Navajo High Court Orders Election Postponed – The Associated Press
The Navajo Supreme Court has ordered the postponement of the tribe's presidential election and an immediate reprint of ballots without the name of a candidate who was disqualified in a language fluency case.
The decision Thursday came as a result of a petition to enforce a disqualification order against Chris Deschene.
A lower court blocked Deschene from seeking the tribe's top elected post after he refused to show whether he could speak Navajo fluently. Tribal law requires that presidential candidates understand and speak fluent Navajo.
The high court dismissed Deschene's appeal of the disqualification order Wednesday.
The presidential election was scheduled for Nov. 4. The Supreme Court says it must be postponed to ensure a valid election.
Court: Police Can't Use Teen's Alcohol Admission - The Associated Press
The state Supreme Court has ruled that student statements to school officials in disciplinary proceedings can't be used by police for criminal charges unless the juvenile waived the right to remain silent.
The court's ruling came Thursday in a case involving a teenager at Kirtland Central High School.
During questioning by an assistant principal, the student admitted to drinking and bringing alcohol to school. A San Juan County deputy sheriff was present and heard the student's statements.
The teenager refused to answer the deputy's questions about possessing alcohol after being advised of the right to remain silent.
The justices reversed a Court of Appeals ruling that had allowed the student's statements to be used in juvenile court proceedings on a criminal charge of a minor in possession of alcohol.
New Mexico Councilman Allegedly Attacks A Neighbor - The Associated Press
New Mexico State Police say a Bayard City councilman has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault and aggravated battery.
Agents with the State Police Investigation Bureau took Armando Arzola into custody Wednesday.
The arrest came after allegations Arzola attacked a neighbor with an expandable baton or a bat on Sept. 11.
The neighbor reportedly sustained an injury to his left cheek and right hand during the altercation.
Agents also executed a search warrant on Arzola's house and say they collected various items of evidence.
Police say Arzola has been booked into the Grant County Detention Center on a $5,000 unsecured bond.
It was unclear Thursday if Arzola has a lawyer yet for his case.
Commissioner Pays Self, Fiancee For Campaign Work - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
A state Public Regulation Commission member is using some of his public campaign funding to pay himself and his fiancee for their work on his re-election campaign.
Campaign finance reports say Commissioner Ben Hall paid himself and Maria Cottom nearly $7,000 for campaign work over a month's time.
Hall says he pays himself only for campaign work done outside commission work time. He says he'd otherwise have to pay somebody else for the work.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that it's not unusual for a public official to pay a relative for campaign work, but it is for a candidate to pay himself.
Hall is a Republican ex-legislator who faces Democratic former Commissioner Sandy Jones in the Nov. 4 general election race for a commission seat for southwestern New Mexico.
NM Hospital Screening Patients In Parking Lot - The Associated Press
New Mexico's top health officials say the risk of an Ebola case in the state is low, but administrators at Roosevelt General Hospital aren't taking any chances.
Starting Friday, the rural eastern New Mexico hospital will begin pre-screening for Ebola at a parking lot checkpoint.
Each incoming vehicle must stop so visitors and patients can answer a series of questions regarding recent travel and symptoms.
Hospital CEO Larry Leaming says he's taking the proactive measure to keep staff and patients safe.
In the event of a positive screening, Leaming says the person would be transferred to a quarantined section of the hospital.
State and federal health officials aren't aware of any other hospitals that have set up parking lot checkpoints. The state Health Department says it doesn't recommend the approach.
Border Deaths Drop To 15-Year Low - The Associated Press
The number of immigrants who die trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border has dropped to the lowest level in 15 years.
That's because more Central Americans are turning themselves in to authorities in Texas and fewer are taking their chances with the dangerous trek across the Arizona desert.
The U.S. government recorded 307 deaths in the 2014 fiscal year that ended in September — the lowest number since 1999. In 2013, the number of deaths was 445.
The numbers, obtained by The Associated Press, mark the first time since 2001 that Arizona has not been the deadliest place to cross the border. The Tucson sector recorded 107 deaths, compared to 115 deaths along the Rio Grande Valley sector of Texas.
New Mexico Offering Trophy Elk Hunting Licenses - The Associated Press
Sportsmen have a chance next week for licenses for late-season bow hunting of trophy elk in New Mexico.
The state Game and Fish Department says 275 archery hunting licenses for the bull elk will go on sale Oct. 29 on the agency's web site (www.wildlife.state.nm.us ) starting at 10 a.m.
The licenses will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for New Mexico residents for 24 hours and then on Oct. 30 to out-of-state hunters if any licenses remain.
Only hunters without a 2014-2015 elk license can buy the licenses, which are for hunts in November and December in parts of western and southern New Mexico.
The department said it was making the late-season licenses available because biologists had assessed the elk population and determined that more hunting was warranted.
NM To Discuss Water Infrastructure Projects - The Associated Press
New Mexico has invited hundreds of state, county and local leaders to Pojoaque next week to talk about water infrastructure projects.
Environment Secretary Ryan Flynn says the two-day conference will give community members an opportunity to learn how to get the most out of funds awarded for water development projects.
During the last legislative session, a total of $89 million in capital outlay funds were appropriated to communities around the state to address crumbling drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
The problems associated with aging systems and growing maintenance costs have been exacerbated by years of drought in New Mexico.
Flynn says improving the sustainability of water supplies can lead directly to economic growth.
Police: Man Shot In Head In Albuquerque Park - The Associated Press
Albuquerque police say a person with a rifle was seen near where a man was shot in the head in a city park.
According to police, responding officers found the wounded man Thursday evening in Kit Carson Park.
Police were told that a person carrying a rifle had fled the area. The officers searched the park and around it but did not find the person.
The wounded man was taken to a hospital for surgery. His condition and other details aren't immediately available.