BERNALILLO, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s state climatologist says the fingerprints of climate change are evident in the persistent drought that's plaguing the American Southwest.

Dave DuBois says dry areas are becoming drier due to a semi-permanent high-pressure system over the West that has become stronger in recent years. He also warned during an online briefing Thursday that the region should be prepared for more warm temperatures and less precipitation this fall and winter.

  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — President Donald Trump is hinting at a visit to New Mexico without providing further details in a tweet about protecting gun rights and building a border wall. Trump tweeted Friday, “Working hard in New Mexico. ... Will be there soon.” The Trump administration has completed 20 miles of border wall construction along the 185-mile section of New Mexico’s southwestern border with Mexico. Trump last visited the state a year ago and this year has highlighted violent crime trends in Democratic-led Albuquerque. Hillary Clinton won the state in 2016 by a margin of 8 percentage points.

  SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Friday announced 263 additional COVID-19 cases and six deaths.  

As of today, there are 75 individuals hospitalized in New Mexico for COVID-19. This number may include individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 out of state but are currently hospitalized in New Mexico. This number does not include New Mexicans who tested positive for COVID-19 and may have been transferred to a hospital out of state.

SANTA FE – Public Safety Secretary Mark Shea was dismissed Friday. 

The state administration is taking the opportunity of a leadership change to strengthen the mission of the Department of Public Safety to deliver vigorous and smart-on-crime statewide law enforcement, with a renewed emphasis on community police work and the unequivocal protection of New Mexicans’ civil rights.

State Police Chief Tim Johnson will serve as interim secretary. Deputy Chief Robert Thornton will serve as interim state police chief. The administration has begun a search for a replacement secretary. 

  As a result of the most recent lowering of restrictions mandated by the Governor’s Office and New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), the Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department will adjust its Phase 2 plan accordingly to reopen park areas and provide limited services while remaining in compliance with the Governor’s public health order.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Voters across New Mexico have submitted nearly 250,000 absentee ballot requests with especially strong demand among Democrats for alternatives to in-person voting amid the pandemic.

State election regulators on Thursday also said initial vote tallies could extend beyond Election Day if voters wait until late in the cycle to mail or hand deliver ballots. Fewer than 8,000 absentee ballots were cast statewide in the 2016 presidential election.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Western New Mexico University and Chino Mine’s parent company are co-hosting an expo next week to help mine employees put out of work by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Silver City community’s first drive-through training expo is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Officials with Freeport-McMoRan and the university say advisers will provide services and give personal consultations to mine employees and contractors.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s Democratic senators have placed the judicial confirmation process for two U.S. District Court vacancies on hold until after the Nov. 3 election.

They say the president has politicized the process, so they’ll wait until the voters have spoken. Using their home-state consultation authority, Sens. Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall confirmed Thursday that they have interrupted the vetting of the two lifetime appointments.