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Working-class representation in state legislatures is 1.6% according to a new report, down from 1.8% percent two years ago. (ZackFrank/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

NM's working-class folks are MIA among state legislators

Tracking down a New Mexico state lawmaker from the working class is like hunting for a needle in a haystack, a new study showed. The share of U.S…

In 2022, New Mexico joined the ranks of states offering free college for most through its Opportunity Scholarship. (theartofpics/AdobeStock)

NM studies financial equity among higher-education institutions

New Mexico is taking a deep dive into its funding of public colleges and universities to determine if inequities need to be addressed. The Higher …

The U.S. military opens the Trinity bomb site, 210 miles south of Los Alamos, New Mexico, to the public twice a year. (Nina/Adobe Stock)

NM activist seeking atomic bomb reparations invited to State of the Union

A New Mexico resident will attend President Joe Biden's State of the Union address tonight as legislation is pending to expand the Radiation Exposure …

Black and Latino youths are more likely to experience a gun homicide closer to their home when compared with white youths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock/Bettencourt/peopleimages.com)

NM lawmakers move gun-control bills forward

Gun control legislation is making headway in the 2024 New Mexico legislative session. On Wednesday, the New Mexico Senate passed a bill to ban guns …

In the United States, some 200 food banks feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other community-based agencies. (Roadrunner Food Bank)

How hunger disproportionately impacts rural communities

Some 44 million Americans are struggling with hunger, including 250,000 in New Mexico, and a nationwide food bank network wants Congress to help…

The opioid crisis led to more arrests across the U.S. including New Mexico, which now offers services to combat recidivism in 14 of 33 counties. (JUN LI/AdobeStock)<br />

NM counties reduce recidivism through RISE program

By Anya Petrone Slepyan for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Co…

A bill before the New Mexico Legislature would halt approval of new drilling permits within a mile of school facilities starting in July. (Photo courtesy of Consumer Watchdog)

A trio of NM bills could rein in lucrative oil, gas industry

A trio of bills to curb oil and gas pollution is under consideration by New Mexico lawmakers. New Mexico is the country's second-largest oil …

The rate of New Mexico high school students not graduating on time was down from 33% a decade ago to 23% in 2019-2020. (Julie/Adobe Stock)

Report: New Mexico's child well-being slowly improving

Child well-being in New Mexico appears to be slowly improving with a marked decline in child poverty. Data from New Mexico Voices for Children found …

Since 2005, research shows the number of journalists employed by newspapers has declined by 60%, a loss of 43,000 reporters and editors. (junce11/AdobeStock)

Study: Shuttered small-town newspapers sink community vitality

Three million residents in more than 200 U.S. counties don't have access to a single local news source, according to a new study. In New Mexico…

New Mexico aims for 'no hungry holidays' by doubling donations

Just a few days into December, food bank demand is high while some warehouse shelves are lean, and in New Mexico, a matching donation program this …

After her doctor retired in 2020, Albuquerque's Anne Withrow faced a long waiting list for transgender health care. (photo courtesy of Cecilia Nowell)<br />

NM's gender-affirming policy generates waitlists for health care

By Cecilia Nowell for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Serv…

Immigrants start more than 25% of all businesses in seven of the eight sectors that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects to grow the fastest over the next decade. (Adriana/Adobe Stock)

Santa Fe's economic vitality depends on immigrants

From construction and hospitality to business creation and consumer spending, a new report shows the oversized contributions immigrants are making to …

First-generation students make up one-third of all college students, but only 27% will attain a degree within four years. (MonkeyBusiness/Adobe Stock)

NM's first-generation students inspire siblings to pursue college

First-generation college students face a host of expectations and challenges - and that's why New Mexico State University will spotlight their accompl…

Albuquerque's ABQ RIDE bus program averages 500,000 users a month. (wiki)

ABQ's 'Zero Fares' pilot bus program on track to become permanent

Free buses may soon become a basic city service in Albuquerque. A vote to make a pilot "Zero Fares" rider program permanent is set to come before …

NM observes 35 years of 'National Coming Out Day'

Unlike more conservative states, New Mexico has seen prominent advances in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in recent decades; a good …

Albuquerque had one of the highest homicide rates in the nation in 2021, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association. (Artem/Adobe Stock)

Amid Legal Challenges, NM Governor Enacts Gun Restrictions

One day after New Mexico Gov. Michele Lujan Grisham announced a ban on the public carry of guns in and around Albuquerque, a pro-gun group is suing…

New Mexico's Healthy Foods Market, operated by Roadrunner Food Bank, distributes fresh produce and perishable food items monthly in nine urban, rural and tribal communities. (Photo courtesy RRFB)

New Mexico's Food Activists Shine Light on Hunger

The lines at hunger relief organizations are longer now as pandemic-related benefits have ended, but you can help your neighbors with grocery …

