US Seeks Dismissal Of New Mexico's Immigration Lawsuit - By Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press
U.S. lawyers want a judge to dismiss claims by New Mexico that immigration officials shirked their duties earlier this year by quickly releasing thousands of mostly Central American migrants into communities after they crossed into the United States.
New Mexico claimed in a lawsuit filed in June that the practice left communities to pick up the tab for housing and feeding the asylum-seekers until they moved on to find relatives or other hosts elsewhere in the U.S.
A judge is scheduled Wednesday to hear the government's motion for dismissal. The timing of a ruling is unclear.
Proposal Re-Designates Monument As New Mexico National Park – Carlsbad Current-Argus, Associated Press
A bill has included language to re-designate a national monument in New Mexico that could now become the state's next national park.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reported Tuesday that the National Defense Authorization Act advanced through Congress with a conference report identifying the national monument as White Sands National Park. Officials say the bill also included details about a land swap between the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Army.
The House and the Senate must now vote on the report before it is expected to reach President Donald Trump next week to be signed into law.
Epstein Lawyer Disappointed Women Won't Give Up Lawsuits - By Larry Neumeister Associated Press
A lawyer for Jeffrey Epstein's estate says he's disappointed that women who say the financier sexually attacked them aren't suspending lawsuits to join a special compensation fund.
Attorney Bennet Moskowitz told a Manhattan federal judge Wednesday that the women instead are moving full steam ahead with their lawsuits. A lawyer for one of the women says she has very low confidence in the integrity of the process set up by the estate to compensate victims.
More than a dozen lawsuits are seeking compensation for women who say they were abused at Epstein's homes in Manhattan, Florida, New Mexico, the Virgin Islands and Paris.
Police Say Suspect Killed New Mexico Man To Impress Cartel – Hobbs News-Sun, Associated Press
A southeastern New Mexico man reportedly says he wanted to prove himself to a Mexican drug cartel when he allegedly shot and killed another man last week.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports Anthony Breeding told police he shot Jose Angel Rivera, who was found under the carport of his home between Hobbs and Nadine on Thursday.
Deputies discovered Rivera lying underneath the carport in a pool of blood from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.
The 35-year-old Breeding was arrested Friday and charged with murder and aggravated burglary.
Lea County Sheriff Corey Helton told the News-Sun that authorities believe Breeding was working for a Mexican drug cartel.
It was not known if Breeding had an attorney.
Hearing On Medical Pot For Ailing Pets Delayed In New Mexico – Associated Press
A public hearing has been delayed on a petition to open New Mexico's medical marijuana program to ailing pets.
The state's medical cannabis advisory board declined to hear the proposal Tuesday because a quorum of board members was not in attendance or available by phone.
Ailing household pets would have access to medical marijuana prescribed by veterinarians if the petition were to move forward. Cannabidiol-infused products derived from hemp and marijuana are widely marketed to pets, but no state has authorized medical pot for pets.
About 78,000 people participate in the state's medical marijuana program for conditions ranging from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.
Police Say Subway Worker Robbed Shop To Teach 'A Lesson' – Las Cruces Sun-News, Associated Press
An employee of a New Mexico Subway sandwich shop is facing charges after police say she robbed the place to teach another worker "a lesson."
Lorena Ariana Marin, 22, and her alleged accomplice Angelo Rey Espinosa, 19, were arrested Monday night following reports of a robbery in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the Las Cruces Sun-News reports.
Police said Espinosa allegedly stood by while Marin verbally and physically threatened the employees after hopping behind the counter. They ushered the employees to the back of the store, but one employee ran to her car and got away.
Marin told officers she committed the robbery "to teach one of the employees a lesson about what could happen late at night in that part of town." Marin and Espinosa are facing robbery charges.
No attorney was listed for either suspect. They are being held without bail at the Doña Ana County Detention Center.
New Mexico County Sees More Lawsuits On Inmate Abuse Claims - By Russell Contreras Associated Press
A New Mexico county involved in one of the largest prisoner civil rights settlements in U.S. history is facing more federal lawsuits over its treatment of inmates.
