New Mexico ranks second-to-last among states in a national study on child well-being. The annual “Kids Count ranking” for 2015 has New Mexico stays at 49th—unmoved since last year—in the new edition of the KIDS COUNT Data Book. Mississippi came in 50th. New Mexico Voices For Children runs the Kids Count program in New Mexico, and its executive director Veronica Garcia says, quoting: “If we want to tackle child poverty then we must see more effort in improving educational and health outcomes. Healthy and educated children will have a fighting chance of moving out of poverty.” The national KIDS COUNT Data Book is released annually by the Annie-E-Casey Foundation. It ranks the 50 states on 16 indicators of child well-being that fall into the categories of Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community.
While New Mexico is exploring naloxone as a way to decrease overdose deaths, the state's Board of Pharmacy is working to increase regulation of the drug. The New Mexican reports that the state's overdose deaths increased by 20-percent last year. Meanwhile, public health workers say naloxone -- which counters the effects of opioids -- is becoming harder for people who are at risk of an overdose to access. The Department of Health says it is revising its guidelines on prescribing naloxone to address a procedural gray area that has complicated operations at shelters and recovery centers. Currently, rules require a direct consultation between the patient and a nurse or physician. The health department did not respond to specific requests for comment.
Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation are pointing to a hot spot of the potent global-warming gas methane over part of the American Southwest, saying federal officials need to move quickly on upcoming standards for curbing waste in oil and gas production. The Democratic members of the delegation sent a letter to the federal Office of Management and Budget on Monday. They're asking for prompt consideration of new rules being developed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Environmental Protection Agency. They argue that natural gas resources are going to waste through venting, flaring and leaks and that's leading to tens of millions of dollars in lost revenues for states and the federal government. They're also concerned about methane pollution over the San Juan Basin.
A star in the filmed-in-Albuquerque TV series "Breaking Bad," who’s currently a member of the Albuquerque public schools’ board is now running for a commission seat in New Mexico’s largest county. Actor Steven Michael Quezada has announced that he’s jumping in a heated race for Bernalillo County Commissioner.. Quezada, who played DEA agent Steven Gomez in the hit AMC-TV series, has told The Associated Press that he will make a formal today. The 52-year-old actor and comedian says he's joining in the race because he feels someone like him can make a difference in the district which includes the historic Hispanic South Valley and an area where developers are seeking to build new homes. At least three others are running for the seat, that’s currently held by Art De La Cruz. The Bernalillo County Commission recently voted to approve a planned community despite activists' fears the development would take water away from nearby communities.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today with the high 83 and a 30-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms. Tonight: Partly cloudy with the overnight low dipping to 59 with a 20-percent chance for showers. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, the high 85, with the chance for showers and thunderstorms dipping to 10-percent.