New Mexico Allows More People In Businesses In Cold Weather –
Associated Press
New Mexico officials are amending the state s public health order on the coronavirus to allow more people inside grocery stores and other essential businesses.
The governor s office made the announcement Wednesday, citing the recent frigid temperatures as a reason for the slight increase in capacity levels.
Waiting lines have been forming outside grocery stores and other retailers since Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered capacity to be limited at establishments around the state as a way to curb the spread of COVID-19.
She has said the tough measures have helped to reduce new infections. However, deaths and hospitalizations related to the pandemic remain high.
New Mexico State University chancellor named to Biden-Harris transition team
NMSU/Andres Leighton
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico New Mexico State University Chancellor Dan Arvizu has been chosen as part of the transition team for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Arvizu was approached to help the U.S. Department of Energy in the upcoming transition from the outgoing Trump administration to the Biden administration, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported. He is also expected to review the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
“Please know this is strictly a volunteer position and not associated with my employment here at NMSU. I am doing this work on my own time,” Arvizu said in his most recent university system-wide email, Dan s Dispatch.
By Cedar Attanasio Associated Press / Report For America
Lawyers representing Native American students say New Mexico is violating a 2018 court order in a landmark education case as attempts to boost internet access and provide learning devices are falling short.
The case covers 80% of the state s students, including Native Americans and those who are low-income or disabled.
Lawyers representing the students say educational opportunities would not have been as inadequate had the state complied with the court order and ensured access to technology for all students.
In a motion filed Tuesday, they asked a court to compel the state to provide laptops and internet to students who still lack them.
Google Looks to Batteries as Replacement for Diesel Generators
The blinking lights of racks of Google servers glow in a darkened data hall in St. Ghislain, Belgium. (Image: Google)
Google will use large batteries to replace the diesel generators at one of its data centers in Belgium, describing the project as a first step towards using cleaner technologies to provide backup power for its millions of servers around the world.
“Our project in Belgium is a first step that we hope will lay the groundwork for a big vision: a world in which backup systems at data centers go from climate change problems to critical components in carbon-free energy systems,” said Joe Kava, Vice President for Data Centers at Google. “We’re aiming to demonstrate that a better, cleaner solution has advanced far enough to keep the internet up and running.”
New Mexico Department of Health
Top New Mexico Health Official Hopeful About Vaccine Rollout
- By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
The new state health chief says the arrival of vaccines in New Mexico marks a turning point and she s hopeful for a brighter day as people get vaccinated over the coming months.
Still, health Secretary Tracie Collins said Tuesday that while vaccination will prevent COVID-19 infection, there is more that needs to be learned about how effective inoculations will be in stemming transmission of the virus.
She says that means residents still need to wear masks, maintain social distancing, wash their hands often and keep up with other COVID-safe practices.