Posted inLetters to the Editor, Uncategorized

Letter to the Editor: Climate Change and Economic Challenges Need Leadership Not Rants

Submitted by Susan Smith, Tijeras Wow!  What a rant by Rep. Lord in the December 5 Independent.  It’s so tempting to respond in kind, but the deadly seriousness of climate change is too important for that. Fortunately, she doesn’t deny climate change, just our ability to fix it. It’s true that we don’t know how […]

Posted inEstancia, Torrance County, Uncategorized

Jaramillo has been serving Torrance County for nearly a quarter century

In the November election, former Torrance County Clerk Linda Jaramillo was elected county commissioner, and although she might be its newest member, she’s no stranger to the commission chambers, and no stranger to New Mexico; she’s lived here for 70 years. Her history of public service began in the medical field and continued into politics, […]

Posted inUncategorized

Solar projects in Central New Mexico Face Opposition from Nearby Residents

Two central New Mexico solar projects are facing backlash from nearby residents amid concerns that battery storage may lead to devastating wildfires. Opponents are also concerned about impacts to limited water resources and increased traffic. The developers of the Diamond Tail solar and battery storage project in the East Mountains attempted to alleviate some of […]

Posted inUncategorized

Pre-K teacher, previously investigated by CYFD, faces rape charge following an almost yearlong investigation

A 32-year-old man from Albuquerque with a previous run in with the state’s Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) currently faces first degree criminal sexual penetration charges.   Michael Kimball, a former employee at New Mexico Early Learning Academy in Tijeras, is accused of raping a student at the school’s library in December 2023.  In an […]

Posted inUncategorized

Pre-K teacher, previously investigated by CYFD, faces rape charge following an almost yearlong investigation

A 32-year-old man from Albuquerque with a previous run in with the state’s Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) currently faces first degree criminal sexual penetration charges.   Michael Kimball, a former employee at New Mexico Early Learning Academy in Tijeras, is accused of raping a student at the school’s library in December 2023.  In an […]

Posted inUncategorized

Leadership Conference Helps High Schoolers Build Skills

Nearly 100 high school students from throughout New Mexico, including Mountainair High School, traveled to Albuquerque to participate in the GEAR UP New Mexico Student Leadership Conference last month to engage them as young leaders in their communities. GEAR UP New Mexico, a division of the New Mexico Higher Education Department, is a federally-funded program […]

Posted inUncategorized

The Hunter Biden Pardon: The Tip of the Iceberg

After stating over and over that this absolutely would not happen, President Biden pardoned his son Hunter this week.  I think it’s kind of lousy. But against the landscape of the previous pardons, and the pardons likely to come from his predecessor who is about to be his successor, does Biden’s action send any sort […]