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FRI: State Seeks Reforms At Unemployment Agency, Summer Camps Return With Changes, + More

Cedar Attanasio, Associated Press
Glorieta Adventure Camp counselor Kole Linville trains on a zip line in Glorieta, N.M., before campers arrive. The 3,000-bed camp outside Santa Fe opened up at a third of its normal capacity under pandemic restrictions after being closed last year.

  

New Mexico Seeks Reforms At Unemployment Agency - By Morgan Lee, Associated Press

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vowed Friday to replenish the state's indebted unemployment insurance trust fund to avoid future tax increases to businesses and said a $300 weekly federal bonus to unemployment benefits will continue through the expiration date in September.

The comments came as Lujan Grisham announced new efforts to improve responsiveness to calls for assistance with unemployment claims and initiatives to deter fraud that has siphoned off an estimated $133 million from the state unemployment trust. Overpayment of legitimate claims are estimated at over $100 million during the coronavirus pandemic.

Lujan Grisham's administration is in the process of expanding staffing by 110 positions to a total of 380 staff members at the Workforce Solutions Department aimed at improving responsiveness to calls for assistance with unemployment claims.

In attempts to improve the efficiency of unemployment call operators, the governor said she is tapping the expertise of call center executive and Democratic state Sen. Michael Padilla of Albuquerque for a review and policy recommendations. Padilla said he is contributing his time on a volunteer basis.

New Mexico also is turning to federal anti-fraud authorities in attempts to crack down on bogus unemployment claims and cybertheft from the state.

Workforce Solutions Secretary Ricky Serna says about 77,000 residents of New Mexico are currently on unemployment. He says the agency has paid out $3.7 billion in benefits over the past 14 months amid economic turmoil linked to the pandemic.

The state is commissioning an outside analysis of management, operations and information technology at the labor agency though an Albuquerque-based firm called Abba Technologies.

Several states have pulled the plug on the $300 weekly federal supplement over concerns that it may discourage people from returning to work when jobs are available.

Lujan Grisham said most people want to return to work but still may have difficulties because of safety concerns, disruptions in child care and other issues.

Governor Settled Harassment Claim To Focus On Pandemic - By Morgan Lee, Associated Press

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday defended her handling of accusations of harassment by a former campaign spokesman that resulted in a financial settlement of at least $62,500 in payments from her political campaign, explaining that the pandemic demanded her attention.

In her first in-person comments concerning the settlement with James Hallinan, Lujan Grisham briefly described her decision to resolve the matter.

Hallinan, who worked as a spokesman for Lujan Grisham's 2018 campaign for governor, has accused Lujan Grisham of dropping water on his crotch and then grabbing his crotch in the midst of a campaign staff meeting prior to the election — accusations that the governor denies.

"I was focused on the pandemic, and I'll stand by that decision every minute of every day," said Lujan Grisham, describing the decision to settle.

Asked whether there have been any other financial settlements and nondisclosure agreements of a similar nature, the governor said no.

Lujan Grisham's political committee paid at least $62,500 to an attorney for Hallinan. Payments were made in five monthly installments to a law firm representing Hallinan, who now runs a public relations and political consulting firm.

Lujan Grisham previously issued a denial of Hallinan's public allegations through a campaign spokesman. It is unclear whether Hallinan's harassment accusations ever were independently vetted.

"I have not seen anywhere in the country where there's an independent investigation over an employment claim," Lujan Grisham said Friday at a news conference. "I've been open and transparent and will continue to do that."

Multiple sexual harassment and groping allegations against Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo have prompted an investigation by that state's attorney general and are included in a probe by the New York Assembly into possible impeachment charges.

Lujan Grisham said "those are not issues you find anywhere in this administration," and noted that there was no substantiation of Hallinan's claims by witnesses.

The incident allegedly took place at the home of state Rep. Deborah Armstrong, a former campaign treasurer and private business partner to Lujan Grisham. Armstrong has said she never witnessed anything inappropriate.

