Seamless Medical Systems—A Santa Fe mobile technology company—will be expanding between now and the end of next year. Governor Susana Martinez making the announcement on Tuesday. *****021815-Martinez-1 :17***** Seamless Medical Systems CEO David Perez credited the state’s incentive programs for helping his firm expand. Governor Martinez used Tuesday’s occasion to announcer her support of legislation to expand the Angel investor tax credits as well as a one-million dollar seed fund to help boost promising technologies from New Mexico’s national laboratories and universities.
It's been 35 years since one of the nation's deadliest prison riots erupted in New Mexico, and one lawmaker wants to compensate the guards who were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. The legislation sponsored by Democratic Representative EliseoAlcon of Milan is headed for its first committee this week. The measure calls for setting aside one-and-a-half million dollars for the state Corrections Department to compensate officers who were involved. An independent review process would be established to determine eligibility. The officers would have to submit documentation from licensed health care providers that they're currently suffering from or suffered from PTSD as a result of the riot. The violent clash included beheadings, amputations and burned bodies. Thirty-three inmates were killed and dozens were injured. Fourteen officers were held hostage, assaulted or injured by rioting inmates.
The New Mexico House of Representatives has approved a bill that would streamline the process for teachers who want to become school administrators. The measure passed on a 38-24 vote this week. It now heads to the Senate for consideration. The legislation allows qualified educators to get an administrative license in a shorter time period and gives superintendents more flexibility to fill administrative positions. New Mexico's current six-year licensing process is the longest in the nation. Some teachers who now complete a Public Education Department-approved preparation program will have the ability to seek an administrative position. Republican Representative Tim Lewis of Rio Rancho called the favorable vote on his bill "a huge victory" for teachers and children.
A bill that reorganizes the panel that oversees the cases of New Mexico’s kids in foster care is on its way to the State House. The Senate has unanimously approved the bill sponsored by Aztec Republican Steven Neville (nuh-vill), who says the boards currently in charge of the foster kids’ cases are dysfunctional. *****021815-Neville-1 :29***** Neville says his bill should go a long ways to producing a credible process so kids receive a reasonable representation before Family Court judges.
A proposal that would ban the use of police drones from gathering evidence without a warrant in New Mexico has cleared its first hurdle. The Senate Public Affairs Committee voted 6-2 Tuesday to move along a proposal outlawing unwarranted surveillance by unmanned aircraft in New Mexico. The bill, sponsored by Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino and Representative Paul Pacheco (puh-cheek-oh), would prevent unwarranted material from being used in court and would allow targets of drones to seek civil action. The move comes as police departments in New Mexico consider using drones in investigations. Earlier this week, the federal government proposed drone rules for aerial photography and mapping, crop monitoring, and inspections of cell towers, bridges and other tall structures.
Taos County authorities say a 50-year-old man is wanted in the killing of a woman last summer. Taos County's Sheriff said an arrest warrant charges Ivan Denning CalesJr. with first-degree murder. The victim was previously identified as 33-year-old Roxanne Houston. She had moved to the Taos area from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Professors at the University of New Mexico's College of Nursing are hoping a new online course will help boost health care in rural areas. The college began offering its first open online course earlier this month. Officials say over 12-hundred participants from more than 115 countries are registered for the course. Professor Amy Levi says the college has deep roots in rural health care and the course provides an opportunity to share what the faculty and staff have learned over the years. One of the challenges for rural health care workers is that they often feel isolated. Levi says she hopes the course can serve as a virtual community where they can exchange ideas and collect more tools for improving the lives of their patients.
Santa Fe Weather: Sunny today through tomorrow—the high today 52, warming to 61 on Thursday. Tonight: Clear with the overnight low, 24.