- New Mexico official takes aim at oil, gas bond requirements
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's financial assurance requirements for oil and gas wells, pipelines and related infrastructure fall far short of what would be needed to offset closure and cleanup costs. That's the finding of an independent study commissioned by the state after concerns were raised last year about taxpayers being left on the hook if companies go bankrupt or abandon their operations without cleaning up. The study pegged the bonding gap at more than $8 billion. Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard called the estimate staggering. She says the state needs to take action to ensure companies are adequately bonded. She's planning a series of public meetings on the issue.
- New Mexico summer programs for youth include new internships
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico kids can expect a more engaging summer as schools and nonprofits ramp up learning programs. State officials are also introducing a massive high school internship program. The Public Education Department says it's budgeting $10 million in pandemic relief funding for 2,600 student internships. Applications will open as early as June for positions ranging from summer camp counselors to local government office support. School districts are also using pandemic relief funds for summer programs. Some nonprofits say more of that funding could be used in their summer programs as demand increases. Child care centers are returning to full capacity.
- Navajo Nation reports 9 new COVID-19 cases and 2 more deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Wednesday reported nine new confirmed COVID-19 cases and two more deaths. Tribal health officials say the latest figures pushed the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago to 30,747 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The known death toll is now 1,297. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez says more than half of the reservation's adult population has been vaccinated, but people still need to stay home as much as possible, wear masks and avoid large gatherings.
- New Mexico officials cite progress in vaccinating students
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The head of the New Mexico Public Education Department says progress is being made in vaccinating the state's middle and high school students now that eligibility has been expanded to include those 12 and older. Education Secretary Ryan Steward said during a briefing Wednesday that more than 27,000 children between the ages of 12 and 18 are now fully vaccinated. He also says the number of COVID-19 cases reported at schools around the state continue to decline each week. State health officials also warn that those who have not been vaccinated are at high risk of being infected as the virus mutates.
- Pandemic emptied unemployment trust, left fraud unchecked
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The budget and accountability office of the Legislature says New Mexico may have overpaid unemployment insurance benefits by as much as $250 million during the coronavirus pandemic amid a backlog in claim investigations. Analysts on Wednesday briefed members of the Legislature's lead budget writing committee on the trajectory of record-setting unemployment claims during pandemic. New Mexico has paid out about $3 billion in unemployment claims since the outset of the pandemic last year. Overwhelmed initially by the workload for processing claims, the state Workforce Solutions Department reassigned staff to help. That left fewer people to investigate overpayments and fraud concerns.
- Kickback trial for former New Mexico mayor is underway
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — The trial started this week for a former mayor in New Mexico after she was accused of using her position to give her then-boyfriend city contracts in exchange for kickbacks. Fourth Judicial District Judge Abigail Aragon is presiding over the trial of former Las Vegas Mayor Tonita Gurule-Giron. It is expected to last until Friday in Las Vegas, near Santa Fe. Gurule-Giron pleaded not guilty last year to multiple criminal charges including engaging in an official act for personal financial gain. Defense attorney JoHanna C. Cox argued Gurule-Giron says the only thing she did wrong was have a bad relationship with her general contractor boyfriend.
- Navajo Nation tops Cherokee to become largest tribe in US
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has by far the largest land mass of any Native American tribe. Now, it's boasting the largest enrolled population, too. The number of Navajo citizens grew to nearly 400,000 as a result of payments made to members for hardships during the pandemic. The tribe now tops the Cherokee Nation's enrollment of 392,000, but a spokeswoman says the Oklahoma tribe also is growing. The U.S. Treasury Department will use tribes' own enrollment figures to pay out a chunk of the $20 billion set aside for them in the latest virus relief funding package. Tribes have until Monday to submit enrollment data online.
- Can monthly cash payments cut child poverty by nearly half?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The expanded Child Tax Credit payments start flowing from the federal government in July to roughly 39 million American households. They are an ambitious attempt to rewrite some of the core rules of the nation's social safety net. The monthly payments of up to $300 per child are a deliberate departure from some of the guiding principles that built the current network of government welfare programs. Proponents predict they could cut nationwide child poverty levels nearly in half. The payments are only supposed to last a year, but architects of the change are openly talking about making them permanent.