State campaign finance regulators say that the settlement payments from a political campaign account are permissible because they involve an employment dispute related to Hallinan's time with the governor's election campaign.

The governor's office and campaign have declined to say whether further payment is still due to Hallinan.

Navajo Nation Reports No Additional Deaths From COVID-19 Associated Press

The number of new coronavirus cases on the Navajo Nation remained low Friday while the tribe reported no additional deaths.

The figures bring the total number of COVID-19 cases on the vast reservation to 30,914 since the pandemic began. The death toll stands at 1,334.

Navajo President Jonathan Nez urged residents to be mindful of safety precautions and to consider getting vaccinated. Tribal officials have said they want to see at least 75% of the eligible population vaccinated to reach community immunity.

More than half of residents on reservation that stretches into New Mexico, Arizona and Utah eligible to get vaccinated are fully vaccinated. Health facilities are offering vaccines during drive-thru events or by appointment.

Indigenous Youth Take On Mental Health, Wellness Challenge Associated Press

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday told a virtual gathering of Indigenous youth that there are no excuses for government not do whatever it can to improve their quality of life and to bolster programs aimed at preventing youth suicide.

She made the remarks during a summit organized by the state, other partners and the Indigenous Youth Council, which is a panel of young people from Native American communities around New Mexico.

Lujan Grisham said conversations about wellness and mental health shouldn't focus on how expensive or difficult it might be address the issues if there's a chance that lives can be saved by making more programs and services available to youth in their own communities.

The governor also challenged council members to tap into their cultural values and their own experiences as they look for solutions.

"Make no mistake that your state needs you," she said. "We respect you and we value that you will help guide us to investments and programs and services and opportunities that can change the course of so many lives in this state."

The summit is the result of numerous calls by tribal leadership and youth to improve access to behavioral and mental health services, particularly amid the pandemic. Indigenous communities were hit hard as internet connectivity and the lack of other basic infrastructure complicated matters.

Horse Owners Mount Legal Challenge Against New Mexico Panel - By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press

An organization that represents thousands of race horse owners, breeders and trainers around New Mexico is challenging regulators in state district court over a recent decision to change the way some purse winnings are distributed.

Also at issue is the state Racing Commission's move to halt the collection of fees that fund medical expenses for horsemen and their employees and legislative lobbying efforts.

The New Mexico Horsemen's Association contends in recent court filings that commissioners are taking away a large portion of the group's funding by prohibiting members from contributing 1% of their race winnings to the association and by ending the contribution of starter fees that fund medical expenses as well as fees that go toward advocacy efforts.

The association said the commission adopted the changes without any notice and horsemen were not given an opportunity to testify before the commission.

The group contends that commissioners made the changes as retaliation for its opposition to purse money being used to cover operational costs at the state's five privately owned tracks. According to the group, more than $8 million has been diverted from purses to the tracks for certain operating expenses, including to purchase insurance.

The group also has criticized the commission for canceling some race meets and shortening others and has long demanded good tracks and safe and clean backsides, which include stable areas.

A motion filed this week by the association states that the commission sees the horsemen as "a thorn in their side" rather than a partner that has advocated for horse owners by protecting purse money and race dates.

"Let there be no mistake," the motion stated. "This is a fight to save horse racing in New Mexico and if this commission wins, horse racing will sadly deteriorate to the point of being a sideshow at casinos existing solely to help casinos keep their license and keep the pueblos and Indian nations from claiming a breach of the Indian gaming compacts."

The commission did not immediately comment on the pending litigation.

In a letter sent in May to association attorney Gary Mitchell, the commission's lawyer wrote that the decision to halt contributions to the association from purse winnings was not taken lightly but that it will translate to an addition of about $700,000 a year to purse money.

The horsemen's most recent motion argues that the commission has no control over the money that horsemen have won once races are concluded, testing has been done and the purses released.

