Page 37 - Quick Reads News Today

The fence around the state Capitol is staying put — for now. But some Republicans are not happy with the decision, announced Wednesday by Legislative Council Service Director Raúl Burciaga. Burciaga, who is in charge of operations at the building, said he met Tuesday night with state police officials, plus Democratic and Republican legislative leaders, […]

meunierd/Shutterstock After another lengthy and contentious debate around, the Healthy Workplaces, HB 20, bill passed the House Judiciary Committee along party lines. With a vote of 7 to 4, the Healthy Workplaces bill will now move to the House . All of the Republicans in the committee opposed the bill and provided lengthy debate around it.  Members of the business community also spoke in opposition to the bill during public comment while workers stood in support, telling stories of going in t...

By Daniel J. Chacón, Santa Fe New Mexican | February 24, 2021 Legislation that supporters say would modernize wildlife management in New Mexico but opponents counter would hurt outfitters who operate on public lands has stalled on a tie vote in a Senate committee. “My district is parts of six counties — it is all rural — and I, in this case, I’m going to have to support my constituents,” Sen. Liz Stefanics, D-Cerrillos, told other members of the Senate Conservation Committee on Tue...

In politics, good fences make unhappy neighbors. Republicans in the Legislature, contending “the threat has not materialized” against the Roundhouse in the seven weeks since protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol, asked the Legislative Council on Tuesday to remove the layers of protective barriers around the facility. The council, an interim committee made up of legislators […]

pixabay The New Mexico Department of Health reported 237 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, along with 11 additional deaths related to the disease. DOH has now found 183,023 cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic and reported 3,635 deaths related to the disease. Of the confirmed cases, 134,105 are designated as recovered by the department.  As of Monday, DOH reported 247 people were hospitalized for COVID-19, five more than on Sunday. This could include those from other states who...

New research suggests there's often a mismatch between how you respond and what the other person wants to hear.

By Robert Nott, Santa Fe New Mexican | February 23, 2021 A bill that would provide tuition assistance for thousands of New Mexico students pursuing degrees at two-year colleges was brought back from the brink of death Monday and is now headed to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration. Senate Bill 135 appropriates $26 million from the general fund for the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship. The amount includes $4 million for a pilot program for students in the state who don’t qualify ...

A bill to increase the penalties for human trafficking and expand protections to victims of the crime advanced out of the House of Representatives Monday with a nearly unanimous vote. HB 56 passed 63 to 3 and now heads to the Senate. Sponsored by Rep. Georgene Louis, D-Albuquerque and of the Acoma Pueblo, the bill […]

By Dillon MullanSanta Fe New Mexican | February 22, 2021 pixabay The Senate Taxation, Business and Transportation Committee on Saturday endorsed a bill that would create new funding for New Mexico’s damaged highways and roads. Senate Bill 168 would increase the gasoline excise tax from 17 cents to 22 cents per gallon, and the extra contributions would raise over $63 million annually once fully phased in by 2025, mostly for the state road fund, according to a legislative analysis. The bill pa...

DOH reported 318 new COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths on Friday, following 411 new cases and 18 additional deaths on Thursday. DOH has now found 182,050 cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic and reported 3,599 deaths related to the disease. Of the confirmed cases, 128,299 are designated as recovered by DOH.  As […]