NM-leftnright

• Tying Driver Permits to School Attendance and Performance is Heard in SF

  Santa Fe - The Public Education Department hears testimony on a proposed rule that would make good grades and school attendance a pre-requisite for getting a driver's permit. Some say the rule would be unfair to many and hurt already struggling families. The hearing considers a proposed policy by the [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 7:16am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Anti-health reform legislation not just in US Congress - Now reportedly coming to New Mexico

  Under the guise of "choice" in health care, conservatives are launching a state-based campaign to derail health reform. With support from the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), conservative legislators in at least 24 states are introducing a bill that says no one shall be required to purchase health care [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 1:28pm EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• No Landmark in Denmark? - NM Senators Push Climate Bill

  from the New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico Santa Fe - The landmark climate change conference starting today in Copenhagen, Denmark, isn't expected to end with a major international treaty - partly because the Senate has yet to act on a climate change bill.' [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 9:26am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• New Mexico's Own Summit on Creating Jobs This Weekend

  Las Cruces, NM - A free event Saturday, December 5th looks at ways to create jobs in New Mexico through the state's many protected lands and picturesque landscapes. President Obama called for new ideas for job creation at a special summit in Washington on Thursday, and a special meeting taking [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 7:22am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• New Tool Helps NM Shoppers Avoid Dangerous Toys on Store Shelves

  Katie Lobasco is with the New Mexico Public Interest Research Group. She says they tested a number of toys for hidden dangers like lead paint and recently-banned phthalates found in many plastics. Their results are available in a new report online that parents can access from iPhones and Blackberries. Lobasco [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 9:24am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Eyes and Ears Head to Copenhagen for Climate Conference

  Santa Fe - The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark kicks off in one week, and a few folks from New Mexico will be on hand to witness the historic summit, including Ken Hughes, conservation director for the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club. [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 8:03am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• A CULTIVATED EDEN DESCRIBED AS A WILDERNESS

  What European colonists mistakenly described as wilderness was actually a human-created and nurtured landscape, providing food, medicinal herbs, bountiful wildlife, healthy, living soil, and clean water. [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2009, 12:55pm EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Food for Thought

  A report put out last week by the USDA shows that New Mexico has the fifth highest level of hunger insecurity in the nation. Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas are the only states where food insecurity is higher. The report defines food insecurity as not having access to adequate levels [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2009, 9:07am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Time Runs Out on Proposed White's Peak Trade

  from the New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico New Mexico Sportsmen Remain Opposed Springer, NM - There's just one day left until the deadline on a deal that has New Mexico sportsmen up in arms. A proposed land exchange between the State Land Office [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 6:59am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• New Mexico Thanksgiving Dinner Challenge: Go Local

  Time to put together the shopping list for holiday meals, and New Mexicans are being challenged this year to keep it local. Your turkey doesn't have to travel across state lines to make it to your Thanksgiving table. "Eat local for Thanksgiving" challenges are underway, and some local producers say' [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 7:05am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Report: New Mexico Shows Slight Improvement on Tax Burden of Poor

  ALBUQUERQUE-A new report by the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy (ITEP) shows that New Mexico has improved when it comes to taxing its lowest-income residents, but its highest-income residents now pay an even lower percentage of their income in taxes than do the lowest-income earners, showing that they benefited [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 1:33pm EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Education Week: Cooperative Effort Needed to Turn Around NM Dropout Rate

  It's American Education Week and New Mexico educators are highlighting communities in the state that play an active role in education and fighting our high dropout rate. This week is National Education Week, and educators in New Mexico say they want to send the message that improving the state's dropout [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 8:05am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• State Leaders Get Behind Land and Water Conservation Funding for NM

  State leaders gathered Tuesday to voice their support for a bill recently introduced by Senator Jeff Bingaman that provides funds for big and small land and water conservation projects, including the Valles Caldera and the Duke City's Tingley Park. They say it would be money well-spent in New Mexico. That's' [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 7:38am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Survey: Second District Backs Teague on Climate Bill

