Friday’s Top Stories
- Six new behavioral health clinics coming to New Mexico through HCA certification
- State lawmaker calls out NMDOT in letter over delayed traffic study findings
- Santa Fe City Council passes ordinance aimed at keeping animals off medians
- Taos County Sheriff reports 7th suicide this year at Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
- What’s happening in New Mexico December 12-18? Rail Yards Holiday Market and more
- Quantum technology sparks new era in agriculture as New Mexico company expands
Friday’s Five Facts
[1] New report shows that crime rates are still high in NM and points to issues – A new report presented to the Legislative Finance Committee on Thursday indicates that the criminal justice system is not utilizing resources effectively. The report points out shortcomings in law enforcement agencies, district attorney offices, and the courts that contribute to the ongoing crime problem. Over the last four years, more than $380 million has been invested to combat crime, but New Mexico still has some of the highest crime rates in the nation.
[2] Tensions flare at Santa Fe City Council meeting over affordable housing measure – After a vote on Santa Fe’s affordable housing trust fund, the floor became heated with the incoming mayor calling out the siting mayor. The city is supposed to allocate $3 million ever year for housing projects, but the funds lack transparency. Confusion as to how much of this fund is left over caused tensions to rise as the incoming mayor kept pressing city staff for answers. After a lengthy discussion, the council approved the measure to ensure the $3 million is put into a designated affordable housing trust fund.
[3] More record warmth ahead, dry, & breezy – A change in wind direction will drop high temperatures in eastern New Mexico Friday. This is again short lived though as a northwesterly down sloping wind will bring even warmer temperatures Saturday afternoon. Several more record high temperatures will likely be broken Saturday across the state once again. Another quick warmup begins Monday. Unseasonably warm and well-above average temperatures, along with very dry conditions, will stick around every day next week…