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Headlines: Jon Jones Stripped Of UFC Title, Train Crew Jumped, Pharmacy Robberies...

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Jon Jones Stripped Of UFC Title, SuspendedThe Associated Press

Jon Jones has been stripped of his UFC light heavyweight title and suspended indefinitely following his arrest in New Mexico on a hit-and-run that police say left a pregnant woman with a broken arm.

The UFC announced the penalties Tuesday night for violations of its athlete code of conduct policy.

Jones was scheduled to face No. 1 contender Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 in Las Vegas on May 23. Instead, No. 3 contender Daniel Cormier will face Johnson for the title.

Earlier Tuesday in Albuquerque, Jones made his first court appearance.

Jones appeared with his lawyer and left without speaking to reporters. He's facing a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injuries.

Train Crew Apparently Jumped Before New Mexico CrashThe Associated Press

A New Mexico State Police official says the two crew members on a freight train that struck a parked train on a siding apparently jumped before the impact.

A Southwestern Railroad official said the crew applied their train's brakes to try to stop it as the accident unfolded Tuesday morning about 10 miles southeast of Roswell.

Albuquerque station KOAT-TV reports State Police Capt. Lance Bateman said it appeared the two train workers then jumped to try to save themselves.

One of the two Southwestern Railroad crew members was killed. The other was injured.

Investigators with the National transportation Safety Board have yet to determine a cause for the accident. They're downloading data from the train's recorder and examining the track's switching mechanism to see if it was working properly.

Judge Orders Man To Return Millions In Misappropriated FundsThe Associated Press

Former venture capitalist Charles Kokesh has to return millions in investor dollars he used to pay himself and other advisers.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the judge agreed with penalties suggested by the Securities and Exchange Commission in a ruling that requires Kokesh to pay $2.35 million in a civil penalty, $34.9 million in "ill-gotten gains," and $18.1 million in interest.

His attorney didn't return requests for comment, but previously argued that his client shouldn't have to pay a large financial penalty because he's broke. Kokesh lost his family's horse park and his personal property to foreclosure last year.

Kokesh argued investors lost money because of the Great Recession rather than his business practices.

Geared toward small investors, his company jump-started dozens of successful businesses.

New Mexico AG: Uber, Lyft Drivers Need Drug Testing - The Associated Press

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says drivers of ride-booking services Lyft and Uber in the state should face drug testing requirements like taxi drivers.

Balderas sent state regulators a letter Wednesday and asked them to strengthen public safety standards around ride-booking services.

Last week, the state's Public Regulation Commission voted 4-1 on new regulations clearing way for the companies to function under guidelines separate from those that govern traditional taxi services. But drug testing requirements were dropped.

The San Francisco-based Lyft and Uber use smartphone programs to connect people seeking rides with people who have cars. Both had been operating in New Mexico despite complaints for taxi companies.

Spokeswomen for Lyft and Uber did not immediately return emails from The Associated Press.

UNM Law School Dean To Step Down The Associated Press

The dean of the University of New Mexico's law school will be stepping down this summer after taking over just two years ago.

David Herring's resignation was announced Tuesday by Provost Chaouki Abdallah in a letter to the law school community. The university made the news public Wednesday.

Abdallah says Herring will remain at UNM as a tenured member of the law school faculty when his term as dean ends July 1.

The Albuquerque Journal reports Herring's resignation stems from policy disagreements with some faculty members. Herring told the newspaper he came in with clear goals but it ended up not being a good fit for him to lead the law school.

There are no plans for a national search for Herring's replacement.

6 People Indicted In Pharmacy Robberies In AlbuquerqueThe Associated Press

Six people have been indicted for allegedly robbing pharmacies in Albuquerque to illegally obtain Oxycodone and other prescription drugs.

Four indictments were unsealed Wednesday.

Authorities say three of the suspects, including a woman, have yet to be arrested and are considered fugitives.