  Las Cruces, NM - As the U.S. Senate prepares to take up major climate and energy legislation, a new survey finds growing support for the bill in New Mexico's second Congressional District. It's good news for Rep. Harry Teague, who had been accused of being out of step with his [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 6:07am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Tribes Talk Climate with White House

  Native American leaders from New Mexico and across the country have been in Washington, D.C. this week for the White House Tribal Nations Conference, and climate change is one of the big topics of conversation between the Obama administration and tribes. John Antonio is the Governor of Laguna Pueblo - [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 8:34am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Rep. Mimi Stewart and Others Pushing Congress on Climate Bill, Clean Energy

  Albuquerque state Representative Mimi Stewart was in Washington late last week to help put the heat on Congress as it considers a climate and energy bill. They're looking to "clean up" energy policy in DC. Stewart joined other state lawmakers from around the country in Washington late last week to' [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 5:23am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• It's National Weatherization Day - But Some New Mexicans Are Shivering

  It's National Weatherization Day, but many rural New Mexicans don't have much reason to celebrate. Local groups say weatherization programs aren't reaching households that need the help the most. As cold weather settles in on the Land of Enchantment, some local groups are using the day to highlight households that [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 7:57am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Award Winner: NM Kids Need a Leg Up, Not Cut-backs

  The budget the Governor is considering includes many cuts to public services that affect New Mexico children, and one recent award winner who has spent decades working with New Mexico families says that's the last thing kids in the state need. Angie Vachio founded the Peanut Butter and Jelly therapeutic [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 7:30am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• New Mexico Making Big Moves Before Climate Action Day

  October 24 is a Day of Climate Action worldwide, and in New Mexico a number of events are planned - but some big players in the state have already made a stand recently on the issue. Last month, PNM announced it would not renew its membership in the US Chamber [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 8:14am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• FCC Considers "Rules of the Road" for the Internet

  Today the Federal Communications Commission will meet to consider far-reaching protections to the internet known collectively as "net neutrality." The FCC chairman has said he wants to develop formal rules prohibiting Internet service providers from selectively blocking or slowing Web content. The FCC is meeting today to develop "rules of" [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 8:47am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Land of Enchantment Becoming More Enchanting With Age

  The forces that have shaped the beautiful New Mexico landscape, which has inspired the likes of artists such Georgia O'Keefe, will continue to become more dramatic in the future. That's the topic of an event tonight in Santa Fe and fans of New Mexico's scenery - like the landscapes that' [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 8:12am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Study Makes Noise for Quiet Use of NM Forests

  A new report by the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance and The Wilderness Society finds quiet use of New Mexico forest lands brings in three times as much income and jobs to local communities compared to motorized use. The findings come as many forests consider travel plans for roads through public [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 6:05am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Climate Change: A Threat to National Security?

  Melting ice caps, rising sea levels and endangered polar bears are among the most familiar potential threats of climate change. But America's national security might also be at stake, according to a group of high-ranking retired military officers. According to a dozen three- and four-star retired military officers, climate change [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 8:58am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Group: Change for Oil Field Waste the "Pits" for New Mexico

  Santa Fe - Recent rule changes could weaken environmental protections for the waste that comes from oil fields in New Mexico. Bruce Frederick, staff attorney with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, has filed an appeal of one of the changes with the district court in Santa Fe. The recent [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 8:37am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• The Environment - Socialization to Kill or Give Life to the Planet?

  The willingness to explore and exercise our skepticism helps many of us to see a larger picture. This is hopefully one of those times for you. In particular explore socialization as it relates to the material resources of our planet and how our often taken-for-granted lifestyle can contribute to the [...]
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  Posted: October 17, 2009, 9:24am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Tips for Hunting Season in New Mexico

  Las Vegas New Mexico, It's prime hunting season in the Land of Enchantment, and plenty of hunters are heading for the hills and plains in the hope of bagging some game. Mike Matz from Campaign for America's Wilderness executive director, and avid hunter, has a few tips for where hunters [...]
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 9:29am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Leads the Way on Protecting Wilderness

