Controversy Over HB 47 ‘Death With Dignity’ Bill
HB 47 Co-sponsor Rep. Deborah Armstrong
By ROBERT NOTT
SFNM
Some say House Bill 47 would allow “death with dignity”. Others refer to the practice as doctor-assisted suicide.
The controversial measure, which would allow doctors to prescribe life-ending drugs to terminally ill patients, has failed in previous legislative sessions in New Mexico. The 2021 version received its first committee endorsement Friday but faces some fierce opposition as it makes its way through the Legislature.
Arguments on both sides of the measure touch on sensitive issues: Personal choice. Religious faith. Moral Read More
Chart 324: COVID-19 In New Mexico Feb. 1, 2021
This chart shows the number of vaccine doses administered, as percent of population, by county. Los Alamos and its neighboring counties are highlighted. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-Naim
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New Mexico COVID-19 Update: 530 New Cases, Total Now 174,064 With 18 New Deaths And 102,961 Patients Recovered
SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials announced this afternoon 530 additional positive tests for COVID-19.
Los Alamos County reports 4 new cases today bringing the total to 448 people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Today’s update includes 18 new deaths in New Mexico related to COVID-19.
The New Mexico Department of Health reports today’s most recent cases:
- 134 new cases in Bernalillo County
- 19 new cases in Chaves County
- 9 new cases in Cibola County
- 6 new cases in Curry County
- 61 new cases in Doña Ana County
- 13 new cases in Eddy County
- 9 new cases in Grant County
- 5 new cases
GOP Leaders In New Mexico House Sue Over Rule Changes
House Minority Leader Jim Townsend
News From 2021 Legislative Session
By SFNM
Republican leaders in the state House of Representatives filed a lawsuit Saturday with the New Mexico Supreme Court, charging rules changes adopted early in the 2021 session are unconstitutional.
House Minority Leader Jim Townsend, R-Artesia, and Reps. Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, and Larry Scott, R-Hobbs, filed the lawsuit. It names House Speaker Brian Egolf and the Legislative Council as defendants.
The lawsuit asks the Supreme Court to issue a stay prohibiting the defendants from enforcing the rules until Read More
Chart 323: COVID-19 In New Mexico Jan. 31, 2021
This chart shows the number of vaccine doses administered, as percent of the population, by county. In Los Alamos County, 1,011 individuals have been vaccinated. The corresponding numbers for the three neighboring counties of Santa Fe, Sandoval, and Rio Arriba are 32,616, 7,985 and 2,862, respectively. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-NaimChart 322: COVID-19 In New Mexico Jan. 30, 2021
The bars in this chart show the number of COVID-19 diagnoses in New Mexico versus date, and the line shows the seven-day average. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-NaimNew Mexico COVID-19 Update: 752 New Cases, Total Now 173,539 With 17 New Deaths And 102,298 Patients Recovered
STATE News:
SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials announced this afternoon 752 additional positive tests for COVID-19.
Los Alamos County reports no new cases today so the total remains at 444 people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Today’s update includes 17 new deaths in New Mexico related to COVID-19.
The New Mexico Department of Health reports today’s most recent cases:
- 255 new cases in Bernalillo County
- 27 new cases in Chaves County
- 5 new cases in Cibola County
- 1 new case in Colfax County
- 15 new cases in Curry County
- 70 new cases in Doña Ana County
- 32 new cases in Eddy County
- 8 new cases
Follow-up On COVID-19 Outbreak At State Capitol
There have been five confirmed cases of COVID-19 linked to people at the Roundhouse. Courtesy image
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
SFNM
House Speaker Brian Egolf said Friday the 60-day legislative session will go on as scheduled despite five confirmed cases of COVID-19 linked to people at the Roundhouse, including a Republican lawmaker.
“There is no reason to delay the session,” Egolf said during a virtual news conference. “We are going to continue to work.”
Before the session began Jan. 19, Republicans and Democrats alike asked if the session could be delayed until vaccinations were more widely available Read More
End-Of-Life Options Act Passes State House Committee
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
House Democrats News:
SANTA FE — The House Health and Human Services Committee advanced legislation Friday, which enables terminally ill, mentally competent adults in New Mexico, who are given six or less months to live, the option to obtain medication “allowing them to die peacefully”.
Sponsored by Rep. Debbie Armstrong (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Dayan Hochman Vigil (D-Albuquerque), House Bill 47 – the Elizabeth Whitfield End-of-Life Options Act, contains strict eligibility requirements and extensive safeguards to protect patients and regulate Read More
New Mexico COVID-19 Update: 1,085 New Cases, Total Now 172,798 With 22 New Deaths And 101,054 Patients Recovered
STATE News:
SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials announced this afternoon 1,085 additional positive tests for COVID-19.
Los Alamos County reports 5 new cases today bringing the total to 444 people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Today’s update includes 22 new deaths in New Mexico related to COVID-19.
