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
Drivers’ License Bill Advances to the NM House
THE NEW MEXICO HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO DEBATE THE REAL I-D ACT AND DRIVERS’ LICENSES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ON TUESDAY. THE COMPROMISE MEASURE PASSED IN A HOUSE COMMITTEE ON MONDAY AND NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR A VOTE. IT’S ONE OF TWO BILLS DEALING WITH THE ISSUE. IT WOULD…… MORE
Teen Curfew Passes Committee
ALBUQUERQUE MIGHT GET A TEEN CURFEW AFTER ALL . IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN NEW MEXICO TO IMPOSE SUCH A CURFEW. THAT BILL WAS APPROVED YESTERDAY (MON) BY THE HOUSE REGULATORY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. HOUSE BILL 29 WOULD IMPOSE A MIDNIGHT TO…… MORE
Bus Ridership Down in Albuquerque
THE NUMBERS ARE NOT GOOD FOR A-B-Q RIDE FOR 2015. THE ABQ JOURNAL REPORTS THERE WAS A DROP IN RIDERSHIP ON THE CITY’S PUBLIC BUS SYSTEM. THERE WERE 12-POINT 4 MILLION BOARDINGS ON CITY BUSES LAST YEAR … DOWN 5 PERCENT … THE FIRST DECLINE FOR A-B-Q RIDE IN AT LEAST 10 YEARS.…… MORE
