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How The Senate Health Care Bill Could Disrupt The Insurance Market

Senate Republicans have little margin for error as they prepare for a vote this coming week on a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act . Some lawmakers are already raising concerns that the bill could aggravate the problem of healthy people going without insurance, driving up costs for everyone else. "If you can get insurance after you get sick, you will," Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told NBC's Today Show . "And without the individual mandate, that sort of adverse selection, the death...

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University professor, 2 students overcome by heat near Hatch

By News Editor And Partners • 37 minutes ago

HATCH, N.M. (AP) — Border Patrol agents say they had to rescue a university professor and two of her students who were overcome by heat near Hatch, New Mexico.

Agents from the Las Cruces station responded to a call from the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office requesting assistance in locating three people who were in distress Wednesday afternoon.

The three people were located about seven miles south of Hatch.

Agents say one student was severely dehydrated while the professor and the other student showed signs of heat exhaustion.

Albuquerque TV truck stolen while crew worked on crime story

By News Editor And Partners • 38 minutes ago

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — While a television news crew was gathering footage for a story about crime in the Albuquerque downtown area, a thief drove off in the station's SUV.

The Albuquerque Journal (http://bit.ly/2rMiw1n ) reported the story Friday about the KOB-TV truck.

KOB News Director Michelle Donaldson says the vehicle was recovered within a half hour without police assistance by following the GPS tracking device that was on board.

She says the thief had fled the scene and the SUV was locked with the keys missing.

New Mexico group unveils estimated $20M homelessness project

By news editor and partners • 39 minutes ago

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A local architect and a pair of organizations that serve Santa Fe's homeless population have been working for nearly two years to develop a long-term solution to homelessness that extends far beyond a bed and a meal.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported (http://bit.ly/2sKzU89 ) earlier this week that the group's estimated $20-million proposal just lacks two primary ingredients: funding and a site.

The proposed 400-bed facility is modeled after a 1,500-bed facility in San Antonio, Texas, called Haven for Hope.

Spaceport Given Permission To Use Local Tax Money For Operations

By news editor and partners • 17 hours ago

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Finance Authority is letting the state's spaceport use more tax money collected in Dona Ana and Sierra counties to increase its operating budget.

The authority agreed Thursday to let Spaceport America for one year use extra money from the taxes.

But the spaceport wanted the excess tax money in perpetuity, a proposal that the authority rejected.

Some politicians have argued the tax money was only intended to help build the facility, not cover its daily expenses.

New Mexico settles $2.8M Medicaid overpayment claim with Las Cruces firm for $485

By sylvia ulloa-new mexico in depth • 19 hours ago

As Gilda Radner’s Emily Litella might have said, “Nevermind!”

More than four years after accusing Southwest Counseling Center of overbilling the state by $2.8 million in Medicaid reimbursements, the Human Services Department has settled with the former Las Cruces behavioral health provider for $484.87.

Attendance At International Balloon Museum Tops One Million

By KRWG News And Partners • Jun 23, 2017

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Visits made to the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum since it first opened in 2005 now total more than 1 million.

Officials say the attendance milestone was surpassed during an annual folk festival that was held at the museum in early June.

The adjacent balloon park also is home to an annual international balloon fiesta that draws hundreds of pilots and tens of thousands of spectators to Albuquerque each October for the lifting off of hot air and gas balloons.

Under Scrutiny, New Mexico Opioid Prescriptions Taper Off

By KRWG News And Partners • Jun 23, 2017

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The number of people receiving opioid pain medication prescriptions or risky duplicate prescriptions is showing a precipitous decline in New Mexico since the state ordered doctors to check a database that flags patients who get narcotics from multiple sources.

New Mexico State Epidemiologist Michael Landen tracks opioid prescription patterns in the state with the highest drug overdose death rate west of the Mississippi River.

Top Education Official Says New Mexico Schools Need Modern Solutions

By KRWG News And Partners • Jun 23, 2017

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is seeing higher graduation rates and more students are reading at grade level thanks to reforms made over the past several years, but a top state education official says the demands of public education are evolving and schools need to be prepared.

Christopher Ruszkowski took over as acting secretary of the Public Education Department this week. He replaces Hanna Skandera, who announced her resignation earlier this month.

Las Cruces Police Arrest Armed Robbery and Aggravated Burglary Suspects

By news editor and partners • Jun 23, 2017

Las Cruces Police arrested two men believed to be involved in two separate armed incidents – an armed robbery and an aggravated burglary – that were committed this past weekend.

Logan Jarrette, 26, of Albuquerque, and William Worley, 33, of the 2700 block of east Idaho Avenue in Las Cruces, have been arrested and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center.

Jarrette was arrested June 20 and is charged with one count of armed robbery, aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of conspiracy.

Your Weekend Pulse

By KRWG News And Partners • Jun 23, 2017

Time now for Your Weekend Pulse! your guide to what is happening in our area this weekend with Lorena Sanchez, Pulse Editor for the Las Cruces Sun-News and Edmundo Resendez. This weekend, cool off with cold summer treats, the Tortugas San Juan Turtle Fest, and a sneak peek at UFO Fest.

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Congressional Progressive Caucus: Senate Health Bill Just as ‘Mean’ As House Version

By cpc • Jun 22, 2017

Commentary: WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) made the following statement after Senate Republicans released their plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act after weeks of hiding the bill from the American people to avoid answering tough questions.

No, Liberal Theatre Artists Are Not Calling For Violence Against Trump

By Algernon D’Ammassa • Jun 22, 2017

Commentary: Once upon a time, when this columnist was beginning a career as an actor, one of the first producers who gave me a job was Oskar Eustis. He is at the center of a controversy this week over a production of Shakespeare’s “Tragedy of Julius Caesar” in New York City. Anyone who has worked with Oskar or engaged him in conversation can guess two things as this illiterate scandal roils around his new production. One, Eustis certainly does not endorse assassination; and two, part of him must be thrilled that a play is arousing controversy in 2017.

New Mexico Democrats Blast Senate Republican Healthcare Bill

By Democratic Party of New Mexico • Jun 22, 2017

Commentary: The Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Richard Ellenberg released to following statement after Senate Republicans released the healthcare bill they drafted behind closed doors:

"Republicans are actively working to take away the health care many New Mexicans rely on to stay healthy. Under the Republican plan children will go without doctor appointments, rural hospitals will be forced to close, and heath care professionals in our state will see their jobs disappear. .

National Retail Federation Cheers Effective End To Employer-Mandated Coverage In Republican Plan

By national retail federation • Jun 22, 2017

Commentary: The National Retail Federation praised a plan unveiled today by Senate Republican leadership to replace former President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, saying the bill would protect the foundation of employer-based health benefits that are the source of coverage for 177 million Americans.

Tax Cuts for the Rich and Corporations Paid for by Reducing Health Care for Millions of Americans

By families usa • Jun 22, 2017

Commentary: After weeks of secrecy, Republican leadership in the Senate has presented a discussion draft of their Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal bill that shows the ultimate bill is likely to be as bad as, if not worse than, the bill narrowly passed by the House.

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