- IMMIGRANT FAMILY REUNITED
Families separated at Mexico border build new American life
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Keldy Mabel Gonzales Brebe and her teenage sons are trying to rebuild their lives together. They were separated under a former "zero-tolerance" policy to criminally prosecute adults who entered the country illegally. Now one of the first families reunited under President Joe Biden's administration, they live in Philadelphia. Starting over means daily hugs and kisses and the relief of seeing each other each morning. But it also means trying to make ends meet and living with the scars of the past.
- Navajo Nation reports 2 new COVID-19 cases, but no deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Monday reported two new confirmed COVID-19 cases but no additional deaths. Tribal health officials say the latest figures pushed the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago to 30,780 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The known death toll remained at 1,301. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez reiterated for people to continue getting vaccinated, wearing face masks and social distancing.
- Grim western fire season starts much drier than record 2020
Scientists say the outlook for the western U.S. fire season is grim because it's starting far drier than 2020's record-breaking fire year. Measurements show soil and plants are much drier, making trees and brush more likely to ignite and fire to spread. A megadrought fueled by climate change is part of the problem. From the Rockies westward, April was the second driest on record. Now more than 77% of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico is in either extreme or exceptional drought. Juniper trees are dying, and fire officials say their canopies of dead needles are like having gasoline out in the national forests.
- Watchdog: US forced deported parents to leave kids behind
WASHINGTON (AP) — A government watchdog says the Trump administration forced migrant parents to leave the United States without their children under its family separation policy. The findings contradict claims by officials that the parents were willingly leaving them behind. The Department of Homeland Security Inspector General said in a report released Monday that it found at least 348 cases in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement had no records showing migrants wanted to leave their children in the U.S. It also found some cases in which agency officials deported parents even while knowing they wanted to take their children with them.
- Plan to relocate wolves stirs debate in rural New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Monday marks the deadline for people to comment on plans by U.S. wildlife managers to relocate a pair of wolves and their pups to one of Ted Turner's properties in New Mexico. Environmentalists are pushing for the release, but ranchers have concerns given the pair's previous conflicts with livestock. The proposal for letting the wolves go on the Ladder Ranch comes as federal managers try to boost genetic diversity among the wild population in New Mexico and Arizona. Ranchers argue that there's nothing to keep the endangered predators from wandering back into other parts of the Gila National Forest.
- International firm to buy power from New Mexico wind farms
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A California-based renewable energy company that is building a collection of wind farms in New Mexico says an international firm has signed a 15-year deal to purchase power from the development. Pattern Energy announced the agreement with Uniper on Monday. Pattern Energy did not disclose the value of the transaction with Uniper but said it will involve up to 219,000 megawatt hours a year, or enough to supply electricity to more than 20,000 homes annually. Spanning Guadalupe, Lincoln and Torrance counties, the wind project is being developed in conjunction with a transmission line that will be capable of funneling wind power to broader western markets.
- Navajo Nation reports 11 new COVID-19 cases, 2 more deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported 11 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and two additional deaths. Tribal health officials said the latest figures released Sunday pushed the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago to 30,778 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The known death toll now is at 1,301. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez reiterated for people to continue getting vaccinated, wearing face masks and social distancing. "Let's help our frontline warriors by staying the course and continuing to protect ourselves," Nez said in a statement.
- City of Albuquerque collects 166 guns in a buyback program
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The city of Albuquerque has collected nearly 170 guns in a buyback program designed to get the weapons off the street. Albuquerque City Council member Cynthia Borrego says lots of people surrendered their guns and she saw knives also being surrendered along with ammunition. People received gift cards in exchange for unwanted guns. Albuquerque TV station KOB reported that each returned gun was checked into a police database to see if it was stolen or part of a crime. Each firearm is destroyed so it doesn't end up in the wrong hands. Albuquerque police say two of the 166 guns collected by the end of Saturday's event turned out to be stolen.