Feud Erupts Between Utility, US States Over Colorado River – The Associated Press
Tension over the drought-stressed Colorado River escalated into a public feud when four U.S. states accused an Arizona utility of manipulating supply and demand, potentially threatening the river's future.
The four states said the Central Arizona Project was trying to avoid a reduction in its share of the river while others are voluntarily conserving to avoid a crisis amid a prolonged drought.
The accusation was made by Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, along with Denver's water utility.
The Central Arizona Project denied the allegations. The project serves Phoenix, Tucson and other cities.
The Colorado River supplies water to nearly 40 million people in the U.S. and Mexico. It's under increasing strain because demand is rising while the river is shrinking.
Researchers blame an 18-year drought and climate change for the decline
New Mexico Town Reconsiders Tribute To Spanish Conqueror – The Associated Press
A northern New Mexico city nestled among Pueblo Indian reservations is reconsidering its annual commemoration of the 1598 arrival of Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate.
Oñate is both revered as a Hispanic founding father and reviled for brutality against Native Americans. Newly elected Espanola Mayor Javier Sanchez has made clear that changes are in store for the city's annual summer pageant and community carnival that depicts an armored Onate on horseback.
That has set off alarm bells among traditionalists in the community who fear Oñate legacy might be forsaken. To American Indians, Oñate is known for having ordered the right feet cut off tribal warriors after his soldiers stormed Acoma Pueblo.
New Mexico politicians are grappling with how to address rising criticism over tributes and monuments to Spanish colonial conquerors.
Immigration Authorities Are Criticizing A Measure To Strengthen Immigrant Friendly Policies In ABQ – The Associated Press
Federal immigration authorities are criticizing an Albuquerque measure to strengthen immigrant friendly policies, saying the proposal would undermine public safety and make New Mexico's largest city a safe haven for people living in the country illegally.
The Albuquerque City Council voted Monday to bar federal agents from prisoner transport centers without a warrant and prevent city workers, including police, from asking about people's immigration status.
The bill's sponsors describe it as an attempt to reaffirm the city's "immigrant friendly" status at a time when the Trump administration is seeking to crack down on unauthorized border crossings.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement official said Wednesday that the agency seeks "straightforward cooperation" from law enforcement agencies to enforce immigration laws, and that "misguided municipal directives" undermine those efforts.
The bill still must be approved by Mayor Tim Keller.
New Mexico Runs Out Of Vehicle Registration Stickers – The Associated Press
The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division has run out of the special paper required to print new vehicle registration stickers.
Agency spokesman Ben Cloutier confirmed Tuesday that the division ran out April 9 as the contract for the paper provider expired. The contract has since been renewed and registration stickers for all affected customers are expected to be mailed by the end of the month.
Cloutier says the agency apologizes for any inconvenience and that temporary registrations printed for customers will serve as validation until they receive their stickers in the mail.
The Motor Vehicle Division has notified law enforcement about the situation in the event a driver is stopped for not having a current sticker.
It's unclear how many motorists were affected by the paper shortage.
ABQ Woman Who Died On Southwest Flight Was Full Of Passion Family Says – The Associated Press
The family of an Albuquerque bank executive who died on a Southwest Airlines flight says the mother of two was full of "vibrancy, passion, and love."
Jennifer Riordan's family said in a statement that the 43-year-old community leader died Tuesday on a plane that made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. Passengers say Riordan was partially sucked out of the window after the plane was hit by engine debris.
The family called Riordan the "bedrock of our family" and asked those mourning her passing to "be kind, caring and sharing" in her honor.
The death generated an outpouring of grief from Albuquerque business leaders, elected officials, poets, and activists.
The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce held a moment of silence Tuesday night during a special reception for new University of New Mexico President Garnett Stokes.
Authorities Wrapping Up Inquiry Into Deadly School Shooting – The Associated Press
Authorities say they're wrapping up a months-long investigation into a school shooting that left two students dead and rocked a rural community in northwestern New Mexico.
The San Juan County Sheriff's Office said in a statement issued Wednesday that there are theories as to why the gunman opened fire inside Aztec High School, but the only factual conclusion investigators have made is that the shooter had what they called "serious issues."
The 21-year-old gunman, William Atchison, killed Francisco "Paco" Fernandez and Casey Jordan Marquez before firing randomly in a hallway and a computer lab, forcing students and teachers to take cover. He then killed himself.
The gunman left behind notes that detailed his plans.
The shooting has resulted in ongoing discussions about ways to bolster security on campuses around the state.
Wind-Whipped Wildfires Destroy Homes, Prompt Evacuations – The Associated Press
Firefighters are battling massive wildfires that have destroyed homes and other buildings in parts of Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma.
