NM ranked last in private sector job study

From KOB-TV.com - By: Stuart Dyson, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - New Mexico is at the bottom of yet another list, and this is one where you don't want to be anywhere near the bottom.
     Our state is dead last in the percentage of private sector jobs in the workforce – and number one in the percentage of government jobs and government contractor jobs in the workforce. Economists and political leaders agree – this is no way to grow your economy.
     Only about two thirds of our jobs in New Mexico are true private sector jobs. That may sound like a lot, but it's a much smaller share than most other states.
     Meanwhile, 31.9 percent of New Mexicans work in government or government contract jobs. The national average is 19.2 percent, according to a study from George Mason University. The lowest is Rhode Island at 14.3 percent. In New Mexico, many of those government and contractor jobs are at our two national laboratories or four military bases--where funding cuts are a constant threat.
      "We're going to continue to fight for our labs and our military bases," said Gov. Susana Martinez. "But we can't rely on that federal dollar because it's so unreliable right now. We've got to grow the private sector, that doesn't have to get a check from the federal government in order to survive."
     Even Democratic leaders agree with the Republican governor. Coming up with a plan is the task of the legislature's new Jobs Council, which says the state needs to grow 16,000 new jobs every year for the next ten years. That's 160,000 jobs. Read more

NM ranked last in private sector job study

Report says NM needs more job growth

A report to lawmakers says New Mexico needs to create about 16,000 jobs annually over the next decade to keep pace with population growth, reduce unemployment and offset future jobs losses if the state wants to return to 2007 pre-recession employment levels.

 The Legislature's Jobs Council was given the assessment Monday by a private consulting firm that outlined possible job creation proposals for lawmakers to consider, including increased spending on marketing by the Economic Development and Tourism departments and creating a "closing fund" for economic development projects. 

The consulting firm told lawmakers that New Mexico is capable of creating 160,000 jobs during the next decade, but not enough is being invested currently in job creation.

Report says NM needs more job growth

NM SUPCO gives leeway in warrant-less arrests

New Mexico's highest court is giving police more leeway to make arrests without a warrant in domestic violence cases.

 The state Supreme Court on Monday ruled that police can make a warrantless arrest when it's reasonably close to scene of the domestic violence. State law allows a warrantless arrest at the scene of a domestic disturbance, and the justices broadened that to include a location near the place where the incident happened. 

The ruling overturned a state Court of Appeals decision that found Daniel Almanzar had been improperly arrested in 2007 across the street from the state fairgrounds in Albuquerque where he alleged kicked his girlfriend during a quarrel. 

The justices said the arrest was lawful, allowing cocaine found during a search of Almanzar to be used as evidence.

NM SUPCO gives leeway in warrant-less arrests

Gov. wants more funds for telemedicine

Gov. Susana Martinez will ask the Legislature to provide $600,000 next year for telemedicine services to help provide access to medical specialists for patients and primary care providers in rural areas. 

The governor proposed Monday that the money be used for buying and installing equipment and computer technology, such as teleconferencing video systems.

 If the money is approved by lawmakers, Martinez said, health care provider organizations could apply for grants. 

The governor said telemedicine programs, such as Project ECHO at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, can provide medical care to patients in rural areas without the need to travel long distances to Albuquerque or other urban areas where most health care specialists are based.

Gov. wants more funds for telemedicine

High number of police shootings prompts reform

A rash of police shootings across New Mexico has prompted renewed calls for reform of law enforcement procedures. 

Albuquerque police on Sunday shot and critically injured a man after a domestic call — the fourth shooting involving police in the state's largest city in just over a month. Albuquerque police are already under federal investigation for shootings and excessive force claims. The shooting comes on the heels of four shootings in a similar time period by state police officers, including an officer firing at a minivan full of children. 

Jewel Hall, president of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Center Board in Albuquerque, says the past four weeks have been like a Wild West movie. She blames training and police culture for the shootings.

High number of police shootings prompts reform