Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Gila Regional Medical Center recently received an “A” grade from Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
Border Patrol Agents stationed in Deming arrested five suspected smugglers in Columbus over the weekend and seized more than $312,000 in marijuana. Agents received an anonymous call about suspicious activity in an unoccupied residence and, as they approached the home, they noticed an unusual number of footprints headed toward the abandoned building. In a shed near the home, Agents found 295.8 pounds of marijuana, valued over $236,000. On Monday, mounted Agents came upon two burlap backpacks in the Cedar Mountains filled with another 94 pounds, valued at over $75,000.
Attorney General Hector Balderas issued a Scam Alert concerning a dangerous phishing scam targeting schools and employers in New Mexico in an attempt to illegally obtain W2s. The scammers email from addresses that end in “.ru” but show up as the name of someone working in the school district or business in an attempt to trick staff into sending confidential tax information belonging to employees. This scam has already hit four different school districts in New Mexico
In legislative action, a senator from Albuquerque is sponsoring a bill to und workforce and professional development programs to increase the quality of early education for children from birth to age 5. Funds appropriated by HB 135 provide early educators with scholarships and incentive wage supplements.
Yesterday, Governor Susana Martinez signed three pieces of legislation: Senate Bill 113 to Reduce Appropriations and Transfer Funds, Senate Bill 144 for School District Cash Balances, and House Bill 4 to Revert Balances of Certain Funds.
One State Representative is introducing a bill to protect skydiving companies from lawsuits. The bill would require skydivers to sign a warning that they understand the inherent risks of jumping out of an airplane to limit potential injury lawsuits. The bill would also protect the skydiver by requiring drop-zone carriers to have at least $100,000 in insurance. Other industries, like horseback riding and skiing, have similar laws. Skydivers would still be able to sue companies if their negligence leads to an injury or death.
New Mexico is just one of eight states that does not have a panel overseeing ethics concerns in state government, but there is an effort underway to change that. The proposed State Ethics Commission would be able to investigate and initiate a range of ethical complaints.
