New Mexico Unemployment Rate Declines Slightly In February—Associated Press
New Mexico's unemployment rate is down slightly even as the decline in global oil prices continues to take a toll on the state's economy.
The Department of Workforce Solution's monthly report issued Friday says the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.4 percent in February, down from 6.5 percent in January and down from 6.5 percent a year ago.
The department says total nonfarm payroll employment remained virtually stable, growing by 300 jobs between February 2016 and February 2015. That small increase compares with a 2,000-job over-the-year job loss in January.
The economic sector that includes the mining industry lost 7,700 jobs in February compared with a year earlier.
On the plus side, the education and health services industry sector gained 6,100 jobs over the year.
Wildfire At Arizona-New Mexico Border Stoked By Wind—Associated Press
Firefighters dealt with gusty winds and dry conditions Friday as they battled an Arizona wildfire that has crossed into New Mexico.
The fire near Douglas was up to 10.6 square miles and was 15 percent contained, but firefighters have an uphill battle thanks to dangerous weather conditions.
Fire spokesman Jon Cambra says the blaze was reported Sunday evening 28 miles northeast of Douglas and crossed into New Mexico on Thursday.
Cambra says it's threatening a ranch that's about a mile from the fire but no other structures are threatened.
There also haven't been any injuries as a result of the fire.
Authorities are investigating how the fire started. There are about 60 fire personnel on hand.
New Mexico Reviews Water Injection Wells For Damages—Associated Press
New Mexico's state land commissioner is ordering a broad examination of easements for injection wells used by the oil and natural gas industry to dispose of waste water, in response to environmental damage at a site in the southeast of the state.
As of Friday, state regulators still were negotiating with a Midland, Texas-based company to clean up a spill of oily water at an injection site 20 miles southwest of Eunice, New Mexico.
Public Lands Commissioner Aubrey Dunn is instructing his agency's district managers to look at each of about 60 waste-water disposal sites on state trust land. Administrative reviews of leases also are planned.
State regulators accuse Siana Operations of trespassing and damaging the site outside Eunice after it stopped making lease payments. Siana is not commenting.
Roswell Proposal Would Cite Parents For Kids Missing School—Associated Press
A proposal under consideration in Roswell, New Mexico, would make it a minor crime to allow a child to accumulate 10 or more unexcused school absences.
The Roswell Daily Record reports that Mayor Dennis Kintigh unveiled a proposal Thursday that would make the "educational neglect" of a child 13 or younger a misdemeanor.
If the City Council approves the ordinance, the guardian of the child would have to appear before a judge in municipal court and face a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Kintigh says the proposal is intended to motivate parents to get their kids in school for the well-being of the community. He says state truancy statutes are difficult to enforce.
New Mexico State Museums, Historic Sites To Close For Easter—Associated Press
Officials with New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs say state museums and historic sites will be closed Easter Sunday.
The closure includes the New Mexico Museum of Art and New Mexico Historic Museum near the Santa Fe Plaza as well as the Museum of Indian Art and Culture and the Museum of International Folk Art.
State historic sites from Jemez Springs to El Camino Real in central New Mexico and Fort Selden and Fort Sumner in the southern part of the state will also be closed.
Officials say the museums are scheduled to reopen Tuesday morning.