- New Mexico seeks to boost health insurance subsidies
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is backing legislation that would expand subsidies to the state's health insurance exchange for residents who don't qualify for Medicaid. A first legislative hearing was scheduled for Wednesday on a bill that would substitute a state surtax on insurance premiums for a slightly smaller federal fee that expired late last year. Proceeds would be used to pay down premiums and other out-of-pocket costs for individuals and families that obtain insurance through state's exchange. State insurance regulators hope the measure might extend insurance coverage to 23,000 people who go without coverage.
- New Mexico fines store where employee died from COVID-19
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Workplace safety regulators are fining an auto parts store in southeastern New Mexico $243,000 amid accusations it allowed employees with coronavirus symptoms to continue working without properly screening them. The Environment Department announced the penalty Tuesday against O'Reilly Auto Parts in Lovington, where employees showing symptoms were allowed to work and ultimately tested positive for the virus. Three workers tested positive, including a 46-year-old woman who later died. A company representative had no immediate comment. Infection rates and daily deaths are tending downward in New Mexico. Testing at the state Capitol has identified one new infection as lawmakers grapple with pandemic safety.
- Navajo Nation reports 82 new COVID-19 cases, 12 more deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation health officials on Tuesday reported 82 new COVID-19 cases and 12 more deaths. The latest numbers raised the totals to 28,471 cases and 1,032 known deaths since the pandemic began. The tribe has tribe extended its stay-at-home order with a revised nightly curfew to limit the spread of COVID-19. The Navajo Department of Health has identified 56 communities with uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus, down from 75 communities in recent weeks. The Navajo Nation also is lifting weekend lockdowns to allow more vaccination events. The actions in the latest public health emergency order will run through at least Feb. 15. The Navajo Nation extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- Biden's pause on oil creates uncertainty for New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are voicing concerns about U.S. President Joe Biden's pause on oil, saying recent actions by the administration will undoubtedly have long-term implications for the state's financial outlook. Industry groups and state regulators testified Tuesday before a key Senate committee about potential production decreases and revenue losses. New Mexico already has seen a decrease in drilling rigs and decisions by developers to shift multimillion-dollar investments elsewhere. With oil and gas revenues accounting for a significant portion of New Mexico's budget, experts warned that lost revenue will have to be made up through either spending cuts or tax increases.
- New Mexico trapping ban clears first legislative hurdle
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Legislation to prohibit traps, snares and wildlife poisons from being used on public lands across New Mexico has cleared its first legislative hurdle. Environmentalists and animal advocacy groups testified on behalf of the measure during a Senate committee meeting Tuesday. They argued that New Mexico needs to join neighboring states and ban what they described as a cruel and outdated practice. Rural residents and wildlife conservation officers said trapping remains an important tool for managing wildlife and protecting livestock. They pointed to changes made last year to the state's trapping rules, saying lawmakers should give the rules a chance to work before imposing a sweeping ban.
- Ex-Navajo Nation president dies of coronavirus complications
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Albert Hale, who served as one of the first presidents of the Navajo Nation, died Tuesday. He was 70. Tribal officials say Hale died of complications from the coronavirus. Hale was Navajo Nation president shortly after the tribe restructured its government to create a balance of power in the early 1990s. He was key to that effort as a lawyer and also championed autonomy for Navajo communities or chapters. Hale later went on to serve in the Arizona Legislature for more than 10 years. His family says his contributions were immense and impacted many people's lives.
- New Mexico cannabis rules not backed by evidence, judge says
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico district judge has ruled directives written by the state Department of Health for oversight of a medical cannabis program were not supported by evidence. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported District Judge Bryan Biedscheid issued an order repealing the regulations and ordering they must be rewritten. The order says the department did not appear to have followed statute by consulting with the state Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, while medical cannabis testing rules were not supported by evidence. The order was in response to a complaint by New Mexico Top Organics-Ultra Health, the state's largest medical cannabis producer.
- New Mexico legislators seek policing, cannabis reforms
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico state Senate is wading into ambitious reform proposals that would rein in the use of deadly force by police, expand cannabis sales, provide free college tuition and criminalize threats against public officials. More than 150 bills were introduced as the state Senate on Monday held a rare floor session amid the pandemic and a spate of virus infections at the Capitol. They included a bill from Democratic state Sen. Linda Lopez of Albuquerque that would establish statewide standards for the use of force by police officers and require training on so-called de-escalation tactics.