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French Auction Of Acoma Shield Halted, Bill Clinton Back In NM To Campaign

Nighscream via Flickr
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CREATIVE COMMONS
Sandia Mountains

Pueblo Shield Withdrawn From Paris Artifacts AuctionAssociated Press

A French auction house has withdrawn a Pueblo shield from a contested sale of Native American artifacts after protests from the United States.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Phil Frayne called it a "small victory in a larger battle" to repatriate tribal artifacts. Frayne told The Associated Press the U.S. government believes the 19th-century mask might have been taken illegally in the 1970s, and so it was withdrawn by the Drouot auction house just before the auction Monday pending further examination.

It was one of 314 items slated for sale Monday in Paris. Protesters waved banners outside Drouot that read "cultural genocide" and "sacred not for sale."

Past sales of tribal artifacts in Paris have been opposed by Native American representatives who consider them sacred and believe they were once stolen from tribes.

Ex-President Bill Clinton To Campaign In Las Cruces ThursdayThe Associated Press

Former President Bill Clinton will campaign in New Mexico this week on behalf of his wife's campaign for the Democratic president nomination.

Hillary Clinton's campaign announced that the candidate's husband will campaign for her Thursday during a public event in Las Cruces.

No additional details were released.

Hillary Clinton faces Democratic rival Bernie Sanders in the New Mexico primary on June 7.

Gallup Diocese Nears $25 Million In Abuse SettlementThe Associated Press & The Gallup Independent

As its bankruptcy case wraps up, the Diocese of Gallup has allocated millions of dollars to compensate victims of clergy sexual abuse.

The Gallup Independent reports (http://bit.ly/1jl8YBA) that the diocese's bankruptcy confirmation hearing is scheduled for June 21.

It is creating a fund of between $21 million and $25 million to be used for professional fees and settlements with the 57 abuse survivors who led claims in bankruptcy court. Professional fees are now listed at more than $3.6 million and some settlements for abuse claimants are expected to approach $300,000.

There are also several non-monetary provisions in the settlement, including letters of apology to be sent to abuse claimants.

The Gallup Diocese is also expected to take measures to help prevent clergy sexual abuse in the future.

'Breaking Bad' Actors Lend Help In New Mexico RaceThe Associated Press

Tony Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston is giving a fellow actor from "Breaking Bad" some help in his race for a New Mexico county commissioner's seat.

Cranston is joining comedian George Lopez in asking some residents of the state's largest county to vote for Steven Michael Quezada in a county commissioner's race. They are promoting Quezada on mailers targeting voters.

Lopez and fellow "Breaking Bad" actor Dean Norris also are lending their voices on robo calls for Quezada.

"Breaking Bad," which is set in Albuquerque, follows former high school teacher Walter White, played by Cranston, producing methamphetamine with a former student, Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul.

Quezada played DEA agent Steven Gomez in the hit AMC-TV series, which ended in 2013 amid a large following.

Man Dies Hiking La Luz TrailAlbuquerque Journal

An unidentified man died while hiking the La Luz trail in the Sandia Mountains on Monday morning.

The Albuquerque Journal reports the State Police did not immediately identify the 59-year-old man, but they said he had a medical episode on a section of the trail near the crest called the “Y.”

Hiking companions of the man called 911 around 10 a.m. to report he had fallen and hit his head. A State Police spokesman said further investigation revealed he suffered a medical episode.

Business Owners Say Pre-Transit Construction Impacting ThemKRQE-TV, Albuquerque Journal

Business owners on west Central Avenue in Albuquerque say preliminary construction ahead of a rapid transit project is hurting their bottom lines.

KRQE-TV reports that even though construction has not started on the actual project, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority has begun work to replace water lines ahead of the bus rapid transit line.

The Water Utility Authority said crews are working to keep access open to businesses. But one salon owner says she is losing customers over periodic blockages of her driveway.

The Albuquerque Journal reports the transit project may be heading back to the City Council after an opponent challenged how a landmarks board is handling approval of the project.

