Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (5/29/20 edition)

This daily recap of COVID-19 news from New Mexico is available in a free daily email. Sign up here. See all of our COVID-19 coverage here. The governor said the next public health order, which will go into effect on June 1, will allow gyms, hair salons, tattoo parlors and dine-in restaurants to open at reduced […]

Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (5/29/20 edition)

This daily recap of COVID-19 news from New Mexico is available in a free daily email. Sign up here.

See all of our COVID-19 coverage here.

  • The governor said the next public health order, which will go into effect on June 1, will allow gyms, hair salons, tattoo parlors and dine-in restaurants to open at reduced capacity. See the details here.
    • Health Secretary Kathyleen Kunkel also said they would be offering more testing in vulnerable populations and among workers, the Albuquerque Journal reported. This includes aggressively testing in a workplace when one employee tests positive.
  • Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced 108 additional cases of COVID-19 and six additional deaths during her press conference. Read that story here.
  • Navajo Nation health officials announced 100 new cases of COVID-19 and eight additional deaths. This brings the total number of confirmed cases on the Navajo Nation to 5,044 and the total number of deaths related to the disease to 167. The health officials say that about 1,745 people on the Navajo Nation have recovered.
  • U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján spoke on the House floor about the $3 million contract that went to a former White House staffer who provided non-approved masks for the Navajo Nation. Watch here.
  • Mescalero Apache Tribe President Gabe Aguilar said his daughter tested positive for COVID-19.
  • The state Supreme Court granted a writ of mandamus that barred the City of Grants from putting into place orders that conflict with the state’s public health order. The mayor of Grants sought to reopen before the state allowed, but Attorney General Hector Balderas sought the writ of mandamus.
    “I am grateful to the Supreme Court for their affirmation that the Constitution and the laws of our State protect all New Mexicans during a pandemic emergency,” Balderas said in response to the high court’s order.
  • The state cited nine companies for noncompliance with the state emergency health order, the Carlsbad Current-Argus reported. All citations came after a cease-and-desist order from New Mexico State Police.
  • Domestic abuse agencies say the demand has risen for their services since mid-March, when the state’s stay-at-home order began, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
  • The governor responded to the story that she got jewelry from Lilly Barrack, having an employee drop off jewelry outside her home and a friend picked it up for the governor. She said the story was inaccurate but did not provide details on what was inaccurate, KRQE-TV, who first reported the story, reported.
  • Some self-employed New Mexicans who received unemployment benefits, the Santa Fe Reporter reported. The state Department of Workforce Solutions said it’s because the state initially allowed filers to use 2018 taxes, but after guidance by the federal government, required 2019 filings, so some of those who filed received more than they were allowed under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.
  • White Sands National Park is still not open, the Alamogordo Daily News reported.
  • The Navajo Times wrote about Roxanna Yazzie, who works at a small health clinic on the Navajo Nation, in the portion in Utah, which is run entirely by women.
  • New Mexico hospitals will continue to limit the number of visitors, even as the state lifts some restrictions, KOB-TV reported.
  • U.S. Sen. Tom Udall joined the weekly call from the New Mexico Municipal League and spoke about his support for federal support for local governments. “I want to see a bipartisan bill coming from the Senate that supports local governments – with $375 billion dollars, distributed based on city and county populations; establishes a Heroes’ Fund for essential workers to receive hazard pay; and supports testing, tracing and treatment of COVID-19.”
  • Sandia National Laboratories currently has more than 50 projects related to COVID-19, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
  • U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, along with his colleague Marco Rubio, said in a statement that they were “pleased” that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will resume naturalization ceremonies.
    “Our immigrant communities have helped write the economic, social, and cultural story of America. We urge USCIS to continue working with all individuals faced with rescheduling such an important moment as they complete their journey to become citizens.”
  • Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham thanked those who volunteered to help get groceries to seniors, KOB-TV reported.
  • Bernalillo County is distributing 5,000 free face masks from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
  • The state of New Mexico opened up voting for its “mask madness” competition for the most unique and creative mask. You can see the nominees and vote here.
  • A Roswell city councilor called another a “snitch” and claimed a fellow city councilor called a state hotline to report a business that violated the state public health order. See the KRQE-TV story.
  • New Mexico State Police said they are not giving tickets to people who don’t wear masks, despite the claims of a man in a video, KOB-TV reported.
  • The online version of the Tour of the Gila held this weekend drew over 25,000 viewers online, the Silver City Daily Press reported.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that she will call the Legislature into a special session this summer to address public safety legislation that did…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
BLM finalizes controversial public lands rule

BLM finalizes controversial public lands rule

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management finalized its controversial public lands rule on Thursday. This rule is controversial because it allows for conservation leasing…
Haaland signs order protecting sacred lands near Placitas

Haaland signs order protecting sacred lands near Placitas

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed an order on Thursday to withdraw more than 4,200 acres of land in Sandoval County near Placitas from mineral…
Sandia researchers look at ways to store hydrogen underground

Sandia researchers look at ways to store hydrogen underground

As the world looks to decarbonize, governments are promoting hydrogen, a somewhat controversial energy source, as an important component of that effort. But that…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
Stansbury introduces judicial ethics bill on U.S. Supreme Court steps

Stansbury introduces judicial ethics bill on U.S. Supreme Court steps

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury announced a bill on Thursday that would, if enacted, establish judicial ethics to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Judicial Ethics…
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that an 1864 abortion ban is enforceable, throwing another state bordering New Mexico into the situation of…
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that an 1864 abortion ban is enforceable, throwing another state bordering New Mexico into the situation of…
The status of the lawsuit New Mexico joined to remove FDA restrictions to mifepristone

The status of the lawsuit New Mexico joined to remove FDA restrictions to mifepristone

While the U.S. Supreme Court considers the future of access to the abortion medication, mifepristone, another lawsuit against the FDA that would expand access…
Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

U.S. Rep. Gabriel “Gabe” Vasquez, a Democrat who represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District along the U.S.-Mexico border, cosponsored a resolution on Monday calling…
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
Politics Newsletter: Early and absentee voting

Politics Newsletter: Early and absentee voting

Good morning fellow political junkies! Early and absentee voting for the June 4 New Mexico primary begins in about a month. The nonprofit election…
Haaland signs order protecting sacred lands near Placitas

Haaland signs order protecting sacred lands near Placitas

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed an order on Thursday to withdraw more than 4,200 acres of land in Sandoval County near Placitas from mineral…
Sandia researchers look at ways to store hydrogen underground

Sandia researchers look at ways to store hydrogen underground

As the world looks to decarbonize, governments are promoting hydrogen, a somewhat controversial energy source, as an important component of that effort. But that…
American Rivers ranks waters in New Mexico as the most endangered in the country

American Rivers ranks waters in New Mexico as the most endangered in the country

New Mexico rivers are the most endangered in the country, according to the annual report from American Rivers. This is because of two U.S.…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report