- Help Wanted: Thousands of job openings posted in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The head of New Mexico's labor department says there are tens of thousands of online job postings in the state and his agency is trying to find ways to connect workers with employers. Workforce Solutions Secretary Ricky Serna said during a briefing Wednesday that many of those job postings are within the health care field. He said there has been some overall job growth since the height of the pandemic and that the number of people receiving jobless benefits has dropped significantly now that most extensions have expired. Still, he said it's difficult to tell if workers are returning to their same professions or pivoting to something new.
- Free lunches earn business access to New Mexico lawmakers
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico lawmakers routinely accept free lunches from lobbyists. This week, internet and testing companies are sponsoring education committee meeting lunches. The committee will consider writing legislation that pays for internet and school testing. Final decisions over which companies to choose are decided by school districts and state education officials, not legislators. But one former legislator who refused all gifts from lobbyists says the practice creates the appearance of wrongdoing. Current lawmakers on the Legislative Education Study Committee say they are not influenced by the free lunches, which can earn companies time to present products in private. A school testing service is presenting to the committee this week after buying them lunch on Monday.
- Navajo Nation: 65 new COVID-19 cases and 1st death in 7 days
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Wednesday reported 65 more COVID-19 cases and one death. It was the first time in seven days that the tribe reported a coronavirus-related death. The latest numbers pushed the tribe's totals to 34,260 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the virus since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The known death toll now is 1,448. The tribe's reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Navajo officials still are urging people to get vaccinated, wear masks while in public and minimize their travel.
- Ankle monitor GPS used to find wife's body, arrest husband
SILVER CITY, N,M. (AP) — New Mexico authorities say a man on probation has been charged in the fatal beating of his wife with an ax after authorities used data from his ankle monitor to find her body in a national forest where the couple had gone to cut firewood. State police say Armando Zamora was arrested Sunday on suspicion of killing Erica Zamora. Her body was found in the Gila National Forest after investigators checked GPS records from Armando Zamora's ankle monitor that he must wear because of a 2019 sexual contact conviction. Court records don't list an attorney for Armando Zamora who could comment on his behalf.
- Navajo leaders seek hearing on oil and gas drilling dispute
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Top officials with the largest Native American tribe in the United States are renewing a request for congressional leaders to hold a field hearing before deciding on federal legislation aimed at limiting oil and gas development around Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The Navajo Nation has struggled for years with high poverty rates and joblessness. The tribe's legislative leaders say individual Navajo allottees stand to lose an important source of income if a larger buffer is created around the park. Other tribes and environmentalists have been pushing to stop oil and gas development in the area, saying sites beyond Chaco's boundaries need protection.
- New Mexico audit finds gaps in ADA compliance at state sites
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An audit of a sampling of state government parking lots found numerous shortfalls in compliance with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. State Auditor Brian Colon on Tuesday released findings from the audit that included checking 23 sites in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Las Cruces and other sites across the state. Anna Silva, a General Services Department administrator who overseas state facilities, said changes that included restriping and other work have already been made at the sites examined by auditors.Department spokesman Thom Cole said the agency plans to ask the Legislature for $275,000 to hire three building inspectors and $5 million to make state buildings ADA-compliant.
- Advocates want interpreters for more languages in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An advocacy group for disadvantaged communities in New Mexico says more language translation and interpreter services are needed for people who don't speak Spanish or English. The Center on Law and Poverty on Tuesday asked a state District Court judge to intervene and order more robust services in languages such as Vietnamese, Chinese, Dari, Arabic, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, and Diné. The group warns that some foreign language speakers are likely to be missing crucial health and nutritional support that they are eligible to receive. The findings are disputed by the state Human Service Department that oversees food stamps and Medicaid.
- Groups worry about New Mexico governor's hydrogen hub plan
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Environmentalists are dismissing plans by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for New Mexico to become a hydrogen fuel hub. A coalition of groups sent the Democrat a letter on Tuesday. They call the hydrogen hub effort a "distraction" that could perpetuate the fossil fuel industry. Hydrogen fuel cells can power vehicles, but most energy used to produce hydrogen comes from natural gas. Climate activists say the state needs to focus on renewable resources such as solar and wind. In a speech Monday, Lujan Grisham described hydrogen as a transition fuel that will help meet the state's emission reduction goals.