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 …

New Mexico’s revenue estimators just announced the good times are here again! With almost $1.4 billion in “new” money for the upcoming fiscal year, progressive politicians Roundhouse are already drafting their shopping lists of things they want to buy for our state. In fact, the New Mexico House Speaker was so excited about this “new” money, he tweeted out that …

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Democrat-led New Mexico Legislature approved a red-flag gun law Thursday with a final vote of the state House, virtually ensuring adoption of new procedures for courts to order the surrender of firearms from people who appear to pose a danger to themselves or others. The House approved the bill on a 39-31 vote with …

Senate rejects repeal of unenforceable abortion law By Andrew Oxford aoxford@sfnewmexican.com An old, unenforceable New Mexico law that makes it a crime to perform an abortion will stay on the books. The Senate on Thursday voted down legislation that would have repealed the 50-year-old statute, spurning calls from advocates and newly elected Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to protect abortion rights …

Recreational pot bill proposing 9% tax clears first hurdle By Andrew Oxford aoxford@sfnewmexican.com Proponents of legalizing marijuana have long pointed to a prospective windfall they say state and local governments could enjoy by taxing products that now circulate on the black market. But the sponsors of a bill to legalize marijuana in New Mexico have an unlikely goal. They don’t …

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, …

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 …

State to appeal ruling on adequacy of school funding ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A judge’s ruling won’t end the legal fight over whether New Mexico’s funding for public schools is adequate. Public Education Department officials said late Monday the state will appeal state District Judge Sarah Singleton’s ruling Friday that New Mexico must provide funding to public schools to ensure …