Briefs
N.M. vaccine rollout hits the road with mobile clinics at schools
New Mexico continues to take its COVID-19 vaccine efforts to young people. The state’s Department of Health and Public Education Department are hosting several vaccination events this week at campuses in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Española, Tucumcari and Mora. Anyone can get a jab at the mobile vaccination school events, though the focus on getting students […]
PED awards funds to support mental health services in public schools
Three New Mexico school districts were awarded $8.9 million to build resources to support mental health for students. Farmington Municipal Schools, Santa Fe Public Schools and Socorro Consolidated Schools were picked by the state’s Public Education Department to establish mental health service programs staffed by behavioral health specialists within the schools. Funding comes through the […]
After the pandemic, 83% of corporate taxes remain unpaid in N.M.
Companies operating in New Mexico who are behind on their taxes and were given extra time to catch up ended up paying only 17 percent of what they owe the state, a legislative panel learned on Thursday, Sept. 2. House Bill 6 was passed in the first special session in 2020 as part of a […]
N.M. businesses missed out on tax break but can still amend their returns
Officials in charge of New Mexico’s tax policy said on Thursday, Sept. 2, that they expected more businesses to claim a tax break that was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephanie Schardin Clarke and Mark Chaiken of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department updated lawmakers on new parts of the tax law […]
New Mexico schools could benefit from flush budget if delta variant controlled
The state’s public school system could see a windfall of money as economists expect the local economy to partially recover from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. New Mexico’s main pot of money, called the general fund, will total $8.8 billion in the upcoming year. State lawmakers will have $1.39 billion in “new money,” or […]
Governor appoints new District Court judge in southern N.M.
Casey Fitch, a Las Cruces-based attorney, will fill the vacant seat on the Third Judicial District Court, which covers Doña Ana County. He will handle civil and criminal cases. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Fitch to the seat left open by retiring Judge Lisa Shultz. District Court judges are first appointed but then have to […]
Executive order aims to conserve undeveloped land in the state
New Mexico could have 30% of all lands in the state protected for conservation by 2030 if an executive order signed last week by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is successful. Billed as the 30×30 framework, the state’s effort is unique in accounting for tribal and traditional land uses, such as the state’s watershed, according to […]
100% of Rio Rancho’s in-person public schools had a COVID case this month
During the first month back to in-person learning, New Mexico’s third-largest school district has reported a COVID case every day. Cases popped up in every K-12 school — except for the SpaRRk Academy virtual school. Nearly 17,000 students attend Rio Rancho Public Schools. So far 115 cases have been reported in the district, requiring 516 […]
NM road repairs coming but more funding needed
Roads and bridges owned by the state of New Mexico will need more funding or they will continue to deteriorate, the state’s top highway official told lawmakers Monday. Executive Director of Highway Operations Rick Padilla said state-owned roads, highways and bridges have historically gotten worse and worse each year — except for the last three […]