NM Legislature Rips Through Bills; Wrangling Capital Outlay – The Associated Press
State lawmakers continue putting finishing touches on dozens of bills as the 52nd New Mexico Legislature's first session heads for the history books.
Among bills lawmakers sent to Gov. Susana Martinez for consideration Friday was a massive $6.2 billion budget. It includes pay raises for new teachers and state police. It also boosts spending for education, the state's child welfare agency, public safety, tourism and economic development.
Martinez also is set to consider a measure to adjust tax credits for film and television production companies to encourage them to buy and hire locally.
With the clock winding down toward adjournment Saturday at noon the fate of hundreds of millions of dollars in capital outlay projects around the state remained undetermined.
Tribal Court Orders April Election For Navajo President – The Associated Press
The Navajo Nation high court is ordering the tribe to hold a long overdue presidential contest without further delay.
The Navajo Nation Supreme Court issued an order Friday afternoon that calls for a special election to take place as scheduled on April 21.
The court also ordered the tribe immediately transfer more than $300,000 to Navajo election officials to cover spending costs for the election.
The election date had become uncertain after President Ben Shelly signed a bill Monday prioritizing election funding. The bill gives first priority to a referendum vote on language requirements for the tribe's top two posts.
Attorneys David Jordan and Justin Jones filed a motion Wednesday asking the court to ensure the April 21 vote occurs and prohibit lawmakers from interfering.
2 New Mexico Groups To Share $5.6M In Education Grants – The Associated Press
Two New Mexico organizations will share $5.6 million in federal grant funding to boost their early childhood education programs.
U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced the grants this week. The money was awarded to the Eastern Plains Community Action Agency and La Clinica de Familia.
The grants are offered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They're aimed at helping new or existing programs partner with local childcare centers that serve low-income families.
La Clinica de Familia plans to use the money to provide an additional 72 families with intensive, comprehensive education in Las Cruces and the surrounding area.
The Eastern Plains Community Action Agency plans to continue providing educational opportunities for children and families in Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, Roosevelt, and Quay Counties.
Carlsbad School District Boosts Budget For Books – The Associated Press
There will be a better selection of books in Carlsbad schools thanks to a budget increase.
The school district budgeted more than $146,000 for new books this year. That amounts to about one new book per student, a significant increase from previous years when each principal determined their own library budget.
The district's finance director, Laura Garcia, tells the Carlsbad Current-Argus that librarians came forward last year with a proposal for additional funding to expand their offerings.
Garcia says a lot of the libraries didn't have the books kids needed and wanted to expand resources for bilingual students.
The increase in funding included $10,000 for e-books and more than $22,000 for books aimed at English language learners. The district has more than 240 students whose first language is not English.
New Mexico Jail Detainee Is Injured After Cellblock Jump – The Associated Press
A woman detainee is recovering from multiple injuries after jumping from a second-floor cellblock at a Las Cruces jail.
Authorities say 29-year-old Stephanie Sepulveda jumped Friday morning from a railing at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.
She landed first on a table and then on the concrete floor below.
Sepulveda was transported by ambulance to Memorial Medical Center and jail officials say none of her injuries appear to be life-threatening.
County authorities say Sepulveda has been in the facility since Jan. 22 when she was booked for a probation violation.
They say Sepulveda has 10 prior bookings on charges ranging from aggravated DWI and assault on a police officer to resisting arrest and battery against a household member.