Public Safety

New Mexico Medical Society Addresses HB 99

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From the New Mexico Medical Society:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Medical Society (NMMS) is encouraged that HB 99 has advanced out of the House Health & Human Services Committee, reflecting bipartisan recognition that New Mexico must act to stabilize access to healthcare and address the growing physician shortage.

At the same time, the Medical Society is deeply concerned about an amendment adopted in committee that leaves a considerable number of healthcare organizations exposed to uncapped punitive damages.

Protecting access to care requires a coherent and consistent medical liability Read More

Santa Fe World Affairs Forum To Present ‘Trillion Dollar War Machine: Rethinking Security At Home & Abroad’

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William D Hartung

SFWAF News:

Santa Fe World Affairs Forum (SFWAF) invites the community to a SFWAF lunch program discussion with Senior Researcher William D Hartung of The Quincy Institute on the “Trillion Dollar War Machine: Rethinking Security at Home & Abroad”.

The event is 12-2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 20, in the Board Room (Rm #223), at Santa Fe Community College.

Hartung focuses on the arms industry and the US military budget. He was previously director of the Arms and Security Program at the Center for International Policy and the co-director of the Center’s Sustainable Defense Task Force. Read More

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján Announces DOJ Launch Of Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Online Claims Portal

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From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a new online portal for Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) claims, implementing the recently extended and expanded program.

Prior to the launch of this online portal, Sen. Luján and the New Mexico Delegation sent an open letter to New Mexico’s holders of health care records, birth and death records, tax records, school records and any other necessary records to request their full cooperation in delivering long overdue justice for Read More

New Mexico Department Of Workforce Solutions Launches Statewide Leadership Training To Address Homelessness

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NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair

NMDWS News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A new statewide leadership training series launched today as the state aims to strengthen New Mexico’s response to homelessness and housing instability.

The five-session series will cover leadership, data storytelling, equitable staffing, financial stewardship, and trauma-informed critical incident debriefing. The initiative combines expert-led training with facilitated peer conversations, creating space for leaders to share proven strategies, align efforts and address real-time challenges facing communities Read More

State Police Checkpoints, Saturation Patrols Across State During February

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NMSP News:

State Police will be conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols; and registration, insurance, and driver’s license checkpoints in all New Mexico counties during February 2026.

We are bringing awareness to these events to reduce impaired driving-related fatalities through continued media attention and intensive advertising.

These checkpoints are helping to change society’s attitude about driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Hundreds of lives could be saved each year if every driver had the courage to make the right Read More

Senate Conservation Committee Unanimously Advances $2 Million Mosquito Monitoring Plan That Would Be ‘Early Warning System’ For New Mexico

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Егор Камелев/Pixabay via Public Domain

By LILY ALEXANDER
The Santa Fe New Mexican

For Albuquerque Republican Sen. Nicole Tobiassen, the fight against mosquitoes is personal now.

In September, Tobiassen’s husband contracted West Nile virus and spent four and a half months in the intensive care unit “fighting for his life”, she said Thursday during a committee hearing for Senate Bill 79.

The measure would appropriate $2 million to the New Mexico Department of Health for mosquito surveillance, prevention and mitigation in fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

“He survived — against the odds, might I Read More

FBI: Third Defendant Charged In September 2025 School Zone Shooting In Las Cruces

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Handgun located on John Anthony Orta on Sept. 6, 2025, in Las Cruces. He has been charged federally with possession of a firearm in a school zone. He faces up to five years in prison. Courtesy/FBI

The AR-15 style pistol located on Steven Mendoza on Sept. 6, 2025, in Las Cruces. He has been charged federally with possession of a firearm in a school zone. His trial is pending. Courtesy/FBI

Instagram photo of Luis Angel Ruiz with what appears to be the same AR-15 style piston recovered from Steven Mendoza Sept. 6, 2025, in Las Cruces. Ruiz was charged Sept. 24, 2025, with discharging a firearm in a school

Read More

County Announces Denver Steels Phase II Improvement Project To Begin Feb. 2 With Road Closures Scheduled

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View of the Denver Steels Phase II Improvement Project set to begin Monday. Courtesy/LAC

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Public Works Department, in partnership with the Department of Public Utilities and under contract with Spear D Construction (TLC Company Inc.), announces that the Denver Steels Phase II Improvement Project will begin Monday, Feb. 2.

The project includes replacement of roadway, targeted concrete replacement including curb and gutter, valley gutters, sidewalk, drive pads, and ADA improvements. Aging water lines and fire hydrants will also be replaced.

During construction, Read More

Negotiations On New Mexico Medical Malpractice Bill Stall Over Punitive Damages

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HB99 Sponsor Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos

By CLARA BATES and MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican

A group convened by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to come to an agreement on changing the state’s medical malpractice law was still negotiating behind the scenes the week of a key House committee hearing on the measure. 

One sticking point, according to an attorney participating in the talks, has been whether or not to cap punitive damages for hospitals.

House Bill 99, set for a debate before the House Health and Human Services Committee on Friday morning, would establish caps for Read More