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Latest New Mexico news, sports, business and entertainment at 3:20 a.m. MDT

  • 'Monumental day': Indian Country reacts to Deb Haaland vote

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Citizens of tribes across the U.S. are cheering Deb Haaland's confirmation as the first Native American secretary of a Cabinet agency. The U.S. Senate on Monday voted 51-40 in favor of the Democrat's nomination to lead the Interior Department. Many Native Americans have called Haaland's historic confirmation an answer to their prayers and a long time coming. They say the move positions someone they trust and admire to carry forward their hopes and expectations. The Interior Department has broad oversight of tribal affairs and energy development.

  • New Mexico legislators close in on budget agreement

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Lead state budget negotiators are rewriting spending plans to quickly tap federal pandemic relief money and shore up unemployment insurance, student financial aid, Medicaid insurance, teacher pensions and select state agency budgets. New Mexico's lead Senate budget committee on Monday put the finishing touches on proposed amendment to a spending plan for the coming fiscal year that starts on July 1. The amended plan would increase general fund spending by 4.8% over current annual spending obligations to $7.45 billion, a $373 million increase. The panel plans to vote Monday or Tuesday on amendments that funnel $600 million in federal relief toward the state's indebted unemployment fund.

  • New Mexico Senate passes medically assisted suicide bill

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico state Senate is advancing legislation that would allow terminally ill patients to die with the assistance of medical professionals. The law would require a terminal health diagnosis, a physical and mental health evaluation, and a waiting period after a lethal prescription is filled. The Elizabeth Whitfield End-of-Life Options Act is named for a former New Mexico judge who testified in support of a right to die in 2017 and later died from cancer. Republicans and two Democrats opposed the bill over ethical concerns. Supporters argue it gives dignity to those who cannot otherwise escape a pending and painful death.

  • New Mexico court upholds damages cap in medical malpractice

New Mexico's highest court has ruled that monetary limits on some types of damages due to medical malpractice are not unconstitutional. The New Mexico Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld the Medical Malpractice Act, which maintains non-medical and non-punitive damages at $600,000. The limit does not extend to punitive damages and compensation for medical and rehabilitative care. The five-member panel argue that a cap will just be a legal consequence when juries determine amounts to award. The decision reverses a 2018 ruling made by the Bernalillo County District Court. A woman was awarded $2.6 million in damages in her lawsuit against an Albuquerque doctor and health provider. 

  • New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland Confirmed

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as interior secretary, making her the first Native American to lead a Cabinet department and the first to lead the federal agency that has wielded influence over the nation's tribes for nearly two centuries. Democrats and tribal groups hailed Haaland's confirmation as historic. For the first time a Native American will lead the powerful department where decisions on relations with the nearly 600 federally recognized tribes are made. Interior also oversees a host of other issues, including energy development on public lands and waters, national parks and endangered species.

  • Biden to join road show promoting relief plan with Pa. visit

LAS VEGAS (AP) — President Joe Biden is joining top messengers already crisscrossing the country to highlight the benefits of his massive COVID-19 rescue plan. On Tuesday afternoon the president is set to promote aid for small businesses with a visit to a small business in suburban Philadelphia. The series of visits dubbed the "Help is here" tour began Monday with Vice President Kamala Harris dropping in on a COVID-19 vaccination site and a culinary academy in Las Vegas, and first lady Jill Biden touring a New Jersey elementary school.

  • New Mexico governor seeks to offset Biden's oil policies

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says nearly three-quarters of $1 billion could be lost over the next four years if New Mexico sees even a 10% reduction of oil and gas production due to President Joe Biden's actions to curb leasing on public lands. The first-term Democratic governor said Monday in a letter to the president that financial losses of that magnitude would have real effects on the state's ability to achieve goals like universal access to early childhood education. The governor is asking that New Mexico be granted energy transition credit for actions the state already is taking to address pollution and move toward more renewable energy.

  • Cost to fortify New Mexico Statehouse is $700K and growing

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Troops, extra police details and fences cordoning off the New Mexico state Capitol grounds and adjacent streets from public access have cost taxpayers at least $700,000 in police overtime, salaries for National Guard troops, equipment rental and other special expenses. State officials provided the accounting for security spending in response to inquiries by The Associated Press. The unprecedented security measures were instituted by Democratic majority legislative leaders in the aftermath of the storming of the U.S. Capitol. Republican state Sen. William Sharer of Farmington says the security perimeter is an infringement on political speech as the legislative majority pushes hot-button progressive proposals.