Lawmakers Seek Reforms On Domestic Terrorism – Associated Press
Leading New Mexico state legislators and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham want to write new definitions and possibly penalties related to domestic terrorism into state law in the aftermath of a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas.
The announcement Wednesday came as lawmakers, public safety Cabinet members and local law enforcement officials gathered for a briefing by the FBI and discussions about how to respond to the shooting at a Walmart in El Paso that killed 22.
Lujan Grisham said changes to state statutes regarding terrorism-related crimes would be aimed at strengthening investigative capabilities. Attorney General Hector Balderas says those legislative proposals could include stronger penalties for hate-related crimes.
Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf says the state may create a domestic terrorism unit to increase preparedness. Democratic Senate majority leader Peter Wirth expressed support for "red-flag" legislation that makes it easier to take guns away from people who pose a danger to themselves or others.
Anti-Terrorism Summit Looks At Hate Groups – Associated Press
A summit about domestic terrorism threats has convened in New Mexico to consider expert testimony from the FBI, the Anti-Defamation League, the Southern Poverty Law Center and local law enforcement.
New Mexico public safety authorities and lawmakers gathered in the governor's office Wednesday for the one-day summit in response to the Aug. 3 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas.
The discussions involve sensitive security information and were closed to news media.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called the summit to improve preparedness for possible attempts at mass violence.
Those participating in the summit include leading Democratic and Republican state legislators, Cabinet secretaries overseeing public safety and emergency management, and the state attorney general.
Authorities say the El Paso shooting suspect confessed to targeting people of Mexican descent. There were 22 people killed in the attack.
New Mexico AG Evaluates Safety At Shopping Venues – Associated Press
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says his office is evaluating public safety at big-box stores and other shopping venues in the aftermath of the Aug. 3 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas.
Balderas on Wednesday attended a summit on domestic terrorism convened by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Arriving at the closed-door summit, Balderas said he thinks authorities can do a better job at protecting areas where families congregate, socialize and shop. He says the attorney general's office is in communication with large-scale retailers in high-crime zip codes about security efforts.
Balderas also is highlighting increased activity within the state among biker gangs and militia-style groups with access to high-intensity firearms. He says his office began a concerted effort five years ago to track hate groups.
New Mexico Med Cannabis Future Eyed Amid Reforms – Associated Press
New Mexico Health Secretary Kathyleen Kunkel says states that have legalized recreational marijuana use have seen their medical cannabis programs affected.
Kunkel told a bipartisan group studying legalizing recreational marijuana in the state on Wednesday that's why any proposal to legalized recreational marijuana should seek to protect New Mexico's current medical program.
She says medical marijuana patients seek items like oils and suppositories that wouldn't be sought by potential recreational users.
Kunkel says separate the medical marijuana and recreational systems would help current medical cannabis users.
Her comments came as medical marijuana providers told the study group that any proposal to legalized recreational marijuana in New Mexico should offer protections to their operations.
New Mexico Legalizing Marijuana Job Numbers May Be 'Decent' – By Russell Contreras, Associated Press
Legalizing recreational marijuana in New Mexico would create needed jobs in one of the poorest states in the nation, but the numbers would pale in comparison with jobs in other industries, an economist told a bipartisan group Wednesday.
Kelly O'Donnell, who has analyzed recreational and medical marijuana use, said allowing legal recreational marijuana in the state would create around 11,000 jobs compared with 121,000 current jobs in health care or 97,000 in retail trade.
O'Donnell made the comments as a bipartisan group appointed by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to study legalizing recreational marijuana in the state held its first public policy meeting.
The group has been tasked with crafting recommendation for state lawmakers to examine, which could open the door for New Mexico to join states like Colorado that allow legalize recreational marijuana use.
New Mexico Group On Legalizing Marijuana Hosting 1st Meeting - By Russell Contreras Associated Press
A bipartisan group appointed by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to study legalizing recreational marijuana in the state is holding its first public meeting.
The group is scheduled Wednesday to meet in Albuquerque and to hear from officials from the state's current medical cannabis program and from experts of marijuana licensing.
Members of the group include Democratic and Republican legislators who sponsored unsuccessful legislation this year to authorize and tax recreational marijuana sales at state-run stores. That proposal passed a House vote but stalled in the Senate.
The Governor's Working Group on Cannabis Legalization is scheduled to hold a similar meeting in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Aug. 28. It also is slated to visit Colorado to meet with state regulators there.
States Oppose Alabama's Effort Exclude Migrants In Census – Associated Press
A coalition of 15 states, including New Mexico, and several major cities is opposing a lawsuit by the state of Alabama that would have the U.S. Census count only U.S. citizens and legal residents.
New York, California and 13 other states have asked to intervene against Alabama's lawsuit.
The cities and states argued in a Monday court filing that the Constitution requires an actual enumeration of the population, which means all people regardless of their citizenship or legal status. The Census count is used to determine congressional representation and dole out federal funds.
Alabama sued last year, arguing that the U.S. Commerce Department's longstanding practice of including all U.S. residents regardless of immigration status unfairly shifts power to states with more undocumented immigrants.
New Mexico Casino Allows Bets On In-State University Teams – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
A New Mexico casino has made the decision to accept bets on collegiate football and basketball games involving in-state teams.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Tuesday that Isleta Resort & Casino will accept wagers on the University of New Mexico Lobos and New Mexico State University Aggies beginning this upcoming season.
Casino officials say the decision means bettors can gamble on the outcome for the two New Mexico teams when they compete against another Football Bowl Subdivision level opponent.