Attorney Matt Coyte recently filed two lawsuits on behalf of inmates who allege mistreatment and abuse at the Doña Ana County Detention Center in Las Cruces. One lawsuit says Susan Hylton was placed in solitary confinement for 85 days after she sought to report sexual and physical abuse following a strip search.
Court documents say Antonio Reali, of Coarsegold, California, was refused proper medical care after he suffered a heart attack.
Coach Bob Davie's Buyout To Cost New Mexico $825K – Associated Press
It will cost the University of New Mexico $825,000 to buy out the two years remaining on head football coach Bob Davie's contract.
University President Garnett Stokes said Tuesday she signed off on the deal, the terms of which were disclosed during a regents meeting. Davie finished 35-64 after his eighth season at New Mexico, though he twice guided the Lobos to bowl games and earned New Mexico's first bowl victory in 10 years.
But the last three seasons were marked by more losses than wins.
Report Finds National Laboratory Lost Track Of Nuclear Waste – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
An annual report on hazardous waste violations has revealed a contractor overseeing operations at a National Laboratory in New Mexico lost track of 250 barrels of waste in the past year.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Monday that Triad National Security LLC had 19 violations of its permit from the New Mexico Environment Department after the contractor mislabeled and improperly stored waste containers at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Regulators say the barrels filled with low-level radioactive waste and other hazardous materials were shipped to a waste plant in Carlsbad without tracking.
A spokesman says lab personnel were awaiting arrival of the waste to the plant before updating the shipping data.
Agency Halts Monitoring Of University On Sexual Misconduct – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
The U.S. Department of Justice is ending its monitoring of a 2016 agreement with the University of New Mexico on prevention and handling of sexual assault and harassment.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the department told the university last week that it has determined "no further action is warranted at this time" while cautioning that it still could investigate any future complaints.
University President Garnett Stokes announced the development during a Board of Regents meeting Tuesday and said the university has complied with training and all other requirements of the agreement on sexual misconduct prevention.
The agreement also called for the university to revamp policies and investigation methods and it avoided a federal lawsuit against the university.
Measure Aimed At Preserving Native Languages Clears Congress - By Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press
Congress has approved legislation that would extend federal programs aimed at preserving American Indian languages and expand eligibility to more tribes.
The measure is named after Esther Martinez, a traditional storyteller and Tewa language advocate from a northern New Mexico pueblo. Her family and members of the state's congressional delegation are praising passage of the bill. The measure now heads to the president's desk.
Dozens of tribes across the country are currently sharing in more than $11 million in grants for language preservation and immersion through the programs.
Judge Halts Some Military Spending On Border Wall - Associated Press
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from spending some Defense Department money to build a border wall with Mexico, the latest twist in a long-running legal battle over one of the president's signature domestic issues and campaign priorities.
The ruling applies to $3.6 billion that was diverted in September from 127 military construction projects to build 175 miles of border wall.
The Justice Department says it will appeal.
Hearing On Medical Pot For Ailing Pets Delayed In New Mexico – Associated Press
A public hearing has been delayed on a petition to open New Mexico's medical marijuana program to ailing pets.
The state's medical cannabis advisory board declined to hear the proposal Tuesday because a quorum of board members was not in attendance or available by phone.
Ailing household pets would have access to medical marijuana prescribed by veterinarians if the petition were to move forward. Cannabidiol-infused products derived from hemp and marijuana are widely marketed to pets, but no state has authorized medical pot for pets.
About 78,000 people participate in the state's medical marijuana program for conditions ranging from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.
New Mexico Considers Medical Pot For Ailing Pets – Associated Press
New Mexico is considering whether ailing household pets should have access to medical marijuana prescribed by veterinarians.
The state's medical cannabis advisory board was scheduled Tuesday to hear a petition allowing marijuana prescriptions for dogs with epilepsy. The discussions follow related proposals in California and New York.
CBD-infused products derived from hemp and marijuana are widely marketed to pets, but no state has expressly authorized medical pot for pets.
About 78,000 people participate in the state's medical marijuana program for conditions ranging from cancer to Alzheimer's disease. Lawmakers will consider a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana next month.