Hatch Valley Farmers Strive To Protect Chile Brand - The Las Cruces Sun-News, The Associated Press
Hatch Valley farmers are banding together to protect their brand, which to them represents a long heritage of local, home-grown food.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that The Hatch Chile Association, comprised of chile growers and producers from the valley, is actively pursuing an action with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In dispute is the use of the Hatch brand by Georgia-based company Hatch Chile Co.
Hatch Chile Association Board Member Preston Mitchell says the group believes that no one other than local growers should be able to own the Hatch name. The group hopes for a certification mark that will protect the brand.
Senior vice president of sales and marketing at Hatch Chile Co. David Gregory says the ongoing dispute has not interrupted the company's operations.
Hearing Set On Large Development Plan Near Albuquerque - The Associated Press
The Bernalillo County Commission is set to discuss a planned community west of Albuquerque that developers say could someday be home to as many as 90,000 people.
Commissioners are scheduled Monday to continue a hearing on the development known as Santolina.
The nearly 22-square-mile development would rival some of New Mexico's largest cities once completed.
It's the largest development master plan ever considered by Bernalillo County.
Opponents of the plan want county commissioners to vote down the development. They say the development would take away needed water resources in Albuquerque's South Valley.
But supporter say the development would be subject to water conservation efforts.
The development would be located along Interstate 40 and would have its own business parks and town center.
Santa Fe Final Resting Place For US Soldier Killed In Korea – The Associated Press
After more than 60 years of waiting, Pvt. Eugene Erickson will finally be laid to rest in New Mexico.
Clayton Erickson, of Albuquerque, tells the Santa Fe New Mexican that his younger brother's remains will be buried with full military honors Wednesday at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
According to the Army, Erickson was captured during battle in the Korean War in 1951.
Clayton Erickson says the family learned two years later that he died in a camp.
He says he received a call from the Army last month that they had identified Eugene's remains.
Army officials say the U.S. government has 1,200 sets of unidentified remains from the Korean War and the process of identifying them takes time.
Erickson was 20 years old when he enlisted in 1950.
Man Hides From SWAT For 15 Hours, Found In TV Cabinet - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
An Albuquerque man kept SWAT busy while he hid inside his house for 15 hours only to be found inside the television cabinet.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the Albuquerque Police SWAT unit was responding to a domestic violence call Sunday.
During the standoff police lobbed flash-bang devices, dispersed tear gas and used a robot to search the house. The long wait ended when a piece of heavy equipment dumped the suspect out of the old cabinet.
Police were seen escorting a shirtless man from the residence about 1 p.m. APD spokesman Simon Drobik says that man was wanted on a felony probation violation.
Drobik says the man inside the television cabinet is facing a felony domestic violence charge and other charges.
Martinez's Low Profile Fuels Talk Of National GOP Stage - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican
Even when keeping a low profile, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez can't quiet speculation that she could play a role in Republicans' hopes for 2016.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Saturday that political pundits still believe Martinez will be given serious consideration as a running mate for the GOP presidential nominee.
Martinez has not been seen publicly campaigning for any of the Republican contenders since appearing at an event in 2013 for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
She said during a gubernatorial debate last year that she would carry out a second four-year term if re-elected.
Spokesman Chris Sanchez says the governor's commitment to her office remains the same.
Some political observers say keeping a low profile and staying off national television could be to her advantage.
Starting Salary For Albuquerque Police Behind Other Agencies - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
A state report on salaries across New Mexico police agencies has found Albuquerque police's rank-and-file members could earn more elsewhere.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that a New Mexico Department of Public Safety survey indicates Albuquerque pays patrol officers less per hour compared to other departments.
According to the report, Albuquerque police cadets earn just above $18 per hour, making them the fifth highest-paid in the state.
City officials say police receive compensation in the form of overtime opportunities, specialty pay and benefits.
The report's analysis comes at a time when Albuquerque is trying to retain and recruit officers amid a shortage.
According to the department's most recent count, there are currently more than 800 officers working. That is the fewest since 2001.
State Police Seek Driver Who Allegedly Shot Pedestrian - The Associated Press
New Mexico State Police are searching for a suspect in a Cuba shooting last month sparked by road rage.
Authorities say the incident occurred April 16 shortly before 6 p.m. near the intersection of US 550 and SR 197.
According to State Police, a pedestrian and the driver of a pickup truck got into a confrontation that led to the pedestrian being shot.