  Protecting wild, roadless areas of the West is coming up again in Washington, and many are looking to New Mexico for leadership. Protecting more of the West's wild and roadless lands has been coming up on Capitol Hill again recently, and New Mexico is looked to as a leader on [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 1:35am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Scores Low for Economic Opportunity, But Hope Persists

  New Mexico scores low on a new ranking looking at economic opportunities across the states, but some in the state say some programs are offering bright spots of hope that things will turn around. A new report card (from the Corporation for Enterprise Development) looking at economic opportunity in New [...]
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  Posted: October 12, 2009, 8:30am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Thousands Expected for "Teach In" Rally at the Capitol

  Santa Fe - Over three-thousand are expected to show up outside the Capitol today for a rally in opposition to proposed budget cuts to education in the state. Schools may be off today in some parts of New Mexico, but there's a "teach-in" planned at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. [...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2009, 6:55am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Report: Savings and Jobs for New Mexicans in Climate Bill

  A recent report finds New Mexicans stand to gain from a climate and energy bill that makes major improvements in energy efficiency. A few hundred dollars in the bank and thousands of new jobs for the taking in New Mexico. That would be the payoff for many households in the [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 10:32am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• How Safe is the Big Rig Sharing the Road with You?

  A new analysis of federal data shows more than 28-thousand motor carrier companies have violated federal safety rules. Dozens of New Mexico companies are included in the list, and they're trucks are still on the road. Something to think about when you see a big rig in the rear view' [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 10:22am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Wilderness Act Looking Good at 45

  2009 marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act. Since then, millions of acres have been set aside for future generations, including many right here in the Land of Enchantment. Forty-five years old and more than 100 million acres strong. 2009 is the 45th anniversary of the [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 10:17am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Recycling Programs a Few Cycles Behind

  A new national ranking puts the Duke City's recycling program somewhere in the middle of the pack, but the rest of the state lags far behind. [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 10:09am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Cell Phone and Cancer Connection?

  The type of cancer that felled US Senator Ted Kennedy is increasingly being linked to the risks of cell phones, according to experts. The International EMF (electromagnetic field) Collaborative points out that even studies that appear to clear cell phones of health risks, find there are tumor risks. One such [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 9:55am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Algae: It's a Gas, Gas, Gas

  Carlsbad - Vast areas of Arizona and New Mexico could soon be supplying the world with diesel fuel produced from algae. An Arizona State University researcher says algae biodiesel should be commercially viable in two-to-five years. A commercial scale demonstration project is already under way in the Pecos valley. [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2009, 6:00am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• New Mexico Front and Center in Health Care Debate this Week

  Santa Fe - New Mexico's senior Senator Bingaman is in the middle of the health care debate this week in Washington, as lawmakers look at an option that could give relief to many New Mexico households according to a recent study. Wrangling over health care reform continues in Washington this [...]
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  Posted: September 28, 2009, 11:05am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Race and Politics Not Just a Washington Issue?

  Santa Fe - Race and politics has been a hot topic of discussion on the national scene again this month, but some in New Mexico say our state politicians should also take race into consideration when debating the state budget. The debate over the role of race in American politics [...]
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  Posted: September 28, 2009, 10:51am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Database Key to Poison-Free Toys

  A first-of-its-kind national database offers the public insight into thousands of potentially toxic products that New Mexico kids and pets play with. There could be more than lunch in your kid's lunchbox, and a new database is designed to unlock the mystery. The Ecology Center tallied 50-thousand test results on [...]
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  Posted: September 23, 2009, 7:59am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Change.org Members Force Health Organizations to Back Away from Food Labeling Ploy

  Thousands of members from Change.org took on the food industry's new marketing scheme to persuade customers to buy more highly processed foods - and won a major victory. The new marketing program, called "Smart Choices," is a front-of-the-package nutrition-labeling program designed in theory to help shoppers make smarter food choices. [...]
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  Posted: September 21, 2009, 2:07pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Health Care Reform is Women's Business

