Colorado State Makes Changes To Campus Tours – Associated Press
The president of Colorado State University has outlined several steps the school will take after two Native American teenagers were pulled from a campus tour by police.
Tony Frank said in an email to students and faculty Friday that the university will start using badges or lanyards to identify tour guests. Police will also be able to contact guides if officers need to talk to participants, and guides will establish themselves as the first point of contact for any concerns.
Two officers searched 19-year-old Thomas Kanewakeron Gray and his 17-year-old brother, Lloyd Skanahwati Gray, on Monday after a woman on the tour called police to report that the teens were acting "really odd."
The school has called the incident "shameful on so many levels" and says that the teens did nothing wrong. The Grays had traveled from their home in New Mexico to Fort Collins for the tour.
Police: New Mexico Man Used 'Rusty Machete' Over Bad Drug Deal – Associated Press
A northern New Mexico man is facing charges after police say he struck a woman with a "rusty machete" over a botched $30 drug deal.
The Las Vegas Optic reports that Erminio Duran recently was arrested following an argument that turned violent at his Las Vegas, New Mexico, home.
Police say the victim told officers that he 44-year-old Duran hit her on the head more than once with a rusty machete-style knife.
Police say the woman was requesting more money than she'd originally been loaned by Duran to buy methamphetamine and he became angry.
The victim received lacerations on her hands from attempting to block the machete.
It was not known if Duran had an attorney.
Nakamura Affirmed As New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice – Associated Press
Justice Judith Nakamura has been re-elected by her colleagues as chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court.
The court announced Friday that Nakamura will hold the leadership post for a two-year term.
Nakamura has been chief justice since June 2017, when she succeeded Justice Charles Daniels to fill the remainder of his term in the position.
As chief justice, she presides over court hearings and conferences and is the administrative authority over personnel, budgetary matters and general operations of all state courts. She also advocates for the judiciary branch on legislative and funding issues.
Nakamura joined the Supreme Court in December 2015. She served previously as a state district judge and was a Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court judge.
Mother Of Girl, 7, Who Police Say Was Prostituted, Arrested – Associated Press
A New Mexico mother of a 7-year-old who authorities say was forced into prostitution and pickpocketing has been arrested on child abuse charges.
Court records show that Teri Lee Sanchez was taken into custody late Thursday following an investigation by agents with the New Mexico Attorney General's Office.
James Stewart Sr., the girl's father, was arrested early Thursday. He's accused of prostituting his 7-year-old daughter and forcing the girl and her brother to panhandle and pick pockets.
A criminal complaint states the girl told investigators she and her mother would "hustle" and that she was required to dress up in high-heeled shoes and makeup and accompany her mother to "special parties" where she was left unsupervised.
It was not known if Sanchez had an attorney.
Horses Trapped In Muddy Northern Arizona Pond Buried On Site– Associated Press
More than 100 horses found dead this week at a muddy watering hole in northern Arizona are being buried at the site.
The stock pond in the Navajo Nation community of Gray Mountain had been a reliable source of water for animals over the years.
But as drought worsened, it began drying up earlier and earlier, and trapped the animals.
Tribal officials say they counted at least 118 dead horses and two cows this week.
They were able to save a weeks-old foal they named Grace.
A barbed wire fence now surrounds the watering hole to keep out large animals. Workers have applied hydrated lime to the site to help decompose the horses and ward off scavengers.
Friday's work is focused on collapsing an earthen berm and burying the animals.
New Mexico Trucker Convicted In Fatal Georgia Wreck Arrested – Associated Press
Authorities say a New Mexico trucker convicted in a fatal Georgia chain-reaction traffic wreck has been arrested on a warrant alleging he violated probation.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office says 51-year-old Daniel Crane was arrested in the Albuquerque area Thursday.
Crane pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in 18-year-old Summer Lee's death in a 2016 chain-reaction collision on Interstate 75.
Crane was sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of probation, and news accounts reported that probation terms included a requirement that he carry a photo of Lee provided by her family.
Callas Friday to the Henry County prosecutor's office weren't answered and it's not clear how Crane allegedly violated probation.
Crane remained jailed Friday. It's not known if he has a lawyer who could comment on the allegations.
Albuquerque Woman Sentenced To Prison For Fatal 2016 Crash – Associated Press
An Albuquerque woman has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for a car crash that fatally injured a prominent doctor.
Sara Casados was convicted Thursday of careless driving and leaving the scene of an accident.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Casados was driving more than 70 mph when she crashed into Dr. Teodora Konstantinova's car on January 2016.
Casados' lawyer Ousama Rasheed says Casados was suffering from a medical episode and had unsuccessfully sought treatment in the weeks before the crash.
Prosecutor Guinevere Ice asked for the maximum sentence and said that Casados hadn't shown remorse or apologized for what happened.
Casados says court orders prevented her from reaching out to Konstantinova's family to apologize.
Bill Seeks National Park Status For White Sands – Associated Press
Legislation is being introduced that would elevate the home of the world's largest gypsum dune field in southern New Mexico from a national monument to a national park.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich made the announcement Friday while visiting New Mexico, saying the change would boost recognition and visitation.
White Sands was initially established as a monument in 1933 by President Herbert Hoover to preserve the dunes and additional features of scenic, scientific and educational interest.
Supporters say the monument contains a more diverse set of significant archaeological and scientific resources than were first known. Heinrich pointed to the recent discovery of fossilized footprints and sloth tracks from the Ice Age.
The legislation also would clear the way for a land transfer with the U.S. Army that has been in the works since the 1970s.