Posted inCorporate Responsibility

$350,000 set aside for victims of Santa Fe spa’s deceptive sales tactics

The New Mexico Department of Justice recently issued a public announcement urging anyone who believes they were overcharged by Santa Fe Spa Center—also known as Voupre Spa—to file claims under a recent settlement before the February deadline. Earlier this year, NMDOJ’s Consumer Protection Bureau announced a $350,000 settlement with the spa and its owner over […]

Posted inColumnists

On The Golden Rule

The lightning-quick second special session of the State Legislature, Nov. 10, to allocate state funds to fund SNAP in the event of longer Federal delays led me down a path of interesting research this week – about the history of public welfare in New Mexico and who uses SNAP in our state.  There is some […]

Posted inEducation

Nearly 400 more teachers to receive student loan forgiveness for teaching in high-need schools, subjects

Nearly 400 teachers working in New Mexico classrooms will receive student loan forgiveness this year through the state’s Teacher Loan Repayment Program, officials announced. The state awarded funding to 387 new teachers, adding to the 529 educators already receiving benefits through the program, which launched in 2013 to attract more teachers to the state. The […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov

New Mexico House members to vote against bill to end shutdown, citing lack of healthcare fix 

All three members of New Mexico’s all-Democratic delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives are vowing to vote against a Senate-brokered deal to reopen the federal government because it does not include an extension of tax credits that millions of Americans depend on to purchase health insurance.  U.S. Reps. Melanie Stansbury, Gabe Vasquez and Teresa […]

Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety

Class-action lawsuit looms for hospital after major data breach

A planned class-action lawsuit against Sierra Vista Hospital & Clinics in Truth or Consequences reveals that a major data breach occurred in late January 2025, potentially exposing patients’ personal data. The breach affected residents in Texas, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as well as New Mexico and potentially in other states as well. Attorneys are currently […]

Posted inNM State Gov.

New Mexico lawmakers call for commission to probe alleged Epstein crimes at Zorro Ranch 

New Mexicans may soon learn more about the alleged crimes of Jeffrey Epstein, even as efforts to get additional information about the disgraced financier and convicted sex abuser have stalled at the federal level.  On Thursday, state lawmakers presented a proposal to the Courts, Corrections and Justice Interim Committee to create a commission to probe […]

Posted inPolitics & Elections

Aztec state senator joins gubernatorial race, focuses on education, rural New Mexico

Sen. Steve Lainier (R-Aztec) on Thursday became the second Republican to officially declare his candidacy for governor.  Lanier, a retired educator and coach, and a first-term state senator from Aztec, announced his candidacy in a press release posted on Facebook.  “As someone who spent my life serving this community – in the classroom, on the […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.

Trump nominates former New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce to lead Bureau of Land Management

President Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated former New Mexico Congressman and former Republican Party Chair Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management, selecting a longtime public lands critic to oversee 245 million acres of federal property. Pearce, 78, who last held public office in 2018, has opposed expanding national monuments and has advocated […]

Posted inNew Mexico

New Mexico trial lawyers mobilize to represent detained immigrants

More than 350 attorneys have volunteered to provide pro bono legal representation to detained immigrants following a training session organized by the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association, according to organizers. The association partnered with the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, the Immigration Justice Campaign and the ACLU of New Mexico to host the free continuing […]