- Navajo Nation reports 7 new COVID-19 cases and no deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Monday reported seven new confirmed COVID-19 cases, but no deaths. Tribal health officials say the latest figures pushed the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago to 30,722 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The known death toll remains at 1,293. After four days of no reported coronavirus-related deaths, tribal health officials said there were five deaths Friday and one on both Saturday and Sunday. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez says more than half of the reservation's adult population has been vaccinated, but people still need to stay home as much as possible, wear masks and avoid large gatherings.
- District Attorney Raúl Torrez to run for attorney general
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The district attorney for Albuquerque is seeking the Democratic nomination for state attorney general in the 2022 election. Bernalillo County District Attorney Raúl Torrez on Monday announced his candidacy to become New Mexico's top public prosecutor. Torrez says he's been an aggressive and innovative prosecutor in the midst of a crime crisis in the Albuquerque area, where homicides are being reported this year at a record pace. State Auditor Brian Colón also is seeking the Democratic nomination. The Republican Party says it's in discussions with possible candidates. Hector Balderas is wrapping up his second term as New Mexico's top prosecutor and consumer advocate.
- Santa Fe schools shelter in place due to weather warning
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Santa Fe Public Schools are sheltering in place after a warning of severe weather. District spokesman Cody Dynarski says the shelter-in-place order was issued around 1:40 p.m. Monday following a severe weather warning from the National Weather Service. Thunder, rain, and hail are pummeling the area. The weather service alert also warns of the possibility of tornadoes, not recorded in the county since 2017. National Weather Service records first documented a tornado in Santa Fe way back in 1883. There have been about five since, with some touching down for only minutes.
- 24 hikers rescued in New Mexico's Organ Mountains
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a group of 24 hikers who became separated, disoriented and stranded in the Organ Mountains were rescued by the Las Cruces Fire Department and other law enforcement officers. The hiking group from El Paso, Texas, was trying what authorities called an ambitious attempt to scale The Needle — one of the most difficult ascents in the mountain range. The group began the guided hike before dawn Sunday. Authorities say some fell behind, splintered onto different trails and became disoriented. The hikers became stranded once the sun set. One woman was injured and had to be carted down by rescuers.
- New Mexico creates database of legacy uranium mines
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has created a database of uranium mines around the state, including those that are inactive and have been abandoned. The database was put together by the state Mining and Minerals Division. Officials said Monday it's intended to give people quick access to information from a variety of sources. Division Director Jerry Schoeppner called it a "monumental task" to bring together the full scope of legacy mining in New Mexico. State officials said thousands of abandoned mines exist in New Mexico and the dashboard allows people to search by address or select points on the map to learn more about a given area.
- Balloon Fiesta task force mulls ideas for more landing sites
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A task force is recommending buying land to expand potential landing sites for the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The Albuquerque Journal reports the task force's findings are at the center of a resolution that Albuquerque City councilors are expected to pass Monday. The resolution would authorize a working group to carry out recommendations from the Balloon Landing Task Force. Among them is spending potentially as much as $70 million on a vast tract of land that could also serve as a sports practice field or a recreational venue. The task force has spent the past two years reviewing the issue.
- Groups call for reintroduction of jaguars in US Southwest
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Environmental groups and scientists with two universities want U.S. wildlife managers to consider reintroducing jaguars to the American Southwest. In a recently published paper, they say habitat destruction, highways and segments of the U.S.-Mexico border wall mean that natural reestablishment of the large cats in the region would be unlikely over the next century without human intervention. Jaguars are currently found in 19 countries, but they've lost about half of their historic range. Several individual male jaguars have been spotted in Arizona and New Mexico over the last two decades, but there's no evidence of breeding pairs establishing territories beyond northern Mexico.
- Second Amendment sanctuaries facing 1st court test in Oregon
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The first court test of whether local governments can ban police from enforcing certain gun laws is playing out in a rural Oregon county. It's one of a wave of U.S. counties declaring itself a Second Amendment sanctuary. The measure Columbia County voters narrowly approved last year prohibits local officials from enforcing most federal and state gun laws. Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions have been adopted by some 1,200 local governments in states like Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida. The group Everytown for Gun Safety is among those urging a judge to invalidate the ordinance that's been divisive in the county outside Portland.