Cannabis Greenhouse Appeal Denied Due to Health and Safety Concerns

During last week’s Torrance County Commission meeting, the commission reviewed and then denied an appeal by Quick Grow, LLC,  that sought approval for a Conditional Use Permit to build a cannabis greenhouse.  Quick Grow is a New Mexico Domestic Limited-Liability Company filed on May 15, 2024, represented by Bunting Chen.  Chen argued that Quick Grow […]

Report: NM Child Poverty is Below National Average in New Measurement

Submitted by NM Voices for Children New Mexico’s child poverty rate is either the highest in the nation or better than the national average – depending on which poverty measurement is used. Both poverty rates come from the U.S. Census Bureau, but take very different factors into account. In order for state lawmakers to make […]

Substitute Teacher at Estancia High School Accused of Criminal Sexual Penetration of a  Student

An Estancia woman is facing six felony charges including criminal sexual penetration of a minor and child solicitation by electronic communication device while she was working as a substitute teacher at Estancia High School. Estancia police say some of the alleged crimes happened on Estancia Municipal Schools property.  Police say Michaela Ford of Estancia, 30, […]

Missing ballots counted and added to Torrance County total count just in time for Election Day

Even though 140 absentee ballots were mailed in October without a return address, Torrance County Clerk Linda Jaramillo said the missing labels did not impact validity, and counting them was no issue. They were inspected with enough time to be returned before Nov. 5.  The voting centers in Torrance County closed at 7 p.m., and […]

A Permanent Fund for Health Care Can Help Solve the Health Care Worker Shortage

Submitted by By Katie Gutierrez, Tax, Budget & Economic Development Reform Director, Think New Mexico New Mexico has a critical shortage of health care workers, including doctors, nurses, and behavioral health providers. Solving this shortage will require investments in reforms like increasing student loan repayment programs for health care workers, increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates to […]

RRPD:  Father, young children were victims in last week’s fatal crash

The Rio Rancho Police Department delivered an unfortunate update Nov. 19 on the devastating two-vehicle crash that killed four people last week. According to RRPD, 36-year-old father Craig Miller, 6-year-old Craig Miller Jr., Laila Miller, who was just shy of her first birthday, and the Miller family’s unborn child (26 weeks along) all died in […]

A Grinchmas to Remember

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Mountainair and even the Grinch will be celebrating. The town’s second annual Grinchmas event is set for Dec. 21 at the Dr. Saul Building following the Christmas parade, which begins at 5:30 p.m.  This year, the parade and Grinchmas will honor local author Ben Steinlage, who […]