New Mexico Woman Sues Hospital For Resuscitating Her – Associated Press, Albuquerque Journal
A New Mexico woman who was brought back to life is suing the hospital for violating her rights.
The Albuquerque Journal reports lawyers for Jamie Sams filed a lawsuit this week in New Mexico state district court against Santa Fe's Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center.
The lawsuit filed on behalf Sams, a writer known for books on spirituality, says the hospital and a doctor who was treating her are to blame for her going into cardiac arrest.
The lawsuit says Sams was given a painkiller even after she told staff she was allergic to it.
Court documents say the negligence was compounded when hospital personnel resuscitated her — something she did not want.
Christus spokesman Arturo Delgado declined to comment.
Sams is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.
Managers Come Clean On Ceiling Collapse At Nuke Waste Dump – Associated Press
Managers at the federal government's nuclear waste repository in southern New Mexico have acknowledged there was waste in the area where a portion of the underground facility's ceiling collapsed earlier this week.
The acknowledgement came Friday, a day after the U.S. Energy Department announced there had been a rock fall at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. The agency initially said there was no waste in the area, but watchdogs voiced concerns.
The radioactive waste included two containers encapsulated in holes bored into the salt formation that makes up the walls and ceilings of the repository and its disposal rooms. There also were pieces of equipment in the room where the collapse happened that were contaminated by a 2014 radiation release.
Wednesday's collapse prompted an evacuation, but officials said work resumed Friday following an inspection.
Senators Draft Resolution For Native American Heritage Month – Associated Press
A U.S. Senate resolution has been introduced to designate November as Native American Heritage month.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Friday announced the resolution sponsored by Sens. John Hoeven, a North Dakota Republican, and Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat. Hoeven is the committee's chairman and Udall its vice chairman.
The resolution recognizes the accomplishments, cultures and contributions of Native Americans, who serve in the military at higher rates than any other group.
The resolution also specifically highlights the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy of the northeastern United States on the founding fathers' drafting of the Constitution, including in its articles on free speech and the separation of governmental powers.
The senators say the resolution also offers a chance for reflection on how they can further strengthen tribal communities.
Dem Torres Small Will Take US House Seat –Associated Press
The New Mexico secretary of state's office says it expects Democrat Xochitl (ZOH'-cheel) Torres Small to take her U.S. House seat despite a push from her Republican opponent to inspect certain ballots.
New Mexico Secretary of State spokesman Alex Curtas said Friday the office is scheduled to certify results by Nov. 27 that will show, according to unofficial results, Torres Small defeating Republican Yvette Herrell.
State District Judge Manuel Arrieta ruled Friday the New Mexico secretary of state's office can tally results amid Herrell's request to impound absentee ballots in a key county.
Arrieta says meanwhile Herrell's lawyers and the New Mexico secretary of state's office can come up with agreement on how those ballots can be inspected.
Curtas says Torres Small is in Washington, D.C., and attending freshman orientation.
Child In 911 Recording After Shooting: 'Mommy Got Hit' – Associated Press,Gallup Independent
A series of 911 recordings show authorities received multiple reports of a shooting that killed four people and injured a fifth at a New Mexico home.
One of the calls came from a child who says, "My mommy got hit."
The calls reporting the domestic shooting Tuesday in the Navajo Nation community of Tsayatoh were released two days later to the Gallup Independent newspaper in response to a public records request.
Authorities say the gunman was among the deceased. A woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
The suspect and victims' names have not been released.
Authorities say a man called first at 2:30 a.m., before the child called, saying "mommy's hurting."
Then a woman called saying "I'm gonna die," and that her boyfriend shot her twice.
Museum Sells 2 Paintings For More Than $19.5M – Associated Press,Albuquerque Journal
Santa Fe's Georgia O'Keeffe Museum sold two paintings for more than $19.5 million.
The Albuquerque Journal reports "A Street," from 1926, and 1928's "Calla Lilies on Red" sold in Sotheby's contemporary art auction Wednesday in New York.
"A Street," a painting from O'Keeffe's small series of New York cityscapes, sold for $13,282,500. It went into the auction with an estimated value of between $12 million and $18 million.
"Calla Lilies on Red," one of several paintings the legendary artist made depicting the flower, sold below its $8 million-$12 million estimated value, at $6,282,700.
The proceeds will go to the museum's acquisition fund for purchasing new items for the museum's collection.
The buyers' identities were not divulged.