Here’s a look at today’s headlines:

A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for Southwest New Mexico for Sunday, March 7th.  The National Weather Service in El Paso advises that Sunday afternoon will consist of dry and windy conditions.  Warm afternoon temperatures and a lack of moisture will result in very low humidity values, and expected wind speeds could reach between 20 and 30 miles per hour.  Affected areas include the Gila and Apache National Forests, the Southwest Deserts and Lowlands, the South Central Lowlands and Southern Rio Grande Valley.

Due to a lack of quorum, the Southwestern County Commissioner Alliance meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday at The Depot in Deming has been cancelled.

 

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) just released their annual Innovation Scorecard and New Mexico ranked in the lowest of four tiers. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are ranked in 10 different categories to see which states fostered innovation and encouraged economic growth.  New Mexico earned a C or below in 8 of the 10 categories assessed. It was the lowest scoring state west of the Mississippi. Issues such as no right-to-work laws and dispelling Lyft from the state (Uber is still awaiting a New Mexico Supreme Court ruling) have contributed to low marks. Unless some drastic measure occurs, New Mexico will continue to come in last.

The Associated Press is reporting that New Mexico is allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections as long as they turn 18 by the date of general elections.  Governor Susana Martinez signed the measure into law on Wednesday.  The law is also designed to ensure that people who turn 18 just before the general election have time to get registered.  The law goes into effect immediately.

We have an update to our report yesterday that Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward had passed away.  According to a report made on KOAT news, the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office said they found her body in a car that swerved off the road around 9:30 am.  The Sheriff’s Office said Ward died from health issues that were not related to the car accident.