More than 70 million people live in areas of the United States with dentist shortages, according to dentalherapy.org. (Graphicroyalty/AdobeStock)

NM Remains Slow in Closing Dental Care Equity Gap

Dental care is vital to overall health, but finding and affording services is a challenge in many states - including New Mexico. Dental therapists…

One in five U.S. adults, or nearly 53 million people, lived with a mental illness in 2020, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. (NLawrenson/peopleimages.com/AdobeStock)

DACA Weighs on Some During BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month

Racism and discrimination act as stressors to increase mental health vulnerability, according to experts, especially for BIPOC individuals; Black…

New Mexico's 2022 Housing Trust Fund provides communities such as Taos with dedicated monies for construction of affordable homes for low- and moderate-income residents. (Wiki)

Taos Gets Serious About Providing Affordable Housing

Small towns such as Taos are not immune to the nation's housing crisis - leading the rural community to launch a cooperative effort to address the cha…

New Mexico is one of only a few states to include immigrant tax filers who use their Individual Taxpayer Identification Number in filing for state and federal credits and rebates. (JoshuaResnick/Adobe Stock)

NM Aims to Promote Justice with Tax Rebates for Immigrant Workers

Tax rebates can boost economic growth, and the rebates available in New Mexico this summer are designed to reverse discriminatory exclusions of …

Santa Fe, New Mexico's capital city, will mark the 30th anniversary of Pride celebrations on Saturday, June 24, with a festival on the downtown plaza. (unm.org)

NM Touts Prominent Advances in LGBTQ Rights During 'Pride Month'

New laws offering greater protections for New Mexico's LGBTQ+ community are taking effect in the coming days as diversity is celebrated during June's …

It's estimated a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday could remove federal protection from 80% of streams in the southwestern states. (USGS)

SCOTUS Narrows 50-Year-Old Clean Water Act, Affecting NM Rivers

Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling making it harder for the federal government to enforce clean-water rules has New Mexico environmental groups …

A one-day food drive sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO) has delivered more than 1.82 billion pounds of food in the past 30 years. (Courtesy Roadrunners)

'Stamp Out Hunger' Food Drive Returns to New Mexico Saturday

One in five children in New Mexico is at risk of hunger, and this weekend you can make a difference. Hunger-relief organizations are promoting the …

New Mexico's college or higher graduation rate is 28.1%, compared with 30.3% in neighboring Arizona, according to data from the World Population Review. (Sharkshock/AdobeStock)

$1.3M Grant Introduces NM Middle, High Schoolers to College Options

Research shows college graduates have 60% more job opportunities than non-graduates, and a New Mexico program will make sure kids - starting in …

A report based on federal data shows New Mexico's rate of homelessness is 12 individuals per 10,000 people, compared with 18 per 10,000 nationwide - lower than neighboring Colorado, also at 18 per 10,000, but higher than Texas at eight per 10,000. (M-SUR/AdobeStock)

NM Homelessness Declines, But Rural Folks Face Barriers

In the past two years, homelessness in America has risen only 1%, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - which …

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has internship openings for Latino youth interested in pursuing careers in public land management, program coordination, outdoor recreation and community engagement in California, Minnesota and Oregon. (Kayt Jonsson/USFWS)

MANO Internships Broaden Horizons for NM Latinos

More than 200 young U.S. Latinos completed internships last year, which could lead to jobs historically difficult for them to access. Unpaid …

Rural Americans pay more when gas prices rise, because they tend to drive farther as part of their day-to-day activities. (SaschaBurkard/Adobe Stock)

Inflation's Impacts on Rural America Likely Higher than Known

Many economists believe inflation will further ease this year, which cannot come soon enough for overburdened rural Americans, including those in New …

A bill before the New Mexico Legislature would add gender to the list of protected classes in the state Human Rights Act enacted in 1969. (Dmitry/AdobeStock)

NM Legislation Would Boost Protections for LGBTQ Students, Others

Legislation to close a loophole that potentially allows discrimination against LGBTQ New Mexicans will be debated by the State Legislature this sessio…

Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs) educate more than 3.2 million students every year, according to the USDA. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

NMSU Minority Students Get Boost Toward Ag Careers

Students from underrepresented groups are being recruited by New Mexico State University and California State University-Chico for a new program aimed…

New Mexico has provided benefits to same-sex partners of state employees since 2003. (LeonardoBorges/AdobeStock)

Equality NM Celebrates 30 Years of Transformation for LGBTQ+ Community

Equality New Mexico will advocate for new LGBTQ protections during this year's legislative session as it celebrates 30 years as a leading advocacy org…

The number of families with children experiencing homelessness declined by 6% between 2020 and 2022, marking a total decline of 36% since 2010, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (AdobeStock)

Report: 2022 a Mixed Bag on Homelessness as "All In" Program Launches

Volunteers will fan out across New Mexico cities this month for the annual "point-in-time" count of the unhoused, even as a new program launches …

