SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A new campaign finance report shows a national labor union continues to pour money into a New Mexico political action committee that's critical of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. The PAC spent $91,000 from January through March, including nearly $13,000 for cable TV ads that it said was in support of President Barack Obama.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A state hearing officer has heard several Blue Cross Blue Shield policyholders speak of financial hardships if higher monthly premiums were to kick in as the insurer wants. The insurance company has proposed a 6.9 percent increase on June 1 for 31,000 New Mexicans with individual health care policies. Saturday's hearing in Santa Fe came after Blue Cross laid out its case for the increase earlier this month.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A rabies outbreak in Carlsbad has prompted a local shelter to suspend efforts to trap feral cats. Volunteers for the program run by the Noah's Ark Animal Shelter recently trapped a rabid skunk and learned it had tangled with a group of feral cats. The group traps feral cats in Carlsbad so they can be vaccinated, spayed or neutered and released back into the wild.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Prominent Navajo educator and writer Ruth Roessel has died after a brief illness. She was 77. Former Navajo Nation spokesman George Hardeen says Roessel died at a hospital in Cortez, Colo., on Friday and was buried yesterday. Roessel taught at Navajo schools over several decades, including Dine College. She was also an author and community leader.
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