Officials Mark Valles Caldera's Addition To Park Service - The Associated Press
A sprawling parcel of land in northern New Mexico that's home to vast grasslands and one of North America's few super volcanoes is now part of the National Park Service.
U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, members of the state's congressional delegation, tribal leaders and others are gathering at Valles Caldera National Preserve on Saturday for a celebration to mark the transition.
The preserve is located in the Jemez Mountains, just west of Los Alamos.
The federal government purchased the property in 2000 with the goal of operating it as a working ranch while developing recreational opportunities for the public. Legislation signed last year cleared the way for the property to transition from trust management to the Park Service.
Officials say public access is expected to increase with the change.
Ex-Comptroller Of Albuquerque Company Is Sentenced To Prison - The Associated Press
The former comptroller of an Albuquerque construction company has been sentenced to 4 ½ years in federal prison after being convicted of fraud and identity theft.
Prosecutors say 40-year-old Stephanie Pyle also was ordered to pay more than $2.4 million in restitution to the victims.
Pyle got a 30-month prison term on the fraud conviction and a consecutive 24-month sentence for the aggravated ID theft conviction.
She was indicted in the case in February and pleaded guilty to two of the 12 counts in May.
Pyle was accused of using credit cards and account numbers in her employer's name without authorization between January 2010 and May 2014.
Prosecutors say she also obtained a credit card in her name that was linked to the account of the construction company's co-owner.
Albuquerque Councilor Proposes Indigenous Peoples' Day - The Associated Press
Outgoing Albuquerque City Council President Rey Garduno is calling for the city to celebrate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples' Day.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Albuquerque doesn't observe Columbus Day, the official holiday recognized by the federal and state government as falling on the second Monday in October.
Garduno read a ceremonial announcement on Wednesday night that called for the city to honor indigenous people on that date.
He told the Journal that Columbus didn't actually discover anything but did pave the way for centuries of genocide. Several other U.S. cities celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Six councilors signed onto the proclamation, but three others -- all Republican --declined to do so.