- ELECTION 2020-WARREN-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico Democratic state lawmaker and a proponent of criminal justice reform has endorsed U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president. The Warren campaign announced Tuesday that Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas of Albuquerque is throwing his support behind the senator from Massachusetts as states begin to hold primaries. He is the second high profile Democrat from New Mexico to endorse Warren. Democratic U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland endorsed Warren last year and now co-chairs her campaign. Haaland represents Albuquerque and is one of the first Native American women elected to the U.S. House.
- FORCED VAPING-CHILD ABUSE
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico woman is facing child abuse charges after authorities say she forced her 13-year-old son to smoke vape pens containing THC. KOB-TV reports Candace Lindeman was arrested last week following reports about child abuse. Lindeman's son told investigators his mother physically abused him and made him smoke vape pens containing 90% THC, and grounded him for weeks if he refused. THC is the chemical in marijuana that makes users feel high. The 29-year-old Lindeman of Roswell, New Mexico, faces four counts of child abuse. It was not known if she had an attorney.
- ELECTRIC VEHICLES-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico would provide an income tax credit of up to $5,000 to offset the purchase of new plug-in electric vehicles as part of a proposal that cleared is first legislative hurdle on Monday. A state Senate panel endorsed a bill to provide up to $10 million in annual tax credits toward electric vehicle purchases, and smaller tax breaks on home car-charging stations. The full state tax credit would be available to middle- and low-income residents. Individuals earning more than $50,000 annually would qualify for a smaller $2,500 credit. The bill would increase electric vehicle registration fees to offset erosion of state tax income on gasoline sales.
- ELECTION 2020-PRIMARIES-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Candidates are registering ahead of New Mexico's pre-primary conventions to run for federal and statewide elected office. The secretary of state's office was scheduled to collect initial candidate registration documents Tuesday in preparation for the state's June 2 primary. The Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties decide next month who qualifies to seek their primary election nominations in an open race to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and three congressional races. Two state Supreme Court seats also could be in contention.
- STATE BUDGET-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A panel of House legislators has endorsed a $7.6 billion general fund spending bill that increases teacher pay by 5% and salaries for state workers by 3%. Republicans in the legislative minority say the increases may be unsustainable and result in government downsizing. Democrats say new investments in education, infrastructure and health care are urgently needed. An approved budget bill is due on the governor's desk by Feb. 20. Lawmakers are working with an estimated $800 million annual surplus because of record-setting oil production. The budget proposal maintains roughly $2 billion in financial reserves.
- TRIBES-INTERNET ACCESS
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The Federal Communications Commission is giving tribes priority access to licenses that could help establish or boost internet service in rural communities. Federally recognized tribes could start applying Monday. The licenses are for a mid-band of spectrum, or channels of electromagnetic waves, that largely is unassigned across the western United States. Tribes had pushed to be first in line for the licenses that once were reserved for educational institutions. The FCC has estimated that about one-third of people living on tribal lands don't have access to high-speed internet. Others say the figure is twice as high.
- ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Records show Democratic U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small outraised all her GOP opponents in the last months of 2019 as she seeks re-election. Federal election records show she raised 648,636.52 from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. She has around $2.3 million cash-on-hand as she enters an election year two years after she flipped the historic Republican leaning seat along the U.S.-Mexico border. Claire Chase, an oil executive from Roswell, New Mexico, raised $261,417 during the same period. Former state lawmaker Yvette Herrell reported raising $188,005 during the last months of 2019.
- DOLORES HUERTA-ROAD
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — City councilors in New Mexico's largest city are set to vote on renaming a portion of a busy road after one of the United States' most recognizable Mexican American activists. The Albuquerque City Council is scheduled Monday to take up a proposal to rename part of Bridge Boulevard in the city's South Valley as Avenida Dolores Huerta. Born in New Mexico, Huerta moved to California and later helped form the United Farm Workers union with Cesar Chavez in the 1960s. She has been an advocate for women and immigrants. Avenida Dolores Huerta would run from the county boundary at the Rio Grande west to Isleta Boulevard. A park along the road was renamed for Huerta in 2017.