- LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: Governor wants to revive marijuana proposalsSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants marijuana legalization back on agenda for the next legislative session.
Lujan Grisham said Saturday that next year's limited 30-day legislative session will include marijuana reform proposals. This year's session ended Saturday at noon.
The first-term Democrat complimented sponsors of a failed bipartisan bill this year that would have legalized marijuana sales at state-operated stores and subsidized medical cannabis for poor patients. The House-approved bill stalled without a Senate vote.
Lujan Grisham says legalization is possible with sufficient precautions to prevent child use and impaired driving.
In New Mexico, the governor decides what major policy issues are heard during abbreviated legislative sessions in even-numbered years.
- TORNADO DAMAGE-NEW MEXICO
Survey: New Mexico tornado traveled path about 15 miles longDEXTER, N.M. (AP) — The National Weather Service says a tornado that destroyed or damaged numerous homes and other structures in the southern New Mexico community of Dexter traveled a path about 15 miles (24 kilometers) long and 150-350 yards (137-319 meters) wide.
The weather service's damage survey said the twister Tuesday night had estimated peak winds of 111-135 mph (179-217 kph), rating it in one of two "strong" categories in the middle of a six-point scale.
The survey said six people suffered minor injuries as the twister destroyed or substantially damaged six homes and caused lesser damage to an additional dozen structures.
The survey said the twister dissipated about a half-mile (0.8 kilometer) from Dexter after touching down 15 minutes earlier about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away from the Chaves County community.
- ROCKIES BLIZZARD
Colorado wastewater plant back up after outageDENVER (AP) — A plant that treats wastewater draining from the Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado has resumed operating after being shut down by a winter storm that struck the area this past week.
The New Mexico Environment Department announced Saturday afternoon that it received word from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that the facility was back up and running.
The EPA says fluctuating electricity stopped the plant Thursday night.
The plant was installed after the EPA inadvertently triggered a wastewater spill from the Gold King in 2015, contaminating rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
- INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Legislature approves Indigenous People's Day billSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A proposal to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day has won final approval in the New Mexico Legislature.
The Senate voted on the bill after a lengthy floor debate Friday, sending it to the governor.
Numerous cities nationwide, including Albuquerque, have moved to shift the October holiday's focus away from honoring Christopher Columbus by passing resolutions and measures that instead call for celebrating indigenous cultures.
But only a small handful of states so far have removed Columbus Day from their calendars and replaced it with Indigenous People's Day.
Sponsors of the bill include Rep. Derrick Lente, of Sandia Pueblo, who said during this year's legislative session that Columbus' expeditions of the Americas five centuries ago had resulted in a violent legacy.
New Mexico is home to 23 tribes.
- SANTA FE SCHOOLS-SNOW DAYS
Santa Fe schools use up all allotted snow days(Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.santafenewmexican.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Santa Fe's public schools have used up the current school year's allotted four snow days, and officials say that creates the possibility that another weather-related closure could force the erasure of a holiday in April or the addition of a school day.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that weather-related issues resulted in classes being canceled on Nov. 12, Jan. 18, Wednesday and Thursday.
Officials say an analysis will determine how much breathing room remains.
New Mexico requires students in first through sixth grades to have 5½ hours a day, or 990 hours a year, of school-directed programs, not including lunch. For students in grades seven through 12, the law requires six hours per day, or 1,080 hours per year.
Each total adds up to 180 full school days.
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- LEGISLATURE-NEW MEXICO-THE LATEST
The Latest: New Mexico House OKs ethics commission billSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico House of Representatives has approved a revamped proposal that would create a new ethics commission after intense negotiations with the Senate.
House lawmakers voted 66-0 late Friday to move a compromise bill that gives a judge subpoena powers and allows claims to be public after 30 days if probable cause is determined.
In November 2018 elections, voters across the state approved a constitutional amendment to create the seven-member commission in the wake of a series of high-profile corruption scandals.
House lawmakers approved a bill earlier this session but it faced fierce opposition in the Senate. Sen. Linda Lopez, an Albuquerque Democrat, particularly drew strong criticism from advocates for wanting the ethics commission to operate in secret.
The proposal now goes back to the Senate.
- NAVAJO NATION-MISSING GIRL-THE LATEST
The Latest: Navajo authorities have yet to find 3-year-oldANETH, Utah (AP) — Navajo Nation authorities say they have yet to find a missing 3-year-old girl who reportedly wandered away from her home in southeastern Utah.
Navajo police say officers searched for Andanndine Jones until nightfall Friday without locating her. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office, Montezuma Creek Fire and Rescue and volunteers have helped in the search effort that began Thursday afternoon following the girl's disappearance.
The search for her is expected to resume Saturday morning.
In a statement Friday evening, a police spokeswoman said the search has been focused on an area along the bank of a creek.
A Navajo Nation Council spokesman says dogs had been observed barking there.
He says the location is several miles from where the creek feeds into the San Juan River.
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