SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed two judges to fill court vacancies in northern and southern New Mexico.

The governor's office said in a statement Thursday that Lujan Grisham has appointed Thomas E. Lilley to fill a vacancy in the Fifth Judicial District Court, which includes Roswell. Melissa A. Kennelly will become a judge in New Mexico's Eighth Judicial District Court, which includes Taos.

With many modern conveniences as intuitive as they’ve become, like the lights in your house being programmable and controlled from your phone, it seems lawn irrigation should also be just a matter of setting and forgetting.

However, “Many people don’t check up on their controllers’ programming every couple of months,” said Ken Futrell, of Ewing Irrigation. “Homeowners may increase or decrease the time that the system runs, but not actually check to make sure the true water needs are met – but not exceeded – which can lead to wasted water.”

  SAN DIEGO (AP) — A federal judge says he will give the Trump administration six months to identify children who were separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border early in the president's term.

U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw said Thursday in San Diego that it was important to set a deadline for finding potentially thousands of children who were separated between July 1, 2017, and June 25, 2018.

But he says he'll consider an extension if needed.

A search committee at New Mexico State University has selected two finalists in the nationwide search for the next president of Doña Ana Community College. The finalists will visit the DACC campus and hold forums with students, faculty, staff and community members Tuesday, April 30, and Wednesday, May 1, in Las Cruces.

  EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A utility warehouse in West Texas has been converted to a shelter for immigrants.

The 500-bed House of Refugees in El Paso will temporarily host asylum-seeking families released by immigration officials to the Annunciation House shelter network.

With plans to add 1,000 beds, it could become one of the largest migrant shelters on the border.

The 125,000-square-foot (11,600-square-meter) facility will save the charity money. It spent over $1 million since October on hotel rooms for migrants — or about 1,000 people per week.

  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico plans to issue specialized green bonds as it borrows roughly $12 million to complete efficiency and renewable energy upgrades on a fleet of state buildings in the capital.

The New Mexico Finance Authority on Thursday approved the bond issue to help fund improvements to about 30 state agency buildings in Santa Fe. The project includes the replacement or addiction of solar panels, companion battery storage, electrical inverters and more efficient door and windows.

  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Republican Party on Thursday urged the state's top election regulator to resign as secretary of state because she is running for the U.S. Senate.

The state GOP said that Democrat Maggie Toulouse Oliver should resign to ensure the integrity of the 2020 election. The party provided phone numbers for the secretary of state's office and urged voters to request that Toulouse Oliver resign.