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Headlines: Alcohol Abuse In Gallup, Teens Wanted For Murder...

Romana Klee via Flicker.com

Alcohol Abuse Focus Of Meeting In Troubled Gallup The Associated Press

State officials are looking into solutions at tackling alcohol abuse in one of the most violent cities in the state.

State Sen. George Munoz is set to hold a public meeting Monday in Gallup on alcoholism in the troubled city.

The Gallup Democrat says he's concern about the city's high crime rate and the high number of alcohol-related deaths.

FBI numbers show that the city of Gallup saw a spike in violent crimes last year and had the highest violent crime rate in New Mexico.

An Associated Press analysis of FBI statistics showed the city of 22,000 just outside of the Navajo Nation had a violent crime rate of 2,086 per 100,000 residents. That's more than two times the rate of Albuquerque, the state's largest city.

Former Albuquerque Magazine Bookkeeper Arrested The Associated Press

Police say a bookkeeper for Albuquerque the Magazine spent years embezzling more than $200,000 from the magazine.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that 50-year-old Bonnie Burchell worked at the magazine for nearly three years.

Police believe Burchell embezzled more than $200,000 by paying herself triple her salary for two years. She also made separate deposits into her bank account from the magazine's budget.

An investigation began in September after a new accountant noticed discrepancies in the books.

Burchell has been charged with embezzlement.

Police Say 3 Men Plotted To Rob Man At Park The Associated Press

Police say an elaborate plot to rob a man at an Albuquerque park resulted in a homicide.

Albuquerque police are looking for three teenagers they believe were involved in the killing of 19-year-old Nicoles Aragon.

The men are accused of luring Aragon to Kit Carson Park by texting him and pretending to be a girl.

Miguel Zapata, 18, and Jacob Trujillo and Drew Griego, both 17, plotted to rob Aragon, police say.

Events took a turn and Zapata is believed to have shot Aragon before fleeing.

Police Say Teens Were Followed Home, Robbed The Associated Press

Police say a group of teens who had just purchased gaming consoles was followed home and robbed.

KOAT-TV reports that an Albuquerque man took his teenage son and the son's two friends to Walmart. The boys each purchased an Xbox One and went home.

But two men apparently followed the boys home and then robbed them at gunpoint. The men took the gaming consoles and two cell phones.

Police have not identified the suspects.

Police Investigate Officer Shooting In Santa Fe The Associated Press

Authorities are investigating a police shooting that took place after officers tried serving an arrest warrant in Santa Fe.

Santa Fe police, New Mexico State Police and the state Corrections Department are investigating the shooting that happened around 10:30 a.m. on Friday on Juan de Dios and Alameda Street.

The male suspect was apprehended and sustained non-life threatening injuries. One officer sustained minor injuries.

Police were trying to arrest a man suspected of violating probation when a confrontation ensued.

Police have not released the identity of the suspect.

2 Plead Guilty In Large Heroin Ring The Associated Press

Two suspects in a large drug trafficking ring that distributed heroin in Dona Ana County have pleaded guilty.

Esther Soliz and Angel Ortega entered guilty pleas this week in a federal case involving a heroin trafficking ring that included more than 20 people.

Authorities say that 19 of the 21 defendants charged in the ring have entered guilty pleas.

Soliz and Ortega participated in a heroin trafficking conspiracy, federal prosecutor say.

The leader of the groups, Jovita Belmonte-Gonzalez, was accused to supplying heroin to five drug trafficking organizations that distributed the drug around Las Cruces and Dona Ana County.

She has also pleaded guilty. Belmonte-Gonzalez ran the business from her home in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. She faces 10 years in prison.

8 Western States Governors Meeting In Las Vegas The Associated Press

Eight Western U.S. governors and several top federal officials are in Las Vegas this weekend to talk about common problems and issues including energy, species like sage grouse, and drought.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval is chairman of the Western Governors' Association this year, and is hosting the association's winter meetings at the Four Seasons hotel.

Governors taking part are Republicans Butch Otter of Idaho, Susana Martinez of New Mexico, Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota, Gary Herbert of Utah and Matt Mead of Wyoming.

Also, Democrats John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Steve Bullock of Montana.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell are due to deliver keynote speeches Saturday.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director Dan Ashe and federal Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze are also attending.