Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
The WNMU Board of Regents held their first meeting of the year in Santa Fe, where it heard from a number of state legislators, including Senator Howie Morales and Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez.
In sports action, the Western New Mexico Men’s basketball team fell against Texas A&M Commerce last night despite their second highest point tally of the season. The Lions earned a 112-79 Lone Star Conference victory over the Mustangs. WNMU plays again on Saturday at 4 pm Central Time against nationally ranked Tarleton State.
The Lady Mustangs also lost against Texas A&M Commerce by a score of 92-65 in Lone Star Conference play on Thursday night. The women’s team plays at Tarleton State Saturday at 2 pm Central Time.
In legislative action, the New Mexico Senate Public Affairs Committee on Tuesday voted 5-3 to approve Senate Bill 48 banning private firearms sales and transfers. The bill would criminalize nearly all private firearm sales between individuals unless they are conducted through a licensed dealer involving extensive federal paperwork, background check and payment of an undetermined fee.
SB259 was filed in the Senate in an effort to prohibit domestic violence offenders under certain protective orders from possessing or purchasing a firearm while under the order. According to the American Journal of Public Health, a woman is shot and killed every 16 hours by their intimate partner in the U.S. In New Mexico, men murder women at the sixth highest rate in the country –just below South Carolina and Alaska.
New Mexico`s neighbor to the north, Colorado, has seen a boom in revenues since legalizing marijuana in 2012. And, as Tom Trowbridge reports from the State Capital, a bill to legalize pot in New Mexico will be heard during a Saturday committee hearing to generate public response.
Gov. Susana Martinez on Thursday signed an $8.6 million bill to fund the legislative session and provide about 460 employees at the state Capitol with their paychecks this week.