  The US Senate Finance Committee is taking up a health care reform bill in Congress and looking at proposals after months of debate. As health care reform is crafted, First Lady, Michelle Obama, is challenging women to speak up, and new research outlines the economic burden of disease in women [...]
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  Posted: September 21, 2009, 9:51am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Southern NM Wilderness on the Table in DC

  A bill to protect parts of Southern New Mexico has just been introduced in the US Senate, and it's getting mostly rave reviews from a broad spectrum of supporters. More New Mexico wilderness is officially on the table in Washington, DC. Late last week, Senators Bingaman and Udall introduced a [...]
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  Posted: September 21, 2009, 9:38am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Fed Judge's Decision Lets NM Non-Profits Breathe Easier

  A federal judge has ruled in favor of two New Mexico non-profits that claimed the state acted inappropriately when it said their mailings amounted to 'electioneering' that required them to register as political committees. [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 3:38pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Med Students Studying in Cuba Visit New Mexico as Health Care Debate Continues

  Medical students from the US who have been studying in Cuba visited New Mexico. They've gone a long way for a career in health care, and now they're home to share their experiences in the midst of the national health care debate. Twelve American students currently enrolled at the Latin [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 3:26pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Real-Life CSI for New Mexicans: Toys Poisoned with Asbestos

  The scene of the crime is the toy box. A real-life scenario for the CSI television series has found popular toys marketed under the show's name are contaminated with asbestos - and New Mexico parents need to confiscate the toys and apply for a refund. New Mexico parents are being [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 3:15pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Kids Move up in '09 Kids Count - More Work Remains

  New Mexico's kids are moving up, but there's still plenty of work to do - that's the finding of this year's KIDS COUNT Data Book. The report shows the state improved from 48th to 43rd in overall child well-being. [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 3:09pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• 30 Year Anniversary of Biggest Radioactive Accident in US History

  The Church Rock Spill Dumped 90 Million Gallons of Toxic Waste in NM Waters. Thirty years ago the largest radioactive spill in U-S history happened near Church Rock. It's been 30 years since the biggest radioactive accident you've probably never heard of - and it happened right here in New' [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 2:55pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Report: 'Green' the Best Way to Make Green in NM

  A recent report (Pew Charitable Trusts) finds that clean energy jobs in New Mexico have grown at a rate of more than 25 times that of overall job growth. It finds that in 2007, the number of jobs in the sector had risen dramatically in the ten years prior, to [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 2:15pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Special Matching Accounts Turbo-Charge New Mexicans' Savings

  Even when times are rough, saving can help transform a life - and eligible individuals can have their savings matched 4 to 1 through a special program to help low-income New Mexicans start a business, buy a first home or continue their education. Financial experts say even in troubled times, [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 2:06pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Mental Health Help for New Mexicans Dealing with Recession Depression

  There's new help available for New Mexicans experiencing stress caused by the economic downturn. Mental Health America is promoting a website giving people tools to manage stress and major life changes. Data suggests that one in five New Mexicans is experiencing anxiety and fear as a result of the economic [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 1:54pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Child Abuse Prevention: Recession Effects Trickle Down to NM Kids

  Child advocates are trying to shine a light on the darker side of the recession in New Mexico. Elizabeth Davis-Pratt with the Children's Defense Fund says there is a documented rise in child abuse and neglect when the economy goes sour. While the news over the past year has been [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 1:46pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Report: NM Now #1 in Oil and Gas, but Challenges Persist

  A recent report finds New Mexico has surpassed Wyoming to become the number one producer of oil and gas in the Rocky Mountain West. The report also includes a case study of proposed drilling on Otero Mesa. Author Ben Alexander with Headwaters Economics says the state is doing a good [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 1:38pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Tax Refund Gadgets Cost Neediest NM Families $24 Million

  Close to five thousand dollars is available as a tax refund to many working New Mexico families under the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. And a recent report released by the Children's Defense Fund shows families eligible for the credit are prime targets for refund anticipation gadgets: loans, checks and [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 12:59pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Expert: NM an "Enchanting" Home for Green Energy

