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Screams, threats as New Mexico counties certify vote

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Commissioners in all New Mexico counties have licensed the outcomes from their major election, after one county had sparked a standoff over election integrity that was fueled by conspiracy theories concerning the safety of voting gear. Otero County commissioners opted 2-1 on Friday to certify the outcomes throughout an emergency assembly as New Mexico counties confronted a deadline for certification of the vote. The commissioners earlier had refused to certify the outcomes, prompting the state’s prime election official to hunt court docket intervention. The developments in New Mexico will be traced to far-right conspiracy theories over voting machines which have unfold throughout the nation over the previous two years.

Official in election standoff avoids jail in Capitol riot

WASHINGTON (AP) — An elected official who was a central determine in a New Mexico county’s refusal to certify current election outcomes based mostly on debunked conspiracy theories about voting machines has averted extra jail time for becoming a member of the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol. Couy Griffin was sentenced Friday to 14 days behind bars, which he has already served. The founding father of the political group Cowboys for Trump, who’s a member of a county fee in a distant a part of New Mexico, entered a restricted space outdoors the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, however did not go into the constructing itself.

US provides $103M for wildfire hazards and land rehabilitation

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. is including $103 million this yr for wildfire danger discount and burned-area rehabilitation all through the nation in addition to establishing an interagency wildland firefighter well-being program. Inside Secretary Deb Haaland made the announcement Friday whereas touring the Nationwide Interagency Fireplace Heart in Boise, Idaho. About $80 million can be used to hurry up work eradicating potential wildfire hazards on greater than 3,000 sq. miles of Inside Division lands. The firefighter well-being program that features the Forest Service will handle psychological well being wants of seasonal and year-round wildland firefighters. Greater than 30,000 wildfires have scorched 4,600 sq. miles this yr, properly above the 10-year common.

AG to probe of Chaves County deadly deputy-involved capturing

CHAVES COUNTY, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Lawyer Basic’s workplace is taking on the investigation into the capturing demise of a suspect by Chaves County deputies. Lawyer Basic Hector Balderas mentioned in an announcement Friday that District Lawyer Dianna Luce requested for the overview due to a battle of curiosity in her workplace. Deputies had been referred to as to a dairy in southern Chaves County on March 22 a few man behaving erratically. The 2 deputies tried subduing 34-year-old David Aguilera with a taser a number of occasions. Police physique digicam footage exhibits Aguilera within the driver’s seat of a police car. A deputy opens hearth on him after he refuses to get out of the automobile.

New Mexico reaches $32M settlement over 2015 mine spill

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico and the U.S. authorities have reached a $32 million settlement to deal with claims stemming from a 2015 mine spill that polluted rivers in three western states. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and different state officers introduced the settlement Thursday. The spill launched 3 million gallons of wastewater from the inactive Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado. The brilliant-yellow plume of arsenic, lead and different heavy metals flowed south to New Mexico, the Navajo Nation and Utah. Water utilities had been compelled to close down consumption valves and farmers stopped drawing from the rivers because the plume moved downstream. Colorado and the tribe even have reached multimillion-dollar settlements.

Heat, dry, breezy climate to problem hearth crews in Arizona

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Crews battling a pair of wildfires in northern Arizona had been anticipating some development Thursday due to heat, dry and breezy climate. Each blazes had been shifting by way of grass, brush and pine timber on the northern outskirts of Flagstaff. The bigger hearth has burned greater than 38 sq. miles and was 27% contained Thursday. A smaller hearth is burning in the identical area. The forecast requires possibilities of showers and thunderstorms beginning Friday and thru the weekend, which might assist suppress the wildfires. Flooding and dry lightning are additionally issues. The biggest wildfire within the U.S. is burning in northern New Mexico.

Summer time wet season units up throughout 4 Corners area

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Because the summer time wet season recognized merely because the monsoon began Wednesday, issues grew for neighborhoods under mountains which have burned repeatedly in northern Arizona. The monsoon runs by way of September. It could possibly deliver aid to scorching desert cities but in addition carries the specter of flooding. The outlook this yr requires equal possibilities of under, above and regular precipitation within the 4 Corners area. Climatologists say that would change when a brand new seasonal outlook is launched Thursday. Already, circumstances are organising for moisture to maneuver into northern Arizona later this week, which might assist firefighters battling two blazes on the outskirts of Flagstaff.

GOP fee refuses to certify New Mexico major vote

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Votes in a New Mexico neighborhood are liable to not counting after a Republican-led fee refused to approve major election outcomes over mistrust of Dominion vote-tallying machines. Democratic Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver on Tuesday requested the court docket to order the three-member Otero County fee to certify the June 7 election outcomes to make sure voters will not be disenfranchised and permit political candidates to advance to the overall election. On Monday, the fee in its position as a county canvassing board voted unanimously towards certifying the outcomes of the first with out elevating particular issues concerning the major vote.