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Headlines: Water Pipeline Maintenance, Mary Han Legal Fees

Photo by Darkpatator courtesy of Creative Commons

Water Pipeline To Be Shut Down Temporarily In SE Albuquerque - The Associated Press

Albuquerque's major water provider is temporarily shutting down a transmission pipeline in a southeastern area of the city.

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority will take the pipeline out of service starting at 6 p.m. Sunday in order to replace a large-diameter valve.

Officials say the project is expected to last until 6 a.m. Thursday.

The shut-off will affect residents and businesses south of Interstate 40 and east of Eubank SE.

The Water Authority says two nearby reservoirs will maintain service in the area.

However, customers are asked to conserve water by only using it for essential reasons.

The Water Authority is also asking people to refrain from using outdoor irrigation systems or sprinklers and washing cars at full-service car washes.

Attorney's Family Must Repay Fraction of ABQ Legal Fees - The Associated Press and KOAT-TV

The family of an Albuquerque civil rights attorney that sued the city over its probe into her death must pay officials' legal fees.

KOAT-TV reports that a judge ruled Thursday that the family of Mary Han owes the city of Albuquerque $5,000 in attorneys' fees.

The city had initially asked for more than $60,000.

Han, a vocal adversary of the police department, was found dead in her garage in 2010. The Office of the  New Mexico Attorney General investigated the police response and found that APD had mishandled the investigation. 

Her family is appealing a federal judge's dismissal of the lawsuit, which accused police and officials of too quickly ruling the death a suicide and spoiling evidence.

House Committee Clears Bill Giving State Power Over Oil, GasThe Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican

A House committee has approved legislation that would give New Mexico greater authority than local governments in regulating the oil and gas industry.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the House Energy and Environment Committee passed House Bill 366 on Wednesday on a party-line 6-5 vote.

Republican Rep. Nate Gentry of Albuquerque is sponsoring the legislation that would limit the ability of local governments to set limits for oil and gas producers.

Gentry says the bill is necessary so counties and other local governments don't issue all-out bans on oil and gas.

Roswell Man Recalls Watching US Flag Go Up In Iwo Jima - The Associated Press and Roswell Daily Record

The iconic image of U.S. Marines planting the American flag in Iwo Jima, which was captured 70 years ago Monday, is something Manuel Martinez will never forget.

The 92-year-old Roswell resident was on the Japanese island and went out to a beach to watch the moment.

Martinez told the Roswell Daily Record that he remembers seeing the five Marines and one Navy corpsman with the flag on Mount Suribachi.

An Associated Press photographer snapped a picture. The photo has since become one of the most recognizable and reproduced images in history.

The Battle of Iwo Jima launched on Feb. 19, 1945, with 30,000 Marines landing on the island. They began what would be a successful month-long battle to seize control of the island from Japanese forces.

Fugitive Shot, Killed In Police Standoff In Lincoln County - The Associated Press

A fugitive in an overnight standoff with authorities in a Lincoln County RV park is dead.

New Mexico State Police say officers fatally shot the fugitive Saturday morning at an RV park outside Ruidoso.

State Police, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, first attempted to take the man into custody Friday afternoon.

According to officers, he barricaded himself inside his RV and refused to surrender. Negotiators tried talking with him throughout the night.

Authorities say the man, who had an outstanding warrant out of Texas for sexual contact with a minor, was seen wielding a firearm. He also verbally and physically refused to comply with police.

They say he threatened officers with a firearm, leading to police shooting him.

Former Melrose Coach Sentenced For Sex Crimes With Student - The Associated Press and Clovis News Journal

Despite pleas from family and even her victim, a former Melrose high school volleyball coach convicted of sexual assault will serve three years in prison.

The Clovis News Journal reports that 29-year-old Allison Draper was sentenced Friday in Curry County District Court to six years in prison, but with three suspended.

Draper pleaded guilty Thursday to four felony counts of sexual assault.

Prosecutors say Draper groomed the then-14-year-old girl for sex acts and presented hundreds of text messages as evidence.

Draper's defense attorney and husband say her behavior was caused by her use of the prescription drug Ambien.

The now-16-year-old victim asked Judge Stephen Quinn to give the mother of three children probation.

But Quinn says Draper breached the trust the community had in her.

Woman Charged With Murder In Fatal Stabbing In Albuquerque - The Associated Press

Albuquerque police say a woman accused of chasing a man with a knife before stabbing him several times is being charged with murder.

Police spokesman Daren DeAguero said Sunday that 31-year-old Natasha Lee faces one count of murder.

DeAguero says officers responded Saturday to the area near Central and Wyoming and found the victim in the street with Lee.

According to police, the victim was extremely bloody and trying to push Lee away.

He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Lee was immediately taken into custody.

Authorities say Lee and the victim had gotten into an argument at a friend's house.

Date Set For Presidential Election On Navajo Nation The Associated Press

Navajo voters are scheduled to go to the polls in April to elect the next president on the country's largest American Indian reservation.

The presidential contest had been embroiled for months in court challenges, protests, and attempts by tribal lawmakers to switch up election law and reinstate candidates.

Last week, the tribe's high court struck down a bill allowing a new primary election and ordered that a general election between Russell Begaye and Joe Shirley Jr. be held without further delay.

Tribal officials announced Monday that the election is scheduled for April 21.

The Navajo Nation Council is meeting this week to vote on funding the special election.

Ben Shelly will continue serving as the tribe's top leader until a new president is sworn in May 12.

Santa Fe High, Capital High Students Protest Over Tests The Associated Press

Some students at Santa Fe High School and Capital High are protesting over state-required testing.

At Capital, some students briefly tore down a gate to leave campus Monday.

About 40 Santa Fe High students reportedly walked out of class and gathered for a indoors "town hall" style meeting with the principal.

The students are upset about the standardized tests known as the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers.

The all-computerized exam is designed to test students' knowledge of the newly adopted Common Core Standards, which encourage critical thinking and essay writing.

The tests are expected to take up to nine hours over several days next month.

Some students say the tests are too hard and the pilot PARCC testing periods are taking time away from classroom instruction.

NM Bill Aims To Create Fund To Eradicate Bullying In Schools The Associated Press

A committee of New Mexico lawmakers has approved an anti-bullying bill spurred by the 2013 suicide of a teenager who was bullied at school.

The bill calls for the creation of a five-member board to oversee grant applications to eradicate bullying in New Mexico schools and colleges. It garnered bi-partisan support Monday in the Senate Rules Committee with a unanimous vote.

The legislation, called the Carlos Vigil Memorial Act, would create a fund to be administered by the University of New Mexico Board of Regents.

Bill sponsor Sen. Jacob Candelaria of Albuquerque says bullying is an issue that "warrants a state response."

A Twitter post by 17-year-old Carlos Vigil of Los Lunas about enduring bullying garnered widespread media attention in 2013 after he committed suicide.

Hearing Set On Southern New Mexico Dairy Cleanup Proposal The Associated Press

A plan to clean up contaminated groundwater resulting from dairy operations in southern New Mexico will be considered at a public hearing next month.

Officials with the state Environment Department say the hearing will be in the community of Anthony on March 25. It's expected to continue the following day.

The department says shallow groundwater beneath and beyond the boundaries of dairies along the Interstate 10 corridor between Anthony and Mesquite is contaminated with nitrate-nitrogen, chloride and dissolved solids.

Officials say the contamination is primarily the result of past dairy wastewater discharges to lagoons and crops.

The cleanup plan proposed by a consortium of 11 dairies calls for putting in liners, among other things.

The hearing will cover sampling at monitoring wells and the effects on domestic wells.