THE EFFORT TO REPEAL THE STATE LAW ALLOWING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO CARRY A NEW MEXICO DRIVERS LICENSE WILL NEXT PLAY-OUT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. STATE REP PAUL PACHECO TELLS US THE BILL IS SCHEDULED FOR DEBATE AND A VOTE ON THE FLOOR ON WEDNESDAY. PACHECO SAYS HE’S NOT BUYING SOME…… MORE
Bill Introduced to Make NM Business Laws Uniform
BUSINESS LEADERS SAY HAVING CONSISTENT LAWS IN NEW MEXICO WILL HELP BOTH BUSINESS AND LABOR. IT’S THE RATIONALE BEHIND HOUSE BILL 211, WHICH WOULD CREATE UNIFORM BUSINESS REGULATIONS STATEWIDE. CAROL WIGHT WITH THE NEW MEXICO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SAYS IT ALSO ADDRESSES THE COMPETITION ISSUE CREATED WHEN YOU HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT MINIMUM…… MORE
NM MLK Commission Investigated
THE NEW MEXICO MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. COMMISSION IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL REPORTS COMPUTERS WERE REMOVED FROM THE COMMISSION OFFICE INSIDE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT EXPO NEW MEXICO. KOB TV REPORTS COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KIMBERLEY GREENE TOLD THE STATE BOARD OF FINANCE LAST MONTH THAT STATE REP…… MORE
House Approves Child Abuse, Porn Bills
TWO CHILD-RELATED BILLS ARE PASSED BY THE STATE HOUSE IN SANTA FE TUESDAY NIGHT. ONE IS HOUSE BILL 68. IT’S AMONG THE BILLS INSPIRED BY THE DEATH OF NINE YEAR OLD OMAREE VARELA IN ALBUQUERQUE. THE BOY WAS KICKED TO DEATH, ALLEGEDLY BY HIS MOTHER. THE MEASURE TACKS ON MORE PRISON TIME FOR…… MORE
New Teeth for Three-Strikes Legislation
A BILL THAT SUPPORTERS SAY ADDS TEETH TO NEW MEXICO’S THREE STRIKES LAW HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. IT HAD EARLIER PASSED THE REGULATORY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND WILL NOW HEAD TO THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR DEBATE. THE BILL WOULD ADD SEVERAL NEW CRIMES TO THE LIST…… MORE
House Votes “Yes” on Social Promotion Measure
THERE’S ANOTHER BATTLE UNDERWAY IN THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE OVER “SOCIAL PROMOTION.” THAT’S THE PRACTICE OF ADVANCING STUDENTS WHO CAN’T READ PROFICIENTLY BY THE THIRD GRADE. A BILL ENDING SOCIAL PROMOTION HAS BEEN PASSED IN THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON A 6-4 VOTE. SUPPORTERS SAY THE BILL WOULD IDENTIFY STRUGGLING READERS…… MORE
NM Clinics Participate in Depression Screening
DEPRESSION IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DISABILITY FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ACCORDING TO THE U-S PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE. IT RECOMMENDS SCREENING THE GENERAL ADULT POPULATION, AND THAT INCLUDES BOTH PREGNANT AND POST-PARTUM WOMEN. NOW, MORE THAN 75 CLINICS IN NEW MEXICO HAVE SIGNED UP TO INCLUDE DEPRESSION SCREENING…… MORE
NM Rail Runner Losing Ridership
WHEN GAS PRICES GO UP, RIDERSHIP ON THE NEW MEXICO RAIL RUNNER GOES UP. HOWEVER, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, GAS PRICES ARE LOW RIGHT NOW, AND IT’S AFFECTING OVERALL PASSENGER NUMBERS FOR THE COMMUTER TRAIN. SPOKESPERSON AUGUSTA MEYERS SAYS THERE WAS A DROP IN RIDERSHIP OF 7-POINT-9 PERCENT FROM FISCAL 2014 TO…… MORE
NM Jobless Rate Highest in U-S
NEW MEXICO HAD THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE NATION LAST MONTH, AT 6.7 PERCENT. THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS SAYS THE STATE DID ADD 26-HUNDRED JOBS FROM DECEMBER OF 2014 TO DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, BUT THAT’S AN INCREASE OF ONLY POINT-THREE PERCENT. THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE EMPLOYMENT PICTURE WAS…… MORE
Repeat Offender Cuffed Again
TWENTY-TWO YEAR OLD ANDREW VALENCIA OF ALBUQUERQUE FACES YET ANOTHER BURGLARY CHARGE FOLLOWING HIS ARREST MONDAY. APD SAYS VALENCIA HAS HAD SEVERAL FELONY CASES DISMISSED SINCE 2012, BECAUSE HE’S BEEN RULED INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL. POLICE SPOKESMAN TANNER TIXIER SAYS VALENCIA HASN’T BEEN VIOLENT, SO HE CANNOT BE FORCED INTO TREATMENT.…… MORE
