CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — Democrat front-runners for the party’s presidential nomination have promised to ban oil and gas leasing on federal lands if elected. That has caused some concerns in New Mexico, where the industry is the largest contributor to the state’s economy — whether on federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management or state trust land. The …

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico coach Bob Davie says he’s leaving the Lobos without anything to apologize for. “I put every ounce into this,” Davie said Tuesday. “My family has put every ounce into this.” Davie and athletic director Eddie Nuñez announced a day earlier that the former Notre Dame coach will step down after Saturday’s game against Utah …

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico will be investing more money in state-based businesses and startup companies as it attempts to spur development and diversify the economy. The State Investment Council voted Tuesday to adopt recommendations that will target more financial commitments from the state’s private equity program to New Mexico and nationally based venture capital firms that are actively …

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico will consider whether to extend its medical cannabis program to help dogs with epilepsy and people with attention deficit disorder. Five new petitions submitted to the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board seek new qualifying medical conditions for patients in the state’s medical marijuana program. The board meets in December. The Department of Health withheld …

PHOENIX (AP) — An unusual string of violence south of Arizona’s border with Mexico has sparked warnings by American authorities and is forcing U.S. citizens who say they won’t stop crossing into Mexico to at least consider how to travel more safely. Unaccustomed to the kind of violence long seen along some parts of the Texas-Mexico border, those who frequently …

WASHINGTON (AP) — Beto O’Rourke, the former Texas congressman, announced Friday that he was ending his Democratic presidential campaign, which failed to recapture the enthusiasm, interest and fundraising prowess of his 2018 Senate race. Addressing supporters in Iowa, O’Rourke said he made the decision “reluctantly” and vowed to stay active in the fight to defeat President Donald Trump. “I will …

CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — A southeastern New Mexico city near the state’s booming oil region may become the next town to ban single-use plastic carryout bags.   The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports advocates in Carlsbad have drafted an ordinance aimed at ridding the city of loose plastic bags. The proposal could go before the Carlsbad City Council later this year.   …

U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small has introduced a bill that would provide $180 million in federal funding to reimburse organizations that provide assistance to illegal immigrants. The Southern Border Communities Relief Act, introduced by Torres Small on Oct. 2, would authorize $60 million for the next three fiscal years to reimburse organizations that provide humanitarian support for illegal immigrants at …

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A University of New Mexico dean has announced plans to ask the state to fund full-ride scholarships to medical students who commit to practicing within the state. The Albuquerque Journal reported Monday that medical school dean Paul Roth has plans to ask the state for $6 million in additional scholarships to create the program. State officials …

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The group of Democrats in the U.S. House who were either undecided or opposed to an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump got even smaller Thursday as first-year congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small announced her support for the process. The Democrat from southern New Mexico initially was among those who had their reservations, saying they wanted more …