IN SANTA FE, THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE HAS PASSED A BILL OVERHAULING NEW MEXICO’S TEACHER EVALUATION SYSTEM. ITS SPONSOR, SENATOR MIMI STEWART OF ALBUQUERQUE, SAYS TEACHERS NEED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT…NOT PUNISHMENT…TO SUCCEED. THE BILL CALLS ON THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP A NEW EVALUATION SYSTEM BY JULY FIRST. IT ALSO REQUIRES ANNUAL EVALUATIONS FOR ALL…… MORE
Fingers Crossed for Time Change Legislation
THE STATE SENATOR WHO HAS SPONSORED BILLS TO END THE TIME CHANGE IN NEW MEXICO FROM DAYLIGHT TO STANDARD TIME IS BACK WITH ANOTHER BILL … AND THIS TIME, REPUBLICAN CLIFF PIRTLE OF ROSWELL THINKS IT’LL BE APPROVED AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. PIRTLE SAYS CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA HAVE JOINED ARIZONA AND HAWAII ALONG WITH…… MORE
Secretary of State Applauds Passage of Disclosure Bill
A LOBBYIST DISCLOSURE BILL PASSED IN THE STATE HOUSE IN SANTA FE WEDNESDAY, AND SECRETARY OF STATE MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER APPLAUDS ITS APPROVAL. SENATE BILL 191 WOULD CLOSE A LOOPHOLE IN THE CURRENT REPORTS BY LOBBYISTS BY REQUIRING THEM TO REPORT EXPENSES THAT ARE UNDER 100 DOLLARS. IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED IN THE SENATE LAST…… MORE
Committee Approves Bill on Permanent Fund
IF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE HAS ITS WAY, YOU’LL GET A CHANCE TO VOTE ON WHETHER MORE MONEY SHOULD BE TAKEN FROM THE STATE’S PERMANENT FUND TO EXPAND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN NEW MEXICO. THE PANEL HAS APPROVED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO DRAW AN ADDITIONAL ONE PERCENT EVERY YEAR FROM THE FUND WHICH TOTALS 17…… MORE
Daycare Workers Being Tried for Hot Car Incident
TWO FORMER DAY CARE WORKERS ARE ON TRIAL IN PORTALES FOR LEAVING TWO TODDLERS IN A HOT CAR IN 2017…RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF ONE OF THE LITTLE GIRLS. MARY AND SANDI TAYLOR, WHO ARE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, ARE CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE FELONIES. THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS REPORTS THE TWO ARE BEING TRIED…… MORE
A Two Month Sentence for Threatening Postal Workers
AN ALBUQUERQUE WOMAN GETS TWO MONTHS IN PRISON FOR THREATENING POSTAL EMPLOYEES. TWENTY-FIVE YEAR OLD JACKIE HERRON WAS ACCUSED OF GETTING INTO AN ALTERCATION WITH POSTAL WORKERS IN A RESTRICTED PARKING LOT FOR EMPLOYEES ONLY. WHEN SHE WAS ASKED TO LEAVE, FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY HERRON REVVED THE ENGINE OF HER CAR AND THREATENED TO RUN…… MORE
NM Can Also Get Bitterly Cold
MOST OF US ARE GLAD WE’RE IN NEW MEXICO WHEN WE SEE THE RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES AND WIND CHILLS IN THE UPPER MIDWEST. BUT IT CAN GET BRUTALLY COLD HERE AS WELL. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGIST TODD SHOEMAKE SAYS ALBUQUERQUE’S RECORD LOW IS 17-BELOW ZERO, SET IN JANUARY OF 1971. HE TELLS US IT WAS…… MORE
Council To Take Your Opinions on Plastic Waste
SO WHAT’S THE PUBLIC ABOUT TO TELL THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT IT THINKS OF BANNING PLASTIC BAGS AND STRAWS AND STYROFOAM TAKEOUT CONTAINERS? WE’LL FIND OUT THIS MONDAY NIGHT AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WHEN THEY TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PLAN. COUNCILOR ISAAC BENTON SAYS ABQ RESIDENTS WANT MORE ESTABLISHMENTS TO CONSIDER…… MORE
AirBnB Taxes Could Go Up
STAYING AT AN AIRBNB IN NEW MEXICO COULD GET MORE EXPENSIVE. IT’S BECAUSE OF A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD TAKE CERTAIN SHORT TERM RENTALS OFF THE EXEMPTIONS LIST AND REQUIRE THAT THEY CHARGE MORE IN TAXES. RIGHT NOW, YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY TAXES AND OTHER FEES TO STAY IN AN AIRBNB. BUT ABQ AIRBNB’S ARE…… MORE
Your Public Comment on Plastic Waste Monday
IF YOU HAVE AN OPINION … FOR OR AGAINST … THE PROPOSED BAN ON PLASTICS USED FOR STRAWS, BAGS AND THE STYROFOAM USED FOR TAKE-OUT CONTAINERS, YOU CAN LET ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCILORS KNOW ABOUT IT ON MONDAY. THAT’S WHEN THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSAL THAT HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM…… MORE
