Briefs
Early childhood education bill passes through first committee
More community-based education for Indigenous students could make its way to schools and early childhood programs in New Mexico if support for House Bill 148 continues. This legislation, which would have the state enter agreements with Native nations to create relevant early education standards, unanimously passed through the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee […]
Solomon Pena pleads not guilty following grand jury indictment
Solomon Pena pleaded not guilty during a Friday arraignment hearing, his first court appearance since a grand jury indicted him on 14 felony charges related to an alleged plot to shoot at the homes of elected officials. Pena, an election denier and failed 2022 GOP candidate for the N.M. House, is accused of enlisting help […]
N.M. governor shakes up personnel in first months of second term
Since Michelle Lujan Grisham’s re-election as New Mexico governor, five cabinet secretaries have left the administration, with three leaving in the last week in the middle of the legislative session. General Services Department Secretary John Garcia has resigned, and Friday is his last day. Press Secretary Nora Meyers Sackett is leaving the governor’s office next […]
Northern wildfire recovery legislation heads to N.M. Senate
Local counties that can’t afford to rebuild after New Mexico’s largest blaze are a step closer to getting help to do so. Legislation that would provide financial aid to affected counties unanimously passed through Senate Finance, its second committee, on Wednesday. It’s heading for a vote by the full Senate. The Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire […]
San Carlos Apache Tribe receives funding to address contaminated environmental sites
The San Carlos Apache Tribe is set to receive more than $166,000 in funding to help it address contaminated brownfield sites that threaten environmental and public health of the tribe. The funding comes from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law passed last year, and was inserted into the legislation by Arizona Sens. Kyrsten Sinema […]
Solomon Pena to be jailed until his next hearing; APD chief issues statement on justice
Solomon Pena made his first appearance in court Wednesday afternoon. Judge Jill Martinez at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court concluded there was probable cause in the case before kicking it to District Court since Pena is facing multiple felony offenses. The District Attorney’s Office filed a motion to keep Pena incarcerated as the case unfolds. […]
Health and safety measures to expect at the Roundhouse in 2023
During the 2023 legislative session, it’s looking like there will be no requirement for vaccination against COVID-19 to enter the Roundhouse, nor any requirement to wear masks. Rules specific to the two legislative chambers around COVID safety from previous sessions will not carry over into this year’s 60-day session beginning Jan. 17, according to the […]
NM Rep. Javier Martínez becomes the sixth Democrat to report shots fired at his home, police have potential suspect in custody
Rep. Javier Martínez is set to take on the role as the speaker of the House in the New Mexico Legislature when it convenes in Santa Fe on Jan. 17. Today, the Democrat that represents areas in downtown and Old Town Albuquerque, is the fourth elected official from his party to report bullets fired at […]
Congress green-lights NM plan to further tap the land grant fund for public education
A few lines in the 4,126-page measure Congress sent to President Biden’s desk for signature Friday will mean hundreds of millions more in funding for New Mexico’s public school students each year. Voters in N.M. overwhelmingly approved pulling an additional 1.25% from the state’s multi-billion dollar Land Grant Permanent Fund for education each year. Because […]
Another $1.45 billion for northern NM fire victims clears Congress as part of the omnibus bill
More than $1 billion in additional compensation for victims of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire was approved by the United States House of Representatives as part of a 4,100-page spending package that’s heading to President Joe Biden’s desk. The $1.45 billion comes on top of $2.5 billion passed earlier this year to pay property damage […]
New Mexico’s HSD proposes medication-assisted treatment for incarcerated people
Beginning in 2024, New Mexico’s Medicaid program could start providing medication-assisted treatment to incarcerated people 30 days before they are released, along with a 30-day supply of medication when they leave. In a 275-page application to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by the New Mexico Human Services Department published Friday, HSD says […]
White House resumes handing out free COVID-19 rapid test kits
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is once again offering Americans the opportunity to order free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests from the federal government, a program that it had shuttered amid an ongoing stalemate with Congress over additional funding to address the virus. The program will allow each household to order four free COVID-19 tests as […]