  New Mexico could be the new "Sunshine State" in the eyes of lawmakers and energy experts. Congress is working on plans to take on both energy reform and fighting global warming, and some say the state is already leading the way. Leading by example. That's what experts say about New [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 12:48pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Groups Push Obama for Immigration Change: "End Worker Raids Now"

  Some New Mexico groups are among thousands signed on to a letter to President Obama asking for a drastic change in immigration enforcement policy. They say if now is the time for change, then immigration enforcement tactics like intimidation and large workplace raids should be changed now. New Mexico groups [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 12:21pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• COBRA Eats Up Most NM Unemployment Benefits

  For New Mexico residents who've been laid off, COBRA can seem more like a boa constrictor - as it squeezes their unemployment checks. The COBRA health insurance plan is supposed to allow ex-employees continued coverage with their former company's health insurance plan. But a new Families USA report says that,' [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 12:13pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• High Child Poverty Rate in NM

  Children are being born into poverty at a staggering rate in New Mexico - and with the current economic downturn, the situation is expected to get worse. That's according to a new report by the Children's Defense Fund. The Children's Defense Fund looked at The State of America's Children over [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 12:05pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Mining Reform: Making What's 'Mine,' Ours

  A bill was introduced Tuesday in the House of Representatives to reform hardrock mining laws that have been in place over 130 years. This, just as a new report outlines over a billion dollars of taxpayer money that could be lost over the next ten years because of mining subsidies. [...]
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  Posted: January 28, 2009, 9:00am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Groups Push Obama for Immigration Change: "End Worker Raids Now"

  Some New Mexico groups are among thousands signed on to a letter to President Obama asking for a drastic change in immigration enforcement policy. They say if now is the time for change, then immigration enforcement tactics like intimidation and large workplace raids should be changed now. New Mexico groups [...]
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  Posted: January 28, 2009, 8:27am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Border Agent Whistleblower Lawsuit Highlights "Shotgunning"

  Albuquerque, NM - Two Border Patrol agents and whistleblowers are back in their regular jobs this week and have their badges back after an ACLU lawsuit to get them reinstated. Both officers were demoted and had their badges stripped after testifying about the practice of "shotgunning traffic" - allegedly stopping [...]
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  Posted: January 26, 2009, 7:00am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Photographers Focus on Wildlife Impact of Border Wall

  Phoenix, AZ - An international team of nature photographers will spend three weeks along the Mexican border wall documenting its impact on native species. Homeland Security is rushing to build 700 miles of wall along the Mexican border from California through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. [...]
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  Posted: January 19, 2009, 12:05am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Court Asked to Put the Brakes on Oil Shale Fast-Track

  Oil shale research and development has been fast-tracked by the Bureau of Land Management in the name of urgent need for more domestic fuel supplies. But while there are huge reserves, there isn't any current technology to make it cost-effective or to produce it in a way that doesn't cause [...]
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  Posted: January 16, 2009, 5:59am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• COBRA Eats Up Most NM Unemployment Benefits

  Albuquerque, NM - For New Mexico residents who've been laid off, COBRA can seem more like a boa constrictor - as it swallows up their unemployment checks. The COBRA health insurance plan is supposed to allow ex-employees continued coverage with their former company's health insurance plan. But a new Families [...]
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  Posted: January 15, 2009, 8:55am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Groups: State Should Lead the Nation in Greenhouse Gas Reduction

  Santa Fe, NM - The group "New Energy Economy" has petitioned New Mexico's Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) to adopt new regulations - to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The petition calls on the state to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade. If passed, the [...]
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  Posted: January 12, 2009, 6:54am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• High Child Poverty Rate in NM Again

  buquerque, NM - Children are being born into poverty at a staggering rate in New Mexico - and with the current economic downturn, the situation is expected to get worse. That's according to a new report by the Children's Defense Fund. The Children's Defense Fund looked at The State of [...]
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  Posted: January 09, 2009, 10:47am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Medicaid cuts would devastate state's most vulnerable children

