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USC lands speedy New Mexico running back Eli Sanders in transfer portal

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USC lands speedy New Mexico running back Eli Sanders in transfer portal


Sanders says he’s aiming to win USC’s RB1 job in 2025, and is coming off a breakout 2024 with New Mexico where he ran for 1,063 yards and nine touchdowns.

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New Mexico

Legislation would add New Mexico to a growing list of states restricting PFAS – New Mexico Political Report

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Legislation would add New Mexico to a growing list of states restricting PFAS – New Mexico Political Report


By Hannah Grover

New Mexico could follow the lead of approximately a dozen other states and restrict the sale or manufacturing of various household products including carpets, feminine hygiene products, cookware and cosmetics made with PFAS chemicals.

“Intentionally added PFAS in consumer goods are showing up at our breakfast tables, our kitchen tables, in our breakfast burritos, in our pepitas,” New Mexico Environment Department Secretary James Kenney said.

He said until New Mexico “takes a stance with the 13 other states” that have already passed laws restricting PFAS in consumer goods, the federal government “is off the hook.”

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“We think the federal government would be best at regulating PFAS in consumer products,” Kenney said. “But until that time, we want to join the other states to protect our consumers, protect our families, to protect our water, to protect our land, and this is the way we’re going about doing it.”

Three Democratic House members — Joanne Ferrary of Las Cruces, Debra Sariñana of Albuquerque and Kathleen Cates of Rio Rancho — introduced HB 212 this week. 

The bill is similar to Amara’s Law in Minnesota, as well as legislation passed in other states to restrict PFAS.

Amara’s Law was named for a young woman who developed a rare type of liver cancer after living near a 3M facility, which manufactured products containing PFAS. Amara Strand spent the last months of her life pushing for the legislation, which went into effect on Jan. 1 of this year.

PFAS — also known as forever chemicals — have been linked to various health impacts including cancer, pre-term births, increased risks of infection and some types of liver disease.

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One way that New Mexico’s legislation differs from those in other states is that it allows manufacturers to set up producer responsibility organizations. These organizations would be tasked with ensuring products containing PFAS are properly disposed of. Kenney said producers will have the choice of either removing PFAS from their household products altogether or forming a producer responsibility organization to take responsibility for disposal of those household products.

HB 212 refers to these organizations as stewardship programs and states the Environmental Improvement Board can “create, enforce or terminate a [PFAS] stewardship program.”

While New Mexico doesn’t have someone like Strand to name its bill after, there are still plenty of stories around the state about how PFAS has impacted communities. 

Many of those stories are from communities neighboring military bases. Officials are also addressing high levels of PFAS in drinking water wells near Santa Fe, though the source of that contamination has not yet been confirmed.

Kenney said PFAS chemicals have also been found at Ski Apache in Ruidoso due to the use of such substances in certain types of ski wax.

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He said some communities are also experiencing high PFAS levels due to septic tanks.

“The more we look, the more we find, and our ability to look is limited by our own budget,” Kenney said.

The environment department has conducted blood testing in the Clovis area and has urged hunters who have consumed waterfowl from Holloman Lake to get their blood tested. The PFAS contamination in those areas is due to firefighting exercises at nearby military bases. The firefighting foam used in training contained PFAS.

Kenney said HB 212 will not restrict PFAS in firefighting foams because the bill is intended to target household products and, generally, New Mexicans will not be bringing firefighting foams into their houses.

The restrictions in HB 212 would be implemented in two phases. The first phase, which would go into effect in 2027, prohibits the sale of products such as cookware, food packaging, dental floss and juvenile products containing PFAS.

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Kenney explained that those products have the potential of PFAS being ingested by consumers, which has higher risks associated with it than skin contact.

In 2028, the bill would prevent the sale of products such as carpets, rugs, cleaning products, cosmetics, fabric treatments, feminine hygiene products, textiles, textile furnishings, ski wax and upholstered furniture.

