Salem News Channel

Flash Flooding Prompts Rescues In New Mexico

Another afternoon of heavy rainfall Thursday prompted flash flooding in the mountain village of Ruidoso, forcing the closure of roads and the rescue of at least five people who were trapped by the rushing water. The southern New Mexico community has been reeling this summer, with afternoon thunderstorms bringing more rain than the surrounding mountainsides can handle. Past wildfires have stripped the hills of trees and vegetation, leaving the Ruidoso area vulnerable to repeated flooding. It was less than three weeks ago that massive flooding killed three people and damaged hundreds of homes, resulting in state and federal disaster declarations. On Thursday, residents shared videos on social media that showed walls of muddy water coursing down creeks and over roads, ripping apart a mobile home and toppling trees along the way. Authorities were blocking traffic to keep vehicles out of the water as onlookers watched from higher ground. Forecasters with the National Weather Service routinely have been issuing flash-flood watches and warnings as the summer rainy season is in full force. They reported Thursday that one stretch of the Rio Ruidoso had risen to roughly 12.5 feet (3.81 meters) as a result of the burn-scar flooding. Flood watches also were issued Thursday for parts of northern New Mexico around burn scars left by the 2022 Calf Canyon Hermit’s Peak blazes.

Trump keeps Habba NJ's top federal prosecutor

President Trump has moved to keep his former defense attorney Alina Habba on the job as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, even though a panel of judges refused to extend her tenure.

1 Dead, 1 Wounded, Suspect At Large In University Of New Mexico Dorm Shooting

Two people were shot, one fatally, Friday at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where authorities said the suspect remains at large. They shut down the campus and told students to shelter in place. Gunshots were fired at the Casas del Rio dormitory complex, the university said in a statement. The wounded person's injuries were not life-threatening, it said. “The suspect remains at large and may still be on campus,” said the statement, posted at about 6:30 a.m. An initial alert was posted at about 3 a.m. “Out of an abundance of caution, UNM has closed its Albuquerque central campus,” the university added. "Multiple law enforcement agencies are on scene and actively investigating," it said. Details on the two victims were not released. The university in central Albuquerque has about 23,000 students during the school year.