Pat Davis, Author at City Desk ABQ

Feds, State Fund Wildland Fire Management, Firefighters and Smokey Bear

Drought maps colored in cheerful red, orange and gold are anything but cheerful in their meaning. They confirm what ranchers already know, that it’s painfully dry here. Devastating wildfires in West Texas add an exclamation point. If there’s any good news it’s that Congress and the Legislature are more attuned to the reality of fire. […]

Cheers For Title IX and Women’s Sports

For me, one of the most exciting sports events in New Mexico is about to get underway – the high school basketball tournament! Prep basketball has long been a community event across New Mexico, from Dulce to Eunice to Belen to Taos to neighborhoods in Albuquerque. I grew up in Hobbs, where boy’s basketball was […]

Community Briefs

Artists and Crafters Needed! ARTNM! will be returning to Rio Rancho on Apr. 13 and they are looking for local artists to display and sell their work. There is no fee to be a part of this show. The show will be on Apr. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Atrium of […]

New Mexico and Ireland Partnering for Business Success This Saint Patrick’s Day

Commentary This column was submitted as a guest column by the listed author. Have an opinion? Add your comments below or submit your own response here. Guest commentary by Ivan Houlihan, IDA Ireland As New Mexico continues to ramp up its semiconductor industry, some companies in the state are turning to Ireland as a new […]

Ukraine can prevail in this David and Goliath fight

As we enter the third year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, House Speaker Mike Johnson and congressional Republicans are dithering on aid as if the United States will never need allies again. As if Russia is our new best friend. As if he’ll be Speaker forever. Johnson, a politician and not a military man, has […]

A little change for better schools

Back in the era of Susanna Martinez’ governorship, there was a push for a law that would allow New Mexico public schools to hold students back in third grade if they couldn’t meet reading criteria. I wondered why there was any need for that to be in legislation, when such matters should be handled locally […]

Estancia Girls Basketball Secures First Playoff Berth in 5 Years

For the first time since 2019 the Estancia girls basketball team is headed to the state playoffs. Despite losing to the Menaul School Panthers in the District 2-2A tournament championship, Estancia’s 18-8 overall record was strong enough to secure the No. 12 seed in the Class 2A state tournament. Menaul (21-4) earned the No. 5 […]

Fugitive Arrested on Felony Warrant for Drive-By Shooting in Estancia

Jeremiah Sanders was released from Torrance County Detention Center, in Estancia Monday, March 4 after being arrested during a surveillance operation at a home on Highland Ave. in Estancia on March 2. According to an alert sent out by the Torrance County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO), several agencies were involved in the surveillance and successful apprehension […]

Moriarty Fire Dept. Fights Two Structure Fires in 48 Hours

The City of Moriarty Fire Department, firefighters and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the area of Lexco Rd. and Fernandez Rd. for a structure fire around 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, March 3. The cause is still undetermined, but the wind-driven fire appears to have started in a mobile home which quickly spread, burning four […]

The last of the GOP dealmakers calls it quits

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) in his surprise announcement that he would vacate his leadership role in November, said, “I have many faults. Misunderstanding politics is not one of them.” McConnell has seen that the many compromises he has achieved in recent weeks over border security and foreign aid in the Senate are for […]