Regional

  SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Saturday announced 164 additional COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths.

As of today, there are 68 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, N.M. (AP) — The leader of a nonprofit organization that oversees sports programs for New Mexico schools says she's optimistic that high school students will have a fall season. New Mexico Activities Association Executive Director Sally Marquez on Friday welcomed the state's loosening of training restrictions. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office says she's continuing to evaluate a proposal from the NMAA for volleyball and cross country teams to compete. It's unclear how soon a decision could be made. Under the state's latest public health order, competitive contact play remains off-limits.

  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The number of policies violated at the Albuquerque Police Department skyrocketed 275%, and suspension jumped more than 350%. KOAT-TV reports documents on police misconduct showed the number of policy violations increased from 190 to 716 over a year. The number of violations requiring a suspension rose from 52 to 237. The station compared data from July 2018 to June 2019 to information from July 2019 to June 2020. Interim police chief Harold Medina says the Albuquerque Police Department is now holding officers accountable. But Albuquerque Police Officers’ Association president Shaun Willoughby says officers are being punished for things like not putting away lapel cameras properly.

  The Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department announces interested community members can access the final assessment report for the Las Cruces Skate Park, 151 N. Walnut St., at www.las-cruces.org/LCSkatePark.

The study started in May and was completed in July to determine renovation priorities for the skate park rehabilitation capital project.

Parks managed by Doña Ana County’s Facilities & Parks Department are opened again to public access, effective this week.

“We still have a County ordinance and a statewide public health order,” said County Manager Fernando R. Macias.  “We remind everyone to wear a facial covering, keep social distance of at least six feet and gather in groups smaller than 10.”

Community Centers throughout the County remain closed.  For questions, please call Doña Ana County’s Facilities & Parks Department at  575-647-7112.  

  SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Friday announced 154 additional COVID-19 cases and 5 deaths.

As of today, there are 72 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, NM-- Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative to upgrade the visitor experience at Dripping Springs. Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks National Monument has seen an increase in visitation since its designation in 2014, and nowhere is this more evident than at Dripping Springs. From 2014 to 2019, visitor days have shot up from 23,143 to 115,360. This is a trend we don’t see changing, as the current public health crisis has demonstrated the value our protected public lands holds for all of us.

A docent program centered at Dripping Springs will provide visitors with knowledge of the history, wildlife, plant life and geology of a truly one-of-a-kind area. Docents will be available to lead hikes for students and families, as well as answer questions for visitors before and after they hit the trails. Most importantly, the docents will teach visitors how we can best protect our cherished landscapes and public lands.

A man suspected of using a crowbar to attack a friend’s home and damage at least two vehicles was arrested Wednesday morning after he violently attacked a Las Cruces police officer.

Dominic Lopez, 36, whose address is listed as 999 W. Amador Ave., is charged with one third-degree felony count of aggravated assault on a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony count of battery on a peace officer and a misdemeanor count of resisting, evading or obstructing a peace officer.

Every pipe put in the ground can face damage, like rainwater shifting dirt and a line being punctured by rocks. However, steel gas lines face other challenges; they can corrode with rust over time. There are specific sacrifices involved in maintaining the lines - in this case, it’s another chunk of metal, called a sacrificial anode, that takes the heat for corrosion instead of the gas line.

Similar to what might be found in a home’s water heater, these sacrificial anodes are designed and placed to protect gas lines, along with specific coating on the pipes themselves that protects the steel from the corrosive effect of the soil.

The subject of an hours-long SWAT callout on Bellamah Drive was not in the home when police entered the residence Thursday afternoon.

Shortly before 8 a.m., Las Cruces police were dispatched to the report of a domestic-related incident at a home on the 1700 block of Bellamah Drive. Police were told 41-year-old Richard Espino used a firearm to threaten a relative. First-arriving officers were told by relatives that Espino was still inside the home and likely armed.

  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico children can practice sports and develop skills while in small groups and residents will soon be able to camp at state parks under changes being made to the state's public health order. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Thursday the updated order also permits visits to pumpkin patches and the state plans to issue guidance for corn mazes and haunted houses as fall approaches. The governor said the state is trending in the right direction but she warned people not to let down their guard. Health officials reported an additional 159 COVID-19 cases Thursday and four additional deaths.

