New Mexico News & Current Events | Public News Service

New Mexico's planned electric vehicle infrastructure would allow motorists to charge a vehicle in 30 to 45 minutes for about $20. (AdobeStock/serperm73)

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

NM Seeks Public Input on Zero-Emission Vehicle Standards

New Mexico wants more residents to drive electric vehicles, and is hosting a series of meetings to explain its advanced clean cars and trucks rules…

Many saguaro cacti were damaged or destroyed during construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall initiated by former President Donald Trump and funded by taxpayers. (Photo courtesy: LaikenJordahl)

Monday, September 18, 2023

NM Saw Lasting Consequences from Trump's U.S.-Mexico Border Wall

The unprecedented attempt to build a wall along the U.S. Mexico border has had devastating effects on wildlife from which they may not recover…

New Mexico is projected to face a glaring

NM Youth Protest Over Climate-Change Accountability

Today's young people will struggle most with the affects of climate change, and a New Mexico youth group brings its concerns to the streets of …

Oil and gas wells, roads, pipelines and other infrastructure near the Chaco Culture National Historical Park have destroyed some cultural sites and transformed others into industrial parks. (MarkKaletka/Flicker/Creative Commons)

Protection of NM's Greater Chaco Region Faces New Threats

A previous agreement to protect New Mexico's Greater Chaco Canyon region from oil and gas development is back on the table, forcing supporters to…

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 …

New Mexico recorded 54 motorcycle fatalities in 2022, with 33 involving riders who were not wearing helmets, according to data compiled by the University of New Mexico. (NMMVD)

Rallying Cry for Motorcycle Safety Featured on NM License Plate

Motorcyclists are the most vulnerable drivers on the road. That's why a New Mexico man started a campaign that led the state to issue the first …

While bears can live 20 to 25 years in areas where they are hunted, the average bear lives seven to eight years, according to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. (sos.nm.org)

New Mexico's Wildlife 'Kill Quotas' Face Scrutiny

Opponents of a plan to allow hunters to kill more black bears in New Mexico over the next four years say escalating climate-change threats faced by wi…

Families that live in rural areas, are of mixed status, have limited English proficiency or experience significant residential instability are most likely to struggle with the current

Steps New Mexicans Can Take to Preserve Medicaid Coverage

After three years of continuous Medicaid coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, that protection has ended. As a result, New Mexico is assessing …

It's estimated nearly 3,400 New Mexicans have had some student loan debt reduced since 2021 through a U.S. Department of Education program that offers loan forgiveness to college graduates who work in qualified public service jobs. (fizkes/AdobeStock)

NM Student Loan Borrowers Urged to Plan Ahead for Payment Restart

The reboot on student loan payments has financial strategists encouraging New Mexicans with debt to figure out what's doable, what's impossible…

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has found trauma is present in almost every age, race, ability, and socioeconomic group. (MNStudios/Pixabay)

NM Teachers Have Tools to Ease 'Back to School' Transition

Since the pandemic, back-to-school season brings up a lot of emotions for parents and kids, and can be even harder for those affected by a school …

Students at New Mexico State University and three other Hispanic-serving institutions are benefiting from a federal grant designed to increase the placement of Hispanic graduates at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (CookieStudio/AdobeStock)

NMSU Trains Hispanic Students as Next-Gen Ag Leaders

Hispanic students at New Mexico State University who are interested in agricultural careers will get help, starting this semester, from a program …

New Mexico was peripherally involved in the 2020 fake elector scheme, where President Joe Biden easily won the state's five electoral votes, 54.3% to 43.5%. (Grandbrothers/AdobeStock)

Voters Face New Tests Ahead of 2024 Presidential Election

The next presidential election is still 15 months away but New Mexico election officials are absorbing the latest details about a fake elector scheme …

The average young person knows at least one other person who's been injured or killed by a gun, according to a survey by Everytown for Gun Safety and the Southern Poverty Law Center. (michelmond/Adobe Stock)

Report: Young Americans Feel Unsafe, Support Stricter Gun Laws

Some 74% of young people in the U.S. believe gun violence is a problem, and almost 60% want to see stricter gun laws, according to a new report from …

