State

Bill To Keep New Mexico’s Children Safe Advances

Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena

STATE News:

SANTA FE – A bill to keep New Mexico’s children safe passed Wednesday the House Health and Human Services Committee.

House Bill 500, sponsored by Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla) and Rep. Willie Madrid (D-Chaparral), would extend the authority of the Children, Youth and Families Department to regulate, inspect, and sanction programs for at-risk youth.

Rep. Willie Madrid

During the committee hearing, members heard heart-wrenching stories of abuse of at-risk youth, bringing to light both the urgency and importance of this legislation.

“The stories Read More

House GOP Budget Calls For Rebates, Fewer Raises

By ANDREW OXFORD
Republicans in the House of Representatives want to use some of the state’s budget surplus to give every New Mexican $200.
 
These rebates are part of a $6.6 billion budget that GOP lawmakers are putting forward as an alternative to a spending plan sponsored by Democrats and headed for a vote in the House as soon as Thursday night.
 
The House Republican plan would still increase the state budget, but by 5 percent instead of the 11 percent boost in spending included in House Bill 2 and related legislation.
 
New Mexico is in
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Stewart Bill To Create Wildlife Corridors To Protect Animals, People Heads To Senate Floor

SENATE News:
 
Sen. Mimi Stewart’s bill to create wildlife corridors to protect animals and people on New Mexico roads is headed to the Senate floor after it passed the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday.
 
“Without carefully planned wildlife corridors, New Mexico roads are incredibly dangerous for animals and people alike,” Stewart said. “By using overpasses and underpasses, among other tools, we can keep animals off our roads and ensure drivers and their passengers get where they’re going safely.”
 
SB 228 authorizes the Department of Game and Fish and the Department of Transportation
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NHCC Art Museum Opens Qué Chola March 8

NHCC News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE The National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) Art Museum’s upcoming exhibition, Qué Chola, opens Friday March 8, with a reception in the Art Museum 6-9 p.m., and closes Aug. 4.
 
The exhibit features Cholas and homegirls in art and pop culture and celebrates the Chola as a symbol of strength, power and resilience in the face of racial, gender and economic adversity.
 
The term Chola is commonly used to refer to women of a particular subculture in the U.S. often characterized by cultural pride, tough behavior and a distinctive style. The last few
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Legislative Roundup: Feb. 21

Max Rodriguez, left, and Sebastian Hatcher look up to the balcony of the Capitol Rotunda before performing music with other students from The Montessori Elementary & Middle School Wednesday in Albuquerque in Santa Fe. Olivia Harlow/The New Mexican
 
Zoelle Strober, a student from The Montessori Elementary & Middle School in Albuquerque, plays the violin during a musical performance Wednesday at the Capitol in Santa Fe. Olivia Harlow/The New Mexican
 
By The New Mexican
 
Days left in the session: 23
 
Confirmations: The Senate voted 31-0 Wednesday to
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Weekly Fishing Report: Feb. 21

By GEORGE MORSE
Sports And Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post
 
The weather this week turned sharply colder. There was snow, but it was hit-or-miss. Here in the Espanola Valley there was very little, while nearby Los Alamos was buried. One area that has been really slammed with snow is Chama. They have already had over 100 inches of total snowfall and more is still on the way.
 
It’s been crazy not just here, but around the world. There was snow in Hawaii. Not just on the 13,000-foot peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii, but down to 6200-feet on the slopes of Haleakala volcano
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Governor Pushes For Payoff Of Film Credit Backlog

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
 
By ROBERT NOTT
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants state legislators to allocate up to $380 million to pay off a backlog of tax credits owed to production companies that shot movies or television shows in New Mexico.
 
Tripp Stelnicki, a spokesman for the governor, said the buildup of unpaid rebates “creates an uncertainty in the minds of producers. The governor prefers to get this done as quickly as possible.”
 
Paying what’s owed would require a one-time appropriation from the general fund, said
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District Attorney Marco Serna Convicts Child Rapist

David Hyams
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE Firstt Judicial District Attorney Marco Serna released the following statement Tuesday regarding his office’s conviction of David Hyams:
 
“I am grateful to announce that our office was able to bring justice against Hyams yesterday convicting him of two counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration in the First Degree (Child Under 13) and one count of Criminal Sexual Contact in the Second Degree (Unclothed) (Child Under 13). And I am thankful to and proud of the brave, young victim who traveled from Hawaii to testify at trial, and for the service
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Rep. Stansbury Announces Critical Water Legislation

Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-Albuquerque) and Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena) announced the introduction of House Bill 651. Courtesy photo
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE Tuesday, on Earth Science Day, Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-Albuquerque) and Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena) announced the introduction of House Bill 651—which will help address water management needs across the state.  
 
Responding to drought and meeting the needs of farmers, communities, energy producers, and our natural places requires having the science and tools to do so.
 
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