Morning Word: FCC Considers Net Neutrality Rules

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undle up because there are winter storm advisories and watches across much of New Mexico today and tomorrow. It’s going to be cold, wet and windy, and it looks like another storm is headed down from the Rockies, just in time for the weekend.

Also, state House lawmakers have approved right-to-work legislation along with an increase in the state’s minimum wage, but don’t get too excited yet, it still has to pass the Senate before going to the governor's office.

It's Thursday, February 26, 2015

The Federal Communications Commission plans to adopt net neutrality rules today. The details of the FCC's regulation haven't been released, despite objections from two Republican commissioners. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has revealed a broad outline of what he wants the FCC to do:

Read more at ABQ Business First.

US Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, wants to make sure federal workers continue to get paid if funding for the Department of Homeland Security runs out.

Read more at the Los Alamos Daily Post. US Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-New Mexico, doesn’t want the Albuquerque Police Department to have access to a Department of Defense training center in the future.

Lujan Grisham cited APD’s use of force and questions about police militarization as reasons to suspend the training. Police reporter Ryan Boetel has the details. Photojournalists are questioning why two City of Albuquerque officials shut down a fired police officer’s personnel hearing because they didn’t want to be “depicted” on video recording. While administrative hearings are quasi-judicial, they are required to follow civil procedures and state law. The New Mexico Open Meetings Act requires government employees make reasonable accommodations for both audio and video recordings.

Independent journalist Charles Arasim has some video before he was shut down. 

While school board members contemplate new contract incentives to retain Superintendent Joel Boyd, people in Fort Worth Texas are questioning if he’s the best choice to lead their district. Read it at the Santa Fe New Mexican.  After being suspended for a day for walking out of class to protest PARCC tests, a group of teens want to set up a meeting with Public Education Department Secretary Hanna Skandera.

Joey Peters has the story at SFR.

Las Cruces students are planning to protest the new tests by walking out of class on Monday. See more at the Las Cruces Sun-News.  Some parents are still trying to figure out if they are legally permitted to opt their children out of the tests. KRQE has the answer. The Public Regulation Commission has decided to wait until after lawmakers consider how ridesharing companies – like Lyft and Uber – should be regulated in New Mexico before issuing the companies actual operating permits. The Associated Press has more.  After a series of court rulings, New Mexicans are paying more for uninsured motorists insurance, according to Insurance Superintendent Gene Franchini.

Rosalie Rayburn has the details.  New Mexico Legislative News:

• After weeks of debate, House members voted 37-30 to pass right-to-work legislation –
• Santa Fe New Mexican. 
• A majority of states have independent ethics commissions, now New Mexico is one step closer to getting its own –
• Deborah Baker has more
• .  
• Bills to protect children are rolling smoothly through the Legislature –
• Vik Jolly has a recap
• .
• 
  
• Investigative reporter Larry Barker, following bills that require more health care pricing transparency, reveals some of the hospitals’ secrets –
• KRQE
• . 
• A measure that would allow beer and wine delivery to people’s home is advancing through committees –
• Santa Fe New Mexican
• . 
• New Mexico Supreme Court justices are considering whether the City of Albuquerque can ban its employees from serving in the Legislature –
• Dan McKay reports
• . 
• The Senate has confirmed two more of Gov. Susana Martinez’ cabinet secretaries –
• Dan Boyd
• . 
• New Mexico In Depth
• has been tracking lobbyist spending in Santa Fe, now they have a story about how other states have more extensive reporting requirements, including disclosure of which bills they are working on –
• Michael Sol Warren
• . 
• If teachers can be evaluated and ranked, Sen. Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, thinks cabinet secretaries should also be evaluated and scored –
• Milan Simonich
• . 

Lee Zlotoff, the man who created MacGyver, is headed to Santa Fe to open a new publishing house. "It'll be cheaper to find designers and editors in Santa Fe than in San Francisco or New York City, and Santa Fe is a very cosmopolitan town; there's a certain Bohemian cool to it," he said. Dan Mayfield has more. Billy the Kid’s hideout house during the Lincoln County War is for sale. See more the historic property here.   More details are emerging from that newsroom fracas at KOB.

ABQ Free Press has the scoop.

Santa Fe Reporter