LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press / WASHINGTON (AP) A quarter-century ago, the Justice Department had few meaningful relationships with Native American tribes. While the federal government worked with state and local police and courts, tribal justice systems did not have the same level of recognition, said Tracy Toulou, who oversaw the department’s Office of Tribal Justice […]
New Mexico Statewide News
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, New Mexico Statewide News, State Government #nmgov, Syndicated
Lengthy to-do list before NMFA begins approving $125 million in new housing loans
Patrick Lohmann/Source New Mexico The head of the state’s finance authority tasked with doling out a windfall of housing loans said the authority is on track to OK loans in the fall — so long as what she called the “timeline gods” are merciful. In the legislative session that wrapped up in February, lawmakers approved […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Statewide News
Gun supervisor for ‘Rust’ movie to be sentenced for fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin on set
By MORGAN LEE Associated Press | SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A movie weapons supervisor is facing up to 18 months in prison for the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western film “Rust,” with her sentencing scheduled for Monday in a New Mexico state court. Movie armorer […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News
Oil and gas companies must pay more to drill on federal lands under new Biden administration rule
By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Oil and gas companies will have to pay more to drill on federal lands and satisfy stronger requirements to clean up old or abandoned wells under a final rule issued Friday by the Biden administration. The Interior Department’s rule raises royalty rates for oil drilling by more […]
Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News
Studies Find ‘Forever’ Chemicals in Rio Grande
By TIERNA UNRUH-ENOS Two statewide studies released findings that PFAS — which stands for poly-fluoroalkyl substances — chemicals have been detected in groundwater and surface water resources across New Mexico. The study, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) found urban areas — like Albuquerque — are the most […]
Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News
Councilor Sworn In and Water Rate Hike Approved
Monday’s meeting of the Bernalillo Town Council kicked off with a swearing-in ceremony for one incumbent councilor even as the official outcome of the race for another council seat remains unconfirmed. The council meeting began with Judge George P. Eichwald of the 13th Judicial District Court swearing in Councilwoman Sharon Torres-Quintana with her husband Paul […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News
Senator co-sponsors legislation to protect NM communities from “forever chemicals”
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich announced today that he has co-sponsored new legislation called the Healthy H2O Act to protect New Mexico communities from dangerous contaminants like PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” This directly follows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s announcement of the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard that will reduce Americans’ […]
Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News, Syndicated
A year later, Southern N.M. still waiting on location for state reproductive health clinic
Leah Romero/Source New Mexico Little progress has been made with the $10 million New Mexico lawmakers secured in 2023 to fund a reproductive health clinic in Doña Ana County. As the money sits mostly untouched in an account at the University of New Mexico, the project’s principal fiscal agent, the statewide interest groups insist the […]
Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News
Arizona’s abortion ban likely to cause a scramble for services in states like New Mexico
By LAURA UNGAR and DEVI SHASTRI Associated Press Adrienne Mansanares expects a flurry of calls from patients in Arizona starting this week. She’s the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, which has clinics that provide abortions in Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. Mansanares said the clinics should be able to accommodate […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News, Syndicated
U.S. Senate spending panel calls for extending pay boost for Forest Service firefighters
JACOB FISCHLER /Source New Mexico Members of a U.S. Senate Appropriations subcommittee said at a hearing Wednesday they were focused on keeping pay for wildland firefighters at the higher level set in a 2021 law and urged Forest Service Chief Randy Moore to focus on ways to maintain a healthy timber industry. Senate Interior-Environment Subcommittee Chair […]