New Mexico
New Mexico governor urges public safety bills to be passed in final days of session
Time is running out for lawmakers to debate and approve bills. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is using the little time left to push lawmakers to get even more public safety bills across the finish line.
SANTA FE, N.M. – Time is running out for lawmakers to debate and approve bills. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is using the little time left to push lawmakers to get even more public safety bills across the finish line.
It’s no secret Lujan Grisham has ambitious plans to improve public safety in New Mexico. She called a special legislative session last summer just to get a criminal competency reform bill across the finish line.
While the Legislature already sent her a collection of six public safety bills this year – including a competency bill – she’s pressuring lawmakers to keep going.
“I think there’s a lot more to be done,” said Lujan Grisham.
With nine days left to go, the governor is narrowing her public safety ambitions. She posted on social media Wednesday, urging New Mexicans to call their state representatives and senators and ask them to prioritize five bills.
Those bills include expanding New Mexico’s red flag law, increasing the punishments for assaulting a peace officer and reworking the state’s definitions of “harm to self” and “harm to others.”
“By changing this definition, we’re dealing with facts on the ground, things that have happened in the recent past, as opposed to a prediction of what may happen,” said state Sen. Moe Maestas.
All three of those bills are past the halfway point, so they still have a shot of crossing the finish line.
A bill expanding the state’s human trafficking laws is just barely past the starting line, while a Republican-backed proposal increasing punishments for felons caught with firearms is still at square one.
“If we’re going to limit the Second Amendment for people, which is what we keep seeing, come over. Shouldn’t we at least address felons who get firearms and deal with that situation? I think the answer is obviously yes,” said state Sen. Craig Brandt.
Many of the committees these bills are waiting for are backlogged with many other proposals, and lawmakers only have so much time left. But it’s clear the governor doesn’t want to wait another year for them to take action on these bills.
Arizona State baseball will host a four-game homestand, beginning with New Mexico State on Wednesday, April 22.
The Sun Devils and Aggies faced each other in late March, with ASU winning 10-4. The two teams will meet for the final time at 6:35 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
ASU will then welcome Baylor on Friday, April 24, for a three-game series. The Sun Devils have yet to face the Bears this season, but ASU has been doing well so far and has been in the top 25 for four weeks.
Sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston earned Big 12 player of the week honors on April 13, after delivering five home runs in five games. His 10 runs in that stretch were tied for the second-most nationally and his 14 runs batted in were tied for third-most nationally. All nine of his hits went for extra bases, three more than any other player.
ASU’s series against Baylor will start at 6:35 p.m. for the first two games, followed by a 1:05 p.m. start on Sunday, April 26.
April 19
Softball at Houston, Cougar Softball Stadium, noon.
April 22
Baseball vs New Mexico State, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
April 23
Women’s golf at Big 12 Championship, Dallas Athletic Club, TBA.
Track and field at Penn Relays, Franklin Field, 1:22 p.m.
Beach volleyball at Big 12 Championship, Bear Down Beach, all day.
April 24
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 7 p.m.
April 25
Lacrosse at Colorado, Prentup Field, 11 a.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 3 p.m.
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.
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Josh’s Saturday Night Forecast
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Calmer weather has moved back into the state this afternoon. Temperatures are slightly warmer across northwestern New Mexico, while southeastern areas are cooler thanks to the backdoor cold fronts that moved in on Friday. Breezier winds will return Sunday and will help kick off a warming trend across the state, along with an elevated fire threat in eastern New Mexico.
Warmer weather will continue building in across the state throughout the upcoming week. A few isolated rain chances will return Monday in parts of New Mexico, but some of that rain may evaporate before reaching the ground.
Good morning!
Heading out the door this morning? Bundle up! Cold air has settled into the Land of Enchantment after two cold fronts passed through New Mexico within the last 24 hours. Temperatures have fallen to the teens, 20s and 30s throughout northern New Mexico. The metro area is just as cold with Moriarty falling to the teens and several other cities bottoming out near the freezing point. The National Weather Service (NWS) has Freeze Warnings in place until 9 a.m. for several locations in northern and central New Mexico. However, one of the aforementioned cold fronts is still moving through eastern New Mexico this morning. That back door cold front has brought 30-45 mph wind gusts, or more, in southeastern New Mexico. The front will push west further west this morning bringing breezy winds to far south and southwestern New Mexico this afternoon. Otherwise, much calmer weather will be on tap for the state compared to the majority of this week.
The colder air this morning will bring cooler and seasonable weather to the Land of Enchantment later on Saturday. Afternoon highs will range from the high 50s, in sections of the northern mountains, to the 70s in southern New Mexico. Throughout the weekend into early next week a warming trend is expected as a ridge of high pressure builds on Sunday, which is forecasted to last through at least Tuesday. By next Tuesday, high temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees above normal, and even warmer for some locations by next Wednesday with breezy conditions returning to the state.
Moisture does stream back into the state early next week across New Mexico. Tomorrow’s forecast is expected to have cloud coverage increase with warmer weather. On Monday sufficient moisture in the mid to upper levels of the atmosphere will bring the chance for showers; however, moisture levels toward the surface will be lower. That will also bring the chance for dry showers and thunderstorms throughout the state. Have a great weekend and stay warm this morning!
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