Briefs

Two hedges covered in light snow, stand in the foreground of a the New Mexico State Land Office on Jan. 18, 2023. A red sign hangs above the entrance stating the Land Office has generated "more than $5.4 billion for our schools!" The sign has a blue border, red background and white font.

Early childhood education bill passes through first committee

BY: - February 7, 2023

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, a former Republican Party candidate for an NM House seat, has been charged in connection to shootings at Democratic politicians' homes in Albuquerque.

Solomon Pena pleads not guilty following grand jury indictment

BY: - February 3, 2023

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 […]

In the foreground is a blurry flag and flowers. Focused in the foreground is Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham who pauses while giving her State of the State speech before the joint session of the 2023 New Mexico Legislature in Santa Fe.

N.M. governor shakes up personnel in first months of second term

BY: - February 2, 2023

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

BY: - February 2, 2023

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 […]

100 US dollars. Macro photo of banknotes of money in the US currency one hundred dollars.

San Carlos Apache Tribe receives funding to address contaminated environmental sites

BY: - February 1, 2023

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 poses for a photo with a crowd behind him.

Solomon Pena to be jailed until his next hearing; APD chief issues statement on justice

BY: - January 18, 2023

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. […]

Early childhood educators and advocates hold a rally at the New Mexico Capitol Rotunda after a presentation to lawmakers asking for more money to support and expand access to child care or pre-k programs on Dec. 15, 2022.

Health and safety measures to expect at the Roundhouse in 2023

BY: - January 13, 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 […]

Downtown Albuquerque New Mexico skyline shows four prominent hi rise buildings during daytime.

NM Rep. Javier Martínez becomes the sixth Democrat to report shots fired at his home, police have potential suspect in custody

BY: - January 9, 2023

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 […]

A school bus rounds the corner in Albuquerque

Congress green-lights NM plan to further tap the land grant fund for public education

BY: - December 23, 2022

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

BY: - December 23, 2022

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

BY: - December 19, 2022

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 […]

A woman reads instructions while administering at at-home COVID test.

White House resumes handing out free COVID-19 rapid test kits

BY: - December 16, 2022

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 […]