Firefighter & Pecan Growers Arrested in Federal Bust

From washingtonpost.com -Federal authorities said Friday they’ve taken down two major drug trafficking and money laundering operations in different parts of New Mexico, one involving an Albuquerque firefighter and the other southern New Mexico pecan growers.  Agents have seized caches of drugs, cars, cash, guns and even a tractor from a pecan growing operation near the New Mexico-Texas border.   Federal officials said both busts will make communities safer and help with the effort to shut down distribution networks that funnel marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines throughout New Mexico and from Mexico to other locations in the United States. In one case, 15 men living in the Albuquerque area were named in a 29-count federal indictment that was announced Friday by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Gonzales.  More News New Mexico

Firefighter & Pecan Growers Arrested in Federal Bust

Santa Fe Woman Pledges $1M for Food Bank

From therepublic.com - Santa Fe woman has pledged $1 million to help a community food bank build a new warehouse and other facilities to meet expanding demanding.  The pledge from Barbara Hall will allow the nonprofit Food Depot to accept and store more perishable food items and accommodate more volunteers.  More News New Mexico

Santa Fe Woman Pledges $1M for Food Bank

"Johnny" Lee, Former Otero County Sheriff died at 58

From therepublic.com - John "Johnny" Lee, a former Otero County sheriff, has died at his home in a small community east of Alamogordo. He was 58.  His wife Kay found him when she returned from work early Saturday, said his brother, Alamogordo Municipal Court Judge Steven O. Lee. He apparently died of natural causes, his brother told the Alamogordo Daily News.  Steven Lee said the brothers had played a round of golf Friday.  "He was probably the most honest person you'll ever meet," Steven Lee said.  More News New Mexico

"Johnny" Lee, Former Otero County Sheriff died at 58

Frostbitten Man Pulled From Rio Grande

KOAT TV - ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Fire crews rescued a man from the Rio Grande River on Saturday. Officials said a biology teacher and her students from La Cueva found Clayton Senn, 35, tangled in some reeds in the river. Albuquerque police said tall grass and vegetation caused Senn to get disoriented as he took a nature hike around the Bosque. "It was very tough. We're dealing with a couple feet of mud and two feet on top of that. The going was really slow," said Capt. Richard Campos, of the Albuquerque Police Department. The Albuquerque Fire Department said the man claimed to have been in the river for three days. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Frostbitten Man Pulled From Rio Grande

Dona Ana County Leaders Do Damage Control Tour

Dona Ana County Building

KOB TV - Dona Ana County leaders gave the media a tour of the county detention facility where a DWI suspect was held for nearly two years in solitary confinement. A jury just awarded Stephen Slevin $22 million for what he went through at the jail. On Friday, leaders gave the media access to the solitary confinement area where Slevin was held. From day one, Slevin said he pleaded for medical help to treat his depression, but says his requests were ignored. Jail officials said Slevin was observed for several days and then he was offered to join the jail’s general population, but refused. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Dona Ana County Leaders Do Damage Control Tour