New Mexico Commission Approves Wildlife Trapping Changes - By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
Under a measure adopted Friday by the state Game Commission, trappers now have to complete an education course and new restrictions will be imposed on setting wildlife traps and snares around designated trailheads and on select public lands in New Mexico.
Trapping and snaring triggered emotionally charged debates during last year's legislative session.
A bill dubbed "Roxy's Law" after a dog that was strangled by a poacher's illegal snare on a lakeside trail would have banned traps, snares and animal poison on public land with few exceptions. It never came to a floor vote.
State wildlife managers suggested they tried to strike a balance, but trappers argued the changes are burdensome.
Congressmen Help Migrant Girl With Down Syndrome Get Into US - By Russell Contreras Associated Press
A delegation from the U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus has helped a 6-year-old migrant girl with Down Syndrome and a heart condition get paroled in the United States.
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico said Friday he and other members accompanied the girl to a Port of Entry in Brownsville, Texas, and asked federal immigration authorities to allow the girl into the country to seek medical treatment.
There are exemption for vulnerable people in the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" policy for migrants seeking asylum. The girl and her family had previously been denied entry.
Las Cruces Native Rick Montoya Announces Run For US Senate – Las Cruces Sun-News, Associated Press
A Las Cruces businessman has entered the contest for U.S. Senate in New Mexico, adding to a list of Republicans looking for a nomination.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reported Thursday that 72-year-old Rick Montoya announced his candidacy at Roberto's Mexican Restaurant in Las Cruces.
Montoya is the sixth Republican who announced their run for the at-large seat ahead of the June primary election. Officials say the seat was held by Democratic Sen. Tom Udall who announced in March that he would not seek a third term.
He told a crowd of supporters that his campaign strategy relies on counties in southern New Mexico.
Lawyers Say ICE Arrests Trans Migrant Woman Month After Release - By Nomaan Merchant, Associated Press
Lawyers for a transgender woman from El Salvador who won her release from immigration detention say she has been arrested and taken back to the same New Mexico facility because the U.S. government is appealing a judge's decision.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement re-arrested the woman Monday during what her lawyers expected would be a routine check-in. The Associated Press is identifying her only by her first name, Joselin.
One of her lawyers says Joselin suffers from seizures as well as symptoms of a traumatic brain injury and had been released from the hospital days before the check-in.
Her lawyer says Joselin's detention is unnecessary because she had a place to stay and was not a flight risk. ICE did not respond to requests for comment Thursday and Friday.
Legislature Considers Legal Marijuana, Tuition-Free College- Associated Press
Lawmakers will push plans to legalize marijuana, underwrite tuition-free college and improve a beleaguered public education system during a 30-day legislative session that begins Tuesday.
Political battle lines are forming on issues ranging from teacher pay increases to a proposed red-flag law that would allow police or relatives to ask a court to temporarily take away guns from people who might hurt themselves or others.
New Mexico state government is forecasting an $800 million surplus for the coming fiscal year. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and allied majorities in the state House and Senate are suggesting a new round of spending increases for public education.
New Mexico Regulatory Agency Hacked - Associated Press
A New Mexico state agency's website is down as a result of what officials say is a ransomware hack. The Public Regulation Commission says its website hasn't been operational since Jan. 9 and likely won't be back in service again for a week or so.
In the meantime, the commission says filings with the commission either must be submitted on paper and sent by postal mail or by hand-delivery to the agency's office in Santa Fe.
The commission regulates utilities, insurance companies, pipeline operators and other entities.
Officials say the breach was contained to the commission and didn't result in compromise to sensitive or confidential data. The state Department of Information Technology is the lead agency in the hacking investigation.
New Mexico Senator Waiting To Decide On Impeachment Charges - Associated Press
New Mexico's senior U.S. senator says he intends to hear all the evidence at the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump before making a decision.
Democratic Sen. Tom Udall was sworn in Thursday for the upcoming trial. Udall’s spokesperson said in an email that Udall is pushing for a full and fair trial to ensure that the facts are fully uncovered.
Two articles of impeachment charge Trump with abuse of power by pressuring Ukraine to help him politically and obstructing Congress's probe into what happened. Udall has been a critic of Trump on a wide range of issues.
