- New Mexico groups to get $9.4M in public housing grants
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — More than two dozen organizations around New Mexico will share $9.4 million in grant funding to improve public housing. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the funding Tuesday, saying more than $2.7 billion was awarded nationally. The grants can be used by public housing authorities to build, repair and renovate properties in their respective communities. That could include replacing roofs or upgrading electrical or plumping systems. Housing authorities that serve rural communities including Bayard, Clayton, Cuba, Raton, Wagon Mound and Tucumcari are among those to get grants. Albuquerque, Santa Fe and southern New Mexico also received funding.
- Community forum to focus on cleanup at Los Alamos lab
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) — The cleanup of decades-old contamination at Los Alamos National Laboratory will be the focus of an upcoming community forum in the northern New Mexico community. Federal environmental officials with the U.S. Energy Department and the contractor that runs the lab will be hosting Wednesday's event. The DOE's Office of Environmental Management at Los Alamos will be developing recommendations later this year to remediate plumes of chromium and contamination resulting from the machining of high explosives compounds. The recommendations that will be submitted to the state Environment Department also will cover one of the disposal areas on lab property.
- New Mexico forms advisory panel on early childhood education
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's Early Childhood Education and Care Department is looking for community members, teachers and other experts to serve on a new advisory council. The department announced the formation of the panel Tuesday, saying the state has extraordinary educational leaders and the department needs their wisdom. The council was created through legislation adopted last year. It will be charged with developing ways to measure and monitor outcomes for children and families that receive child care through assistance programs. It also will focus on a workforce development plan for the agency. It's plan is due by the end of the year.
- New Mexico House opts to limit trafficking of wildlife parts
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico lawmakers have approved legislation that establishes penalties for people who knowingly buy or sell endangered wildlife parts and products. The measure won final legislative approval Tuesday with a 42-22 vote in the House and now goes to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for her signature. The New Mexico ban on wildlife trafficking would be linked to surviving species that are threatened with extinction such as elephants, lions, rhinoceros and others listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Violators could face fines up to $10,000 or three times the value of the trafficked items.
- New Mexico OK's trust fund for early childhood initiatives
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed legislation that she says will clear the way for a monumental investment in the health, education and well-being of the state's youngest children. The creation of the early childhood trust fund was among the governor's top priorities for the 30-day legislative session. She signed the bill Tuesday during a ceremony at the Capitol. The governor's office says the fund will be launched with a general appropriation of $320 million that is included in the state budget bill that has yet to be approved. It will be sustained by surplus oil and gas related revenues.
- Boy Scouts seek bankruptcy, urge victims to step forward
The Boy Scouts of America are urging victims to come forward after the 110-year-old organization filed for bankruptcy protection in the first step toward dealing with a barrage of sexual abuse lawsuits. The Scouts plan to create a huge compensation fund for potentially thousands of men who were molested as youngsters decades ago by scoutmasters or other leaders. The bankruptcy filing puts the lawsuits on hold for now. But ultimately the Boy Scouts could be forced to sell off some of their vast property holdings, including campgrounds and hiking trails, to raise money for a victims' fund that could top $1 billion.
- New Mexico state senators back tuition-free college plan
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Revisions to New Mexico's budget plan would dial back average teacher raises and set aside money for the governor's tuition-free college initiative. The Senate spending bill released Tuesday increases general fund spending by $536 million for the fiscal year that starts on July 1. Economists are anticipating a windfall linked mainly to oil production. The Senate's version of the budget increases spending on college scholarships by $32 million but slightly decreases teacher raises from the House's plan. The Senate plan is heading to a floor vote and then back to the House for consideration. A budget is due to the governor by Thursday.
- Effort to revamp utility regulation stalls in Senate
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A proposal that would reshape the administrative structure of a powerful regulatory panel that oversees New Mexico utilities and other businesses has stalled in a Senate committee, limiting any chance it could be revived before lawmakers adjourn Thursday. The legislation was backed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and some Democrats who are frustrated with the Public Regulation Commission's handling of a new renewable energy law. However, some Democrats and Republicans on the Senate panel voiced concerns Tuesday about infringing upon the separation of powers. Under the proposal, the independently elected commissioners would have to hire chiefs of staff from a list of candidates provided by the governor.