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Headlines: Regulating Tattoo Artists, Student Testing Walkouts...

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Senate Passes Bill To Create State Board For Tattoo Artists - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican

Legislation that would create a state board to regulate New Mexico tattoo and piercing artists has received overwhelming approval from the Senate.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the Senate voted Friday 39-1 in favor of the bill that proposes a five-member Board of Body Art Practitioners.

Businesses that specialize in tattoos, piercings and other body art currently report to the same board that regulates barbers and cosmetologists.

Democratic Sen. Jacob Candelaria, who is sponsoring the legislation, says the number of needle purchases and expired licenses indicate there could be 200 people illegally running tattoo or piercing businesses.

Republican Sen. Lee Cotter, of Las Cruces, was the sole person to vote against it.

Cotter says he questions the idea of establishing another state board.

New Mexico Students Walk Out Over New Tests Contested In USThe Associated Press

Students frustrated over a new standardized test are walking out of schools around New Mexico in protest.

A few hundred students at Albuquerque High School defied warnings from administrators that they would not graduate and could face discipline. They walked out Monday morning, carrying signs and chanting as supporters honked their horns.

The backlash comes as millions of U.S. students start taking new, more rigorous exams aligned with Common Core standards.

In New Mexico, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC tests, started Monday.

PARCC tests have generated controversy across the country, with many parents and students opting out of the exams. Others are lobbying lawmakers and education officials for change.

New Mexico Education Secretary Hanna Skandera has defended the exams.

NM Senate OKs Bill To Allow Hemp Farming For Research - The Associated Press

The New Mexico Senate has given a thumbs up to allowing farmers in the state to grow industrial hemp for research only.

The Senate voted 33-8 Monday to approve Albuquerque Democrat Sen. Cisco McSorley's legislation.

The federal government currently allows growing hemp for research while a bill pending in Congress, if passed, would approve cultivation for commercial production as well.

McSorley says the state will be poised to capitalize on hemp as a cash crop once federal restrictions are lifted.

His proposal would establish fees and set up regulations for the processing of hemp for research and development, not for sale.

Hemp has a negligible content of THC, the psychoactive compound that gives marijuana users a high. Many products made from hemp, such as oils and clothing, are legal.

NM House Leader Expresses Concern Over Senate Inaction - The Associated Press

New Mexico House Majority Leader Nate Gentry is concerned that bills passed by his chamber are being left to languish in the Senate.

Gentry wrote to Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez on Monday asking that the House bills be given a prompt committee referral since the legislative session is in its final stretch. It wraps up March 21.

Republicans took control of the House for the first time in decades, but Democrats still have an edge in the Senate. That has made for a session where gridlock and showdowns on contentious bills have become the norm.

In his letter, Gentry mentions bills that would end social promotion for third-graders who aren't proficient readers and repeal driver's licenses for those in the country illegally.

Judge Postpones Hearing In Albuquerque Police Shooting CaseThe Associated Press

A court date to decide whether District Attorney Kari Brandenburg should be taken off a high-profile police shooting case has been postponed.

District Judge Alisa Hadfield rescheduled the hearing for March 12 after an attorney for the former detective charged in the case said he needed more time to discuss a court filing.

Lawyers for Albuquerque SWAT team member Dominique Perez and former detective Keith Sandy are seeking to remove Brandenburg from the case due to a conflict of interest.

The lawyers say that bribery allegations made by Albuquerque police against Brandenburg tainted her efforts to proceed without the appearance of bias.

Brandenburg has called the arguments "absurd."

Brandenburg drew national attention in January for seeking murder charges against Perez and Sandy for the shooting death of a homeless man.

Judge: NM Governor's Calendars Aren't Public Record - The Associated Press

A state district judge has sided with Gov. Susana Martinez on whether her calendars are considered public information.

Judge Sarah Singleton ruled last week that the calendars kept by Martinez don't meet the definition of public records in state law and don't have to be released by the governor's office.

