Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
The New Mexico Department of Transportation is beginning work on the NM 90/Hudson Street Bridge Project. Currently, the project is in its initial stages with placement of traffic control devices within the work zone. The contractor is preparing for the demolition of the bridge, which is scheduled for the first week of April. Motorists will be required to utilize the detour along the Truck Bypass route. The NMDOT has made traffic control a priority throughout its stages in identifying a route, which was agreed upon by all governing offices as it would meet the requirements for types of vehicles traveling this route. The NMDOT will continue to hold monthly public construction meetings, of which the next is scheduled for April 8th at 6 pm.
A suicide prevention and self-confidence building presentation will take place at the on-campus Center For Gender Equity on Tuesday, March 24 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Pandora Scooter and her show I AM ENOUGH follows the story of Pan, who struggles with rejection from her parents and friends for being gay and different. I AM ENOUGH takes suicide head on, exploring and exposing the pain of those who struggle with suicide. The WNMU event is hosted by the Center For Gender Equity, located at 1211 N. Mississipi Street. The event is free and open to the public.
Gila National Forest officials say prescribed fires on the Quemado and Silver City Ranger Districts have been postponed until further notice due to recent precipitation across the forest. The prescribed fires delayed include the Slaughter Mesa project and the Bar Six project. Notice will be given when conditions allow fire managers to proceed with these projects.
In legislative action:
The Senate voted 28 to 10 to keep New Mexico on Daylight Saving Time as the legislative session starts to wind down. If the bill passes the House and is signed by Governor Susanna Martinez, it would require approval from the federal government. Then, New Mexico would be on Mountain Time from March through October, and Central Time during the winter.
A bill that would encourage the film industry to buy and hire locally has cleared the New Mexico Legislature. The measure was unanimously approved by the Senate last week. The House approved the measure Wednesday on a 51-2 vote. Under the proposal, tax credits would be adjusted to encourage production companies to hire New Mexico crew members, patronize local sound stages and sets and purchase goods and services from local vendors. The bill now goes to the governor.
A New Mexico Senate committee has approved a two-tier driver’s license bill, sending it on for a full Senate vote. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to approve the measure that calls for two distinct licenses, allowing people in the country illegally to still have driving privileges.
The New Mexico Senate passed SB 433 Thursday afternoon, which would ban the sale of e-cigarettes and nicotine liquid containers to minors. The bill also prohibits the use of the devices by minors and creates penalties for people who sell e-cigs and liquid to minors. The liquid containers will also be required to be sold in child-resistant packages, and would prohibit the online sale of the devices and liquid to minors.
