Latest news with #AndreaRomero
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NMDOH sees increase in MMR vaccinations in 2025
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico Department of Health said it has seen an increase in the number of New Mexicans who have received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine between Feb. 1 and May 12, compared to the same time frame last year. 'The MMR vaccine remains the best tool against the measles virus, and the ever-growing number of New Mexicans getting it speaks to their desire to slow the ongoing outbreak,' Andrea Romero, manager of the immunization program in the New Mexico Department of Health, stated in a news release. Protect your skin: UV index reaches high levels in Albuquerque Between Feb. 1 and May 12, 27,123 New Mexicans have received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, roughly twice the number of residents who got the shot during the same time last year. A total of 71 measles cases have been reported in the state this year, and the first confirmed case of 2025 was on Feb. 11. Cases have been diagnosed in five New Mexico counties: Chaves, Curry, Doña Ana, Eddy, and Lea. Symptoms of measles can develop between seven to 21 days after exposure, and include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a red spotted rash that usually starts on the head or face and spreads downward to cover the rest of the body. If you have these symptoms and believe you were exposed to measles, call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773) for guidance in English and Spanish from nurses. It is also recommended that you contact your doctor or local emergency department first. The following public health offices offer daily walk-in MMR vaccinations with no appointments needed until further notice: Artesia (Eddy County) Public Health Office, 1001 Memorial Dr. 575-746-9819. Carlsbad (Eddy County) Public Health Office, 1306 W. Stevens St. 575-885-4191. Clovis (Curry County) Public Health Office, 1216 Cameo St. 575-763-5583. Hobbs (Lea County) Public Health Office, 1923 N. Dal Paso St. 575-397-2463. Lovington (Lea County) Public Health Office, 302 N. 5th St. 575-396-2853. Portales (Roosevelt County) Public Health Office, 1513 W. Fir St. 575-356-4453. Roswell (Chaves County) Public Health Office, 200 East Chisum St. 575-624-6050. Ruidoso (Lincoln County) Public Health Office, 117 Kansas City Rd. 575-258-3252. Tucumcari (Quay County) Public Health Office, 310 S. 2nd St. 575-461-2610. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers propose revolutionary use for old oil wells — here's what it could mean for the energy sector
A new bill in New Mexico is flipping the script on a long-standing major environmental challenge — and transforming it into an opportunity for clean energy development. House Bill 361, introduced by Rep. Andrea Romero, proposes a groundbreaking way to reuse the state's thousands of depleted oil and gas wells. Instead of leaving them to rust underground, this plan would transform old wells into clean energy assets by converting them into geothermal energy producers or mechanical energy storage systems. That means instead of plugging and abandoning these wells — a process that often leaves behind pollution and hefty cleanup costs — the state could breathe new life into them, generating reliable, round-the-clock clean energy in the process. So, how would this work? One of the most exciting technologies under review comes from startup Renewell Energy, which uses a weighted system in water-filled wells to store and release electricity — sort of like a giant, underground battery. Another potential use: tapping into the Earth's natural heat via geothermal energy to generate power. It's a win-win that tackles two big problems: a growing demand for more electricity and the need to safely deal with thousands of orphaned and inactive wells. If passed, HB 361 would give regulators the tools to create rules for turning these old sites into clean energy hubs while determining who's responsible for managing them. Over time, repurposing these wells could help stabilize the power grid by providing consistent, on-demand energy — even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. It also reduces the need to drill new wells, lowering the risk of future environmental damage. By turning old infrastructure into clean energy assets, the state is laying the groundwork for a more resilient, affordable, and sustainable energy future. This kind of forward-thinking policy not only supports the shift away from dirty energy but also creates new jobs and revitalizes local economies — all while keeping harmful pollution out of our air and water. Supporters see this as a big opportunity. Representatives from Xcel Energy and local energy experts say the bill could spark innovation, reduce pollution, and bring economic benefits to communities across the state — especially in rural areas. Should the government be allowed to control how restaurants run their business? Never Only in some cases Only for chain restaurants Yes in all cases Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While some lawmakers expressed concerns about the financial logistics, most agree the concept is worth exploring. And New Mexico wouldn't be the first to try — this approach builds on broader efforts to clean up abandoned wells and shift to more affordable, more sustainable energy. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two bills to make life easier for renters are headed to NM House floor
An apartment for rent in Albuquerque in September 2021 (Photo by Marisa Demarco / Source NM) Bills that would crack down on rent price-gouging and expunge old eviction records successfully cleared their second committee hearings Tuesday evening and are now headed to the House floor for consideration. House Bill 215, sponsored by Reps. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe) and Angelica Romero (D-Las Cruces), prohibits the use of artificial intelligence to manipulate rent prices. The bill seeks to prevent out-of-state companies from using an algorithm to coordinate rent prices, which has been done in other areas with housing shortages. Committee Chair Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos), in announcing her support of the bill, compared it to the ways airlines use 'dynamic pricing' for tickets to maximize profits in periods of high demand. Bill banning 'source of income' discrimination fails in narrow House committee vote 'It's all in this algorithm. A black box. It's run by a company, and they can help the landlord squeeze out every penny in a profit,' she said. 'I do think we need to start getting a handle on this stuff.' The committee passed the bill, a substitute for an earlier version, on a 6-4 vote. The new version specifies that algorithms used by governments or for research are exempt. Later Tuesday evening, the committee passed another bill that would expunge eviction records for an aspiring tenant after five years. That bill passed 5-4. Sponsors Rep. Janelle Anyanonu (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Wonda Johnson (D-Church Rock) said the bill is necessary to help renters move past an old eviction and into stable housing. Both bills now head to the House Floor. Another bill, also of interest to renters, would prohibit landlords from refusing to rent to tenants who receive Section 8 or other subsidies. So-called 'source of income discrimination' ordinances have been adopted in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and other cities. House Bill 339, also sponsored by Reps. Rubio and Romero, is on the calendar today at 1:30 p.m. in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee. It's been introduced for the last several years but tabled.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Crime package headed to full House, despite criticism about its scope and focus
