Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (6/16/20 edition)

This daily recap of COVID-19 news from New Mexico is available in a free email every weekday. Sign up here. See all of our COVID-19 coverage here. The DOH reported 132 new cases of COVID-19 and five additional deaths on Monday. See more details here. Included in our poll of New Mexico voters was the approval […]

Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (6/16/20 edition)

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

See all of our COVID-19 coverage here.

  • The DOH reported 132 new cases of COVID-19 and five additional deaths on Monday. See more details here.
  • Included in our poll of New Mexico voters was the approval ratings for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (57 percent approval to 35 percent disapproval) and President Donald Trump (38 percent approval versus 55 percent disapproval) on how they handled COVID-19. Read all the details here.
  • Navajo Nation health officials announced 22 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths related to the disease on Monday. This brings the total number of cases to 6,633 the number of deaths to 311 while 3,207 have recovered
  • As the New Mexico legislature is set to start a special session, Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber asked for financial help from legislators to help fill budget gaps, the Santa Fe Reporter reported.
  • Republican lawmakers say that using federal stimulus funds to bridge budget gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic response and plummeting oil and gas prices would constitute an illegal budget.
  • The state Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday on whether or not the Legislature can hold a session closed to the public. The special session is slated to start on Thursday.
  • Scientists at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base are among those researching if microwaves can slow the spread of COVID-19 through the air, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
  • Food and supplies were distributed to Navajo Nation members in Shiprock, the Farmington Daily Times reported. Some criticized what they saw as a slow response from the Navajo Nation.
  • Leaders of VFW and American Legion posts want the governor to allow them to reopen, KRQE-TV reported. The state considers them bars, which are not able to open yet. 
  • The Alamogordo Daily News wrote about the return of jury trials in Otero and Lincoln counties.
  • Breweries across the state were able to open to indoor service on Monday, KRQE-TV reported.
  • Six City of Gallup facilities will remain closed during the summer, the Gallup Sun reported.
  • Isleta Resort and Casino announced it would reopen, but will require masks and there will be more social distance requirements.
  • So will Taos Mountain Casino.
  • Students at New Mexico State University can get financial relief through the CARES Act, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported.
  • The state of New Mexico launched a COVID-19 campaign aimed at tribal communities featuring the work of Native American cartoonist Ricardo Caté, whose cartoons are featured in the Santa Fe New Mexican and Taos News.
  • With many things closed, people are headed to the outdoors; the Gila National Forest is straining under the influx of visitors, the Silver City Daily Press reported.
  • Las Cruces Public Schools has a task force to look forward to restarting in-person instruction this fall, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported.
  • Of 132 New Mexico State University student-athletes who were tested for COVID-19, none tested positive, a Las Cruces Sun-News sportswriter tweeted. Six had tested positive in May, but have since tested negative.

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

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…
Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…
Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republican-backed legislation in the U.S. Congress would make it harder for the government to designate new national monuments. The proposed Congressional Oversight of the…
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…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid announced on Wednesday that it will cover the cost of Opill, the first oral contraception approved for over-the-counter use. It is…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

The Navajo Nation and San Juan County reached an agreement Monday about commission districts after the tribe alleged that its members were not adequately…
MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

New Mexico’s 2022 election was ranked most well-run in the country by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab’s Elections Performance Index.…
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…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report