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$100K Found After Deadly Bus Crash on I-25, State Eyes Recycling Oil And Gas Wastewater

Eric Kounce TexasRaiser
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Authorities Say Close To $100K Found After Deadly Bus Crash- Associated Press

Authorities investigating a deadly commercial passenger bus crash along a New Mexico highway said Friday that one of the passengers was carrying a backpack filled with almost $100,000 in cash.

Sandoval County Sheriff's Lt. Keith Elder confirmed during a news conference that the money was discovered after the passenger was transported to an Albuquerque hospital, where numerous other people and their belongings were taken following the crash.

The discovery has prompted a separate investigation, Elder said. He had no other information about the passenger or the money.

The passenger was among close to 30 people who were injured when the bus rolled and was hit by another vehicle and then sideswiped by a semi-truck along I-25 early Sunday. The bus driver lost control while trying to avoid another crash that happened moments earlier on the dark highway.

The three bus passengers who were killed were all women from Mexico who lived in Colorado.

New Mexico To Explore Reuse Of Oil And Gas WastewaterAssociated Press

New Mexico is teaming up with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to explore ways the wastewater that results from oil and gas operations can be reused or recycled.

The state and the federal agency announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding Thursday.

Ken McQueen, who oversees New Mexico's Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, says the state is one of the largest oil producers in the U.S. and that production is accompanied by even more wastewater.

He says clarifying the state and federal regulatory frameworks associated with its recycling and reuse is important, especially as New Mexico follows up a year in which it produced a record 470,000 barrels of oil a day.

As part of the agreement, a workgroup will outline existing state and federal regulations and identify treatment and reuse opportunities.

Xcel Finishes $29M Transmission Project In New MexicoAssociated Press

Xcel Energy says it has completed a $29 million transmission project that will boost the capacity and reliability of the system that powers one eastern New Mexico city.

The five-year project involved the construction of two new substation sites, the reconstruction and enlargement of another, and a major upgrade to an interchange that moves power into the community of Portales.

The company also built 23 miles of new transmission lines to connect key substations in the area.

Xcel officials say the Portales project is one of dozens of similar upgrades being made within the company's service areas in New Mexico and Texas. Overall, Xcel says it has invested in more than 800 miles of new transmission lines and more than 30 new substations since 2011.

Study Finds Albuquerque Crime Increased With Poverty And Drug UseAssociated Press

A new study has found an uptick in crime in the Albuquerque area over a recent seven-year period unfolded as poverty, drug use and other social issues worsened in the state's largest metro area.

The study released by the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee on Thursday also found that as crime increased, the criminal justice system struggled to keep up with the rise in cases.

The report says a drop in arrests and indictments between 2013 and 2015, and a decline in convictions from 2015 and 2017 in Bernalillo County likely contributed to a continued rise in crime during that time period.

The study says different agencies that make up the county's criminal justice system have begun enacting reforms to help curb crime.

In Reversal, Pentagon Now Says It Backs GOP Measure On Birds - By Matthew Daly, Associated Press

In an abrupt reversal, the Pentagon now says it supports a Republican proposal in a defense policy bill that would bar the Fish and Wildlife Service from using the Endangered Species Act to protect two chicken-like birds in the western half of the U.S.

In an email to Congress on Thursday, the Pentagon said the proposal could help avoid any "negative readiness impacts on military facilities" that might result from listing the sage grouse and lesser-prairie chicken as endangered.

The statement directly repudiates comments Wednesday by Pentagon officials calling the GOP proposal unnecessary. The House-approved language would block endangered-species listing for the two birds for 10 years.

The birds have become flashpoints in an ongoing battle over whether they warrant federal protection that hinders mining and other development across the West.

Decision To Cut New Mexico Men's Soccer Spurs Anger- Associated Press

The men's soccer team at the University of New Mexico has had a dozen NCAA tournament appearances and hopefuls from around the world have competed to play for the program.

The regents at UNM voted Thursday to cut the program, which has among the highest profiles nationally of Lobos men's sports.

The decision was met immediately by boos and heckles from some of those who packed the regents' meeting. In the hours since, regents, lawmakers and other elected leaders have been flooded with phone messages and emails. Countless social media posts expressed everything from anger to disbelief and calls for action.

New Mexico Regents Vote To Cut 4 Sports ProgramsAssociated Press

The University of New Mexico Board of Regents has voted in favor of recommendations to eliminate four sports as the school's troubled athletics department works to control its spending.

The unanimous vote came Thursday after dozens of people — from coaches and players to alumni and community members — testified on behalf of preserving the men's soccer team and the skiing and beach volleyball programs.

The decision elicited boos and heckles from the crowd.

The regents acknowledged that the decision was difficult but that not addressing budget problems that have been in the making for more than a decade or finding ways to come into compliance with federal gender equity requirements under Title IX would end up being more costly for the university.

Former State Auditor Accused Of ID Theft, License Crime- Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press

A criminal complaint accuses a former senior state auditor of identity theft and altering or forging driver's licenses.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the State Auditor's Office officials went to New Mexico State Police after Terry Becenti was fired earlier this year and officials then found six altered driver's licenses and four Social Security cards.

An affidavit filed Wednesday in court said an official told police that Becenti was fired for poor performance, tardiness and not following policies.

