A new federal lawsuit accusing Farm Bureau Insurance Company of deliberately concealing evidence and blocking legally required fraud reports claims the company violated the laws of multiple states, including New Mexico. The lawsuit, filed Nov. 16 by the company’s former director of investigations and former special investigations unit manager, names Farm Bureau Financial Services, Farm […]
New Mexico
Posted inNM State Gov.
New Mexico energy secretary resigns
Melanie A. Kenderdine, A Sandia Park native, resigned Dec. 4 as secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department for personal reasons, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced. Deputy Cabinet Secretary Erin Taylor will serve as acting secretary, according to the governor’s office. “Melanie brought national energy expertise to New Mexico, and I’m […]
Posted inColumnists
On raising our children
I was at dinner this last weekend with my husband and another couple, all of whom are somewhat to the political left of me. We hadn’t gotten together for a few months, so we had a bit to catch up on. We hashed around a lot of topics and finally got to universal childcare, which […]
Posted inColumnists
On the pursuit of happiness
It’s affordability, stupid. The issue that propelled Republicans into the White House, the Senate and the House in the 2024 election effectively stiff-armed the GOP at the polls a year later. Voters sent a message to Republicans on Nov. 4: We voted for you last year to fix the economy. You did not understand the […]
Posted inNM Legislature
Special session bill would add $192 million to fund fed SNAP gap
Federal cuts to SNAP benefits that 459,500 New Mexicans depend on for food assistance could soon be offset by $192 million in state dollars, under the bill that will be taken up during Monday’s special legislative session. The announcement came on Monday during a press conference held by New Mexico House Democrats and came just […]
Posted inNM Legislature
Governor calls special session to extend food benefits amid federal shutdown
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Thursday she will call the New Mexico Legislature into special session Monday to extend state-funded food benefits as a federal government shutdown continues, according to a statement from the governor’s office. The one-day session comes 10 days after Lujan Grisham released $30 million in emergency state funds to provide benefits […]
Posted inOpinion
On providing for the general welfare
By Wednesday, Nov. 5, the Federal government shutdown will have broken the record for the longest in history if not resolved. Before that, two key deadlines occur. On Nov. 1, healthcare insurance premiums for 44 million Americans will increase an average of 30% as enhanced tax credits for Affordable Care Act premiums expire, and 42 […]
Posted inNM State Gov.
New Mexico allocates $30 million for food aid as federal SNAP benefits are set to be halted
New Mexico will provide $30 million in emergency food assistance starting Nov. 1 to replace suspended federal nutrition benefits for roughly 460,000 residents, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Wednesday at an Albuquerque press conference. The state funding will partially offset the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture will […]
Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, New Mexico, New Mexico, New Mexico Statewide News
State moving to expedite food bank aid amid SNAP benefit suspension, governor says
New Mexico is preparing to quickly distribute millions of dollars to food banks, as federal monthly food assistance benefits are expected to cease in November if the government shutdown continues. Gov. Michelle Lujan Griusham said in a press release on Saturday that her administration is considering every legal and administrative option to address the situation […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
USDA: Emergency funds will not be used for SNAP during shutdown
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says emergency funds won’t be used to provide SNAP payments to states if the shutdown continues into November, as Senate Democrats insisted was possible. In a memo released Friday, the USDA blamed Democrats for the nearly 24-day government shutdown and said that money from the contingency funds cannot be […]