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Oct. 30 First News: Details Emerge In Santa Fe County Sheriff's Homicide (Listen)

A Santa Fe County sheriff's deputy accused of fatally shooting a fellow deputy following an argument at a hotel has pleaded not guilty. Tai Chan entered his plea to the murder charge at his first court appearance in Las Cruces on Wednesday. Police say Chan shot Deputy Jeremy Martin at the Hotel Encanto after the two drank at a nightspot and got into a heated argument. They were staying there after dropping off a prisoner in Arizona. It's not clear why the two men were arguing. Records released Wednesday say the girlfriend of Chan heard someone say, "Please don't, please don't," while on the phone with him. The documents say she then heard gunshots. Court documents also say that Chan told Las Cruces Police, quote, "I shot the guy." Santa Fe attorney John Day is representing Chan, and he responded to KOB-TV in light of the alleged confession: *****103014-Day-3 :15***** Deputy Chan is being held without bond in the Dona Ana County Detention Center.

If you click on the Santa Fe Police Department’s Facebook page, you’ll find a photo posted of an 18 year old Santa Fe woman missing since August. Police are searching for Beverly Orantes-Perez, who was last seen August second at her home in the 13-hundred block of Rufina Street. Beverly Orantes-Perez is described  as being Hispanic, five-feet, four-inches tall, weighing about 130 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. If you’ve seen her or know where she is, you’re asked to call the Santa Fe Police at (505) 428-3710.

Federal aid is coming to New Mexico after areas of the state were hit by severe storms and flooding last month. The White House announced Wednesday that President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration for New Mexico as the state continues to recover from the storms and flooding on Sept. 15-26. Federal funding is available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis. It would be for emergency work and repair or replacement of facilities damaged in Colfax, Eddy, Lea, Lincoln, Otero, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Sierra counties. Federal funding also is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide. Additional designations may be made later if requested by the state and warranted by results of further damage assessments.

Candidates are to make a disclosure of their campaign spending today during the final stretch leading to next week's election. Campaign finance reports must be filed today by candidates for governor and other state offices and by political committees trying to influence the outcome of races in New Mexico.  The reports will show contributions and spending during the past three weeks. The next complete campaign finance disclosure isn't due until December. The latest reports come as campaigns focus on turning out their supporters at the polls. Early voting ends Saturday and Election Day is Tuesday. In the governor's race, incumbent Republican Susana Martinez had cash-on-hand of two-point-seven million dollars as of October sixth, and Democratic challenger Gary King reported a cash balance of not quite 24-thousand.

Picaresque writer Juan EstevanArellano of Embudo, who captured the traditional agricultural world of Hispanic northern New Mexico, has died. His wife, Elena, says he died Wednesday at the family's home in Embudo, from heart failure. He was 67. Arellano was known for his work on the acequia (ah-SEE'-KEE'-ah) — the communal irrigation canal introduced to New Mexico by Spanish explorers and later celebrated by those wishing to keep Hispanic and indigenous traditions alive in the state.

Police say an Albuquerque man took a gamble on a $250,000 heist but lost after forgetting his straight flush. KOAT-TV reports Ramon Herrera appeared in court this week after investigators tied him to a September burglary using DNA evidence left on a toilet. Police say the 33-year-old took a quarter-million dollars’ worth of jewelry but used the toilet and didn't flush. Police say he also took a can of Coke from the fridge, drank it and left it along with his DNA. Investigators say DNA from the can and toilet was matched to Herrera, who recently was arrested and booked into the Bernalillo County jail. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of residential burglary and larceny over 20-thousand dollars.

Santa Fe Weather: Sunny today with a high of 65. It’ll be mostly clear tonight with the overnight low, 36. Tomorrow, mostly sunny with the high, 59.