U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, delivered a Senate floor speech Wednesday, criticizing the Trump administration’s proposal to eliminate $1.1 billion in federal funding for public radio and television stations across the nation. The senator’s address comes as New Mexico and Texas grapple with deadly […]
Congress & Federal Gov.
Federal emergency declaration approved for Ruidoso flood recovery, but full aid still pending
New Mexico has received partial approval for a federal emergency declaration following devastating flash floods in Ruidoso that killed three people and damaged dozens of homes, but the state is still awaiting approval for the bulk of disaster assistance residents desperately need. The emergency declaration approved provides immediate federal personnel for life-saving activities like urban […]
New Mexico airports receive $4.3 million in federal funding for infrastructure upgrades
New Mexico’s airport system will receive over $4.3 million in federal funding to improve infrastructure at three key facilities, supporting an industry that contributes $2.3 billion annually to the state’s economy and sustains more than 18,500 jobs. The Federal Aviation Administration grants will fund critical upgrades at Albuquerque International Sunport, Artesia Municipal Airport and Socorro […]
New Mexico Democrats blame federal cuts for weather disaster response failures
The Democratic Party of New Mexico is connecting recent deadly flooding in Lincoln County to federal budget cuts that have reduced staffing at weather forecasting offices across the state, including the National Weather Service office that covers the flood-hit area. Three people died Tuesday when flash flooding struck Ruidoso, including a 4-year-old girl and a […]
High-speed internet expands in rural New Mexico
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Tuesday the completion of broadband projects that have brought high-speed internet access to more than 500 rural locations in Cibola and McKinley counties. These initiatives, facilitated through the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE), aim to bridge the digital divide for families, students, and businesses in underserved areas. “Rural […]
Rapid Transit line’s impact on Central sparks call for federal rule changes
An Albuquerque city councilor is urging Congress to change federal rules so cities can fix flawed transit projects like the Rapid Transit line without risking costly penalties, as Central Avenue businesses struggle. Councilor Louie Sanchez wants federal grant rules overhauled in the 2025 transportation bill, saying the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) bus line is doing […]
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 […]