In a 2018 ruling, a state District Court judge found New Mexico was failing to prepare students equally for college and a career, specifically citing a lack of sufficient education for Native Americans. (AdobeStock/mmg1design)

NM's Boost in Early Education Funds Included in Federal Omnibus Bill

New Mexico voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question in November to spend more money on early childhood education and public schools, and now …

When the 2023 legislative session convenes, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says she'll push lawmakers to ensure all public school students get free school meals. (vejaa/AdobeStock)

Post-Pandemic, Hunger in NM Still a Critical Concern for Thousands

Holiday preparations are underway, and those who battle hunger in New Mexico are urging communities to remember their neighbors at a time when food …

The Respect for Marriage Act will not force states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but they would be required to recognize marriages performed in other states that issue valid licenses. (Mario/Adobe Stock)

NM's LGBTQ Advocates Await Final Passage of Respect for Marriage Act

New Mexico's LGBTQ community is celebrating passage of the "Respect for Marriage Act" by the U.S. Senate - but also surprised it came about so …

About 63% of the 18,000 naturalized citizens welcomed in New Mexico between 2016 through 2022 arrived from Mexico. (somosunpueblounido)

NM's Newly Naturalized Citizens Encouraged to Vote in Midterms

Many newly naturalized citizens will be eligible to vote for the first time next week, including about 18,000 in New Mexico. According to the …

More than 80% of LGBTQ students said they felt unsafe at school last year, according to last week's annual report from the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. (needjustice.org)

Many Fear LGBTQ+ Rights Are On the Midterm Ballot

In the past few years, the LGBTQ community has watched hard-won rights erode, and many fear the worst is yet to come, based on the outcome of the …

Seven states, including New Mexico, hold primary elections on June 7, 2022. (AngelaYurikoSmith/Pixabay)

LGBTQ+ Advocates Endorse NM Primary Candidates

While lawmakers in many states have introduced legislation to roll back LGBTQ+ rights within their borders, New Mexico is not one of them, and …

The pandemic and a strong job market have reduced college enrollment - but studies show college graduates will earn nearly $1 million more over the course of their careers. (viviandu/dailycal.org)

College Degree Increasingly Requires Part-Time Job

Many U.S. college degree programs can take years of full-time study, a serious time crunch for working adults. That's why more universities are …

The Journal of the American Medical Association says trans youths with access to gender-affirming care are 60% less likely to have moderate to severe depression and are 73% less suicidal. (MaryBettiniBlank/Pixabay)

States Form Coalition to Counter Anti-LGBTQ Bills

New Mexico and 18 other states have announced plans to introduce legislation they say will be needed to protect transgender kids from civil and crimin…

What Does Musk Takeover Mean for 'Black Twitter?'

Users of "Black Twitter," a community keeping in touch via Twitter about issues of interest to Black Americans, are watching for changes after Elon …

Since the start of the pandemic, at least 30,000 immigrant families in New Mexico were excluded from stimulus rebate checks, unemployment benefits and other safety-net programs. (SomosUnPuebloUnido)

Statewide "Guaranteed Basic Income" Launches in New Mexico

In the next few days, more than 300 undocumented or mixed-immigration-status New Mexico families will begin receiving $500 monthly for the next year…

Immigrants now account for about one in 10 Black persons in the United States, up from three in 10 in 1980, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. (dimitrisvetsikas1969/Pixabay)

Black History Month Includes Focus on Health, Environmental Justice

Communities of color are using this year's Black History Month to advocate for health and wellness, including calling attention to environmental …

Recent research shows the mentally ill and drug addicted account for only about one quarter of the homeless population, while families with children make up one third and are the fastest-growing segment. (vinsky2002/Pixabay)

NM Eviction Moratorium to End, Homelessness Spike Worrisome

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Tents and sleeping bags not only make living on the streets more bearable this time of year, they can often mean the difference …

Violence and maltreatment remain widespread in juvenile corrections and detention facilities nationwide, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (johnhain/Pixabay)

Debate Over Youth Prison Sentences Continues in New Mexico

SANTA FE, N.M. -- A New Mexico legislator is optimistic a bill will pass in the 2022 session to prohibit life sentences for juveniles convicted of …

New Mexico is one of a dozen states giving residents access to the software and web tools needed to participate in 2021 redistricting. (New Mexico Legislature)

Fairness, Transparency Urged as NM Redistricting Advances

SANTA FE, N.M. -- In less than two weeks, proposed maps will be available to New Mexico residents who are following the once-a-decade redrawing of U.…

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

New Mexico's Eddy County is one of two rural counties in the United States that are ranked among the top 25 counties for high ozone pollution in the 22nd annual report from the American Lung Association. (sierrclub.org)

Air Quality Report Shows Ozone Increases in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- This year's State of the Air report from the American Lung Association found mixed air-quality results in New Mexico for the …

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PNS Daily Newscast - May 8, 2024

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NM: Social Justice