Gov balks at tax package, indicators reproductive well being bill

The omnibus price range bill worth $9.six billion hit the governor’s desk earlier this week and left area for tax reform, but a bill on those details is nonetheless snagged in debate. While the Senate and Home each passed bills that would concern taxpayer rebates, raise the tax on alcohol and other measures totaling $1.three billion, the two chambers had not come to agreement late final evening about the final language that would move to the governor. After the Senate amended and authorized a Home measure yesterday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement asking lawmakers to take a different swing at House Bill 547.  “Most New Mexicans have stinging memories of past years of painful funding cuts spurred by an imbalanced recurring price range. Though this administration has accomplished outstanding function to diversify our economy and our income streams to guard ourselves from the busts of the oil business, make no error that our state price range remains topic to unprecedented volatility with a higher reliance on power revenues. These days, I’m worried that the Legislature may possibly have a quick-term memory,” the governor’s statement reads in component. “Put just: this tax package cuts also deep, also promptly.” Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, issued a statement just prior to 11 pm noting legislators have been creating an work at compromise. “The tax reform conference committee had a quite productive meeting this evening, and I am grateful to my colleagues in each chambers for their efforts. Meetings will continue, and collectively this committee will provide for all New Mexicans,” Wirth mentioned. Another conference committee meeting is set for 9 am.

Although the governor has till mid-April to approve or veto legislation that emerges from the session ending Saturday at noon, she’s currently signed a quantity of bills into law. Yesterday, she place the pen to House Bill 7, which bars cities and counties from restricting access to abortion and other reproductive care, as each Clovis and Hobbs have attempted to prohibit the procedures. The Legislature has also adopted a $1.two billion capital outlay program that involves an appropriation for a new well being care clinic in Southern New Mexico.

NMSU releases report on shooting involving student athlete

Lawyers who reviewed policies, interviewed relevant witnesses, performed investigation, and analyzed reports and video from law enforcement and the media, concluded the New Mexico State University had not failed any legal obligations in events surrounding an athlete shooting final November on the campus of the University of New Mexico. NMSU basketball player Michael Peake was injured in a late-evening incident and police have said he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed UNM student Brandon Travis, but that the team’s coaches and players did not initially cooperate with their investigation. Having said that, Rodey Law—hired by the college for an independent review—recommended in a summary released yesterday that the college get significant about its curfew guidelines build a much more comprehensive policy particularly prohibiting the possession of any weapon or firearm by any student athlete though representing NMSU craft a policy on how coaches need to communicate with law enforcement in instances involving student athletes and “implement measures to strengthen a culture that encourages student athletes to adhere to the integrity and values of NMSU,” amongst other measures. NMSU Chancellor Dan Arvizu said in a letter that the university will quickly announce a process force to address the firm’s suggestions. “We’re sharing this information and facts with our campus neighborhood to show our commitment to transparency and to start functioning collectively to implement the suggestions in the report,” Arvizu wrote. “We mentioned from the starting, if this critique highlights possibilities for improvement, we will pursue these.”

Fewer doc visits beneath health-related cannabis bill

Individuals in the state’s Healthcare Cannabis System would have to commit much less funds on physician visits under adjustments to the plan adopted by the Legislature via Senate Bill 242, a measure Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is anticipated to sign. Rather than possessing to annually certify eligibility with the help of a health-related provider and also comprehensive a procedure known as “re-enrollment” each 3 years, patients would have a opportunity to re-enroll and certify eligibility each two years. “This modify saves individuals time and funds spent acquiring their annual recertification signatures and application from their health-related provider,” mentioned Dominick V. Zurlo, plan director, in a news release from the well being division. “It eliminates the confusion triggered by the existing procedure which has distinctive timeframes for annual health-related certifications and Healthcare Cannabis Patient ID Card renewals. This bill makes it possible for the two processes to come about at the similar time.”  The law would go into impact on June 16, and the well being division says it will collectively save individuals an estimated $11 million per year. The program currently includes 105,617 individuals, including ten,802 in Santa Fe County.

Supreme Court lifts fine cap on contempt of court

A case involving discipline against an Albuquerque lawyer resulted in the state Supreme Court ruling to lift a cap on fines for contempt of court. Justices overruled a decades-old precedent that placed a $1,000 limit in instances without having a jury trial for the individual topic to the punishment, according to a news release from the court. Justices did not, having said that, establish a new maximum monetary penalty for behavior constituting contempt of court (examples include: disobeying a court or disrespecting its authority). “We decline to location an express limit on contempt fines right now. As an alternative, we adhere to New Mexico precedent and federal precedent granting courts the energy to identify irrespective of whether an offense is significant beneath the situations of the case,” the court wrote. At concern was a fine levied against Victor Marshall, who was suspended indefinitely from the practice of law in January 2022, then fined $two,000 for violating the requirements of conduct prior to the court when his behavior in a hearing to appeal the discipline “was extremely disruptive and lacked any sense of decorum.”

