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August 17 First News: While Rivers Tainted By Pollution Recover; Damage to EPA More Lasting (Listen)

Authorities say rivers tainted by the recent massive spill from an abandoned Colorado gold- mine storing heavy-metal-laden water are starting to recover. It’s a different story, however, for the Environmental Protection Agency. And, the political fallout from the disaster could linger. The agency's critics are seeking to use its much-maligned handling of the spill to undercut the Obama administration's rollout of major regulations aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions at the nation's power plants.  EPA and contract workers accidentally unleashed three-million gallons of contaminated wastewater as they inspected the idled Gold King mine. The agency was already a frequent target for Republicans and pro-industry groups. Members of congressional oversight committees say they are planning hearings. The spill came just two days after Obama unveiled his Clean Power Plan in an event at the White House.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico may pull out of the individual insurance marketplace set up under the Affordable Health act next year if it can't reach a deal on rate hikes with the state insurance commissioner. The Albuquerque Journal quotes Blue Cross of New Mexico President Kurt Shipley as saying his company needed an average 52-percent rate boost because it lost money last year because of unexpected high medical costs. Insurance Superintendent John Franchini rejected the company's request for an average 52-percent rate increase on individual plans. If Blue Cross pulls out of the market, more than 17,000 people who bought its plans will need to find a new insurer and possibly a new doctor. That's about a third of all policies bought on the state's marketplace.

A unionization vote date has been set for members of the ski patrol at the Taos Ski Valley resort. A veteran of the ski patrol says the group of nearly 50 seasonal workers wants a place at the table on pay and benefits as new management makes changes. Long-time ski patrol member Rey Deveaux tells the Albuquerque Journal that the union vote is not a "hostile-type thing." He says ski patrol members love what they do and just want to make the ski experience better for everyone. Taos Ski Valley CEO Gordon Briner said in a statement the resort can better address ski patrol members' issues without going through a union. The vote on whether to unionize under the Communications Workers of America is set for Nov. 12.

The private consortium that manages the Los Alamos National Laboratory has been fined by the federal government for losing track of secret weapons data and nuclear material. The more than 192-thousand-dollar fine was reduced by about 20-percent from the fine initially proposed by the Department of Energy in May. The New Mexican reports federal investigators said the lab contractor failed to catch a discrepancy in shipping papers for the classified material when it was sent to the Nevada Nuclear Security Site. The classified materials and nuclear material have never been located. Lab spokesman Kevin Roark says that lab management cooperated in the investigation after reporting the issue to the government. Roark says the notice of violation is being reviewed.

We’re expecting to find-out this week if a former and current Albuquerque officer should stand trial for the shooting death of a homeless man. Pro Tem Judge Neil Candelaria is scheduled to hear more testimony today in a preliminary hearing for Officer Dominique Perez and former Detective Keith Sandy. They are facing murder charges for the death of James Boyd. The 38-year-old Boyd, who authorities later said suffered from schizophrenia, was shot during a standoff in March 2014 in the Sandia Mountains foothills. Video of the shooting showed Boyd appearing to surrender before Perez and Sandy opened fire. The shooting sparked angry protests in Albuquerque. Attorneys for the officers say their clients did nothing wrong. Advocates say Albuquerque will see new protests if Candelaria decides the officers won't face a jury.

The summer rain may seem like a welcome respite to gardeners, but for humans and their pets, deadly diseases like plague are becoming more common as rodent populations soar. The New Mexican reports that officials say a dog in Santa Fe has tested positive for the plague. It is being treated with antibiotics. The dog's owner is being monitored for fever. Plague is endemic in the area and is contracted through flea bites or rodent droppings. So far this year, three cats and five dogs have tested positive for plague. Last month, a Santa Fe County woman died of the disease. Diseases like hantavirus and tularemia are also worrying public health officials in Santa Fe.

Santa Fe Weather: Mostly sunny today through tomorrow with highs both days reaching 85, with a 30-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms today, dropping to 10-percent tomorrow. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with the overnight low, 61, with a 20-percent chance for precipitation.