Fight Over River Access Simmers Before New Mexico Commission - By Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press
A panel charged with overseeing hunting and fishing regulations and managing wildlife across New Mexico will have its first meeting Friday.
The panel will meet following a shakeup over an ongoing dispute that involves public access to rivers and streams that flow through private property.
Former Game Commission chairwoman Joanna Prukop ran afoul of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last fall when she and other commissioners voted to reconsider the contested rule that limits access.
Questions have been raised about its constitutionality.
The commission under Prukop's leadership had the support of sportsmen groups, conservationists and members of New Mexico's congressional delegation, but the governor's office has opted to replace her with a new board member.
Ruling: Casino Employee Can't Claim Workers' Comp Benefits - Associated Press
The state Supreme Court says at least some tribal casino workers injured on the job can't receive New Mexico workers' compensation benefits.
A ruling Thursday precludes an Isleta Pueblo casino employee who hurt her knee while working from bringing a claim against the pueblo or its insurer under the program.
Program administrators dismissed Gloria Mendoza's claim, saying the pueblo can't be sued in state court or administrative proceedings without its consent under the tribal sovereign immunity doctrine.
Thursday's ruling says Mendoza's claims can't proceed because the pueblo isn't part of the case and there's no indication it ever agreed to participate in the program.
The decision cautions that its conclusions may not apply to all workers' compensation cases involving tribes.
New Mexico Adopts Rule As Oil Industry Touts Fiscal Impact - By Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press
New Mexico regulators have adopted a rule aimed at oil and natural gas companies as the industry touted the more than $3 billion that was pumped into the state's coffers through taxes and revenues during the last fiscal year.
With the change, the Oil Conservation Division will be able to assess civil penalties for violating state laws.
State officials and environmentalists say that will allow for better regulation of the booming industry.
The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association had supported legislation that cleared the way for the change, saying some rules can ensure a level playing field among operators.
Watchdog Group Traces Influence Of New Mexico's Lobbyists - Associated Press
A watchdog group on ethics in government is highlighting the influence of paid lobbyists on the legislative process in New Mexico.
A report published Friday advocates for greater public disclosures on lobbying and a change in the culture of local Statehouse politics.
New Mexico Ethics Watch issued the report that names that state's top registered lobbyists in terms of expenditures and how many clients they represent.
It also traces the influence of lobbyists on recent initiatives for gun control, recreational marijuana legalization, film industry incentives and taxes on tobacco products.
National Preserve In New Mexico Expands Land Holdings - Associated Press
A national preserve in northern New Mexico that is sometimes referred to as the "Yellowstone of the Southwest" has added another piece of property to its land holdings that contains sulfuric acid hot springs, volcanic fumaroles and steaming mud pots.
The National Park Service recently completed the purchase of a 40-acre parcel known as Sulphur Springs within the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
Officials say many of the geothermal features on the property are found nowhere else in New Mexico, and similar sites are very rare in the Western U.S.
The acidic pools and streams in the area also are home to a range of "extremophile" algae and bacteria.
Slain Tejano Singer From New Mexico To Be Honored - Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
A slain Tejano singer from New Mexico will posthumously receive the New Mexico Hispano Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the group recently announced it will give Ernestine Saucedo, known to music fans by her maiden name, Ernestine Romero, the award at their annual Hispano Music Awards.
The event will be held Saturday at the Ohkay Hotel Casino Conference Center. Organizers and Romero's loved ones said the award is one way to help ensure her legacy is not forgotten.
Police said the 32-year-old singer and songwriter was fatally shot in July by her husband, 34-year-old Jessie Saucedo. Authorities say he then killed himself.
Aerospace Company Gets Funding For New Mexico Job Expansion - Roswell Daily Record, Associated Press
An aerospace company has announced it expects to hire more people after it received funding from New Mexico to train its employees at its Roswell Air Center location.
Roswell Daily Record reportedWednesday that the state Economic Development Department gave more than $527,000 to Arkansas-based CAVU Aerospace Inc.
Company officials say they expect to use the money for an audit fee and wage reimbursements to train 37 people for jobs at the company's New Mexico location.
Officials say the new jobs are expected to include four warehouse clerks, four inspectors, 25 aviation maintenance technicians and four aircraft recycling services employees.