- LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Legislature approves collective bargaining updateSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's Democrat-led Legislature is haggling over annual spending priorities as a yearly 30-day session winds down. Lawmakers are racing to lock in significant policy initiatives on public safety, education funding, tobacco regulation, and incentives for infrastructure investments. The session marks a second consecutive year of unified Democratic control of the governor's office and both chambers in the Legislature. A sweeping overhaul of the state's collective bargaining laws was approved Wednesday by the Legislature that could reduce delays on petitions to unionize workplaces. The Legislature has until Thursday at noon to send an approved budget and other bills to Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
- PROPANE SCHOOL BUSES
New Mexico school districts unveil first propane busesMORIARTY, N.M. (AP) — Three New Mexico school districts will be rolling out the state's first propane-fueled buses in time for the upcoming school year. Districts that serve schools in Los Lunas, Magdalena and the Moriarty area have purchased propane buses as part of a partnership with the state Public Education Department. Officials say the 17 new buses will help cut costs since propane prices average 50% less than diesel and maintenance costs are expected to be less. The buses also will emit less pollution. Other school districts have expressed interest.
- PUBLIC HOUSING-GRANTS
New Mexico groups to get $9.4M in public housing grantsALBUQUERQUE, 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.
- CHILD ABUSE-ARREST
New Mexico man charged after death of 4-year-old boyALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque police have made an arrest in the death of a 4-year-old boy in New Mexico last year. Authorities say 26-year-old Zerrick Marquez was arrested Tuesday and charged with child abuse resulting in death. Police say Marquez was a friend of the boy's mother and was caring for James Dunklee before he died in December. Prosecutors have accused Marquez of beating the boy to death. Online court records don't list an attorney who could comment for Marquez.
- LOS ALAMOS LAB-CLEANUP
Community forum to focus on cleanup at Los Alamos labLOS 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.
- EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
New Mexico forms advisory panel on early childhood educationSANTA 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.
- WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico House opts to limit trafficking of wildlife partsSANTA 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.
- BOY SCOUTS-BANKRUPTCY
Boy Scouts seek bankruptcy, urge victims to step forwardThe 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.