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Latest New Mexico news, sports, business and entertainment at 3:20 p.m. MST

  • GOVERNOR'S AGENDA-NEW MEXICO

New Mexico governor announces ambitious legislative agendaSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced an ambitious policy agenda ahead of a 30-day legislative session. Lujan Grisham says she'll consider bills to reinstate New Mexico's tax credit for rooftop solar panels, to facilitate pharmaceutical imports and to criminalize terrorist threats and conduct. She confirmed her support for legislative efforts to provide tuition-free college to about 55,000 New Mexico residents, shore up a major public pension fund, authorize recreational marijuana sales and adopt so-called red flag gun legislation that sets up procedures for temporary firearms seizures. 

  • KIDS COUNT-NEW MEXICO

Report: New Mexico back to 49th in nation in child povertyALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A child-advocacy group says New Mexico's child poverty rate rose slightly and continues to rank near the bottom nationally. New Mexico Voices for Children released Wednesday the 2019 New Mexico Kids Count Data Book that found 26% of the state's children in 2018 remained at or below the federal poverty line. That places the state back to 49th nationally in child poverty. A similar study last year showed New Mexico ranked 48th. The report found 30% of the state's Hispanic children were living in poverty, as were 41% of New Mexico's Native American children. 

  • NATIONAL SECURITY-TECH RACE

Lab director: Innovation key for peace, national securityALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The new head of the United States' largest federal laboratory says there are many global threats and the nation needs to stay ahead when it comes to a "race for innovation." James Peery recently took over Sandia National Laboratories, becoming the 16th director to oversee the lab in its 70-year history. Peery said one of his passions has been finding ways to accelerate innovation and that focus will continue at the lab. With campuses in New Mexico and California, Sandia works on everything from national security and nanotechnology to renewable energy.

  • JAIL VISITS BY VIDEO

New Mexico jail bans on-site visits, offers video chatsFARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico jail is no longer allowing family and friends to speak to detainees on site and will offer only off-site phone or online video chats. The Farmington Daily Times reports the San Juan County Adult Detention Center made the announcement this month. The county says the change will reduce the travel burden for families. But the Massachusetts-based nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative says hundreds of jails and prisons across the United States have moved away from in-person visits. The group and Face to Face Knox found that ending in-person visitation at the Knox County Jail in Knoxville, Tennessee, made the jail more dangerous.

  • STATE SENATOR-DRUNKEN DRIVING

New Mexico senator serves DWI sentence, released from jailSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A county jail has released New Mexico state Sen. Richard Martinez after he served his four-day sentence for aggravated drunken driving. Court records show the Democratic senator was booked into the Santa Fe County jail Friday and was released Tuesday. Martinez was sentenced earlier this month to five days in jail, but received one-day credit for time served after his arrest. Martinez also received 85 days of supervised probation, is required to attend DWI school and must have an ignition interlock device installed in his vehicle. Martinez has stepped down from Senate leadership roles after his conviction, but has refused to step down from his seat.

  • NUKE REPOSITORY-LARGE SHIPMENT

US nuclear waste dump takes in first large shipment in yearsCARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. government's only underground nuclear waste repository has taken in its first large shipment in six years, following a process that involved recertification and retraining of workers. The shipment using a special large cask came from the Savannah River Site in South Carolina and included contaminated glove boxes and other large-scale analytical equipment. Officials say the large casks are 14 feet long and weigh about 50,000 pounds. That's more than double the weight of the containers that typically are used to ship waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in southeastern New Mexico.

  • TROUBLED ESPANOLA SCHOOLS

Superintendent of troubled Espanola schools steps downESPAÑOLA, N.M. (AP) — A superintendent of a troubled New Mexico school district plagued by a teacher shortage is stepping down. Española Public Schools superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez announced this week she will not seek an extension of her contract that expires on June 30. parents and students at Española Valley High School are complaining about an online program many freshmen failed this past semester. The Rio Grande Sun reports a high number of teacher vacancies and lack of substitutes have forced some Española Valley High School to spend class time in the cafeteria taking online classes.

  • METHANE FIGHT-NEW MEXICO

New Mexico puts oil and gas firms on notice due to methaneSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico environmental officials say special infrared cameras have turned up potential emissions violations by several oil and gas operators. The Environment Department has conducted flyover inspections using the cameras. That footage along with other images gathered by citizens are included on the department's online interactive methane map. In response, the agency has sent written notices to the companies asking for an explanation about the emissions and requesting corrections be made. If the companies don't respond, the state says it may launch an investigation or assess civil penalties.