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Headlines: Loon Seen In ABQ, Murder Suspect Returns...

Davelnman via Flickr

Rare Loon Takes Flight In Albuquerque - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal

A "common loon" has been making uncommon visits to an Albuquerque pond.

The Albuquerque Journal reports Bernalillo County bird watchers have been eyeing a bosque pond to glimpse the loon after it was spotted earlier this month.

Bird watcher Nancy Hetrick first spotted the bird Nov. 16 in the pond near Tingley Beach.

Christopher Rustay, of the Central New Mexico Audubon Society, says the common loon, which is Minnesota's state bird, is more prevalent on northern lakes.

Rustay says for it to show up in a region where there are no lakes is unusual.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built two ponds in the bosque in 2005 to serve as a habitat.

Hetrick says this loon marks the fourth recorded sighting of a common loon in Bernalillo County.

Double-Murder Suspect To Be Returned To Santa FeThe Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican

A 20-year-old man suspected of shooting a teenage couple to death in Santa Fe last month has given up prolonging his extradition from Colorado.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Ricardo "Ricky" Martinez will be returned to Santa Fe next month.

According to Colorado court records, Martinez had asked for additional time before signing an extradition agreement but changed his mind Tuesday during a court hearing.

He is currently in a Colorado Springs jail. Santa Fe County Sheriff's deputies will escort him back after Dec. 8.

The U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement captured Martinez on Nov. 15 at a Colorado Springs apartment complex.

Martinez was on New Mexico's Most Wanted list in connection with the shooting deaths of 18-year-old Venancio Cisneros and 13-year-old Anamarie Ojeda.

Columbus Man Faces Child Pornography Charges - The Associated Press

A Columbus man is facing charges that he exploited three young children to produce pornographic images.

Federal prosecutors say 30-year-old Samuel Elliott pleaded not guilty Tuesday during his arraignment in court in Albuquerque to eight counts related to child pornography.

A judge ordered Elliott detained pending trial. A trial date has not been set.

According to the indictment, Elliott lured the children into engaging in sexually explicit conduct between December 2012 and July of this year in Luna County. He allegedly used a child between ages 1 and 5 as well as a child above 5 years old.

If convicted, Elliott could serve up to 30 years on each child pornography charge and be required to register as a sex offender.