UNM Researchers Have Low-Cost Method To Battle Zika – Albuquerque Journal
University of New Mexico researchers are looking to patent and produce a concoction of lemon grass oil and yeast to battle the Zika virus.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that lab trials on the combination found it was effective because yeast is a tasty temptation for the mosquitos that carry Zika and lemon grass oil is lethal to them.
The project is under the UNM School of Medicine’s Center for Global Health. UNM is seeking a patent on the technology and do large-scale testing, but it needs a partner to move that process forward.
Zika is spreading rapidly around the Americas and could be linked to serious birth defects when pregnant women contract the virus.
Lawmakers Wrap Crime-Focused Session – The Associated Press
State Democratic and GOP lawmakers have traded criticisms over failed crime legislation that Democrats rejected as misguided and GOP leaders argued was needed to crack down on violent crime.
Sen. Michael Sanchez, a Belen Democrat and the Senate Majority floor leader, says his party prioritized public education during the session that ended Thursday, while addressing public safety in a "thoughtful way." The Senate voted down House proposals he says would have increased mass incarceration costs in the state.
Meanwhile, he's touting passage of a constitutional amendment for bail reform and legislation that allows sexual assault victims to request a protective order after their attackers' prison release without a court appearance.
House Republicans — who put forward some two dozen crime bills — criticized Senate Democrats for not passing several high-profile proposals, including an expansion of the three-strikes sentencing law for habitual offenders.
Officer In Kneeing Case To Stand Trial In Albuquerque – KOB-TV, Associated Press
A former Albuquerque police officer accused of kneeing a law student in the groin and deleting a cellphone video will stand trial in Albuquerque.
KOB-TV reports that state District Judge Briana Zamora recently ruled that Pablo Padilla must stand trial in Albuquerque for aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and tampering with evidence charges.
His lawyers had sought to move the trial.
An attorney for University of New Mexico law school student Jeremy Martin says his client was forced to undergo emergency surgery to remove a testicle after Padilla kneed him during an April 2014 traffic stop.
Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden later gave Padilla a 240-hour suspension.
Padilla resigned in December.
Albuquerque May Pull Bond Funding From Zoo In Light Of Tax – The Associated Press & KRQE
Though the Albuquerque zoo will soon begin receiving $15 to $17 million from a gross receipts tax increase, the city is considering moving bond money typically earmarked for the zoo to other projects.
KRQE-TV reports that voters approved a receipts tax increase to fund the Albuquerque BioPark that will take effect in July. Albuquerque Chief of Staff Gilbert Montano says as a result, roughly $3 to $4 million in bond money typically given to the zoo can now go toward other city improvements.
New Mexico BioPark Society Executive Director Julie Miller Rugg says the change was expected, but that the challenge will be recouping that money when the tax increase expires in 15 years.
City officials say even without the bond money, the zoo will receive more money for the day-to-day budget.
After Years Of Growth, Mexican Gray Wolf Population Declines – The Associated Press
There are now fewer Mexican gray wolves roaming the American Southwest, and federal officials say the numbers show more work needs to be done to restore the endangered species.
The annual survey released Thursday by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows at least 97 wolves are spread between southwestern New Mexico and southeast Arizona.
Federal officials say the numbers are disconcerting since the population had been on the upswing since 2010, with 2014 marking a banner year when the predators topped 110.
Biologists aren't certain whether the abrupt decline in 2015 was an anomaly. They're considering a number of factors, including the deaths of 13 wolves and a significantly lower pup survival rate.
The survey showed 23 wild-born pups survived in 2015 compared to 38 the previous year.
Governor Makes Appointment To New Mexico Court Of Appeals – The Associated Press
Gov. Susana Martinez has appointed a longtime civil rights attorney to serve on the New Mexico Court of Appeals.
The governor's office announced the appointment of Stephen French on Thursday. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cynthia Fry.
French has more than three decades of public and private-sector legal experience.
For the past 26 years, he has focused on civil rights law through his private practice. Before that, he served as an assistant district attorney in Bernalillo County and later reviewed claims against the state during his tenure as the legal bureau chief for the state Risk Management Division.
