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Associated Press, Andres Leighton By Morgan Lee Associated Press Efforts among a handful of states to hold police accountable for brutality and misconduct are expanding Thursday as New Mexico opens the door to civil rights lawsuits against government agencies in state court. The New Mexico Civil Rights Act removes immunity provisions that shield government agencies from financial liability related to misconduct, though individual officials won t pay for damages. As the law takes effect, local police agencies are bracing for an onslaught of lawsuits that can carry liability awards of up to $2 million per event. At least one county sheriff s department has been declined private insurance coverage highlighting concerns about potential payouts. ....
WED: Horse Owners Say New Mexico Regulators Violated Civil Rights, + More kunm.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kunm.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Associated Press New Mexico is now administering the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 to children ages 12 to 15, as state health officials pushed Thursday for more people to get vaccinated. The move by the state Health Department follows authorizations this week by the federal Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state is encouraging families to register children on its vaccine website. The expanded availability applies only to the Pfizer vaccine, which until now was only available to people ages 16 and older. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for people 18 and older. State officials say more than half of eligible residents are now considered fully vaccinated. ....
New Mexico Auditor Colón To Run For State Attorney General - By Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colón announced his candidacy Thursday for the office of state attorney general. The Democrat wants to follow in the footsteps of former law firm colleague and friend Hector Balderas, who is wrapping up his second term as New Mexico s top prosecutor and consumer advocate. Balderas also served as state auditor before being elected attorney general. Colón, 51, is the first person to enter the race for an open seat that has been dominated by Democrats for the better part of a century. Republicans have held the office only three times in the state s nearly 110-year history. ....
By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press Consumer advocacy groups, environmentalists and the New Mexico attorney general s office are raising concerns about a proposed multibillion-dollar merger of the state s 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 Public Service Co. of New Mexico customers and if it would be in the public interest. Some groups say PNM shareholders will benefit from the proposed transaction and that it could end up stifling competition for renewable energy development in New Mexico. ....