The blazes are fueled by gusting winds, low humidity and drought-stricken land. One fire that started in Colorado crossed into Kansas on Tuesday night, prompting the evacuation of 90 homes. In western Oklahoma, homes in Oakwood and Seiling were evacuated Tuesday because of another fire.
Oklahoma Forestry Services says structures have been destroyed, but they are unable to assess damage because the fire is still burning. In southern Colorado, five homes and several outbuildings were destroyed Tuesday.
The smoke from the fires in western Oklahoma is so heavy that firefighters more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) away in Oklahoma City told residents to avoid calling 911 unless they see flames.
New Mexico Mourns Bank Executive Killed On Southwest Plane – The Associated Press
Family, friends and community leaders in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are mourning the death of a bank executive on a Southwest Airlines flight home from a business trip to New York.
Jennifer Riordan, a mother of two, was well known in New Mexico, where she had built a career over more than two decades in community relations and communications after graduating from UNM.
Riordan was on a jet that blew an engine and got hit by shrapnel that smashed a window, setting off a desperate scramble by passengers to save her from getting sucked out. She later died.
Gov. Susana Martinez called Riordan "an incredible woman who put her family and community first" and said her loss would be felt across the state.
Before starting with Wells Fargo in 2008, Riordan had worked for the University of New Mexico hospital system in public relations and for Citigroup.
At Wells Fargo, she was the vice president for community relations and was in charge of managing employee volunteer and board service to nonprofit groups in New Mexico and parts of Texas. She also served on numerous boards and oversaw the annual United Way community campaign.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, Attorney General Hector Balderas, New Mexico Republican Party Chairman Ryan Cangiolosi, and the New Mexico Broadcaster’s Association were among those who paid fond tribute to Riordan and lauded her efforts to improve her community.
Riordan worked for Wells Fargo, where she was vice president for community relations.
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines says there were no problems with the plane when it was inspected Sunday.
University Of New Mexico Regents Vote To Reducing Sports – The Associated Press
University of New Mexico regents voted Tuesday in favor of a budget proposal that includes a reduction in sports and other measures as the school's troubled athletics department looks to get its finances under control.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the 6-1 vote came during a meeting Tuesday packed with concerned alumni, coaches and others. Student Regent and former football player Garrett Adcock was the only board member to vote against the measure.
University President Garnett Stokes said she can't imagine a scenario where the school would not have to cut sports. Calling it unfortunate, she said there's no revenue to fill the athletic department's recurring deficit, which is projected at $800,000 this year.
Athletic Director Eddie Nunez has until July 1 to decide which sports to cut. He has said affected teams will be given at least one year notice.
UNM sponsors 22 varsity sports. What remained unclear Tuesday was the actual cost of each team.
Men's Soccer Coach Jeremy Fishbein has said his program is among those being "very seriously" considered for elimination despite its success over the years. The team has played in two Final Fours, one national championship game and has been a conference champion seven times since 2001.
Fishbein helped to mobilize former players, coaches and community leaders who asked regents not to cut any sport until the matter is given more consideration.
Fishbein gave an emotional speech. He said this moment could serve as a wake-up call for community support around all of the university's Olympic sport programs.
"Let's make this a starting point," he said, "not an ending point."
Gila National Forest Placed On 'High Fire Danger' – The Associated Press, The Silver City Sun-News
A national forest in southwestern New Mexico along the Arizona border has been placed on "high fire danger."
The Silver City Sun-News reports warmer temperatures and high spring winds are increasing fire danger on the Gila National Forest as officials report an increase in abandoned campfires.
A fire danger rating of "high" is defined as "all fine dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes."
The move comes as forecasters warned of dangerous, life-threatening wildfire conditions in parts of the Southwest and Southern Plains this wildfire season.
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, says gusty winds and low humidity in drought-stricken areas will create dangerous fire conditions in parts of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Los Alamos Nuclear Facility Safe After Evacuation Order – The Associated Press, The Santa Fe New Mexican
Officials at the Los Alamos National Laboratory ordered a partial evacuation of a nuclear research building after a report of a bulging hazardous waste drum.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the lab officials called for the evacuation Monday afternoon. The order was ended later in the day and the drum, which did not contain radiological waste, had been rendered safe.
Laboratory personnel and the Los Alamos Fire Department responded to the Sigma Facility on the lab's main campus, about two miles from the city center.
Greg Mello, director of the Los Alamos Study Group, a frequent lab critic, said bulging drums have become a "perennial problem" at the laboratory and other nuclear facilities.
Teens Arrested In Fatal Shooting Of Albuquerque Homeless Man – The Associated Press
Two teenagers who police said Tuesday bragged to friends about shooting a homeless man near downtown Albuquerque have been arrested.
