Gov. Balks at Tax Package, Indicators Reproductive Overall health Care Bill |

Gov balks at tax package, indicators reproductive wellness bill

The omnibus spending budget bill worth $9.six billion hit the governor’s desk earlier this week and left space for tax reform, but a bill on those details is nonetheless snagged in debate. While the Senate and Home each passed bills that would challenge taxpayer rebates, boost 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 yet another swing at House Bill 547.  “Most New Mexicans have stinging memories of past years of painful funding cuts spurred by an imbalanced recurring spending budget. When this administration has carried out outstanding operate to diversify our economy and our income streams to defend ourselves from the busts of the oil sector, make no error that our state spending budget remains topic to unprecedented volatility with a higher reliance on power revenues. Nowadays, I’m worried that the Legislature may perhaps have a quick-term memory,” the governor’s statement reads in portion. “Put merely: this tax package cuts as well deep, as well speedily.” Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, issued a statement just prior to 11 pm noting legislators have been producing an work at compromise. “The tax reform conference committee had a really 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 stated. 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 strategy that contains an appropriation for a new wellness care clinic in Southern New Mexico.

NMSU releases report on shooting involving student athlete

Lawyers who reviewed policies, interviewed relevant witnesses, performed analysis, 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. Even so, 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 develop a extra comprehensive policy especially prohibiting the possession of any weapon or firearm by any student athlete though representing NMSU craft a policy on how coaches ought to communicate with law enforcement in situations 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 data with our campus neighborhood to show our commitment to transparency and to commence operating collectively to implement the suggestions in the report,” Arvizu wrote. “We stated from the starting, if this critique highlights possibilities for improvement, we will pursue these.”

Fewer doc visits below healthcare cannabis bill

Individuals in the state’s Health-related Cannabis Plan would have to invest much less dollars on medical doctor visits under alterations to the system adopted by the Legislature via Senate Bill 242, a measure Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is anticipated to sign. Rather than obtaining to annually certify eligibility with the help of a healthcare provider and also comprehensive a approach referred to as “re-enrollment” each and every 3 years, patients would have a opportunity to re-enroll and certify eligibility each and every two years. “This modify saves individuals time and dollars spent getting their annual recertification signatures and application from their healthcare provider,” stated Dominick V. Zurlo, system director, in a news release from the wellness division. “It eliminates the confusion triggered by the present approach which has distinct timeframes for annual healthcare certifications and Health-related Cannabis Patient ID Card renewals. This bill permits the two processes to occur at the exact same time.”  The law would go into impact on June 16, and the wellness 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 situations without the need of a jury trial for the particular person topic to the punishment, according to a news release from the court. Justices did not, nonetheless, establish a new maximum monetary penalty for behavior constituting contempt of court (examples include: disobeying a court or disrespecting its authority). “We decline to spot an express limit on contempt fines these days. Alternatively, we adhere to New Mexico precedent and federal precedent granting courts the energy to identify no matter if an offense is significant below the situations of the case,” the court wrote. At challenge 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 situations: 247 672,200 total situations. 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 Manage 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: Obtain 4 absolutely free at-residence COVID-19 tests per household via COVIDTests.gov Verify availability for extra 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. Persons in search of therapy who do not have a healthcare provider can get in touch with NMDOH’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-855-600-3453. DOH encourages residents to download the NM Notify app and to report good COVID-19 residence 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 Significantly less Traveled, on view at New York City’s Jack Shainman Gallery (by way of April eight) and her forthcoming look in the 11th season of the PBS documentary series, Art in the Twenty-Very first 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 range of techniques.

Come out of the cold

Fingers crossed, the wet winter will translate to a fireless spring and summer season, best for outside adventures. The Travel presents a roundup of New Mexico’s ten very best hikes, a list that contains 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 have to have of an cost-effective hot springs trip, which it describes as the US most cost-effective spa time (the story says it is been truth-checked, so we’ll assume that is accurate). For these searching to keep warm outdoors of the water, Travel Awaits includes Roswell at #ten on its assemblage of warm US destinations to take a look at 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 take a look at.” (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 extra than 500 puppies and kittens the shelter helped final year, most commence to arrive now. “We are approaching kitten season, and supplies are necessary 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 Facts Officer Murad Kirdar stated in a statement. “Hundreds of orphaned and underage kittens will rely on our New Hope Division (foster system) for the about-the-clock care they have to have to survive.” The shelter hopes to gather kitten and puppy supplies, which includes kitten milk, particular dry and wet meals, puppy pads, and nurser kits to care for the spring arrivals and to supply to foster households (the shelter also is searching for fosters). Come across a list of the shelter’s particular 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 by way of 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 these days, 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. Remain bundled up heading into the weekend, with highs nonetheless under 40 degrees and extra snow doable.

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