- Biden caught between allies and critics on border policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is finding himself caught between a hard place and an even harder one when it comes to immigration. Biden embraced major progressive policy goals on the issue after he won the Democratic nomination, and he has begun enacting some. But his administration has been forced to confront unusually high numbers of migrants trying to enter the country along the U.S.-Mexico border, and the federal response has inflamed both critics and allies. The result is that immigration has become an early and unwanted distraction for an administration that would rather focus on the pandemic, the economy and other policy priorities.
- Election nomination process delayed amid redistricting
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico election regulators are delaying the initial nomination process for congressional and state legislative candidates for as long as three months to allow more time for the political redistricting process. The first step toward running for public office is to gather signatures on petition forms from registered voters. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver announced Tuesday that petition forms will be available only for candidates aspiring to statewide office on Oct. 1. Other candidates seeking districted offices such legislative seats are likely to wait until January 2022 for the forms to begin gathering signatures to run for office next next year.
- Cowboys for Trump founder survives county recall campaign
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin has prevailed against efforts to recall him from office as a county commissioner in southern New Mexico. Recall committee spokesman Scott Fredrick on Tuesday evening said a petition drive collected 1,229 signatures from registered voters and that it wasn't enough to trigger a recall election by state law. Amid the recall effort, Griffin has burnishing his image as a God-fearing "peaceful patriot" who stands in solidarity with about 70 jailed defendants linked to the Capitol siege. A new biographical film about Griffin is being distributed by Trump-allied attorney Sidney Powell.
- Navajo Nation reports 37 more COVID-19 cases, but no deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported 37 more COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the second consecutive day. The latest numbers pushed the tribe's totals to 33,840 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the virus since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The known death toll remains at 1,442. Based on cases from Sept. 10-23, the Navajo Department of Health issued an advisory for 40 communities due to an uncontrolled spread of COVID-19. The tribe's reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Navajo officials are urging people to get vaccinated, wear masks while in public and minimize their travel.
- Police: UFC star Jon Jones dented police SUV with his head
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police in Las Vegas say former UFC champion Jon Jones dented a patrol vehicle with his head during his arrest last week on a domestic battery charge for allegedly grabbing his fiancée by her hair. An arrest report made public Tuesday said Jones' fiancée left their room at Caesars Palace with the couple's three children. Police said she had apparent blood on her clothing when officers interviewed her about the pre-dawn altercation last Friday. The report says Jones "became irate" when he was stopped by officers outside the hotel and smashed his head on the police SUV, leaving a medium dent and chipped paint. Jones is free on bail pending an Oct. 26 court date.
- Family files lawsuit over deadly balloon crash in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The family of a passenger on a hot air balloon that crashed and killed five people in Albuquerque in June is suing the estate of the deceased pilot and the companies that operated the commercial balloon. Martin Martinez's family filed the lawsuit last week in state district court. It names Hot Air Balloonatics LLC, Sventato LLC, and the estate of the pilot, Nicholas Meleski. The suit accuses Meleski of piloting the balloon in a reckless manner. A Federal Aviation Administration report shows the pilot had marijuana and cocaine in his blood and urine. The National Transportation Safety Board hasn't ruled on the cause of the crash.
- Are New Mexico students learning? Hard to say without tests
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico education officials say not enough students were tested last spring to gauge learning loss during the pandemic. All states skipped testing in 2020 when the pandemic hit. New Mexico also got a so-called "accountability wavier" allowing it to skip testing last spring, even as schools were opening up. It's the third year in a row that comparable education data will not be available to policymakers. That's because the New Mexico Public Education Department has changed standardized tests twice since 2018, and didn't implement them during the pandemic. The next tests are planned for spring of 2022, months after the Legislature sets the $3 billion education budget.
- Official: New Mexico ranchers capture Texas homicide suspect
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a manhunt for a Texas homicide suspect ended Tuesday in southeastern New Mexico when ranchers detained the man at gunpoint and handed him over to sheriff's deputies. Officials said 29-year-old Kionne Lewis of Midland was captured north of Roswell in an area where officers had searched for Lewis late Monday after he abandoned his vehicle during a pursuit from Texas late Monday. Chaves County Undersheriff Charles Yslas said Lewis had a weapon on him when captured but nobody was injured. According to KOSA-TV, Lewis was sought in a Midland shooting in which a woman was killed and a man was wounded.