  ALBUQUERQUE-Several child welfare experts, child advocates, attorneys, and citizens will speak on the importance of Medicaid funding for children, particularly those in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The group, wants the Governor and Legislature to know that they are united in their support of fully funding Medicaid. [...]
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  Posted: January 08, 2009, 11:07am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Stalking Numbers Alarmingly High

  Santa Fe, NM - January is National Stalking Awareness Month, and community leaders in Santa Fe are promoting a town hall meeting on the issue scheduled next week on Tuesday January 13th. The event is meant to raise the public's consciousness about stalking - a crime that is very common [...]
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  Posted: January 07, 2009, 8:02am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• A New Year's Resolution to End Poverty in New Mexico

  Santa Fe - The latest numbers show unemployment in New Mexico rose by more than a third during 2008. That could put more children at risk in a state where nearly half lived in low-income families, even before the current economic crisis (according to the National Center for Children in [...]
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  Posted: December 29, 2008, 9:01am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Inflation-adjusted wages see slight raise

  ALBUQUERQUE-New Mexico unemployment rose by more than one third -- or from 31,000 to 41,700 persons -- between November 2007 and November 2008. Over that same time period, New Mexico employment dropped by 2,100 jobs, and several sectors lost jobs over the year. That's the latest news from the US [...]
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  Posted: December 23, 2008, 7:08pm EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Obama Promises New Jobs; Groups Look for 'Green' Around the Collar

  Albuquerque - President-elect Obama announced this week that he's looking to create millions of new jobs over the next few years. A coalition of conservation groups, including many active in New Mexico, are pushing to make a good share of those jobs "green around the collar." Michael Casaus, with the [...]
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  Posted: December 23, 2008, 7:24am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Report: NM state budget crisis likely to last through FY11

  ALBUQUERQUE-The latest revenue forecast to come out of Santa Fe shows the state in a budgetary decline for the next two fiscal years. A report released today by the Fiscal Policy Project, the research and analysis program of New Mexico Voices for Children, says that the state's revenue levels have [...]
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  Posted: December 22, 2008, 4:51pm EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Hopes for Multi-Million Dollar Boost from Federal Stimulus Package

  Albuquerque - The New Year may bring some welcome economic news to New Mexico. The state could receive an additional 370-million dollars in federal matching Medicaid funds and it's a package that could be just what New Mexico needs to kick off the New Year. Under the proposed tax stimulus [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2008, 7:40am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Southern NM Contemplates Energy Corridors

  A recent Department of Energy study found no significant environmental impact as a result of planned "energy corridors" near Las Cruces. But according to many locals like Nathan Small the fed should put its energy elsewhere - that's the word from local politicians, concerned citizens and conservation groups on a [...]
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  Posted: December 12, 2008, 9:06am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• New Mexico Set to Benefit from a "New Green Economy"

  Albuquerque - With speculation that the economic crisis could put President-elect Obama's plans for a new, green economy on hold but New Mexico could be well positioned to benefit, according to National Wildlife Federation president Larry Schweiger. Let the sun shine in on gloomy economic times. That's the word from [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2008, 7:54am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Help Available for Home Heating Bills this Holiday Season in NM

  Albuquerque - Many families will be sitting down to give thanks this week for the simple things like a warm home. For those having trouble paying home heating bills, help is available. During these tough economic times, many New Mexico families will be giving thanks this week for things normally [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2008, 1:11am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Educators to Lawmakers: "We Can't Teach on a Shoestring"

  It's American Education Week, and New Mexico educators are rallying at the State Capitol today to call for sufficient funding for schools statewide. Education shouldn't be done on a shoestring. That's the message during American Education Week from a coalition of New Mexico educators who will be kicking off a [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2008, 12:53am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Keeping Winter Both Warm and Enchanted in NM

  This time of year, the Land of Enchantment can turn into a winter encampment for many New Mexico families. Paying attention to tips can make homes more efficient and lower heating bills. During the winter months, many New Mexicans lose money... right through the leaks in their homes that lead [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2008, 8:15am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Report: Tri-State Should Stay Away From More of "Old King Coal"

