It must have been a heck of a fight--Santa Fe Police say a mother and daughter are dead after both were fatally struck while fighting on state highway 599 Wednesday. The New Mexican reports that the incident took place around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on the highway near its intersection with Airport Road. Santa Fe police spokeswoman Andrea Dobyns says both women and a female friend were traveling southbound when mother and daughter got into an altercation. Dobyns says the 37-year-old mother and her 20-year-old daughter rolled into the street. They were hit by a car. The 53-year-old male driver immediately stopped. Mother and daughter were pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released their identities but say they are from San Ildefonso Pueblo. A witness says both women had been drinking. Dobyns says no charges will be filed against the driver.
Santa Fe school board President Linda Trujillo says she will run for the state House of Representatives- seat held since the mid-1980s by Santa Fe’s Democratic Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela. The New Mexican reports that Trujillo, a 56-year old Democrat, says she will formally announce her candidacy today for the District 48 seat. Varela, 80, announced last year that he would not seek re-election after his term ends. He has thrown his support to his son, Jeff Varela, who announced his candidacy for the position in August.
Los Alamos National Laboratory is looking into options after the federal government denied New Mexico an extension from tougher federal requirements on state driver's licenses. A spokesman for LANL says if New Mexico doesn't come into compliance it will begin requiring U.S. passports for entry. Sandia Labs also says those planning visits should get an alternative government-issued form of identification. The federal government's decision means New Mexico driver's licenses won't be accepted at federal facilities like military bases starting January 10th. REAL ID Act requirements require proof of legal U.S. residency for holders who want to use them to access certain areas of federal buildings. New Mexico state law allows immigrants suspected of being in the country illegal to obtain driver's licenses.
Federal and state agents have raided jewelry stores in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Gallup as part of an investigation led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The New Mexican reports that agents from the FBI, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the New Mexico Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security participated in the raids Wednesday. U.S. Attorney spokeswoman Alyssa Ferda says she cannot yet release information about the investigation, except that Fish and Wildlife is at the helm. Previous Fish and Wildlife raids have led to the arrest of people suspected of poaching or smuggling exotic animals into the country. In the past, the U.S. Attorney's Office has prosecuted cases in New Mexico over eagle feathers used in art.
Santa Fe Weather: Cloudy today with the high 49 and a 50-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with the overnight low down to 32, with a 50-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms. Tomorrow: Sunny with the high, 52.