Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • A1

ABQJOURNAL.COM SATURDAY MAY 16, 2020 $2.00 ESTABLISHED 1880 NEW LEADING NEWS SOURCE JOURNAL ALBUQUERQUE Weatherline 821-1111 ABQJournal.com Copyright 2020, Journal Publishing Company INSIDE CLASSIFIEDS B5 COMICS B11 EDITORIALS A10 OBITUARIES A7 PUZZLES B5, B10 TV NOW INSIDE WEATHER B3 NMSU lawsuit Possible abuse within Aggie football program at heart of AG investigation METRO NM A5 HOLDING OUT HOPE UNM head coach, athletic director believe there will be a football season SPORTS B1 NEW CHURCH RULES Governor changes order, allows capacity for houses of worship, all retailers. 11 NEW DEATHS New numbers show virus death toll in New Mexico at 253. MASKS REQUIRED Face coverings will be required for in-person voting, which starts today. Gov: Public cooperation vital to more reopeningGov. authorizes funds for PPE, testing supplies, National Guard services Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal BY DAN BOYD AND DAN MCKAY JOURNAL CAPITOL BUREAU SANTA FE Gov.

Michelle Lujan Grish- am said Friday that New Mexico would pro- ceed with a gradual, data-driven approach to reopening the battered economy, even as Republican Party leaders vowed to file a lawsuit against the governor for her handling of the pandemic. With many retailers and churches set to par- tially reopen this weekend after being closed for two months, Lujan Grisham urged New Mexicans to keep following social distancing guidelines so that her administration does not have to reverse course and reimpose closures. you help us as we ease restrictions we will see cases the governor said during a news conference Friday at the state Capitol that was broadcast online. A revised public health order issued Friday that takes effect today and runs through May 31 will allow churches and other houses of worship to operate at capacity offer- ing more flexibility than the governor had initially announced this week. Lujan Grisham had first planned to allow only up to capacity at churches this week- end, but she said Friday that she and other health officials wanted to simplify the order.

As of today, retailers and stores GOP vows to sue over handling of coronavirus pandemic Emergency spending orders total $35 million Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal BY DAN MCKAY JOURNAL CAPITOL BUREAU SANTA FE Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has authorized over $35 million in emergency spending for protective equip- ment, testing supplies and other material as New Mexico battles the coronavirus pandemic. But some of the spending may soon come under legislative scrutiny. House Minority Leader James Townsend, R-Artesia, is asking legislative leaders to exam- ine whether the governor has exceeded her authority by not seeking legislative approval. He plans to raise the question at the next meeting of the Legislative Council, a panel of top-ranking lawmakers.

The Lujan Grisham adminis- tration, in turn, said the spend- ing is allowed by law and part of her legal duty to protect New Mexicans in an emergency. Meanwhile, the staff director of the Legislative Finance Com- mittee, a bipartisan group of lawmakers who meet between sessions, is warning the Lujan Grisham administration against tapping into emergency federal aid totaling over $1 billion without a broader fiscal plan to ensure spent effectively. The financial scrutiny comes as Lujan Grisham and lawmak- ers prepare for a special session next month dedicated to adjust- ing the state budget to reflect an expected $1.8 to $2.4 billion hit to state revenue in the upcoming See EMERGENCY A12 Churches moving slowly to reopen in-person services ANTHONY The Rev. Andrew Pavlak, the pastor at the San Felipe de Neri Church at Old Town, stands behind the altar Friday in the main sanctuary. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal BY RICK NATHANSON, GABRIELLE PORTER AND ANTHONY JACKSON JOURNAL STAFF WRITERS The Rev.

Andrew Pavlak may be one of the first Albuquerque-area pastors to open church doors to parishioners in weeks. But show up to San Felipe de Neri Church this Sunday, count on getting a seat at the first Mass back definite- ly show up without proper protective gear. mask? You come said Pavlak, who plans to host the first in-person Mass at the church in months on Saturday, May 23. Attendance will be limited and on a first- come first-serve basis. After weeks of state-mandated restrictions on mass gatherings that included houses of worship, Gov.

Michelle Lujan Grisham this week announced some rules would be relaxed. The loosening has evolved over the week at a Wednesday news conference, Lujan Grisham said that starting Saturday churches and other houses of worship will be able to meet in person as long as they restrict in-person attendance to of each build- capacity as set by the fire marshal. However, Friday afternoon the governor raised the capacity to for religious gath- Several congregations not yet ready to reopen their doors See CHURCHES A7 See GOV A3 JOnlineFor the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on New Mexico, go to ABQJournal.com/ coronavirus Coronavirus hotline 1-855-600-3453 Non-health-related COVID-19 questions 1-833-551-0518 ELECTION 2020 Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal BY T.S. LAST JOURNAL NORTH SANTA FE Social distancing apply in the race for the vacant seat in New 3rd Congressio- nal District, where a crowded field of seven Democrats and four Republi- cans have lined up to replace Ben Ray who has held the position since 2009 but is abandoning the seat to run for U.S. Senate.

On the Democratic side, the candi- dates are (in the order they appear on the ballot) Santa Fe attorney Teresa Leger Fernandez, Sandoval County Treasurer Laura M. Montoya, 1st Judicial District Attorney Marco Ser- na, state Rep. Joseph Sanchez, former CIA operative Valerie Plame, former state and federal government admin- istrator John Blair and environmental attorney Kyle J. Tisdel. The Republican field is made up of former Santa Fe County commissioner Harry B.

Montoya, businesswoman Karen Evette Bedonie, retired oil See 11 CANDIDATES A4 11 candidates vie in 3rd Congressional District Candidate forum The Journal and KOAT-TV host a forum for the Democratic candidates in the CD3 race to air on KOAT-TV at 4 p.m. Sunday. The Kent Walz and Doug Fernandez moderate the forum. More election coverage Seven Democrats and four Republicans compete for Ben Ray seat A4 ads for Democratic candidate criticized A2 BRIGHT SPOT ROADRUNNER SENDS FOOD TO NAVAJO NATION A total of 2,000 food boxes containing a variety of items valued at almost $300,000 delivered to sister food banks in the Gallup and Farmington area. METRO NM A6 New episode of popular crime drama airs Sunday.

TV NOW A DANGEROUS GAME The San Felipe de Neri Church at Old Town in Albuquerque is planning its first in-per- son service for May 23. Many local church- es have yet to set their reopening dates, despite newly loosened restrictions from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. LATEST NUMBERS Reported recoveries 1,671 Number of positive tests 5,662 Number of negative tests 118,796 Number of deaths 253 SOURCE: NMDOH More information To request a face covering or to find out more about New reopening plan, go to: cv.nmhealth.org.