Virgin Galactic Reveals Futuristic Outpost For Space Tourism – By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
Spaceport America is no longer just a shiny shell of hope that space tourism would one day launch from this remote spot in the New Mexico desert.
The once-empty hangar that anchors the taxpayer-financed launch and landing facility has been transformed into a custom-tailored headquarters where Virgin Galactic will run its commercial flight operations.
Company officials, offering the first glimpse of the facility Thursday, say the space is meant to create "an unparalleled experience" as customers prepare for what Virgin Galactic describes as the journey of a lifetime.
Just how soon customers will file into Virgin Galactic's newly outfitted digs for the first commercial flights has yet to be determined. A small number of test flights are still needed.
Billionaire Richard Branson, who is behind Virgin Galactic, and former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, first pitched the plan for the spaceport nearly 15 years ago.
There were construction delays and cost overruns. Virgin Galactic's spaceship development took far longer than expected and had a major setback when its first experimental craft broke apart during a 2014 test flight, killing the co-pilot.
At the facility Thursday, the carrier plane for Virgin's rocket-powered passenger ship made a few passes and touch-and-goes over a runway.
Virgin Galactic Unveiling Mission Control For Space Tourism - By Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press
Virgin Galactic plans to unveil its digs at Spaceport America, providing the first glimpse of mission control, a prep area for pilots and a lounge where paying customers will wait for their flights to space.
Company officials are gathering Thursday at the remote facility in the New Mexico desert to show off two levels of the custom-tailored hangar at the taxpayer-financed spaceport.
It's unclear how soon commercial flights could begin. Company officials have said a small number of test flights must be completed.
Billionaire Richard Branson and former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, first pitched the plan for the facility nearly 15 years ago.
Virgin Galactic's spaceship development has taken far longer than expected and had a major setback when the company's first experimental craft broke apart during a 2014 test flight, killing the co-pilot.
Colorado River Improves, But Voluntary Cuts Loom – Associated Press
A federal report released Thursday says the water level in Lake Mead, the biggest reservoir on the river, is expected to be slightly below 1,090 feet above sea level on Jan. 1.
That's nearly 15 feet higher than projected last year, thanks to a snowy winter. It means river users will avoid tougher mandatory cutbacks.
But it's low enough for Mexico and the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada to make voluntary reductions from their share of water, which they agreed to in March.
The Colorado River serves 40 million people in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming as well as Mexico.
Attorney Says Officials Force-Feeding Immigrant On Hunger Strike – By Martha Mendoza, Garance Burke And Cedar Attanasio, Associated Press
An attorney for an Indian man seeking asylum in the U.S. says he has been force-fed at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas as they approach their third week of a hunger strike.
Linda Corchado, the lawyer for three of the men, says they are trying to appeal or reopen asylum claims that were denied.
With growing numbers of people seeking asylum or to immigrate now locked in detention, this week's force feeding — and numerous others over the past year — lays bare a complex process the U.S. government has established to handle immigrant detainees who protest by refusing to eat.
Environmental Lawyer Enters Race For US House Seat – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
An environmental lawyer has entered the crowded field of New Mexico candidates aiming for Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján's seat.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Kyle Tisdel of Taos announced his candidacy Wednesday.
Tisdel directs the climate and energy program for the nonprofit Western Environmental Law Center.
The other Democratic candidates include First Judicial District Attorney Marco Serna, attorney Teresa Leger Fernandez, Sandoval County Treasurer Laura Montoya, state Rep. Joseph Sanchez, and former CIA operative and author Valerie Plame.
Luján is running for an open U.S. Senate seat in 2020.
Lawmakers Seek Reforms On Domestic Terrorism – Associated Press
Leading New Mexico state legislators and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham want to write new definitions and possibly penalties related to domestic terrorism into state law in the aftermath of a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas.
The announcement Wednesday came as lawmakers, public safety Cabinet members and local law enforcement officials gathered for a briefing by the FBI and discussions about how to respond to the shooting at a Walmart in El Paso that killed 22.
Lujan Grisham said changes to state statutes regarding terrorism-related crimes would be aimed at strengthening investigative capabilities. Attorney General Hector Balderas said those legislative proposals could include stronger penalties for hate-related crimes.
Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf says the state may create a domestic terrorism unit to increase preparedness. Democratic Senate majority leader Peter Wirth expressed support for "red-flag" legislation that makes it easier to take guns away from people who pose a danger to themselves or others.
New Mexico AG Evaluates Safety At Shopping Venues - Associated Press
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says his office is evaluating public safety at big-box stores and other shopping venues in the aftermath of the Aug. 3 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas.
Balderas on Wednesday attended a summit on domestic terrorism convened by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Arriving at the closed-door summit, Balderas said he thinks authorities can do a better job at protecting areas where families congregate, socialize and shop. He says the attorney general's office is in communication with large-scale retailers in high-crime zip codes about security efforts.
Balderas also is highlighting increased activity within the state among biker gangs and militia-style groups with access to high-intensity firearms. He says his office began a concerted effort five years ago to track hate groups.
Anti-Terrorism Summit Looks At Hate Groups – Associated Press
A summit about domestic terrorism threats has convened in New Mexico to consider expert testimony from the FBI, the Anti-Defamation League, the Southern Poverty Law Center and local law enforcement.
New Mexico public safety authorities and lawmakers gathered in the governor's office Wednesday for the one-day summit in response to the Aug. 3 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas.
The discussions involve sensitive security information and were closed to news media.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called the summit to improve preparedness for possible attempts at mass violence.
