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Anti-drunk driving tech to be installed in all new vehicles
The infrastructure bill, passed on Friday by the U.S. House includes a provision that mandates new passenger vehicles be equipped with tech to stop drinking and driving. The end goal, supporters say, is to achieve what decades of varied — and often harsh — drunk-driving laws have failed to do: eliminate driving while intoxicated completely. […]
State and city officials aren’t mandating vaccines for first responders
New Mexico still hasn’t issued a vaccine requirement for firefighters, emergency medical technicians or paramedics, despite the state recognizing that they are health care workers and, as a matter of their employment, are required to provide direct patient care and enter hospital emergency rooms. In September, Dr. David Scrase, New Mexico’s acting Department of Health […]
Most NM restaurants not applying for alcohol delivery permits
New Mexico joined nearly every other state in the nation in legalizing alcohol delivery to homes a couple of weeks ago, but few restaurants have applied for permits so far. Since March 2020 and the pandemic lockdowns, all but seven states have legalized the home delivery of alcohol. Twenty states did so via executive order, […]
‘It’s your gun. It’s your responsibility.’
Experts and community members gathered to talk solutions to gun violence in schools and community safety in the Northeast Heights of Albuquerque. In August, 13-year-old Bennie Hargrove was fatally shot by a fellow 8th-grade student at Downtown Albuquerque’s Washington Middle School. Newly appointed Rep. Pamelya Herndon said if the parent of the shooter had kept […]
New Mexico begins alcohol deliveries despite public health concerns
Lawrence Medina was 12 years old when he started to drink alcohol, and he drank heavily throughout his adolescence. He didn’t keep track of how much he drank, he said, just that he did it everyday. “When it came to drinking beer and liquor,” he said, “I drank to oblivion. You know what I mean? […]
New Mexico EMTs and firefighters still not required to get vaxed
Keith Morris had to call 911 for his adolescent son, who was having a mental health emergency. A team of medical personnel arrived quickly on scene, conducted an assessment and decided to transport the boy to a hospital. Morris’ call to emergency services was just a couple of months into the pandemic — June 2020 […]
Despite immigration reform setback, N.M. advocates are not deterred
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program opened doors for Viviana Arciniaga. “It gave me the opportunity to stay here in the United States, to pursue a career or to have a job,” she said. “But, most importantly, it gave me the peace of mind to just not have the fear of being deported for […]
Congress weighs immigration reforms that could have a big impact on New Mexico
The idea of providing citizenship to essential workers evolved from the existing law that allows undocumented people who fight in combat for the U.S. to become eligible. That’s according to Kenneth Romero the chair of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of the 40 most prominent Latino organizations in the United States. “At the […]
Poor access to menstrual products in N.M. creates health hazards
Advocates are illuminating for state legislators the expense of tampons, cups and pads in a low-income state, promising to again seek a tax break on menstrual products in the coming session. Their argument: Cutting the cost is one quick way to create more equity and dignity for people who need these products. Lawmakers balked at […]
Boosters are coming soon to N.M., but some vaccine distrust lingers
Sandra Jean Taylor, a lactation consultant with a bachelor’s degree in nutritional science, has already scheduled her COVID-19 booster shot. She also found a Moderna vaccine trial for 7- and 11-year-old children and signed up her two children. “I am volunteering them for science,” Taylor said she told the recruitment team. “I feel 100% comfortable […]
Gun storage law in the works after ABQ middle school shooting
Editor’s Note: We are not naming the suspect in the shooting because it is our policy to not name juvenile offenders who are not being tried as adults. A coalition of Albuquerque-area state lawmakers is drafting a bill to create the Bennie Hargrove Gun Safety Act during the coming 30-day legislative session or a special […]