- Advisory panel endorses redistricting maps for New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An advisory panel on political redistricting has advanced three proposals for overhauling district boundaries in New Mexico's Democrat-dominated House of Representatives, with special deference to Native American communities. Two of the endorsed redistricting maps conform to proposals from Indigenous nations and tribes in northwestern New Mexico, a celebrated cradle of ancient civilization where a recent decline in population threatens to disrupt and dilute majority-Native American voting districts. The maps endorsed by the Citizens Redistricting Committee are nonbinding. New Mexico's heavily Latino and Native American population presents unusual challenges in efforts to unite communities of interest and give minority voters a fair shot to elect candidates of their choice.
- Navajo Nation reports 78 new COVID-19 cases, 7 more deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Wednesday reported 78 more COVID-19 cases and seven additional deaths. It was just the seventh time in the past 21 days that tribal health officials had reported a coronavirus-related death. The latest numbers pushed the tribe's totals to 35,583 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the virus since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The known death toll now is at 1,471. Tribal officials still are urging people to get vaccinated, wear masks while in public and minimize their travel. Based on cases from Oct. 1-14, the Navajo Department of Health issued an advisory for 31 communities due to the uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus.
- Study: Warming climate means shortages on Pecos River
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal water managers say the Pecos River Basin in New Mexico is likely to experience growing water shortages as temperatures continue to rise over the next century. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on Wednesday discussed the findings of a recently completed study on the basin. The Pecos River flows through eastern New Mexico into Texas, where it joins the Rio Grande near the U.S.-Mexican border. It's home to more than 130,000 acres of crops and orchards. The study was aimed at getting a better understanding of the threats to the basin's water supply due to climate change. Officials also looked at what tools could be used to stretch resources.
- Ballot confuses financing of proposed Albuquerque stadium
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Voters in Albuquerque might be confused about how a proposed stadium will be funded. That's because the ballot measure includes inconsistent language about the nature of the city's $50 million stadium bond proposal. The Albuquerque Journal reports that the ballot initially describes the project financing as "gross receipts tax revenue bonds." However, the spot where voters mark their ballots refers to general obligation bonds. Officials say they don't know how the mix-up happened and that it doesn't pose a legal issue. The New Mexico United soccer team has said it would pay $10 million upfront toward the stadium's construction.
- New Mexico awards $157M in grants to child care providers
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico state officials are sending $157 million to around 1,000 child care providers. The money can be used to pay rent, utilities, and labor costs. Gov. Michell Lujan Grisham said Wednesday that a strong child care industry is needed to support parents in the workforce. It's the latest investment in child care made possible by federal pandemic relief funds. The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department has also used federal money to make more families eligible for child care subsidies. Eligibility now includes families of four with incomes as high as $93,000.
- New Mexico considers retirement 'double dipping' for police
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Legislators are drafting a plan to ease restrictions against retired police officers coming back to work in an effort to add more officers across New Mexico in the midst of a labor shortage. At a legislative hearing Tuesday, retired police officer and state Rep. Bill Rehm of Albuquerque outlined a proposal for changes to reemployment provisions for retired police to incentivize a return to work. He said officers might continue to draw on pension benefits or wait for a bigger payout later. New Mexico's governor wants to deploy 1,000 more police officers amid public frustration with crime.
- Voting options expand in Albuquerque, Santa Fe elections
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Nearly 13,000 absentee and early ballots have been cast in local elections that will determine the next mayors of New Mexico's largest city as well as its state capital, with two weeks remaining before Election Day. The secretary of state's office on Tuesday released its first tally of voter participation in the consolidated Nov. 2 election for local government offices including school boards and bond initiatives that influence local tax rates. More than 25,000 absentee ballots have been requested. Mayors Tim Keller in Albuquerque and Alan Webber in Santa Fe are running for reelection in three-way races.
- Literary magazine The Believer to shut down in 2022
NEW YORK (AP) — One of the country's most acclaimed and innovative literary magazines is shutting down. The Believer was founded nearly 20 years ago. It had been part of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' College of Liberal Arts since 2017. The bi-monthly publication's final issue, No. 139, is scheduled for February/March 2022. The school is calling the decision part of a strategic realignment shaped by the coronavirus pandemic. The Believer was founded in 2003 by authors Vendela Vida, Ed Park and Heidi Julavits. In their words, it was committed to journalism, essays that are frequently very long and book reviews that are not necessarily timely.