April 2023

The New Mexico Supreme Court issued an order doing away with a $1,000 cap for fines related to contempt of court charges and clarifying the types of contempt people can face. The court issued the opinion in mid-March, which “eliminated a cap of $1,000 on the fines that can be imposed for contempt of court in New Mexico without a jury trial for the person subject to the punishment.” NMSC justices also issued an opinion changing the classification of “civil” and “criminal” contempt to “remedial” and “punitive” contempt to “more accurately reflect the distinctions between different types of contempt.” Civil, or remedial contempt, is a sanction to compel a person to comply with a court mandate —while criminal contempt punishes a person for being disobedient or disrespectful towards the court.

New Mexico veterans have seen millions of dollars in claims awarded under a bill signed into law last year. The U.S.

Air out closed-up buildings before entering Trap mice until they are all gone Seal up homes and shelters to prevent rodent entry Soak nests and droppings with disinfectant before cleaning them up Don’t sweep up rodent droppings into the air where they can be inhaled Put hay, wood and compost piles are far as possible from one’s home Get rid of trash and junk piles Don’t leave pet food or water where mice can access it

A bill that would direct Colorado officials to explore advanced energy options in rural parts of the state continues to work its way through the legislature and has received support from southern Colorado.

The New Mexico Department of Health issued an advisory warning residents about the increased number of Hantavirus cases being detected within the state. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) has been detected in five people in New Mexico in 2023, compared to just one detected case in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and two detected cases last year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and NMDOH data.

Colorado’s transportation department is “redoubling” its efforts to improve and maintain roads across the state after it received $45 million from the Transportation Commission of Colorado. The increased funding comes after the state exits one of the snowiest winters of the last 50 years, with statewide snowpack averaging 150% of normal, the Colorado Department of Transportation said in a release announcing the funding.