New Mexico Police Investigate Killing Of 4 On Christmas Day – Albuquerque Journal, KRQE-TV, Associated Press
Police in New Mexico are investigating the shooting of four people found dead on Christmas Day as a murder-suicide.
Police in Rio Rancho on Thursday identified the dead as family members, including a 14-year-old boy. The Albuquerque Journal reports the victims are 50-year-old Carlos Velasquez, 45-year-old Marilyn Velasquez, 22-year-old Roberto Velasquez, and 14-year-old Adrian Velasquez.
A woman told KRQE-TV she's related to the people who lived in the home, and her mother and brother found the bodies. They went to the home because they were concerned that they had not heard from the family.
Police called the killings a tragic event for the family and the rest of the community.
Forecasters Say Storm Systems To Drop Rain, Snow On New Mexico – Associated Press
Forecasters say much of New Mexico is about to get more snow and rain, with the precipitation continuing into next week.
Advisories and watches issued by the National Weather Service say a pair of storm systems will initially drop rain in lower elevations starting late Thursday night and Friday before temperatures drop and change the precipitation to snow.
The weather service says significant snow accumulations are likely across the northern and western mountains with lesser amounts in lower elevations of central and western New Mexico. Forecasters are advising travelers to check weather reports because travel impacts are possible along Interstates 25 and 40 in northern and western New Mexico.
Utility Extends Aid For Navajo Workforce Scholarship Program – Associated Press
New Mexico's largest electric utility is making a $500,000 commitment to Navajo students in the Four Corners region to ensure they will continue to receive dedicated funding for future job opportunities.
Public Service Co. of New Mexico recently announced its pledge as the utility prepares to close the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station near Farmington. In operation for decades, the power plant and the coal mine that feeds it have employed many tribal members.
The utility already has funneled $1 million to the workforce training scholarship program since 2013. In that time, almost 700 scholarships have been awarded.
New Mexico Land Boss Signs Lease For Gladstone Wind Farm – Associated Press
An Illinois-based company that develops wind farms in the United States and Canada has won a bid for thousands of acres of state trust land in New Mexico where it plans to build its next project.
The lease was approved and signed last week by Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard. The Gladstone Wind Farm will be located in Union and Colfax counties in an area has been designated as prime for wind energy generation. It's also close to two existing transmission lines.
Aside from the trust land, the project will include 8,000 acres of private land.
Las Vegas Mayor Charged With Bribery, Abusing Power – Las Vegas Optic, Associated Press
New Mexico's attorney general has charged the mayor of a troubled city with six felony bribery and abuse of power charges after prosecutors said she steered contracts to a construction firm owned by a man she's accused of being romantically involved with.
The Las Vegas Optic reported Tuesday that Las Vegas, New Mexico, Mayor Tonita Gurule-Giron was charged. Gurule-Giron's listed attorney, Ben Andrew Mondragon, did not return phone or email messages left by The Associated Press on Wednesday.
She has previously denied having a relationship with the construction firm owner or having a role in the contracts.
Jackson Wink MMA Academy To Offer Fans 'Travel Workouts' - By Russell Contreras Associated Press
Jackson Wink MMA Academy is planning to offer mixed martial arts fans a chance to travel to New Mexico and train like its fighters.
Gym co-owner Greg Jackson told The Associated Press he will begin providing personalize packages for fans who want to train as a mixed martial artist in Albuquerque’s high altitude. He says trainees will get a chance to run in the Sandia Mountains and exercise along the Rio Grande.
Jackson said the gym has previously offered similar outdoor training sessions for celebrities preparing for movie roles, but he declined to give names. He said prices for personalized MMA packages would vary and stays could last a week to two weeks at a time.
The move comes after New Mexico created an outdoor office as part of a push to build on hiking, biking and other recreational offerings across the state's diverse landscapes.
Scholarship Advocate Appointed To New Mexico Lottery Board – Associated Press
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed five people to the board that oversees the state lottery, including an official with a nonpartisan think tank that has advocated for New Mexico's lottery-funded scholarship program.
The appointment of Think New Mexico's field director to the New Mexico Lottery Authority was announced Monday. Think New Mexico successfully advocated for legislation that guarantees at least 30% of lottery revenues being funneled to scholarships.
Solvency of the program has been an issue for years as the gap between revenues and demand for the financial aid has widened, even though enrollment has been sagging.
