The New Mexico Senate has unanimously approved an anti-bullying bill spurred by the 2013 suicide of a teenager who was bullied at school. Albuquerque Senator Jacob Candelaria’s measure, the Carlos Vigil Memorial Act, would create a fund to be administered by the University Of New Mexico Board Of Regents and creates a five-member board to oversee grant applications to eradicate bullying in New Mexico schools, colleges and communities. Candelaria discussed the bill’s namesake during debate on the bill. *****030415-Candelaria-1 :36***** Candelaria, a Democrat, says bullying is an issue that "warrants a state response." *****030415-Candelaria-2 :20***** Candelaria says that among the measure’s purposes is to "cultivate a statewide culture where bullying is not accepted."
The New Mexico House Safety and Civil Affairs Committee has sent to the full House a solitary confinement reform proposal with no recommendation a week after a heated exchange sparked by a Democratic member ended a meeting. The House voted 6-0 on Tuesday to move along a measure that would ban the use of solitary confinement on juveniles and inmates suffering from mental illness. A meeting on the bill ended abruptly last week after Rep. Patricia RoybalCaballero refused to stop talking over the objections of Chairman William Rehm, who then adjourned the meeting.
A bill that would allow beer and wine deliveries to your home is making headway through the state legislature. After receiving massive support from the Senate Monday, the legislation is now heading to the State House for a vote. The measure would allow restaurants to obtain licenses to make beer and wine deliveries. The only caveat: Customers must also order food with their alcohol delivery. The law would allow two bottles of wine and two six-packs of beer with a food order of at least $20.
A teen father from Santa Fe County has been charged with child abuse resulting in great bodily harm in an incident involving his five-week old infant son. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office says it responded to a call from Christus-St. Vincent Hospital about injuries suffered by the child, who was transferred to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque where he is in critical but stable condition. Doctors say the child’s injuries are consistent with “shaken baby syndrome. Facing charges is 17-year old Javier-S-Chavez. The Sheriff’s Office says the investigation into the apparent abuse is ongoing.
Santa Fe Police say a manager at a Santa Fe Walmart is accused of cashing close to 70-thousand dollars’ worth of checks from an inactive account. A news release from SFPD says 34-year old Bernadette Sotelo was arrested last week and stated she’d been in financial trouble and had been cashing checks at Walmart for some two-and-a-half years. A Walmart district manager documented the crime. Sotelo is now facing fraud charges.
New Mexico utility regulators plan a two-part meeting today for the public to comment on Public Service Company of New Mexico's proposal to shut down half of a coal-fired power plant near Farmington. The Public Regulation Commission scheduled afternoon and evening sessions in the Farmington council chambers on PNM's proposal to shut down two units of the San Juan Generating Station. The commission is holding a public comment period after finishing evidentiary hearings in January before it makes a final decision.
Governor Susana Martinez has agreed that monthly reports detailing the spending of security officers relates to public business and falls under the state Inspection of Public Records Act. That is according to a settlement between Martinez and The Associated Press. The parties filed papers on Tuesday to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the AP. The news organization sued the governor in 2013 for refusing to release records about her work and travel schedules, cellphone calls and the expenses of her security detail. As part of the settlement, Martinez agreed to release monthly procurement card statements — similar to credit card records — for the security officers who travel with her. Account numbers, names and arrival and departure dates were redacted for security reasons.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly cloudy today with the high only 32 with a 40-percent chance for snow. Tonight: Partly cloudy with a 10-percent chance for snow showers, and the overnight low down to 14. Tomorrow: Sunny with the high 38.