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SAT: New Mexico Airports To Share Almost $2M In Federal Funds, + More

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New Mexico Airports To Share Almost $2M In Federal Funds -Associated Press

Airports in several New Mexico communities will share nearly $2 million in federal funds to make runway infrastructure improvements.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced the grants this week.

The money includes $750,000 for the Roswell International Air Center as a revenue guarantee and for a marketing program to facilitate direct service to Denver via United Airlines.

Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation applauded the funding, saying the state's regional airports serve as critical lifelines for rural communities and their economies.

Gallup, Carlsbad and Portales were among the other communities to get grants.

Groups Want Cows Corralled To Protect Jumping Mouse Habitat -Associated Press

Environmentalists say U.S. land managers are failing to keep livestock and wild horses out of streams and other wetlands in Arizona's White Mountains, resulting in damage to habitat that a rare species of mouse depends on. They are suing in federal court.

The battle over the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse has been ongoing for years.

The mouse was listed as an endangered species in 2014.

That prompted the U.S. Forest Service to fence off streams and watering holes in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado to protect habitat thought to be ideal.

Forest officials said Friday that work is continuing and disputed the allegations.

New Mexico To Host Conference For Western Pecan Growers -Associated Press

Pecan growers from across the West will be gathering in southern New Mexico in the coming weeks to talk about the potential for a pecan market in India, drip irrigation and weevils.

New Mexico State University says the annual Western Pecan Growers Conference will kick off on March 1 in Las Cruces.

This will be the 54th year for the gathering, which draws growers from New Mexico, Arizona, West Texas and California.

Experts from New Mexico State and the University of Georgia will be among the presenters.

New Mexico led the nation in pecan production in 2019, followed by Georgia.

Medical Marijuana Rules Change For New Mexico Visitors -Associated Press

New Mexico has stopped issuing medical marijuana enrollment cards to people who live outside the state but will soon allow nonresident patients enrolled in other state programs to buy pot.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday reinstated a residency requirement for participation in the state's medical cannabis program by signing a measure passed by lawmakers.

At least 613 nonresidents have enrolled in the medical pot program since the residency requirement was dropped last year.

On July 1, New Mexico will recognize medical marijuana cards issued by other states.

Officials say the goal of recognizing out-of-state cards is to allow patients to access cannabis just like other medications.

New Mexico Funnels Economic Development Dollars To Hemp Farm -Associated Press

The state is funneling more economic development dollars to the hemp industry, as another business plans to expand its operations in southern New Mexico.

The Economic Development Department said Friday it has committed $600,000 in local economic development funding to Natural ReLeaf. That will be matched by more than $5 million in private investments.

The company began growing hemp last year and is ready to expand its manufacturing capacity and add more greenhouses that would be capable of growing the crop year-round.

State officials say Natural ReLeaf is expected to create 56 jobs over the next two to three years.

Ex-Deputy Gets 7 Years For Drug Trafficking In New Mexico -Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press

A judge has sentenced a former Colfax County sheriff's deputy to seven years in prison for drug trafficking and theft in New Mexico.

The Albuquerque Journal reported that the former deputy said at his sentencing hearing Thursday that he was tempted by the money and had disgraced his law enforcement agency, the public and his family.

Prosecutors say he hid $4,200 in cash in the tailpipe of his truck, stole more than $13,000 and confiscated marijuana from two men, and accepted $10,000 to escort a load of cocaine through Colfax County.

He pleaded guilty in 2016.

New Mexico Sues Google Over Collection Of Children's Data -Associated Press

New Mexico is suing Google over allegations the tech company is illegally collecting personal data generated by children in violation of federal and state laws.

The state attorney general's office has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court.

Attorney General Hector Balderas claims Google is using its education services package that is marketed to school districts, teachers and parents to spy on children and their families.

He says the company is mining data without parental consent on physical locations, websites visited, saved passwords and other information.

Google disputes the allegations, saying the service allows schools to control account access and requires they obtain parental consent when necessary.

Navajo Nation, San Juan County To Pursue Freight Railroad -Associated Press

The Navajo Nation and New Mexico's San Juan County have entered into an agreement to pursue a freight railroad to serve the Four Corners area.

Thursday's agreement means cooperation between both governments to pave the way for rail service and the improvement of the local economy.

Over the last few decades, there have been several feasibility studies to examine proposed alignments of freight rail service to Four Corners.

The rail system would be a short line intended to carry freight from the area of San Juan County, south through the Navajo Nation and to the established Interstate 40 corridor railroad.