- TAX REFORM-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State lawmakers in the Republican minority are crafting a proposal that would return some of the state's budget surplus to taxpayers rather than spend it on government programs and services.Republican House Whip Rod Montoya of Farmington says his caucus is drafting a pay-back proposal as well as a bill to lower New Mexico's gross receipts tax rates on sales and business transactions. The Legislature reconvenes in January 2020.
The gross receipts tax provides for roughly half of annual state government general fund spending. Its critics say exemptions and loopholes have led to unnecessarily high rates for most residents.
Rates vary by location from just over 5% to nearly 9%.
Lawmakers plant to meet Wednesday with taxation officials to discuss New Mexico's use of tax breaks in rebates.
- TECHNOLOGY-COUGAR POPULATION
LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico wildlife officials say new technology is allowing the state to estimate its cougar population more accurately.The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the state's Department of Game and Fish is using long-lasting motion-capture wildlife cameras, mathematical models and GPS collaring devices to count its elusive cougars.
The big cat is secretive, has a broad range of movement, and often doesn't live close to its kind.
The state believes the most abundant population lives in a 6,000 square-mile (15,540 square-kilometer) stretch that extended from Albuquerque to the east of Santa Fe and north of Abiquiú.
Officials say having an accurate count informs the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish's quota on hunting and trapping of cougars. The department's quota is 17% of the population.
- ELECTION 2020-HOUSE-NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland is maintaining a strong money advantage over her Democratic and Republican opponents.Federal election records show the Albuquerque Democrat saw $220,491 in net contributions from July to October. Her campaign reported having $201,489 cash on hand.
Cameron Alton Chick, her only primary foe, has not filed a financial campaign report. He recently switched from running in the crowded U.S. House race in northern New Mexico to challenging Haaland for her central New Mexico seat.
Republican Brett Kokinadis reported raising $2,264 from July to October and having $1,601 cash on hand.
Haaland is seeking a second term for a U.S. House seat that represents Albuquerque. She became one of the first Native American women elected to Congress in 2018.
- SHELTER PERMIT DENIED
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico officials have issued their final decision to deny an out-of-state company's request for a migrant children's shelter in Albuquerque.Charlie Moore-Pabst, a spokesman for the Children, Youth and Families Department, said Tuesday that VisionQuest had given the agency notice that it does not plan to further appeal the decision.
VisionQuest's application was initially denied in August. That led the Arizona-based company to initiate steps for an appeal.
New Mexico officials say they made their decision based on the finding that the company had failed to accurately describe why Pennsylvania temporarily revoked a license for a facility near Gettysburg in 2015.
VisionQuest's license had sought to open a shelter for up to 60 boys as young as 11 and who entered the country without a legal guardian.
- HOUSE FIRE-BODY FOUND
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police in Albuquerque say a man has been found dead inside a back garage of a home that burned.City firefighters pulled the body out Tuesday afternoon.
Fire officials say it's unclear how the man died and the cause of the fire also is unknown.
The name of the middle-aged man hasn't been released.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that firefighters responded to the blaze about 3:30 a.m. and found the back garage filled with smoke and flames.
City police will be investigating the incident along with Albuquerque Fire Rescue.
- UNION DUES-SETTLEMENT
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The state of New Mexico has agreed to pay about $16,000 to dozens of nonunion state employees as the result of a settlement over union dues.The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Monday that New Mexico Department of Information Technology employee David McCutcheon filed the lawsuit in December objecting to having union dues automatically deducted from his pay.
Authorities say the high court previously ruled that it's a First Amendment violation to the force public sector workers to pay union fees as a condition of employment.
The Communications Workers of America and the state Personnel Office agreed to refund $15,000 taken from 67 state employees and an additional $1,000 for McCutcheon taken prior to the 2018 high court case.
Local Union President Donald Alire couldn't be reached for comment Monday.
- IMMERSION ARTS STARTUP-NEW MEXICO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Arts adventure and entertainment company Meow Wolf says it has surpassed hiring goals outlined in a $1.1 million economic development grant from New Mexico and the city of Santa Fe.Meow Wolf co-founder and board member Vince Kadlubek said Monday the addition of 290 employees since 2018 puts the company ahead of employment requirements under the 2017 grant award for building renovations.
The New Mexico Economic Development Department that monitors the agreement could not immediately verify the employment numbers.
Kadlubek is stepping down as the company's CEO amid plans for an aggressive business expansion into Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Washington, D.C.
Visitors have flocked to Meow Wolf's kaleidoscopic walk- and crawl-through exhibit space in Santa Fe since it opened in a converted bowling alley in early 2016.
- FREE MEDICAL SCHOOL
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A University of New Mexico dean has announced plans to ask the state to fund full-ride scholarships to medical students who commit to practicing within the state.The Albuquerque Journal reported Monday that medical school dean Paul Roth has plans to ask the state for $6 million in additional scholarships to create the program.
State officials have estimated an additional $907 million would be available in the coming budget because of an increase in oil production in the southeast.
Roth says he announced the suggestion to address a shortage of doctors in the state.
The dean says the state would pay for upfront cost of medical school with the expectation that the doctor would return to New Mexico and practice for a period or would be subjected to a penalty.