Associated Press New Mexico - The Durango Herald

O&#39;Keeffe Museum gets patent for high-tech transport crate

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Space age and farm age engineers have been teaming up with the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum to create a next-generation transportation crate for fine art as it travels the world.

DATE: Feb 28, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico lawmaker pleads not guilty, won’t seek reelection

SANTA FE – A New Mexico lawmaker charged with drunken driving during this year’s Legislative session won’t seek re-election, according to a statement from her lawyer. “It has been an honor t...

DATE: Feb 26, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Suspect, 14, arrested in fatal shooting of Albuquerque teen

ALBUQUERQUE – A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy who had accused the younger boy of stealing his gun, Albuquerque police said Saturday. The suspec...

DATE: Feb 26, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico aims more resources at missing Indigenous cases

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday signed legislation aimed at ensuring more effective coordination among law enforcement agencies when it comes to cases involving missing or...

DATE: Feb 24, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico lobbyist accuses state lawmaker of groping her

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A lobbyist for progressive advocacy groups in New Mexico has accused a leading Democratic state senator of groping her at a hotel reception in 2015, calling on the lawmaker to resign in a public letter.

DATE: Feb 23, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Pandemic crisis standards to expire for New Mexico hospitals

ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico’s top health official said Wednesday that the state is still on track to lift its crisis standards of care declaration for hospitals in the coming weeks as COVID-19 ...

DATE: Feb 23, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico regulators approve plan to keep San Juan Generating Station open

ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico regulators on Wednesday approved a plan by the state’s largest electric utility to keep open part of a coal-fired power plant for an extra three months as a way to k...

DATE: Feb 23, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Experts: ‘Drastic changes’ forecast for Rio Grande

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Each spring, farmers cross their fingers for abundant Rio Grande flows that will sustain them through a hot summer.

DATE: Feb 21, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Oil industry could help a nearly-extinct bird in New Mexico

CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) – Oil and gas companies could play a key role in saving a nearly-extinct native bird species in southeast New Mexico. That’s why the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releas...

DATE: Feb 21, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico governor lifts state’s indoor mask mandate

SANTA FE – Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham lifted the state’s mask mandate for indoor public spaces on Thursday. She made the surprise announcement at a news conference that came aft...

DATE: Feb 17, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Appeals court: Cowboys for Trump is a political committee

SANTA FE – A federal appeals court has turned away a constitutional challenge by the support group Cowboys for Trump and co-founder Couy Griffin to New Mexico election laws and registration ...

DATE: Feb 17, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico social studies rule adds personal finance to K-12

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Public Education Department has issued a final rule structuring the K-12 social studies curriculum, adding personal finance after a letter-writing campaign. The new...

DATE: Feb 17, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Photos: People’s MarchAbout 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

About 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

Photos: Fort Lewis College basketballWomen’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

Women’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

Photos: Wrestling at Durango High SchoolDurango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Durango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Photos: Where there's smoke there's firefightersDurango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Durango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Photos: Durango plays Montezuma-Cortez in boys, girls high school basketballDurango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Durango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Year in photos: A look back at Southwest Colorado in 2024Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is the people, their emotions, different cultures and varied forms of entertainment that make for impactful images. Add to that Southwest Colorado’s gorgeous scenery, abundant wildlife and range of weather events, and you have the makings for stunning photos. We hope you enjoy Photo Editor Jerry McBride’s photos from 2024.

Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is...

Montezuma County DA Christian Hatfield charged with DWICharges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New MexicoMontezuma County District Attorney Christian Hatfield was charged Friday with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs 16 weeks after he crashed his SUV on U.S. Highway 64 outside Bloomfield.The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office charged Hatfield, 59, with petty misdemeanor charge of DWI and an open container in connection to the Aug. 30 single-car crash.The charges come after results from a blood test by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory showed alcohol and a drug in Hatfield’s body after the crash.

“The results show that at the time of the blood draw, which was approximately eleven hours after the time of the crash due to medical issues, were 0.05 g/100 ml of Ethanol and 0.04 mg/L of Zolpidem (Ambien). Both Ethanol and Ambien are Central Nervous System Depressants,” the law enforcement report states.Two vials of blood were taken from Hatfield at 1:33 p.m. Aug. 30, which was more than 12 hours after the crash occurred about 1 a.m. Those vials were received by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory at 10:26 a.m. Oct. 11, which was six weeks after the crash, according to records from the lab.An investigation into the blood warrant by The Journal newspaper in Cortez, Colorado, showed that the blood sample sat in a refrigerator at the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office until Oct. 3, because paperwork to send it to the state laboratory was not processed.“I think it’s a non-prosecutable case because of all the errors made by law enforcement,” said Arlon Stoker, a high-profile defense attorney secured by Hatfield to fight the charges.

The charges made by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office are “based on the observations made by law enforcement officers on scene and the presence of intoxicating drugs and liquors in Christian's blood,” according to the report that was given to The Journal by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.Amanda Lavin, legal director for NMFOG, assisted The Journal in accessing public records from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in Aztec. The records had been redacted, leaving out Hatfield’s name and information about the blood warrant filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.Public records requests by The Journal and the Tri-City Record went unresolved for 14 weeks.The Journal requested body camera footage and lapel camera video on Sept. 3.The Tri-City Record requested any and all warrants, investigative reports and laboratory reports as well as photos, lapel cam videos and dash cam videos on Oct. 23.On Dec. 9, Lavin made the same requests.

The Journal received access to photos and videos in an email on Dec. 19, and Lavin, after making a legal argument for unredacted information, received the full report Dec. 19 and was advised that charges would be forthcoming.The report detailing the crash states that Hatfield was found “unresponsive and barely able to stand” about 1 a.m. Aug. 30 near the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and County Road 5099.Investigators and medics noted a “pungent” odor of alcohol coming from Hatfield, and investigators found “an open 12-ounce can of Mexican Lager with residual liquid inside,” an “empty wine glass,” and a “bottle of Ambien prescribed to Christian,” according to the report.The affidavit for search warrant for blood submitted by sheriff’s deputy Avery Killifer states he had an “opinion that the defendant was driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance.” The deputy “placed the defendant under arrest” at the time, but Hatfield was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center, because of “extensive injuries.”A summons was issued for Hatfield, and an arraignment is set for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 8 in Aztec Magistrate Court.

Charges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New Mexico

Photos: Wreaths Across America honors fallen veteransDurango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Durango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Photos: Skyhawks men’s and women’s basketball Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Demons defeat Bobcats 62-47 on Friday at DHS

O&#39;Keeffe Museum gets patent for high-tech transport crate

New Mexico lawmaker pleads not guilty, won’t seek reelection

Suspect, 14, arrested in fatal shooting of Albuquerque teen

New Mexico aims more resources at missing Indigenous cases

New Mexico lobbyist accuses state lawmaker of groping her

Pandemic crisis standards to expire for New Mexico hospitals

New Mexico regulators approve plan to keep San Juan Generating Station open

Experts: ‘Drastic changes’ forecast for Rio Grande

Oil industry could help a nearly-extinct bird in New Mexico

New Mexico governor lifts state’s indoor mask mandate

Appeals court: Cowboys for Trump is a political committee

New Mexico social studies rule adds personal finance to K-12

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