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THURS: Study Finds West In A Megadrought, State Logs Record Number Of COVID-19 Deaths, + More

Megan Kamerick
Elephant Butte reservoir in late 2017 with "bathtub ring"

Study Finds Warming Makes US West Megadrought Worst In Modern Age - By Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writer

A new study finds that much of the western United States is baking in what scientists call an emerging megadrought.

Thursday's study in the journal Science blames almost half the problem on man-made global warming, which scientists say is only getting worse.

Multi-decade deep droughts happen every couple of hundred years. But the current one is one of the most severe since the year 800.

Some scientists say this drought, which started in 2000, may not have lasted long enough yet to qualify as a megadrought.

Scientists looked at a nine-state area from Oregon and Wyoming down through California and New Mexico, plus a sliver of southwestern Montana and parts of northern Mexico. They used thousands of tree rings to compare a drought that started in 2000 and is still going — despite a wet 2019 — to four past megadroughts since the year 800.

With soil moisture as the key measurement, they found only one other drought that was as big and was likely slightly bigger. That one started in 1575, just 10 years after St. Augustine, the first European city in the United States, was founded, and that drought ended before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620.

This week, water managers warned that the Rio Grande is forecast to have water flows less than half of normal, while New Mexico's largest reservoir is expected to top out at about one-third of its 30-year average.

State Logs Record Number Of COVID-19 DeathsAlbuquerque Journal

State health officials said the number of positive COVID-19 cases in New Mexico rose today by 116 to 1,597. There were also eight additional deaths.

It was the largest death count for one day so far according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Three of the deaths were in San Juan County and all but two deaths were of people with underlying medical conditions.

There are currently 90 people who are hospitalized.

New Mexico AG Says Retirement Community Failed To Follow OrdersAssociated Press, KUNM

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is investigating an Albuquerque retirement community where dozens of residents and employees have become infected with the coronavirus.

Balderas said in a letter sent Thursday to La Vida Llena officials that preliminary findings indicate the company failed to follow public health orders, didn't establish a means of communicating with residents and discouraged personnel from wearing personal protective equipment.

Ten La Vida Llena residents who tested positive have now died. In all, New Mexico has had about 1,600 cases and nearly four dozen deaths due to the virus.

The attorney general said in his letter that he was notifying La Vida Llena of the deficiencies that were uncovered in the hope that changes would be made so residents and staff can "remain as safe as possible during this unprecedented pandemic."

La Vida Llena officials issued a statement Thursday questioning why the attorney general would make public incomplete findings from an investigation that's still ongoing. They also said no members of the leadership team have been interviewed by Balderas' investigators.

They added when he does contact them, they will be “fully cooperative” and will detail the actions taken to follow state and federal orders and directives.

According to the attorney general’s office, the Health Department had previously conducted a formal review of La Vida Llena's infection control protocols in anticipation of the COVID-19 threat and found that the community failed to adhere to public health orders issued by the state.

For example, state officials said La Vida Llena allowed both communal dining and health facilities to remain open after the state of emergency was declared in New Mexico.

At the end of March, La Vida Llena executive director Linda Givens announced that a resident had tested positive. She went on to say there was no exposure to other residents and attending staff had been using the appropriate protective gear and that the community was "following every recommended protocol."

However, the attorney general's office pointed to a "very concerning disregard" for the protective measures called for in the public health orders.

Among the additional eight deaths reported Thursday by state health officials was a woman in her 80s who was a La Vida Llena resident.

The Health Department has identified cases at seven other congregate living facilities around New Mexico.

New Mexico Small Businesses Rail Against Lockdown Order - By Russell Contreras, Associated Press

Small business owners in New Mexico are pleading with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to ease some coronavirus restrictions as federal statistics showed another spike in unemployment.

The owners pressed this week for the Democratic governor to consider modifying some restrictions after she halted nonessential business activity last month.

According to figures Thursday from the U.S. Department of Labor, 19,494 people in New Mexico applied for unemployment benefits last week compared to a revised number of 26,132 the week before. Both are among the highest of weekly unemployment claims in state history.

Lujan Grisham on Wednesday ruled out lifting significant business restrictions.

Following the criticism aimed at Lujan Grisham, her spokesman Tripp Stelnicki sent a tweet Thursday comparing a group he declined to name to a "death cult."

The tweet was quickly denounced by the Republican Party of New Mexico, which recently held a video conference call with small business owners and said it thought the tweet was directed at the party.

Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett said the restrictions in northwestern New Mexico have hurt small businesses so badly that some may never reopen.

He asked for the city of about 45,000 people to be declared an "economic emergency area" — a symbolic act he hopes influences other mayors follow to put pressure on the governor.

New Mexico Diocese To Let Small Number Of People Attend Mass - By Russell Contreras, Associated Press

A Roman Catholic diocese in New Mexico says it will reopen churches and allow a small number of people to attend public celebrations of Mass in what could be the first move to alter a diocese-declared ban on public services in the U.S.

Diocese spokesman Christopher Velasquez said Wednesday that priests were encouraged to hold public Mass at the Las Cruces Diocese while having parishioners abide by social distancing restrictions ordered by the governor.  That means five or less people in attendance who must stay 6 feet apart.

The Catholic News Agency reports the diocese is the first in the nation to modify a declared diocesan ban on public Masses.

The diocese also announced it would allow priests to hold outdoor Mass services while people stay in their cars.

