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Parents Get Preview Of School-Lockdown Video, Farmington Aims To Keep Coal Power Plant Open

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New Mexico Parents Get Preview Of School-Lockdown Video -Associated Press

A school district in New Mexico is giving parents a preview of an instruction video on lockdown situations associated with active shooters that will be shown to students.

Santa Fe Public Schools advised parents Friday evening in a robocall about the upcoming video presentation for children titled, "Run, Hide, Fight."

The 13-minute video was posted on the district website and YouTube. It provides demonstrations and instructions about responding to strangers without ID stickers and then how to barricade doors, hide from "bad guys," flee school and possibly fight using improvised weapons such as a stapler, scissors or computer. It notes that classrooms are equipped with bucket toilets to avoid life-threatening trips to the bathroom.

Safety lessons are delivered by an elementary school teacher, basketball coach and district Superintendent Veronica Garcia.

New Mexico City Aims To Keep Open Coal-Fired Power Plant -Associated Press
Farmington city officials have signed an agreement with a company that proposes outfitting the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station with carbon-capture technology in an effort to extend its life.

The city announced the agreement with Enchant Energy Corp. on Friday. Under the plan, the company would acquire a 95% ownership interest from utilities that will be divesting in the plant in 2022.

That's when Public Service Co. of New Mexico plans to shut down the facility as it moves toward a 2040 emissions-free goal. The utility's decommissioning application is pending before state regulators.

Environmentalists oppose keeping the power plant open.

There also are questions about how Enchant Energy's plan will fit in with the state's new energy transition law, but Farmington officials say the proposal could save hundreds of jobs.

New Mexico Unemployment Unchanged At 4.9 Percent In July -Associated Press

New Mexico's unemployment rate in July remained at 4.9 percent.

Seasonally adjusted figures released Friday show the jobless rate was unchanged from a month earlier but up from 4.8 percent a year earlier.

Excluding agriculture, employment grew by 21,700 jobs from July 2018, with gains coming from the public and private sectors.

The leisure and hospitality sector saw the largest year-over-year job gains, followed by mining and construction.

The trade, transportation and utilities sector saw a loss of 2,100 jobs, driven by lower employment in retail.

GOP Senate Candidate Files Financial Disclosures -Associated Press

Financial disclosures by Republican U.S. Senate candidate Gavin Clarkson show that he works as professional court witness and lives in an experimental tiny home that is 15 feet (4.5 meters) long and wide.

Clarkson campaign spokesman Stephen Sebastian said Thursday that the tiny home in southern New Mexico owned by Clarkson is a prototype of an affordable housing unit geared toward Native American communities.

Clarkson has recently used his expertise in tribal finance and economic development to work as a college professor, private consultant and former official for the Trump administration.

He filed required financial disclosures with the Senate this week as he seeks the Republican nomination to succeed Democratic Sen. Tom Udall, who retires next year.

Clarkson lost his campaign last year for New Mexico secretary of state.

VP Mike Pence To Speak On Trade Agreement In New Mexico -Associated Press

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has been scheduled to visit New Mexico as a special guest for a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade event.

Local news stations reported Thursday that Pence is expected to attend the Aug. 21 event hosted by America First Policies, an organization supporting policy initiatives.

Federal officials say Pence will speak about how the USMCA agreement will benefit the economy and its workers.

Officials say the agreement was drafted last year and is a renegotiated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Officials say the USMCA passed Mexico's Senate, passed Canada's House of Commons and still needs approval from the United States Congress.

The event will be held at 12:30 p.m. at Elite Well Services in Artesia about 250 miles (402 kilometers) southeast of Albuquerque.

Hundreds Come To El Paso Victim's Funeral -Associated Press

Hundreds of strangers have come to pay their respects for a victim of the El Paso, Texas, mass shooting who had few family members.

The mourners braved 100-degree heat Friday to stand outside an El Paso funeral home to honor 63-year-old Margie Reckard. She was one of 22 people killed by a gunman who opened fire at a Walmart in the city earlier this month.

Jordan Billard flew in from Los Angeles on Friday after hearing Reckard's long-time companion, Antonio Basco, say he lost his closest family member and had few relatives left. After she heard him inviting the public to the funeral, the 38-year-old Billard says she bought a ticket to come to Texas.

Twenty-one-year-old Natalie Sanchez of El Paso also came to the service and says she's in awe of how her city is rallying around a stranger.

Arizona Game And Fish Hope To Stave Off Elk And Deer Disease -Associated Press

Arizona wildlife managers are taking preventive measures against a disease that can kill deer, elk and other animals.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department says Chronic Wasting Disease has been reported in several neighboring states including Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.

Officials are cracking down on rules involving the transportation and possession of elk and deer into Arizona by out-of-state hunters.

Among them is that hunters may enter with meat that is boneless or has been commercially butchered and packaged. Other conditions include having hides without meat or soft tissue.

Hunters can check with their state about all the rules.

CWD is a neurological disease that attacks the brains of infected animals and is always fatal. Officials say it can spread through animal-to-animal contact or soil, plants or contaminated surfaces.

Court Limits Order That Had Stopped Trump Asylum Limits -Associated Press

A federal appeals court ruling will allow the Trump administration to begin rejecting asylum at some parts of the U.S.-Mexico border for migrants who arrived after transiting through a third country.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar's order would only apply to states within the circuit. Two southern border states, California and Arizona, are in the circuit's jurisdiction, but New Mexico and Texas aren't.

The two busiest areas for border crossings are in South Texas' Rio Grande Valley and the region around El Paso, Texas, which includes New Mexico.

The American Civil Liberties Union says it will continue fighting the restrictions.

The U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately comment.