New Mexicans can renew drivers licenses online

New Mexicans can now renew their drivers licenses or ID cards online. 

Gov. Susana Martinez and members of her staff made the announcement Wednesday.

 It took three months for the state to get the online system. The state's information technology employees created the system. Taxation and revenue secretary Demesia Padilla said the state saved $2 million by doing that. 

The system aims to help people get out of MVD lines, and online. And there will be computers to access the website at MVD's across the state if people do not have access to the internet at home. People have to renew their license at an MVD every other time they renew. 

The federal government requires a new picture every 16 years, the state said. People who are getting a license for the first time cannot use the online system.

New Mexicans can renew drivers licenses online

Parents concerned over school election site

Several parents are threatening to pull their kids out of a local elementary school after learning that voting in an upcoming special election will take place on school grounds while class is in session. 

Several of the parents at Rudolfo Anaya Elementary School said they are afraid to have strangers roaming the halls of the school in light of recent school shootings.

 A letter from the County Clerk's Office addressed to the principal of the school said a school staff member must be present to open all gates to parking areas for voter access on election day. The letter does not mention police presence or additional security on school grounds. 

Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse said if APS asks for anything different, the county would be happy to provide it. 

Parents concerned over school election site

ACLU announces changes for Walgreens

New Mexico advocacy groups say Walgreens won't allow individual pharmacists' personal religious beliefs to prevent customers from filling birth control prescriptions. 

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico announced Tuesday that Walgreens told the ACLU and the Southwest Women's Law Center that the company will take steps nationwide to make sure customers received prescriptions regardless of employees' beliefs.

 The announcement comes after an Albuquerque Walgreens pharmacist last year refused to fill the birth control prescriptions for two women due to his religious beliefs. 

ACLU announces changes for Walgreens

Newsbreak New Mexico 8am Webcast 1/4/13

Newsbreak New Mexico 8am Newscast with Vanessa Dabovich

                                     Listen here:

Gov. still pushing for license reform
Eric Griego speaks 
ACLU-NM Walgreens debate
Parents to pull kids from school over election 

Newsbreak New Mexico 8am Webcast 1/4/13

Martinez still wants to repeal driver's license law

From KOB-TV.com - By: Stuart Dyson, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - Word of a possible compromise on driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants may be a little bit premature. Governor Susana Martinez said Wednesday she still wants the legislature to repeal the state law that allows the licenses, after talking about a possible compromise on Tuesday.
At a news conference on Tuesday Martinez said she might consider signing a bill creating a driving permit for illegal immigrants as long as it couldn't be used for I.D. or to get another license in another state.
"If we have something that proposes that and takes care of public safety, I'm certainly willing to take a look at it," Martinez said. Fast forward to Wednesday: Another news conference, same issue.
"Everywhere I travel throughout this state, I'll tell you the number one issue has been are you going to fight for the repeal of this law - and yes - I'm going to continue to fight for the repeal of this law," Martinez said.
The problem is the growing black market trade of racketeers peddling New Mexico licenses to illegal immigrants for thousands of dollars - and many of the buyers don't even live in the state. Martinez has said repeatedly that getting rid of the law is the way to stop it. But in her latest comments Wednesday she didn't slam the door all the way shut.
"That doesn't mean that we won't get various versions of this law from various different legislators that will actually pass both sides of the House and the Senate," Martinez said. "So I can get various versions and then choose from those versions."
Mixed message? Maybe. But legislative leaders are pretty good at understanding where the Governor is coming from at this point, and what they are hearing is probably not as important as what they're not hearing.
What they're not hearing is "My way or no way." Read more

Martinez still wants to repeal driver's license law

Newsbreak New Mexico 5pm Webcast 1/23/13

Newsbreak New Mexico 5pm Newscast with Vanessa Dabovich

                                     Listen here:

Newsbreak New Mexico 5pm Webcast 1/23/13

Senator introduces non citizen voting bill

Bill Payne

 A Republican lawmaker wants New Mexico elections officials to check to ensure that noncitizens aren't registered to vote. 

Senate GOP Whip William Payne of Albuquerque, the No. 2 GOP Senate leader, has introduced legislation requiring the secretary of state to periodically check the state's voter registration rolls for noncitizens, who aren't allowed to vote. 

Secretary of State Dianna Duran, a Republican, has said she planned to ask the federal Department of Homeland Security for access to a database that has information on immigrants who are legally living in the country. 

In 2011, Duran's office said it found at least 100 people who appeared to be noncitizens. Her office compared voter registration files with driver's license data for foreign nationals and Social Security information.

Senator introduces non citizen voting bill

Newsbreak New Mexico 12pm Webcast 1/23/13

Newsbreak New Mexico 12pm Newscast with Vanessa Dabovich

                                     Listen here:

Gov. announces new teaching initiative
Worforce Solutions still dealing with claimants 
Supreme court asks for more judges

Newsbreak New Mexico 12pm Webcast 1/23/13

Gov. announces $2 million teacher initiative

Gov. Martinez

Gov. Susana Martinez has announced a $2 million initiative to hire math and sciences teachers in low income and rural schools in New Mexico. 

Martinez outlined her plan at a news conference Tuesday in Albuquerque. 

She says the effort will include multiple components to increase the hiring of math and science teachers in hard-to-staff areas throughout the state. That will include a loan forgiveness program and pay incentives for teachers who move to certain schools. T

he governor also proposes up to a $5,000 pay bonus for the best 125 highly effective math and science teachers who move to underserved schools. Eligible teachers would be those who are determined to be the most effective in helping students under the state's new teacher evaluation program.

Gov. announces $2 million teacher initiative

NM Supreme Court asks Legislature for more judges

The chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court says the state's court system needs more judges to deal with a backlog of cases. 

 In a speech Tuesday to a joint session of the Legislature, Chief Justice Petra Jimenez Maes said a lack of judges and a budget squeeze has caused delays in resolving civil and domestic cases. 

A study of the court system's workload indicates a need for 23 judges statewide, she said, but the judiciary is asking the Legislature to approve nine in next year's budget. The cost is $3.5 million, which includes judges and support staff.

NM Supreme Court asks Legislature for more judges