Between Editions: March 4

New Mexico lawmakers are considering a plan that would give each member of the House $400,000 to spend on pet projects.

Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, D-Gallup, is chairwoman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.

“Members recognize we have a lot more revenue,” Lundstrom told the Albuquerque Journal, referring to a projected $1.2 billion budget surplus driven by oil production.

Lundstrom said money spent under the bill could go toward pilot programs, studies or existing state programs.

The bill has not yet moved out of committee.

• Plenty of local basketball teams will be in action this weekend for the state tournament, with brackets released Sunday evening by the New Mexico Activities Association.

Curry and Roosevelt counties have 10 total teams — five boys and five girls — slotted in one of the 16-team fields in Classes 1A through 5A.

The first round will be held at the higher seeds, and further rounds will be played at either Bernalillo High School, the Santa Ana Star Center or Dreamstyle Arena (The Pit).

Championship games will be March 15-16 at The Pit.

Teams that are hosting first-round games this weekend:

• Class 4A girls: Portales (8) vs. Artesia (9), 6 p.m. Friday

• Class 2A girls: Texico (1) vs. Loving (16), 6 p.m. Friday

• Class 1A girls: Melrose (1) vs. To’Hajiilee, 6 p.m. Friday

• Class 2A boys: Texico (4) vs. Menaul (13), 6 p.m. Saturday

• Class 1A boys: Melrose (5) vs. Animas (12), 5 p.m. Saturday

Teams going on the road this weekend are:

• Class 5A boys: Clovis (9) at Hobbs (8), 7 p.m. Friday

• Class 4A boys: Portales (11) at Goddard (6), 6 p.m. Saturday

• Class 1A boys: Elida (9) at Gateway Christian (8), 6 p.m. Saturday

• Class 1A girls: Elida (9) at Cimarron (8), 4:30 p.m. Friday

• Class 1A girls: Dora (15) at Tatum, 6 p.m. Friday