- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Wednesday reported six new confirmed COVID-19 cases and four 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 30,793 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The known death toll now is 1,306. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez says people must continue getting vaccinated, wear face masks and practice social distancing.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported six new confirmed COVID-19 cases and one additional death. Tribal health officials says the latest figures pushed the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago to 30,785 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The known death toll remained at 1,302. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez reiterated for people to continue getting vaccinated, wearing face masks and social distancing.
- SUSPENDED SCHOOL BOARD
LOS LUNAS, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Public Education Department has suspended the members of the Los Lunas school board. State education officials on Wednesday said the decision was prompted by evidence that some members allegedly violated ethical standards, the state Public School Code and procurement and public access laws. The agency said it first warned the board about violations in November and that training followed in January and February. Superintendent Arsenio Romero said he couldn't comment, other than to say the school board is an integral part of the success of a school district and student outcomes and it's important that everyone is held to high standards.
- LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. wildlife managers are proposing federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday said it will consider public comments and scientific information over the coming months before making a final determination. Once listed as a threatened species, the chicken's habitat spans parts of five states — including a portion of the oil-rich Permian Basin. Environmentalists have been pushing to reinstate protections. Landowners and the oil and gas industry have been working on voluntary conservation programs. Still, federal officials say threats remain. They are proposing to list the northern population as threatened and those in eastern New Mexico and the southern Texas Panhandle as endangered.
- TEACHER BONUSES-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The superintendent of New Mexico's largest school district is backtracking on a promise to channel federal pandemic relief toward employee bonuses. The proposed payments of at least $6 million were thrown in doubt Wednesday after state auditors warned the bonuses could violate state constitutional provisions against giving away taxpayer dollars. Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Scott Elder said Tuesday that the constitution may prevent the district from delivering promised payments of $1,000 to full-time teachers and staff and $500 for part-timers in recognition of work since the outbreak of the pandemic. Payments were scheduled for about 12,000 employees.
- WILDFIRE-FIREFIGHTER INJURED
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Officials in Montana have identified a wildland firefighter who was critically injured while fighting a wildfire on private land in southwestern New Mexico. The Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana says Tim Hart of Cody, Wyoming was injured Monday in the Animas Mountains. Forest spokeswoman Marna Daley says Hart was injured in a hard landing after parachuting into rocky terrain. Hart is a member of an elite Hotshot crew based in West Yellowstone, Montana. The U.S. Forest Service said Hart was hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday in El Paso, Texas.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Health officials in New Mexico have added more than 110 coronavirus-related deaths to the state death toll on Monday after completing an audit of public health records. The Albuquerque Journal reported that the state Department of Health added 114 deaths to the final report released last week. All but one death was added because of the audit. Department spokesman David Morgan said the death toll was adjusted to 4,245 virus-related deaths after the audit identified inaccurate data and addressed incomplete information, including asking hospitals in Texas that were handling COVID-19 patients from New Mexico.
- MARIJUANA-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has taken its first major regulatory steps toward legal production of recreational marijuana with the publication of a long list of proposed rules. The proposals released Tuesday for cannabis businesses outline fees, quality controls, audit requirements and criminal background checks for producers. A public comment period on the rules will culminate with a June 29 hearing as the state Regulation and Licensing Department takes control of New Mexico's legalization effort. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the legalization bill last month. It calls for recreational marijuana sales to start no later than April 1, 2022.