Gun debate prompts weapons ban at New Mexico state Senate
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's state Senate is prohibiting firearms in its public gallery and nearby rooms for the first time on Tuesday as legislators begin deliberations on red-flag legislation that would allow authorities to take guns away from people deemed dangerous to themselves or others. Statehouse rules ordinarily allow the open carry of legally owned firearms without entranceway screening. Restrictions and screenings for weapons have been implemented in recent years in the state House chamber for the governor's State of the State address. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants to allow law enforcement officials or family members to seek court orders to seize firearms temporarily from people deemed threatening.
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico considers cannabis subsidies, crime expungement
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Democrat-backed bill to legalize recreational marijuana businesses in all towns and counties across New Mexico is getting its first public vetting by lawmakers. A legislative committee will convene Tuesday on the Senate floor to accommodate crowds amid intense interest in a bill that subsidizes medical marijuana and automatically expunges many past pot convictions.
RUDE COUNCILOR
Councilor's removal case over text messages dropped
EUNICE, N.M. (AP) — A city manager of a southeastern New Mexico town who wanted a councilor removed over attendance and for "being rude" is dropping his case. The Hobbs News-Sun reports the city council of Eunice, New Mexico, will not seek to remove Councilor Terry Bettis from office. City Manager Jordan Yutzy told the newspaper the decision came after he had a telephone conversation with New Mexico Assistant Attorney General Zack Jones. Previously, Yutzy sent a letter to the state Attorney General's office seeking guidance on how to remove Bettis from his seat.
50-YEAR WATER PLAN
Governor: New Mexico needs realistic, sustainable water plan
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration is asking lawmakers for money and manpower to create a plan for managing the state's water resources for the next five decades. Legislative analysts have recommended less money than requested be spent on the effort, but supporters say it's critical the state starts charting a course that will allow for flexible water management in the face of more drought and climate change. The state's most recent water plan was rolled out in 2018 and includes details about policies, historical legal cases and regional water plans. While it offers an inventory of the state's needs, critics say it falls short of laying out a concrete path for how to solve water problems.
IMMIGRATION-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico may extend tax credit to non-citizens
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Activists for immigrant communities are pushing for legislation that allows New Mexico residents without Social Security numbers to qualify for state tax credits aimed at working families. Immigrants and allied advocacy groups thronged the state Capitol building Monday to lobby for stronger enforcement of laws that ensure low-wage workers are fully paid and reforms that would shield state records from access by federal immigration authorities. The group Somos Un Pueblo Unido says the initiatives are designed provide fair and equitable treatment of working families that are vital to the state economy. The group also supports greater state spending to encourage participation in the U.S. Census.
ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
GOP House hopeful's email questions early Trump support
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Republican congressional hopeful in a critical New Mexico race who has made her "100% support for Donald Trump" part of her campaign once sought backing for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. A March 2016 email from former New Mexico lawmaker Yvette Herrell asked fellow Republican state legislators if they were interested in supporting Cruz. Her GOP primary opponents say the emails counters the story Herrell told voters in the 2018 race and recently that she supported Trump from "day one." Herrell's campaign manager Dakotah Parshall dismissed the email and said Herrell was just being helpful to her fellow state legislators.
OPIOID TREATMENT-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico seeks new tools to intervene in opioid addiction
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is considering new funding for research into treating addiction with injectable opioids to help address long-term dependency on heroin and other opioids. A bill from Democratic state Rep. Miguel Garcia would provide $150,000 to the University of New Mexico for a demonstration project focused on injectable opioids including pharmaceutical grade heroin or the drug hydromorphone that is routinely prescribed for pain. Opioid and heroin use has plagued some New Mexico communities for generations. The state has pioneered a series of policies aimed at combating opioid addiction, including becoming the first state to require law enforcement agencies to provide officers with overdose antidote kits.
EMU FOUND
Emu back in Las Cruces home after being gone 3 months
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A former state lawmaker's emu that has been missing since Thanksgiving is safely back at its home near Las Cruces. The Las Cruces Sun-News reported Sunday that former state Rep. Brad Cates learned his pet emu had resurfaced last week thanks to a barrage of images people shared on social media. Cates with some help corralled the 150-pound (68-kilogram) emu named "Hey You!" Cates was also the Republican nominee for Dona Ana County district attorney in 2016. He lost to Mark D'Antonio.