Martinez Approves Majority Of Bills Passed In Legislature – The Associated Press
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has wrapped up action on about 190 bills passed during the recent legislative session.
Martinez approved nearly 160 bills by a Friday noon deadline, signing several of them during public appearances in Albuquerque. She vetoed about a dozen bills outright and did not take action on about 20 others, resulting in pocket vetoes.
Martinez signed the key $6.2 billion budget Thursday.
Civil rights advocates praised Martinez for signing a bill that keeps police from seizing money or assets from people in the absence of a criminal conviction.
Senate Democrats criticized her for rejecting bills they said were bipartisan, including one to allow growth of hemp for research.
The GOP controlled the House for the first time in six decades, while Democrats had an edge in the Senate, making for an acrimonious session.
Judge Blocks Navajo Coal Mine Expansion In Northwestern NM – The Associated Press
A federal judge has blocked efforts by a Navajo Nation coal mine to expand operations within its permitted area in northwestern New Mexico.
The Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC. is seeking an emergency stay on the ruling by U.S. District Court Judge John Kane in Colorado. The company says the ruling will not impact supply to the Four Corners Power Plant but jeopardizes its long-term sustainability.
Kane sent a request for a permit expansion back to the federal Office of Surface Mining this week, saying the agency must consider the impacts of burning the coal from the Navajo Mine.
OSM spokesman Christopher Holmes declined to comment on Kane's ruling.
Environmentalist sued the agency in 2012, challenging its claims that the mine isn't harming the environment or people's health.
Flights To Increase Over Parts Of Albuquerque In Runway Fix – The Associated Press
Flights over parts of Albuquerque will increase as crews fix sections of concrete on an airport runway.
Officials at the Albuquerque International Sunport will shut down a runway that runs east and west and shift flights to a northeast/southeast runway, starting Monday.
The damaged runway was last reconstructed in 1996. It will be out of service for two weeks.
Navajo Nation Police Arrest Man Who Fired Shots Near Homes – The Associated Press
Navajo Nation police have arrested a man who they say fired shots in a northeastern Arizona housing complex.
Tribal spokesman Deswood Tome says no one was injured Friday. Police took extra precaution following a shootout last month that killed a tribal police officer and injured two others.
The man's identity wasn't released.
Tome says the man charges of illegal drug possession and illegally discharging a weapon. He says the man was caught with several rifles and drugs at a home in Ft. Defiance.
Officials had placed residents of about 100 homes on lockdown while police searched the area Friday afternoon for a reported gunman.
Tome says witnesses on scene reported hearing multiple shots fired.
Law enforcement from around the region assisted Navajo police.