Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Four Lady Mustangs received All-RMAC Academic Honors as the Academic Teams were announced on Monday. Junior Kenzie Rinehart (Deming) landed on the First-Team, while three other Lady Mustangs including Junior Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque), Junior Tessa Jones (Truth or Consequences) and sophomore Lucy Benning (El Paso) were named to the honor roll as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Academic Teams.
A resolution put forward by Mayor Michael Morones to establish a day to honor the Territorial Charter of Silver City was approved by council. “It’s a phenomenal document,” Morones stated. “It allows us to regulate many things that most communities can’t, like taxes. We are unique.” Silver City’s Territorial Charter took effect on Feb. 15, 1878, according to Morones. He and District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison shared that when attending New Mexico League of Municipalities meetings, Silver City is always singled out because many state laws do not pertain to Grant County’s major city. Town Attorney Robert Scavron said that the Charter allows Silver City to run our own school system and to regulate gambling and unsafe activities, among other things.
Attorney General Hector Balderas issued a Scam Alert today in response to a recent uptick in reports of Craigslist apartment scams from consumers across New Mexico. This scam typically occurs when someone is looking for an apartment or house to rent on Craigslist. The “landlord” will not be available to show the property personally as they claim to be out of town, but they promise a great deal on the rent. Typically, the person posting the photo and ad does not own the property. The scammer will request deposit money to be sent to another state or country.
In legislative action: Time may be running out for an extension of New Mexico`s rooftop solar tax credit as legislators weigh whether to forgo $5 million in annual state revenues to encourage more generation of solar energy by households, farms and small businesses.
Over the past four years, voters in New Mexico’s three largest metro areas have taken to the polls to raise their cities’ minimum wages locally. But a new bill filed in the New Mexico Legislature would make it difficult for them to do so in the future.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Conrad James to allow adjunct instructors to teach in New Mexico’s classrooms passed the House Education Committee today by a vote of 7 to 5. The bill, HB 145, would allow professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree to teach part-time without having to go back to school and receive their teaching degree.
Today a bill sponsored by Rep. Paul Pacheco to reform New Mexico’s “three strikes” law passed the House Judiciary Committee on a 7-4 vote. House Bill 56 would help keep career criminals off the street by closing the criminal justice revolving door that allows dangerous criminals out of jail and free to harm New Mexico families.
Legislation to amend the New Mexico Hate Crimes Act to include law enforcement officers passed the House Safety and Civil Affairs Committee today by a vote of 4-3. The bill, HB 95, is sponsored by Reps. Nate Gentry and Paul Pacheco.
Bipartisan legislation to close New Mexico’s child pornography loophole passed the House Floor today on a 60-2 vote. The bill is sponsored by Representatives Sarah Maestas Barnes (R – Bernalillo), Randal Crowder (R – Curry) and Javier Martinez (D – Bernalillo).
Two bills to strengthen protections for New Mexico’s children passed the House of Representatives today. The bills, HB 68 and HB 69, are sponsored by Rep. Conrad James. HB 68 passed by a vote of 61-1 and HB 69 passed by a vote of 63-0.
The highly controversial issue of grading public schools on an A-F system based on student test scores was slated to be the primary topic of discussion during the Senate Education Committee (SEC) hearing at 8:30 this morning.