Kenney said right now consumers can walk into stores and purchase products that say they are non-toxic but actually contain PFAS.

“People who are not familiar with this topic are being told that the things they’re bringing into their home are safe,” he said.

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New Mexico hosts San Diego State after Cumber’s 23-point game

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New Mexico hosts San Diego State after Cumber’s 23-point game


Associated Press

San Diego State Aztecs (15-7, 4-5 MWC) at New Mexico Lobos (13-9, 6-3 MWC)

Albuquerque, New Mexico; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST

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BOTTOM LINE: New Mexico hosts San Diego State after Viane Cumber scored 23 points in New Mexico’s 89-80 loss to the Boise State Broncos.

The Lobos are 9-6 in home games. New Mexico ranks second in the MWC with 15.0 assists per game led by Alyssa Hargrove averaging 3.9.

The Aztecs are 4-5 in MWC play. San Diego State is fifth in the MWC with 9.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Cali Clark averaging 3.3.

New Mexico averages 7.5 made 3-pointers per game, 1.8 more made shots than the 5.7 per game San Diego State gives up. San Diego State has shot at a 42.7% clip from the field this season, 2.2 percentage points above the 40.5% shooting opponents of New Mexico have averaged.

The matchup Saturday is the first meeting this season for the two teams in conference play.

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TOP PERFORMERS: Hargrove is averaging 8.6 points, 3.9 assists and 2.2 steals for the Lobos. Cumber is averaging 18.0 points over the last 10 games.

Adryana Quezada is averaging 11 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Aztecs. Natalia Martinez is averaging 1.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lobos: 6-4, averaging 74.5 points, 32.8 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.5 points per game.

Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 65.4 points, 29.6 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.0 points.

___

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




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Bill incentivizing New Mexico schools to lock up student cell phones moves forward

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Bill incentivizing New Mexico schools to lock up student cell phones moves forward


SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Some lawmakers say it’s time to get New Mexico school kids to lock up their cell phones during class. Now, a bill to help school districts do that is already winning approval in the Roundhouse. The bill is being called the “Anti-Distraction Policy” and it would make millions of dollars available for schools to start up programs to lock and store cell phones during teaching hours. 

“Our students are spending well over five hours a day on social media apps and we have to come in and really break that cell phone addiction,” said Senator Crystal Brantley, (R-Elephant Butte). 

Sen. Brantley said educators have told her cell phones are now among the biggest distractions in New Mexico schools. She’s sponsoring Senate Bill 11, which would define an “Anti-Distraction Policy.” The bill would force PED to encourage schools to make policies locking up cell phones, while also offering 10 million to pay for equipment to do it.  

“What the policy looks like is completely up to individual districts. As we know a school district in Quemado may need to adopt a different policy than the Albuquerque school district,” said Sen. Brantley. 

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In a first committee debate Wednesday night, some think it would help improve student proficiency.  

“This bill will help teachers perform one of their main duties which is to help students focus academically and socially,” said J.D. Bullington, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. 

“This isn’t about limiting access to technology it’s about ensuring technology supports rather than hinders the learning environment,” said Whitney Holland, President of American Federation of Teachers New Mexico. 

However, some are worried about what happens to the funding. 

“What is the maximum a school can spend, it doesn’t say, it says they’ll get reimbursed. That’s a pretty open checkbook it sounds like,” said Senator William P. Soules (D- oña Ana County). 

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Brantley sees this ultimately as a bipartisan issue. “This is something that is bringing together major teachers that have asked for this. 97-percent of teachers say this is their number one distractor is cell phones. We’re meeting the needs of the teachers and the needs of students,” said Sen. Brantley. 

Some parents have also raised concerns about cell phones being locked up during emergencies. However, Senator Brantley said there are some options for products on the market that allow for easy, emergency access. The bill passed a first committee last night and now heads to the senate finance committee. 



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