By Bryce Dix, KUNM The fire insurance industry faces mounting financial risks as New Mexico experiences more frequent and intense heat waves – triggering massive wildfires. On Tuesday, lawmakers on the Senate Conservation Committee unanimously advanced a bill that takes aim at skyrocketing premiums or policy cancellations by proactivelyplanning for future fires. Overall, large swaths […]
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Posted inSandoval County
Sandoval County Commission Roundup
By Jesse Jones With the county landfill set to close in 2036 and a new site underway, Sandoval County commissioners decided at the Jan. 29 meeting to issue separate requests for proposals (RFP) for management consultation and operations rather than bundling the contracts. “I feel like I stumbled into a State Farm commercial for some […]
Posted inEducation, New Mexico Statewide News
Judge rules 180-day school year invalid
By Nicole Maxwell A New Mexico district court judge ruled the Public Education Department’s mandate that schools must adhere to a 180-day school year is invalid. Fifth Judicial District Judge Dustin Hunter ruled Monday that the PED’s 180-day minimum school year conflicted with preceding statutes that repealed the 180-day school year in favor of a […]
Posted inEducation, New Mexico Statewide News
Judge rules 180-day school year invalid
By Nicole Maxwell A New Mexico district court judge ruled the Public Education Department’s mandate that schools must adhere to a 180-day school year is invalid. Fifth Judicial District Judge Dustin Hunter ruled Monday that the PED’s 180-day minimum school year conflicted with preceding statutes that repealed the 180-day school year in favor of a […]
Posted inCommentary, Corrales, rio-rancho, Sandoval County
Commentary: Lawmaker’s Proposal Would Chip Away at Public-Records Access
This commentary was submitted by Heath Haussamen, and was originally published at haussamen.com. Disclosure: State Rep. Sarah Silva, D-Las Cruces, who is mentioned in this column, is my spouse. Here’s a good way to alienate the people our government is supposed to serve: Call them bothersome, or even malicious, and cut off their access to information […]
Posted inEstancia, Torrance County, Uncategorized
Bill Aims to Stop Libraries from Banning Books Based on Politics, Ideology
By Nicole Maxwell A bill aimed at protecting public libraries from politically charged book ban attempts is making its way through the Roundhouse. HB 27, the Librarian Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Cates, D-Rio Rancho, seeks to prohibit public libraries from getting state funding unless they adopt a policy prohibiting the removal of books […]
Posted inEstancia, Torrance County, Uncategorized
Bill Seeks Funding for Economic Development in the Lower Estancia Valley
By Hannah Grover State legislators are seeking funds for state officials to contract with an entity that can help promote economic development in the Lower Estancia Valley. SB 183 would provide $100,000 to the Economic Development Department to contract with an economic development organization in the region. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Liz Stefanics, […]
Posted inCorrales, Placitas, Sandoval County
Sandoval County Wildfire Plan Aims to Build Resilient Communities
By Jesse Jones Fire ecologist and watershed scientist Cody Stropki of SWCA Environmental Consultants, the County’s consultant and lead planner, presented an update on Sandoval County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan to the Sandoval County Commission at its Jan. 26 board meeting. Stropki said the plan is a community-driven project that will assess wildfire risks in […]
Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News, Sandoval County
Heinrich Takes a Prominent Position on Pushback Against Trump Actions
By Matthew Reichbach Note: This was written before Trump imposed tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China. New Mexico’s delegation spent last week hammering Donald Trump over his attempt to freeze all federal founding grants. The misfire, which was blocked by federal judges and then rescinded by the White House, was the first of […]
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City Council OKs $30 million bond for soccer stadium
The Albuquerque City Council on Monday night approved a $30 million industrial revenue bond (IRB) for a professional soccer stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park. Yes: Joaquín Baca, Dan Champine, Tammy Fiebelkorn, Renée Grout, Dan Lewis, Klarissa Peña, Nichole Rogers, Louie Sanchez No: Brook Bassan Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn asked Christopher Chavez, a manager with the Economic […]