According to police, the boys — ages 15 and 17 — had been coming and going from a hotel party early March 18 when they shot and killed 50-year-old Ronnie Ross. An autopsy for Ross showed he was shot nearly a dozen times — including multiple times in the back.
Friends and acquaintances of the boys told detectives that the two suspects had been showing off a gun at the party, and had said to others that they had shot a man.
Christine Johnson, the victim's sister, told police after they contacted her that Ross had been homeless and often traveled the Southwest between New Mexico and Arizona.
The Albuquerque Journal reports when detectives filed the arrest warrants, the teens were already jailed for another shooting that left a man in critical condition.
Officials In Favor Of Upgrading White Sands To National Park – The Associated Press, The Las Cruces Sun-News
The Las Cruces City Council approved a statement of support encouraging the federal government to upgrade White Sands National Monument to a national park.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports the council voted unanimously Monday in favor of the statement, which calls on lawmakers to pass the proposed White Sands National Park Establishment Act.
Dara Parker, field representative for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, says the bill hasn't been introduced yet, but says she's hoping to introduce it "very soon."
Parker told the City Council the proposed bill would achieve a land swap with White Sands Missile Range and clarify some questions raised by previous congressional actions.
Parker says national parks tend to have a higher profile than monuments, which could boost tourism.
White Sands, located between Las Cruces and Alamogordo, was designated a national monument in 1933.
Bat That Helps Make Tequila Gets Off Endangered Species List – The Associated Press
Wildlife managers in the American Southwest say a once-rare bat important to the pollination of plants used to produce tequila has made a comeback and is being removed from the federal endangered species list.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the delisting of the lesser long-nosed bat Tuesday, making it the first bat ever removed from the nation's list of threatened and endangered species.
The decision comes a year after first being proposed in the U.S.
Mexico delisted the bat in 2015.
Federal officials say it has taken 30 years of conservation efforts by biologists and volunteers in Mexico and the U.S., as well as tequila producers in Mexico to rebuild a healthy population.
Now, there are about 200,000 of the nectar-feeding animals and dozens of roost sites.
New Mexico Runs Out Of Vehicle Registration Stickers – The Associated Press
The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division has run out of the special paper required to print new vehicle registration stickers.
Agency spokesman Ben Cloutier confirmed Tuesday that the division ran out April 9 as the contract for the paper provider expired. The contract has since been renewed and registration stickers for all affected customers are expected to be mailed by the end of the month.
Cloutier says the agency apologizes for any inconvenience and that temporary registrations printed for customers will serve as validation until they receive their stickers in the mail.
The Motor Vehicle Division has notified law enforcement about the situation in the event a driver is stopped for not having a current sticker.
It's unclear how many motorists were affected by the paper shortage.
Officials In Favor Of Upgrading White Sands To National Park – The Associated Press, The Las Cruces Sun-News
The Las Cruces City Council approved a statement of support encouraging the federal government to upgrade White Sands National Monument to a national park.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports the council voted unanimously Monday in favor of the statement, which calls on lawmakers to pass the proposed White Sands National Park Establishment Act.
Dara Parker, field representative for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, says the bill hasn't been introduced yet, but says she's hoping to introduce it "very soon."
Parker told the City Council the proposed bill would achieve a land swap with White Sands Missile Range and clarify some questions raised by previous congressional actions.
Parker says national parks tend to have a higher profile than monuments, which could boost tourism.
White Sands, located between Las Cruces and Alamogordo, was designated a national monument in 1933.
New Mexico Delegation Concerned About Pie Town Post Office – The Associated Press
Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation are concerned about a decision by the U.S. postmaster general to temporarily suspend operations at a post office in a tiny community along the Continental Divide that is best known for its homemade pies.
U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Rep. Steve Pearce sent a letter to postal officials, asking that a permanent post office be kept open in Pie Town.
The service recently announced that beginning April 27 the post office would be closed due to the conditions of the building. Until centralized mailboxes and a new modular building are installed, residents would have to make a 40-mile roundtrip to the next closest post office.
The delegates say residents and tourists depend on the post office and it serves as an important stop for hikers along the Continental Divide Trail where they can receive supplies.
Bat That Helps Make Tequila Gets Off Endangered Species List – The Associated Press
Wildlife managers in the American Southwest say a once-rare bat important to the pollination of plants used to produce tequila has made a comeback and is being removed from the federal endangered species list.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the delisting of the lesser long-nosed bat Tuesday, making it the first bat ever removed from the nation's list of threatened and endangered species.
The decision comes a year after first being proposed in the U.S.
Mexico delisted the bat in 2015.
Federal officials say it has taken 30 years of conservation efforts by biologists and volunteers in Mexico and the U.S., as well as tequila producers in Mexico to rebuild a healthy population.
Now, there are about 200,000 of the nectar-feeding animals and dozens of roost sites.