With less than two weeks to go in the legislative session, bills are moving at a quickened pace, passing from one chamber to another and between committees.

Below are six pieces of legislation that made forward progress on Feb. 1 and 2 in Santa Fe:

FEB. 1

The full Senate passed Senate Bill 137 by a vote of 30-9. SB 137 now heads to the House of Representatives. AFT NM supports SB 137.


SB 137 (SCHOOL BOARD TRAINING)

SB 137 would implement several accountability measures for New Mexico’s school boards and charter school councils. Among the provisions of the legislation are a 10-hour series of mandatory trainings for board/council members and the requirement for all board/council...

I’m going to confess to a murder, acknowledging there probably aren’t any statutes of limitations on this kind of thing. Growing up, my sister and I sprinkled salt on our fair share of slugs. While I’m not proud of my salty slug serial killing spree, exploring under big rocks in the backyard was a great way to learn about the creepy-crawly world around me.




Let’s turn over the next big rock. It’s the one next to the shed. Once you get enough leverage to hoist the rock from its resting place, you see several things scurry around — some squirming worms, a truly terrifying millipede and a host of bugs that roll into little balls.




What are those balled-up bugs called? If...

Many people underestimate the impact that mental illness can have on an individual or family. It can be difficult to admit that you have a mental health problem in your life. Secondly, it can be just as difficult in getting the people you know to understand your situation without making any kinds of judgments.




But here are six reasons why you should make your mental health a priority this year:




Your situation will improve if you get help: Your anxieties and fears can be challenging to manage and more than likely you will need some help. Just as you talk to your doctor about your regular health, you should not be hesitant in seeking help for your mental health. If left untreated...

• On Feb. 5, 1922, DeWitt and Lila Wallace self-published and marketed the first Reader’s Digest magazine, designed to provide abridged articles on a wide variety of subjects for easy reading. It eventually gained a circulation of more than 10 million copies in the U.S. and is still believed to be the best-selling consumer magazine in the country.

• On Feb. 6, 1911, Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois. Reagan spent 30 years as an entertainer in radio, film and television before winning the California governor’s seat in 1966. Elected as America’s 40th president in 1980, he survived an assassination attempt and became the most popular president since Franklin D...