SILVER CITY – The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) District One will begin a $1.4 million dollar project on US 180 east of Silver City starting late September.  This almost 5-mile construction project will address drainage, structure repairs and roadway reconstruction.

This project is expected to take about 6 months to complete, weather permitting.  During the project, motorists can expect lane closures and temporary lane restrictions. Speed will be reduced to 35 mph.  Motorists are encouraged to use caution while driving through the work zone and obey all traffic signs. 

The League of Women Voters El Paso announces its 2020 CANDIDATES FORUM on National Voter Registration Day September 22, 2020 sponsored national partner Alamo Drafthouse.  A Voter Registration Drive-thru will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Alamo Drafthouse Montecillo.

WHAT: The candidate forums will include District Forums for District 2, 3, 4, and 7 followed by a Mayoral Forum.

WHO: League of Women Voter El Paso and Alamo Drafthouse at Montecillo.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 22, 2020. District 2 candidate forum at 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. District 3, 1:15 - 2:15 p.m., District 4, 2:45 p.m. MAYORAL FORUM 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Alamo Drafthouse at Montecillo. https://drafthouse.com/theater/montecillo

  President Donald Trump on Thursday continued his monthslong campaign against mail-in voting this November by tweeting critically about the practice, building on complaints he has made all week. The president has recently been trying to distinguish between states that automatically send mail ballots to all registered voters and those that make voters request a mail ballot, but even there he’s badly distorted the practice.

  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s racetrack and casino operators are asking Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to consider allowing them to reopen. In a letter sent this week to the Democratic governor, they pointed out that commercial casinos outside of New Mexico have opened — from Nevada to New Jersey and New York. Track and casino managers in New Mexico they say they have a plan to do it safely. While tribal casinos in the state have reopened, the governor's office said Thursday that doesn’t necessarily make opening a safe decision at this time and that public health conditions will determine when the time is right for easing restrictions on non-tribal operations.

  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s utility regulation committee ousted its Navajo chairwoman for what she claims is retribution for pushing for more broadband access in rural communities. The state’s Public Regulation Commission voted 3-2 on Wednesday to replace Chairwoman Theresa Becenti-Aguilar with Commissioner Stephen Fischmann. Becenti-Aguilar claims the recall occurred because her fellow commissioners gave the issue of rural broadband availability far less priority than she had. Commissioner Cynthia Hall disputed Becenti-Aguilar’s claim but did not provide reasons why the chairwoman was ousted. Fischmann declined to answer any questions about Becenti-Aguilar’s removal. Becenti-Aguilar had been the chairwoman of the commission since 2018.

  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has denied a petition that sought to end federal protections for the western yellow-billed cuckoo. The agency issued its finding this week, saying taking the songbird off the threatened and endangered species list isn't an option at this time. American Stewards of Liberty, a nonprofit group that advocates for private property rights, had argued that the bird's status needed to be reviewed because it had sufficient habitat. Biologists said new data shows habitat loss and fragmentation continue to be an issue for the cuckoo. Recent mining projects in central and southern Arizona are also affecting the species.

Police have charged two men suspected in a pair of Monday morning gun incidents that included rounds being fired and a couple of victims being threatened.

Adan Herrera, 20, of the 5300 block of Sunny Acres Drive, and Javier C. Vasquez, 19, of the 2900 block of west Crocus Court, are charged with one count each of shooting at or from a motor vehicle, one count of conspiracy and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. All three counts are fourth-degree felonies.

  SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Wednesday announced 119 additional COVID-19 cases and 2 deaths.

As of today, there are 59 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.

A 28-year-old pedestrian, struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening while trying to retrieve his dog that wandered into traffic on Lohman Avenue, died from his injuries at an El Paso hospital.

The pedestrian was identified by police as 28-year-old Fernando Padilla of Las Cruces.

Las Cruces police learned that about 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, Padilla was walking near 2210 E. Lohman Ave. when his dog got loose and wandered into traffic. Padilla entered the eastbound lanes of Lohman Avenue from the median to retrieve his dog when he was struck by a vehicle.