Police say the driver is wanted for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
The suspect is described as Hispanic or Native American, between 5-foot-3 and 5-foot-6 and with a thin to medium build.
He is between 25 and 40 years old, has black hair and a beard and was wearing glasses.
He was last seen driving a red or maroon, older Nissan pickup with an extended cab.
Motorcyclist Killed In Crash With Vehicle In Albuquerque - The Associated Press
A motorcyclist has died in an overnight crash in Albuquerque involving a vehicle.
Albuquerque police say officers were called shortly before midnight to a crash in the area of Lafayette Drive and Comanche Road.
Police spokesman Fred Duran says a motorcyclist was found critically injured but later died at the scene.
They say a driver of a sedan was involved but uninjured.
Duran says the crash is still under investigation but alcohol is not believed to be a factor.
Duran says the identities of the motorcyclist and the driver are not being released at this time.
New Mexico Students Killed In Crash Get Posthumous Degrees - The Associated Press and KOAT-TV
Two University of New Mexico students who were killed in a car crash last year have received posthumous degrees.
KOAT-TV in Albuquerque reports that the family of Briana Hillard and Matthew Grant accepted diplomas for them during a commencement ceremony Saturday.
Family members representing Hillard and Grant walked across the stage when their names were called.
Classmates say it meant a lot to have them both be part of the day.
Hillard and Grant, who were both 21, died Nov. 21 when the driver of a stolen truck collided with the car they were riding in.
The collision also injured two other New Mexico students.
Prosecutors say the driver, Joshua Leal, had methamphetamine in his system. Leal is facing multiple charges, including two counts of homicide.
Albuquerque Zoo In Mourning After Elephant Dies - The Associated Press
The Albuquerque BioPark has lost a member of its Asian elephant herd.
Zookeepers say 5-year-old Daizy died Saturday afternoon after collapsing from symptoms related to elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus.
The virus is highly fatal when transmitted to young Asian elephants.
They say she first exhibited symptoms Wednesday. A blood sample taken to a University of New Mexico laboratory tested positive for the virus.
Zoo caretakers say antiviral medication was administered immediately but the female elephant succumbed anyway.
Zoo officials say the rest of the herd is not in danger. However, they are closely monitoring Jazmine, a 19-month-old female calf.
Daizy was born at the zoo in September 2009.
Governor Spends $27,000 On Travel In 3 Months – The Associated Press
Taxpayers are responsible for the $27,000 in travel expenses Gov. Susana Martinez racked up in the first three months of the year mostly related to her role in the Republican Governors Association, a national conservative group.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports state records show that the money was mostly for the lodging, food and transportation costs of state officers protecting Martinez.
Administration policy states for the safety of the governor and her staff, actual receipts or vouchers aren't included in Martinez's monthly expense report.
New Mexico Foundation for Open Government officials say these are public records that people should be able to access.
It's not unusual for taxpayer dollars to fund travel for security, like when Democrat Bill Richardson traveled to promote Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008.
Father Of Missing Albuquerque Girl Turns Himself In – The Associated Press
The father of a six-year-old Albuquerque girl that has been reported missing has turned himself in to police, but the child's whereabouts are still unknown.
KOB-TV reports that Abelino Lopez made a call to the KOB newsroom Sunday and said he planned to turn himself in at KOB's studios in downtown Albuqerque to have his arrest filmed.
Police began looking for Lopez after they said he took his daughter, Arianna Lopez, from Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church Saturday.
The attorney for Arianna's mother, Josh Carpenter says last week a judge ordered Lopez not to have contact with Arianna until he underwent a psychological evaluation.
Court records state Arianna's mother and father filed for divorce in 2010 and have been fighting for custody over their two children ever since.
2 Shot In New Mexico From Pursuit That Began In Colorado – The Associated Press
Authorities say police shot and killed two people in Shiprock in connection with a chase that began in Cortez, Colorado.
San Juan County Sheriff's Office Capt. Brice Current told The Daily Times of Farmington, that officers opened fire Monday on the suspects, who police chased down a dead end road in Shiprock.
Current says a third suspect fled the area.
The sheriff's office sent an armored vehicle to respond to the chase, and the FBI also is on the scene.
The Cortez Journal reports that a dozen shots were fired at a Montezuma County deputy Monday morning after he launched a high-speed pursuit south of Cortez that crossed into New Mexico.
The deputy was not injured.
No further information was available.