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NM Shields Farmers From Nuisance Complaints, WIPP Makes Progress On Ventilation

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New Mexico Shields Farmers From Nuisance Complaints – The Associated Press

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has signed legislation aimed at protecting farmers and ranchers from nuisance lawsuits by neighbors amid encroachment of urban sprawl.

Martinez was in Clovis on Wednesday to announce her approval of the legislation sponsored by Republican Sen. Stuart Ingle. The law ensures new neighbors cannot sue agricultural producers for being too noisy.

The governor also signed a measure that allows the courts to grant permanent restraining orders against convicted sexual predators to keep them from contacting their victims.

Courts also will be able to grant those orders without requiring the victim to be present in the courtroom.

Troubled Nuke Dump Makes Progress On Ventilation System – The Associated Press

Managers at the nation's only underground nuclear waste repository say they're making progress on the facility's new interim ventilation system.

They say subcontractors completed work this week to tie in the new system to existing ductwork. The new system is expected to increase airflow in the underground facility by about 54 thousand cubic feet per minute.

Adequate ventilation has been a concern as the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant prepares to resume some operations at the end of 2016.

The plant has been shuttered since February 2014, when an improperly packed drum of waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory popped its lid and released radiation.

Officials say workers began testing the ventilation system for leaks Wednesday. Other electrical and mechanical work is expected to be done by the end of the week.

Martinez Acts On Remaining BillsThe Associated Press

New Mexico is nearing a deadline for the state governor to sign bills approved by the Legislature.

Gov. Susana Martinez has until Wednesday to sign, veto or disregard dozens of bills that are still outstanding.

She signed a variety of legislation Friday.

One new law requires student athletes that receive concussions to sit out of practices and games for 10 days to better protect them from traumatic brain injuries.

Another directs child protective services to give preference to grandparents and other extended family members when finding a new home for children that have been taken into state custody.

The governor also intends to sign legislation aimed at reducing drug overdose deaths by providing better availability for opioid antagonist medication that can reverse overdoses.

New Mexico Court Ruling Revives Lawsuit Against Oil CompanyThe Associated Press

A ruling by the New Mexico Supreme Court has revived a lawsuit by residents of a southeastern New Mexico neighborhood who claimed operations by an oil company resulted in contamination that caused health problems.

The justices say a lower court erred by preventing the residents from introducing scientific evidence and expert testimony in support of their case.

The case was ordered back to district court for further proceedings.

Residents had alleged there was environmental contamination in an area that became a housing subdivision in Hobbs.

A jury in 2007 ruled in favor of Shell Oil Co., which had storage tanks in the area from 1946 until 1993. There also was an unlined storage pit for oilfield wastes that was buried in the 1960s. Housing development in the area started in the 1970s.

FBI: Device Found Outside Las Cruces Church Also Was A BombThe Associated Press

The FBI now says a suspicious device found on the grounds of a Las Cruces church two weeks after explosive devices detonated outside two other churches in the city also was a bomb.

The FBI said in a podcast posted Friday on Twitter that the device found Aug. 14 outside the First Presbyterian Church was a bomb that malfunctioned and failed to go off.

Small explosions Aug. 2 outside two other churches caused little damage and no injuries, but authorities have said those devices could have injured people.

Authorities previously hadn't confirmed that the device found and rendered safe Aug. 14 was explosive.

The FBI podcast reminded the public about a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the bombings.

Attorney: Grand Jury Drops Probe Of Governor's AdviserThe Associated Press

An attorney for political consultant Jay McCleskey says a grand jury has dropped its investigation of the top adviser to New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez.

Attorney Paul Kennedy said Friday that an investigation into campaign finance activities by McCleskey has been terminated and that no related charges are forthcoming.

Martinez issued a statement saying she was always confident that the complaints against McCleskey would be rejected and that she was glad the episode was over.

Martinez previously acknowledged being questioned by federal agents in the probe of her top political adviser.

McCleskey has been a consultant to Martinez since she began campaigning for governor in 2009. He has worked for other prominent Republicans in the state, including Republican Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry.

Corps Of Engineers Provides Funding For Rio Grande ProjectsThe Associated Press

New Mexico is getting federal funding to build a floodway near Socorro and two other water projects related to the Rio Grande.

U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced Friday that the Army Corps of Engineers will provide $7 million to continue building the initial five miles of structural levee in the Rio Grande Floodway's Socorro segment.

The floodway will eventually replace 43 miles of existing levee along the Rio Grande's western bank and is intended to prevent flooding and protect a Bureau of Reclamation channel.

The senators also announced Corps of Engineering funding for watershed assessment in the Rio Grande Basin and $200,000 for a Rio Grande environmental management program to create a basin-wide database.

New Mexico Court Ruling Revives Lawsuit Against Oil Company – The Associated Press

A ruling by the New Mexico Supreme Court has revived a lawsuit by residents of a southeastern New Mexico neighborhood who claimed operations by an oil company resulted in contamination that caused health problems.

The justices say a lower court erred by preventing the residents from introducing scientific evidence and expert testimony in support of their case.

The case was ordered back to district court for further proceedings.

Residents had alleged there was environmental contamination in an area that became a housing subdivision in Hobbs.

A jury in 2007 ruled in favor of Shell Oil Co., which had storage tanks in the area from 1946 until 1993. There also was an unlined storage pit for oilfield wastes that was buried in the 1960s. Housing development in the area started in the 1970s.

Highlands University Plans To Cut Spending By $1.2 MillionThe Associated Press & The Las Vegas Optic

Officials with New Mexico Highlands University are facing budget cuts totally $1.2 million.

The Las Vegas Optic reports that regents were told on Friday that the university needs to trim spending during the current fiscal year by more than $100,000 and decrease spending by $1.2 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration Max Baca says the school will have to increase tuition and fees as well as save money for the future budget.

The $6.2 billion state budget that state lawmakers approved last month reduced funding for most state agencies. Funding for colleges and universities was cut by nearly $20 million. Baca says the budget bill cut Highlands' state allocation by $830,000.

'From Dusk Till Dawn' To Start Filming In AlbuquerqueThe Associated Press

Miramax and El Rey Network have announced both will start production in Albuquerque on the third season of "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series."

The network said Friday filmmaker and El Rey Network founder Robert Rodriguez will direct select episodes this season, which begins shooting March 14.

The show is based on the 1996 Rodriguez-directed vampire film with the same name and stars D.J. Cotrona, Zane Holtz, and Eiza Gonzalez.

Rodriguez says the network will take the series to "a whole new level."

El Rey Network is a 24-hour English language network founded by Rodriguez.

23 Inmates At New Mexico Prison Confirmed With Flu Virus – The Associated Press

Officials at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Los Lunas say there's been an increase of flu cases among inmates the last three days.

Those diagnosed or presenting symptoms consistent with the influenza virus are receiving medical treatment.

Prison officials say 31 patients have flu symptoms so far.

The New Mexico Corrections Department's medical provider, Corizon, has partnered with the Department of Health to provide additional support for conducting expedited examinations and medical attention.

At this point, 23 inmates have been confirmed as having the flu and most had previously received the influenza vaccine.

Officials say the prison is taking precautions to isolate the affected inmates to reduce the probability of additional people being affected and allow recovery of those already diagnosed with the flu.