas for in-person education
HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico schools have ranked at the bottom for years and parents, lawmakers and others are concerned the state is worse off now with no in-person learning due to the pandemic. Superintendents from districts in southeastern New Mexico say a number of their students already have moved with their families to Texas, where in-person learning is allowed. Data from local districts and the state show thousands of students have switched to private schools, Bureau of Indian Education schools, or have moved out of state.
- Teen pilots airlift pets from crowding New Mexico shelters
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Student pilots in New Mexico are helping airlift pets from crowded animal shelters to increase their odds at adoption. KRQE reports that high school students in Albuquerque have flown pets from a shelter in Las Cruces as part of a "relay" to Aurora, Colorado, where there are fewer stray dogs compared to the demand for adoptions. Leaders of the Barkhouse animal shelter say they're running out of space and need to move pets or euthanize them. Recently, a 17-year-old pilot flew 24 dogs on a leg of the trip and said he was grateful for the opportunity to practice and get more flight hours.
- New Mexico to begin giving vaccinations at care facilities
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico will begin providing COVID-19 vaccinations to 15,000 people who work or live at long-term care facilities. State officials announced that beginning Sunday, the CVS and Walgreens pharmacy chains and Vida Pharmacy in Albuquerque will administer doses of the Moderna vaccine at nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the state. Cabinet Secretary Katrina Hotrum-Lopez of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department said the vaccinations at the facilities are a significant step toward protecting residents from COVID-19. The state on Saturday reported an additional 609 known COVID-19 cases and nine additional deaths, increasing the state's reported totals to 137,226 cases and 2,316 deaths.
- Part-time Las Vegas resident wins $15.5M jackpot
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A part-time Las Vegas resident has won a $15.5 million Megabucks slot machine jackpot. The winner, identified only as Kevin by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, gambled $40 on Christmas Eve and won the state's largest slot machine jackpot in eight years. Kevin splits his time between Las Vegas and Alaska. He had made a Christmas Eve visit to the Boyd Gaming casino. He said that he plans on using his winnings to support his business and promised to "pay it forward" with the money.
- Pandemic, historic election top New Mexico's 2020 headlines
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — From lockdowns in tribal communities to the economic and social fallout that has reverberated throughout New Mexico, the coronavirus pandemic dominated headlines in 2020. COVID-19 infections are on track to top 140,000 by the end of the year, while more than 2,200 New Mexicans have succumbed to the virus. The year also was marked by a historic election fueled by mail-in ballots. Questions about election integrity prompted legal challenges. Culture clashes resulted in monuments being toppled in some spots. New Mexico's push toward renewable energy, its persistently troubled education system and the end of a decade-long treasure hunt inspired by a New Mexico antiquities dealer also made news.
- FBI cold case posters being translated into Navajo language
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal authorities are incorporating the Navajo language in a bid to find leads in cold cases on or near the country's largest Native American reservation. KOAT-TV in Albuquerque reported Thursday that the FBI has begun a new initiative to release posters on decades-old homicides and missing persons cases that are translated into Navajo. The posters include details of an incident, physical descriptions of victims and photos. FBI spokesman Frank Fisher says the agency is hopeful that seeing details in their own language may jog people's memories. This initiative has been in the works for the past year.
- New Mexico governor urges safety during holiday season
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is making another plea for people to be safe this holiday season. She said in a tweet Thursday afternoon that her thoughts were with every New Mexican grieving the loss of a loved one. State health officials reported an additional 29 deaths Thursday, bringing the state's tally to 2,272 since the pandemic began. More than 1,900 confirmed COVID-19 infections also were reported for the day, pushing the overall statewide total to nearly 135,200. New infections had tapered off over the last week, but health officials were concerned that Christmas gatherings would lead to another surge.