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Wednesday News Roundup: New Mexico Meeting Sparks Anger Over Immigrants

New Mexico Meeting Sparks Anger Over Immigrants - The Associated Press

Southeastern New Mexico residents are speaking out against a detention center for immigrants suspected of entering the country illegally.

Around 400 people attended Tuesday a contentious town hall meeting in Artesia to express their anger that close to 700 Central American women and children will be stay at a nearby facility.

Residents say they were afraid the immigrants might take away jobs from locals and resources away from American-born children.

Last month, the Obama administration announced plans to convert Artesia's Federal Law Enforcement Training Center into one of several temporary sites being established to deal with the influx of women and children fleeing gang violence and poverty in Central American.

The three barracks at the Artesia site will hold people as they await deportation or seek asylum.

Martinez Role In Las Vegas Parade Draws Criticism - The Associated Press

The decision to make Republican Gov. Susana Martinez the grand marshal in heavily-Democratic Las Vegas's fiesta parade Saturday isn't universally welcomed.

Parade organizers had announced the selection of Martinez by saying she'd demonstrated a commitment to the community, including Las Vegas-area reservoir and hotel projects.

However, the Las Vegas Optic reports that San Miguel County Democratic Chairman Martin Suazo says it's inappropriate to honor Martinez.

Suazo says additional funding proposed by lawmakers for San Miguel County didn't make it into the final state budget approved by Martinez and the Legislature.

Martinez spokesman Mike Lonergan says the $10 million provided for the reservoir project was the largest single capital appropriation in the state this year.

Martinez is running for re-election. She'll face Democratic Gary King on the November ballot.

New Mexico Boy, 12, To Be Sentenced In ShootingThe Associated Press and KRQE TV

A 12-year-old boy who pleaded no contest to opening fire in a New Mexico middle school gym and injuring two students is scheduled to be sentenced.

The boy is expected Wednesday to appear in court for the Jan. 14 shooting at a Roswell middle school. As a juvenile, he faces possible detention until he's 21 years old.

However, KRQE-TV reports that the boy's lawyers are asking that he be placed in treatment for two years and then released if doctors determine he's no longer a danger.

A defense memo says the boy was chronically bullied, is socially and emotionally immature and regrets what he did.

The boy was charged with three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of carrying a firearm on school premises.

Reports: Men Fatally Shot By Police Were Impaired - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal

Toxicology reports say two men were impaired when they were fatally shot by Albuquerque police in May.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that the state Office of the Medical Investigator on Tuesday released death investigations and toxicology reports for 50-year-old Armand Martin and 37-year-old Ralph Chavez.

A report says Martin had a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 percent. Tests also found a drug that can be prescribed to treat anxiety or insomnia. He was shot outside his home following a domestic dispute and barricade situation.

Police shot Chavez as he wielded a knife and approached officers following the beating of a woman and the slashing of a man's throat. He had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.28 percent.

New Mexico's presumed level of intoxication for a driver is .08 percent.

Early Voting More Popular In Primary Election - The Associated Press

Official primary election returns show a growing portion of New Mexico voters are casting their ballots before Election Day.

About 40 percent of Democratic and Republican voters in this year's primary election took advantage of absentee ballots or early in-person voting, according to official returns from the secretary of state's office.

That's up from 35 percent in 2010, and 24 percent in 2006. Both were gubernatorial election years.

New Mexico has relaxed absentee voting requirements and implemented early voting to make it more convenient to cast a ballot. That's shifted voting patterns away from Election Day, but it hasn't led to greater voter participation.

Nearly 203,000 total ballots were cast in this year's primary — a drop of about 22 percent from 2010, but up almost 4 percent from 2006.

College Partners With University On Nursing Degree - The Associated Press and Daily Times

A partnership with the University of New Mexico will enable San Juan College nursing students to graduate with a four-year bachelor's degree after they get their associate degrees.

The Daily Times reports that San Juan College President Toni Pendergrass and UNM Nursing School Dean Nancy Ridenour signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday night.

According to Nisa Bruce, the director of the college's nursing program, the partnership will help students unable to transfer to UNM in Albuquerque or to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

A consortium in 2009 began work on a statewide nursing curriculum to help students transfer from two-year programs to four-year schools.

New Mexico Junior College, Central New Mexico Community College and Santa Fe Community College also have nursing partnerships with UNM or NMSU.

A Return To (Old) 'Breaking Bad' For AMC - The Associated Press

No new episodes of "Breaking Bad"? No problem for the AMC network.

AMC said Tuesday that it will fill its Sunday night schedule for nearly two months with reruns of the popular series that starred Bryan Cranston, which aired its last original episode last September. Every episode will be shown during the network's "Breaking Bad Binge."

Episodes will air from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Sunday night, from Aug. 10 through Oct. 5.

AMC will add some extras, including interviews with cast and crew members prior to each episode.