- LEGISLATURE-COMMUNITY SOLAR
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A proposal that would allow community solar programs to be established in New Mexico has cleared its first legislative hurdle despite questions from some lawmakers and concerns among investor-owned utilities. The bill cleared the Senate Conservation Committee on a party-line vote Thursday. Democrats said it would complement state mandates for generating electricity from renewable resources by expanding access to solar energy for businesses and residents who are unable to put up their own solar panels. Republican lawmakers said there are still uncertainties about the costs for utility customers. Some lawmakers also said the bill should include a preference for New Mexico-based solar providers.
- TRIPLE SHOOTING-ALBUQUERQUE
Albuquerque police say no immediate arrest has been made in a triple shooting that left two people dead and a third person wounded. No identities were released but police said two women were killed and a man wounded in the Wednesday night incident at an apartment complex in northeast Albuquerque. The wounded man was reported to be hospitalized in stable condition. No additional information was released.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — The Navajo Nation says about 120,000 checks have been issued to tribal members who applied for hardship assistance amid the coronavirus pandemic. The tribal controller's office says the total includes 370 checks that were duplicated because of a printer server failure. Controller Pearline Kirk says office personnel are planning to contact applicants affected by the error with more information. Staff also will void duplicate checks that haven't been processed. The hardship assistance program is paid for by a portion of the $714 million the Navajo Nation received from a federal coronavirus relief bill.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation health officials on Wednesday reported 152 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths. The latest figures bring the total reported coronavirus cases on the reservation to 27,887 with 989 known deaths. On Monday, the tribe extended its stay-at-home order with a revised nightly curfew to limit the spread of COVID-19. The Navajo Department of Health has identified 53 communities with uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus, down from 75 communities in recent weeks. The Navajo Nation also is lifting weekend lockdowns to allow more vaccination events. The actions in the latest public health emergency order will run through at least Feb. 15. The Navajo Nation extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials say almost all of the state's 33 counties have shown improvements over the last two weeks when it comes to reducing daily case totals and test positivity rates. New data released Wednesday shows seven counties have improved to the yellow category while sparsely populated Harding County remains green. The rest of the counties — including those that span New Mexico's most populated areas — remain in the red zone due to higher risks. However, state officials say more than two-thirds of the counties are on the cusp of reaching the metrics required for yellow classification. Overall, daily COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations have been trending downward.
- CAPITOL BREACH-COWBOYS FOR TRUMP
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Attorneys for jailed Cowboys for Trump leader Couy Griffin urged a federal judge Wednesday to release the New Mexico county commissioner and gun rights advocate as he awaits trial in Washington in connection with the siege on the U.S. Capitol. Federal prosecutors want Griffin, a resident of Tularosa, held without bail on charges that he knowingly entered the Capitol grounds with the intent to disrupt government business. They have called for a hearing to show there is a serious risk that Griffin would flee and poses a danger, noting a history of threatening comments, racial invective, access to firearms and vows that Joe Biden would never be president.
- SCHOOL REOPENING HURDLES
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — After nearly a year on lockdown, the governor says New Mexico school districts can offer in-person learning starting on Feb. 8 regardless of virus levels in their county. That's a relief for students who miss their friends or fell behind because they didn't have internet or electricity. So what happens now? Teacher unions say members need vaccines and COVID-19 sick leave. Rio Rancho Public Schools struck a deal with the union for 10 days of virus-related leave. They can't use it for quarantine due to out-of-state-travel, though. Vaccine shortages have led to clinics at large public schools getting canceled.
- LEGISLATURE-HAIR DISCRIMINATION
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A bill to protect New Mexico residents from discrimination stemming from hairstyles or religious coverings is gaining traction in the state Legislature. It cleared the House Education Committee on Wednesday. If approved and signed by the governor, New Mexico would become the eighth state to protect students and workers from discrimination against hairstyles and head coverings that express a person's religious, cultural or racial identity. Black and Native American women told lawmakers stories of institutions treating them differently because of their hairstyles. Across the country, workers have been pressured to cut or chemically alter their hair to satisfy employer grooming codes.