Unemployment Claims Surpass Great Recession Enrollment – Associated Press
Officials say the number New Mexico residents filing for unemployment benefits amid the coronavirus lockdown has exceeded enrollment during the depths of the Great Recession.
The Department of Workforce solutions said Friday that it received 79,049 certifications for the week ending Thursday from people currently receiving benefits and others in the system who are awaiting determinations on eligibility.
As many as 60,000 people in New Mexico were enrolled in unemployment in the aftermath of the financial crisis that began in 2007 with losses on subprime mortgages.
As businesses began layoffs and furloughs in March, New Mexico's unemployment rate climbed to 5.9% — from 4.8% in February.
One in four people filing for unemployment during the week ending April 11 worked in accommodations or food-service. Unemployment claims have climbed fastest among young adults — multiplying 15-fold among people 24 and under.
A $600 boost in benefits under the federal coronavirus relief act is expected to arrive automatically through unemployment checks starting the week of April 20. That will raise the maximum weekly benefit to $1,041. The benefit extends through the end of July.
State Reports 115 New COVID-19 Cases Bringing Total To 1,711 – KUNM
State health officials announced today there are an additional 115 positive tests for COVID-19 in New Mexico bringing the total to 1,711.
There were also seven additional deaths, with age ranges from the 40s to the 90s. Five out of seven had underlying medical conditions.
The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in New Mexico is now 51. Four of the new cases were in Bernalillo County, including two residents from La Vida Llena, which is being investigated by Attorney General Hector Balderas. It’s one of nine congregate living facilities with COVID-19 cases around the state.
There are currently 96 people who are hospitalized for COVID-19 and 382 cases designated as recovered from the virus. Native Americans make up 37% of the state’s cases according to state data followed by Hispanics and Latinos with 24%.
This story was updated to reflect that two residents from La Vida Llena died from COVID-19.
Governor Sticks With Lockdown – By Morgan Lee, Associated Press
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had no immediate plans to relax social distancing requirements or allow nonessential businesses to reopen, a day after President Donald Trump laid out a road map to gradually reopen the crippled U.S. economy.
State Republican Party officials are pressuring Lujan Grisham to relax some restrictions on small nonessential businesses.
Across the state line, Texas announced Friday it would ease restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus, beginning next week with more retail sales via curbside pickup, a resumption of elective surgeries and restored access to state parks.
New Mexico is among the top 10 states for coronavirus testing per capita — and has one of the lowest infection rates per test, according data provided by The Covid Tracking Project.
Navajo Nation Establishes Donation Fund As COVID-19 Cases Surpass 1,000 – Albuquerque Journal
A new fund created by the Navajo Health Command Operations Center will be used to accept donations to buy medical supplies and personal protective equipment.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the number of cases of COVID-19 on the vast reservation located in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah reached 1,042 Thursday. Among those cases are nine members of the Navajo Police Department.
Tribal officials reported three additional deaths, bringing the death toll from coronavirus to 41.
A weekend curfew begins Friday at 8 p.m. and lasts through Monday at 5 a.m. during which restaurants and food vendors will be closed.
Earlier this week the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department delivered 80,000 pounds of food for distribution to elders and other vulnerable residents in Sheep Springs, Standing Rock and Thoreau.
The city of Albuquerque is collecting donations of non-perishable food items for the To’Hajiilee Navajo Chapter. Find locations here.
Eastern New Mexico University Chancellor Resigns Early – Associated Press
The Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents has announced Chancellor Jeff Elwell is resigning next week.
The board made the resignation public Friday a month after Chancellor and ENMU-Portales President Dr. Jeff Elwell said last month he would not seek a contract extension. He initially said he would stay until June 30, so the university would have enough time to search for a successor.
Elwell has served as ENMU-Portales president since July 2017, and ENMU System chancellor since April 2018. Elwell is credited with furthering unity between all three campuses of the ENMU system through his "One Eastern" plan.
ENMU Vice President for Planning, Analysis and Governmental Relations Patrice Caldwell has been named interim chancellor.
Valerie Plame Leads Congressional Fundraising Efforts - By Morgan Lee, Associated Press
Congressional candidate and former CIA operative Valerie Plame raised the most campaign funds in a crowded field of rivals for the Democratic nomination to New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District.
The Democratic primary is likely to decide who succeeds U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan as he runs to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Udall. Several Democratic candidates for the seat began advertising blitzes in April, including spots on Facebook and local television stations.
