Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Good afternoon. Here's a look at how AP's general news coverage is shaping up today in New Mexico. Questions about today's coverage plans are welcome, and should be directed to Terry Tang at 505-822-9022 or apalbuquerque@ap.org.
A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories, digests and digest advisories will keep you up to date.
Some TV and radio stations will receive shorter APNewsNow versions of the stories below, along with all updates.
TOP STORIES:
NEW MEXICO-DROUGHT
SANTA FE, N.M. — Despite a spate of recent snow and rain, a drought persists across New Mexico. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report indicates a few inches of snow that fell in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains last weekend still aren't bringing the state's water levels close to where they need to be. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts drought conditions will only get worse through May. UPCOMING: 250 words by 3 p.m. MST.
COMPUTERIZED STUDENT TESTING
FARMINGTON, N.M. — New Mexico students will transition to state standards-based assessment testing this month that will be entirely computer-based. The new exam will also include national Common Core standards. The testing period, which began Monday, gauges student knowledge of language arts, math and science. UPCOMING: 300 words by 3 p.m. MST.
ALSO:
—KENTUCKY EXECUTIONS-ST CLAIR— The Kentucky Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal in the long-running case of an escaped inmate from an Oklahoma prison facing a death sentence in the fatal kidnapping of a Kentucky distillery worker.
—SQUIRT GUN ASSAULTS — Albuquerque police have arrested a man they say approached numerous children to film them getting squirted with a water gun.
—SCHOOL RAPE— Police say a 17-year-old male student at Carlsbad High School is facing charges that he raped two girls, including one in a campus restroom.
—DEALERSHIP DUPED— A Texas man accused of scamming a New Mexico automobile dealership out of nearly $35,000 has been indicted for felony fraud.
—PAY RAISES— Gov. Susana Martinez will approve proposed 3 percent pay raises for state workers and public school employees.
—TORRANCE SHERIFF-AWARD — Torrance County Sheriff Heath White has won top honors from his fellow western state sheriffs.
SPORTS
BKC--T25-NEW MEXICO-SAN DIEGO STATE
SAN DIEGO — No. 10 San Diego State, led by Xavier Thames, and No. 21 New Mexico, led by Cameron Bairstow, play for the outright Mountain West Conference title and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament next week in Las Vegas. The Lobos beat the Aztecs by 14 points two weeks ago in Albuquerque. By Bernie Wilson. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts 7 p.m. PT.
________
If you have photos of regional or statewide interest, please send them to the AP state photo center in New York, 888-273-6867. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.
MARKETPLACE: Calling your attention to the Marketplace in AP Exchange, where you can find member-contributed content from New Mexico and other states. The Marketplace is accessible on the left navigational pane of the AP Exchange home page, near the bottom. For both national and state, you can click "All" or search for content by topics such as education, politics and business.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
