New Mexico State Government Income Faltered In March – Associated Press
A fiscal analysis from the Legislature shows that New Mexico state revenues faltered slightly in March.
Monday's report from the Legislative Finance Committee foreshadows severe economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
State government general fund income decreased to $690 million for the month of March, down 5% from $728 million in March 2019.
The Legislature is scheduled to gather on June 18 to rewrite the state's spending plan for the coming fiscal year that starts on July 1. Detailed budget proposals have not been released.
A national recession and reduced oil demands are expected to undermine state government income. New Mexico relies heavily on income from fossil fuel production to supports school districts, public universities, health care and more.
The federal government has allocated at least $1.25 billion in recovery dollars to New Mexico.
That money and more than $1 billion in financial reserves may help the state avoid immediate cuts to staff and services.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says the state may rein in some spending on infrastructure projects.
Pandemic Disrupts New Mexico Cattle, Sheep Operations – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
New Mexico's cattle and sheep industries are taking a hit as the coronavirus pandemic is causing the wholesale prices of meat and wool to drop sharply.
The effects are not lost on ranchers like Carla Gomez, the owner of Los Vallecitos Ranch in Mora County. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the cattle and sheep industries are affected in different ways.
Ranchers say their problems might drag on into the next year. They say demand for beef and lamb has plummeted partly because restaurants were shut down to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Cattle ranchers also are selling fewer calves because some large meat processing plants were idled by viral outbreaks among workers.
Young calves and lambs are now stuck at feedlots beyond their prescribed time, incurring more expenses while vendors wait for meat prices to rise so they can at least break even.
George Floyd Protests Spread To Smaller, Mostly White Towns - By Grant Schulte, Associated Press
Public outrage over the death of George Floyd is spilling over into small town America. Rallies have surfaced in places such as Norfolk, Nebraska, and Sioux City, Iowa, drawing hundreds of people in communities that are mostly white.
Local officials in Farmington, were surprised when 250 protesters showed up for a peaceful rally in front of a mall. The town of 44,000 sits on the border of the Navajo Nation, and the demonstration attracted members of the American Indian Movement and other activists.
Experts who study race relations say the protests illustrate the degree to which the movement demanding social justice has spread, fueled by social media and persistent but less visible racism experienced by minorities in smaller cities.
The gatherings have been largely peaceful although some turned to violence and vandalism.
Infections Spike Among New Mexico Health Care Workers - Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Data from the New Mexico Health Department shows COVID-19 infections among health care workers in the state have spiked as intensive care units remain full and nurses and first responders call for more protective equipment.
The data shows 492 workers were diagnosed in May, marking a 219% increase from the 154 workers who had tested positive for the coronavirus the month before.
Human Services Secretary David Scrase tells the Albuquerque Journalthat the increase was expected.
The largest increase came in Bernalillo County – home to three of the state's COVID-19 hub hospitals. San Juan and McKinley counties also had surges.
Many hospitals aren't revealing how many workers have tested positive, making it difficult to know which facilities are having the worst outbreaks.
Eleanor Chavez, executive director of the local chapter of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, said her union is advocating for numbers of sick workers to be released.
Chavez said supplies of protective equipment should be increased because many nurses and staff have to reuse masks for days at a time. She also said infections among health care workers are increasing, not decreasing.
New Mexico has more than 9,060 confirmed cases statewide. The death toll stands at 400, with a San Juan County man in his 30s among the latest to die.
New Mexico Reports 142 New Coronavirus Cases, 4 More Deaths - Associated Press
New Mexico health officials are reporting 143 new coronavirus cases with four more known deaths.
That increases the total number of cases to 8,940 and the statewide death toll to 396 as of Sunday. More than half of the additional COVID-19 cases were reported in San Juan County (44) and McKinley County (37).
Two of the four latest known deaths occurred in San Juan County with one each in McKinley County and Bernalillo County.
McKinley County has 2,694 coronavirus cases with San Juan County at 1,966 cases and Bernalillo County at 1,592 cases.
