Rep. Gabe Vasquez on Monday criticized the current federal tax law’s approach to tip taxation while advocating for permanent policy changes to benefit tipped workers during a visit to a local coffee shop. The New Mexico Democrat donned an apron and worked alongside employees at Barelas Coffee House on Aug. 18, taking orders and serving […]
Category: Beats
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 […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Albuquerque Ethics Board approves expanded fraud investigation into city council candidate’s public financing donations
The Albuquerque Board of Ethics and Campaign Practices on Aug. 20 approved City Clerk Ethan Watson’s request to expand an investigation into fraud allegations against District 1 City Council candidate Daniel Gilbert Leiva. The board voted 6-0 to allow the city’s inspector general to audit an additional 5% of Leiva’s qualifying contributions and review who […]
Posted inNew Mexico, NM State Gov.
League of Women Voters ‘disappointed’ after two Democratic legislators quit redistricting task force
The League of Women Voters of New Mexico criticized the resignations of two Democratic legislators from a state redistricting task force, saying their departure reflects an “unwillingness to engage in dialogue on critical issues.” Sen. Harold Pope and Rep. Cristina Parajón resigned from the 2025 Redistricting Task Force on Monday, in a move Republican Sen. […]
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Secretary Noem visits Ruidoso to review disaster response progress
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Village of Ruidoso in Lincoln County Tuesday to review progress in disaster recovery efforts following this summer’s historic flash flooding there. Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford and emergency management staff gave Noem a tour of the village, including several homes left uninhabitable and a village playground full of […]
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Homeland Sec. Noem comes to New Mexico to paint border wall black because Trump thinks it will make it too hot to climb
The Trump administration’s has a new tool in its arsenal to deter undocumented immigration and you can get one on sale at Home Depot for $5.67. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Krisit Noem arrived in Santa Teresa, New Mexico yesterday armed with a paint roller and a can of black paint to paint President Donald Trump’s […]
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Appeals court blocks New Mexico’s new 7-day waiting period for gun purchases
A 2024 state law requiring a 7-day waiting period for the purchase of firearms will not go into effect, at least for now. A federal appeals court on Tuesday agreed with challengers to the law, backed by the National Rifle Association, who sued to block one of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s cornerstone gun laws. “Cooling-off […]
Posted inNew Mexico, NM State Gov.
New Mexico projects $485 million revenue increase despite federal budget cuts
New Mexico is projected to see nearly half a billion dollars in additional revenue for fiscal year 2027 despite expected cuts from federal legislation, state economists announced Tuesday during a Legislative Finance Committee meeting. The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group (CREG) projects $14.11 billion in General Fund revenue for fiscal year 2027, representing a $485 million […]
Posted inNM State Gov.
Two Albuquerque Democrats quit Fair Districts Task Force over gerrymandering concerns
Two prominent Albuquerque legislators resigned from New Mexico’s Fair Districts Task Force on Monday, citing frustration that the state is pursuing redistricting reform while other states engage in partisan gerrymandering with impunity. State Sen. Harold Pope Jr. and Rep. Cristina Parajón both stepped down from the task force effective immediately, one day before the group’s […]
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Texas declares measles outbreak over as New Mexico cases continue
While Texas has officially ended its measles outbreak after 42 days with no new cases, New Mexico continues reporting infections across nine counties, though some may be approaching the threshold for declaring their local outbreaks over.