Lawmakers from the Senate Education committee advanced a proposed bill on Monday that would require all school districts and charter schools to adopt a policy banning students from using their cell phones during the school day.

Lawmakers are once again debating how to reform New Mexico’s medical malpractice laws this session, reigniting a long-running fight over balancing patient rights and the cost of practicing medicine.

In many states, librarians bear the brunt of anger from people on both sides of book banning, and a new documentary highlights the emotional toll.

This week on Let’s Talk New Mexico, we’ll be discussing the bill going through the Roundhouse trying to reform New Mexico's medical malpractice system and what supporters are saying will help recruit and retain health care workers, while opponents push back.

There were over 38,000 oil and gas spills in New Mexico last year. That’s according to a report released yesterday at the Legislature by environmental advocacy group WildEarth Guardians along with over 20 other organizations. While that number has declined over time, the volume of these spills is actually increasing.

On Wednesday night, the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee passed the Community Health Information Safety and Privacy Act (CHISPA). The bill would give New Mexicans more control over their data and prevent automatic tracking.

As new work requirements take effect for federal food assistance, following uncertainty created by the lengthy government shutdown late last year, a Santa Fe-based organization is expanding its work providing free meals.

A controversial gun bill passed its second test in the Roundhouse Wednesday night. The bill, which is aimed at curbing illegal gun sales, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 6-3 party line vote. Senate Bill 17 seeks to stop guns from getting into the hands of criminals by regulating and recording sales at dealers, and by restricting particular types of weapons.

For decades, Native women and other women of color were subjected to forced sterilization by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service. Lawmakers introduced a memorial Tuesday in the Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs committee to create a truth and reconciliation commission that would conduct a study into the history, and continuing impacts of this abuse.

Delilah Montoya has been creating art infused with activism since the early 1980’s. A major retrospective of her work opens Saturday at the Albuquerque Museum. Montoya’s photography, printmaking, and large-scale installation art are rooted in the “Chicanismo” pride of New Mexico.