The New Mexico Department of Health reports today’s most recent cases:
- 482 new cases in Bernalillo County
- 27 new cases in Chaves County
- 1 new case in Cibola County
- 4 new cases in Colfax County
- 16 new cases in Curry County
- 1 new case in De Baca County
- 104 new cases in Doña Ana County
- 38 new
Chart 321: COVID-19 In New Mexico Jan. 29, 2021
The bars in this chart show the number of COVID-19 diagnoses in Los Alamos County versus date, and the line shows the seven-day average. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-NaimHouse Speaker Brian Egolf On Coronavirus At Roundhouse
House Speaker Brian Egolf
STATE News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico House Speaker Brian Egolf issued the following statement Thursday night regarding the representative and four staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19:
I wish for a fast and full recovery of the staff and member who have tested positive for COVID-19. This is an unpredictable virus, and I sincerely hope their case is mild or asymptomatic.
My office is taking this situation very seriously, and the Department of Health is conducting the necessary contact tracing to identify any additional positive cases in order to prevent Read More
U.S. Rep. Leger Fernández Introduces Bill To Recover Lost Time In The Classroom After Severe Impact From Covid-19
Teresa Leger Fernández
From the Office of Teresa Leger Fernández:
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) joined Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and U.S. Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (CNMI-at Large) Thursday to introduce the Learning Recovery Act, a bill to help students recover lost time in the classroom.
The bill is introduced in response to the severe impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on students, educators and parents.
“The pandemic has widened the divide where our students in Title I schools, those with the least resources, have suffered the Read More
At Least Five Coronavirus Cases Detected At Roundhouse
A member of the New Mexico House of Representatives and four staff members at the Roundhouse have tested positive for the coronavirus. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
and ROBERT NOTT
SFNM
A Republican lawmaker in the New Mexico House of Representatives and four others at the Roundhouse have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The new cases at the state Capitol come just two weeks into a 60-day legislative session that required everyone but lawmakers to receive weekly nasal COVID-19 tests to be admitted into the building.
In an email late Thursday, House Republican Read More
CHRISTUS St. Vincent President And CEO Lillian Montoya Receives Prestigious ACHE Regent’s Award
CHRISTUS St. Vincent President/CEO Lillian Montoya receives ACHE Regent’s Award. Courtesy photo
CHRISTUS St. Vincent News:
CHRISTUS St. Vincent President and CEO Lillian Montoya has received the prestigious American College of Healthcare Executives Senior-Level healthcare Executive Regent’s Award.
The award was bestowed on Montoya by Stephen Stoddard, MHA, FACHE Regent for New Mexico and Southwest Texas for the American College of Healthcare Executives.
The Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award recognizes ACHE members who are experienced in the field and have made Read More
New Mexico COVID-19 Update: 678 New Cases, Total Now 171,719 With 28 New Deaths And 99,524 Patients Recovered
SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials announced this afternoon 678 additional positive tests for COVID-19.
Los Alamos County reports 6 new cases today bringing the total to 439 people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Today’s update includes 28 new deaths in New Mexico related to COVID-19.
The New Mexico Department of Health reports today’s most recent cases:
- 187 new cases in Bernalillo County
- 24 new cases in Chaves County
- 3 new cases in Cibola County
- 13 new cases in Curry County
- 1 new case in De Baca County
- 66 new cases in Doña Ana County
- 22 new cases in Eddy County
- 7 new cases
Skolnik: School Reopening – What Did CDC Really Say?
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
Los Alamos
Much of the US is excited, if not thrilled, by media reports that a CDC study released this week said that “schools are safe and can reopen”. Despite the excitement, this is actually not what CDC said.
The CDC study did report that schools in the US have generally not been associated with the kind of viral spread that one sees in congregate settings like nursing homes and high-density worksites.
However, the study also said that schools can safely reopen only when they have fulfilled several important conditions.
- The first is that communities must reduce the spread
Chart 320: COVID-19 In New Mexico Jan. 28, 2021
The bars in this chart display the seven-day average number of cases per 100,000 people, and the line shows New Mexico’s ‘red to green’ gating criterion. Los Alamos (28 average cases per 100,000) and its three surrounding counties are highlighted. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-Naim
The bars in this chart display test positivity rates, and the line shows New Mexico’s ‘red to green’ gating criterion. Los Alamos (4.7 percent test positivity rate) and its three surrounding counties are highlighted. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-Naim Read More
Colgan: Update On Hybrid Learning At LAMS And LAHS
By MELANIE COLGAN
President
LAPS School Board
The LAPS School Board was as surprised as you were to hear the Governor’s announcement yesterday that secondary students could return to campus for Hybrid learning as early as Feb. 8. Rest assured that the LAPS leadership team began working on implementing these plans as soon as the announcement was made.
However, like any large endeavor, the devil is in the details. In fact, just last evening, Superintendents received a 4-page memo from PED Secretary Stewart detailing specific requirements, procedures and restrictions. These will all take time Read More
Curative Testing Underway At Overlook Park Until 2 PM … Slots Are Still Available
