SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Bill Richardson's administration is laying off 59 appointive state government employees to help solve a budget shortfall. The governor's office said yesterday the layoffs will save about $8 million in the current budget year. A Richardson spokesman says the job losses will occur in about 20 agencies.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A 22-year-old Albuquerque man is in custody after allegedly shooting and killing his 9-month-old daughter. Police say Christopher Rains and the mother of the child -- 18-year-old Ashley Trujillo -- argued over whether she was involved with another man. Police say Rains allegedly pointed a pistol at the baby's head and pulled the trigger.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two more people have died from swine flu, bringing the statewide total this year to 42 deaths. New Mexico Health Department officials say visits to health care providers for flu-like illness rose slightly over the last week from 4.9 percent to 5.4 percent.
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Black-tailed prairie dogs have been denied protection under the Endangered Species Act. Federal officials said the animal is showing signs of rebounding from decades of habitat loss, casual shootings and other pressures. New Mexico-based WildEarth Guardians had petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the animal as threatened or endangered.
