New Mexico State Employee Accuses Governor’s Chief Operating Officer Of Ethics Breach
Attorney Claudia Armijo
By SCOTT WYLAND
SFNM
A former Public Employees Retirement Association trustee has filed an ethics complaint against Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s chief operating officer, claiming Teresa Casados pressured her into voting for a pension reform bill she opposed.
Claudia Armijo, an attorney, claims Casados last year prodded her to take part in voting to endorse a state Senate bill Lujan Grisham strongly backed as a measure to eventually pull the state’s pension system out of deep debt. In 2020, the system had an estimated $6.6 billion in unfunded liability.
Armijo Read More
New Mexico Liquor Sellers Leery Of Proposed Booze Tax
Daniel Smith buys beer Thursday from Rosalio Merino at Kelly Liquor Barn in Santa Fe. Luis Sánchez Saturno/SFNM
By ROBERT NOTT and TEYA VITU
SFNM
As J.R. Palermo sees it, the year has been bad enough for restaurants, bars and patrons.
He’s none too happy with a proposed 2 percent excise tax the state could impose on alcohol sales as part of a sweeping liquor law reform bill.
Palermo, the owner of Tiny’s Restaurant & Lounge, a fixture in Santa Fe since 1950, has been an outspoken critic of New Mexico legislators’ efforts to overhaul what many people call an outdated and cost-prohibitive Read More
Simonich: Cherry Garcia Creators Have No Taste For Qualified Immunity
Ben & Jerry’s co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. Courtesy/commons.wikimedia.org
By MILAN SIMONICH
SFNM
Sometimes one name is all it takes to command attention. Cher. Madonna. LeBron.
This story of political activism has two big names — Ben and Jerry.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield found fame by making ice cream. Now their interest is in making law, nationally and in New Mexico.
Ben and Jerry appeared Tuesday on an internet news conference with members of a half-dozen groups that support House Bill 4, which proponents also call the New Mexico Civil Rights Act.
It would bar the Read More
Legislative Roundup: 17 Days Left In 2021 Session
Legislative Roundup
SFNM
COVID-19 case detected at the Roundhouse: Another COVID-19 case has emerged at the Roundhouse — the first time since five cases were detected near the onset of the legislative session more than a month ago.
Raul Búrciaga, director of the New Mexico Legislative Council Service, reported Tuesday that one positive test result was reported among the 66 people tested Monday.
Contact tracing was initiated as a result of the case, Burciaga wrote in an email. “Two individuals are in quarantine,” he wrote. “Deep cleaning was conducted in the area of the infected individual.” Read More
SBDC Recognizes La Cocina STAR Business Of The Year
La Cocina Restaurant in Española recognized as SBDC Outstanding STAR Business. Courtesy/SBDC
SBDC News:
Sen. Leo Jaramillo along with SBDC Director Julianna Barbee at Northern New Mexico College and NNMC President Rick Bailey recognized and announced Española’s SBDC Outstanding STAR Business, La Cocina Restaurant. Javier Sanchez & Phil Maestas were honored and recognized on the virtual roundhouse New Mexico event.
Who thought a restaurant could expand during this economic crisis? But La Cocina did!
The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted the food industry but this restaurant made Read More
Auditor Colón Joins Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Cohort 7
New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colón
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colón has been selected to participate in the seventh cohort of the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows program, an elite group of national, senior-level policy leaders who have the knowledge, skill, and will to be effective, equity-minded education policymakers at the state level.
The program is an initiative of The Hunt Institute, an education policy non-profit founded in 2001 by former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt (D-NC|1977-1985, 1993-2001).
Auditor Colón will join 29 other senior-level elected Read More
Chart 353 COVID-19 In New Mexico March 2, 2021
The bars in this chart display the number of COVID-19 related deaths versus date, and the line shows the seven-day average. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-NaimNew Mexico COVID-19 Update: 247 New Cases, Total Now 185,542 With 11 New Deaths And 148,641 Patients Recovered
Today’s update includes 11 more deaths in New Mexico related to COVID-19.
The New Mexico Department of Health reports today’s most recent cases:
- 100 new cases in Bernalillo County
- 7 new cases in Chaves County
- 1 new case in Cibola County
- 4 new
Scott A. McLaughlin Tapped To Head Spaceport America
Spaceport America is the world’s first purpose-built Spaceport. The Gateway to Space is outside of Truth or Consequences. Courtesy/Spaceport America
Scott A. McLaughlin
SPACEPORT AMERICA News:
Scott A. McLaughlin, a New Mexico native and long-time business and engineering professional, has been selected by the New Mexico Spaceport Authority Board of Directors as the new executive director of Spaceport America, Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes announced today.
McLaughlin graduated from New Mexico State University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and has worked at several Read More
COVID-19 Testing Tuesdays And Thursdays At Overlook
New Mexico [External Sources]
- Kira Miner: Breezy and warm Tuesday - KOB.com - KOB 4
- What do we make of local housing prices on the rise? - KOB 4
- Temperatures on the increase for New Mexico - KOAT New Mexico
- Many New Mexico voters lack choices in legislative races • Source New Mexico - Source New Mexico
- Study measures impact of NM behavioral health copay law • Source New Mexico - Source New Mexico
- Study measures impact of NM behavioral health copay law • Source New Mexico - Source New Mexico
