becomes first Hispanic senator from N. M. in more than 40 years

WASHINGTON,, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., was sworn in to serve as the next U.S. senator from New Mexico, taking the seat formerly held by Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. who did not run in the latest election. Following his swearing-in ceremony, Luján highlighted his priorities to address the COVID-19 pandemic and put New Mexico’s economy on the path to recovery.

“I am humbled to serve as New Mexicans’ voice in the U.S. Senate, and I thank voters for entrusting me with this immense responsibility. I understand the importance of being responsive to my constituents, speaking directly and objectively, and...

New Mexico’s governor announced residents can access free COVID-19 tests they can administer themselves at home, with results as soon as 24 hours later.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said New Mexicans can order the saliva testing kits, regardless of whether or not they’re symptomatic or have come into close contact with an individual who tested positive for coronavirus. If they wish, residents can use Zoom to talk to a supervisor who can help administer the test before they mail it off to the lab for results.

“We can drive down county positivity rates, help more businesses and workers get safely back on their feet, and keep more New Mexicans healthy,” Lujan Grisham said in a...

SANTA FE — The Public Education Department and 13 New Mexico school districts committed themselves to finding thousands of New Mexico students who were enrolled last spring, but not this fall, in order to make sure they are safe and engaged in learning.

The PED has calculated that more than 6,270 students may be unaccounted for based on attendance data reported to the agency as of Dec. 30. Thirteen school districts account for an overwhelming majority of that number, and superintendents from those districts met virtually with PED leaders to discuss what comes next.

“This is a huge priority across the state and an all-hands-on-deck partnership. We’re going to dive deeply and see...

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued pardons Jan. 6, invoking her power of executive clemency for 12 people convicted of crimes in New Mexico. The overwhelming majority of those pardoned were guilty of non-violent offenses.

The offenses included drug possession, auto burglary, forgery and fraud, among others. All but one of the offenses dated back more than a decade; some to the 1980s.

Five of the individuals had applied for clemency under the Martinez administration. Four of them received no answer to their applications.

The latest issuance of executive clemency follows 19 pardons issued by Lujan Grisham in June 2020. Those had been the first pardons issued in the state...