NATION NEWS BRIEFS

NEW MEXICO / Guilty plea to gunrunning

An ousted official of a tiny New Mexico border town pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to run guns to warring Mexican drug cartels. Blas "Woody" Gutierrez, 30, a former Columbus village trustee, pleaded guilty in federal court in Las Cruces to one count of conspiracy, three counts of making false statements in the acquisition of firearms and three counts of smuggling firearms from the United States. His lawyer said six of the weapons Gutierrez pleaded guilty to smuggling came from Operation "Fast and Furious," which Congress and the Justice Department are investigating.

CALIFORNIA / Death penalty sought

Prosecutors said Monday they will seek the death penalty against a man accused of the "Grim Sleeper" serial killings of prostitutes and other women who were shot, strangled or both from the 1980s to 1990s in Los Angeles. Lonnie Franklin Jr., 58, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of 10 women and one count of attempted murder. His attorney said she was reviewing the case.