DEBORAH BAKER

Associated Press Writer
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NM's medical pot program has slow, cautious start

Businessman Len Goodman owns a company that makes hand-painted art tiles, but these days his office desk is strewn with the raw materials of a new enterprise: fat, sweetly pungent marijuana buds.

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Budget fix bills begin going to New Mexico gov

Lawmakers in recession-wracked New Mexico who are trying to wrap up a special legislative session gave final approval to several deficit reduction bills and moved closer to deciding how much to cut schools and state agencies.

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Drilling lease gets Santa Fe Opera in hot water

Residents of pastoral Mora County have been watching records in the county clerk's office ever since the oil and gas industry began eyeing a big swath of land in the area.

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NM Gov. Richardson heads to Cuba for trade mission

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will spend the week in Cuba on a trade mission, and he's paying his own way because of the state's budget problems.

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O'Keeffe museum, NM school patch up differences

The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and an Albuquerque school named after the artist have patched up their differences over the use of her name.

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Film about Cody Unser is candid take on paralysis

A gripping scene in a new documentary captures the spirit of Cody Unser, who has been paralyzed since age 12.

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Court says boy injured at ballpark can sue

The parents of a young boy struck in the head when a batter hit a ball into a picnic area before an Albuquerque Isotopes game can sue the minor league team and the city, an appellate court has ruled.

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New Mexico library has Billy the Kid letters

The handwritten letter to the governor is polite, articulate and to the point.

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O'Keeffe legacy watchers take on elementary school

The guardians of Georgia O'Keeffe's legacy have a bone to pick with an Albuquerque elementary school named after the artist. It's not a pretty picture.

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'Opera noir' latest new offering at Santa Fe Opera

Gunshots. A dead lover. A cigarette-puffing leading lady whose neck could end up in a noose. Welcome to "opera noir."

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Historic NM hotel closes 5 years after remodel

For sale: A bit of the Old West. The historic Eklund Hotel — complete with refurbished guest rooms, a saloon with bullet holes in the tin ceiling and a resident ghost — has closed its doors.

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Operator of private NM prison sued by 7 inmates

The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the operator of New Mexico's newest private prison on behalf of seven inmates who claim they were taunted by guards and videotaped while locked for hours in a shower room.

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Taos events mark 'Easy Rider' anniversary, '60s

Never mind that the original Summer of Love was 42 years ago and almost 1,000 miles away: Taos is offering its own version this year.

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NM lawmakers approve campaign contribution limits

The New Mexico Legislature on Saturday gave final approval to the first-ever limits on campaign contributions to statewide elected officials and lawmakers.

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New Mexico governor abolishes capital punishment

Gov. Bill Richardson, who has supported capital punishment, signed legislation to repeal New Mexico's death penalty, calling it the "most difficult decision in my political life."

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NM Senate OKs bill to curb wildlife slaughter

Legislation aimed at stopping the slaughter of wildlife that are munching on crops has passed the state Senate and now goes to the House.

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NM senator who hires felons wants to 'ban the box'

State Sen. Clint Harden has a long history of hiring felons, so it's natural for the Republican businessman to try to "ban the box."

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NM Senate committee OKs death penalty repeal

Legislation abolishing New Mexico's death penalty has cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee — its highest hurdle yet — and is headed to the full Senate for a vote.

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Film union says Kilmer's great; endorses Denish

Val Kilmer is a "great guy," but Lt. Gov. Diane Denish should be New Mexico's next governor, says a leader of the union representing the state's film and television industry.

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AP NewsBreak: NM gov. reconsiders death penalty

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Monday he has softened his stance on the death penalty and may sign a repeal bill if it reaches his desk.

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Death penalty opponents seize on economic costs

The well-spoken guys in business suits with the firm handshakes don't stand out from countless other lobbyists jamming the state Capitol until you hear where they used to live: death row.

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Big dreams over, NM gov back to nitty-gritty

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, his presidential dreams long ago abandoned and his hope of becoming commerce secretary jettisoned, is back to the nitty-gritty of governing a poor state in hard times.

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New Mexico AG probes $6M voter education project

The New Mexico attorney general's office is investigating the state's administration of a voter education project following an audit that uncovered problems with the way more than $6 million in federal dollars was spent on the effort.

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Leader of NM sect guilty in child sex case

An apocalyptic religious sect's leader was convicted Monday of criminal sexual contact with an underage girl in an incident he called a spiritual healing exercise.

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NM governor hosts star-studded dinner at mansion

Gov. Bill Richardson hosted a star-studded dinner party last weekend to thank moviemakers and celebrities, including George Clooney, Kevin Spacey and Paul Sorvino, for shooting films in the state.

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