Plame raised $579,000 for the first three months of the year, while attorney Teresa Leger Fernandez raised just over $370,000 and Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Serna raised $140,000.
The state Supreme Court this week rejected a petition to limit in-person polling in response to the coronavirus and instead ordered the distribution of applications for absentee ballots to all registered voters.
Among Democrats, the 3rd District seat also is being sought by Sandoval County Treasurer Laura Montoya, state Rep. Joseph Sanchez, environmental attorney Kyle Tisdel and former state elections regulator and Interior Department official John Blair.
Contenders for the Republican nomination — Harry Montoya, Karen Bedonie and Audra Brown — raised less that $10,000 each during the first three months of the year.
Tribes Sue Over Distribution Of Coronavirus Relief Funding - By Felicia Fonseca, Associated Press
Several Native American tribes sued the federal government Friday, seeking to keep federal coronavirus relief for tribes out of the hands of for-profit Alaska Native corporations.
The tribes in Washington state, Maine and Alaska filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. Already, tribes had raised questions about how the $8 billion would be distributed. Some say the corporations shouldn't receive a share because the they are not tribal governments.
Tribes are relying on the cash after having to shut down casinos, tourism operations and other businesses that serve as their main moneymakers. The Interior Department says Alaska Native corporations are eligible for the funding.
New Mexico AG Says Retirement Community Failed To Follow Orders - Associated Press
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is investigating an Albuquerque retirement community where dozens of residents and employees have become infected with the coronavirus.
Balderas said in a letter sent Thursday to La Vida Llena officials that preliminary findings indicate the company failed to follow public health orders, didn't establish a means of communicating with residents and discouraged personnel from wearing personal protective equipment.
La Vida Llena officials say they've taken action over the past month to follow the directives and orders issued by state and federal agencies.
Ten La Vida Llena residents who tested positive have now died. In all, New Mexico has had about 1,600 cases and nearly four dozen deaths due to the virus.
The attorney general said in his letter that he was notifying La Vida Llena of the deficiencies that were uncovered in the hope that changes would be made so residents and staff can "remain as safe as possible during this unprecedented pandemic."
La Vida Llena officials issued a statement Thursday questioning why the attorney general would make public incomplete findings from an investigation that's still ongoing. They also said no members of the leadership team have been interviewed by Balderas' investigators.
They added when he does contact them, they will be “fully cooperative” and will detail the actions taken to follow state and federal orders and directives.
State Logs Record Number Of COVID-19 Deaths – Associated Press, Albuquerque Journal
State health officials reported eight new virus-related deaths on Thursday, the highest one-day total to date.
Officials said the number of positive COVID-19 cases in New Mexico rose by 116 to 1,597.
Three of the deaths were in San Juan County and all but two deaths were of people with underlying medical conditions.
There are currently 90 people who are hospitalized.
New Mexico Governor Defends Lockdown - By Russell Contreras Associated Press
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said New Mexico is not yet at a point where it can relax social distancing measures and reopen the economy in response to President Donald Trump's announcement of a three-phased approach for states to restore normal activity.
Small business owners in New Mexico are pleading to ease some coronavirus restrictions as federal statistics showed another spike in unemployment.
Lujan Grisham has emphasized this week that virus testing, treatment and contact tracing are not yet adequate to rein in the spread of infection if social distancing requirements are relaxed and schools and nonessential businesses are reopened. She highlighted New Mexico's commitment to a partnership with the White House to demonstrate the effectiveness of aggressive testing and contract tracing capacity.
According to figures Thursday from the U.S. Department of Labor, 19,494 people in New Mexico applied for unemployment benefits last week compared to a revised number of 26,132 the week before.
Both are among the highest weekly unemployment claims in state history.
Republican Party Denounces “Death Cult” Tweet By Spokesperson For The Governor - Associated Press
Small business owners pleaded with the governor to ease some coronavirus restrictions as federal numbers Thursday showed another spike in the number of people applying for unemployment.
Following the criticism aimed at Lujan Grisham, her spokesman Tripp Stelnicki sent a tweet Thursday comparing a group he declined to name to a "death cult” whose opinions he said should not be published.
The tweet was quickly denounced by the Republican Party of New Mexico, which recently held a video conference call with small business owners and said it thought the tweet was directed at the party.
Asked by email if he was referring to Republicans or small business owner critics of Lujan Grisham, Stelnicki declined to answer the question and said that his "tweet speaks for itself...I have nothing else to say about it."