French also has served on the city of Albuquerque's personnel board and as a member of the Rules Committee for the U.S District Court of New Mexico.
New Mexico Legislature Cuts Budget, Forges Compromises – Associated Press
The New Mexico Legislature is approaching the finish line of a 30-day session with major political compromises in place to revise driver's licenses for immigrants, overhaul the state's bail bond system and trim spending next year to offset plunging state revenues linked to oil revenues.
The legislative session comes to a close by law at noon on Thursday with a $6.2 billion budget deal in place that shaves overall spending but shifts more money to Medicaid, state prisons, State Police, teachers and child protective services.
Those are priorities favored by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. The governor has embraced a plan that will bring New Mexico driver's licenses into compliance with federal REAL ID requirements. Various criminal justice measures await her signature, while bail reforms are headed to the November ballot.
Uber, Lyft Get Senate Approval To Operate In New Mexico – Associated Press
A bill aimed at welcoming and regulating ride-booking companies like Uber and Lyft in New Mexico has been approved by state Senate.
The Senate passed the legislation Thursday morning. The House has until noon to send the bill to the governor.
The legal status of the companies has been in limbo in the state since they began offering services in 2014. The companies say the state's Motor Carrier Act does not apply to them because they do not operate as commercial taxi businesses.
Uber and Lyft use smartphone apps to connect their drivers with people seeking rides.
The new regulations include background checks for drivers against criminal and sexual offender databases.
Carlsbad Caverns' Maintenance Backlog Tops $44M – Associated Press
Officials at Carlsbad Caverns National Park say the southern New Mexico tourist attraction has a maintenance backlog of more than $44 million and about half of that is related to elevator renovations.
Carlsbad Superintendent Doug Neighbor said Wednesday that funding provided by Congress for this fiscal year will help with the work.
According to a warning on the park's website, the elevators are still out of commission, meaning visitors who want to reach the underground have to travel through the natural entrance — a steep 750-foot descent and ascent.
The National Parks Service detailed its nationwide maintenance backlog earlier this month. The total bill is nearly $12 billion — a $440 million increase over last year.
The backlog includes work on roads and bridges, visitor centers, trails and campgrounds.
Senate Passes Child Pornography Legislation – Associated Press
The Senate has approved legislation that would increase prison sentences for manufacturing, distributing and possessing child pornography, with a unanimous vote that sends a heavily redrafted version of the bill back to the House.
The legislation introduced by Rep. Sarah Maestas Barnes and backed by Attorney General Hector Balderas originally aimed to allow prosecutors to bring individual charges against suspects in child pornography cases for each image distributed or in their possession.
The Senate changed the legislation, striking language that would allow the charges for each image and instead creating a new sentencing structure that hands down stricter sentencing terms for child pornography crimes.
Another Senate amendment says teens caught sexting wouldn't be prosecuted under the legislation.
Attorney General Hector Balderas withdrew his support of the legislation as amended over the teen sexting exemption.
Stolen Albuquerque Museum Dog Statue Recovered – Associated Press
A bronze dog statue police say was stolen from the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History has been recovered.
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department spokesman Ben Cloutier says a recycling company bought the stolen artwork and immediately contacted state officials after recognizing it.
Cloutier says the company purchased the statue from someone for $55 and information about the seller has been turned over to Albuquerque police.
Last week, the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History reported the bronze pooch nicknamed Sparky was stolen from the museum gardens.
No arrests have been made.
Track Reports Status Of Horse Herpes Outbreak – Associated Press
Officials with Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino say they're seeing fewer positive tests as they work to contain an equine herpes outbreak that has infected dozens of horses in southern New Mexico.
The track's racing director, Dustin Dix, told the New Mexico Racing Commission during a discussion Wednesday in Albuquerque that it's been three days since the last positive test.
So far, some 70 horses have tested positive since the outbreak started last month. A dozen horses have been euthanized as a result.
Dix told commissioners the key is containment. He said tracks across the state should all consider adopting protocols for testing, sanitation and track security to limit the spread.
Sunland Park has proposed resuming live racing Feb. 26, but some at Wednesday's meeting debated whether that's too soon.