KRQE Newsfeed: Police lawsuit, Copper thefts, Warm weather and showers, Carlsbad Caverns ecosystem, Cross-country walk

Wednesday’s Top Stories

• ‘This is not right’: Albuquerque police investigating HOA president’s paychecks
• Albuquerque residents spot Stratollite balloon on Tuesday
• Trial over Santa Fe obelisk to begin this week
• New Mexico Democrat, Republican parties hold debate watch parties
• Sea Lion Splash at New Mexico State Fair delights, entertains visitors
• Village of Los Ranchos prepares for second phase of street improvement project
• Police: Tren de Aragua gang driving up crime at El Paso hotel
• France foiled 3 attack plots targeting the Paris Olympics, prosecutor says

Wednesday’s Five Facts

[1] Man suing officers involved in shoot-out in Rio Rancho Walmart parking lot – Rio Rancho police officers shot at a man in a Walmart parking lot near Unser and Southern. Now, that man is suing those officers saying they violated his civil rights by not announcing themselves and endangering bystanders. Officers suspected Cheyne Estrada was responsible for a string of burglaries, body cam footage shows officers approaching Estrada as he walks to his car. As officers try to pull Estrada out of his car he fires his gun, and was then shot by police. Estrada pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon.

[2] PNM: Nearly 100 businesses targeted this year in copper thefts – PNM is asking Albuquerque businesses to be vigilant after new data shows that copper thefts are soaring. In one case, a medical plaza was hit, causing a power outage to several medical practices for days. According to PNM, there have been a total of 92 reports of businesses hit by copper thieves so far this year, compared to a total of 84 businesses hit last year. PNM is urging customers to take precautions by installing barriers around transformers and meters.

[3] Rain near the Metro, but very warm temperatures – As temperatures across the region rise from the morning school commute into the high 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and lower 90 degrees by the afternoon, lingering moisture to the north, along with daytime heating, will still lead to some areas receiving doses of rainfall. A few showers are possible for a few in the Rio Grande Valley, as well as the Southern Mountains.

[4] Bag of Cheetos has big impact on Carlsbad Caverns’ ecosystem – A bag of Cheetos that was dropped at Carlsbad Caverns had a large impact on the cave’s ecosystem, according to National Park Service staff. They say the processed corn in Cheetos was softened by the humidity of the cave and “formed the perfect environment to host microbial life and fungi.” This attracted cave crickets, mites, spiders, and flies, which spread the mold to nearby surfaces. Park staff encourages visitors to be mindful of their activities to prevent things like this from happening.

[5] M walks thousands of miles for charity – The man whose journey took him through New Mexico as he walked from coast to coast has announced he achieved his goal. Andrew ‘Ranger’ Kielak reached Pismo Beach, California at the end of August. His journey started about six months ago in South Carolina. He walked almost 3,000 miles across 10 states, including passing through New Mexico.

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