New Mexico Diocese To Let Small Number Of People Attend Mass - By Russell Contreras, Associated Press
A Roman Catholic diocese in New Mexico says it will reopen churches and allow a small number of people to attend public celebrations of Mass in what could be the first move to alter a diocese-declared ban on public services in the U.S.
Diocese spokesman Christopher Velasquez said Wednesday that priests were encouraged to hold public Mass at the Las Cruces Diocese while having parishioners abide by social distancing restrictions ordered by the governor. That means five or less people in attendance who must stay 6 feet apart.
The Catholic News Agency reports the diocese is the first in the nation to modify a declared diocesan ban on public Masses.
The diocese also announced it would allow priests to hold outdoor Mass services while people stay in their cars.
The Santa Fe Archdiocese and Gallup Diocese — New Mexico's other Catholic dioceses — are continuing a ban on gatherings and in-person Mass services.
Torres Small Has Huge Cash Advantage In Key US House Race - By Russell Contreras, Associated Press
Democratic U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small is maintaining a huge fundraising advantage over three Republican opponents for a critical seat in southern New Mexico.
Federal campaign finance records released Thursday show she raised nearly $760,000 during the first three months of 2020 and had $2.9 million in cash on hand.
She has more than three times the amount of money in her campaign coffers as her Republican opponents combined. Oil executive Claire Chase reported raising $319,842 and had $263,899 in cash on hand.
Former state lawmaker Yvette Herrell's campaign says she raised $122,601, with $377,755 in cash on hand. Las Cruces businessman Chris Mathys reported raising $3,810, with $200,075 in cash on hand.
New Mexico Horse Owners Push For Lifting Live Racing Ban - By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
New Mexico's horse racetracks have been idle for weeks now because of a string of public health orders issued in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
While the grandstands and casinos are empty, some stables are still operational as groomers and others take care of the horses.
A group of New Mexico horse owners on Thursday asked state racing regulators to consider options for restarting live racing, saying it could be done with the right protocols in place to protect the horses, jockeys and the personnel needed to run races.
Such a move would need the approval of the governor. The state Racing Commission would have to adopt rules for reopening.
National Hispanic Cultural Center Gets Leader After Months - Associated Press
A fine arts appraiser and consultant from Mexico City has been named the new executive director of the National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico.
The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs announced this week that Josefa Gonzalez Mariscal has accepted the job to lead the center after more than a year of uncertainty.
Gonzalez Mariscal replaces the popular former executive director, Rebecca Avitia, who was asked to resign by incoming Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Avitia was credited with turning around the long-struggling center.
Gonzalez Mariscal recently curated the collection for the soon-to-be-inaugurated Mexico City offices of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis. She has been a cultural attaché for the Consulate General of Mexico in Houston.
Santa Fe Indian Market Gets First Woman Director - Associated Press
The organizers of the annual Santa Fe Indian Market have selected a new executive director, marking the first time in the history of the Southwestern Association of Indian Arts that a Native American woman will lead the organization.
The association announced the appointment of Kim Peone on Thursday.
She was among four finalists chosen from more than 70 applicants. A member of the Colville Confederated Tribes of Washington, Peone lives in Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe Indian Market began in 1922. It is described as the world's biggest and most prestigious Indian art event.
This year's event was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Study Finds Warming Makes US West Megadrought Worst In Modern Age - By Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writer
A new study finds that much of the western United States is baking in what scientists call an emerging megadrought.
Thursday's study in the journal Science blames almost half the problem on human-made global warming, which scientists say is only getting worse.
Multi-decade deep droughts happen every couple of hundred years. But the current one is one of the most severe since the year 800.
Some scientists say this drought, which started in 2000, may not have lasted long enough yet to qualify as a megadrought.
Scientists looked at a nine-state area from Oregon and Wyoming down through California and New Mexico, plus a sliver of southwestern Montana and parts of northern Mexico. They used thousands of tree rings to compare a drought that started in 2000 and is still going — despite a wet 2019 — to four past megadroughts since the year 800.
With soil moisture as the key measurement, they found only one other drought that was as big and was likely slightly bigger. That one started in 1575, just 10 years after St. Augustine, the first European city in the United States, was founded, and that drought ended before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620.
This week, water managers warned that the Rio Grande is forecast to have water flows less than half of normal, while New Mexico's largest reservoir is expected to top out at about one-third of its 30-year average.