Derrick Lente /tags/derrick-lente Derrick Lente en-US Copyright Wed, 21 Feb 2024 02:43:44 GMT NM lawmakers fail to take substantive action on nation’s highest alcohol-related death rate /local-news/2024-02-20/nm-lawmakers-fail-to-take-substantive-action-on-nations-highest-alcohol-related-death-rate New Mexico has the highest rate of alcohol-related deaths in the nation and the situation has gotten even worse since the pandemic. Despite this, state lawmakers this session failed to pass any substantive measures to curb the crisis. Public health reporter Ted Alcorn has long covered the issue for New Mexico in Depth. He spoke with ¾ÅÉ«Íø about a debate over whether and how to change the way the state taxes alcohol. Democrats filed competing bills this year, neither of which got to the governor. Wed, 21 Feb 2024 02:43:44 GMT /local-news/2024-02-20/nm-lawmakers-fail-to-take-substantive-action-on-nations-highest-alcohol-related-death-rate Nash Jones New Mexico lawmakers won’t raise alcohol taxes this year either /local-news/2024-02-09/new-mexico-lawmakers-wont-raise-alcohol-taxes-this-year-either New Mexico lawmakers will once again not raise taxes on alcohol this year, nor redistribute more of the revenue to treatment and prevention. Neither of two competing bills amending the liquor excise tax made it out of the House Taxation and Revenue Committee Friday. Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:55:14 GMT /local-news/2024-02-09/new-mexico-lawmakers-wont-raise-alcohol-taxes-this-year-either Nash Jones New Mexico lawmaker says homelessness responses lack Native American perspectives /local-news/2023-06-16/new-mexico-lawmaker-says-homelessness-responses-lack-native-american-perspectives Homelessness in New Mexico has risen 48 percent according to a 2023 preliminary report by the Legislative Finance Committee. And while Native Americans made up 11% of the state’s population in 2021 they represented 17% of people experiencing homelessness. Democratic Representative Derrick Lente of Sandia Pueblo highlighted these disparities during a recent LFC committee hearing. He said this is an on-going issue on both urban and Native lands. Fri, 16 Jun 2023 14:37:48 GMT /local-news/2023-06-16/new-mexico-lawmaker-says-homelessness-responses-lack-native-american-perspectives Jeanette DeDios Summit to give an update on Yazzie/Martinez case /local-news/2023-06-07/summit-to-give-an-update-on-yazzie-martinez-case The 2023 Institute of American Indian Education (IAIE) is hosting a summit to give an update ahead of the five year anniversary of the Yazzie-Martinez v. State of New Mexico ruling. Wed, 07 Jun 2023 22:02:50 GMT /local-news/2023-06-07/summit-to-give-an-update-on-yazzie-martinez-case Jeanette DeDios, Source New Mexico House-approved bill ups direct payments and eliminates tax hike for top NM earners /local-news/2023-03-13/house-approved-bill-ups-direct-payments-and-eliminates-tax-hike-for-top-nm-earners A tax reform package got the go-ahead from the New Mexico House late Sunday with a few substantial changes. The amended bill increases the amount all taxpayers will get in direct payments and nixes a proposed tax hike for New Mexicans who make the most. Mon, 13 Mar 2023 23:49:29 GMT /local-news/2023-03-13/house-approved-bill-ups-direct-payments-and-eliminates-tax-hike-for-top-nm-earners Nash Jones Massive NM tax bill proposes smaller direct payments /local-news/2023-03-06/massive-nm-tax-bill-contains-smaller-direct-payments The House Taxation and Revenue committee has been hearing tax proposals for 48 days and, on Monday, it passed a bill that compiles around 20 of them into a comprehensive package. It includes a significant reduction of direct payments called for by the governor in order to make room for other reforms. Tue, 07 Mar 2023 01:15:43 GMT /local-news/2023-03-06/massive-nm-tax-bill-contains-smaller-direct-payments Nash Jones Competing proposals would increase NM child tax credit /local-news/2023-02-09/competing-proposals-would-increase-nm-child-tax-credit The expansion of the federal child tax credit in 2021 made a dent in how many U.S. children are living in poverty, but it ended after just one year. New Mexico, a state with the second highest child poverty rate in the country, quickly passed its own version of the tax relief for people with children last year. While parents won’t see the benefits of the state credit until they file taxes next year, lawmakers are already debating whether to increase it. Fri, 10 Feb 2023 01:39:55 GMT /local-news/2023-02-09/competing-proposals-would-increase-nm-child-tax-credit Nash Jones Bill to provide funds for local artists and grow a creative industry in the state advances /local-news/2023-02-08/bill-to-provide-funds-for-local-artists-and-grow-a-creative-industry-in-the-state-advances A new bill that would give money to the state's growing creative industry is moving forward. Visual artists, dancers, game designers, architects, even ceramic artists would be funded through this bill to provide maker spaces, community resources, and workforce development. Thu, 09 Feb 2023 02:08:54 GMT /local-news/2023-02-08/bill-to-provide-funds-for-local-artists-and-grow-a-creative-industry-in-the-state-advances Jeanette DeDios Let's Talk Remote Learning And The Digital Divide /local-news/2020-04-15/lets-talk-remote-learning-and-the-digital-divide Let's Talk New Mexico 4/16, 8a: School staff around the state are racing to get meals, services and instruction to students stuck at home, but not all… Thu, 16 Apr 2020 00:55:31 GMT /local-news/2020-04-15/lets-talk-remote-learning-and-the-digital-divide Hannah Colton