The National Weather Service says a heat index at or above 90 degrees poses a significant health risk. (nmsd.k12.nm.us)

Study: NM Needs New Policies to Protect Children from Extreme Heat

New Mexico must do more to protect children and other vulnerable residents from extreme heat, according to a new report from the advocacy …

Only 38% of U.S. women between ages 13 and 44 live in a state supportive of abortion rights, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (goodluz/AdobeStock)

NM Abortion Hotline Stays Busy; Medical Residents Seek Training

New Mexico has developed a two-pronged approach to safeguard access to abortion: offering an information hotline and instruction to medical residents …

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…

In New Mexico, 'Oppenheimer' Film Revives Painful Memories

This summer's "Oppenheimer" movie will shine a light on development of the first nuclear weapons, but for many in southern New Mexico it is another …

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…

It's estimated that 200 million Americans are drinking water contaminated with PFAS, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. (Rachel Conn)

NM Activists Secure Hearing on 'Forever Chemicals' Used in Extraction

Environmental groups and concerned citizens scored a victory in New Mexico on Thursday that could lead to better regulation of PFAS, also known as …

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 …

ChatGPT, introduced in January, is the fastest-growing app of all time, according to analysis by Swiss bank UBS. (LALAKA/Adobe Stock)

UNM Develops AI Initiative to Introduce Students, Faculty to ChatGPT

In just six months, ChatGPT has become a popular and powerful tool on the internet, and the University of New Mexico is developing an artificial …

July is the hottest month of the year for the U.S. as a whole. The warmest day for every location in the lower 48 states is typically July 26, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (NewAfrica/Adobe Stock)

NM Health Experts Warn of Heat-Related Illness Risk

The temperatures in New Mexico and across the Southwest already have been brutal this summer, and experts are issuing warnings about heat-related …

The United States had 75 post offices in 1789 serving 4 million customers, compared to 33,000 facilities in 2023 serving 334 million Americans. (Silvio/Adobe Stock)

Neither Rain, Nor Snow, Nor Extreme Heat – July 1 Recognizes Postal Workers

Saturday is your opportunity to offer cookies, a bottle of water or perhaps a thank-you note to your local mail carrier. It's National Postal Worker …

Roughly 26% of teenagers and college students volunteer in their communities. (motortion/AdobeStock)<br />

NM Schools Use 'Real-life' Experiences to Ready Students for College, Career

A New Mexico program is offering high school students more real-world experiences to boost their interest in college and a career. Future Focused …

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 …

Emergency allotments added to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the pandemic have ended, increasing the number of food-insecure households. (Courtesy Roadrunner Food Bank)

NM Group Offers Families, Kids Summer Food Assistance

New Mexico kids on vacation from school are no longer queueing-up for cafeteria meals - and that can increase hunger for low-income children and their…

The 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act protects Native children from forced removal from their families, tribes and culture. (ruslanita/AdobeStock)

SCOTUS Adoption Ruling Delivers Win for Tribal Sovereignty

Native Americans, tribal leaders and other supporters of last week's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding adoption say it affirms their …

New Mexico used federal pandemic funds to expand child care assistance, which was replaced by state funding during the 2023 legislative session to prevent a reversal. (nmvoices.org)

NM Kids' Well-Being Falls Short; Child Advocates Expect Turnaround

New Mexico ranks last in a new report on kids' overall well-being by state, but children's advocates said the two-year-old data does not tell the …

Federal data show nearly 4,000 of the oil and gas drilling permits issued by the Biden administration are on public lands overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's New Mexico office. (Photo courtesy WildEarthGuardians)

NM Advocates: Climate Crisis Demands End to Feds' Fossil-Fuel Leasing

The Bureau of Land Management has auctioned off another 10,000 acres of New Mexico public lands to the oil and gas industry, despite a local rally …

The phenomenon called summer learning loss is notable in countries with lengthy breaks, including the United States and Canada. (AdobeStock/peopleimages.com)

NM's Schoolchildren Get Help Through 'Make Summer Fair' Program

Summer, with its 90-day break from school, can be fun but also a challenge for New Mexico's rural kids who rely on school for companionship and meals…

