A coalition of Indigenous, frontline, youth and environmental organizations, alongside community members, appealed to the New Mexico Supreme Court Tuesday to hear their landmark lawsuit, which challenges the state’s alleged failure to protect public health and the environment from oil and gas pollution, as mandated by the New Mexico Constitution. The appeal follows a state […]
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.
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APD expands drone surveillance in Bosque amid fire risk and suspicious activity
The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is significantly increasing its use of drone technology to monitor the Rio Grande Bosque, a move prompted by a recent surge in suspicious fires and ongoing extreme heat conditions that have escalated fire risk across the city. During a press conference held Tuesday, Mayor Tim Keller and APD Chief Harold […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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‘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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
Posted inCannabis
Your legal high gets more expensive on July 1. Here’s why.
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, […]