The ruling came in an ongoing lawsuit filed by The Santa Fe Reporter, a weekly newspaper that sought access to calendars that included political, personal and other entries not on the governor's list of public events.

Attorneys for the Reporter say the public has a right to know how the governor spends her time during normal work hours.

Martinez's attorneys argued the calendars aren't public records because they are maintained by Martinez and not a government agency.

New Mexico House Panel Tables Horse Slaughter Bill - The Associated Press

A panel of House lawmakers has tabled a measure that would prohibit the slaughter of horses and the transportation of horse meat in New Mexico if it's intended for human consumption.

The House Agriculture, Water and Wildlife Committee took up the measure Monday along with a proposal that called for adding horses to the state's animal cruelty law. That was also tabled.

The sponsor, Democratic Rep. Gail Chasey of Albuquerque, told the committee there are ways other than slaughter to address horse overpopulation. She pointed to limiting breeding and expanding shelters.

Opponents argued it's cruel to leave starving horses on the landscape and banning slaughter would lead to enforcement challenges for state livestock officials.

Congress effectively put the brakes on horse slaughter in December by not including money for federal inspectors in a $1.1 trillion spending bill.

Santa Fe Schools Superintendent To Stay In Position - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican

The head of Santa Fe Public Schools is staying put.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Joel Boyd has withdrawn his candidacy for the superintendent position in Fort Worth, Texas.

Boyd says his decision was shaped by an "outpouring of support" from the community and district employees.

Boyd said Saturday that he is committed to his contract, which ends in summer 2017.

The Santa Fe school board had spent the last three weeks discussing a replacement as well as ways to possibly keep him in the role.

The Fort Worth school board had to wait 21 days before offering Boyd the job under state law.

Fort Worth school board officials say they regret that Boyd is not accepting the job.

Boyd was hired in Santa Fe in 2012.

New Mexico Residents Emerge From Snowy Standstill - The Associated Press

The city of Albuquerque is back up and running after being inundated with snow for the past few days.

The National Weather Service says snow had started melting Sunday morning with the arrival of warmer temperatures.

Meteorologists say the city received more than 4 inches on Saturday, but about 10 inches in the last two days.

A series of storms forced schools to shut down, city services to be suspended and the grounding of air traffic.

Albuquerque International Sunport officials say all runways for commercial traffic are clear and the airport is operating regularly.

The state Department of Transportation says some roads across the state are still packed with snow and icy.

Legislative Committee Approves New Mexico Gambling Compact - The Associated Press

A New Mexico legislative committee has thrown its support behind a proposed new gambling compact between the state and Native American tribes.

The compact committee voted 15-1 in favor of the proposal Saturday after hearing several hours of public testimony.

The revamped gambling compact would let tribal casinos stay open around the clock and offer complimentary food and lodging.

The committee also voted against six amendments. The proposed agreement now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Lawmakers are facing a hard deadline as agreements that allow a handful of tribes to operate casinos approach their expiration date.

They would have to approve the resolution before adjourning March 21.

1 Person Found Shot Dead In Albuquerque - The Associated Press

Police in Albuquerque are investigating a shooting that has left one person dead.

Police spokesman Fred Duran says officers responded to a call just before 4 a.m. Sunday reporting that several gunshots had been fired.

Duran says officers found a victim with one gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators say they have already detained some people of interest and are interviewing them.

Sculpture Outside New Mexico Land Office To Move - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal

A public sculpture outside a state office in Santa Fe is relocating at the request of a New Mexico land commissioner.

Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn tells the Albuquerque Journal that the large brick head on display outside the State Land Office is unattractive and he doesn't like it.

The sculpture, which is called "Brickface Hope" and has the word "hope" etched in several places, was created by artist James Tyler.

"Brickface" is part of New Mexico's permanent collection and has been on a five-year loan to the Land Office since 2011.

New Mexico Arts officials say the city will take the sculpture. No location has been found yet.

Dunn says he will replace the piece with an oil field pump jack.