U.S. Supreme Court sides with New Mexico in Pecos River fight
Durango, Colorado Currently Tue 4% chance of precipitation 8% chance of precipitation 15% chance of precipitation 11% chance of precipitation By Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press
Monday, Dec. 14, 2020 5:23 PM
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ALBUQUERQUE – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sided with New Mexico in a fight with Texas over the Pecos River, issuing a decision that involves evaporation and New Mexico’s obligations to deliver water to its southern neighbor as part of a decades-old water-sharing compact.
The court decision found that the river master overseeing the compact correctly calculated that New Mexico should get credit for floodwater it stored in 2014. Even though it had requested that the water be stored upstream, Texas argued that a significant amount of water had evaporated while in st
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Leading legislators in New Mexico say the next regular legislative session in early 2021 is likely to take place in a hybrid of in person and online.
Democratic Senate majority leader Peter Wirth of Santa Fe said Monday that a huge piece of the next session likely will be conducted online through video conferencing as a precaution against pandemic dangers. He noted that many local governments are conducting public business entirely online.
The comments came during an online-only meeting of top-ranked lawmakers and legal counsel to the Legislature. The state s lead budget writing committee last week abandoned in-person meetings. It was unclear what prompted that decision.
New Mexico has won a U.S. Supreme Court victory over Texas in a Pecos River water case, but State Engineer John DâAntonio said an even more critical matter â before the same court, against the same opponent â still looms in the coming year.
Though clearly pleased by the courtâs 8-0 decision Monday in favor of New Mexico, DâAntonio acknowledged the second case, which pits New Mexico and Colorado against Texas, could be critical for the future of the lower Rio Grande and the farmers who live there.
âThe way I cast it this morning was that this one was sort of the appetizer,â DâAntonio said. âThe main course is coming, and thatâs the lower Rio Grande. We prevailed in the appetizer round. Letâs see how we do in the main course.â
By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
The first coronavirus vaccines have arrived in New Mexico as hospitals prepare to distribute doses to frontline health care workers.
The first vaccinations came Monday with health care workers at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe.
New Mexico will get more than 17,500 doses as part of the first wave. The shipments come as new COVID-19 cases have decreased but hospitalizations and deaths remain high.
On Sunday, New Mexico tied its previous record of 44 for the number of coronavirus-related deaths reported in a single day.
The statewide death toll inched toward 2,000 with an additional 21 deaths reported Monday. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began has topped 121,200.
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