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Headlines: APD Officer Shot, Bald Eagle Count At Abiquiu, Navajo Pres Vetoes Language Bill...

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Police: Albuquerque Cop Shot During Traffic Stop – The Associated Press

Albuquerque police say an officer was shot as he was attempting to conduct an overnight traffic stop, and a search is underway for the gunman.

Police spokesman Tanner Tixier says the driver of a car that was being pulled over at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday got out of the vehicle and began shooting at the officer. Tixier says the officer was shot twice but was able to return fire. He is expected to survive. It's not known if the gunman was struck.

Tixer says the gunman fled on foot.

He is described as a white or light-skinned Hispanic man who is about 6 feet tall and wearing a dark jacket, dark jeans and light colored baseball cap. He appears to be clean shaven.

Abiquiu Lake Hosts Midwinter Bald Eagle WatchThe Associated Press 

Volunteers in northern New Mexico are braving frigid temperatures to help with a national effort to gather more data about bald eagles.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting its annual midwinter bald eagle watch at Abiquiu Lake on Saturday. The event is open to the public and volunteers were being asked to dress warmly and bring binoculars, notepads and water.

National Wildlife Federation officials have asked participants in each state to count eagles along standard routes to provide data trends.

The goal is to index the total wintering bald eagle population in the lower 48 states to determine their distribution and to identify areas of important winter habitat.

Unlike nesting surveys, officials say the winter survey provides information on both breeding and non-breeding segments of the population.

Navajo President Rejects Language Fluency Bill – The Associated Press 

Navajo President Ben Shelly has rejected lawmakers' latest attempt to change a requirement for presidential candidates to be fluent in the tribe's language.

The Navajo Nation Council passed a bill earlier this month to keep the requirement in place but have voters decide whether candidates meet it.

Shelly vetoed the bill Wednesday. He says the Navajo people should have a thoughtful, deliberate discussion about what it takes to be the tribe's top elected official and decide at the polls.

Shelly has vetoed similar legislation.

Chris Deschene was replaced as a presidential candidate last year after failing to show he could speak fluent Navajo.

Russell Begaye faces former tribal President Joe Shirley Jr. in the presidential contest that was separated from the Nov. 4 general election. A date hasn't been set.

 
 
 
Woman Trapped In Car For Hours In New Mexico The Associated Press

A woman traveling from Minnesota to New Mexico was trapped in her car overnight after driving off a road.

New Mexico State Police say Lynna Lopez was driving from Minneapolis to visit a friend in Silver City, New Mexico, when she missed a curve and drove off the road on Highway 152 near Emory Pass.

The Silver City Sun-News reports that Lopez's car fell down a 30-foot embankment and she became trapped for almost a day. Her friend reported her missing but police never spotted her.

Police say Lopez suffered broken bones but did not have life-threatening injuries. She was airlifted to a hospital after a driver who pulled over near the crash site heard her screaming for help.

Police Say Pickup Collided With City Bus The Associated Press

Police say a city bus was not carrying passengers when it collided with a pickup truck suspected of running a red light.

The drivers of the bus and the truck were hospitalized with injuries.

The crash closed down Unser Boulevard and Central Avenue for several hours as crews tried to move the bus. The bus had crashed into a structure that was in danger of falling.

Police have not released any further information.

Broken Pipe Closes Carlsbad Caverns National Park The Associated Press

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southeastern New Mexico near the Texas line will reopen after temporarily closing because of freezing and a broken main water pipe.

Park officials say the park will reopen on Saturday with limited services. Friday's closure resulted from freezing temperatures that froze and broke approximately 100 feet of the above-ground water line.

The pipe supplies water to the visitor center, center, offices, and residential housing.

Officials say restrooms and drinking fountains on the surface will be out of service but portable bathrooms will be provided in the parking area. They say restaurant food offerings may be limited.

The park will operate in limited scope for at least 10 days as repairs are completed.

AG Balderas, 2 Other Dems Set To Be Inaugurated The Associated Press

Incoming Attorney General Hector Balderas is scheduled to take the oath of office at a public ceremony in Santa Fe.

Balderas will be joined Saturday by State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg and State Auditor Tim Keller, who also will be sworn in at the Saint Francis Auditorium.

The three were the few bright spots for Democrats on Election Day after Gov. Susana Martinez easily won re-election and the GOP captured control of the House for the first time in 60 years.

Balderas, who replaces outgoing Attorney General Gary King, says he wants to build an agency that would serve as a watchdog to ferret out fraud, waste and corruption.

As New Mexico's top cop, Balderas will be responsible for everything from