The Santa Fe Archdiocese and Gallup Diocese — New Mexico's other Catholic dioceses — are continuing a ban on gatherings and in-person Mass services.

Torres Small Has Huge Cash Advantage In Key US House Race - By Russell Contreras, Associated Press

Democratic U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small is maintaining a huge fundraising advantage over three Republican opponents for a critical seat in southern New Mexico.

Federal campaign finance records released Thursday show she raised nearly $760,000 during the first three months of 2020 and had $2.9 million in cash on hand.

She has more than three times the amount of money in her campaign coffers as her Republican opponents combined. Oil executive Claire Chase reported raising $319,842 and had $263,899 in cash on hand.

Former state lawmaker Yvette Herrell's campaign says she raised $122,601, with $377,755 in cash on hand. Las Cruces businessman Chris Mathys reported raising $3,810, with $200,075 in cash on hand.

New Mexico Horse Owners Push For Lifting Live Racing Ban - By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press

New Mexico's horse racetracks have been idle for weeks now because of a string of public health orders issued in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

While the grandstands and casinos are empty, some stables are still operational as groomers and others take care of the horses.

A group of New Mexico horse owners on Thursday asked state racing regulators to consider options for restarting live racing, saying it could be done with the right protocols in place to protect the horses, jockeys and the personnel needed to run races.

Such a move would need the approval of the governor. The state Racing Commission would have to adopt rules for reopening.

National Forests In New Mexico Impose Campfire Restrictions - Associated Press

National forests around New Mexico are imposing campfire restrictions to protect the health and safety of employees and communities during the coronavirus outbreak. 

Forest officials from Taos to Alamogordo announced Wednesday that campfires will be prohibited through June 30 on all five forests and on national grasslands in New Mexico and neighboring Oklahoma and Texas. 

They're taking the step to prevent the drawdown of fire and medical resources to unwanted human-caused wildfires and to reduce firefighter exposure to COVID-19. 

Violating the campfire restriction may result in an appearance in federal court, fines and possible time in jail. 

While the restrictions are in place, the majority of the five forests in New Mexico are still open and camping outside of developed sites is allowed.

No End In Sight For New Mexico Emergency Restrictions Associated Press, KUNM 

There is no end in sight for a public health emergency declared by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in response to the coronavirus as deaths accelerate.

The governor and public health officials announced on Wednesday there were 80 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 1,484. There were no new deaths so the total is still 36. There are currently 90 people in the hospital and 353 have recovered.

An attorney for the governor on Tuesday said the state is almost certain to extend into May its current public health emergency that has suspended nonessential businesses and banned gatherings of more than five people.

Republican elected officials and some small business owners are pressuring the state to reopen with small niche businesses with social distancing guidelines that have been sidelined, as major retailers including Walmart consolidate control over essential and nonessential retail operations.

During Wednesday's briefing, Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase praised social distancing efforts that he says are helping flatten the curve on more outbreaks. The time it takes for the virus to double is continuing to go up and is currently at 4.6 days.

New Mexico To Join Pilot US Effort On Contact Tracing - By Morgan Lee, Associated Press

New Mexico’s governor said Wednesday that the state has accepted an invitation from the White House to participate in a pilot program to improve detection and contact tracing for coronavirus infections in efforts to better isolate outbreaks. 

Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the offer came up in a Wednesday conversation with the White House, and that it was unclear whether other states would be involved. 

She said the nascent effort appears to involve the CDC and the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, along with coronavirus task force adviser Debbie Birx. 

New Mexico has consistently been among the top U.S. states in testing per capita for COVID-19.

Governor Lashes Out Over Hospital Layoffs Associated Press

During a coronavirus briefing Wednesday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham lashed out at the health care sector for attempting to shelter future profits a day after several hospitals in New Mexico announced major reductions in staff.

She acknowledged that health care organizations are under financial stress because of a state directive to suspend elective, nonessential surgeries and procedures. But she added that the state has advanced $30 million in Medicare revenues, while a federal stimulus package includes $150 billion in support for the industry.

The hospital staff reduction comes on top of a collapse of the tourism sector and anemic oil prices that are roiling the state economy as state labor officials rush to distribute new unemployment benefits and small business loans.

State health officials currently expect COVID-19 infections to peak in May, putting pressure on health care capabilities — especially rural networks.

New Mexico Weighs Plans To Replace Coal-fired Power Plant - By Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press

New Mexico regulators are weighing plans by the state's largest electric provider to replace the capacity that'll be lost when it shutters a major coal-fired power plant in 2022. 

The plans call for a mix of new natural gas plants, solar arrays and battery storage. 

Members of the Public Regulation Commission during a meeting Wednesday raised concerns that when seeking bids, Public Service Co. of New Mexico did not specify the preference for locating the new projects near the existing power plant. 

State law calls for location to be among the considerations as a way to offset the tax revenue and jobs that will be lost with the San Juan Generating Station's closure. 

Navajo Nation Extends Weekend Lockdowns As Virus Cases Rise - By Felicia Fonseca Associated Press

The Navajo Nation is extending its weekend lockdowns to combat the spread of the coronavirus on the vast Native American reservation that lies in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. 

The tribe last weekend first put in place the lockdown prohibiting people from leaving their homes except in emergencies on the reservation where about 175,000 people live. That came after weekday nighttime curfews were imposed that remain in place. 

The number of Navajo Nation coronavirus cases topped 900 Wednesday with 38 deaths. Navajo Nation police issued more than 100 criminal nuisance lockdown violation citations last Friday and Saturday.