Fossil research suggests the oldest chile pepper specimen may be from the Southwest, and not South America as originally believed. (R. Deanna/University of Colorado)

NM Chile Peppers Likely Millions of Years Older Than Previously Thought

New research shows ancient chili peppers were likely growing in Southwestern states like New Mexico millions of years earlier than previously thought…

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 …

The New Mexico Legislature passed a bill this year to provide free IDs for individuals experiencing homelessness. (Seventyfour/AdobeStock)

Study: New Mexico Homelessness Up Nearly 50% in 2023

Rent for New Mexicans has increased 70% since 2017, while wages have only grown by 15%, which is one factor pushing more people into homelessness…

PFAS, the chemicals contained in firefighting foam, are known to be toxic and affect ground and drinking water at many current and former military installations. (jana/Adobe Stock)

Analysis: DoD's PFAS Spending Not Enough to Fix Escalating Backlog

New Mexico has eight military sites with known or suspected discharges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, also known as "forever …

It is estimated about one-third of New Mexico's more than 120 threatened and endangered species occur in the Gila region, including the Mexican grey wolf, Gila trout and Mexican spotted owl. (Photo courtesy of Raquel Madrigal)

New Mexico Mural Art Features Endangered Species, Migration Themes

The Village of Doña Ana is New Mexico's oldest federally designated settlement, and about to be the newest destination for public art. The …

The American Geosciences Institute says the enormous size of the oil and gas industry results in huge volumes of oil and produced water, which lead to thousands of spills every year. (Photo courtesy of WildEarth Guardians)

NM Environmentalists: New Rules, Same Spills at State's Oilfields

Environmentalists and citizens in New Mexico believe the state agency charged with overseeing oil and gas activity is not doing enough to enforce rule…

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 …

The percentages of high-school students who say they often feel

NM Parents Encouraged to Know When Kids Need Mental Health Intervention

More behavioral-health providers may be enticed to move to New Mexico after a bill passed by the Legislature this year made treatment for behavioral h…

New Mexico's 482,000 acres of wetlands are aided by the beaver, a keystone species, in creating new habitat that can support a myriad of birds and amphibians. (dfikar/Adobestock)

New Mexico's Drinking Water in Crosshairs of Sackett v. EPA

A favorable ruling in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the federal Clean Water Act could remove protections nationwide, and affect 90%…

The two-year COVID-19 pandemic forced many public school children to attend their classes remotely via internet. (Kawee/Adobe Stock)

ABQ Bus Driver, Others Praised for COVID Response at Testy D.C. Hearing

The American Federation of Teachers president was grilled in Congress on Wednesday about the union's response to the coronavirus pandemic - but manage…

In the ancient world, letters were written on a variety of materials including metal, pottery fragments, animal skin and papyrus. (Serhiy Hipskyy/Adobe Stock)<br />

Sharpen Your Pencil – It's National Letter-Writing Month

If not for the colonial postal system, newcomers to the frontier soon to be known as New Mexico would not have kept up with relatives to the south in …

In the last week of July 2022, a five-mile stretch of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, N.M., ran dry for the first time in 40 years. (GregMeland/AdobeStock)

Rio Grande River Water Usage Accountability Heats Up

A conservation group which has fought to know how water from the Rio Grande is being used by a regional irrigation district in New Mexico will continu…

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 …

Planning for a Good Death: 'National Healthcare Decisions Day' is April 16

Coincidence or not, the day set aside to get "end-of-life" affairs in order always falls on either side of the day taxes are due to the federal …

Whether it's reading or listening to music, experts say establishing a nightly routine is critical to getting a good night's sleep. (JenkoAtaman/AdobeStock)

Study: New Mexicans Need More Sleep

Getting a good night's sleep often depends on where you live, and also can include your race, age and gender. In New Mexico, the United Health …

New Mexico, one of 14 U.S. states that grows pecans, is the second-largest world producer of the hickory tree nut. (AmandaHarris/Adobe Stock)

NM Ag Workers Monitor Priorities in 2023 Farm Bill

Many farmers and ranchers in drought-ridden New Mexico are making improvements to their irrigation systems this spring, while also keeping an eye on …

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