University officials say sports gambling is a NCAA violation and a major concern because people could begin communicating outcomes with student-athletes, coaches and staff.
Officials say sports gambling in New Mexico has been legal for two years, but Isleta would be the first to accept bets on in-state collegiate sports year-round.
New Mexico Democrat Haaland Backs Impeachment Inquiry – Associated Press
Democratic U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico is calling for an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.
The first-term lawmaker from Albuquerque said Wednesday in a statement that Trump "has proven he's unfit to serve as president" and that Congress needs to "shed light on what his administration is hiding and hold the president accountable."
Haaland previously said she favored more aggressive oversight of Trump that might lead to impeachment hearings.
A tally by The Associated Press indicates more than half of House Democrats support launching an impeachment inquiry.
Attorneys General Sue Over Public Benefit Immigration Rule – Associated Press
Attorneys general in 13 states, including New Mexico, have filed a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration rule that'll allow immigration officials to deny green cards to migrants who use public assistance, including food stamps or housing vouchers.
The federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in Richland, Washington, follows a similar one Tuesday by two California counties.
Under new rules unveiled this week, Citizenship and Immigration Services will consider whether applicants have received public assistance among other factors such as education to determine whether to grant legal status.
The attorneys general argue the expansion will cause "irreparable harm" and deter noncitizens from seeking "essential" public assistance.
The lawsuit names the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A spokesman didn't return a message Wednesday.
The states involved are: Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington.
New Mexico Says Public Benefit Immigrant Rule May Hurt Kids – Associated Press
New Mexico's human services secretary fears that children may be deprived of food assistance and other vital services under the Trump administration's new rule to deny green cards to migrants who use Medicaid, food stamps and other forms of public assistance.
In a news release Tuesday, Human Services Secretary David Scrase predicted the rule would create greater disparities in terms of access to health care.
Federal law currently requires those seeking to become permanent residents or gain legal status to prove they will not be a burden to the U.S., but the new rules broaden disqualifications.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is sharply criticizing the change.
The state estimates that 77,000 U.S. citizen children live in New Mexico with an immigrant parent in a family relying on food assistance.
Experts To Review Mine Design At US Nuclear Waste Dump - Associated Press
The contractor that manages the federal government's nuclear waste repository in southern New Mexico has assembled a panel of experts to review the effectiveness of ground control and mine design at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
Officials with Nuclear Waste Partnership say the experts' recommendations will help ensure worker safety and that the repository is compliant with state and federal regulations.
The experts have experience in geotechnical engineering, geophysics, rock mechanics and imaging and sensing technologies.
The repository is licensed to take Cold War-era waste generated by decades of bomb-making and defense-related nuclear research. The waste includes gloves, clothing, tools and other materials contaminated with radioactive elements.
The waste is entombed in disposal rooms carved out of an ancient salt formation about half a mile down.
Progressive Group Backs Candidate In Senate Race – Associated Press
An advocacy group for progressive policies and candidates known as the Working Families Party is endorsing New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver in the Democratic primary race for an open U.S. Senate seat.
Working Families executive committee member Andrea Serrano said Monday the endorsement is based in part on Toulouse Oliver's aggressive stances in favor of impeachment proceedings against President Trump and dismantling Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Environmental and health care policy also weighed in the choice.
The group operates a political committee in New Mexico and acts as a political party in some other states.
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján is vying against Toulouse Oliver for the Democratic nomination to replace Sen. Tom Udall as he retires next year.
Prominent backers of Luján's campaign include Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the gun safety organization led by former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
In New Mexico, US Defends Authority Over Parole Of Migrants – Associated Press
The Department of Justice is urging a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by the state of New Mexico that seeks to halt the quick release of asylum seeking migrants into local communities without economic assistance.
In a motion filed Monday, Albuquerque-based U.S. Attorney James Anderson says that the Department of Homeland Security has discretion over the parole of migrants and agency resources.
The lawsuit by New Mexico and Albuquerque seeks reimbursement for humanitarian efforts to shelter migrants and challenges the cancellation of an immigration program that helped migrants with phone calls and other travel logistics as they sought out final destinations throughout the United States.
Anderson says there is no federal statute or regulation requiring assistance for asylum seekers when they are paroled into the U.S.
Navajo Nation Eyes Renaming US Highway After Late Senator - Farmington Daily Times, Associated Press
Some Navajo Nation officials are seeking to ask New Mexico to rename a U.S. highway after one of the longest-serving Native American lawmakers in U.S. history.
The Farmington Daily Times reports a Navajo legislative committee is requesting New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham name U.S. Highway 491 in honor of the late state Sen. John Pinto.
Pinto, who died in May at the age of 94, had long sought to turn the deadly U.S. 666 into a four-lane highway and to change its name to U.S. 491.
U.S. Highway 491 stretches around 194 miles from Gallup, New Mexico, through Colorado to Monticello, Utah.
Pinto was a World War II Navajo code talker and served over four decades in the New Mexico Legislature.
New Mexico State Saw Jump In Ticket Sales Last Year - Las Cruces Sun-News, Associated Press
New Mexico State is reporting a five-year high in athletic ticket sales thanks to excitement around football and basketball.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports New Mexico State had a $326,000 surplus in ticket sales last year — the most in New Mexico State athletics director Mario Moccia's five years.
The ticket sale came a year after New Mexico State won a bowl game for the first time in five decades and hype around the Aggies' basketball season.
Athletics budgeted for $1.2 million in ticket sales last year and sold over $1.5 million.
New Mexico State has reduced the season ticket budget from $210,000 last year to $110,000 after the football team went 3-9 last season.