Friday’s Top Stories
- What’s happening around New Mexico February 21-27
- Bill to make Monday after Super Bowl a state holiday fails in committee
- BCSO searching for man accused of failing to register as a sex offender
- Albuquerque mayor vetoes city council decision to pull money from Rail Trail
- City of Albuquerque shuts down another problem motel on East Central
- Girl Scout cookies sales to start in New Mexico soon
- Federal judge allows Trump’s mass firings of federal workers to continue
Friday’s Five Facts
[1] State’s witness testimony wraps up in trial for two men accused of killing 11-year-old – Closing arguments are expected Friday in the trial for two men accused of killing an 11-year-old boy leaving an Isotopes game. Nathen Garley and Jose Romero are accused of shooting up a truck leaving the game in 2023, killing Froylan Villegas. Thursday, the prosecution called an APD digital intelligence expert to the stand and showed jurors text messages related to the shooting. That was in addition to location data, showing they were at Isotopes park.
[2] Parents charged months after baby’s remains found buried in Eddy County – A New Mexico couple is facing charges after being arrested for killing an infant and hiding the death for several months. Last year Brianna Stallings, the mother of the infant, claimed to police that she accidentally fell asleep on the and then led authorities to a burial site. A recent autopsy showed the circumstances of the death were not as described. Deputies from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office confronted the couple. The mother’s boyfriend, Manuel Guillen, admitted that while high on fentanyl he sat on the child’s face to make her stop crying.
[3] Weak storm, a cooler northwest New Mexico, then spring-like weather – Near-record cold temperatures for a few areas out east to even as far south as the Pecos River Valley this morning will once again lead to a very chilly day, but it will be warmer than yesterday. Rebounding temperatures will mostly continue ahead starting tomorrow with southwesterly winds picking up occasionally, but the spring-like temperatures will return in full force late this weekend into the early part of next week
[4] Billion-dollar transportation bond bill gets greenlight from first legislative committee – A bill that would provide billions of dollars in funding for repairing state roads is advancing through the Roundhouse. If approved, House Bill 145, would authorize the state’s transportation commission to issue bonds for state highway projects. The bonds would be backed by federal funds and transportation taxes. According to the state, a recent study shows that 57% of state and local roads are in bad shape. The state says eligible projects for the funding will be identified through the statewide transportation improvement program.
[5] Plans for Sandia Peak mountain coaster will not move forward – The dream of a Sandia Peak mountain coast is officially over. Just a few weeks ago, Bernalillo County Commissioners voted to terminate the possibility of issuing Industrial Revenue Bonds for the project. Mountain Capital Partners says its focus is on bringing people to the slopes for more classic thrills.