New Mexico Democratic lawmakers’ comparisons of federal immigration enforcement to the Ku Klux Klan have drawn sharp criticism from Republican legislators, who say such rhetoric puts law enforcement officers at risk. During this week’s Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee meetings, two Democratic lawmakers made inflammatory comments about Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. On Wednesday, Rep. […]
Category: NM State Gov.
Posted inNM State Gov.
New Mexico Senate Republicans to hold healthcare access task force Monday
New Mexico Senate Republicans will convene a legislative task force Monday to address what they say are deteriorating healthcare access challenges across the state, focusing specifically on medical malpractice reform. The public hearing, scheduled from 1-4 p.m. at the Sandoval County Commission Meeting Room, will feature testimony from New Mexico Health Secretary Gina M. DeBlassie, […]
Posted inNew Mexico, NM State Gov.
Redistricting Task Force shifts focus after Democratic resignations
Following the resignation of two Democratic lawmakers from its committee, the 2025 New Mexico Redistricting Task Force will shift its focus. A Sept. 3 press release issued by Fair Districts for New Mexico said the Task Force, a panel of both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, as well as independent experts, and redistricting reform avocates, chaired […]
Posted inNM State Gov.
Bomb threat target top legislative Democrats in Santa Fe
Editor’s note: This story was updated to include the second threat being investigated in Santa Fe. Threats against top Democrats in the New Mexico legislature on Thursday prompted the disruption and evacuation in parts of two Santa Fe neighborhoods, including one nearby school. Chris Nordstrum, communications director for New Mexico Senate Democrats, confirmed to New […]
Posted inNM State Gov.
New Mexico to make history as first state to offer universal child care
New Mexico will become the first state in the nation to guarantee no-cost child care for all families regardless of income, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Monday. The universal child care program takes effect Nov. 1, removing all income eligibility requirements from the state’s child care assistance program and waiving family copayments, according to the […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
The Last Hurrah
The 2025 New Mexico State Fair could be Albuquerque’s last hurrah for a tradition that has drawn crowds for 87 years, as government leaders weigh relocation mere months before a state-imposed deadline. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has set a March deadline to decide the State Fair’s future, raising the possibility that 2025 could end nearly […]
Posted inTorrance County
Torrance County manager warns of economic ruin if detention facility closes
A potential ban on federal immigrant detention facilities in New Mexico would have a devastating impact on Torrance County, according to a local official. Jordan Barela, the Torrance County manager, told a bipartisan group of state legislators at an Aug. 26 meeting of the Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee, in Las Cruces, that one such […]
Posted inNew Mexico, NM State Gov.
New Mexico partners on $120 million quantum computing initiative
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an agreement Tuesday with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to establish a four-year, $120 million partnership aimed at advancing quantum computing technology. The Quantum Frontier Project will determine whether utility-scale quantum computing can be achieved by 2033, according to the governor’s office. The initiative is part of […]
Posted inNew Mexico, NM State Gov.
Republican senators defend ICE detention facility after tour
Two Republican state senators defended a federal immigration detention facility in southern New Mexico on Monday, arguing against proposed legislation that would ban such facilities in the state. Sens. Crystal Brantley of Elephant Butte and Nick Paul of Alamogordo toured the Otero County Processing Center, which houses approximately 1,027 immigrants awaiting deportation under contract with […]
Posted inNew Mexico, NM State Gov.
New Mexico oil lease sale breaks records, brings in $256 million for schools
New Mexico’s State Land Office shattered revenue records for the second consecutive month, earning $256 million in bonus payments from an oil and gas lease auction held this week, officials announced Tuesday. The August sale surpassed last month’s then-record $56 million, marking another milestone since the state implemented a new 25% royalty rate for premium […]