Job Cuts Possible in Santa Fe
Santa Fe city councilors, who have already proposed new taxes and spending cuts to close the city’s budget gap, also want managers to consider
, “preferably without layoffs,” according to Daniel Chacón.
Flynn Blasts EPA
State Environment Secretary Ryan Flynn claims the US Environmental Protection Agency has attempted to downplay the extent of
and the environment following the Gold King Mine spill in August.
Cover Up
Dave McCoy at Citizen Action New Mexico thinks the New Mexico Environment Department and the EPA’s regional office in Dallas acted “criminally” when they allegedly put together a plan to use
and turned “a blind eye to the threat of potential contamination of the city’s drinking water supply by Sandia National Laboratories’ nuclear and chemical waste landfill.”
Audit Anger
A day after 10 more behavioral health providers were cleared of wrongdoing in New Mexico, US Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham said “
.” On Tuesday, she called for an investigation into the controversial audits.
Space Tourism
Virgin Galactic still wants to take tourists into space sometime in 2018. Now, they’re saying they’ll be
as soon as this year. Next week, Virgin plans to introduce its new spaceship in California.
Education Funding Deal Struck
Robert Nott reports that the state “may be able to avoid losing $34 million in federal funds over penalties the state Public Education Department faced for
of its own money in special-education programs.”
Legislative News
- John Arthur Smith, “the influential chairman of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, called on Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration to implement
- a state employee hiring freeze
- and a ban on nonessential travel in response to plummeting oil and natural gas prices.”
- Lawmakers, faced with less new revenue and a smaller state budget, are still trying to figure out how to provide the New Mexico Corrections Department
- more money to hire guards
- .
- Corrections officers are cautioning lawmakers about extending
- tougher prison sentences
- because of those staff shortages.
- A proposal to allow voters to decide to legalize marijuana in New Mexico has passed a House committee.
- The House has approved a bill to allow
- retired police officers
- to double dip.
- Uber drivers are split over a bill that allows the company to operate in New Mexico. Some are expressing concerns about contract changes and earning minimum wage.
- Support appears to be growing for the compromise
- Real ID bill
- .
- Rep. Terry McMillan, D-Las Cruces, announced he'll seek re-election to the House in 2016.
- Sen.
- Sue Wilson Beffort
- , R-Sandia Park, plans to retire after the 2016 Legislature.
- Legislators seek compromise on bail bonds amendment.
The New Mexico Appeals Court is considering whether the American Civil Liberties Union should be awarded
. The ACLU sued then-Secretary of State Dianna Duran in 2011 to get records she claimed proved undocumented workers were voting illegally.
Santa Fe Reporter