The New Mexico State Land Office has announced a historic achievement, auctioning oil and gas leases at a new 25% royalty rate for the first time, a change championed by Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard. The new state law, which took effect on June 20, allows the State Land Office to offer its […]
Author Archives: Kevin Hendricks, nm.news
Kevin Hendricks is a local news editor with nm.news. He is a two-decade veteran of local news as a sportswriter and assistant editor with the ABQ Journal and Rio Rancho Observer.
Posted inGeneral Interest
Comcast outage impacts nearly 15,000 in southeast Albuquerque
Roughly 15,000 people in southeast Albuquerque were without the internet after an outage Monday night continued through Tuesday afternoon. Comcast said its network was damaged by a third party, which caused a service outage early Monday night that affected about 15,000 customers. “Comcast is aware of an outage caused by damage to one of our […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
Luján secures $6.9 Million in federal funding for New Mexico communities
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has passed legislation that would deliver over $6.9 million in federal investments to New Mexico communities, marking a significant win for the state’s rural development and public safety initiatives. The funding, secured through the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug […]
Posted inBernalillo County
MDC ends physical mail for inmates, switches to digital system
The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center will stop accepting physical print materials for inmates as part of a new digital mail delivery system aimed at reducing contraband, officials announced. The system replaces hand-delivered mail with scanned digital copies accessible via tablets, with scanning performed off-site by third-party service ViaPath Technologies. MDC staff will then review […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
Sen. Luján calls for quick RECA implementation as healthcare cuts threaten New Mexico victims
As the 80th anniversary of the Trinity Test approaches this week, New Mexico radiation exposure victims are closer than ever to receiving federal compensation, but face new threats to their healthcare access from proposed Medicaid cuts. Senator Ben Ray Luján called for federal agencies to quickly establish guidelines for the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act […]
Posted inNew Mexico, NM State Gov.
Sen. Pope enters 2026 race for lieutenant governor
By Connor Currier New Mexico Senator Harold Pope has officially entered the race to become the state’s next lieutenant governor. His candidacy comes after current lieutenant governor Howie Morales’ announcement that he will not seek re-election in 2026. Morales, who has served in the role since 2019, spent the past seven years working alongside Governor […]
Posted inNM State Gov.
Peeing gets partisan: Republicans challenge new Roundhouse restroom policy
The legislature’s Facilities Review Subcommittee voted last week to convert a shower into a gender-neutral restroom and build a dedicated lactation room on the fourth floor of the New Mexico State Capitol. The project will also include an adult changing table for people with disabilities. But Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer (R-Farmington) said in a […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
City Council candidate to challenge ballot ruling after falling short by seven signatures
City Council hopeful Stephanie Telles said she plans to formally contest the City Clerk’s decision that found her campaign seven signatures short of qualifying for the ballot. In a message sent to supporters Friday, Telles said she will request an audit of the petition signatures submitted, arguing that voters’ intent should carry weight in determining […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
Sen. Luján warns against public broadcasting cuts amidst deadly flooding
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, delivered a Senate floor speech Wednesday, criticizing the Trump administration’s proposal to eliminate $1.1 billion in federal funding for public radio and television stations across the nation. The senator’s address comes as New Mexico and Texas grapple with deadly […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
How did a bus driver end up stabbing a passenger to death? Police docs provide new details
An Albuquerque city bus driver faces murder charges after allegedly stabbing a passenger to death following an argument that began on the bus and spilled onto the street, according to court documents reviewed by City Desk ABQ. The 41-year-old driver was charged with murder, tampering with evidence and criminal damage to property in connection with […]