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Family pays tribute to New Mexico man killed by bear: ‘He was a strong person’

Relatives of Benjamin Halona remember his career as wildlife firefighter and his zeal for selling tamales

Relatives of a New Mexico man who was fatally mauled by a bear inside his home recently say they are choosing to remember his firefighting career and zeal for peddling tamales rather than his rare, brutal manner of death.

As Benjamin Halona’s sister, Gloria Halona, and her daughter, Samantha Vandever, put it, that is the least he deserved after the quiet dignity that he showed becoming a widower in February and subsequently grappling with health problems that required him to use a walker and a wheelchair to move around.

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© Photograph: Courtesy Harona family

© Photograph: Courtesy Harona family

© Photograph: Courtesy Harona family

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Nevada files lawsuit challenging federal plan for Colorado River revival

In Trump administration’s plan, California, Arizona and Nevada face about a 20% cut to water supply over two years

Nevada filed a federal lawsuit on Monday challenging the Trump administration’s new plan for the imperiled Colorado River, launching what could become the first of many court battles over the waterway that supplies 40 million people, dozens of tribes and 5.5m acres of farm land across the American west.

The federal plan, issued Friday, cut roughly 20% from the water supplied to lower basin states – Nevada, Arizona and California – over the next two years, with a potential for harsher cutbacks in the future, based on conditions.

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© Photograph: George Frey/Getty Images

© Photograph: George Frey/Getty Images

© Photograph: George Frey/Getty Images

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New Mexico to continue funding gender-affirming care for minors after federal cuts

Trump administration finalized rule to end Medicaid support for care including hormones and speech therapy

New Mexico will continue funding gender-affirming care for minors after a federal rule ending Medicaid support for such care goes into effect.

On 13 August, the Trump administration finalized a rule – set to go into effect on 13 October – that will end funding for gender-affirming care through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (Chip).

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© Photograph: Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

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