Health officials say there are 3,307 COVID-19 cases in New Mexico in which the person has recovered.
Navajo Nation Reports 110 New Coronavirus Cases And 5 Deaths - Associated Press
The Navajo Department of Health has reported 110 new cases of coronavirus on the Navajo Nation and five more known deaths.
That pushes the numbers to 5,918 positive COVID-19 cases and 274 known deaths as of Saturday night.
Tribal officials also said preliminary reports from 11 health care facilities indicate about 2,686 people have recovered from COVID-19 with more reports still pending.
Tribal officials have relaxed distancing restrictions imposed because of the outbreak to newly permit drive-in mass gatherings for purposes such as using Wi-Fi hot spots and attending funerals, graduations and fireworks displays.
Under a public health order issued Friday, people attending such gatherings must wear masks and remain in their vehicles and all people in a vehicle must be from one household.
Another public health order issued Friday extends until further notice a daily curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Alexis Johnson Wins GOP House Nomination In New Mexico - Associated Press
Alexis Johnson of Santa Fe has won the Republican primary nomination in New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District.
Johnson emerged victorious Saturday in the three-way primary amid a surge in absentee balloting that took several days to tally in the district's most populous county.
Johnson will compete in the general election against Santa Fe-based attorney Teresa Leger Fernandez to succeed U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján as he runs for U.S. Senate. Sen. Tom Udall is retiring.
Democrats have monopolized the 3rd District seat since its creation in 1982 with the exception of one special election.
Johnson defeated Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya and Navajo Nation member Karen Evette Bedonie of Mexican Springs.
Lengthy delays in completing the district's Republican vote tally have implications for the November election. A majority of New Mexico primary voters shifted to absentee ballots in response to concerns about COVID-19.
Treasure Chest Hidden In Rocky Mountains Finally Found – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
A bronze chest filled with gold, jewels, and other valuables worth more than $1 million and hidden a decade ago somewhere in the Rocky Mountain wilderness has been found.
Famed art and antiquities collector Forrest Fenn says he hid the treasure as a way to tempt people to get into the wilderness and give them a chance to launch an old-fashioned adventure and expedition for riches.
He posted clues online and in a poem that was published in his autobiography "The Thrill of the Chase."
The 89-year-old told the Santa Fe New Mexican on Sunday that a treasure hunter located the chest a few days ago and sent him a photo for confirmation. Fenn still did not reveal the exact location of the treasure and says he did not know the person who found it.
Hundreds of thousands have hunted in vain across remote corners of the U.S. West for the bronze chest believed to be filled with gold coins, jewelry and other valuable items. Many quit their jobs to dedicate themselves to the search and others depleted their life savings. At least four people died searching for it.
Fenn, who lives in Santa Fe, said he packed and repacked his treasure chest for more than a decade, sprinkling in gold dust and adding hundreds of rare gold coins and gold nuggets.
Las Cruces Council To Weigh Mask Measure Without Penalties - Associated Press
The Las Cruces City Council has moved to ditch a proposed mandate backed up by misdemeanor penalties and instead will consider a resolution encouraging people to wear face coverings in retail and commercial businesses to help combat the spread of the coronavirus.
The council Friday tabled the proposal in favor of holding a special meeting Monday to consider the resolution.
City officials said in a statement that the council "prefers voluntary compliance over enforcement and does not want the effort to be punitive."
State officials on Saturday reported 129 additional COVID-19 cases with five additional deaths.
Navajo Nation Extends Closings Of Tribal Casinos Into July - Associated Press
The Navajo Nation's gambling operation had hoped to reopen its casinos in mid-June but they'll stay closed until at least early July because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise officials said Friday that closures ordered to help curb spread of the outbreak will continue due to a recent order by tribal President Jonathan Nez that continues closures of tribal government operations through July 5.
All properties have been deep cleaned and sanitized with additional steps taken for safety of patrons and workers, Gaming Enterprise officials said in a statement.