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Latest New Mexico news, sports, business and entertainment at 1:20 a.m. MST

  • New Mexico weighs new investments in early education

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic legislators in the state House have voted in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment that could funnel more than a billion dollars toward early childhood education over the next six years in New Mexico. The Democratic-dominated House on Friday endorsed the initiative that would tap an additional 1% share each year from the state's $20 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund and expand beneficiaries to include prekindergarten. A competing Senate proposal would increase trust distributions to K-12 education. Approval of the House plan would set the stage for compromise negotiations.

  • Supreme Court upholds pandemic procedures at Legislature

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has rejected a Republican challenge to emergency procedures in the state House of Representatives that have moved hearings and deliberations almost entirely online as a precaution against COVID-19. The high court declined to hear the lawsuit from leading Republican House legislators on Friday in a shortly worded order. Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf says that emergency legislative procedures that rely heavily on videoconferencing are necessary in light of the pandemic. He says more people are participating in online legislative hearings than could possibly fit physically into committee rooms under normal circumstances.

  • New Mexico reports 407 new virus cases, 23 deaths Friday

SANTA F, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico reported 407 new cases of coronavirus on Friday and 23 additional deaths. The New Mexico Department of Health reported that the state has seen 179,724 cases and 3,502 deaths related to COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Bernalillo County had more new cases Friday than any other county with 127 positive COVID-19 results, followed by Doña Ana County with 80 cases. The number of infections is thought to be far higher than reported because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. 

  • Navajo Nation reports 66 new virus cases Friday, 6 deaths

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation officials on Friday reported 66 new COVID-19 cases and six more deaths. The most recent numbers on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah bring the total number of cases to 29,167 an deaths to 1,103 since the pandemic began. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez issued a statement reminding people that a mask mandate is in place on the reservation and he encouraged the wearing of two masks after a U.S. government study this week found that wearing two masks can be better than one in protecting against coronavirus spread. 

  • New Mexico asks to skip student testing again this year

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico education officials are asking for permission to waive standardized testing for the second year, citing the difficulties of the pandemic. The New Mexico Public Education Department says it will encourage school districts to voluntarily administer tests that cover reading, math and science comprehension. The department acknowledges that a volunteer-based assessment might not allow for a scientific sample of students. Legislative researchers have called on the department to assess students as soon as possible, saying policymakers need to know how students are doing. In a report last fall, they estimated students had lost three to 12 months of learning over the summer.

  • Timing of next Virgin Galactic flight still up in the air

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Virgin Galactic has put off plans to make another attempt at a rocket-powered flight from New Mexico to the fringe of space. The company said Friday it decided more time was needed for technical checks. While the flight window would have opened Saturday, the space tourism venture plans to look for another opportunity. The delay comes as the promise of commercial flights looms. The company has yet to announce a firm date for its first commercial flight. More than 600 customers from around the world have purchased tickets. The last test flight attempt in December was cut short when computer trouble prevented the spaceship's rocket from firing properly.

  • Winter storm watch issued for much of New Mexico for weekend

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Forecasters are warning of potentially hazardous driving conditions as storms bring rain and snow along with frigid temperatures to New Mexico. The National Weather Service said a quick-moving system would bring rain and mountain showers to northwestern and west-central New Mexico into Friday evening, possibly dropping a few inches of new snow. A winter storm watch says an arctic airmass and strong storm system then will bring significant snowfall, strong winds and biter cold temperatures accumulations to northern and central New Mexico Saturday night through Monday morning. According to forecasters, "travel could become difficult and visibilities reduced due to blowing snow."

  • Navajo Nation reports 53 new COVID-19 cases, 11 more deaths

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation health officials on Thursday reported 53 new COVID-19 cases and 11 more deaths. The latest figures raised the totals to 29,098 cases and 1,097 known deaths since the pandemic began. Tribal officials said additional federal personnel are beginning to arrive to support vaccination efforts on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The Navajo Department of Health has identified 44 communities with uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 from Jan. 22 to Feb. 4, down from 75 communities in recent weeks. The tribe has extended its stay-at-home order with a revised nightly curfew to limit the virus' spread on the reservation. The Navajo Nation also is lifting weekend lockdowns to allow more vaccination events.