New Mexico
Bill Clinton and other dignitaries gather to remember Bill Richardson during funeral Mass
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Political allies, Native American leaders and people touched by Bill Richardson’s work to free Americans imprisoned abroad gathered Thursday for a funeral Mass to honor a man known for his innate political skills, soaring ambition and ability to both clash and reconcile with rivals.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was among those paying homage to Richardson during a Mass at Santa Fe’s downtown Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Richardson served as U.N. ambassador and energy secretary under the Clinton administration.
Clinton and Richardson’s widow, Barbara, followed the casket into the cathedral. Relatives of some of the political prisoners whom Richardson sought to free as well as Interior Secretary Deb Haaland were also in attendance.
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Despite Richardson’s longstanding friendship with the Clintons, they had a falling out after he dropped out of the 2008 presidential race and endorsed Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. Still, the Clintons expressed their sadness after learning of Richardson’s death earlier this month, recalling him as a masterful and persistent negotiator and a trailblazer for Latinos.
The line to enter the historic cathedral stretched around the block as hundreds filed inside, from members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation to tribal governors and dignitaries from around the globe.
Richardson throughout his career was tapped for numerous unofficial diplomatic missions, using his knack for negotiation to free many Americans held hostage abroad.
Dozens also turned out Wednesday as Richardson’s casket laid in state in the Capitol’s rotunda. An arrangement of white roses sent by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden was joined by flowers from others who were there to remember the work he had done for the state.
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Richardson served two terms as governor starting in 2003. His casket was flanked by police guard and draped in the New Mexico state flag with its ancient Zia Pueblo symbol of the sun.
Barbara Richardson, his wife for more than 50 years, was the first to approach and place a hand on the closed casket.
Richardson died in his sleep at his home in Chatham, Massachusetts, earlier this month at age 75.
Santa Fe Archbishop John C. Wester is presiding over the funeral Mass. In addition to Clinton delivering words of remembrance, Mickey Bergman, the vice president of The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, will also speak.
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The memorial services have reunited top advisers and Cabinet secretaries to Richardson in his years as governor, which were marked by splashy employment and public works projects — the creation of a commuter rail line connecting Santa Fe with Albuquerque, an aerospace “spaceport” launch facility and generous incentives to attract film productions to New Mexico in the era before “Breaking Bad.”
Richardson enacted initiatives with a Democratic-led Legislature that put an end to the death penalty in the state, eliminated sales taxes on medicine and food in efforts to combat poverty and renewed rights to collective bargaining by government workers that had expired under his Republican predecessor.
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Heavy rain and flash flood warnings in New Mexico prompted officials to order mandatory evacuations for parts of Las Vegas with shelters set up for displaced residents.
The National Weather Service office announced a flash flood emergency on Friday night through early Saturday. The impacted areas included Las Vegas and communities near Albuquerque.
Up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) had fallen by late Friday with additional rainfall up to 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) expected overnight, the weather service said.
There was flash flooding with multiple road closures on the north and west sides of Las Vegas, the weather service said.
The Las Vegas municipal government announced mandatory evacuations of parts of the city in social media posts, warning residents to prepare for overnight stays. The city said it established shelters for residents on the west and east sides of the city.
The city government asked residents to limit non-essential water use, while also clarifying that online rumors suggesting the city’s water dams had broken were false and that the dams “are currently intact.”
New Mexico also suffered devastating wildfires this week that killed at least two people and forced thousands to flee from the flames. The South Fork and Salt fires in south-central New Mexico destroyed or damaged an estimated 1,400 structures. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham planned to tour the disaster area Saturday.
New Mexico
New Mexico judge rejects request to compel new testimony from movie armorer in Alec Baldwin trial
SANTA FE, N.M. — A New Mexico judge denied a request Friday to use immunity to compel testimony from a movie set armorer in the involuntary manslaughter trial of actor Alec Baldwin who fatally shot a cinematographer during rehearsal for the Western movie “Rust.”
Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted in March of involuntary manslaughter for her role in the shooting of Halyna Hutchins on a movie-set ranch and she was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Her statements to investigators and workplace safety regulators will likely feature prominently in Baldwin’s trial, scheduled for July.
Further testimony could be limited by the armorer’s reluctance to testify, and Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said Friday that other witnesses can fill in most of the gaps if she doesn’t testify. At a pretrial interview in May, Gutierrez-Reed exercised her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to answer all questions.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Blue River Productions are bringing together breweries from around the state for The Great New Mexico Beer Festival on Saturday, June 22 at Balloon Fiesta Park.
The event runs from 12 – 6 p.m. and is for ages 21 and over only. The event will features beer from all over the state for guests to sample and purchase. Attendees can participate in brewing classes and check out the variety of local artisans and exhibitors that will be on site. There will be live music, mini golf, lawn games and an outdoor movie theater for people to enjoy. To help guests keep cool during the event there will be 12,000 square feet of shaded seating, free water stations and misting stations.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the event. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
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