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Headlines: Prosecutor Eyes Charges In S.F. Police Shooting, Man Survives Fall And Elements...

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Prosecutor Weighs Santa Fe Police Shooting ChargesThe Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal

A southeastern New Mexico prosecutor is considering whether two Santa Fe police officers will face any charges in the nonfatal shooting of a motorist.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, Roswell-based District Attorney Janetta B. Hicks says she expects to decide on possible charges by early next year.

The case was handed off to Hicks by Santa Fe District Attorney Angel "Spence" Pacheco after a grand jury concluded that the shooting of an unarmed 25-year-old man in the face wasn't justified.

According to authorities, Roberto Mendez was shot in the cheek at a convenience store in August 2013 when Officers John DeBaca and Stephen Fonte fired on the SUV that Mendez was driving.

Reports said the SUV was backing up and the officers jumped out of the way.

Lawmaker: Marijuana Needs To Be Debated In NM - The Associated Press

The conversation about whether New Mexico should join other western states in legalizing marijuana is cranking up again as state lawmakers prepare for the legislative session.

Rep. Bill McCamley, a Democrat from southern New Mexico, is taking his case for legalization to fellow lawmakers during a meeting Tuesday in Santa Fe.

McCamley tells the Associated Press legislation has yet to be crafted but Oregon is being looked at as a model. Voters in that state and Alaska and the District of Columbia approved ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana earlier this month.

In New Mexico, the legalization push follows the success of ballot questions in two of the state's most populous counties that gauged voter support for decriminalizing marijuana.

The New Mexico Sheriffs' Association says it's researching the effects legalization has had in other states.

Man Crawls From Ravine Days After Fall Broke Legs - The Associated Press and Daily Times

Authorities say a man who broke both legs when he fell into a New Mexico ravine crawled out onto a highway nearly three days later and was helped by a driver.

The Daily Times reports 48-year-old Jeffrey Darling had called authorities for help from his cellphone a week ago this morning, but he couldn't tell them exactly where he had fallen and dispatchers lost contact with him when his phone's battery died.

A search for him was unsuccessful.

San Juan County Sheriff's Detective Cory Tanner says deputies believe Darling had vision problems and accidentally fell into the ravine. He was found Thursday about 300 yards from where he fell.

Darling remains hospitalized and was unable to speak with a reporter.

Money Being Raised For Late Santa Fe Deputy - The Associated Press

The Santa Fe Sheriff's Office is raising money for the family of a deputy who died last week from a heart attack.

The office recently set up a GoFundMe account in honor of Deputy Brandon Trujillo.

Authorities say Trujillo suffered a heart attack while traveling with his family to Albuquerque for a Veterans Day lunch.

The office says money raised will help the family with funeral expenses.

Trujillo previously had worked for the Pojoaque Pueblo, Tesuque Pueblo, and U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

His death comes after Santa Fe County Deputy Jeremy Martin was shot and killed by another deputy last month after an alcohol-fueled argument.

NM Scientist Sentence In Stolen Research Case - The Associated Press

A former scientist at Sandia Corporation accused of taking government property to China has been sentenced to a year and one day in federal prison.

The U.S. attorney's office in New Mexico announced Jianyu Huang's sentence yesterday.

Huang, a Chinese citizen, was arrested in 2012 on a six-count indictment charging him with misusing government resources and equipment to conduct research for Chinese institutions. He ended up pleading guilty in August to charges that he made false statements to investigators and transported stolen property.

At the time of his arrest, Huang's attorney said his client had frequently collaborated with scientists from other countries while employed by Sandia's Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies.

Police: Plane Crash At Las Cruces Airport Kills 1 - The Associated Press

New Mexico State Police says a plane has crashed at the Las Cruces Airport, killing a Texas man who was the pilot.

Police spokesman Emmanuel Gutierrez says the single-seat, propeller-driven aircraft went down about 1:15 p.m. Monday.

He says the pilot was 29-year-old Lawrence Francis of El Paso, Texas.

Francis died at the crash scene from his injuries.

According to witness' statements, police say the plane's engine was cutting in and out prior to the crash.

Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating.

New Mexico State Names New Athletics Director - The Associated Press

New Mexico State has a new athletics director.

President Garrey Carruthers yesterday introduced Southern Illinois athletics director Mario Moccia as the school's next athletics chief.

He was one of four finalists who interviewed with Carruthers in Las Cruces last week.

Moccia is a graduate of New Mexico State and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1998 after a standout baseball career as an Aggie.

Moccia will replace McKinley Boston whose contract was not extended beyond this year.

The school says Moccia will make $240,000 a year, plus incentives.

Feds Favor Expansion Of Endangered Wolf Territory - The Associated Press

Federal officials have proposed more than tripling the current number of endangered Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest and greatly expanding the area they can roam.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it will finalize a decision in January for changes to the troubled reintroduction program.

At least 83 wolves currently roam about 7 million acres of federal, tribal and private land in far eastern Arizona and western New Mexico.

The proposal eventually would allow up to 325 of the animals to disperse throughout Arizona and New Mexico south of Interstate 40 to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Ranchers and community leaders in rural areas have opposed expansion efforts, saying that wolves that don't find deer and elk to feed on could turn to livestock and domestic animals.

Dine College Eyes $7M Math And Science Building - The Associated Press and Daily Times

Dine College is planning to build a proposed $7 million math and science building on its Shiprock south campus.

The Daily Times reports that the college recently announced it wanted to expand the college's STEM course offerings and relocate classrooms from the Shiprock north campus.

A spokesman says the college will begin the design planning process when the state of New Mexico sells the bonds associated with a bond approved by voters this month.

The sale of bonds will provide Dine College with $500,000 for the design and planning work associated with the project.

Officials say the college hopes to finish construction by the end of 2017.

Navajo College To Get Funds For Distance Learning - The Associated Press

A distance learning initiative at Navajo Technical University will be getting a boost of more than $447,000 from the federal government.

Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation announced yesterday that the university would be receiving the funds, which are made possible through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program.

The goal is to counteract high unemployment and poverty on the Navajo Nation.

Officials say quality distance learning is an important tool, especially on the reservation, where many students have to travel long distances to take classes at the Crownpoint campus.

Through the distance learning program, students will be able to work during the day and take classes at night.

New Mexico Participating In I-40 Safety Campaign - The Associated Press

New Mexico is participating in a multi-state campaign to make travel on Interstate 40 safer over the Thanksgiving holiday period.

It's called the "Interstate 40 Challenge: The Drive toward Zero Fatalities."

The campaign increases patrols along I-40 over 12-hour periods on Wednesday and Sunday -- the holiday period's busiest travel days.

In New Mexico, there will be at least one officer every 20 miles along I-40. The State Police will also conduct saturation patrols and field sobriety checkpoints across the state.

Other states participating in the I-40 campaign include Arizona, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

Albuquerque Police: 1 Of 2 People Shot Has Died - The Associated Press

Albuquerque police say two people were shot and that one of them has died.

Details of the Monday evening incident in southeastern Albuquerque are sketchy but police the second person was receiving medical treatment.

Police also said they didn't have anybody in custody.