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Senators to weigh Ivey-Soto’s leadership position on Rules Committee
A New Mexico state senator is facing ouster from a prominent legislative role. Public calls to remove Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Albuquerque) from office altogether started in the spring when he was accused of sexual harassment and misconduct by lobbyist Marianna Anaya. So far, Senate leadership is committed to pulling Ivey-Soto from the chairman position of […]
NM joins 20 states and DC in supporting the right to travel out of Texas for an abortion
New Mexico’s Attorney General is now part of a 20-state coalition seeking to protect people living in Texas who must travel out of state for abortion services. Last week, the state joined 20 others and the District of Columbia in an amicus brief in support of the class-action lawsuit Fund Texas Choice v. Paxton that […]
NM lawmakers delay voting on changes to Roundhouse harassment policies
New Mexico legislators have two weeks to review proposals to change the Roundhouse anti-harassment policy to include an outside tie-breaker vote and clearer timelines to speed up investigations. Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Daymon Ely (D-Corrales) introduced changes to the policy during a Legislative Council Committee hearing on Monday. While the committee did not […]
Families of missing and murdered Indigenous people call for help at Haaland event in Albuquerque
Thursday night inside the UNM School of Law was a homecoming for Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who was warmly received by an audience of hundreds. But outside, families representing 17 missing or murdered Indigenous people were crying in the rain, asking when their loved ones, or justice, will come to their homes. Haaland, a 2006 […]
Tribal leaders testify before Congress about sovereignty in legal systems
Sovereignty on Native American land is being attacked by the United States’ highest court, leaders from various tribal nations told members of Congress this week. The Supreme Court’s ruling in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta earlier this year allows state prosecutors to take over criminal prosecutions for crimes that occur on Indigenous nations, and it’s causing confusion […]
NM lawmakers to weigh harassment investigations in the Roundhouse next week
The harassment complaint filed against Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto might’ve stalled, but the effort to reform how these things play out could be starting soon. Next week, legislators will be in Santa Fe for a public meeting of the interim Legislative Council Committee, composed of 36 elected officials from the state Senate and House of Representatives. […]
Pandemic aid payments heading to utility companies for low-income households
People enrolled in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will soon see another bill covered. Today, the state Human Services Department said 57,422 low-income households were issued one more payment to cover heating and cooling costs. The money was sent directly to the utility companies offering services. The program typically issues one yearly payment. […]
NM distributing hundreds of dollars for food to students in need
If your child received free or reduced lunch as of June 2022, break out that card again, because you may have some money on it from the state to cover food costs. This week the New Mexico Human Services Department will add $391 to families who received pandemic EBT cards to cover meals for public […]
NM senator defends his reputation while policy silences the people accusing him of misconduct
The harassment complaint filed against a powerful N.M. senator is closed, he announced. “The letter that we received was a one page letter. Very short,” Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto told Source NM. “We were told that the committee had failed to find probable cause … the matter was being postponed indefinitely, and no further action will […]
State reduces paperwork and feds fund prep program to chip away at teacher shortage
New Mexico teachers getting comfortable with their classrooms a few weeks into the school year could soon see support that would benefit their time with students. Following the announcement that the state’s Public Education Department found a way to eliminate 34% of administrative paperwork, the U.S. Department of Education awarded $2.1 million to a Four […]
Roundhouse anti-harassment policy needs reform, advocates and senators agree
New Mexico senators and the lobbyists they work with are calling for changes to the Roundhouse anti-harassment policy to include greater transparency during the investigative process and more clear timelines for how it proceeds. Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Albuquerque) is under investigation after a complaint was filed by lobbyist Marianna Anaya alleging that he acted inappropriately, […]
Four years into court-mandated education reform, lawmakers look at compliance
It takes time to reform a failed system. That’s the message state lawmakers got from education leaders providing updates on the Yazzie-Martinez lawsuit that mandates reform in public schools across New Mexico. It’s been four years since Judge Sarah Singleton ruled the state has failed to provide adequate education to students who are English-language learners, […]