New Mexico
US’s most endangered rivers are in New Mexico: Report
The rivers of New Mexico are the most threatened waterways in the country, according to a recently released report by advocacy group American Rivers.
The report ranks the top 10 most endangered waterways in the United States, noting that pollution, climate change, and reduced clean water protections all contribute to their decline.
American Rivers cited the Supreme Court decision last May in Sackett v. EPA for the reason rivers across the entire state of New Mexico were ranked first on the list.
The ruling limits how the Environmental Protection Agency can enforce provisions under the Clean Water Act for streams, rivers and wetlands.
As part of the ruling, protections were scrapped for waterways that only run during the rainy season or periods of the year due to snowmelt, according to the report.
In arid states like New Mexico, rivers and streams typically flow only during certain times of the year.
The decision also stripped away protections for “isolated” wetlands, which are not physically connected to streams or surface water bodies and also exist in the state.
On top of this, the report cites a 2006 Supreme Court decision that rolled back protections to closed basins as another reason for the state’s top spot on the list.
“These rulings fly in the face of established science and ignore the value that small streams and wetlands have to their broader watersheds, communities and economies, particularly in places with dry climates like New Mexico,” the report reads.
Here are the most endangered rivers in the U.S., according to America’s Most Endangered Rivers 2024 report:
- Rivers of New Mexico
- Big Sunflower and Yazoo Rivers, Miss.
- Duck River, Tenn.
- Santa Cruz River, Ariz.
- Little Pee Dee River, S.C. and N.C.
- Farmington River, Conn., Mass.
- Trinity River, Calif.
- Kobuk River, Ark.
- Tijuana River, Calif.
- Blackwater River, W.V.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
LAS CRUCES, N.M (KFOX14/CBS4) — A gun-tracking program that uses shell casings to connect shootings is already helping investigators link crimes in Doña Ana County, according to new numbers released by the New Mexico Department of Justice.
The effort is part of New Mexico’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center, which uses ballistic evidence such as shell casings to track guns believed to be used in multiple crimes. The program relies on the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, or NIBIN, a national database that compares ballistic evidence to determine whether shell casings may have come from the same weapon.
In April, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez described how the technology can connect cases across jurisdictions.
“There may be a shooting that occurs in Deming that’s actually connected to a crime gun that’s recovered in Las Cruces. We may find shell casings in Silver City that are connected to something that happened in T or C,” Torrez said.
Four months into the program, the Department of Justice said 210 bullet casings have been analyzed in Doña Ana County. Those casings helped link 32 incidents to 13 guns.
Jordan Salas reports on New Mexico DOJ data: Shell-casing tracking links shootings in Doña Ana County (Credit: KFOX14)
Statewide, more than 700 casings have been entered into the system, connecting 74 shootings to 31 guns.
One person reacting to the numbers said, “That’s crazy. Honestly, all those shootings all coming from that little amount of weapons is crazy.”
New Mexico officials say the system is designed to help law enforcement share information faster and build cases more efficiently.
Also in April, Doña Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart pointed to a local case she said the technology helped resolve quickly.
“We resolved a homicide with a suspect arrest in four days. We know that those casings may lead to another 1 or 2 incidents in another city,” Stewart said.
Some residents said the technology alone will not solve gun violence, but they see it as a step forward. One person said, “I mean, growing up, like hearing gunshots in the distance. That wasn’t something crazy. I have stories of, like, friends who’ve gone to parties that had guns go off there. So, yeah, I would say guns are a problem there.”
Another person said, “I would think that it’s a good thing. I’m personally like, just anything to help the gun crimes, you know?”
KFOX14/CBS4 contacted Las Cruces police and the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office to ask how the leads are being used in local investigations, but we are awaiting a response.
RECOMMENDED: New statewide crime gun intelligence center delivers leads, officials say in Las Cruces
RECOMMENDED: Las Cruces farmers warn tight margins, rising fuel and fertilizer costs threaten future
Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.
- Who: New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez brought a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc.
- Why: The state claims Meta misrepresented harms to minors and created a public nuisance through its social media platforms.
- Where: The lawsuit is pending in New Mexico state court.
- How to get help: Has social media impacted the mental health of you or your child? You may qualify to join a social media lawsuit against the platform.
New Mexico’s attorney general is asking a state court to order Meta to pay approximately $3.7 billion to address what the state describes as a “public nuisance” caused by the company’s social media platforms.
The request comes after a jury previously found Meta misrepresented the risks its platforms — including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — pose to underage users. The jury also imposed a $375 million penalty in the first phase of the trial.
The case has now moved into a second phase, where the court will determine what additional remedies, if any, Meta must provide.
According to the state, the proposed $3.712 billion abatement plan would fund a 15-year effort to address the alleged harms caused by Meta’s platforms. The plan includes funding for public education, school resources, law enforcement support and mental health services for children affected by issues, such as online bullying and sexual exploitation.
“This request recognizes the scope of the public nuisance that Meta has caused,” counsel for the state argued in court.
The lawsuit alleges Meta concealed or downplayed the extent of harmful activity on its platforms while publicly portraying them as safe for younger users.
Meta disputes liability, challenges proposed abatement plan
Meta denies the allegations and argues there is no legal basis for the sweeping relief requested by the state.
Attorneys for the company contend the proposed abatement plan does not directly address or stop the alleged harmful conduct and instead seeks compensation for downstream effects.
“What no court has ever allowed … is payment for the downstream effects,” Meta’s counsel argued, describing the request as “damages masquerading as something else.”
The court is expected to hear additional testimony during the second phase of the trial before determining whether to approve any form of injunctive relief or financial remedies.
In March, a California jury found Meta and Google liable for mental health harms suffered by plaintiff Kaley G.M., who became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child, awarding $6 million in damages, including $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages.
What do you think about the claims against Meta in this case? Let us know in the comments.
The state is represented by Raul Torrez of the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General and Donald Migliori, Linda Singer, Michael Pendell and David Ackerman of Motley Rice LLC.
The Meta lawsuit is New Mexico v. Meta Platforms Inc., et al., Case No. D-101-CV-2023-02838, in the First Judicial District Court of New Mexico.
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
-
Technology3 minutes agoGlobal scam crackdown leads to 276 arrests
-
Business9 minutes agoDisney’s ABC challenges FCC, escalating fight over free speech
-
Entertainment15 minutes agoWriters Guild staff union reaches deal, ending strike after nearly three months
-
Lifestyle21 minutes agoHe’s your ex, not your son. Unconditional love does not apply
-
Politics27 minutes agoCommentary: For all the chatter by mayoral candidates, can anyone fix L.A.’s enduring problems?
-
Sports39 minutes agoPrep talk: Southern Section Division 1 semifinals features matchup of boys’ volleyball powers
-
World51 minutes agoEurope Day: 40 years of ties between Spain and the European Union
-
News1 hour agoFrontier Airlines plane hits person on runway during takeoff at Denver airport