- Brief outage in Albuquerque after 2 balloons hit power lines
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of hot air balloons filled the Sunday morning sky over Albuquerque on the second day of the Balloon Fiesta, but two balloons hit power lines and caused a brief outage for some Public Service Company of New Mexico customers. The company said 1,230 of its customers were without electricity for a couple hours after two hot air balloons hit power lines in the north valley. No injuries were reported. Viewer photos sent to Albuquerque TV station KOB showed one balloon's envelope draped over the power lines near Daniel Circle while another balloon hit power lines closer to 2nd Street and Ranchitos. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta returned this year after a pandemic hiatus. The nine-day event began Saturday.
- Albuquerque police: Man arrested in death of young daughter
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police in Albuquerque say they have arrested a man in connection with his young daughter's death. They say 32-year-old Michael David Garcia was booked into jail early Saturday on suspicion of child abuse resulting in death. It was unclear Sunday if Garcia has a lawyer yet who can speak on his behalf. Police say officers responded around 3 p.m. Friday to a mobile home park in northeast Albuquerque where a 2-year-old girl was found dead. Authorities say the girl appeared emaciated and had visible bruising to the majority of her body as well as burns to her back thigh and hands.
- Navajo Nation reports no COVID-19 deaths for 3rd day in row
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported 35 more COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the third consecutive day. The latest numbers released Saturday pushed the tribe's totals to 34,106 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the virus since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The known death toll remains at 1,447. 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.
- Mass ascension launches balloon event after COVID-19 hiatus
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of hot-air balloons created a colorful tapestry against a blue sky in New Mexico's largest city, kicking off a nine-day annual event that was canceled last year due to the pandemic. Saturday morning's mass ascension was the first of five scheduled for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The 2020 fiesta was canceled as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. Organizers say more than 540 balloons are registered for this year's event. Fiesta organizers say they won't be checking for vaccination cards. But they noted precautions are being taken to preserve social distancing and provide access to hand sanitizer and hand-washing stations.
- Less than a third of NMSU students submit vaccination proof
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State University says less than a third of its students submitted proof of vaccination for COVID-19 by a Thursday deadline to otherwise undergo weekly testing or leave the university. Officials said Friday that while 72.3% of NMSU employees provided proof of vaccination, only 30% of students did. Officials said it's not clear how many students who didn't submit proof of vaccination by the deadline plan to submit weekly test results. Officials say the university will continue its outreach efforts. Failure to submit vaccination information or weekly test results can result in student suspension or staff termination.
- Police: Murder charge sought after woman set on fire dies
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say they're seek a murder charge for a man now that a woman has died of injuries suffered when she was doused with gasoline and set on fire Sept. 24. Police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said 42-year-old Renee Benally died while being treated at a Texas burn center. Gallegos said police will work with the District Attorney's Office to charge Sedillo with murder. He was initially charged with aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm. An attorney listed as representing Sedillo did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations against Sedillo.
- Arizona reports 95 additional virus deaths, 2,942 more cases
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona on Saturday reported nearly 100 more COVID-19 deaths a day after the state's pandemic death toll passed 20,000. The state coronavirus dashboard reported 95 additional deaths and over 29,00 additional confirmed cases as Arizona's pandemic totals increased to 20,134 deaths and over 1,110,00 cases. Johns Hopkins University data indicates the seven-day rolling average of daily deaths rose over the past two weeks, increasing from 33 on Sept. 16 to 43 on Thursday. The rolling average of daily new cases declined during the same period, dropping from approximately 2,740 to approximately 2620. Just under 1,800 COVID-19 patients occupied hospital beds as of Friday.
- Jurors in airman's murder trial hear from cellphone expert
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Jurors hearing the case against a U.S. Air Force airman charged with murder have listened to lengthy testimony from a cellphone expert who mapped the route the airman allegedly took the day a Mennonite woman disappeared. Mark Gooch faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Sasha Krause. On Friday, the cellphone expert led jurors through an extensive presentation. It showed Gooch's cellphone went from the air base where he was stationed in metropolitan Phoenix to northwestern New Mexico and back. The exert said the route included a detour in a forested area outside Flagstaff where Krause's body was found.