  Albuquerque - The giant utility that serves many New Mexico electrical co-ops, Tri-State, should reconsider plans to build another coal-fired power plant to meet increased demands. That's the finding of a new report that suggests investing in renewable energy could actually save ratepayers more money than more coal. The report [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2008, 7:36am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Advice for a Smooth Election Day Experience in the Land of Enchantment

  Help is available statewide in New Mexico for what promises to be a very busy Election Day, with record turnout expected. It's a secret ballot, but there's no need for New Mexico voters to feel alone on Election Day. With expectations of a record turnout and long lines, plenty of [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2008, 7:01am EST
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM Conservation Groups Eye Candidates' Nuclear Plans

  Albuquerque - They say the focus should be on what's left behind. Conservation groups in New Mexico say voters should carefully scrutinize what the candidates are saying about their plans for nuclear power... and nuclear waste. Conservation groups in New Mexico are listening closely to what the presidential candidates are [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2008, 1:35pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• 'Getting the Lead Out' in NM - Stricter New Standards for Polluters

  Albuquerque - The EPA passed tighter standards for airborne lead pollution this month, but air quality experts say more action is still needed. The federal government took a big step earlier this month to "get the lead out' of New Mexico air, but some experts say more still needs to [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2008, 7:42am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• New Mexico Kids and Gun Violence - No More "Wild West," Please

  Santa Fe - Today is the "International Day of Concern About Young People and Gun Violence." Recent figures show a nationwide rise in the number of Hispanic teens and children killed by firearms. While it's an issue that often tangles with gun rights proponents, Ed Shelleby with the Children's Defense [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2008, 8:36am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Former BLM Head: "Warning" for NM Written in Utah's Canyons

  Jim Baca says plans for public lands in Utah should set off warning bells for New Mexicans. Baca says an "eleventh-hour" push by the federal government to open up parts of Utah's Canyon country to possible energy development and off-road vehicles could set a disturbing precedent, "Once you start pillaging [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2008, 9:22am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Feeding NM Kids Could Boost Economy

  Albuquerque - A new report from New Mexico Voices for Children looks at the economic boost from adding more eligible families to the food stamp rolls. Report author Gerry Bradley says it would put millions into the state economy, and the timing is perfect for many working families. Feeding children [...]
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  Posted: October 17, 2008, 6:08am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Withdrawn "Water Grab" a Sign of Times to Come?

  Socorro - They're calling it a small victory against would-be water speculators in New Mexico, but it could be just the beginning. An out-of-state corporation has abandoned plans to acquire public water rights in Catron County for now, after running into legal challenges and opposition from local residents. [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2008, 8:28am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• New Report : New Mexico has lowest rate of workers with employer-provided insurance

  ALBUQUERQUE-New Mexico continues to have one of the highest rates of uninsured, with about half of all workers unable to obtain employer-provided insurance. This news comes from "The Erosion of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance," a report released yesterday by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a Washington D.C.-based think tank. The report [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2008, 1:33pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Otero Permit Approved; Cities, Conservationists Want Mesa "Off the Table"

  Citizens and conservation groups are expressing their disappointment because Otero Mesa is still on the table for oil and gas drilling. They're concerned about the impact on the Southwest's last remaining Chihuahuan Desert grassland, its wildlife, and water resources. Last week, the federal government approved a permit for drilling an [...]
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  Posted: September 30, 2008, 8:26am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Advocates Look to Put "Freeze" on Shut-off Moratorium Loopholes

  New Mexico's winter shut-off moratorium was meant to ensure that low-income families struggling to pay utility bills keep the heat on during the harsh winter months. Now, energy advocates are fighting a loophole that could leave families in the cold. [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2008, 8:29am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• "Into the Wild" For the First Time in New Mexico

  They're going to meet head-on with the Wilderness for the first time. A group of young people from Deming will have one of their first wilderness experiences as part of National Public Lands Day. It's just one of many events around the state. [...]
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  Posted: September 26, 2008, 8:32am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• New Mexico's Unemployment Still up, Job Growth Still Down

