- SPRING WILDFIRES
MORA, N.M. (AP) — Firefighters in New Mexico battling the nation's largest active wildfire say favorable weather helped them prevent the blaze from growing over the last 24 hours. Nearly 3,000 firefighters were working Monday to strengthen and increase firebreaks as warmer weather settled in. The blaze that started nearly seven weeks ago in the Rocky Mountain foothills remains just 40% contained. Fire crews were helped over the weekend by water-dropping helicopters and cooler temperatures. The blaze started as two fires and turned into one large conflagration. The blaze is one of five large fires burning in New Mexico and among 14 nationally.
- AP-US-WILDFIRES-SOWING-SEEDS
The mission was to rescue tens of thousands of invaluable tree sprouts from a research center in New Mexico and to keep safe a vital bank of millions of pine, spruce and other conifer seeds that will be used to restore fire-ravaged landscapes across the West. Owen Burney and his team succeeded in evacuating most of the priceless collection. But the superintendent of New Mexico State University's Forestry Research Center says the massive fire still churning through New Mexico highlights the need for collecting more seed, building more nurseries and planting more seedlings. The center is one of only a few such nurseries in the US and stands at the forefront of a major undertaking to rebuild more resilient forests as wildfires burn hotter, faster and more often.
- AP-NM-FATAL SHOOTING-INVESTIGATION
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say they still are investigating a shooting at a gas station in March that left an Albuquerque woman dead. Police say a man and three teenagers allegedly were involved but no arrests have been made yet. Two of the four suspects were going to a city park to buy marijuana when they told police they allegedly were robbed and beaten by two men wearing masks. The victims told police they met up with two other teens at the gas station and stayed there, believing the robbers would return to the scene. An SUV pulled up and three teens fired about 30 shots at the vehicle, killing a female passenger. According to police, the occupants of the SUV were innocent bystanders and didn't know the teens.
- SPRING WILDFIRES
MORA, N.M. (AP) — As more than 2,700 firefighters in northern New Mexico continue to battle the nation's largest active wildfire, many evacuees are worried about their future. Hundreds have been away from their homes for more than a month now due to the biggest fire in the state's recorded history, and some say their financial resources are dwindling. Officials at Glorieta Adventure Camps said there have been 67 coronavirus cases among evacuees, including some that required hospitalization. Meanwhile, the six-week-old wildfire remained 40% contained around its perimeter Sunday.
- SPRING WILDFIRES
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The head of the U.S. Forest Service is suspending planned burning operations to clear out brush and small trees at all national forests while his agency conducts a 90-day review of protocols and practices. Forest Chief Randy Moore made the announcement Friday. He cited the hot and dry weather and extreme winds that have led to explosive fire behavior across the Southwest. Nearly 6,000 firefighters are battling fires in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado and California. Crews at the biggest fire in northern New Mexico worked to reinforce fire lines as winds gusted to 40 mph. Forecasters say several days of cooler, moister conditions beginning Saturday should provide some relief.
- EDUCATION REFORM-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Advocates are weighing in on Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's plan to address an ongoing lawsuit that highlights shortcomings of the state's education system. The plaintiffs in the case represent around 70% of all K-12 students. They say the governor's effort still lacks specific details and funding estimates. A state court reaffirmed in 2020 that New Mexico was failing to provide an "adequate" education for vulnerable student groups, including Native American and low-income students. A spokeswoman for Lujan Grisham says the administration is looking forward to gathering public comments and that specific actions will be outlined later.