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...

The Office of the President and Vice President of the Navajo Nation has ordered all flags on the Navajo Nation be flown at half-staff to honor the memory and service of the late Albert Hale from Feb. 3 through Feb. 6.

Hale is a former Navajo Nation president (1995-1998) and Arizona state legislator; in the Ariz. State Senate from 2004-2011 and in the Ariz. House of Representatives  from 2011-2017, representing Arizona's 22 tribes. He was the second president of the Navajo Nation in the 1990s.

Hale died Feb. 2 due to complications from COVID-19. He was 70.

The Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President, in coordination with the family of the late Albert Hale, will host a...