- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State officials say a Republican lawmaker in the New Mexico House of Representatives and four employees at the state Capitol have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week. House Republican spokesperson Matthew Garcia-Sierra said in an email on Thursday that he was "informed one of our members tested positive, and I am also aware that there were four other positive cases." Garcia-Sierra said Republican leaders are speaking with the state Department of Health about how to proceed. He also said Republican lawmakers and staff members have been told to stay home on Friday. Republican House Minority Leader Jim Townsend said the male lawmaker, who was not named, is asymptomatic and doing fine.
- STRONG WINDS-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQU, N.M. (AP) — Forecasters say a storm system will bring strong to potentially damaging winds to New Mexico's central highlands Friday night and Saturday. The National Weather Service said gusts could reach 65 mph (105 kph) in the affected area that includes Clines Corner along Interstate 40 on the north and the Sacramento Mountains near Alamogordo on the south. The weather service said blowing dust could cause dangerous travel conditions due to blowing dust and reducing visibility. Elsewhere in New Mexico, light snow accumulations are possible across northern and western New Mexico, according to the weather service.
- NEW MEXICO-COAL PLANT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Environmentalists are challenging an effort by New Mexico's largest electric provider to abandon its interest in the coal-fired Four Corners Power Plant ahead of schedule. In a filing with state regulators, they say the plan would violate provisions of the state's landmark energy law. The groups argue that the statute prohibits fossil fuel-fired plants from being reassigned or sold as a means of complying with renewable energy standards. Public Service Co. of New Mexico earlier this month filed an application with regulators, seeking to offload its 13% ownership share. The plant provides power to customers in New Mexico and Arizona.
- PRIVATE PRISONS-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is sticking with its approach to contracting with privately operated prisons — and possibly phasing them out as time and money allow. State Corrections Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero on Thursday spoke out in opposition to a bill that would make it unlawful for the state and local governments to contract with private prisons across New Mexico. The bill from Democratic legislators including Rep. Angelica Rubio of Las Cruces would cut loose three private prison operators that oversee four New Mexico facilities — and nearly half of state inmates. The proposal responds to calls for more accountability in the criminal justice system. Tafoya Lucero says the proposal is impractical.
- LEGISLATURE-INDIAN EDUCATION
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Indian education advocates in the New Mexico legislature are proposing $153 million in education funding as part of the so-called "tribal remedy framework." Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has suggested around $15 million. Despite the gap, Legislators serving large tribal constituents say the administration is starting to embrace tribal remedies and address problems in the education system highlighted in recent lawsuits. State courts have found current funding structures to be deficient and discriminatory, harming Native American, Hispanic, and low-income students. A recent ruling in federal court against state education funding practices was met with a change of tone by state officials.
- LEGISLATURE-COMMUNITY SOLAR
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A proposal that would allow community solar programs to be established in New Mexico has cleared its first legislative hurdle despite questions from some lawmakers and concerns among investor-owned utilities. The bill cleared the Senate Conservation Committee on a party-line vote Thursday. Democrats said it would complement state mandates for generating electricity from renewable resources by expanding access to solar energy for businesses and residents who are unable to put up their own solar panels. Republican lawmakers said there are still uncertainties about the costs for utility customers. Some lawmakers also said the bill should include a preference for New Mexico-based solar providers.
- UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE-SOLDIERS
FORT BLISS, Texas (AP) — The U.S. Army says eleven soldiers were sickened after ingesting an unauthorized substance during a field training exercise at Fort Bliss in Texas. A statement released Friday says two of the soldiers are in critical condition and all are being treated at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, where they have been since Thursday afternoon. Fort Bliss says the soldiers "fell ill after consuming a substance acquired outside of authorized food supply distribution channels." It's unclear what the substance was. The Army says those sickened include "one warrant officer, two noncommissioned officers and eight enlisted members."
- STAMP SCAM
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A man has been sentenced in Florida to six years and six months in federal prison for a $400,000 nationwide postal stamp scam. Court records show that 49-year-old Edward Morgan was sentenced Wednesday in Tampa federal court. He pleaded guilty in September 2019 to theft of government funds. As part of his sentence, Morgan must repay $405,935.76, the proceeds of the theft. From November 2016 until his May 2019 arrest in New Mexico, prosecutors say Morgan used fictitious checks to purchase stamps at hundreds of U.S. Post Office locations in Florida and other states. Prosecutors said Morgan resold the stamps to unsuspecting third parties, usually businesses or stamp traders.