HB 7 Passes House Health Committee 8-3

Forward Together Action community leaders from around the state on Wednesday testified before the House Health and Human Services Committee in support of HB 7, a bill, which passed the committee 8-3, to repeal an outdated abortion ban still on the books in New Mexico.

“In my culture we believe that our women are capable of making decisions for themselves, their family and their community,” Krystal Curley, a Navajo leader from Chichiltah in McKinley County, said.  “Since colonization, our indigenous women have been targeted by patriarchal policies that have taken away our autonomy. To this day, my community experiences many barriers...

Health coalition makes its case to prescription prices

ALBUQUERQUE — Citing data that big drug companies have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to raise prices on hundreds of medications, AARP New Mexico, Health Action New Mexico and a statewide coalition of health experts, patient advocates and consumers lauded the introduction of the Prescription Drug Affordability Act (House Bill 154) on Jan. 27 and called on legislators to act quickly to ensure all New Mexicans have access to affordable drugs.

“New Mexicans continue to struggle to afford the medications they need,” Barbara Webber, Executive Director of Health Action New Mexico, said. “The Prescription Drug...

Week ending Friday, January 22, 2021

 

AI Dog Training

Colorado State University scientists say they are working to use artificial intelligence (AI) to train pet dogs. Jason Stock and Tom Cavey programmed an AI to recognize when dogs were sitting, lying down or standing. After achieving 92 percent accuracy, they created an automated trainer by combining a movable camera to observe the dogs, a speaker to bark out commands and a treat delivery tube to reward good behavior. But some animal experts caution that computers can’t recognize and promote the welfare of dogs or encourage their positive emotional state like humans can.

Earthquakes

At least 90 people perished and 932 others...

A series of economic recovery bills was passed in the Senate Finance Committee Feb. 4. The bills offer relief to working families and New Mexico’s hard-hit restaurant industry and represent part of the overall recovery package aimed at lifting the state out of the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senate Bill 1 (Sponsored by Senators Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe,  Jacob Candelaria, D-Bernalillo, Siah Correa Hemphill, D-Silver City, and Rep. Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque) allows certain restaurants and bars to keep the state gross receipts taxes they collect for the period between March 1 through June 30. It also creates a new $600 income tax credit for individuals...