Forest Officials Advise Visitors To Watch For Mountain Lion – Associated Press
Gila National Forest officials say visitors to the Mogollon Box day-user area northwest of Silver City should be on the lookout for a mountain lion.
Forest officials say they're posting education and cautionary signs because they've received a report of a possible sighting.
According to forest officials, mountain lions tend to spend daytime hours in dense cover and be out more at dawn and dusk.
They recommend that anybody encountering a mountain lion to back away slowly while continuing to look as big and intimidating as possible and while leaving the lion avenues of escape.
Pueblo Potter To Give Annual Rudolfo Anaya Lecture At UNM – Associated Press
The University of New Mexico has announced that Native American potter and poet Nora Naranjo Morse will give the annual lecture named after Mexican-American novelist Rudolfo Anaya.
Naranjo Morse is scheduled to speak on campus Oct. 27 for the Rudolfo and Patricia Anaya Lecture on the Literature of the Southwest.
The lecture was created through a donation from the Pastura, New Mexico-born author who also founded the university's creative writing program.
Naranjo Morse, a member of the Santa Clara Pueblo, is an internationally known sculptor, poet, filmmaker and producer of films on Pueblo life and culture.
University of New Mexico English professor Bernadine Hernandez says in recent years Acoma Pueblo poet Simon Ortiz and novelist Rigoberto Gonzalez have been keynote speakers for the lecture series.
NM Insurance Officials Anticipated Trump Action – Associated Press
New Mexico has joined a long list of states that are challenging President Donald Trump's decision to end provisions of the Affordable Care Act that lower out-of-pocket medical costs.
Attorney General Hector Balderas confirmed Friday that New Mexico would participate in the lawsuit.
In anticipation of the move by Trump to discontinue the subsides to insurers, New Mexico insurance regulators already have approved record-setting health premium increases of 36 percent for next year on the state's subsidized exchange. Further increases are not expected next year.
State insurance superintendent spokeswoman Heather Widler emphasized that direct marketplace subsidies to low-income consumers will continue.
Owners Of 'Breaking Bad' House Build Fence Around Property – Associated Press
A fence is going up around the real Albuquerque house made famous by the methamphetamine-making character Walter White.
The owners are installing a 6-foot (2 meter) wrought iron fence on the front of the house used in the TV series "Breaking Bad," which has been plagued by countless fans wanting a snapshot.
Joanne Quintana tells KOB-TV that she loses count of the number of weekly visitors to the house that her mother owns. She says the tourists have caused disruptions that have made them fearful to leave the property unattended.
Quintana says some have even told them "to close our garage" and "get out of the picture."
Construction on the fence in underway, and Quintana says people have already tried to climb around the construction to snap a photo.
New Mexico Water Agency Adrift Without Officials, Key Staff – Associated Press
Three members of a powerful New Mexico commission charged with conserving and developing water resources across the arid state have resigned, the result of what critics describe as a simmering conflict with the state's top water regulator.
The departures mark the latest turmoil for the Interstate Stream Commission, which has been hit in recent years with complaints about transparency related to the development of plans for managing the state's share of the Gila River.
Commission Chairman Caleb Chandler and fellow Commissioners James Wilcox and Jim Dunlap submitted their resignations to Gov. Susana Martinez earlier this week. Several other key staff members also have left in recent months, including the commission's director and its legal counsel.
The governor's office did not immediately respond to questions regarding plans to fill the vacant seats on the commission.
Sale Finalized For New Mexico's Ruidoso Downs – Associated Press
The sale of a southern New Mexico racetrack and casino that plays host to one of the nation's most prestigious quarter-horse races has been finalized.
Officials at Ruidoso Downs announced the closure of the sale Friday as state gaming regulators approved license applications for the new owners.
The ownership group — All American Ruidoso Downs, LLC — is made up of Stan Sigman, John Andreini, Narciso "Chicho" Flores and Johnny Trotter. All are horse owners and breeders.
Former owner R.D. Hubbard first announced the proposed sale last spring. He had been an owner of the track since 1988 and became sole owner in 2016.
The purchase price was not disclosed, but the new owners say they will continue with state-of-the-art testing for illegal substances and enhanced security measures to defend against cheating.
Critics Of New Mexico Science Standards Organize Protests – Associated Press
Critics of New Mexico's proposed changes to public school science standards are gathering to protest the deletion or omission of references to global warming, evolution and the age of the earth.
Santa Fe Public Schools board member Steve Carrillo organized the "teach-in" protest on Friday afternoon outside the Public Education Department. The agency has suggested several additions and deletions to a set of science standards developed by a consortium of states.
The edited standards have generated opposition from school boards, science teacher associations and leading scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Carrillo says the proposed changes undermine efforts to upgrade the way science is taught and engage students.
State Education Secretary Christopher Ruszkowski has said the department is open to feedback and the proposed changes are not set in stone.
NM Police: ATM Robbery Followed By Armed Carjacking – Associated Press
Authorities in New Mexico are searching for a group of people suspected of robbing a man at an ATM and then stealing a car by force in Pecos.
Police say the incident began Friday morning when two men and a woman committed and armed robbery of a man at an ATM.
The suspects then carjacked someone at gunpoint on State Road 63. Police have arrested one of the suspects, a man.
Police say the suspects are driving that stolen vehicle, a blue 2011 Honda Civic with Arkansas plates.
New Mexico State Police are warning people to not approach the car because the suspects are armed and dangerous.