A group of Senate Democrats led by New Mexico Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján reintroduced legislation last week aimed at making child care more affordable and accessible, while criticizing President Donald Trump’s approach to early childhood education funding. The Child Care for Working Families Act would cap child care costs at no more […]
Author Archives: Kevin Hendricks, nm.news
Kevin Hendricks is a local news editor with nm.news. He is a two-decade veteran of local news as a sportswriter and assistant editor with the ABQ Journal and Rio Rancho Observer.
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Rep. Stansbury: Epstein cover-up goes ‘all the way to the top’
Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., accused government officials of orchestrating a massive cover-up in the Jeffrey Epstein case after meeting with victims who shared their stories publicly for the first time, as House Republicans face mounting pressure to release unredacted federal investigation files. Stansbury said Tuesday that victims revealed “not only the trauma of hundreds (maybe […]
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City council candidate faces legal challenge to ballot access
Two community members filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to remove City Council candidate Stephanie Telles from the November ballot, claiming she failed to collect the required 500 valid petition signatures needed to qualify. Danny Gonzales and Vincent C. Sanchez, both District 1 residents, argue in their Second Judicial District Court complaint that Telles submitted only […]
Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, New Mexico
Rep. Vasquez introduces bill to grant legal status to workers in critical industries
Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-NM, introduced legislation Tuesday that would provide a pathway to permanent legal status for undocumented workers in critical sectors such as health care, agriculture and emergency services. Vasquez’s “Strengthening Our Workforce Act” would grant two-year conditional status to non-citizens who meet strict requirements and work in essential industries, according to a news […]
Posted inNew Mexico, NM State Gov.
New Mexico partners on $120 million quantum computing initiative
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an agreement Tuesday with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to establish a four-year, $120 million partnership aimed at advancing quantum computing technology. The Quantum Frontier Project will determine whether utility-scale quantum computing can be achieved by 2033, according to the governor’s office. The initiative is part of […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Republican state rep. files to run against Leger Fernandez
By Alex Ross A four-term New Mexico state legislator is preparing a Republican challenge to U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez in her bid for reelection next year. State Rep. Martin Zamora, a Republican of Clovis, filed a statement of candidacy in July with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The move allows him to raise and […]
Posted inEnergy Transition
New Mexico Land Office proposes updated geothermal leasing rules
The New Mexico State Land Office will hold a public hearing Sept. 30 to gather feedback on proposed changes to state rules governing geothermal energy leases, officials announced Thursday. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Morgan Hall in the State Land Office building at 310 Old Santa Fe Trail in Santa Fe, according […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Sen. Lujan: Trump Administration retreats from pharmaceutical tariffs after warning
The Trump administration has backed down from imposing tariffs of up to 250% on pharmaceutical imports from the European Union following pressure from U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., according to a Thursday press release from the senator. The administration also agreed to provide special treatment for generic medicines from the European Union, according to […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico
New Mexico State Police chief defends CDL policy after federal criticism
New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler defended his agency’s commercial driver’s license policies after federal officials criticized the state’s compliance with English language proficiency requirements for truck drivers. The dispute centers on a July 3 traffic stop involving commercial truck driver Harjinder Singh, who was later involved in a fatal crash in Florida that […]
Posted inNew Mexico, NM State Gov.
Republican senators defend ICE detention facility after tour
Two Republican state senators defended a federal immigration detention facility in southern New Mexico on Monday, arguing against proposed legislation that would ban such facilities in the state. Sens. Crystal Brantley of Elephant Butte and Nick Paul of Alamogordo toured the Otero County Processing Center, which houses approximately 1,027 immigrants awaiting deportation under contract with […]