State

Legislation Would Eliminate Statute Of limitations On Prosecuting Child Sex Abuse Cases

January 25, 2019 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Thursday, Senate Bill 55, a measure that would eliminate the statute of limitations for certain sexual crimes against children, passed unanimously in the Senate Public Affairs Committee.

It is often difficult for victims to come forward to report sex offenses, and can be made even worse when the perpetrator is an authority figure and the victim is a frightened, traumatized child. It is a well-known fact that some people do not report abuse as children because they were afraid of their abuser or ashamed of what happened to them at the time. With the current statute

New Mexico Wildlife Federation Call On Members To Contact Lawmakers

January 25, 2019 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

NMWF News:

The New Mexico Wildlife Federation is calling on its members to contact their state lawmakers and urge them to save the state Game Protection Fund.

A provision in the pending general government appropriations bill, House Bill 2, calls for transferring $500,000 from the Game Protection Fund to support operations at State Parks. The House Appropriations and Finance Committee is set to consider the proposal at 1:30 p.m. Fri., Jan. 25, in room 307 of the state Capitol in Santa Fe.

Federation President John Crenshaw and Federation Director Jesse Deubel testified

NWS: Today’s High Near 36, Tonight’s Low Around 15

January 25, 2019 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

The National Weather Service forecasts today’s high near 36. Sunny. Tonight’s low around 15. Courtesy/NWS Read More

New Mexico Liaison With U.S. Census Bureau Worried About 2020 Count

January 24, 2019 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Robert Rhatigan, associate director for the UNM Geospatial and Population Studies Group and New Mexico liaison with the U.S. Census Bureau speaking during the Legislative Update at Fuller Lodge. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

By BONNIE J. GORDON

Los Alamos Daily Post

bjgordon@ladailypost.com

The countdown to the 2020 U.S. Census has started and Robert Rhatigan is worried. Rhatigan is associate director for the University of New Mexico Geospatial and Population Studies Group and New Mexico liaison with the U.S. Census Bureau.

He spoke in Los Alamos recently during a Read More

Luján Joins Colleagues To Launch PFAS Task Force

January 24, 2019 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Wednesday, Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) joined his colleagues to launch the bipartisan PFAS Task Force, with the goal of bringing PFAS clean-up to the forefront of the congressional agenda.

In November of 2018, Cannon Air Force Base informed the New Mexico State Government that water from several wells on and off the Cannon Air Force Base (AFB) had been contaminated with PFAS. These chemicals are found in foam used for firefighting and are associated with an increased risk of cancer.

Secretary Toulouse Oliver Provides Additional Sexual Harassment Training For New Mexico Lobbyists

January 24, 2019 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Maggie Toulouse Oliver

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver will provide an additional training this week for New Mexico lobbyists, which will cover lobbyist registration, reporting requirements, and sexual harassment.

After two successful lobbyist trainings ahead of the 2019 legislative session, this additional training will be provided from 1-4 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25, in the New Mexico State Capitol Building, Room 315. (Please note the change of location from this year’s previous trainings.)

Beginning in 2018, Secretary

Tourism Benefits All New Mexicans

January 24, 2019 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

By RANDY RANDALL, Executive Director, Tourism Santa Fe

TANIA ARMENTA, CEO, Visit Albuquerque

TONYA STINSON, Executive Director, Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau

PHILIP SAN FILIPPO, Economic Development Director, Las Cruces

Tourism is one of the largest employment and revenue sectors for the state – employing over 100,000 people, bringing in $6.6 billion in revenue and paying in $660 million in state and local taxes.

Whether someone is making the decision to move to or retire in New Mexico, buy a vacation home, or open a business in our state, the first point

National Popular Vote Measure Clears First Hurdle

January 24, 2019 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

By ROBERT NOTT

rnott@sfnewmexican.com

State Rep. Georgene Louis, who grew up in Acoma Pueblo, said she and other Native Americans often were told, “Your vote doesn’t matter.”

She believes a lot of people in America feel that way, she said Wednesday to other members of the House State Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee, particularly during presidential elections when the Electoral College trumps the popular vote.

That’s why Louis, an Albuquerque Democrat, said she joined fellow Democrats on the committee to vote 6-3 in favor

NWS: Today’s High Near 34, Tonight’s Low Around 14

January 24, 2019 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

The National Weather Service forecasts today’s high near 34 with sunny skies and tonight’s low around 14. Courtesy/NWS

Department Of Health Reports Steady Improvements In Safer Prescribing

January 23, 2019 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

NMDOH News:

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) announced Jan. 14 the release of its latest state quarterly prescribing report that shows a 14.9 percent decrease of prescribing high dose opioids in the state.

The numbers come from the Board of Pharmacy’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database, which is required for use by healthcare providers to check a patient’s prescription history before prescribing opioid and benzo-diazepines. Opioids are a class of prescription painkillers such as oxycodone, codeine and morphine, all of which can cause addiction.

The latest report Read More