They say three of the four indictments include allegations that firearms were brandished at pharmacy employees during the robberies in early January.

Authorities say 20-year-old Victor Hurtado and 22-year-old Joseph Montano were arrested Wednesday in the case.

They say 28-year-old Roy Christopher currently is in state custody and will be transferred to federal custody to face the charges against him.

It's unclear if any of the three men have lawyers yet.

Groups File Brief Demanding Investment Council Transparency - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal

A transparency group and an association of New Mexico newspapers want the state Supreme Court to revisit whether a State Investment Council subcommittee can meet behind closed doors to settle lawsuits.

The Albuquerque Journal reports the state subcommittee has settled cases for a total of $30 million in connection with millions of dollars in "finder's fees" paid out to people close to then-Gov. Bill Richardson. The practice resulted in huge losses to the investment council and teachers' pension fund, which the settlement talks seek to recover.

The funds are being held in escrow while the case plays out. An investment council spokesman said public discourse could eliminate any return for state taxpayers.

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government and the New Mexico Press Association want those settlements voided.

Freight Trains Collide Head-On Near Roswell - The Associated Press

Two freight trains collided head-on near Roswell in southeastern New Mexico, killing one person and derailing locomotives and freight cars.

New Mexico State Police Sgt. Elizabeth Armijo said one person was killed and a second injured in the Tuesday morning accident. She said she didn't know whether they were train personnel.

Chaves County Sheriff Britt Snyder said the collision occurred about 10 miles southeast of Roswell on tracks belonging to Southwestern Railroad, a Carlsbad-based short line.

Another official said 10-20 freight cars derailed, and photos from the crash site appeared to show several derailed locomotives.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Joe Sloan said at least some engines involved in the accident were BNSF equipment being operated by Southwestern Railroad, which didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Jury Convicts Man For Slaying Girlfriend's Grandfather - The Associated Press

A Santa Fe man could face more than 15 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of choking 75-year-old George Ortiz to death.

Anthony Yepez was convicted of second-degree murder Monday evening. Jurors also convicted Yepez of tampering with evidence and stealing a getaway vehicle after the crime.

Police say Ortiz was letting his step-granddaughter, Jeannie Ann Sandoval, and Yepez, live with him at a senior housing complex. The three were drinking one night in 2012 when Yepez tried to break up a fight between Ortiz and Sandoval.

Yepez testified he blacked out and woke up on top of Ortiz, whose head was bleeding. Sandoval pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the incident in exchange for her testimony against Yepez and a lesser sentence.

12-Acre Parcel Added To Rio Grande Valley State Park - The Associated Press

An Albuquerque-area state park has grown by 12 acres.

The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District's board has designated a parcel known locally as "Dog Biscuit Hill" as part of Rio Grande Valley State Park.

The parcel is a popular access point to the Bosque and it's been designated the Patrick J. Baca Open Space Unit.

The new unit of the state park will be retained and owned by the conservancy district. It will be maintained and managed for conservation, education, and recreation by the city of Albuquerque under policies of the Rio Grande Valley State Park Management Plan and Joint Powers Agreement.

Retiring Santa Fe Archbishop Says Archdiocese A Better Place - The Associated Press

Retiring Santa Fe Archbishop Michael Sheehan says he's leaving the archdiocese a better place more than two decades after taking over in the wake of sexual abuse scandals.

Sheehan said Monday there's more accountability in addressing allegations of abuse and that the archdiocese now has a "zero tolerance" policy.

The 75-year-old Sheehan is retiring in June as head of New Mexico's largest diocese due to age requirements.

Pope Francis has appointed Salt Lake City bishop and immigration-reform advocate John Wester as Sheehan's replacement.

Albuquerque Attorney Brad Hall, who represents around 20 or so alleged victims of priest abuse, says he's not sure there was a zero tolerance policy under Sheehan.

But Hall says Sheehan did work the stop the widespread sexual abuse occurring before he took over.