- Brief outage in Albuquerque after 2 balloons hit power lines
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of hot air balloons filled the Sunday morning sky over Albuquerque on the second day of the Balloon Fiesta, but two balloons hit power lines and caused a brief outage for some Public Service Company of New Mexico customers. The company said 1,230 of its customers were without electricity for a couple hours after two hot air balloons hit power lines in the north valley. No injuries were reported. Viewer photos sent to Albuquerque TV station KOB showed one balloon's envelope draped over the power lines near Daniel Circle while another balloon hit power lines closer to 2nd Street and Ranchitos. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta returned this year after a pandemic hiatus. The nine-day event began Saturday.
- Albuquerque police: Man arrested in death of young daughter
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police in Albuquerque say they have arrested a man in connection with his young daughter's death. They say 32-year-old Michael David Garcia was booked into jail early Saturday on suspicion of child abuse resulting in death. It was unclear Sunday if Garcia has a lawyer yet who can speak on his behalf. Police say officers responded around 3 p.m. Friday to a mobile home park in northeast Albuquerque where a 2-year-old girl was found dead. Authorities say the girl appeared emaciated and had visible bruising to the majority of her body as well as burns to her back thigh and hands.
- Navajo Nation reports no COVID-19 deaths for 3rd day in row
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported 35 more COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the third consecutive day. The latest numbers released Saturday pushed the tribe's totals to 34,106 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the virus since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The known death toll remains at 1,447. 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.
- Mass ascension launches balloon event after COVID-19 hiatus
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of hot-air balloons created a colorful tapestry against a blue sky in New Mexico's largest city, kicking off a nine-day annual event that was canceled last year due to the pandemic. Saturday morning's mass ascension was the first of five scheduled for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The 2020 fiesta was canceled as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. Organizers say more than 540 balloons are registered for this year's event. Fiesta organizers say they won't be checking for vaccination cards. But they noted precautions are being taken to preserve social distancing and provide access to hand sanitizer and hand-washing stations.
- Less than a third of NMSU students submit vaccination proof
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State University says less than a third of its students submitted proof of vaccination for COVID-19 by a Thursday deadline to otherwise undergo weekly testing or leave the university. Officials said Friday that while 72.3% of NMSU employees provided proof of vaccination, only 30% of students did. Officials said it's not clear how many students who didn't submit proof of vaccination by the deadline plan to submit weekly test results. Officials say the university will continue its outreach efforts. Failure to submit vaccination information or weekly test results can result in student suspension or staff termination.
- Police: Murder charge sought after woman set on fire dies
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police say they're seek a murder charge for a man now that a woman has died of injuries suffered when she was doused with gasoline and set on fire Sept. 24. Police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said 42-year-old Renee Benally died while being treated at a Texas burn center. Gallegos said police will work with the District Attorney's Office to charge Sedillo with murder. He was initially charged with aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm. An attorney listed as representing Sedillo did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations against Sedillo.
- Arizona reports 95 additional virus deaths, 2,942 more cases
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona on Saturday reported nearly 100 more COVID-19 deaths a day after the state's pandemic death toll passed 20,000. The state coronavirus dashboard reported 95 additional deaths and over 29,00 additional confirmed cases as Arizona's pandemic totals increased to 20,134 deaths and over 1,110,00 cases. Johns Hopkins University data indicates the seven-day rolling average of daily deaths rose over the past two weeks, increasing from 33 on Sept. 16 to 43 on Thursday. The rolling average of daily new cases declined during the same period, dropping from approximately 2,740 to approximately 2620. Just under 1,800 COVID-19 patients occupied hospital beds as of Friday.
- Jurors in airman's murder trial hear from cellphone expert
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Jurors hearing the case against a U.S. Air Force airman charged with murder have listened to lengthy testimony from a cellphone expert who mapped the route the airman allegedly took the day a Mennonite woman disappeared. Mark Gooch faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Sasha Krause. On Friday, the cellphone expert led jurors through an extensive presentation. It showed Gooch's cellphone went from the air base where he was stationed in metropolitan Phoenix to northwestern New Mexico and back. The exert said the route included a detour in a forested area outside Flagstaff where Krause's body was found.