- Democrat Melanie Stansbury wins US House race in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Democrat Melanie Stansbury has won election to Congress for New Mexico to fill a vacant seat previously held by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Stanbury prevailed Tuesday in a four-way race after campaigning in support of major initiatives of the Biden administration. Her victory shores up the Democratic majority in Congress ahead of 2022 midterm elections. Stansbury defeated third-term Republican state Sen. Mark Moores to fill an Albuquerque-based seat that has been held by Democrats since 2009. Her victory preserves an all-female House delegation for the state. Libertarian nominee Chris Manning and independent Aubrey Dunn Jr. campaigned unsuccessfully for the vacant 1st Congressional District seat.
- New Mexico offers largest single vaccination prize in US
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is betting big that cash can persuade people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, offering the largest single cash prize among the growing number of states staging lotteries to promote inoculations. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Tuesday that vaccinated residents who register on New Mexico's "Vax 2 the Max" portal can win prizes from a pool totaling $10 million that includes a $5 million grand prize. Ohio and California are also offering lotteries that have shown some success in boosting vaccination rates. California previously offered the largest single prize of $1.5 million. The prizes in New Mexico are coming from federal pandemic relief money.
- Alamogordo woman indicted for murder in 2017 homicide
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — An Alamogordo woman has been indicted for murder in the 2017 death of man whose body was found in a Mesilla ditch. The Third Judicial District Attorney's office announced Tuesday a grand jury in Dona Ana County indicted Bryanna Terry with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. She is also facing one count each of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Prosecutors say Dona Ana County Sheriff's detectives found more evidence through new technology. Terry and her boyfriend, Justin Bullock, are both accused of killing 18-year-old Dakota Lunceford. Lunceford's body was found in August 2017 by a farmer. His death was ruled a homicide.
- New Mexico fires burn over Memorial Day weekend amid drought
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Fires in New Mexico's Gila National Forest have burned nearly 70 square miles after lightning strikes earlier this month. Officials say fires are a part of the forest ecosystem, but they're looking out for threats to property, sites of cultural significance, and infrastructure across the state as fire season heats up. In Cuba, New Mexico, a small fire threatens oil and gas sites. In the Gila, the Johnson Fire is approaching the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, a treasured pre-Colombian settlement preserved in rock.
- More New Mexico schools commit to in-person school in fall
SANTA FE (AP) — New Mexico's more cautious school districts are signaling that learning will be in-person this fall. Urban school districts like Albuquerque and Santa Fe were slower to reopen doors this spring. Both districts have confirmed in recent weeks that classes will be held in-person this fall, with a few exceptions. Currently, around half of New Mexico's public school students have chosen to finish the semester remotely after state officials gave the green light to reopen. Students wanting to continue in remote learning this fall are being encouraged to register now for online-only schools in their districts, including in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
- Navajo Nation reports 2 COVID-19 cases, no additional deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation is reporting two new confirmed COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths. Tribal health officials say the latest figures released Sunday night pushed the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago to 30,841 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The known death toll now is 1,324. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez says people must continue getting vaccinated, wear face masks and practice social distancing while honoring soldiers on Memorial Day.
- More US citizens apprehended for moving drugs over border
PHOENIX (AP) — An increasing number of American citizens have been apprehended as they have tried to smuggle illegal drugs into the U.S. since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. For more than a year, the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border to nonessential traffic has limited the number of foreign citizens entering the U.S. by land. The rules have been extended until at least June 21. But Mexican authorities have allowed most U.S. citizens to walk or drive south across the border with relative ease. Law enforcement officials and drug trafficking experts say the border rules and their lopsided enforcement are driving the rise in U.S. citizens involved in borderland drug busts.
- Santa Fe police searching for suspect in shooting, car theft
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Police in Santa Fe are searching for a suspect who shot a man in the head outside a motel before fleeing the scene in a stolen car. They say officers were called to the GreenTree Inn around 1 p.m. Saturday on a report of gunfire. When officers arrived, they reported finding a 59-year-old man the victim bleeding in the parking lot. Medics rushed the man to a hospital where he's listed in critical condition. His name hasn't been released. Police say witnesses gave them a description of the suspect and the license plate number of the stolen vehicle.