The cumulative total of COVID-19 cases rises to 16,936 with 215 new COVID-19 cases being reported this morning and 325 delayed positive test results being reported by the State. The results have been retroactively placed in the appropriate CDC week and positivity rates for those weeks will be adjusted accordingly.

Seven additional deaths are also being reported bringing the total number of deaths to 307.

The deaths include 1 male in his 40s, 2 males in their 60s, 2 males in their 70s, 1 male in his 80s, and 1 female in her 90s. All 7 patients had underlying health conditions. As a reminder, the deaths did not occur on the same day, but rather between the last week of July and first week of August.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A judge has ordered the hospitalization for mental health treatment of a second member of an extended family confronting firearms, kidnapping and terrorism-related charges.

The case stems from a 2018 raid on a remote compound in New Mexico where a child’s decomposed body was discovered. Court records on Tuesday show 42-year-old Lucas Morton was found incompetent to stand trial by a federal judge and should be committed to a medical center for treatment.

New Mexico State University Chancellor Dan Arvizu announced a series of broad organizational changes today for NMSU Alamogordo, NMSU Carlsbad and NMSU Grants. While the mission of each campus will remain the same, the three community colleges will undergo administrative restructuring and other adjustments to transition into a more integrated system of branch campuses. The moves will allow NMSU to better serve each of these communities, with added programming from the NMSU main campus, but at a lower cost to taxpayers. At this time, the changes will not affect NMSU’s Doña Ana Community College.

PHOENIX (AP) — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez has asked President Donald Trump to commute the death sentence of a Navajo man convicted in the 2001 killing of a fellow tribal member and her 9-year-old granddaughter.

Nez cited the tribe’s longstanding opposition to the death penalty in a July 31 letter to Trump that asks for Lezmond Mitchell’s sentence to be reduced to life in prison. Mitchell is the only Native American on federal death row. Tribal officials and even the victims’ family opposed his death penalty, despite the grisly nature of the killings.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican Gov. Greg Abbott says coronavirus testing in Texas could increase as schools reopen amid a sharp drop-off in the number of tests in recent weeks.

Texas has averaged more than 34,000 tests a day over the past week. That's down from a daily average of more than 60,000 in late July.

New cases and hospitalizations have stabilized and decreased, and coronavirus deaths in Texas have reached nearly 8,500.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A panel that oversees water quality and permitting issues across New Mexico has been forced to cancel another meeting.

The reason is the state Environment Department doesn’t have the staff needed to organize meetings for the boards and commissions under its umbrella. That means it could be September before the Water Quality Control Commission meets again, putting on hold decisions about everything from lower financing rates for rural water projects to enforcement actions against polluters.

  SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Tuesday announced 202 additional COVID-19 cases and 3 deaths.

As of today, there are 134 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.

  Las Cruces Public Schools has released its Red Plan for welcoming students back to school for the 2020-2021 school year. The plan outlines new protocols for instruction, technology and nutrition services while students are in a fully online, remote setting beginning Wednesday, Aug. 12.  

A decision was made last month to temporarily suspend the Yellow Hybrid model for the return of school, citing growing numbers of Covid-19 cases in Doña Ana County. A hybrid model divides students into two cohorts for two days of in-person instruction at school, three days of remote learning, and one day of deep cleaning in between the two cohorts.