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Headlines: Farmers Markets Clearinghouse, Gambling Compacts, UFO Festival ...

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New Mexico Aims To Make Clearinghouse For Farmers Markets - The Associated Press

New Mexico agriculture officials are asking for help in creating a clearinghouse for the price of goods found at farmers' markets.

The state agriculture department is looking for people across New Mexico who can take a few notes about the prices of fruits and vegetables, eggs and specialty items such as honey and mushrooms that are being sold at their local markets.

Officials say the goal is to help New Mexico growers — and customers — know the price range of produce at local markets.

Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte says some growers shy away from selling their produce at local markets because they simply don't know how to price their items, while consumers think farmers' markets are more expensive than going to the grocery store.

More Tribes Sign Gambling Agreements With New MexicoThe Associated Press

More Native American tribes have signed gambling agreements with the state in recent weeks as one northern New Mexico tribe digs in its heels.

Gov. Susana Martinez's office confirmed Wednesday that Taos, Isleta, Zuni and Ohkay Owingeh pueblos have signed on to a compact that was hammered out over three years of negotiations and approved by the Legislature during its last session.

Five tribes already had signed on, including the Navajo Nation, the Mescalero and Jicarilla Apache nations and Acoma and Jemez pueblos.

Pojoaque Pueblo walked away from talks in 2013, saying the state was not negotiating in good faith.

The pueblo's compact expired at midnight Tuesday, but federal officials have agreed to allow Pojoaque's casinos to remain open pending the outcome of a federal court case.

Thousands Expected To Converge On Roswell For UFO FestivalThe Associated Press & The Roswell Daily Record

Festival organizers in Roswell are predicting this weekend's UFO celebration will bring thousands of visitors to the New Mexico city.

The Roswell Daily Record reports that last year's UFO Festival attracted a record-breaking number of tourists the so-called Alien City. With Cosmicon and a sci-fi film festival also taking place this weekend, tourism officials hope this year's numbers will be even higher.

International UFO Museum Executive Director Mark Briscoe expects between 7,000 and 10,000 visitors this weekend.

He says people are fascinated by the 1947 incident in which some claim a UFO crashed in Roswell.

Roswell public affairs director DeAnna Phillips says the festival is the city's signature event, calling Roswell the only place in the world that can truly lay claim to such a celebration.

Civil Forfeiture Reform Among New Laws In New Mexico - The Associated Press

A measure that keeps police from seizing money or assets from people unless convicted of a crime is one of many new signed bills that now are state law.

A number of new laws go into effect Wednesday following a divisive New Mexico Legislative session that saw many proposals died amid partisan bickering. But some did pass the GOP-controlled House and the Democratic-led Senate.

Among the new laws is a bill aimed at providing transparency and accountability of the civil forfeitures by police and providing protections to innocent property owners.

Other new laws are aimed at cracking down on child prostitution, providing additional funding to help victims of violent crimes, and requiring cell phone companies to issue Amber Alerts.

Alamogordo Halfway House To Remain Open Despite Lawsuit - The Associated Press

An Alamogordo halfway house previously named in a sexual-assault lawsuit and no longer associated with the New Mexico Department of Corrections is remaining open.

New Life Recovery House owner Vickie Clark said Wednesday that despite the negative publicity around a "frivolous lawsuit" the house will stay in business and continue to help women fighting addiction and healing from abuse.

The New Mexico Department of Corrections said this week it would no longer send female inmates to a halfway house because of safety concerns.

But Clark says the house is no longer a party in the lawsuit and it involves a former New Life Recovery house manager who isn't affiliated with center anymore.

New Life Recovery, which opened in 2006, helps women with abuse, alcoholism and drug addiction.

Hit-And-Run Case Against UFC Ex-Champ Jon Jones Stalls - The Associated Press

Prosecutors say an Albuquerque hit-and-run case against former UFC champion fighter Jon "Bones" Jones has stalled due to a delay in obtaining records.

The Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office said Monday a deadline had passed without the state moving forward because prosecutors are still waiting on medical records for a pregnant women involved in the crash and dispatch reports.

The state had 60 days after the release of Jones to present a case to the court. Without the evidence in the records, a judge could dismiss the case.

Police say officers were told by witnesses that Jones ran from a crash in April that hospitalized the pregnant motorist but quickly came back to grab a handful of cash from his rental car.

Jones and his lawyer have not commented about the case.

Remains Of Marines Who Died In WWII Found In Central Pacific - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican

The remains of a former Santa Fe resident — long presumed to be lost at sea — have been found in the central Pacific and will soon be returned to his family.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that 1st Lt. Alexander "Sandy" Bonnyman Jr. was killed during World War II's Battle of Tarawa more than 70 years ago. He, as well as 35 other U.S. Marines, was uncovered on the island of Betio in the central Pacific southeast of the Marshall Islands last month.

