Legislation that would end the social promotion of third-graders who are not proficient readers is now before the New Mexico Senate. This after the House of Representatives approved the bill on a 38-30 vote Wednesday after three hours of debate. The measure by Representative Monica Youngblood of Albuquerque calls for retaining third-graders who are not reading proficiently and giving them intensive remediation. Democrats repeatedly referred to the bill as flunking of third-graders. The legislation is backed by Republican Governor Susana Martinez. Her plan to end social promotion faces opposition from Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, who says student retention should be based on teachers' assessments, not test scores. Opponents also say retaining students damages them psychologically and intervention can be done without retention.
During Wildlands, Water and Wildlife Lobby Day at the State Capitol Wednesday, the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club and other groups promoted environmentally-friendly legislation that’s under consideration this session. Local Sierra Club Director Camilla Feibelman says one issue that’s the subject of four bills by four separate sponsors concerns the Gila River. Last year, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission decided to divert water from the Gila for use by nearby cities and farms. However, Feibelman says the Commission’s decision is not a done deal. *****021215-Feibelman-2 :27***** Wednesday’s event attracted 20 groups in addition to the Sierra Club discussing the need to protect New Mexico’s natural resources.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is warning state lawmakers that without putting up a strong legal defense, the state stands to lose control of its water. Balderas on Wednesday briefed the Senate Finance Committee about the legal battle with Texas over management of the Rio Grande. His office and the Interstate Stream Commission need about $4 million to continue preparing for the case, which is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. Texas sued New Mexico in 2013, claiming the state failed to deliver water as required under the Rio Grande Compact. The federal government intervened and said groundwater pumping in New Mexico is tapping the shallow aquifer that should drain back into the river and flow to Texas. Balderas says the case is about fighting federal overreach and the theft of New Mexico's water by Texas.
It was a break from tradition last Friday during American Indian Day at the State Capitol when tribal and pueblo leaders weren’t afforded the opportunity to speak to state lawmakers. So, Senate Leaders provided such an opportunity on Wednesday. Governor J-Michael Chavarria of Santa Clara Pueblo, who’s also chairman of the Eight Northern Indian Pueblo Council, told lawmakers that essential services have been reduced in recent years due to federal cuts, which had hindered and limited the services provided to communities and constituents and have led to continued health and economic disparities.. And Chavarria told lawmakers of the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos’ need for additional assistance. *****021215-Chavvaria-2 :22*****Chavarria says consistent with decades of New Mexico state policy, it’s essential that additional state funding be allocated to the needs of New Mexico’s Native American citizens living both on and off of reservation lands.
Two state senators have introduced measures aimed at protecting young athletes from brain injuries. The measure sponsored by Democrat Bill Soules of Las Cruces would require special training for student athletes. Schools also would have to provide brain injury information, to be signed by parents and students before participating in sports. Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez wants to extend existing brain injury protocols to youths who participate in non-scholastic athletic activities. That would include requiring coaches to receive proper training should an athlete suffer a concussion. Young athletes who exhibit symptoms of brain injuries would also be prohibited from participating in sports without a medical release. The lawmakers cited statistics from the National Academies of Science, which reported 1.6 million to 3.8 million sports and recreation head injuries occur every year in the US.
Santa Fe Police say a man robbed the Papa Murphy’s Pizza in the three-thousand block of Saint Francis Drive shortly after eight-pm Wednesday. Police have released few details about the robbery, only saying they’re looking for the suspect who implied he had a weapon, and that he appears to be in his 20s was wearing a gray hoodie with a skull face mask.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly sunny today, with the high near 50. Tonight: Partly cloudy with the overnight low, 34. Tomorrow: Expect sunny skies with a high of 54.