"The money belongs to the horsemen and they use it as they see fit," the association argued, saying the system for member contributions has been in place since the 1960s.

Weather Service Says Arizona Will Get Hot, Even For The LocalsAssociated Press

Dangerously hot temperatures are expected in Arizona next week. The excessive heat warning has prompted health officials to reschedule outdoor COVID-19 vaccination operations in Tucson, fire officials in Phoenix are rotating crews working major fires and the Border Patrol is warning about the dangers migrants face crossing the desert.

The warning issued by the National Weather Service for high temperatures of up to 118 degrees for desert areas of south-central Arizona is set begin Saturday and extend to next Friday.

The warning "means that a period of very hot temperatures, even by local standards, will occur," the weather service's Phoenix office said.

People should try to stay indoors, drink more water than usual and check on family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly, the weather service said.

Heat warnings and advisories also were issued for large areas of California, Nevada and New Mexico, where the city of Las Cruces opened cooling stations for residents — particularly the elderly and high-risk people.

The Salvation Army announced Friday it would activate 11 heat relief stations in metro Phoenix where people can get water and cool off in buildings with air conditioning.

Salvation Army personnel also will deliver water to people living nearby and the organization will send a mobile hydration unit to homeless encampments, officials said.

Additional hydration stations will be operated by local governments and nonprofits at libraries, public pools, churches and other community sites in the Phoenix area.

Because of the forecast midday heat in Tucson, mobile COVID-19 vaccination units will change their hours, operating Saturday through Monday for four hours beginning at 7 a.m. and then again for three hours beginning at 7 p.m., Pima County officials said.

That's to avoid subjecting clients, workers and volunteers to the expected temperatures of over 105 degrees for sustained periods, officials said.

The Phoenix Fire Department said high temperatures already are a concern for crews fighting large fires.

Firefighters on Thursday took turns using hoses and ladder-mounted cannons to fight a fire at a metal recycling yard that took hours to extinguish, with firefighters rotating off to drink water and cool down, the department said.

In southern Arizona, the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector said migrants put their lives at risk when they cross the Sonoran Desert in the summer.

Adults traversing the desert in summer heat must drink at least two gallons (7.5 liters) of water daily to survive, the agency said in a statement Thursday.

Last week, Border Patrol agents in the Yuma Sector to the west found the remans of two migrants who died in separate locations: a 40-year-old Mexican man and a 20-year-old Guatemalan woman.

Summer Camps Return But With Fewer Campers And Counselors - By Cedar Attanasio and David Sharp Associated Press/Report For America

Overnight summer camps will be allowed in all 50 states this season, but COVID-19 rules and a pandemic labor crunch mean that many fewer young campers will attend, and those who do will have to observe coronavirus precautions for the second consecutive year.

The Southeast is the first region to kick off camps this month, with other parts of the country to follow in July.

"Camp might look a little different, but camp is going to look a lot better in 2021 than it did in 2020, when it didn't happen," said Matt Norman of Atlanta, who is getting ready to send his 12-year-old daughter to camp.

Even though most camps will be open, reduced capacity necessitated by COVID-19 restrictions and the labor shortage will keep numbers well below a normal threshold of about 26 million summer campers, said Tom Rosenberg of the American Camp Association.

Across the country, many camps face competition for counselors in a tight job market. Traditional recruitment tactics like job fairs on college campuses have been canceled.

"It's been hard to get people to work," said Josh Nelson, at Glorieta Adventure Camp, a facility in pine-covered foothills outside Santa Fe, New Mexico.

A group of Glorieta camp staffers started their orientation by rolling up their sleeves and getting vaccinated in an area between the mess hall and the water slides. But many campers are too young to get the shots because the vaccines have not been approved for children under 12.

That means this year's camp experience will still involve many of the same prevention practices that were adopted at the small number of camps that operated last year. Those measures include grouping kids in cohorts, mandating masks, emphasizing social distancing — and lots of hand washing. Some states, like Vermont, are offering free virus testing for campers.

