- POLICE OFFICER KILLED-CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has affirmed the convictions of a man in the fatal shooting of an Albuquerque police officer in 2015. In a unanimous opinion Thursday, the state's high court rejected Davon Lymon's arguments on appeal challenging his convictions of first-degree murder, evidence tampering, forgery, receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. In 2019, Lymon was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for the murder plus 11½ years for the other charges. Police officer Daniel Webster was shot as he tried to handcuff Lymon, who was stopped while driving a motorcycle that police dispatchers reported was stolen.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Thursday reported three new confirmed COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths. Tribal health officials said the latest figures pushed the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago to 30,815 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The known death toll now is 1,318. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said people must continue getting vaccinated, wear face masks and practice social distancing.
- THREATENING BIDEN-ARREST
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A defense lawyer for a New Mexico man accused of threatening to kill President Joe Biden says texts the man sent were taken out of context and were "simply political expression." According to court records, 39-year-old John Benjamin Thornton of Las Cruces was arrested Monday. A criminal complaint alleged he violated federal law by threatening in communications in interstate commerce to injure another person. Assistant Public Defender Bernadette Sedillo said Thursday that Thornton denies the allegations. Sedillo also said the messages cited in the complaint were taken out of context and represented political expression, not ""a true threat made by Mr. Thornton."
- EDUCATION FUNDING-MISSED DEADLINE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Public Education Department has missed a deadline to submit school funding data to the federal government by three days, which could cost the state millions of dollars. The Albuquerque Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Education has now asked the state to transfer more than $37.5 million from a state reserve fund by the end of the month to make distributions to local education agencies. The shortfall came after the state Public Education Department in March 2020 missed a deadline to submit an application seeking federal approval to take credit for federal aid in the state's public schools funding.
- URANIUM CLEANUP
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. nuclear regulators are considering a proposal to transfer 1 million cubic yards of waste from a former uranium mine in western New Mexico to a mill site less than a mile away as part of a cleanup effort. But indigenous activists and nuclear watchdogs say the proposal doesn't go far enough in protecting the area and surrounding Navajo communities from more contamination. The deadline to comment on a draft environmental review of the proposal is Thursday. It will be up to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to make a final decision after considering the comments.
- WATER USAGE RECOMMENDATION
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — City officials in New Mexico have approved a measure urging residents in Farmington to reduce their water usage by 10% as drought conditions continue throughout San Juan County. The Farmington Daily Times reported that the advisory, which asks residents to voluntarily reduce their water use to ease demand on the city's water system, will go into effect June 1. City officials said there are several ways residents can reduce their water consumption, including reducing landscaping and lawn watering, avoiding washing hard surfaces such as sidewalks, repairing indoor and outdoor leaks promptly and limiting shower time and laundry usage.
- BIDEN-EMHOFF
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, is campaigning in New Mexico on behalf of a Democratic congressional candidate. Thursday marked his first such trip on behalf of a candidate. Emhoff appeared with Melanie Stansbury, the Democrat running in next week's special election for New Mexico's 1st Congressional District. They were joined by local labor unions and other supporters. The congressional seat came open after Rep. Deb Haaland became President Joe Biden's Interior Department secretary. Biden has endorsed Stansbury. The president and Harris have largely stayed away from political events since taking office.
- 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.