Albuquerque Journal

State Police say pedestrian was apparently walking in southbound lanes of interstate north of Las Cruces A pedestrian was killed Monday night when hit by a tractor-trailer rig on Interstate 25 about 20 miles north of Las Cruces, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported. State Police said the pedestrian, who has not yet been identified, was apparently walking in the southbound lanes of Interstate 25 ... Full Story »

Suspect is charged with aggravated battery in Oct. 12 jail fight at Metropolitan Detention Center A man sought for allegedly pummeling another prisoner while he was being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center is in custody. Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Erin Kinnard Thompson said Tuesday that Paul Delburt Ruiz, 18, was apprehended by deputies Monday night on Albuquerque ... Full Story »

The head of the University of New Mexico's Staff Council has joined the chorus of those calling for an independent investigation into the university's handling of the Mike Locksley altercation. "I have no doubt that you, like I, wish that the incident between Coach Locksley and Coach (J.B.) Gerald had never occurred," Staff Council President Elisha Allen wrote in a letter presented to regents ... Full Story »

News from around New Mexico: Santa Fe County Commissioners Mike Anaya and Harry Montoya, prevented by term limits from seeking re-election to the commission, confirmed Monday that they will run for land commissioner . A 21-year-old suspect is in custody in connection with a fatal shooting at Bridge and 12th streets in Las Vegas, N.M. A motorcyclist was killed in an early-morning crash Tuesday ... Full Story »

Eastbound Paseo del Norte at Coors has reopened, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department reports. The roadway had been closed due to a fatal accident. Full Story »

No-kill refuge near Alamogordo has found homes for some 300 felines. Since it opened in La Luz in November 2008, "Kitty City" has been rescuing cats from euthanasia, getting them healthy and over the past year getting them placed in about 300 homes around the Tularosa Basin, the Alamogordo Daily News reported. Ed Denton, who with his wife Kathy, owns and operates the refuge along Danley Ranch ... Full Story »

Monday plea wraps up three-year investigation by Attorney General's Office. Katherine Vidaurri (also known as Katherine Pulliam and Katherine Padilla), 51, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of mortgage fraud, forgery and racketeering stemming from a three-year investigation by the New Mexico Attorney General's Office, according to a news release. Vidaurri pleaded guilty to one ... Full Story »

Council met in closed session two weeks ago before suspending tribal president. A former solicitor to the Navajo Nation courts has filed a formal public records request demanding access to reports that were heard in closed session by the Navajo Nation Council two weeks ago that led to the suspension of President Joe Shirley Jr., the Farmington Daily Times reported. James Zion, an Albuquerque ... Full Story »

Race to succeed term-limited Republican Pat Lyons getting crowded. Santa Fe County Commissioners Mike Anaya and Harry Montoya, prevented by term limits from seeking re-election to the commission, confirmed Monday that they will run for land commissioner, The New Mexican reported. Anaya and Montoya enter a crowded Democratic primary, to be held June 1, to replace State Land Commissioner Pat Lyons ... Full Story »

No charges filed yet against teenage girl who sent photos to out-of-state male. Belen police are investigating the case of a teenage girl who they believe has been sending photos of herself to a male out-of-state, and while no charges have been filed against the girl, the case remains under investigation to determine whether the male to whom the photos were sent is an adult, the Valencia County ... Full Story »

Eastern Cibola County resident suffered broken jaw in early August incident. Two Grants men have been indicted on charges of first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and aggravated battery with great bodily harm in connection with an alcohol-related incident in early August, the Cibola Beacon reported. Justin Garrera, 22, and Ronald Ortiz Jr., 19, were accused of attacking ... Full Story »

Eastbound lanes were closed for several hours following crash at 6:30 a.m. An early morning crash Tuesday on eastbound Paseo del Norte claimed the life of a motorcyclist, a spokeswoman for the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department said. Erin Kinnard Thompson said the accident occurred about 6:30 a.m. and resulted in the eastbound lanes being closed until shortly before 10 a.m. The name of the ... Full Story »

Columbus P.D. says victim once lived in U.S. and was deported for drug smuggling. A Palomas, Mexico, man was brought to the Columbus Port of Entry Sunday night with gunshot wounds in his elbow, and was taken by EMTs in Columbus to Mimbres Memorial Hospital, then airlifted to University Medical Center in El Paso, where his condition was unknown on Monday, the Deming Headlight reported. Columbus ... Full Story »