COVID-19 by the numbers

Reported March 16: New instances: 247 672,200 total instances. Deaths: two Santa Fe County has had 402 total deaths 9,078 total fatalities statewide. Statewide hospitalizations: 93. Individuals on ventilators: seven

The Centers for Illness Handle and Prevention’s most current March 16 “community levels” map shows two counties (San Juan and McKinley) are now yellow—aka medium—level. The rest of the state remains at green—aka low—levels. Corresponding suggestions for every single level can be found here.

Sources: Acquire 4 absolutely free at-household COVID-19 tests per household via COVIDTests.gov Verify availability for added absolutely free COVID-19 tests through Project ACT CDC interactive booster eligibility tool NM DOH vaccine &amp booster registration CDC isolation and exposure interactive tool COVID-19 treatment information NMDOH immunocompromised tool kit. Individuals looking for remedy who do not have a health-related provider can contact NMDOH’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-855-600-3453. DOH encourages residents to download the NM Notify app and to report constructive COVID-19 household tests on the app.

You can study all of SFR’s COVID-19 coverage right here.

Listen up

SFR lately had a opportunity to catch up with artist Rose B. Simpson (Santa Clara Pueblo) and speak about her exhibition, Road Much less Traveled, on view at New York City’s Jack Shainman Gallery (via April eight) and her forthcoming look in the 11th season of the PBS documentary series, Art in the Twenty-Initial Century. Art in America also talks with Simpson in this new quick video in which she discusses how her artistic strategy reflects her life’s journey in a selection of methods.

Come out of the cold

Fingers crossed, the wet winter will translate to a fireless spring and summer season, ideal for outside adventures. The Travel provides a roundup of New Mexico’s ten ideal hikes, a list that involves Santa Fe’s Aspen Vista Trail, natch, but also farther-flung excursions such as the Bisti Badlands Trail in Bloomfield the trails all through Roswell’s Bottomless Lakes State Park and Cave Creek Trail in the Pecos Wilderness. Narcity, meanwhile, offers the perennial praise for Truth or Consequences for these in need to have of an very affordable hot springs getaway, which it describes as the US most very affordable spa time (the story says it is been reality-checked, so we’ll assume that is accurate). For these seeking to remain warm outdoors of the water, Travel Awaits includes Roswell at #ten on its assemblage of warm US destinations to go to in April, when temperatures are in the mid to higher 70s. “Crowds are thick throughout the summer season when temperatures are in the 90s,” Travel Awaits contributor Melody Pittman writes, “so April is an optimal time to go to.” (FWIW, #11 is Puerto Rico).

Cats and dogs

No, we’re not speaking about the rain but, rather, actual felines and canines. In addition to wind, spring in Santa Fe also delivers a proliferation of puppies and kittens. According to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter &amp Humane Society, of the much more than 500 puppies and kittens the shelter helped final year, most commence to arrive now. “We are approaching kitten season, and supplies are required ideal now, so when these vulnerable animals come into the shelter, we are prepared with the required tools to give to our foster households,” shelter Public Data Officer Murad Kirdar mentioned in a statement. “Hundreds of orphaned and underage kittens will rely on our New Hope Division (foster plan) for the about-the-clock care they need to have to survive.” The shelter hopes to gather kitten and puppy supplies, like kitten milk, unique dry and wet meals, puppy pads, and nurser kits to care for the spring arrivals and to give to foster households (the shelter also is seeking for fosters). Obtain a list of the shelter’s precise needs here. Meanwhile, Barker Realty in Santa Fe is operating a “Show the Love” drive to gather dog and cat meals treats toys pet beds towels and blankets for Española Humane. Drop these products off via the finish of the month at Barker’s Railyard District workplace, 530 S. Guadalupe St.

It is not more than

The National Climate Service forecasts a winter-ish day right now, with snow showers most likely, primarily prior to noon, and a higher close to 32 with southeast wind about ten mph. Santa Fe Public Schools are on a two-hour delay due to ice and snow in some components of the district. Keep bundled up heading into the weekend, with highs nonetheless beneath 40 degrees and much more snow probable.

Thanks for reading! The Word’s existing mood would be properly-suited for reading Kafka’s diaries.