S. Valley compost fire spurs health alert
A fire broke out at a South Valley compost processing plant early Thursday, prompting a City of Albuquerque health alert due to the smoke.
The alert, initially set to expire Thursday afternoon, was extended until noon today.
Light southerly winds were expected to push smoke northward across the city area overnight, and people with respiratory conditions in the city and Bernalillo County were advised to limit outdoor activity.
Bernalillo County Fire Department Cmdr. Tony Pittarelli said firefighters were called to the composting plant near Broadway and Interstate 25 around 1 a.m. Thursday.
“We responded out here and it was about an acre involved,” Pittarelli said. “About 20-foot flame lengths, and we immediately started drafting operations and attacking the fire.”
Pittarelli didn’t say what they believe started the fire.
Sandoval County and Kirtland Air Force Base lent additional resources to fight the fire and Bernalillo County Public Works assisted with carrying water.
Guilty plea in video of girl in bathroom
An Albuquerque man accused of secretly videotaping a teen girl in a bathroom pleaded guilty Monday to sexually exploiting a child, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
Mark Webb, 52, faces up to six years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Webb was convicted of voyeurism in 2016, and the Court of Appeals later determined that prosecutors could move forward with additional charges of manufacturing child pornography, according to an AG’s Office news release.
According to the news release, Webb secretly recorded the underage girl in January and February 2013. The girl later discovered the hidden camera, and videos of her were found on his computer.
NM driver charged in fatal DWI in Nevada
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A 39-year-old New Mexico man faces felony driving under the influence and child neglect charges after authorities say the car he was driving slammed into a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of a freeway, killing two Nevada residents.
Records show that Antonio Romualdo-Macedo of Albuquerque was jailed Wednesday in Las Vegas, Nev., pending a court appearance where he could have a lawyer appointed to represent him.
Romualdo-Macedo is accused of driving drunk with a 4-yearold in a child seat in a BMW that slammed into a disabled 1994 Honda Prelude about 2 a.m. Tuesday on Interstate 11 near Boulder City.
The Clark County coroner says the Honda driver, 49-yearold Jennifer Rene TaylorBeasinger of Henderson, died of multiple injuries.
A male Honda passenger who died was not immediately identified.