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Students respond to officials ignoring the affirmative consent bill
Advocates looking to change the way schools and students think about consent are disappointed a bill isn’t moving through this legislative session so far. But they plan to pick up their efforts. IsaBella Thomas, 18, said she is coordinating a campaign to get supporters to contact Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and get her attention, hoping […]
National Guard members show up for their first day teaching public school, providing child care
Schools in New Mexico opened Monday with a few different members of the community joining classrooms for the first time. To help fill staffing gaps, 46 National Guard members and 13 state employees entered classrooms as substitute teachers in public schools and early child care centers. They cover about 7% of the need reported to […]
Renewable energy tax breaks pull big public support in NM
Three pieces of legislation offering tax incentives for renewable energy use saw broad support this weekend even as they were passed through committee on a partisan vote. One bill benefits New Mexicans with solar panel systems, another for those with geothermal systems and the third offers tax incentives to kickstart renewable energy storage systems at […]
Teacher pay raises headed for debate in committee
As the National Guard is called in to staff schools struggling around the state, an effort to boost teacher pay in New Mexico is moving in a busy but short legislative session. Senate Bill 1 would increase the minimum pay for licensed teachers and is set to be heard in the Senate Education Committee Wednesday […]
More details on how tribal communities plan to use federal housing relief funds
From emergency shelters to modular homes to utility hookups, tribes are determining how to best use housing money set to come their way soon. Nearly $5 million in federal money is headed to housing projects in Apache and Pueblo communities as part of the COVID-19 relief. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced […]
Republicans debate familiar mask rules for the Roundhouse in the Senate
New Mexico Republicans repeatedly said the debate they ignited about face mask requirements on the state Senate floor was not political. They tried to argue against the need for masks with a scientific approach, citing various studies they read personally. When the math was settled, the seven GOP members who spoke out were on the […]
Students march to the Roundhouse to demand affirmative consent bill is heard
Elena Gonzales said the first time a boy touched her inappropriately, it happened on the playground. Joyce Shroulote said she learned about rape at 7-years-old when her grandmother would warn her to get home before dark so she wouldn’t be attacked. Julia Lee said she is just recently coming to understand that the boys who […]
2022 Teacher of the Year: State should remove the student age cap for PED funding
New Mexico’s 2022 teacher of the year wants everyone to get their high school diploma. Lorynn Guerrero was a night school teacher when she started at New America School-Las Cruces, a charter school serving migrants age 14 and older, and their families. At the time, the school offered adult education programs to help people get […]
Citing omicron, NM House to put some meetings online for legislative session
New Mexico House Democrats, the majority party in the state, announced Thursday that committee hearings will be conducted online only. This announcement was made ahead of the 2022 legislative session, which convenes Tuesday. It’s unclear at the moment whether the state Senate will do the same, and what both chambers’ choices will mean for members […]
City meeting on boarding school gravesite highlights the need for respect
The time to listen is now. Albuquerque city officials hosted the first of several public forums Tuesday, Jan. 11, for people connected to the Albuquerque Indian School to share experiences and offer feedback about what to do with the gravesite at 4-H Park. Nearly 80 people were split into two group sessions moderated by a […]
Students and advocates call for funding for sexual assault services and consent policies in schools
A call to action by a coalition seeking to end sexual assault in New Mexico is taking shape in Santa Fe. IsaBella Thomas wants her school to adopt affirmative consent policies to establish the foundation that sexual activity must be OK with everyone taking part. On Friday, she will lead students from The New Mexico […]
Sexual assault measure would change consent standards in public schools
I asked Rep. Elizabeth Thomson if she would be comfortable sharing her experiences with sexual assault. She said yes. It was a subtle and simple practice in affirmative consent. She didn’t have to say anything, didn’t even need to meet my request. I would not have pushed her to share, but she did, and we engaged […]