Today's News

A Santa Fe physician, also the founder and medical director of New Mexico MedWorks, Urgent Care Santa Fe, Los Alamos Urgent Care and Valley First Care in Española, is facing additional charges as the result of his arrest last May.

Richard Lieberman, 63, was indicted last month with a second-degree felony drug-trafficking count as well as the misdemeanor charge of patronizing a prostitute, according to his attorney Peter Schoenburg.

The attorney said the added charge had been a possibility since the beginning.

When asked about the trafficking charge, Schoenburg said all that is required in the statute is that there is a transfer of the drug between two people.

“If you smoke something and hand it to somebody else, it’s considered trafficking,” Schoenberg said. “It’s the broadest interpretation of the law.

Schoenburg said Tuesday that Lieberman will enter a not guilty plea. He said Lieberman enrolled in an out-of-state residential treatment facility weeks after his arrest in May and has another two months left as part of the rehabilitation program.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michelle Obama's message: President Barack Obama is just like you.

"Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it," the first lady told the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday in an address intended to reassure voters that her husband share their values — hard work, perseverance and optimism — while also drawing a contrast between him and Mitt Romney.

Mrs. Obama never mentioned the president's Republican challenger, who grew up in a world of privilege and wealth.

But the point was clear as she weaved a tapestry of their early years together, when money was tight and times were tough, when they were "so in love, and so in debt." She reminisced about the man who now occupies the Oval Office pulling his favorite coffee table out of the trash and wearing dress shoes that were a size too small. And she told stories about a president who still takes time to eat dinner with his daughters nearly every night, answering their questions about the news and strategizing about middle-school friendships.

NM teenager immunization rates improve

SANTA FE (AP) — The state Department of Health reports an improvement in immunization rates for teenagers.

About 81 percent of New Mexicans from ages 13 to 17 were covered last year by a vaccine protecting against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. That's up from 72 percent in 2010 and it's higher than the national rate of 78 percent.

The department offers free immunizations at public health clinics for children in families without health insurance.

Nearly 71 percent of New Mexico's teenagers had the vaccine against chickenpox last year, up from 56 percent in 2010. New Mexico was above the national coverage rate of 68 percent in 2011.

Meningococcal vaccine coverage was almost 65 percent last year, up from 53 percent in 2010 but below the national rate of 70 percent.

Black bear captured blocks from Santa Fe Plaza

SANTA FE (AP) — Conservation officers with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish have captured a black bear that wandered into the center of Santa Fe.

Albuquerque television station KOB-TV reports the bear was first spotted at about 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

A few hours later, the bear was found along the Santa Fe River, two blocks from the city's historic plaza.