Those participating in the summit include leading Democratic and Republican state legislators, Cabinet secretaries overseeing public safety and emergency management, and the state attorney general.
Authorities say the El Paso shooting suspect confessed to targeting people of Mexican descent. There were 22 people killed in the attack.
Spanish Conquistador Reenactment Replaced With New Ceremony - Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
Organizers of the retired annual reenactment of a 17th-century conquistador reclaiming Santa Fe after a Native American revolt are set to hold a new ceremony.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the Caballeros de Vargas announced Tuesday it will hold a new event this year that will include Hispanics and Native Americans.
Amid public outcry, the Caballeros de Vargas last year retired the dramatization of the Spanish reentry into Santa Fe after abandoning the city during the Pueblo Revolt. Native American activists had long said the reenactment was offensive.
Group president Thomas Baca-Gutierrez said the new ceremony will emphasize "the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary" in the lives of Spanish settlers and Native Americans.
New Mexico Legalizing Marijuana Job Numbers May Be 'Decent' – By Russell Contreras, Associated Press
Legalizing recreational marijuana in New Mexico would create needed jobs in one of the poorest states in the nation, but the numbers would pale in comparison with jobs in other industries, an economist told a bipartisan group Wednesday.
Kelly O'Donnell, who has analyzed recreational and medical marijuana use, said allowing legal recreational marijuana in the state would create around 11,000 jobs compared with 121,000 current jobs in health care or 97,000 in retail trade.
O'Donnell made the comments as a bipartisan group appointed by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to study legalizing recreational marijuana in the state held its first public policy meeting.
The group has been tasked with crafting recommendation for state lawmakers to examine, which could open the door for New Mexico to join states like Colorado that allow legalize recreational marijuana use.
New Mexico Med Cannabis Future Eyed Amid Reforms - Associated Press
New Mexico Health Secretary Kathyleen Kunkel says states that have legalized recreational marijuana use have seen their medical cannabis programs affected.
Kunkel told a bipartisan group studying legalizing recreational marijuana in the state on Wednesday that's why any proposal to legalized recreational marijuana should seek to protect New Mexico's current medical program.
She says medical marijuana patients seek items like oils and suppositories that wouldn't be sought by potential recreational users.
Kunkel says separate the medical marijuana and recreational systems would help current medical cannabis users.
Her comments came as medical marijuana providers told the study group that any proposal to legalized recreational marijuana in New Mexico should offer protections to their operations.
Attorneys General Sue Over Public Benefit Immigration Rule – Associated Press
Attorneys general in 13 states, including New Mexico, have filed a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration rule that'll allow immigration officials to deny green cards to migrants who use public assistance, including food stamps or housing vouchers.
The federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in Richland, Washington, follows a similar one Tuesday by two California counties.
Under new rules unveiled this week, Citizenship and Immigration Services will consider whether applicants have received public assistance among other factors such as education to determine whether to grant legal status.
The attorneys general argue the expansion will cause "irreparable harm" and deter noncitizens from seeking "essential" public assistance.
The lawsuit names the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A spokesman didn't return a message Wednesday.
The states involved are: New Mexico, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington.
New Mexico Democrat Haaland Backs Impeachment Inquiry – Associated Press
Democratic U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico is calling for an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.
The first-term lawmaker from Albuquerque said Wednesday in a statement that Trump "has proven he's unfit to serve as president" and that Congress needs to "shed light on what his administration is hiding and hold the president accountable."
Haaland previously said she favored more aggressive oversight of Trump that might lead to impeachment hearings.
A tally by The Associated Press indicates more than half of House Democrats support launching an impeachment inquiry.
Vandals Hit LGBTQ, Immigrant Church 3 Times In A Week - KRQE-TV, Associated Press
A New Mexico church known for welcoming LGBTQ residents and immigrants has been vandalized three times in a week.
KRQE-TV reports the Metropolitan Community Church in Albuquerque is working to repair hundreds of dollars in damage following the attacks.
Pastor Judith Maynard says the vandalism started Aug. 7 when someone broke a door window. She says after the door window was fixed, someone broke another window in the same door the next day.
On Tuesday, vandals struck again, breaking the window of another door and shattering a double-pane window inside.
No arrests have been made.
The Christian church has been at the same location for 18 years and it has reported only a few minor episodes in its history.
New Mexico Casino Allows Bets On In-State University Teams – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
A New Mexico casino has made the decision to accept bets on collegiate football and basketball games involving in-state teams.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Tuesday that Isleta Resort & Casino will accept wagers on the University of New Mexico Lobos and New Mexico State University Aggies beginning this upcoming season.
Casino officials say the decision means bettors can gamble on the outcome for the two New Mexico teams when they compete against another Football Bowl Subdivision level opponent.
University officials say sports gambling is a NCAA violation and a major concern because people could begin communicating outcomes with student-athletes, coaches and staff.
Officials say sports gambling in New Mexico has been legal for two years, but Isleta would be the first to accept bets on in-state collegiate sports year-round.
Wildlife Officials Reviewing Death Of Mexican Gray Wolf - Associated Press
Wildlife managers are investigating the death of a Mexican gray wolf found last month in New Mexico.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Wednesday the endangered wolf belonged to the Whitewater Canyon pack, which has been roaming in the north-central area of the Gila National Forest.
Officials say there have been seven documented wolf mortalities between January and June. They initially reported eight.
Survey results released earlier this year indicated there were at least 131 wolves in the mountain ranges spanning southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona.
A subspecies of the Western gray wolf, Mexican wolves have faced a difficult road to recovery that has been complicated by politics and conflicts with livestock.