Page 22 - Report For News Today

Associated Press/Report For America LOUISVILLE, Ky. — During last summer’s reckoning over racial injustice, decades-long debates about whether to offer reparations to the descendants of slaves in the U.S. finally seemed to be gaining momentum. State lawmakers in California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Oregon — where Democrats control the legislatures — introduced or hoped to revive proposals to study the possibility. It turns out the wait for reparations will continue. The state ...

   By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press Consumer advocacy groups, environmentalists and the New Mexico attorney generals office are raising concerns about a proposed multibillion-dollar merger of the states largest electric utility with a U.S. subsidiary of global energy giant Iberdrola. The groups have filed testimony with state regulators ahead of hearings that begin next month. It will be up to the Public Regulation Commission to determine if the merger provides meaningful benefits to...

First Lady Jill Biden To Visit Albuquerque, Navajo Capitol - Associated Press First lady Jill Bidens office announced Saturday that she will visit the U.S. Southwest in the coming week, with stops planned in New Mexicos most populous city and the Navajo Nations capitol in Arizona. The announcement said Biden will travel to Albuquerque on Wednesday and visit Window Rock, Arizona, on Thursday and Friday. The announcement did not elaborate on the scheduled visit but said additional information wi...

New Mexico Health Secretary, Experts Push Vaccine Message - By Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press New Mexico Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins says the state has tapped into a network of community health providers, faith leaders and other local organizers to share information as officials look to boost the number of people who are vaccinated. Collins testified Thursday before a congressional subcommittee on the challenges of combating misinformation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and...

   By Morgan Lee, Associated Press New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Friday a $7.4 billion general fund spending plan for the coming fiscal year that boosts state funding for public education, early childhood services and more — while using her veto pen to assert sole authority over $1.6 billion in new federal pandemic relief funding. General fund spending will increase by 5% during the fiscal year that starts July 1, with more than one-third of the increase directed toward edu...

By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press New Mexico health officials on Wednesday reported more progress in getting residents vaccinated as the state continues to lead the U.S. in the vaccine rollout. State Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins said 50% of residents 16 and older have received their first shot and 31% are fully vaccinated. The latest figures come as other states look to expand distribution beyond health care workers and other priority groups to meet an April 19 deadline from the B...

New Mexico Eliminates Police Immunity From Prosecution - By Morgan Lee Associated Press Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed civil rights reforms Wednesday that eliminate police immunity from prosecution in state courts, in response to protests and concerns about police brutality that have swept the nation. Lujan Grisham signed the Democrat-sponsored bill amid the trial of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on murder charges in the May 25, 2020, death of George Floyd. Video of Floyd, losin...

By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press New Mexico health officials on Wednesday reported more progress in getting residents vaccinated as the state continues to lead the U.S. in the vaccine rollout. State Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins said 50% of residents 16 and older have received their first shot and 31% are fully vaccinated. The latest figures come as other states look to expand distribution beyond health care workers and other priority groups to meet an April 19 deadline from the B...

New Mexico Signs Family Tax Credit And 99 Other Bills - By Cedar Attanasio And Susan Montoya Associated Press / Report For America Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday signed into law a measure that supporters are billing as the most progressive shift in the states tax structure in years.  Its one of 100 bills the governor has signed so far this week ahead of a Friday deadline tied to the end of the legislative session that crafted them. Lujan Grisham has approved changes in healthcare, edu...

Expanded Vaccine Eligibility Begins In New Mexico - Associated Press  All New Mexicans age 16 or older who wish to be vaccinated against the coronavirus now have a chance to receive their shots, as Monday marked the start of expanded eligibility under the state Department of Healths distribution plan.  The timeline for getting more shots out to the general public was sped up under a directive by the Biden administration to make all adults in the U.S. eligible by May 1. State officials also s...