NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ CALLS FOR A BI-PARTISAN APPROACH TO ADDRESSING ISSUES FACING THE STATE. SHE GAVE HER STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TUESDAY. AND, AS IN YEARS PAST, MARTINEZ CALLED FOR A RENEWED EFFORT TO END D-W-I. SHE SAID THE STATE NEEDS TOUGHER LAWS…… MORE
Big Oil Moves Into NM
SOME GOOD NEWS FOR NEW MEXICO’S SLUMPING BUDGET. EXXON MOBIL HAS MOVED INTO THE STATE. IT’S PAYING 5-POINT-6 BILLION DOLLARS TO PURCHASE 275-THOUSAND ACRES OF LEASES IN NEW MEXICO’S PERMIAN BASIN. THAT SHOULD MEAN MORE DRILLING … MORE PRODUCTION … AND MORE REVENUE TO CHANNEL INTO THE STATE BUDGET. THIS IS…… MORE
NM Kids Doing Better … and Worse
SOME GOOD…SOME BAD…IN THE ANNUAL “KIDS COUNT” DATA BOOK FROM THE GROUP “NEW MEXICO VOICES FOR CHILDREN.” THE REPORT SHOWS KIDS’ HEALTH SAW THE BIGGEST GAINS IN THE PAST YEAR…WITH LOWER RATES FOR LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES… AND MORE CHILDREN WITH HEALTH INSURANCE. THE REPORT ALSO FOUND FEWER TEENS ABUSING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.…… MORE
APD Names Officers in January 7th Shooting
APD HAS NAMED THE UNDERCOVER OFFICERS WHO SHOT AND KILLED A SUSPECT EARLIER THIS MONTH. THEY’RE SERGEANT ERIC BROWN AND DETECTIVES RUSS CARTER AND NAVA MARQUEZ. IT’S BELIEVED THE MAN WHO WAS SHOT ON JANUARY 7TH, 38 YEAR OLD GILBERT LOVATO, HAD JUST ROBBED A VILLAGE INN. THE SHOOTING HAPPENED SEVERAL…… MORE
Former Postal Workers Sentenced
IN SEPARATE CASES, TWO FORMER POSTAL EMPLOYEES IN NEW MEXICO HAVE BEEN SENTENCED ON DESTRUCTION OF MAIL CHARGES. THIRTY YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER VIGIL OF ALBUQUERQUE GETS ONE YEAR OF PROBATION AND A 200-DOLLAR FINE FOR DESTROYING MAIL IN BERNALILLO COUNTY LAST AUGUST. AND 33 YEAR OLD ALONZO GALLEGOS OF PENA BLANCA…… MORE
Motel Arsonist Sentenced
IT’S TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR THE WOMAN WHO SET FIRE TO THE DESERT SANDS MOTEL ON CENTRAL AVENUE IN ALBUQUERQUE LAST MAY. THIRTY-SEVEN YEAR OLD JENNIFER MAESTAS PLEADED NO CONTEST TO ONE COUNT OF ARSON UNDER AN AGREEMENT WITH THE BERNALILLO COUNTY D-A’S OFFICE. TWO PEOPLE WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR SMOKE…… MORE
Optimistic Expectations for NM Snowpack
IT’S ONLY JANUARY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE NEW MEXICO COULD HAVE A GOOD SPRING RUNOFF. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HYDROLOGIST ROYCE FONTENOT SAYS THE MOUNTAIN SNOW PACK IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE IS AS GOOD AS IT’S BEEN IN AT LEAST FIVE YEARS…WITH SOME AREAS AT 150 PERCENT OF NORMAL, OR MORE.…… MORE
Budget and Then-Some Top Legislative Agenda
THE 60 DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION GETS GOING TUESDAY. LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH PARTIES WILL BE FOCUSED ON THE STATE BUDGET, BUT YOU CAN BE SURE MANY OTHER ISSUES WILL ARISE. STATE REPRESENTATIVE SARAH MAESTAS BARNES SAYS THE STATE NEEDS TO WORK TOWARD REDUCING POVERTY IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW MEXICO. SHE SAYS EARLY…… MORE
Another Year, Another Round of Marijuana Bills
SHOULD NEW MEXICO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA?? IT’S A TOPIC THAT WILL ONCE AGAIN BE RAISED WHEN LAWMAKERS CONVENE IN SANTA FE. STATE REP BILL MCCAMLEY OF LAS CRUCES SAYS IT COULD MEAN AN ADDITIONAL 60 TO 70 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX REVENUE ANNUALLY. MCCAMLEY NOTES OTHER STARTS ARE ALREADY CASHING IN ON THIS…… MORE
Campaign Reform a Common Cause NM Priority
COMMON CAUSE NEW MEXICO IS BANKING ON THIS BEING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT PASSES CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. VICKI HARRISON WITH THE GROUP SAYS IT’S A DENSE ISSUE THAT HIT A BRICK WALL LAST YEAR WHEN IT HAD 92 PERCENT SUPPORT IN THE STATE. SHE SAYS NEW HOUSE SPEAKER BRIAN EGOLF HAS…… MORE