The archaeological team found the mass grave using magnatomatry, radar scans, cadaver dogs, and interviews with surviving veterans of the battle.

Bonneyman has a white grave marker at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. He was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor.

Research Project To Use Drone To Inspect New Mexico DamThe Associated Press

Federal water managers plan to use a drone to inspect Elephant Butte Dam.

The Bureau of Reclamation has selected New Mexico State University to lead a research project on the feasibility of using unmanned aircraft systems to inspect dams.

The project marks a first for the agency and researchers will be looking at whether light detection, infrared and high-definition video can be used as tools for infrastructure inspection.

New Mexico State has been awarded $35,000 to help with the project.

Researchers will be looking for cracks in the concrete, spalls and other subsurface defects on the dam. They'll also be looking for any erosion or other changes to the dam and spillway.

The flight will take place in the next couple of months.

Gov. Martinez Names Otero County Attorney To Open Judge Seat - The Associated Press and Alamogordo Daily News

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has appointed an Otero County attorney to an open judge seat in the 12th Judicial District Division III in Carrizozo.

The Alamogordo Daily News reports that Daniel Bryant was appointed last week and will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Judge Karen Parsons.

The 12th Judicial District Division III in Carrizozo covers Lincoln County but is part of the 12th Judicial District Court which encompasses both Lincoln and Otero counties.

Bryant has practiced law since 1978, originally serving as the assistant district attorney for the 12th Judicial District.

He has been a member of the New Mexico Association of Counties Attorney's Affiliate for 25 years.

Jury Acquits Woman In Fatal Shooting Of Man In Rio Rancho - The Associated Press

A state District Court jury in Sandoval County has acquitted a 25-year-old woman of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a longtime friend in Rio Rancho in 2013.

In returning a not-guilty verdict Monday, the jury concluded that Amanda Jo Lucero might have shot 23-year-old Andrew Anderson in self-defense. His body was found on a busy street.

According to police, Anderson was shot during a confrontation over items missing from a residence that he had just left.

Defense lawyer Thomas Clark argued that his client had to shoot Anderson when he threatened Lucero and another woman with rocks and scissors.

Prosecutors argued that Anderson was not a grave threat to the women and that the killing was premediated.

Navajo Nation Chapters Have More Than $77M In Unspent Funds - The Associated Press and Gallup Independent

An audit of the Navajo Nation revealed that the tribal government's 110 chapters had more than $77 million in unspent funds.

The Gallup Independent reports last week Tribal Auditor General Elizabeth Begay reported that the chapters hadn't spent $77.6 million as of December 2014.

Since the report's release, the Navajo Nation council has been looking into the impact of allowing the chapters to carry over their unspent annual budget into the next year.

Begay says an average of $650,000 annually had been appropriated to the 110 chapters from 2006 to 2013.

Council delegate Leonard Tsosie says the unspent funds show that chapters don't need funding.

The Resources and Development Committee accepted the audit report and have announced they will hold a work session with certified chapters on July 8.

New Mexico Restaurant Owners Sentenced For Wage Violations - The Associated Press

Two brothers who own Chinese restaurants in New Mexico have been sentenced to two years' probation for violating the federal minimum and overtime wage laws.

Prosecutors say 30-year-old Wen Ping Chen of Rio Rancho and 31-year-old Wen Qiu Chen of Santa Fe also were sentenced Tuesday for harboring immigrants who were in the U.S. illegally.

The amount of restitution to be paid by the brothers will be determined at a later date, but the court noted that it'll be at least $120,000.

Ping Chen and Qiu Chen were arrested in August 2013 following an investigation.

Last December, prosecutors say the brothers each pleaded guilty to two counts of a superseding indictment.

Prosecutors say the Chens also have been ordered to forfeit a Rio Rancho home where the illegal immigrants lived.

Pizza Driver Who Shot Alleged Robber Won't Be Charged - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal

Police say a pizza delivery man who shot an alleged armed robber in Albuquerque won't be facing any criminal charges.

The Albuquerque Journal reports according to the Albuquerque Police Department, the Domino's delivery man had acted in self-defense during the Sunday night incident.

Police say a man had tried to rob the pizza delivery driver in the parking lot after he had held up the northwest Albuquerque business at gunpoint. The driver then shot him.

Police say he was in critical condition Sunday night but had improved to stable condition Monday. Police say he will be charged in connection with the robbery following his release from the hospital.