Polo

New Mexico Acting Gov. Howie Morales declared a state of emergency on Sept. 30 as flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Polo damaged infrastructure, cut off transportation routes, and threatened homes across the state. Morales signed five executive orders, each releasing $750,000 in immediate assistance, putting up to $3.75 million toward response and recovery through the state's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Funds can cover temporary lodging, shelter, healthcare, food, and transportation, and the National Guard may be deployed if local authorities need help.

Parts of the state are under evacuation orders. In Doña Ana County, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning after officials warned McLeod Dam was at risk of imminent failure, raising fears of life-threatening flooding downstream. The Hatch Valley Public School District closed schools due to impassable roads, and Ruidoso issued a voluntary evacuation notice over landslide risk. More rain is forecast.

A nurse in Michigan has been criminally charged with helping an immigrant detainee escape from federal custody at a hospital where she worked. Chloe Renae Freeman, 33, of Whitmore Lake, was charged in late August after allegedly helping a Mexican national escape ICE custody at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital, according to a federal criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday.

The man had injured himself while attempting to flee ICE agents on May 28 and was taken to the hospital for treatment, including a CT scan. Security footage showed him leaving through ambulance bay doors within minutes of Freeman removing him from the scan room; he has not been located since. Freeman reportedly told investigators she knew she was helping him escape, citing disagreement with ICE's family separation practices and concern for his injuries. Trinity Health confirmed she no longer works there. Freeman appeared in federal court in Detroit and plans to plead not guilty, her attorney said. The case underscores heightened scrutiny of interactions between healthcare workers and immigration enforcement.