The affidavit said officials were worried because the questionable documents appeared to involve criminal activity and the documents weren't related to work.

The New Mexican reported that attempts to reach Becenti on Thursday were unsuccessful, and online court records don't list an attorney for Becenti who could comment on the allegations.

Navajo Nation Council Oks Bill On Police Standards, Training- Associated Press

The Navajo Nation is moving to set its own standards and training requirements for certification of tribal police officers instead of continuing to rely on processes used by the federal government or states.

A bill to create training requirements and create an oversight commission was approved by the Navajo Nation Council on Thursday, the final day of the council's summer session.

Supporters of the legislation said tribal police and other law enforcement personnel need to be trained in addressing complex public safety issues related to the tribe's reservation, which includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

The legislation was approved by the council on a 15-1 vote and is subject to approval by tribal President Russell Begaye.

New Mexico Lawmakers Sue Over State Park TransferAssociated Press

New Mexico legislators filed a lawsuit against officials in Gov. Susana Martinez's administration, arguing they overstepped their authority by moving to convert a state park outside Las Cruces into a regional Game and Fish Department headquarters.

In the suit, filed Tuesday, lawmakers look to prevent the Game and Fish Department from taking control of the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park.

The Legislative Council argues that officials with the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and the Game and Fish Department moved ahead with a transfer deed even though the deal was never approved by the Legislature.

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Secretary Ken McQueen says he believes state law allows him to transfer the property without legislative approval.

The suit asks a judge to return ownership of the park to the State Parks Division.

US May Pick Western Headquarters For Land Agency In 8 MonthsAssociated Press

The Trump administration says it may pick a new Western headquarters for the nation's largest land management agency in the next six to eight months.

Susan Combs, a senior adviser to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, told a Senate committee Thursday that Zinke is committed to moving the Bureau of Land Management headquarters from Washington to the West. The bureau is part of Zinke's department.

Combs offered no hints about where the new headquarters will be.

The bureau manages nearly 388,000 square miles nationwide, and 99 percent is in 12 Western states.

Many Western leaders say the bureau's headquarters should be closer to the land it manages. Zinke, a former Montana congressman, agrees.

Some bureau veterans question the plan, saying the agency needs a presence in Washington.

Walter White May Appear In 'Better Call Saul,' Creator Says - By Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer

"Breaking Bad" is gone, but Walter White may be coming back to television.

"Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan said Thursday at the San Diego Comic-Con that there is an excellent chance that the Bryan Cranston character and Aaron Paul's Jesse Pinkman will be in the show's spinoff "Better Call Saul" at some point. Both are set and filmed in Albuquerque.

Gilligan, Cranston and Paul were joined by many of their fellow "Breaking Bad" castmates to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the show.

Gilligan said the characters will not appear in season 4 of "Better Call Saul" when it picks up in August, but that they'd be remiss if they didn't show up before it ends.

Cranston also said that "Breaking Bad" will never be a feature film, but Gilligan countered not to rule it out.

Doctor Sentenced For Sexually Groping PatientLas Cruces Sun-News, Associated Press

A New Mexico doctor has been sentenced after being convicted of sexually molesting a male patient.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports neurologist Robert Woody was sentenced Wednesday to 364 days in jail, the maximum sentence for the misdemeanor criminal sexual contact conviction.

Woody's attorneys say they plan to pursue an appeal or another trial in the matter. Attorney Jim Darnell says he thinks there's a "good likelihood" for a "successful appeal or retrial in this case."

Woody was charged with the crimes in 2016 after four male patients came forward with accusations that the doctor had sexually assaulted them during examinations at his Las Cruces office — which has since been closed.

Woody was accused of fondling the patients' genitals, asking them sexually charged questions and, in one case, kissing one of the men on his neck.

Wildlife Officers Capture Bear Wandering In Santa FeKOB-TV, Associated Press

Wildlife officials say they have captured a bear that wandered in front of a Santa Fe auto shop and ran through traffic on Wednesday.

Donald and Loretta Garcia say the bear was hanging out in the lot of Donald Garcia's auto shop, Perfection Auto Craft.

Loretta Garcia say they were watching the bear through an office window, but the bear got spooked when she tapped on the window.

Police said in a Facebook post that officers with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish eventually tranquilized the skinny bear.

They described it as an adult male bear weighing about 180 pounds.

Game and Fish officers told KOB-TV that the bear would be released to the Valles Caldera National Preserve, west of Santa Fe.

1 Killed, 1 Injured In Oilfield Facility Fire In New MexicoAssociated Press

Authorities say one worker was killed and a second injured in a fire involving storage tanks at an oilfield facility in southeastern New Mexico.

The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that the incident occurred Wednesday near Loving at a facility owned by Tulsa, Oklahoma-based WPX Energy.

WPX spokesman Kelly Swan said both victims were employees at separate companies working at the WPX facility.

Identities weren't released, and WPX said cause of the fire wasn't immediately available.

The facility contains a saltwater disposal well for oil byproducts from extraction operations, along with injection pumps and storage tanks for residue oil and water.

Eddy County Emergency Manager Jennifer Armendariz said the Carlsbad Fire Department, Eddy County Sheriff's Office and multiple Eddy County volunteer fire departments responded.

Loving is 243 miles southeast of Albuquerque.