Feb. 12—SANTA FE — A crime package headed to the House floor would boost penalties for fentanyl trafficking, school shooting threats, auto theft and certain firearm conversion devices. The package, House Bill 8, includes six different crime-related bills, including a change in how New Mexico treats criminal defendants who are deemed incompetent to stand trial. After being rolled out, it passed the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday on a party-line 7-4 vote, with Republicans saying the legislation falls short in its aim of reducing New Mexico's elevated violent crime rate. "I just feel like this crime package doesn't go far enough to address crime," said Rep. Nicole Chavez, R-Albuquerque, who specifically lamented it does not include tougher penalties for juvenile criminal defendants. Even some Democrats expressed reservations with the public safety package, saying they opposed some of the bills that were ultimately included. "Packages are hard to vote on when you may disagree with certain parts," said Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe. However, backers said the crime package would dovetail with a separate behavioral health package advancing in the Senate to bolster New Mexico's approach to crime, homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse issues. The strategy of adding multiple bills into a single package, or omnibus bill, is not a new one at the Roundhouse, as Democratic lawmakers have used it to address crime and tax changes in recent years. Proponents say package just a start The crime package is not "perfect," acknowledged Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, on Wednesday, who has worked for months to craft the competency bill. But she said the bills selected for the package had been vetted in previous House committees and had received bipartisan support. "I felt that it was important to have bills where we got some consensus and we felt that people could get behind," Chandler told the Journal. Public safety has emerged as a key issue during the 60-day legislative session that started last month, with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham exhorting lawmakers to enact stiffer criminal penalties and make it easier to keep defendants accused of certain violent crimes in jail pending trial. The governor last year called a special session on crime that ended with lawmakers largely ignoring her public safety-focused agenda. Lujan Grisham has not backed down, however, and urged lawmakers during a recent interview to stop being "risk adverse" in their approach to crime. New Mexico's violent crime rate was almost twice the national average as of 2023, though FBI data showed a drop in reported property and violent crime from 2022 to 2023. Too far or not far enough? Even as Republicans said the crime package does not go far enough, a coalition of advocacy groups said it would create new crimes, lengthen sentences and potentially force New Mexicans into psychiatric facilities that have not yet been built. "While the proposal makes significant improvements from the proposals of the 2024 special session, (the crime package) still relies principally on coerced care and forced hospitalization, which we know often exacerbate the very problems they seek to fix," said Lana Weber, the interim director of public policy for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico. But Chandler defended the proposed approach to criminal competency, which would give judges more options for ordering defendants into court-run diversion programs. "I think people are rightfully concerned that we need greater accountability/treatment mechanisms for those individuals who have basically just been released and put back on the street and they're not getting cared for," she said. Chandler also said the crime package could be amended as it moves forward through the legislative process. "This isn't the end. This is obviously just the start. But I think it's a really good start," she said. "I think it sends a strong message to the citizens of the state that we are ready, able and willing to address public safety, while at the same time working to rebuild our behavioral health system," added Chandler. House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque, said the crime package could be voted on by the full House of Representatives in the coming days.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Parents, students and lawmakers rally for gun ban
Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe) and Students Demand action member Bo Wilson at a rally in the New Mexico Legislature on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM) Two New Mexico lawmakers joined Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action for a rally at the Roundhouse in support of gun safety legislation in the Rotunda on Thursday. 'I'm sad that we have to keep up this fight to let people know what we are trying to survive for,' state Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe) said. 'But I am glad because you are survivors. I am glad because you are fighters, and I am glad that I know you, because you are here to fight with us.' Romero is co-sponsoring Senate Bill 279, which would ban gas-operated semi-automatic firearms, magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, and devices that convert semi-automatic guns into fully automatic ones. The bill is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee. 'It is my hope that this is the last time that we have to convene to talk about assault weapons in our communities,' she said. Sen. Debbie O'Malley (D-Albuquerque) shared her experience as one of four elected officials whom failed Republican House of Representatives candidate Solomon Peña allegedly targeted in a scheme to shoot Democratic officials. Peña faces more than a dozen federal charges in a trial scheduled to begin next month. O'Malley said Thursday that after Peña lost the election, he 'decided that to get somehow, even, he shot at our homes.' Fortunately, she noted, 'I was not hurt, and I was very grateful that my grandchildren were not spending the night with my husband and I. But unfortunately, other elected officials' homes were shot at. The bullets went right through their homes.' Bo Wilson, a freshman at the University of New Mexico and a member of the New Mexico chapter of Students Demand Action, said young people like him may live in fear of getting shot at school or in public, 'but we hold the power to change this reality.' Firearms kill more children and adolescents in the United States than any other cause, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. 'Thoughts and prayers were never enough,' Wilson said. 'We must ban assault weapons.' O'Malley thanked the parents and students for their courage and commitment. 'You have not given up, and please know that I will not either,' O'Malley said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
