House votes to repeal criminal law on abortion in NM By Robert Nott rnott@sfnewmexican.com Following three hours of impassioned testimony and debate, the state House of Representatives late Wednesday voted 40-29 to repeal a 50-year-old law that made it a fourth-degree felony to perform an abortion in New Mexico. Although a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision rendered the law unenforceable, …

Health officials say 5 cases of measles confirmed in Texas HOUSTON (AP) — Health officials say five cases of measles have been confirmed in southern Texas, including four children under the age of 2. The cases, which were announced Monday, include three in the Houston area, one in Galveston County and one in Montgomery County. A possible sixth case in …

Health officials say 5 cases of measles confirmed in Texas HOUSTON (AP) — Health officials say five cases of measles have been confirmed in southern Texas, including four children under the age of 2. The cases, which were announced Monday, include three in the Houston area, one in Galveston County and one in Montgomery County. A possible sixth case in …

Minimum wage hike advances despite restaurant industry’s fight By Andrew Oxford aoxford@sfnewmexican.com Democrats campaigned last year on a promise to raise New Mexico’s minimum wage, which has remained at $7.50 an hour for a decade. How high it will go, exactly, is a question that quickly has become wrapped in a battle waged by the restaurant industry and could get …

Sanctuary bill advances on party-line vote By Milan Simonich msimonich@sfnewmexican.com A panel of Democrats in the New Mexico Senate used their superior numbers Friday to advance a bill that would prohibit state and local police agencies from using any resources to enforce federal immigration law. The Public Affairs Committee voted 4-3 for the measure, Senate Bill 196. All the Republicans …

With Democrats in control of both houses of the Legislature and a new Democratic governor, the fear is that they’ll go on a “spending spree.” This is the favorite phrase of Republicans, who regard themselves as a check on Democratic excesses. So let me assure you: There will be no spending spree because Democrats have the same fear. Last week …

Latest bill to legalize marijuana gains steam in Legislature By Steve Terrell sterrell@sfnewmexican.com Recreational marijuana would become legal for people 21 or older in New Mexico and the state could tax marijuana sold in licensed stores under a bill introduced Thursday by state Rep. Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque. House Bill 356 would establish a licensing system that supporters say favors small …

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State legislators on Wednesday pushed forward with tax reform efforts aimed at reducing state government’s dependence on a volatile oil and natural gas sector and providing steady funding for road maintenance, public schools and teacher pay increases. The legislation seeks to increase annual state revenues by about $100 million at the same time it would …

Gun control debate restarts in NM Legislature By Andrew Oxford aoxford@sfnewmexican.com Legislators are pressing ahead with a slate of gun control bills that would require background checks for virtually all firearm sales and add to the categories of offenders who would be prohibited from possessing a gun at all. Proponents argue these bills will close loopholes and help keep guns …

Gas tax hike backers say NM roads need funding By Andrew Oxford aoxford@sfnewmexican.com New Mexico’s government has not raised the tax on gasoline since 1993. This year, that could change. A sweeping tax bill sponsored by Democrats in the state House of Representatives would increase the tax on gasoline by 10 cents a gallon, from 17 cents to 27 cents, …