ALBUQUERQUE— Citing new 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 launched New Mexico Consumers for Affordable Prescriptions Nov. 17, calling on legislators to ensure all New Mexicans have access to affordable medications.

“New Mexicans continue to struggle to afford the prescription drugs they need,” Barbara Webber, Executive Director of Health Action New Mexico, said. “Drug costs were out of control before COVID, but it is even worse now. No one should have to choose between their...

Week ending Friday, November 13, 2020

COVID-Susceptible

Canadian researchers warn that whales and other marine mammals could become infected with COVID-19 through inadequately treated sewage effluents.

While no such cases have been reported, scientists at Dalhousie University say their genomic mapping determined that almost all whale, dolphin and porpoise species have the same or higher susceptibility to the coronavirus as humans. “Many of these species are threatened or critically endangered,” said Dalhousie’s Graham Dellaire. “In the past, these animals have been infected by related coronaviruses that have caused both mild disease as well as life-threatening liver and lung...

Leopards are at risk of extinction from habitat loss, lack of prey, persecution by humans, poaching for the illegal fur trade, and unsustainable trophy hunting.

The United States is a major driver of the leopard trophy trade. On average we import nearly 300  leopard trophies per year — over half the trade.

The Center for Biological Diversity and allies filed a lawsuit to save these animals. The suit challenges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s approval of leopard trophy imports from Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia into the U. S.

“Federal officials are dishing out leopard import permits right and left without knowing how trophy hunting harms this highly imperiled...

The state will re-allocate $194 million of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security CARES Act funding to a one-time supplemental unemployment compensation benefit to eligible claimants. Payments will be administered by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and received by claimants by mid-December.

"New Mexicans need help, and they need help now," said Bill McCamley, NMDWS Secretary. "This money will help over 100,000 New Mexicans with the basics they need to get through this time, and Governor Lujan Grisham's whole team will work as hard as we know how to get it to people as fast as we can."

Eligible individuals will receive $1,200 as a one-time New Mexico...