Newsbreak New Mexico 5pm Webcast 1/18/13

Newsbreak New Mexico 5pm Newscast with Vanessa Dabovich

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Tax credit proposed for science graduates
Text while driving ban proposed
First flu deaths of the season 
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Senator introduces bill to ban texting while driving

Despite the traffic collisions, texting and driving is not against the law in New Mexico; however state Sen. Peter Wirth hopes this will be the year that changes. 

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration indicates crashes caused by texting while driving are 23 times worse than those where drivers are paying attention. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for nearly five seconds. At 55 miles per hour, that’s blindly driving the length of an entire football field. 
A texting-while-driving bill has never survived the New Mexico legislature. 
However, cities like Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe have enacted laws banning the practice. Thirty nine states have a texting-while-driving law. 
Wirth hopes New Mexico will become the 40th.


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Gov. declares propane emergency

High demand for propane across much of the West has prompted New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez to declare an emergency. 
Governors in Nevada and Arizona did the same Tuesday in an effort to speed up deliveries of liquefied petroleum by lifting some regulations.
Martinez says her order will also allow suppliers to move propane through the state faster as New Mexico deals with frigid temperatures. Specifically, the executive order suspends regulations on the number of hours that suppliers may drive. 
Martinez's order will be in effect for the next 14 days.

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Newsbreak New Mexico 12pm Webcast 1/18/13

Newsbreak New Mexico 12pm Newscast with Vanessa Dabovich

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First flu deaths of the season
Steve Pearce gives speech
Leg. approves operating budget


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State confirms first flu deaths of the season

New Mexico health officials have confirmed the first five flu deaths of this season. 

The cases involve a 91-year-old woman and a 94-year-old woman from Rio Arriba County, a 67-year-old woman from Bernalillo County, a 57-year-old woman from Lea County and a 56-year-old man from Chaves County
The providers and laboratories that report flu cases to the state Department of Health on a weekly basis say nearly 5 percent of patient visits last week were for flu-like illnesses.


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Gary Smith indicted

Gary Smith
A former New Mexico congressional candidate accused of stalking a political rival and slashing the tires on her vehicles has been indicted by a Bernalillo County grand jury.

 The indictment accuses Gary Smith of aggravated stalking or harassment, criminal damage to property and tampering with a motor vehicle. The district attorney's office says the charges stem from three separate incidents. The last one occurred New Year's Day when Smith allegedly violated the terms of his release when he drove past the home of Janice Arnold-Jones, the Republican nominee in the 1st District congressional race. 
An arraignment for Smith has not yet been scheduled. He remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque.


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Newsbreak New Mexico 8am Webcast 1/18/13

Newsbreak New Mexico 8am Newscast with Vanessa Dabovich

                                     Listen here:


New system skews unemployment claims
Three new senate committee chairmen
Gary Smith indicted 


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State Senate has three new committee chairmen

Three new chairmen will lead Senate committees, including ones dealing with education and health care. 

Much of the work of the Legislature is done in committees and chairmen exert considerable influence by setting the agenda for their panels. 
Sen. John Sapien, a Corrales Democrat, will serve as Education Committee chairman. Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, an Albuquerque Democrat, will head the Public Affairs Committee. Its responsibilities include health care measures. 
Sen. Peter Wirth, a Santa Fe Democrat, takes over as chairman of the Conservation Committee, which handles legislation involving water, energy and other issues.


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New system skews unemployment claims

A new computer system is skewing the data on unemployment claims in New Mexico

The state's "fully integrated tax and claims system" launched Jan. 6. But because the switchover was done Jan. 1 to Jan. 6, those collecting unemployment were unable to re-certify or file new claims for unemployment from New Mexico during that time. 
Because of the shutdown, the number of claims being reported to the federal government is way down. 
The Santa Fe New Mexican it says the data is showing a 75 percent decrease in claims for the week ending Jan. 5.


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