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Feb. 2 First News: N.M. Senate Democrats To Determine Fate Of REAL-ID "Fix" - Listen

The fate of a REAL ID fix in New Mexico is now in the hands of Senate Democrats. A key Senate committee is scheduled Tuesday to hear proposals that would bring New Mexico into compliance with tougher identification requirements under the federal REAL ID Act. But how Senate Democrats respond to the proposals will determine if they face a backlash if the driver's license problem isn't fixed. A GOP plan would grant state driving privilege cards for immigrants — even those suspected of living in the country illegally. A Democrat version would create a "two tier" system. The REAL ID Act requires proof of legal U.S. residency for those who want to use state identification to access certain areas of federal facilities. New Mexico has no such requirement and allows immigrants to get state driver's licenses regardless of legal status.

Republican lawmakers are spurning a proposal to tap New Mexico's largest permanent reserve fund to boost spending on early childhood education programs. The proposed constitutional amendment to divert funds from the New Mexico Land Grant Permanent Fund was voted down Monday by the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee in a 6-5 party-line vote with Republican in opposition. The latest version of the amendment from Democratic Reps. Javier Martinez and Antonio Maestas would set aside a seven-tenths of one-percent annual distribution from the Land Grant Permanent Fund. Currently public schools, state universities and other beneficiaries receive a five-point-five percent annual distribution from the fourteen-and-a-half- billion fund. That drops to five-percent starting in July. The fund receives royalties from oil and natural gas production and other income from state lands.

Authorities say an armed robbery suspect fatally shot by Santa Fe police at a motel last week was a Santa Fe man who had a gun in his possession and several thousand dollars of cash in his belongings. New Mexico State Police on Monday identified the man shot by officers Wednesday night as 31-year-old Herman Flores. State police said several thousand dollars of cash was stolen during a holdup of a Wal-Mart store near the motel and that video confirmed the robber carried a handgun. A motel guest who witnessed the later shootout between police and the suspect said the suspect fired first and that police returned fire.

NBC's hospital drama "The Night Shift" will be returning to New Mexico to film its third season. The New Mexico Film Office made the announcement Monday. Film Office Director Nick Maniatis says principal photography will be begin this month in Albuquerque and will continue through June. The production is expected to employ about 130 local crew members and about 500 background talent per episode.

The Democratic Party of New Mexico is taking aim at Representative Nora Espinoza, accusing her of violating the governmental conduct code as she considers running for the secretary of state's office. The party contends in a complaint filed Monday that the Roswell Republican should not have directed those interested in her campaign to her official legislative webpage. Party Chairwoman Debra Haaland asked that the secretary of state's office investigate. Haaland pinned her complaint on comments Espinoza made during a recent radio interview. Espinoza was on the House floor Monday evening and not immediately available for comment. Espinoza said last week she was gathering signatures and was considering running for the statewide office. Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver is seeking the Democratic nomination.

Rising costs for health care linked to the expansion of the federal Medicaid program in New Mexico are crowding out initiatives sought by Governor Susana Martinez. Martinez was only the second Republican governor to break ranks with GOP allies and expand Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act. Now Medicaid looms over nearly every state spending decision as lawmakers are working on a budget with far less revenue than expected to spend. Leading legislators say the governor's signature spending initiatives on law enforcement and education will be squeezed by the 78-million dollar funding need for Medicaid next year as states pick up a portion of the full federal subsidy. Medicaid enrollment now extends to 36-percent of the state's population. More than dozen states that opted to expand Medicaid have seen enrollments surge beyond projections, straining budgets.

A measure that would give local governments the authority to impose curfews for children under the age of 16 has cleared the New Mexico House. The House voted 44-21 late Monday. The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration. House Majority Leader Nate Gentry, one of the bill's sponsors, says nothing good happens to children who are out unsupervised late at night. The legislation was spurred by a rash of crime in Albuquerque last summer that involved teenagers. In June, an Albuquerque man was shot to death in his driveway by what police called a mob of teens involved in a streak of break-ins and auto burglaries. In July, a 14-year-old student was shot by another teen at an Albuquerque park around 2 a.m.

Santa Fe Weather: Cloudy today with a 40-percent chance for snow, today’s high reaching 29. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 30-percent chance for snow and the overnight low down to eight-above. Tomorrow: Partly sunny with a 10-percent chance for snow, Wednesday’s high, 28.