At an all-girls camp called Fernwood in Maine, about 200 of the 300 counselors and campers will be vaccinated by the time the six-week term starts.

"Going into it, it's a much better scenario for us. Because instead of being worried about 300 people, we're worried about 100 people," Fernwood Director Fritz Seving said.

Norman plans to send daughter Jane Ellen to Camp Illahee in Brevard, North Carolina, and he's glad the camp is encouraging vaccinations.

Jane Ellen agreed and said the focus on vaccines is a good idea.

"If most people are vaccinated, the more people can go," she said.

Back at Glorieta, staff arrived in May from Oklahoma, Texas and a college town in Mexico called Puebla, where an in-person recruiting fair took place. They have been training on safety protocols, including virus protection, zip lining and life guarding.

The camp is running at one-third capacity — 1,100 out of 3,000 slots are filled — and staff will be grouped in pods. Kids are expected to wear masks, even outdoors, except when the are eating meals or in their sleeping dorm.

More than 90% of the staff agreed to be vaccinated, but there was no mandate for vaccinations.

Even with those limitations, the outlook is much better than last year, when camp was canceled and 80% of the staff was laid off by March, Nelson said. Federal Paycheck Protection Program loans helped but didn't alleviate all of the financial pain, he said.

Rosenberg said camp is more important than ever in terms of providing normalcy for kids who have dealt with remote learning, canceled events and boredom at home, not to mention health worries.

"Kids have been traumatized. They've had some real academic losses. We still haven't talked enough about the social and emotional learning losses," he said.

Camp will let them "practice engaging peer to peer" and offer a chance to "to try new activities, take positive risks and be out in nature, and sort of regain some of the humanity they've lost over the past year."

Last year, about 19.5 million kids missed out on camp, but most of the overnight camps that opened operated successfully. There were a few notable outbreaks. More than 250 people were infected at a camp in Georgia, and more than 80 infected at a camp in Missouri.

New Mexico Again Offers Virus Relief To Immigrants, Elderly - By Cedar Attanasio Associated Press / Report For America

New Mexico officials are opening up applications next week for the second round of cash payments to residents who are ineligible for federal stimulus funds, including immigrants in the country without legal permission.

The application window for the $5 million program opens Monday, the Human Services Department announced Thursday, and closes June 25.

Applicants must be New Mexico residents who didn't qualify for the $1,400 federal stimulus checks.

Immigrants in the country illegally were among those who applied in the last round, often using their tax identification numbers and state driver's licenses to prove residency.

Others eligible for the money include elderly residents that can be claimed as dependents by caretakers and others excluded by IRS rules.

The department says it will prioritize the lowest-income applicants and may dole out less than the $750 authorized by the state legislature in order to help the most people with the highest need. Around 15,000 people received checks of about $465 each from a similar round of state funding in December, excluding around half of those who applied.

The New Mexico state legislature funds the program with an appropriation from federal pandemic relief funds. Cities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe have similarly aided residents ineligible for federal payments, using their own pandemic relief dollars.

State and local officials have also distributed billions of dollars in pandemic relief to businesses and individuals who are also eligible for direct federal relief payments.

 

New Mexico Amends Rules To Prohibit Oil And Gas SpillsSanta Fe New Mexican, Associated Press

It will be unlawful for oil and natural gas drillers to spill liquid waste under revised rules adopted Thursday by New Mexico oil and gas regulators.

The unanimous vote by the state Oil Conservation Commission comes after the panel heard testimony from environmentalists, industry representatives and residents during a daylong hearing.

The changes stem from a joint proposal by the state's energy agency and the environmental group WildEarth Guardians.

Before now, New Mexico did not have a rule that expressly prohibited drillers from spilling oil, waste water from the drilling process or other liquids. Instead, companies were required to report spills and then work with the state to clean it up.

