Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Western New Mexico University will celebrate 124 years with a special Founder’s Day Celebration next Friday. The day marks the university’s inception by the New Mexico State Legislature on February 11th, 1893. Originally known as the New Mexico Normal School WNMU received it’s current name in 1963 after being renamed several times over the course of over 100 years as a higher education institution.
In sports action, the Lady ‘Stangs basketball team lost 61-97 against UT Permian Basin in Lone Star Conference action yesterday. The women are 4-14 in the season and 0-11 in conference play. WNMU will play against West Texas A&M on Saturday beginning at 2pm.
The Mustangs also lost against the Falcons of UT Permian Basin 69-92 yesterday, despite a 22-point game for Sophomore Jordan Enriquez. The men’s basketball team is 2-16 in the season and 0-10 in Lone Star Conference play. They will play West Texas A&M on Saturday at 4 pm after the women’s game.
The US Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency today announced that USDA will accept over 300,000 acres in 43 states that were offered by producers during the recent ranking period for the Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands enrollment with emphasis placed on small-scale livestock operations. Approximately 200,000 of the accepted acres were offered by small-scale livestock operations.
In legislative action, the House State Government, Indian and Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HSIVC) passed two bills aimed at creating a more open and ethical government. House Bill 73, the “Revolving Door” bill, and House Joint Resolution 8, creating an Independent Ethics Commission both passed committee with strong bipartisan support bringing a more transparent state government one step closer to reality.
U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined 51 of their Senate and House colleagues in urging President Trump to exempt the entire Department of Veterans Affairs and all veterans seeking federal jobs from his executive order that freezes federal hiring. In a letter to the president, the lawmakers emphasized the devastating impacts that a hiring freeze would have on veterans and their families by delaying their access to health care and the resolution of their disability claims, and providing fewer jobs for veterans transitioning from military to civilian life.
Two Democratic lawmakers are pushing a proposal would allow terminally ill patients in New Mexico to end their lives with help from doctors. The bill would prevent New Mexico doctors from facing prosecution for helping terminally ill patients with their lives.
