- EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH-NEW MEXICO
Maternal, infant health programs leave some needs unattended
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A new study from a key New Mexico legislative committee suggests more can be done to improve the wellbeing of young children and their mothers through greater collaboration among six Health Department programs.
An evaluation released Wednesday by the Legislative Finance Committee says the agency's early childhood and maternal health programs operate too independently at times.
The evaluation sees opportunities for data sharing and collaboration in the state's creation of an Early Childhood Education Department to oversee several existing state programs.
One relies on Medicaid funding to provide voluntary home visits to parents of newborn children and coordinate medical care and educational services.
The new childhood agency also will oversee the Families, Infant and Toddler program geared toward infants and toddlers at risk of developmental delays, including babies born to drug-addicted mothers.
- SANTA FE OPERA
Santa Fe Opera sets course for 2020 season
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Santa Fe Opera is announcing plans for the coming year at the open-air summer opera stage in the foothills of New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Leaders of the opera company scheduled announcements Wednesday about the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Opera offerings this summer include a new fairy-tale thriller from a Danish composer who created an operatic version of "The Handmaid's Tale." Paul Ruders' composition titled "the Thirteenth Child" is inspired by a Brothers Grimm fairy tale.
In recent years, Santa Fe has been the backdrop for productions of an opera about the dawn of the nuclear age in 1940s New Mexico and a world premiere of a techno-infused opera about Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
A casino operated by Tesuque Pueblo has taken its place adjacent to the opera.
- TRUMP-IMMIGRATION
'Not just talking points': Kushner's new tack on immigration
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's White House hasn't been known for its careful crafting of policy.
But the president's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, has spent months drawing up a long-awaited immigration overhaul plan that the White House began to roll out on Tuesday.
Frustrated by congressional inaction and stinging Republican defeats, Kushner has been meeting with GOP groups and speaking with lawmakers to try to craft a plan the president's party might be able to unite behind heading into the 2020 elections.
It's a new approach for an administration with few legislative achievements and facing the challenges of navigating a hostile Democratic House, where many members are more intent on investigating the president than working with him.
- DAVE CHAPPELLE SUED
New Mexico judge dismisses lawsuit against Dave Chappelle
(Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Dave Chappelle by a man who threw a banana peel at the comedian during a 2015 performance in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Christian Englander's lawsuit was dismissed late last month after the judge determined the case had no significant activity for 180 days.
The newspaper could not reach Englander for comment Tuesday.
The suit filed in March 2018 claimed that Chappelle's bodyguard struck Englander in the face twice at the show.
Englander previously said he threw the banana peel because he was angered by Chappelle's jokes. He claimed the peel-tossing was misinterpreted as a racial attack.
Englander was charged with battery and disturbing the peace after the incident, but the charges were later dismissed.
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- NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE
US regulators reject calls for hearing in nuke storage case
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. regulators have denied requests by watchdog and environmental groups that sought an evidentiary hearing challenging plans by a New Jersey-based company to build a storage facility for spent fuel from commercial nuclear reactors.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board announced its decision Tuesday after hearing arguments in Albuquerque earlier this year.
The multimillion-dollar project proposed by Holtec International would allow for spent fuel rods to be transferred from sites around the nation to a temporary home in southeastern New Mexico.
Opponents have raised concerns about the project's legality, the safety of transporting high-level waste and the potential for contamination if something were to go wrong.
Lawyers for the group Beyond Nuclear say they will continue to pursue a federal court appeal aimed at stopping the project.
- JEMEZ HISTORIC SITE-MULTIMEDIA
New Mexico students help redesign Jemez Historic Site
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — A group of New Mexico college students is helping redesign the Jemez Historic Site visitor center using multimedia tools.
New Mexico Highlands University announced this week that 15 of its media arts students are creating floor-to-ceiling video projections of historic images and oral histories at the Native American site. The students also are adding interactive touch-screen computer tablets that focus on artifacts and an event called "Light Among the Ruins."
Supervisory archaeologist Ethan Ortega says the students used oral histories and texts written by Jemez tribal members to create the new components.
The Jemez Historic Site includes the stone remains of a 500-year-old village and the San José church, which dates to 1622.
It is located at Jemez Springs, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Albuquerque.
- ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
Congressional candidate drops out, endorses local prosecutor
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Democratic contender for New Mexico's northern congressional seat in 2020 elections says he is leaving the race and endorsing another likely candidate.
Air ambulance business manager Mark McDonald of Raton on Wednesday said he's dropping out of the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján. McDonald is voicing support for a possible candidacy by Santa Fe-based District Attorney Marco Serna, who has launched an exploratory committee.
The 27-year-old McDonald ran unsuccessfully in 2018 as a Democrat and openly gay candidate for a state House seat held by Republican Jack Chatfield. McDonald says he likes Serna's approach to economic and public health issues.
Candidates actively pursuing the 3rd Congressional District seat include state Rep. Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde and Santa Fe-based attorney Teresa Leger. Both are Democrats.
- MISSISSIPPI LOTTERY
Mississippi hires experienced executive for its new lottery
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Lottery Corporation is hiring an experienced executive as its first president.
The corporation board said Wednesday that Thomas N. Shaheen is its unanimous choice for the job. He begins June 1.
Shaheen was among about 20 applicants and was one of three finalists interviewed. He has most recently worked as vice president of a lottery technology company.
He previously worked as director the North Carolina Education Lottery and chief executive officer of the New Mexico Lottery. He also worked for lotteries in Georgia, Texas and Florida.
Shaheen will move from Arizona to Mississippi for the job with a base salary of $225,000 a year.
He says Mississippi could start selling lottery tickets by the end of this year.