- BUDGET SURPLUS-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Tuition-free college and more spending to secure abandoned oil wells are among the priorities from New Mexico's Democratic governor on state spending amid a windfall in state income linked to federal pandemic relief and petroleum production. September marks the outset of the Legislature's grueling budget writing process in a state still grappling with high rates of unemployment and childhood poverty.
- FATAL SHOOTING SUSPECTS-LAS CRUCES
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Police have arrested a 28-year-old suspect in a fatal shooting last month in Las Cruces and are asking for the public's help in locating a second suspect. Las Cruces police said Tuesday they arrested Hector Victor Calderon on Saturday. They charged him with one count of open murder, two counts of conspiracy and one count of tampering with evidence in the killing of 40-year-old Ezekiel Diaz on Aug. 16. They said they have issued an arrest warrant on the same charges for a 29-year-old man. They warned Tuesday that the second suspect may be armed and should be considered dangerous.
- OFFICER INVOLVING SHOOTING-MORIARTY
MORIARTY, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 46-year-old suspect who fired at a SWAT team during a standoff with Albuquerque police. The victim who fired multiple shots at officers responding to a domestic violence call at a residence in Moriarty Monday night was identified as Cimmeron Christy of Moriarty. He was pronounced dead at the scene from his injuries sometime after 10 p.m. No deputies or officers were injured. Police said Tuesday state police, Torrance County deputies and an Albuquerque Police Department SWAT team were attempting to negotiate a peaceful surrender when Christy fired the shots toward the officers and they returned fire.
- OIL GAS-POLLUTION REGULATION
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Advocates for the oil and gas industry and the environment are at odds over the latest draft of proposed regulations to tamp down on smog-causing pollution. The Albuquerque Journal reports a New Mexico Environment Department panel will hear the agency's proposed new rules at a hearing later this month. Industry stakeholders think these new regulations would put the state's budget and hundreds of jobs at risk. Some of the proposed rules include professional engineers certifying emissions data from oil and gas operators and more equipment inspections. Environmental activists fear it doesn't go far enough. Oil and gas advocates say it's too expensive to implement some of these changes.
- NEW MEXICO-AFGHANISTAN-REFUGEES
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Republican congresswoman is seeking more information on the vetting process for Afghan refugees and emphasizing security concerns as she embarks on a tour of resettlement operations at an Air Force base on the outskirts of her hometown in southern New Mexico. U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell was scheduled Tuesday for a tour of the resettlement operations at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo. In a commitment to help people who aided the American war effort and others who are particularly vulnerable under Taliban rule, at least 50,000 Afghans are expected to be admitted into the United States following the fall of Kabul.
- REPEAT OFFENDER ARRESTED
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police have arrested a suspect in a burglary at houses in northwest Albuquerque who has been arrested more than two dozen times on a variety of sex, fraud and burglary charges in New Mexico, Nevada and Washington. Police said Tuesday 30-year-old Morgan Fuller has been arrested in New Mexico six times since June 11. The the most recent was Saturday on two counts each of burglary and larceny in connection with the theft of two electrical breakers removed from the two houses in Albuquerque. Earlier this summer, he was arrested on battery, larceny, shoplifting charges in Bernalillo County, where he's been booked into the county jail 17 times.
- SANTA FE-SWASTIKA FOUND
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Police are investigating after a Santa Fe man, who is Jewish, found a swastika spray-painted on a wall outside his apartment. Jeff Hornstein told the Santa Fe New Mexican he and his wife saw it upon returning home from dinner Saturday night. He said the graffiti wasn't there when they left. Police said they can't call it a hate crime until they talk to a suspect. Hornstein, who teaches English and works with immigrant communities, said he doesn't plan to have it painted over right away so people can see anti-hate incidents still happen. He also filed a report with the Anti-Defamation League.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported 19 additional COVID-19 cases and no deaths as of Monday. The tribe has seen 32,974 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,414 deaths from the virus since the pandemic began. Navajo officials are urging people to get vaccinated, wear masks while in public and minimize their travel. Officials say all Navajo Nation executive branch employees will need to be fully vaccinated against the virus by the end of September or submit to regular testing. The new rules apply to full, part-time and temporary employees. The tribe's reservation, the country's largest, covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.