Kevin Hendricks, nm.news, Author at City Desk ABQ

New Mexico Senators condemn Trump tax and spending bill after Senate passage

Following the narrow passage of President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill in the Senate, New Mexico’s Democratic Senators, Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich, have issued strong condemnations, warning of the potential negative impacts on New Mexican families and communities. The bill passed with a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the […]

New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHSB) found enough violations at the Avamere at Rio Rancho senior care facility that the state dropped a total of $12,040 in fines on the company.

Safety lapses lead to steep fines for Rio Rancho senior care center

By Josh Lee A Rio Rancho senior care facility is facing some steep fines after state inspectors discovered a number of safety violations. According to state records, inspectors from the New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHSB) found enough violations at the Avamere at Rio Rancho senior care facility that the state […]

‘Return to Office’ is not necessarily a return to efficiency

Whether in government or the private sector, “Return to Office” orders are very much in vogue these days. The message to workers is to stop watching reality shows and come back to real work and productivity. The reality is quite different. I started my company in 2005 as a telework company. We use a number […]

Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ threatens Albuquerque’s affordable housing and homelessness programs

The budget proposal from the Donald Trump administration, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” is raising alarms in Albuquerque as it threatens to eliminate critical federal funding for affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs. City officials warn that these cuts could lead to increased housing insecurity and job losses. Under the proposed budget, the Community Development […]

Heinrich hails victory as public lands sales stripped from GOP bill

A controversial proposal to sell off large portions of America’s public lands has been defeated following widespread public outcry, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced Friday. The public land sale provisions were included in the Republican-backed “Big, Beautiful Bill,” but were removed after thousands of Americans voiced strong opposition. Heinrich, the Ranking Member of the […]

Pictured are the Route 66 Flats, a new affordable housing apartment complex being built in Albuquerque’s westside near 98th.

Bernalillo County Commissioners approve $150 million housing initiative

In a move to tackle the housing crisis in the metro area, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the “BernCo Builds Communities” initiative at its administrative meeting last week. The plan will leverage $150 million in state funding to expand sorely needed housing access across the county. The initiative comes in response to […]

City Council candidate update: Petition deadlines loom as several candidates secure ballot spots

With the July 7 deadline fast approaching, several City Council candidates have successfully gathered the required 500 petition signatures to qualify for the ballot, while others are still working to meet the threshold. As of June 27, a number of hopefuls have exceeded the signature requirement. Six candidates have each verified over 500 signatures, securing […]

Cannabis

Your legal high gets more expensive on July 1. Here’s why.

by Kevin Hendricks, nm.news June 30, 2025June 30, 2025

Get ready to pay a bit more for your cannabis in New Mexico starting July 1. The state’s cannabis excise tax is set to increase from 12% to 13%, marking the first of annual 1% hikes mandated by current law until 2030. The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department recently issued a notice to licensees, […]

State Representative and conservation attorney Matthew McQueen announced Monday his bid for New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands in the 2026 election.

State Rep. McQueen announces candidacy for New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands

by Kevin Hendricks, nm.news June 30, 2025June 30, 2025

State Representative and conservation attorney Matthew McQueen announced Monday his bid for New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands in the 2026 election. The six-term legislator said New Mexico needs strong, experienced leadership to protect public lands and conservation efforts. “Our public lands and environmental and conservation rules are under attack,” McQueen said. “The job of […]

Luján, Heinrich, Leger Fernández urge Trump Administration to fully implement broadband

A bipartisan group of over 40 members of Congress, led by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Representative Terese Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), have called on Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to fully implement the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program as originally intended by Congress. The lawmakers expressed strong […]