- AP-US-HAITIAN-MIGRANTS-BORDER-CONVERGENCE
DEL RIO, Texas (AP) — A confluence of factors caused the sudden arrival of thousands of mostly Haitian migrants on the Texas border this month. Descriptions from Haitian migrants and advocates in contact with them reveal a phenomena produced by confusion over the Biden administration's policies after it extended protections for the 150,000 Haitians living in the United States this spring. They say it also reflects the power of social media and platforms like WhatsApp, used by migrants to share tips and information that often gets distorted and can quickly go viral within an immigrant community and change migration flows.
- HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Health care access is getting substantially cheaper on the state's health insurance exchange though a combination of state tax proceeds, federal pandemic aid and a growing pool of subscribers. An update on pandemic relief spending from the Legislature's budget and accountability office on Wednesday shows that the health exchange plans to use new federal pandemic relief funds to reduce monthly insurance payments in 2022. About 45,000 residents of New Mexico rely on the exchange for individual and family health care needs, with federal and state subsidies directed at low- and moderate-income participants that account for a majority of the people enrolled.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Wednesday reported 52 more COVID-19 cases and five additional deaths. The latest numbers pushed the tribe's totals to 33,637 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the virus since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The known death toll now is at 1,436. Navajo officials are urging people to get vaccinated, wear masks while in public and minimize their travel. Based on cases from Sept. 3-16, the Navajo Department of Health issued an advisory for 36 communities due to uncontrolled spread of COVID-19. Officials say all Navajo Nation executive branch employees will need to be fully vaccinated against the virus by the end of this month or submit to regular testing.
- AP-US-RADIATION-COMPENSATION
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A bipartisan group of lawmakers is renewing a push to expand a U.S. compensation program for people who were exposed to radiation following uranium mining and nuclear testing carried out during the Cold War. Advocates have been trying for years to bring awareness to the lingering effects of nuclear fallout surrounding the Trinity Site in southern New Mexico and on the Navajo Nation, where more than 30 million tons of uranium ore were extracted over decades to support U.S. nuclear activities. There are other sites around the American West that could be added to the list of places affected by fallout and radiation exposure. The program is set to expire next July.
- DEADLY BALLOON CRASH
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A report from the Federal Aviation Administration shows the pilot of a hot air balloon that crashed in New Mexico in June had marijuana and cocaine in his system. Pilot Nicholas Meleski died along with his four passengers after the balloon descended, hit power lines and crashed into a busy intersection. Meleski's family tells Albuquerque television station KOB that they are evaluating a copy of the toxicology report and asking for privacy. The National Transportation Safety Board has yet to rule on a cause of the crash.
- PANDEMIC RELIEF-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State agencies spent federal pandemic aid at a furious pace during the month of August, channeling about $630 million in efforts to bolster unemployment reserves, provide emergency housing assistance and promote COVID-19 vaccination efforts. The Legislature's budget and accountability office said Wednesday that New Mexico agencies spent more than half its $10.5 billion share of federal relief tied to the pandemic. Of the $6.3 billion spent so far, about 70% has gone toward unemployment benefits. State finance officials are racing against a deadline at the end of September to distribute at least $104 million in federal rental assistance to residential landlords and tenants or risk forfeiting additional money.
- AP-US-COLORADO-RIVER-DROUGHT
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The U.S. government has released projections that indicate an even more troubling outlook for a river that serves 40 million people in the American West. The grim outlook Wednesday from the Bureau of Reclamation comes after it recently declared the first-ever shortage on the Colorado River. That means Arizona, Nevada and Mexico get less water than normal next year. By 2025, the agency says there's a 66% chance Lake Mead, a key reservoir for river water, will fall to a level where California's supply also will be reduced. The projections also say hydropower could be affected as early as next July at Glen Canyon Dam, which holds back Lake Powell, another key reservoir.
- EDUCATION LEARNING LOSS
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico legislative report suggests that elementary school student proficiency in reading and math has fallen significantly since the coronavirus pandemic began. The report says that the proficiency level dropped from 37% in the 2018-2019 school year to 31% in the 2020-2021 school year. Legislative analysts say in the report issued Wednesday that testing data from the spring is imperfect because of low participation and that the new proficiency level may actually be lower than 31%. The report has generated discussions among legislators about the hours or days that children are in school.