Update

NM Mental Health System Audit, Fix Could Hit $21M - Associated Press and The Albuquerque Journal

State officials say the potential price tag for fixing problems within New Mexico's behavioral health system could reach nearly $21 million.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that an audit of 15 providers cost around $3 million to produce. That audit alleged potential fraud and resulted this week in the halting of Medicaid payments and other funding to the 15 nonprofits.

IG Pushes Los Alamos To Do More On Safety-The Associated Press

Another federal report is criticizing Los Alamos for not doing enough to protect the public from dangerous releases of radiation in the event of wildfires or an earthquake.

Item That Exploded On FedEx Truck In NM Was A Tire - Associated Press

Authorities say an item that exploded on a parked FedEx truck in Albuquerque was a tire.

There are no reported injuries.

Albuquerque police say the explosion was reported just before 7 p.m. Wednesday.

A police bomb squad was called to the scene to assess the situation along with an Albuquerque Fire Department hazmat crew.

Authorities say the driver of the FedEx truck lives in the area and typically parks his vehicle at the location of the explosion.

Obama Announces New Council For Native Americans - The Associated Press

Citing a history of mistreatment that has hurt Indians, President Barack Obama has established a White House Council on Native American Affairs to promote a healthier relationship among the United States and tribal governments.

The leaders of 30 federal departments and agencies will serve on the council, which is charged with aiding tribes with economic development, transportation, housing and health care.

NM High Court To Hear Internet Cafe Gambling Case - Associated Press and Las Cruces Sun-News

The New Mexico Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case about a Las Cruces man accused of running a gambling enterprise out of his Internet cafe.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that the state's high court recently said it will hear arguments next month in the case involving businessman Michael T. Vento.

Silver Fire Jumps To 125 Square Miles - Associated Press

A furious wildfire torching through the mountains of southern New Mexico's Gila National Forest has grown to 125 square miles and is expected to keep expanding.

Fire officials said late Monday that the Silver Fire continued to burn to the north and west as crews battled the raging blaze amid dry and breezy conditions.

Officials say the fire remains 20 percent contained, mainly in the south toward the bottom of the inferno.

Audit: NM Mental Health Companies In Possible Fraud - Associated Press

2 Rival Albuquerque Gangs Agree To 'Truce' - KRQE-TV and Associated Press

Members from two rival gangs in Albuquerque have called a truce.

KRQE-TV reports that leaders from two of the largest African American gangs in Albuquerque — the Kirk Town Piru and Blackstone Rangers — agreed to a truce Saturday during a meeting in a city park.

Both sides promised that they would no longer engage in physical fights or shootings.

Border Security Amendment Offered In Senate -Associated Press

Evacuation Order Lifted Near Raging Silver Fire - The Associated Press

An evacuation order for a historical mining town near a wildfire in southern New Mexico's Gila National Forest was lifted Thursday as the growing blaze jumped to 57 square miles, officials said.

Incident Commander Matt Reidy announced that Kingston residents with special entry permits will be allowed to return to the town but cautioned that fire danger remained for the area.

Residents: Action Needed On NM Mine Due To Cancer - The Albuquerque Journal (AP)

Western New Mexico residents say federal officials need to either move the tailings from an abandoned uranium mill near Milan or relocate the owners of about 75 nearby homes.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that residents told a top U.S. Environmental Protection Agency official Tuesday that a cluster of cancer cases in subdivisions near the Homestake Mining Co. uranium mill show a need for immediate action by the agency.

Albuquerque Police Hold Water Drive For Magdalena - The Associated Press

The Albuquerque Police Department is holding a water drive for the village of Magdalena, whose well has gone dry.

The effort, which runs through Thursday night, will collect bottles and jugs of water at the Prisoner Transport Center, across the street from the main police station in downtown Albuquerque.

All of the donated water will be transported to the town of Magdalena in south-central New Mexico Friday morning.

Gonzales Confirmed As Federal Judge - The Associated Press

The Senate has confirmed New Mexico U.S. Attorney Ken Gonzales to be the state's next federal judge.

Senators voted unanimously in favor of Gonzales Monday evening, and the state's two senators immediately recommended that President Barack Obama appoint one of his assistants, Damon Martinez, to replace him.

Martinez has served as an assistant U.S. attorney since 2001 and currently supervises the Organized Crime and Gang Section in Albuquerque.

NM Delegation Pushes To Improve Tribal Education - The Associated Press

New Mexico's congressional delegation has introduced a bill aimed at improving tribal education and preserving Native American language in schools.

NM Investment Funds Up Nearly $2B In Quarter  - The Associated Press

A legislative report shows New Mexico's endowment and pension funds grew by nearly $1.9 billion during the first quarter of the year.

The Legislative Finance Committee reports that the Public Employees Retirement Association had investment returns of 5.4 percent during the first three months of the year, with pension fund assets of $13 billion.

​Report: IG Faults Payments To Ex-Rep. Wilson - The Associated Press

The Energy Department's inspector general says former Congresswoman Heather Wilson collected $450,000 in questionable payments from the nation's federally funded nuclear labs after she left office.

A report says the New Mexico Republican failed to document what she did to earn $20,000 a month from New Mexico's Los Alamos and Sandia national labs from 2009 to 2011.

Lawmakers Told That NM Drought Likely To Persist - The Associated Press

State water officials say the prospects are bleak that seasonal rains will provide much relief from the drought gripping New Mexico.

Legislators were told Monday by the State Engineers Office that the precipitation outlook for June to August is likely below normal for the eastern two-thirds of New Mexico and the odds favor above normal temperatures for most of New Mexico.

NM Earns Nearly $48M From Trust Lands - The Associated Press

Royalties from leases and oil and natural gas production on New Mexico trust land netted nearly $48 million in revenue in May.

The revenue coming into the State Land Office each month supports public schools, universities and hospitals.

New Mexico Land Commissioner Ray Powell says the goal is to create jobs while protecting the state's working lands.