Here’s a look at today’s headlines:

According to CEO Brian Cunningham, “On March 2nd, GRMC will open a Family Practice Partnership.  This will support our physicians and our community.”  GRMC already operates practices in psychology, cardiology, pain management, and surgery.  Adding the Family Practice will provide residents with more quality health care options.

In legislative action:

An Albuquerque State Senator introduced a bill that seeks to save taxpayers money while at the same time encouraging family bonding and supporting the needs of newborns.  The measures seeks to maximize the health and bonding benefits for children of incarcerated women.  The Senate Public Affairs Committee last week approved a substitute for the bill that now moves on to the Senate Judiciary panel.

The New Mexico House of Representatives has approved a $6.2 billion spending proposal for the next fiscal year that includes pay raises for new teachers and state police officers.  The House voted 42-25 Tuesday after three hours of debate. Five Democrats sided with 37 Republicans in the majority. The bill now moves to the Senate.  While most department budgets remain largely flat, the bill boosts spending for education, the state’s child welfare agency and tourism.  The amount of spending in the bill is nearly the same as that outlined by Gov. Susana Martinez and the Legislative Finance Committee earlier this year.

Today, during a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s fiscal year 2016 budget request, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) advocated for the continuation of forest restoration projects at the Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico to help reduce the risk of catastrophic fire.  Senator Heinrich joined Senator Tom Udall in championing legislation that was signed into law last year to transfer the management of the Valles Caldera National Preserve from the current Board of Trustees to the National Park Service to increase public access. The proposal was developed after extensive input from local residents, sportsmen, veterans organizations, business owners, and elected officials.