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Apr. 21 First News: DOE Says LANL Waste Drums That Were WIPP-Bound Are Stable (Listen)

Federal officials say dozens of drums of radioactive waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory are stable after some showed signs of chemical reactions over the past year. The drums are being closely monitored after a container with similar contents broke open in 2014, resulting in a radiation release and the indefinite closure of the country's only underground nuclear waste dump. The U.S. Energy Department says there have been some chemical reactions in the containers at LANL, but the gases building up inside have decreased over the past several months, indicating the reactions have reached a steady state. The drums are packed in protective waste boxes and stored inside a temperature-controlled facility with filters. Los Alamos is working on a plan to dispose of the drums.

The Navajo Nation Supreme Court has overturned a lower court's ruling that called for Tuesday's presidential election to be canceled. The high court justices issued the brief order Monday and said they would elaborate on their decision later. Window Rock District Judge Carol Perry had granted a request last week to halt the election, saying a referendum on language requirements must be held before Navajos choose their next leader. The Navajo Election Administration appealed to the tribe's Supreme Court, which said today's election will proceed as scheduled.Joe Shirley Jr. and Russell Begaye are facing off to become president of the nation's largest American Indian reservation. Tribal President Ben Shelly addressed lawmakers gathered for their spring session for the final time Monday. His successor will be sworn in next month.

Authorities say a teenager is in custody in connection with the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy in Red River. Red River Marshal David Smith says the name of the 15-year-old suspect isn't being released. Smith says the boy is being held in Albuquerque Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree murder. The marshal tells KOB-TV that Daniel Caleb Williams was in a home with two other people when the suspected shooter became agitated, grabbed a shotgun from the table and shot Williams. The suspect was found 45 minutes later hiding in a parking lot. Police say the teen discarded the shotgun before being arrested, but it has since been located.

The estate of a man who was shot and killed by Albuquerque police is suing the department in federal court over allegations of civil rights violations. The lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court says infrared police helicopter video in the 2013 fatal shooting of 41-year-old Parrish Denison conflicts with an officer's account. Authorities say Denison was shot by officers following a two-hour search and chase. Police say he had pointed a gun at officers during the chase involving stolen goods. The lawsuit says the video shows Denison didn't point a gun before the shooting. An Albuquerque police spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit. Court records showed Denison had felony convictions for burglary, drug trafficking and burglary plus other arrests that didn't result in convictions.

The Albuquerque Police Department has unveiled a new recruiting effort aimed at bringing strong candidates on as officers. Police Chief Gorden Eden announced Monday that the department will begin accepting candidates who can now earn 28 hours of college credit upon graduating from the academy. Those candidates will then have three years to earn 32 hours of college credit to stay on as officers. Previously, Albuquerque police required candidates to have at least 60 hours but Eden says that requirement was causing the department to lose good recruits. The move comes as the police department faces a shortage of around 120 officers.Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry says the department has funding for 1,000 officers total. The Department of Justice and Albuquerque police recently signed an agreement to overhaul the force amid excessive force claims.

A fuel spill from that officials worried might pollute Albuquerque drinking water seems to be bypassing the city's wells. The Albuquerque Journal reports that leaders of the Kirtland Air Force Base jet fuel spill cleanup team say the plume appears to be headed north rather than northeast. The direction means the fuel will likely bypass two of three nearby wells. It is unclear whether it will pollute the third. The Air Force discovered the leak in 1999. It contaminated groundwater and is believed to have been seeping into the ground for decades. Authorities estimate that between 6 million and 24 million gallons of fuel were leaked. The lead scientist on the cleanup said the new monitoring data will help her map the plume and find locations to extract polluted groundwater.

Santa Fe Weather: Mostly sunny today with a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms after noon, today’s high, 66. Tonight: Partly cloudy with the overnight low, 41. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny with the high in the mid-60s.

            In National News…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Key U.S. senators say they're close to a deal on an anti-trafficking bill, which could clear the way for a vote to confirm President Barack Obama's attorney general. Republican and Democratic senators say they're working to finalize language resolving a dispute over abortion that has hung up the bill to combat sex trafficking. Republican leaders have refused to bring attorney general-designate Loretta Lynch up for a vote until that happens.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A government task force says women should get a mammogram every two years starting at age 50. But the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says the routine screening brings little benefit to women in their 40s and should be a personal choice. The task force also says there's not enough evidence to tell if new 3-D mammograms are the best option for routine screening, or if women with dense breasts need extra testing to find hidden tumors.

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors is expected to give final approval today to an ordinance that would ban performances using bears, lions, elephants and other wild animals. Not only would the ordinance apply to circuses and backyard parties, but also the filming of movies and TV shows. But wild animals used in educational programs would be exempt.

PHOENIX (AP) — A four-day hearing starts today in Phoenix regarding well-known Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's (ahr-PEYE'-ohz) acknowledged violations of a judge's orders in a racial profiling case. He has acknowledged disobeying an order that barred his immigration enforcement patrols. There are also other issues that could bring him fines, damage his credibility and make him politically vulnerable.