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Weekend News Roundup: Memorial In Albuquerque Honors Slain Homeless Men

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Memorial In Albuquerque Honors Slain Homeless Men - The Albuquerque Journal, The Associated Press

Two homeless men who were allegedly beaten to death were remembered at a memorial service at an Albuquerque shelter.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that about 100 people paid their respects Saturday to 44-year-old Allison Gorman and 46-year-old Kee Thompson.

The service was held at Noon Day Ministries and attended by others from the homeless community.

Police say three teenagers beat Gorman and Thompson using a cinder block, metal pole and their hands and feet while they slept in a vacant field.

Both victims were also members of the Navajo Nation.

Alberta Gorman Yazzie, Gorman's sister, says her brother was a humble and joyful man.

Stephanie Plummer, Thompson's sister, says he thought of the homeless as his family but people on the reservation cared for him.

2 Bernalillo County Sisters Found Safe In Mexico - The Associated Press

Two New Mexico sisters who were the issue of an Amber Alert have been found south of the border.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office said early Sunday morning that 9-year-old Genesis Marquez and 10-year-old Trinity Marquez were found safe in Mexico.

Authorities issued the alert on Saturday night after the girls' mother reported them missing after their father took them.

The mother told police that 40-year-old Oscar Marquez took their daughters from a grandmother's house Thursday night after the grandmother went to sleep.

The Sheriff's Office says no other information is available at this time.

Rail Runner Service Expected To Resume - The Associated Press

New Mexico transportation officials say all Rail Runner service is expected to resume a day after being derailed by severe rain.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation says all trains should operate on schedule Sunday after some routes were shut down because of a washout along a key route.

Officials say rain caused a culvert near the top of Waldo Canyon to overflow, endangering the stability and drainage for the tracks.

Rail Runner canceled all service to Santa Fe as a result.

Rio Metro crews spent Saturday repairing the railroad tricks.

Heavy rainfall has hit the southwestern part of the state as well as Albuquerque since Friday.

Downtown Albuquerque streets were flooded late Friday leaving cars nearly covered in water and some residents stranded.

Heavy Rains Flood Some Albuquerque Streets - The Associated Press

Authorities say fire crews aided several people who were stranded in their cars because of street flooding in Albuquerque.

Credit Dave Barger via Flickr

Heavy rains late Friday night caused the flash flooding and road closures in parts of downtown and in some other areas.

The Fire Department says in a statement that crews found multiple vehicles stuck in flood waters, including one that was completely submerged.

Firefighters helped several people to safety, including a couple stranded on the hood of their vehicle. No serious injuries were reported.

The Albuquerque Journal reported that the Albuquerque airport received .67 inches within an hour. There was no immediate word on the total rainfall from Friday night but the national weather service reports as much as two inches in certain parts of Albuquerque.

Mayor Forms Task Force On Native American Homeless - The Associated Press

Following the brutal slayings of two homeless Navajo men, Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry says he is forming a task force to address chronic homelessness among Native Americans in New Mexico's largest city.

Berry met with Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly and other tribal leaders last week. He says data the city has collected as part of its efforts to fight homelessness shows Native Americans are on the streets longer than other populations and are more likely to be victimized. He says he and Shelly have agreed to work together to figure out why, and find solutions. And, he says he will reach out to the pueblos as well.

Three teenagers are being held on murder charges after the killing two homeless Navajo men a couple weeks ago. One of those suspects told police the trio had been targeting homeless people around Albuquerque for a year.