The Latest: Senate passes bi-partisan crime package

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A package of public safety bills has won approval in the New Mexico Senate, where it was both praised as a model for crafting bi-partisan criminal justice legislation moving forward and criticized for not going far enough in tackling the state's crime problem. Rising crime rates in New Mexico, and especially in Albuquerque, have put public safety at the center of legislative debates this year. The wide-ranging omnibus legislation approved in the Senate on Wednesday has gotten the most attention among proposed crime bills. The House must still approve the Senate's amendments before it is sent to the governor's desk. The Legislature adjourns Thursday. This omnibus legislation addresses multiple levels of the state's criminal justice system, starting with an attempt to bolster police ranks by providing retention bonuses to veteran police officers.