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Worker Fired Over Shipping Error Sues LANL , Mexican Wolves Found Dead in NM and AZ

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Lab Worker Fired Over Plutonium Shipping Error Files LawsuitSanta Fe New Mexican, Associated Press

A former worker at a New Mexico laboratory who was fired for shipping weapons-grade plutonium by air instead of by ground as required by federal regulations is suing the lab's management for breach of contract.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Juan Montoya, who was fired this summer from Los Alamos National Laboratory, claims in the suit that he was made a scapegoat for "root cause systemic failures in processes, procedures, supervision, resources (and) training" that belong to Los Alamos National Security LLC, or LANS.

Efforts by the New Mexican to reach Montoya for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Lab spokesman Matt Nerzig denies that Montoya, who had worked at the lab for 15 years before he was fired, was singled out over the incident.

Montoya is asking for, among other things, unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Report Finds Truck Tire Lost Air Before New Mexico Bus CrashAssociated Press

A federal report says "sudden air loss" in a semi-truck's front left tire occurred just before it collided with a passenger bus in a deadly crash along Interstate 40 in New Mexico.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday released a preliminary report on the Aug. 30 crash east of Gallup.

The agency is still evaluating driver performance, training and other factors.

Authorities have said the truck driver lost control of the vehicle before it veered into the median and crossed into oncoming traffic.

Seven passengers and the driver of the Greyhound bus were killed, and 39 people were injured.

The report also notes that one woman went into premature labor and gave birth to twins. One of the infants later died.

The driver of the truck operated by Jag Transportation of Fresno, California, suffered minor injuries.

Competition Lacking As Candidate's Firm Oversaw Health PoolAssociated Press

In a familiar line of attack in New Mexico's gubernatorial race, Republicans including candidate Steve Pearce say that Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham profited on the side while in Congress by overseeing a statewide insurance program for extremely sick patients.

The ads allege unseemly business dealings and "shamelessly corrupt." Lujan Grisham's campaign pushed back Thursday with calls for television stations to drop an ad from the Republican Governors Association.

A public records request by The Associated Press shows that there were no competing bids as a business partnership between Lujan Grisham and a state lawmaker won contracts to oversee a statewide high-risk insurance pool.

Lujan Grisham has embraced that past business role as evidence of her commitment to helping the severely ill and as validation of her expertise in health care.

Federal Officials Say Man Faces Assault Charge After Flight DisruptionAssociated Press

Federal authorities say a man accused of touching a woman's leg and trying to play "footsies" with her on a flight has been charged with simple assault.

A criminal complaint also accuses Justin Riley Brafford of trying to intimidate flight crew members on the Southwest flight Tuesday from Los Angeles to Dallas.

According to authorities, Brafford sat next to the woman, and inched closer to her even as she leaned away from him. He also is accused of tugging on her sweater, and whispering a profanity.

A flight attendant granted the woman's request to change seats and then confronted Brafford. Authorities say that's when he yelled at the crew, and the pilot diverted the flight to Albuquerque.

Brafford's attorney couldn't immediately be reached for comment late Wednesday.

Las Cruces Man Convicted Of Recording Children In BathroomsAssociated Press

A Las Cruces man is facing up to 4 1/2 years in prison after being convicted of hiding video cameras in bathrooms and capturing video of children showering and changing clothes.

Prosecutors say 55-year-old Paul Ikard was found guilty Wednesday of one count of sexual exploitation of children and two counts of voyeurism.

He's expected to be sentenced in about 30 days.

Ikard was arrested in May 2016 and accused of secretly recording children in a bathroom with hidden cameras from January 2014 to August 2015.

Authorities say some of the victims were as young as 9.

The videos were discovered when Ikard sent his computer's hard drive to a company in Ohio to be repaired.

That company alerted the FBI who handed the case over to Las Cruces police.

Santa Fe School Board Eyes Changes After Member Admits DWIs – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press

The Santa Fe school board is considering changes after a newly appointed board member admitted he had abused cocaine and had been arrested for four drunken driving charges.

The Albuquerque Journal reports board members were ready to change policy to ensure better vetting of board candidates in the future.

Court records show the 47-year-old Rudy Garcia has pleaded guilty in two of the drunken-driving cases. Two drunken driving counts later were dismissed.

Garcia didn't disclose his record before his appointment. He says that "maybe" he should have disclosed it.

Vacant seats are filled by board vote.

Garcia also is the Democratic nominee for a Santa Fe County Commission seat in the November general election.

Mexican Wolves Found Dead In Arizona, New Mexico  -Associated Press

Arizona wildlife officials say authorities are investigating the deaths of three endangered Mexican gray wolves, including one found in southwestern New Mexico.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department announced this week that male wolves belonging to the Bear Wallow and Saffel packs were found dead in Arizona in September. The packs are known to roam parts of Arizona's Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

The wolf found dead in New Mexico was a member of the SBP pack.

Authorities did not release any details about the circumstances or where exactly the wolves were found. The deaths are under investigation.

Wildlife managers say 11 wolf deaths have been documented so far this year.

Efforts to reintroduce the wolves in Arizona and New Mexico have been ongoing for two decades.

New Mexico Democrat Condemns 'Sexist' Tweet, Video Ad - Associated Press

The campaign of Democratic New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Michelle Lujan Grisham is describing an attack ad and tweet against her as sexist and seeking an apology from the state Republican Party.

Lujan Grisham's campaign staff described as disrespectful Wednesday a Republican Party tweet commenting on Lujan Grisham's makeup during a televised debate and comparing her looks to Richard Nixon. The tweet was removed.

A GOP video splices together news footage of crime scenes with images of Lujan Grisham skating, dancing, hula hooping and being held aloft by the Democratic state attorney general.

State GOP Chairman Ryan Cangiolosi says the video is about Republicans' belief that Lujan Grisham is not up to the challenge of being governor. He said Lujan Grisham's campaign feigned outrage to divert attention from allegations of corruption.

Authorities: 2 Killed In Plane Crash Were From Albuquerque Associated Press

Authorities say two Albuquerque residents were the pilot and passenger killed in the crash of a light plane west of the city.

The New Mexico State Police said Wednesday that 68-year-old Michael Vavrek was the pilot and 67-year-old Judy Vavrek was the passenger.

A State Police spokesman, Officer Ray Wilson, said they were believed to be a married couple.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue spokesman Tom Ruiz said Tuesday the plane was planning to land at the Double Eagle II Airport when the pilot called in to say the aircraft wasn't going to make it to the runway.

FBI Arrests Texas Man Suspected Of Robbing A New Mexico Bank - Associated Press

The FBI says a man wanted for a bank robbery in New Mexico last month has been arrested in Texas.

They say 36-year-old Matthew Vincent Blackstock of Amarillo is suspected of robbing a Wells Fargo branch in Albuquerque on Sept. 17.

The FBI in Amarillo took Blackstock into custody on Wednesday and he's expected to be returned to Albuquerque for prosecution.

Details of the robbery weren't immediately released and it's unclear if Blackstock has a lawyer yet.

Federal authorities say Blackstock will appear in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque on a date yet to be scheduled.