- MULTIPLE MURDERS-SUSPECT'S TRIAL
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico man accused of fatally shooting five people in 2017, including three family members, is set to go on trial this week for four of the killings. The Albuquerque Journal reports that jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe. Damian Herrera is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and other charges. Prosecutors say the trial is expected to last through Aug. 20. Authorities believe the 25-year-old Herrera killed a man a gas station at random after fatally shooting his mother, stepfather and brother in June 2017 at the family home in La Madera in Rio Arriba County.
- MONTANA-WILDFIRE FIGHTERS INJURED
JORDAN, Montana (AP) — Five federal firefighters remain hospitalized in stable condition after sustaining burn injuries when swirling winds blew a lightning-caused wildfire back on them in eastern Montana on Thursday. The five were building a defensive line at the Devil's Creek Fire in Garfield County when the weather shifted. Forest Service spokeswoman Punky Moore says two Forest Service firefighters based at the Quemado Ranger District at New Mexico's Gila National Forest were in stable condition and recovering at an undisclosed location. Forest Service spokesman Kari Cobb says three U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service crew members based in North Dakota also were in stable condition and recovering at an undisclosed burn center.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Sunday reported six new COVID-19 cases and four additional deaths. The latest numbers brought the total number of coronavirus-related cases on the vast reservation to 31,297 since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The number of known deaths rose to 1,372. On Saturday, the tribe had reported four new cases and no deaths for the sixth time in a seven days. The Navajo Nation recently relaxed restrictions to allow visitors to travel on the reservation and visit popular attractions like Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley. The reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. While cases are down, Navajo leaders are urging residents to continue wearing masks and get vaccinated.
- POLICE OFFICER CONVICTED
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A former New Mexico State Police Officer has been convicted of distributing marijuana intended for a 16-year-old girl he pulled over and a separate drugs-for-sex scheme. U.S. District Court records show 36-year-old Daniel Capehart of Bloomfield was convicted Thursday of two counts of distributing marijuana and a third count of distributing methamphetamine. The Albuquerque Journal reports that Capehart faces between five and 40 years in prison for a series of drug drops arranged by undercover officers and FBI agents in 2018, including two near schools.
- LAS CRUCES SHOOTING
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Lac Cruces police say two people were injured in a downtown shooting early Saturday. Both are expected to survive. Police told the Las Cruces Sun-News they received a call around 2 a.m. about a shooting near the Plaza de Las Cruces. Two people were taken to an area hospital. The gunman remained at large Saturday afternoon.
- ALBUQUERQUE STORM-BODIES RECOVERED
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A flash flood warning was issued Friday in the south Albuquerque area, a day after a fire official called the apparent drownings of three men in rushing water following thunderstorms the deadliest such incident in the agency's history. Fire and Rescue Lt. Tom Ruiz told the Albuquerque Journal the third body was found Thursday using a drone to scan a floodwater diversion channel not far from where would-be rescuers found two other bodies on Wednesday. The National Weather Service said Tuesday's storm dropped more than 1 inch of rain in some foothill areas in less than 15 minutes.
- ATTORNEY GENERAL-INVESTIGATION
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas' handling of a now-settled case involving a large solar company is raising concerns. Democratic Rep. Daymon Ely is asking State Auditor Brian Colon, who is a friend of Balderas, to investigate why the attorney general agreed to seal all documents in the case against Vivint Solar Inc. The lawmaker also wants to know why Balderas didn't pursue any specific restitution for thousands of customers as part of the settlement reached last fall. Balderas also is facing a separate ethics complaint in a multibillion-dollar utility merger case that will affect half a million customers in New Mexico.
- WESTERN WILDFIRES
BLY, Ore. (AP) — As fires in California threaten homes, crews in Oregon are making progress against the nation's largest wildfire. The Bootleg Fire is 40% surrounded after burning some 70 homes. In Montana, five firefighters remained hospitalized Friday, a day after a thunderstorm and swirling winds blew a lightning-caused wildfire back on them. No details were released on the extent of their injuries, but federal officials say all five are still being evaluated and treated. Three are U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service firefighters from North Dakota, and two are USDA Forest Service crew members out of New Mexico. In California, blowing embers from a blaze south of Lake Tahoe ignited a fast-moving spot fire, prompting a new evacuation.