ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a Mesquite man has been arrested in connection with the death girlfriend’s 5-month-old daughter last month. Doña Ana County Sheriff’s officials say 23-year-old Israel Ramirez is facing one count of intentional child abuse resulting in the death of a child under 12 and one count of intentional child abuse resulting in great bodily harm of a child under 12. Both charges are first-degree felonies. The Albuquerque Journal reports that child’s mother _ 23-year-old Danielle Lujan _ is facing charges with child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, also a first-degree felony. Ramirez and Lujan were arrested Thursday and being held without bond at the county jail.

  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A top political aide to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has been arrested after accusations that he stole money from investors looking to join the state’s new hemp industry. Court records show Todd Smith is charged with third-degree felony theft. Smith is a longtime political aide to Miller, whose department issues licenses to grow hemp, which became legal in Texas in 2019. Smith is accused of taking money from prospective hemp producers who thought they were securing a license. He was released from an Austin jail Friday and did not return messages seeking comment.   

  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The state Supreme Court has upheld a lower court decision allowing the no-bail release of an 18-year-old with no prior criminal history who is accused of a string of residential burglaries in Albuquerque. The Friday ruling rebuffs public prosecutors who say risks to the community can’t be mitigated by electronic tracking devices and supervision. Justice Michael Vigil announced the court’s decision following oral arguments and brief private deliberations. Prosecutors say community safety should be a higher priority in New Mexico's no-cash bail system. The case against releasing Jesse Mascareno-Haidle is the latest challenge by law enforcement to that system. He has pleaded not guilty.

  LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Many municipal employees of New Mexico’s second most populous city who have worked remotely during the pandemic are back at their regular work sites. Most city workers were deemed essential and worked on site during the pandemic, but up to 40% of the work force had been working remotely. The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that changed in the past week when employees were ordered to return to in-person work under a phase-in approach that has returning employees working on site at least three days a week. The city cited Dona Ana County’s declining daily coronavirus case numbers and increasing vaccinations.

  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico officials have released the names of dozens of people who are vying to be appointed to the state's new Cannabis Regulatory Advisory Committee. The list of 161 people was posted online Friday. State officials said they're committed to ensuring a transparent process as the state prepares for recreational marijuana sales. Under state law, the advisory committee needs to be established no later than Sept. 1. The panel will be charged with advising the Cannabis Control Division on the development of rules covering best practices and the promotion of economic and cultural diversity when it comes to licensing and employment opportunities.

  The Las Cruces City Council will meet via video conference at 1 p.m. Monday, May 10, 2021 for a Work Session.

OIR Group, the new, independent police auditor hired by the City of Las Cruces, will be introduced to the City Council at Monday’s Work Session. On February 16, City Council unanimously approved a one-year contract, with an option to renew for as many as four additional one-year terms, for an amount not to exceed $75,000 annually. The City had been without a police auditor since August 2019.

  The City of Las Cruces Economic Development Department will join with other economic development organizations across the U.S. to observe Economic Development Week 2021, which will be from May 9 through May 15.

Economic Development Week was created by the International Economic Development Council in 2016 to increase awareness of local programs that create jobs, advance career development opportunities, and improve communities’ quality of life everywhere. In the past five years, more than 450 campaigns have been made throughout the U.S. and Canada.

  Frenger Pool, 800 Parkview Drive, will be closed for repairs beginning Monday, May 10. As a timeline for completion becomes clear, an update on progress will be given.

During the closure, lap swimming will be available at the Las Cruces Regional Aquatic Center, 1401 E. Hadley Ave., from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday’s by reservation only.

For information, call 575/541-2782.

Over the past year, it’s likely that recycling may not have been a priority. However, you might have had plenty of Amazon boxes that ending up in your blue bin. But, did Styrofoam from curbside pickup or a greasy pizza box end up there too? That’s contamination that decreases the quality of our recycling, and it’s a problem that takes everyone to solve.

The West Mesa Industrial Park Wastewater Treatment Facility (Facility), operated by Las Cruces Utilities (LCU), treats approximately 150,000 gallons of wastewater per day. There’s plenty of equipment that helps those thousands of gallons get processed, and over time, that equipment needs to get replaced.