Two lawsuits against the Albuquerque Rapid Transit project, called ART, have been consolidated into one federal case, according to the Journal. Parties must submit arguments in the case by late June before a judge will rule on a preliminary injunction to halt the project.

Repairs Underway On Pipeline That Waters Big Navajo FarmAssociated Press

A break in a massive pipe that supplies irrigation water to the largest farm on the Navajo Nation is a step closer to being repaired with the delivery of a new section of concrete piping.

The decades-old pipe broke May 13, cutting water to 72,000 acres of farmland in northwestern New Mexico. Many of the crops on the land managed by the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry had just been planted.

Officials said Monday that the delivery of the 17-foot-diameter pipe from a manufacturing plant in Yuma, Arizona, means they are on track to finish repairs by June 11. The pipe was trucked from Yuma and arrived Sunday afternoon. Installation is already underway.

The canal and pipe system delivers water to the farm from the San Juan River through Navajo Dam.

Albuquerque Woman Killed In Motorcycle Crash Near EspañolaAssociated Press

State police say an Albuquerque woman died when her motorcycle was struck by a pickup that pulled out in front of her on a road north of Española.

Eloise Armijo was riding south on State Road 68 Sunday afternoon just north of the city in Rio Arriba County when the pickup pulled in front of her and she hit the passenger side. The driver of the pickup fled the scene despite damage that included a shattered passenger side window.

The 53-year-old motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the hospital in Espanola. New Mexico State Police on Monday asked for the public's help locating the truck, which fled west on State Road 74. They say it is a newer model silver or grey GMC or Chevrolet pickup with tinted windows.

Zia Road Rail Runner Stop May Finally OpenSanta Fe New Mexican

A never-opened stop for the Rail Runner Express built by the state for $1 million may finally be moving towards opening.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the state Department of Transportation has approved plans at the Zia Road station for sidewalks, an access road and other infrastructure for the stop.

However, several legal agreements are pending among the city, the state and the development firm that wants to build a project adjacent to the station. The state built the station in 2008 and a development firm was to build access to it as part of a larger project, but that’s been on hold over various challenges, including neighborhood concerns.

Those included opposition to a parking lot, so right now the station is slated to be a drop-off site without parking for commuters.

New Mexico Shows Deeply Divided Democratic LoyaltiesAssociated Press

The divide between Democratic voters in the presidential primary is on prominent display in New Mexico.

Bernie Sanders supporters have been speed-dialing voters from cafes, libraries and union halls and aren't about to give up before the final round of state primaries on June 7.

Hillary Clinton holds the advantage nationally and has locked in support from New Mexico superdelegates and other local powerbrokers.

The two campaigns are running neck-and-neck in direct fundraising efforts after recent visits to the state by Sanders and Bill Clinton that set the campaigns apart from one another.

Across New Mexico, Sanders has raised slightly more than Clinton in direct campaign donations — $897,000 to Clinton's $857,000 through the end of April, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.

UNM Bans Pastors From CampusAlbuquerque Journal

The University of New Mexico has banned two pastors after they allegedly entered dorms without escorts and held services without permission.

The Albuquerque Journal reports UNM suspended the charter for Lobos for Christ following complaints by former members about tactics they said were emotional and manipulative, including high-pressure recruitment of freshmen students.

The group is affiliated with the New Covenant Christian Church. Pastors Jim Cooper and Kirk Walker appealed the bans but those appeals were denied.

UNM contends the pastors used the student organization status of Lobos for Christ improperly to use the anthropology building for services. An investigation into the group by UNM is continuing.

Las Cruces Uses Goats To Weed Flood Control Dam Associated Press

The city of Las Cruces is once again using goats to keep public property free of weeds and vegetation.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that about 70 goats are munching across the 2.5-mile Las Cruces Flood Control Dam, which is a popular recreation area for hikers and bird watchers. The goats arrived May 20 and will remain through the end of June.

In addition to the goats, three alpacas travel with the herd to help protect them from coyotes.

Streets and Traffic Operations Department Administrator Willie Roman says the goats also save the city money. When they were first used in 2012, the goats cost $250 compared to $700 for human labor.