More New Mexico Counties Adopt Resolutions Against Gun Bills – Associated Press
Two more rural counties in New Mexico have passed resolutions saying they will not require their sheriffs to enforce a series of gun-control proposals that have gone before state lawmakers.
Commissioners in San Juan County in the state's northwest corner and in Eddy County in the southeast adopted "Second Amendment Sanctuary County" resolutions Tuesday.
Sheriffs in Curry, Quay, Socorro and Union counties recently presented similar resolutions that commissioners have adopted in response to the proposed state legislation.
The proposals include a bill that would expand requirements for background checks on gun sales. Another measure would allow for courts to order people who are deemed to be a threat to themselves or others to temporarily surrender their guns to law enforcement.
Moratorium On New Charter Schools Passes First Hurdle - Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
No new charter schools would be allowed to open in New Mexico until 2022 under a proposal that has cleared its first legislative hurdle.
The bill has the support of Democrats and teacher unions. It passed the House Education Committee on a 10-3 vote Wednesday.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also has voiced support for imposing a moratorium on opening new charter schools until state leaders have time to review how those in place are performing.
Some parents testified that putting the brakes on new charter schools would limit options for families in a state that has struggled for decades to boost success rates within the public school system.
The bill's supporters argue that charter schools siphon money from traditional schools and that the state is facing costly court mandates for improving opportunities for minority and low-income students.
New Mexico House Passes Automatic MVD Voter Registration - Associated Press, Santa Fe New Mexican
The New Mexico House of Representatives passed a bill to automatically register eligible voters during transactions at state motor vehicle offices, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. It would register eligible voters or update their existing registration as they apply for a driver's license or state identity card unless they explicitly opt out.
Democratic House lawmakers also passed another initiative aimed at increasing voter participation -- same-day voter registration.
Under current state law, voter registration closes 28 days before Election Day. Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf says that deadline prevents voter registration when political campaigns often are attracting the most public interest.
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver is the state's top election regulator and says technology is readily available to provide accurate same-day voter registration.
Bill Calls For Curating Data On New Mexico Water Resources - Associated Press
A council focused on curating data related to water use and resources in New Mexico would be created under legislation introduced in the state House of Representatives.
Supporters said Tuesday the bill would help address water management needs as New Mexico continues to weather the effects of long-term drought.
The council would be led by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and the Interstate Stream Commission. Its mission would be to make the data more accessible.
The legislation notes that it would be the policy of the state to develop a modern, more integrated approach to collecting and sharing information to improve water resources planning and management.
The information would include state, federal and local data on streamflow; precipitation; reservoir and irrigation operations; groundwater use and levels; and other measurements.
Legislature Tells UNM: No Soccer, No Money - Associated Press
The University of New Mexico would have to reinstate its intercollegiate sports teams for skiing, men's soccer and women's beach volleyball in the fall or do without $4.6 million in state funding under a proposed state budget.
The $7 billion annual House spending bill was published on Tuesday and makes general fund appropriations to the athletics department contingent on reviving the defunct sports teams. It also says the teams must be reinstated prior to state approval of the university's operating budget.
The University of New Mexico Board of Regents voted last year to cut the programs to get spending under control within its troubled athletics department.
A full House vote is expected this week on the proposal to boost state general fund spending amid a surge in oil-related state income.
Approval would send the plan to the Senate for consideration.
Legislators including House appropriations committee chairwoman Patricia Lundstrom of Gallup are seeking greater accountability for university athletics expenditures.
Jicarilla Apache Nation President Resigns - Farmington Daily Times, Associated Press
The president of the Jicarilla Apache Nation has resigned.
The Farmington Daily Times reports the northwestern New Mexico tribe announced Levi Pesata resigned from office on Friday, citing personal reasons.
The tribe says Vice President Edward Velarde will serve as interim president until a new president takes office.
During a special meeting in Dulce on Friday, the Jicarilla Apache Nation Legislative Council passed a resolution to hold a special election within 60 days to fill the vacancy.
Council members also thanked Pesata for serving five terms in office and for his contributions to the tribe.
Engineer Tapped To Serve As New Mexico's Top Water Official - Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has made one of her most important appointments since taking office, naming a well-known water expert to head the Office of the State Engineer.
She announced the appointment of John D'Antonio on Tuesday. He's familiar with the office, having previously served as the state engineer from 2003 until 2011 when he left to take a post with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
As the top water official, D'Antonio will oversee the appropriation and distribution of New Mexico's water.
One of his top challenges will be working with the state attorney general and the Interstate Stream Commission as New Mexico navigates mounting pressure on its water resources and a legal dispute pending before the U.S. Supreme Court over management of the Rio Grande.
New Mexico House Speaker Wary Of Delay Tactics - Associated Press
New Mexico's Democratic House speaker says he is contemplating rule changes to limit the length of floor debates as the end of the legislative session approaches on March 16.
House speaker Brian Egolf of Santa Fe told reporters Tuesday that Republican colleagues may be prolonging floor debates as a delay tactic that eventually could threaten major reform proposals on public education and more.
Republican House minority whip Rod Montoya of Farmington attributed lengthy House floor debates this year to hastily written bills that require amendments and said the House is rapidly taking up Democrat-sponsored bills.
Current House rules allow for up to three hours of deliberations on each bill before a motion can be made to close debate and vote. Deliberations lasted three hours Monday on a Democrat-sponsored bill to allow the utility customers without access to rooftop solar electricity to subscribe to community solar energy installations. It passed on a 42-25 vote over unified Republican opposition.
Rule changes to reduce debate time would require majority approval of a rules committee and the full House, and have not yet been formally proposed.
Police: Student Heard 'Voices' Before Shooting - Associated Press
Police say a 16-year-old boy accused of firing a gun at a New Mexico high school told officers 11 months prior voices were telling him to "shoot up the school."
The Albuquerque Journal reports police were called to V. Sue Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, in March 2018 after a girl told staff the teen had sent her text messages about bringing a weapon to campus.
The teen was not charged in connection with that episode and it's unclear if school officials took any action.
Police said the teen opened fire on campus last week before leaving the gun behind and running from the scene. No one was hurt.
A state district judge ordered Monday the teen to remain in detention while he undergoes mental health evaluations.
Los Alamos Labs Seeking Bids On New Supercomputer - Los Alamos Monitor, Associated Press
Los Alamos National Laboratory has put out a request for proposals for a new supercomputer.
The Los Alamos Monitor reportsone of the nation's premier nuclear labs announced recently it is seeking bids on a supercomputer dubbed "Crossroads."
Like the supercomputer the lab has now, "Trinity," Crossroads will be put to work helping to maintain the nation's nuclear stockpile.
Supercomputers employed by the U.S. Department of Energy often are used to test, through computer simulation, the components of nuclear weapons in the stockpile as well as the weapon's power and capabilities.
Crossroads' increased computational power is expected to be able to render simulations and modeling more accurately.
Responses to the lab's requests for proposal are due by March 18.
New Mexico To Provide U.S. Capitol Its Next Christmas Tree - Associated Press
This year's U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will be coming from northern New Mexico.
U.S. Forest Service officials announced Tuesday that a tree will be cut from the Carson National Forest just outside of Taos.
The chosen tree will be displayed on the Capitol's west lawn next December.
The state will also send along 70 smaller companion trees to adorn other government buildings in Washington.
Forest rangers say communities across New Mexico will be invited to help hand-make ornaments for the tree throughout the year.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says it is an honor for the state to be represented in this way.