Category: Articles

Jail staff, inmates test negative for COVID-19

Jail staff, inmates test negative for COVID-19

From the Las Vegas Optic No new coronavirus cases were detected during testing of all inmates and staff at the San Miguel County Detention Center, according to Warden Matt Elwell. The testing was prompted after one inmate tested positive May 5 during routine testing. New Mexico Department of Health officials tested staff and other inmates…

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Jail staff, inmates await coronavirus test results

Jail staff, inmates await coronavirus test results

From the Las Vegas Optic Twenty-two staff members at the San Miguel County Detention Center are currently living at the jail after an inmate tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday, according to Warden Matthew Elwell. New Mexico Department of Health officials tested all inmates and staff members on Wednesday, though he was not given a time…

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Affeldt appointed to governor’s Economic Recovery Council

Affeldt appointed to governor’s Economic Recovery Council

From the Las Vegas Optic Hospitality entrepreneur and philanthropist Allan Affeldt, who owns the Plaza and La Castañeda hotels in Las Vegas, has been selected as one of 15 business and labor leaders from across New Mexico to advise Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on strategies for reopening businesses in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.…

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Father charged with felony child abuse remains free, receives summons

Father charged with felony child abuse remains free, receives summons

From the Las Vegas Optic A Pecos man was charged with two felony counts of child abuse for allegedly kicking and slapping his children on several occasions, according to court records. Andrew Page, 39, was charged April 6 with two counts of child abuse not resulting in death or great bodily harm, both third-degree felonies.…

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Coronavirus outbreak a concern for jails

Coronavirus outbreak a concern for jails

From the Las Vegas Optic Most businesses and some government offices have closed temporarily to help slow the spread of COVID-19, but closing isn’t an option for the state’s courts and jails. The U.S. Constitution provides several rights to anyone charged with a crime, and the New Mexico Rules of Criminal Procedure further outline rights…

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Data on local COVID-19 testing remains elusive

Data on local COVID-19 testing remains elusive

From the Las Vegas Optic More than 14,000 New Mexicans have been tested for the COVID-19 virus, but the number of people tested in San Miguel or Mora counties is difficult to determine. Data provided by the New Mexico Department of Health does not detail the number of tests given in particular counties, and according…

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Jail bookings, arrests lower since first case of coronavirus

Jail bookings, arrests lower since first case of coronavirus

From the Las Vegas Optic Criminal bookings at the San Miguel County Detention Center have decreased substantially since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in New Mexico on March 11, according to data compiled by the Optic. During the two-week period of March 11 to March 25 in 2019, SMCDC had 92 criminal bookings. During…

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San Miguel County reports first coronavirus case

San Miguel County reports first coronavirus case

From the Las Vegas Optic The New Mexico Department of Health announced seven new positive COVID-19 cases Thursday, including the first positive case in San Miguel County. While the NMDOH has not released details about the person as of this writing, Nora Meyers Sackett, the governor’s press secretary, told the Optic the person is self-isolating…

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Muffy Davis, 2020 Women of the Year

Muffy Davis, 2020 Women of the Year

From the Idaho Business Review Rep. Muffy Davis won her seat in the Idaho House of Representatives in November 2018, capturing more than 56% of votes to become one of just 14 Democrats serving in the 70-member Idaho House of Representatives. “I’m thrilled to be here,” Davis said, “but it’s very hard work.” Davis knows…

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Jessica Rolph, 2020 Women of the Year

Jessica Rolph, 2020 Women of the Year

From the Idaho Business Review A love of entrepreneurship and social responsibility led Jessica Rolph to co-found her first company, organic baby food maker Happy Family. Success did not come instantly though. “We launched with frozen baby food in 2006, and it completely failed,” she said through a laugh. “But we hung in there ……

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