Second N.M. woman dies of swine flu

A 52-year-old Bernalillo County woman has died of swine flu, the second swine flu death in New Mexico.

The state Department of Health says the woman died over the weekend and had a pulmonary condition that put her at risk for complications.

A 45-year-old woman from Sierra County died Aug. 10 of swine flu. State health officials said at the time she had end-stage liver disease which put her at higher risk.

State Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil is urging people who have high-risk medical conditions and develop flu symptoms to call their health provider promptly.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects to begin shipping vaccine around mid-October.

Court: Police can stop motorists evading checkpoints

Police officers in New Mexico legally can pull over a motorist who tries to evade a drunken-driving checkpoint, the state Supreme Court decided.

The decision last week overturns a ruling by the state Court of Appeals, which had ruled that a defendant, Nicole Anaya, should not have been pulled over in November 2005 after she made a U-turn before a DWI checkpoint between Farmington and Aztec.

The Supreme Court said Anaya's U-turn constituted "an attempt to evade the checkpoint, which gave rise to a reasonable suspicion that she was driving while intoxicated."

"The (Supreme) Court's ruling says the arresting officer had reasonable suspicion to stop the driver," New Mexico Attorney General Gary King said in a news release. "That is great news and shows that DWI checkpoints work in protecting the public from drunk drivers."

Detective to host meeting on gang violence

Gang violence is the topic of discussion at a meeting planned for Thursday by the Mayor's Youth Advisory Board.

Santa Fe Police Detective Matthew Martinez, head of the city's gang unit, will make a presentation on gang violence and its effect on Santa Fe youth beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the La Farge Library Community Room.

The board invites the public to participate in the discussion to develop community responses that will reduce gang violence and gang recruitment among youth in Santa Fe, according to a city news release.

Richardson, Holder guests at convention

Just days after news broke that the U.S. Attorney won't be prosecuting New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson or other members of his administration in connection with a "pay-to-play" investigation, the Hispanic National Bar Association announced Monday that Richardson and Attorney General Eric Holder are both scheduled as guests at the group's annual convention in Albuquerque.

Richardson will appear at a Thursday morning session to participate in a discussion on "the independence and effectiveness of our Third Branch."

The convention schedule on the association's Web site doesn't say when Holder is scheduled to appear.

Others expected to attend, according to a news release, include U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.; U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.

The convention starts Wednesday and ends Sunday.

Los Alamos residents watch their step

LOS ALAMOS — Los Alamos residents are watching where they walk because of an increase in snake sightings, including rattlesnakes.

Snake handler C.J. Carman said the snake increase is a result of good rainfall and a booming rodent population.

Carman said that since May, he has captured and relocated 137 snakes. Of them, 62 have been rattlesnakes, including 59 found at various homes on Barranca Mesa.

Carman said that's almost three times as many as last year.

Carman said the best defense against snakes is to keep a clean yard.

Piles of wood, bricks, pallets and sheet metal are all places where rodents and snakes like to hide.




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