New public safety legislation signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham last month empowers courts to involuntarily commit more people found incompetent to stand trial, and also expands judges' options for community restoration and treatment.

Only one new case of measles was reported in the last week in NM, down from 8 two weeks ago. plus, two competing data privacy bills pending at the New Mexico Legislature appear aimed at protecting residents’ information online.

New Mexico has ranked consistently near the bottom when it comes to child well-being. The Children, Youth and Families Department, which is supposed to protect the most vulnerable children, has also battled scandals, secrecy, and staffing instability for decades. In the first of a series, KUNM looks deeper into the legacy of these longstanding challenges and how they affect families in the foster care system.