  New Mexico's unemployment rate rose by more than one third -- or from 32,300 to 44,400 persons -- between August 2007 and August 2008. Over that same time period, job growth was negligible, and several sectors lost jobs during the month of August this year. That's the latest from the [...]
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  Posted: September 22, 2008, 10:43am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Despite a Few Band-Aids, Election Fairness in NM Still Hurtin'

  A new report out this week ahead of the fall election finds New Mexico has made strides in fairness at the polls, but the state still rates somewhere in the middle of the ten swing states studied. from report author Tova Wang with Common Cause. [...]
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  Posted: September 16, 2008, 8:47am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Report Details Plan to Build "Green Economic Machine" in NM

  Albuquerque - A new report finds investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency could create over 13,000 jobs in New Mexico. As unemployment figures reach five-year highs, a new report finds an investment in green jobs could bring a quick return to a truly "Enchanted economy" in New Mexico. The [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2008, 8:14am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• From Freedom of the Press to "Free the Press" in St. Paul

  St. Paul, MN - Some legal advocates are up in arms over what they see as the "harsh and unlawful" treatment of journalists and demonstrators this week in Minnesota - during the Republican National Convention. A handful of journalists were swept up in a series of arrests during a march [...]
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  Posted: September 03, 2008, 7:00am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• GOP Sends Care Packages from St. Paul to Gustav Evacuees

  St. Paul, MN - A change of plans for the Grand Old Party's grand ol' party in Minnesota. After scaling back the first day of the Republican National Convention, delegates are putting in time to help out Gustav evacuees to the south. The Gulf Coast is breathing a sigh of [...]
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  Posted: September 03, 2008, 11:26pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• NM economic ranking improves to 43rd

  New Mexicans have seen their personal income rise faster than the national average over the past few years, according to a new report released today by New Mexico Voices for Children. Job growth has also been strong, but both of those indicators seem to have peaked and are now slowing. [...]
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  Posted: August 28, 2008, 11:13am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Renewables, Natural Gas: Top Picks in "Pickens Plan" Push at DNC

  Oil man T. Boone Pickens and Sierra Club President Carl Pope spoke to a group of bloggers and independent media gathered in the Big Tent at the Democratic Convention (Wednesday) about plans to address the energy crisis and reduce dependence on foreign oil. Both say politicians need to get moving [...]
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  Posted: August 28, 2008, 10:01am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• "Big Tent" Democracy: YouTube, Google, Celebrity and Citizen Journalism Enter The Spotlight

  While the mainstream press is jockeying for face time with Democratic heavy-hitters in the Pepsi Center, a few blocks away a tent full of 500 bloggers and non-profits are creating their own convention with a focus on sustainability, new media and voter participation. [...]
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  Posted: August 28, 2008, 8:56am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Census Bureau data: More New Mexicans without health insurance

  The U.S. Census Bureau's annual release today of data on poverty, median household income, and health insurance coverage presents a mixed picture. There was a small but significant increase in the percentage of people in New Mexico who do not have health insurance. It rose from 20.1 percent in [...]
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  Posted: August 26, 2008, 1:27pm EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• A Green Political Machine: Dems Aim For "Greenest" Convention

  The Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday in Denver, bringing tens of thousands of visitors to the Mile High City. Party and city officials have set the ambitious goal of making sure the event is the "greenest" convention ever. [...]
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  Posted: August 25, 2008, 8:20am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Coal Plant Permit "Fires Up" Opposition From State, Citizens Groups

  Santa Fe - They're asking for a "time out" on Desert Rock. The state, along with conservation and citizens' groups, are asking the EPA for more time to review an air quality permit for the coal plant that was approved last month. Dailan Long with the Navajo group Dine Care [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2008, 7:15am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott

• Richardson, Western Govs Need to Hit the Mark with Climate Plan

  Santa Fe - Governor Richardson and other Western governors and premiers hope to lead the way in how government deals with Climate Change. They've formed a cap and trade system called the Western Climate Initiative, but Kent Salazar with the New Mexico Wildlife Federation says the most recent draft of [...]
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  Posted: August 15, 2008, 7:05am EDT
  by Suzanne Prescott