Here’s a look at today’s headlines:

The Silver City Police Department and Silver City Fire Department will launch a pilot program starting February 28th, in which the two departments will have personnel on hand to direct traffic at the intersection of 32nd Street and Silver Street before and after school.  The officers will be present in the morning from 7:45 to 8:30 and in the afternoon from 2:45 to 3:45 to help with pedestrian safety and improve the flow of traffic.  Drivers are asked to please pay attention to the officer directing traffic for your safety and that of those around you.

New Mexico State Police were dispatched to mile marker 46 on I-10 yesterday morning in reference to a fatal motor vehicle crash.  The preliminary investigation revealed the vehicle was fleeing from Border Patrol Agents when it struck a road sign, entered the median, and overturned several times, ejecting the passengers.  Two of the three occupants sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene, and the third was airlifted to an El Paso hospital.

In sports news, the WNMU Mustang Basketball team lost 74-61 against Texas A&M Kingsville last night in Lone Star Conference Action.  The Mustangs will close out the season on Saturday beginning at 4 pm against Angelo State.

The Lady Mustangs picked up their first Lone Star Conference victory against Texas A&M Kingsville last night with a score of 75-67.  The Lady Mustangs also close the season on Saturday at 2 pm against Angelo State.

In legislative action, The House of Representatives passed a new revenue package and a budget for fiscal year 2018.  The two bills are believed to allow New Mexico to have a balanced budget and raise cash reserves to 3.2%.

House Bill 442 passed the House Labor and Economic Development Committee.  The legislation would raise the state’s minimum wage of $7.50 per hour to $9.25 per hour, increasing the minimum wage of full-time workers by over $3,000 per year. HB 442 would also increase the minimum wage for tipped employees from $2.13 an hour to 40 percent of the new statewide minimum wage.

The House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 190, a bill to require all public school employees to have a background check on file, regardless of the date of hire.  HB190 now moves to the Senate for consideration.