The Republican National Congressional Committee is putting pressure on Democrat Martin Heinrich to return a contribution from embattled N.Y. Rep. Charles Rangel, whose financial dealings are under congressional investigation, The Albuquerque Journal reports.

A South Valley community organizer found her champion Arabian horse shot to death early Wednesday and she suspects it may be a message aimed at her work against gangs, drugs and crime, The Albuquerque Journal reports.

More national forest land is open to oil and gas drilling, the Farmington Daily Times reports.  The federal decision opens the last portion of Jicarilla Ranger District forest land in Rio Arriba County to natural gas and oil drilling. It permits the lease of 4,992 acres of never-leased National Forest land about 50 miles east of Farmington.