Thousands of images found on computer, other media in search of home last week. A 50-year-old Las Cruces man was being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center after being arrested on federal charges of receiving child pornography and possession of child pornography, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported. William A. "Bill" Ege, who reportedly told investigators he is addicted to child pornography ... Full Story »

21-year-old suspect taken into custody after Monday evening shooting. A 21-year-old suspect is in custody following a fatal shooting early Wednesday evening at Bridge and 12th streets in Las Vegas, N.M., the Las Vegas Optic reported. The victim, a 22-year-old male, was apparently sitting in his car when he was shot, the Optic said. Police have not released the name of the victim or suspect ... Full Story »

Woman was accused of allowing herself to be served alcohol at parties at a former police officer's home when she was under 21 A Deming woman accused of allowing herself to be served alcohol at two parties held at the home of a former city police officer and his wife has pleaded guilty in Luna County Magistrate Court to misdemeanor charges of possession of alcoholic beverages as a minor, The ... Full Story »

Gov. Bill Richardson has signed into law a piece of the Legislature's special session solvency package that takes about $110 million from more than 50 state funds to help pay for government operations. Richardson used his line-item veto authority to spare some of the proposed fund raids, or "sweeps". Those line-item vetoed include $800,000 for an ATV trail safety fund, $500,000 for domestic ... Full Story »

Twenty-six people arrested in roundup conducted in Las Vegas, N.M., area by 15 state, city, county and federal agencies Fifty-four officers from 15 different agencies participated in a roundup of people with outstanding arrest warrants in the Las Vegas, N.M., area, the Las Vegas Optic reported. The newspaper said the officers arrested 26 people during Friday's roundup and took them to Magistrate ... Full Story »

Call center's hours on Wednesday will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The state Department of Workforce Solutions says its unemployment insurance call center will be open on Veterans Day. The agency said in a news release Monday that the call center will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The call center number is 505-841-4000. "We realize many claimants rely on our services and feel it is ... Full Story »

Man being sought in Monday morning robbery of the New Mexico Bank & Trust at 7380 Enchanted Hills Blvd. The FBI is investigating the robbery Monday morning of the New Mexico Bank & Trust at 7830 Enchanted Hills Blvd. in Rio Rancho. FBI spokesman Darrin E. Jones said the robbery occurred at about 10 a.m. and the robber left the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. Jones said there ... Full Story »

Judge Raises Bond To $1 Million Cash-Only Metropolitan Court Judge Daniel Ramczyk raised the bonds about an hour ago on Ryan Vigil and Christopher Midyette in the brutal killing of Brittni Carlini. Bond had originally been set at $300,000 cash or surety. But Ramczyk cited the "horrific nature of the allegations" and ordered both men be held on $1 million cash-only bonds. A background ... Full Story »

Police say alcohol was a contributing factor in man's death Authorities say a 48-year-old man who was found submerged in the Animas River on Oct. 7 died of accidental drowning, The Daily Times reported. The newspaper said that according to Farmington police Detective Sgt. Robert Perez, alcohol was a contributing factor in the death of Vern Dennison. Police had believed Dennison's death was ... Full Story »

Wiener says by closing most of county offices on Mondays, the county could save money A Bernalillo County Commissioner would like to see the majority of county offices open only four days instead of five days a week as a way to save money, KRQE-TV reported. "I believe it's probably about 20 percent we could probably save," County Commissioner Michael Wiener told the station. His plan would ... Full Story »

The politically thorny issue of abortion almost derailed House passage of a landmark health care bill Saturday night. Here's how and why New Mexico 's U.S. House representatives voted on the controversial abortion amendment. First, the amendment in question - called the Stupak amendment in reference to its author, Democrat Bart Stupak of Michigan - passed the House Saturday and paved the way for ... Full Story »

Veterans Day ceremony at park at Angel Fire will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday The theme for this year's Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday at Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park in Angel Fire will be "We Were There: Veterans Stories" and will feature veterans who will briefly share their individual experiences in Vietnam, New Mexico State Parks says. State Parks said in a news release that three ... Full Story »