Industry representatives told the commission that leeway should be given to operators who sustain spills because of weather events, vandalism, equipment breakdowns and other things beyond their control.

Critics argued that the previous rules were inadequate and relied on an honor system that not all operators adhered to, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

Environmentalists during the hearing pointed to state data that showed there were roughly 12,000 spills and releases between 2010 and 2020.

Daniel Timmons of WildEarth Guardians said in a statement that the changes will provide incentive for companies to prevent spills from happening in the first place.

Eastern New Mexico Flooding Prompts Emergency Declarations Associated Press

Severe flooding in eastern New Mexico has prompted Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to declare states of emergency in Lincoln and Chaves counties.

The governor issued her executive orders Wednesday, freeing up $1.5 million for the counties to use for repairs and to prevent more damage.

State officials say the flooding that began over the Memorial Day weekend continues to threaten public safety and critical infrastructure.

Local officials pointed to a levee near Roswell that was overwhelmed by heavy rain and storm runoff over the holiday weekend. They said the water had breached the levee in at least two locations.

The city of Roswell shared video footage of the flooding on social media following a tour last week. Residents also posted images and video of water flowing through neighborhoods and covering streets.

Officials in both counties said the emergency declarations will help to open avenues for relief for those affected by the flooding.

State Homeland Security and Emergency Management Secretary Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim said her agency has been working with local officials, the American Red Cross and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since last week.

"Despite this tragedy, our department has been inspired by the way these communities have come together to protect one another, propose solutions, and begin recovering from this disaster," she said.

Trial Begins In Rape, Killing Of 6-Year-Old In New Mexico - Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press

Opening statements have started this week for a trial against a New Mexico man prosecutors say raped and killed 6-year-old Ariana "Jade" Romeo in August 2018.

Jade's mother, Stephanie Romeo, told a jury on Wednesday that she came home from a long night of work and climbed into the bed beside her daughter without realizing the girl was dead. Romero recounted that the following morning on Aug. 11 she tried to wake the girl up.

Court records show Ariana Romeo, who was mostly nude and bloodied, was cold to the touch, not breathing and wrapped tightly in a blanket. She also had multiple injuries to her body. The medical examiner's office ruled her death as homicide by strangulation.

The Rio Rancho Police Department responded to the home where an officer encountered a man, later identified as a suspect, Leland Hust, 24, leaving a room in the home. It is unclear what, if anything, Hust told police that day.

A criminal complaint revealed detectives later interviewed Hust on Aug. 23, where he told detectives he last saw Ariana Romeo on Aug. 10 when he put on a movie for her in her room. He denied having anything to do with her death. The complaint also said laboratory results from the New Mexico State Crime Lab matched Hust's DNA to DNA found from the girl's genital swabs. 

Hust is charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death and rape of a child younger than 13, both first-degree felonies. Hust could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of either charge.

His attorney Michael Rosenfield told jurors that police botched the investigation and later coerced Hust into making incriminating statements by overstating the strength of DNA evidence implicating Hust, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

"This is a murky case based on insufficient investigation," Rosenfield said, noting during his opening statement that sloppy police work destroyed evidence at the scene that could have identified the killer.

Assistant District Attorney Jannette Mondragón argued that Hust was the only member in the home who could not be eliminated as a source of the DNA. She also said he was the last person to see her alive, a claim Rosenfield disputed.

Two Rio Rancho firefighters and the owner of the home, Brenda Scates, were also called to testify.

The trial is expected to last up to 10 days.

2 Española Officers Fatally Shoot Man During Park EncounterAssociated Press

Two Española police officers fatally shot a man who allegedly used his vehicle to drag one of the officers during an encounter in a park, the New Mexico State Police said.

The officers drew their guns and shot Luis Nathan Leyba, 38, of Española, Tuesday night after he disregarded commands to stop, a State Police statement said.

A woman who was with Leyba was released from a hospital after treatment for minor injuries, the statement said.

The two officers were placed on administrative leave pending the State Police investigation into the incident.