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Headlines: Balloonists Land, Vaccine Exemptions Increase

Courtesy Two Eagles crew

Pilots In Helium-Filled Balloon Land Safely In Mexico - Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press

Two pilots in a helium-filled balloon landed safely off the coast of Mexico on Saturday after a nearly 7,000-mile long trip across the Pacific Ocean.

The pilots landed off Baja California about 300 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, greeted by a team of balloon enthusiasts who assisted with the landing. The pilots came in low and dropped thick trailing ropes into the ocean to help slow the balloon before setting down in a controlled water landing.

The trip shattered two long-standing records for ballooning.

Troy Bradley of Albuquerque and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of Russia beat what's considered the "holy grail" of ballooning achievements, the 137-hour duration record in the first balloon flight across the Atlantic. They also easily exceeded the distance record of 5,209 miles set during the first trans-Pacific flight in 1981.

Increase In Vaccination Exemptions A Concern For New MexicoAssociated Press

A measles outbreak traced largely to Disneyland in Southern California has New Mexico health officials concerned.

The outbreak has spread to Arizona, Colorado and other states but hasn't hit New Mexico yet. However, state officials say they're concerned because an increasing number of families have been seeking vaccine exemptions for their children.

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, the state Department of Health reported 3,335 registered exemptions in 2014, up 17 percent from two years earlier.

The exemptions registered with the Department of Health cover all vaccines, not specifically measles, but Health Secretary Retta Ward says the recent measles outbreak is reason to raise awareness.

New Mexico permits parents to request vaccination exemptions for their children based on medical need or religious beliefs.

Judge Refuses To Allow Testimony On 'Warrior Gene'Associated Press

A Santa Fe judge is refusing to permit trial testimony that a murder defendant's genetic makeup and maltreatment as a child made him more likely to act aggressively on impulse.

A state District Court judge ruled Thursday against allowing defense experts' testimony about a so-called "warrior gene" in the trial of 26-year-old Anthony Yepez in the 2012 choking and beating death of 75-year-old George Ortiz following an argument.

Allowing the testimony might persuade jurors that the killing wasn't premeditated and set the stage for a conviction for second-degree murder instead of first-degree murder.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said she was uncertain that the science behind the testimony was reliable enough.

Prosecutor Susan Stinson said many other factors could have influenced Yepez's behavior, and that his self-reported childhood abuse wasn't corroborated.

Flying Star Files For Chapter 11 BankruptcyAlbuquerque Journal

Flying Star Cafes is closing its locations in Santa Fe and Bernalillo as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The Albuquerque Journal reports the Albuquerque company has outstanding debts of more than $6.2 million.

The closures will result in up to 45 layoffs, leaving the company with 428 employees, although some workers are expected to take jobs in the remaining five locations. Jean Bernstein, co-owner of the 28-year-old company with her husband, Mark, said the two locations were underperforming.

Flying Star will continue operating as debtor in possession of its business under the bankruptcy reorganization and will attempt to negotiate with its creditors to pay off outstanding debt. Its eight Satellite Coffee shops will remain open. It also has a food production business, Rio Chan.