ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — New Mexico regulators started deliberations Thursday on another set of rules proposed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration to crack down on pollution across the oil and natural gas sector. Their discussions came amid a rekindled national debate over domestic production as concerns grow over instability in the global energy market. The proposal before the state Environmental …

New Mexico governor signs tax rebate bill By MORGAN LEE Associated Press SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signing a package of tax rebates, credits and rate reductions worth about $530 million in the initiative’s first year and urged congressional leaders to suspend taxes on gasoline in response to surging fuel prices. Lujan Grisham signed the …

Bill would prohibit US funds for spent nuclear fuel storage By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. senators from New Mexico and Texas are proposing legislation that could affect efforts by private companies to build temporary storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel from commercial power plants around the U.S. as the federal government has yet identify …

Sen. Ben Ray Luján: ‘Absolute honor to be back’ after stroke WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico returned to Congress on Thursday for the first time since he had a stroke, which kept him away from Washington for weeks and temporarily weakened Democrat’s hold on power in the equally divided Senate. Luján received a standing …

Fred Nathan/Think New Mexico The compromise reached by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Senate Democrats to remove the tax on Social Security income for all lower and middle income seniors – with incomes up to $100,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples – represents a reasonable compromise among proponents and opponents of a full repeal. The state’s tax on Social …

Lawmakers approve $10k raises for many New Mexico teachers By CEDAR ATTANASIO Associated Press / Report for America SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A measure that will increase minimum salaries for New Mexico teachers and counselors by as much as 22% cleared its final legislative hurdle late Monday with a unanimous vote in the House. The bill, approved by the …

Sen. Luján suffers stroke, expected to make ‘full recovery’ By FARNOUSH AMIRI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico is expected to make a full recovery after suffering a stroke and being hospitalized last week, when he began to experience dizziness and fatigue, according to his chief of staff. The 49-year-old Democrat checked himself …

SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Mothers who lost their sons to violence in New Mexico testified Monday that something has to be done to keep suspects accused of brutal crimes behind bars ahead of their trials — marking the official start of a legislative debate over a proposed change to the state’s troubled pretrial detention system. …

MORGAN LEE Associated Press SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Legislators are introducing competing proposals to do away with New Mexico’s tax on income from Social Security benefits as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham throws her political weight behind the idea in an election year. About a dozen states tax Social Security benefits in some fashion. In New Mexico, personal income taxes …

Plant count increases ahead of New Mexico marijuana sales SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico regulators have doubled the number of marijuana plants that licensed growers can cultivate as the state prepares for recreational sales to start this spring, officials announced Tuesday. Increasing the plant count makes sense “to ensure that everyone can maximize the benefits of a thriving …