How many kids have actually gotten COVID-19 has been somewhat of a mystery."For the most part (they have been) asymptomatic until recently," said Dr. Veronica Luzzi, of Tricore labs. "So, the detection goes very silent in the population." The state has hired Tricore labs to help answer that question. The lab will be looking at 9,000 blood samples they took from children who needed blood tests for other medical reasons.The test will determine whether the child was vaccinated, did they ever have COVID-19 and do they have immunity. The study is also looking at the child's race and where they live."The idea behind this study is to have a snapshot of the immunity against SARS-CoV-2, the agent that causes COVID-19 in the state of New Mexico, in the pediatric population," Luzzi said.The state is paying the lab about $250,000 to do the study. "I think it will give us information about the spread of the virus and how sometimes being asymptomatic may impact on the level of confidence that you have," Luzzi said.So far, Tricore has tested about 1,000 samples and they hope to have the rest done by the end of March.Watch the video above for the full story.

Sgt. John Ruark retired from the Air Force 30 years ago, after three decades of outstanding service.Last week, the Albuquerque Police Department found his medals in a hotel dumpster in New Mexico.But now, thanks to social media, the medals are back where they belong – in the hands of his son, who happens to be an APD chaplain.“I think over 30 years since I have seen them,” said Ruark’s son, Geraldo Cionelo. "I was shocked but distraught, confused and there was a lot of anger into it too."Last week, APD Sgt. Justin Trebitowski received a call from a hotel manager. The two had been working together on some community policing projects.“She found this item in the dumpster,” Trebitowsi said while looking at a shadow box filled with military, medals ribbons and ranks. “She looked at it and said, 'It looks like it is important to someone, what should we do?'”So APD started searching for Ruark and couldn’t find anyone living at the addresses he previously lived at in Albuquerque."It is basically a decoration of his career,” said APD Lt. Adam Anaya. “Has his medals and all of his ranks on there.”So they went to sister station KOAT for help to broadcast pictures of the box. KOAT staff found a retired Air Force sergeant with the same name living in the Philippines and, although they couldn't reach him, they did find his family, including Cionelo.“I am going to email him and say, 'Dad, look what I have here,'” Cionelo said.Neither APD nor the family know exactly how the medals ended up in this dumpster. The suspect it had been stolen and someone threw it away.“The possibilities are endless,” Anaya said.But one thing is for sure: these medals are back where they belong.“Those are cherished things for people who have served our country,” Anaya said. “We as citizens need to show our due respect for it."