Hannah Grover/NM Political Report For José “Chappy” Villegas, the PFAS contamination in his well represents more than just betrayal by the governments that were supposed to protect him. He described the contamination as an assault on him and his community south of Santa Fe. After learning about the potential contamination, Villegas had his blood tested […]
New Mexico
Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, New Mexico
Gov. Lujan Grisham: ‘We’ve got to build houses’
On Wednesday New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed what she described as a key housing bill that will help address the state’s shortage of 40,000 homes. The bill authorizes $125 million in housing development loans and the creation of a housing development revolving fund through revisions to the New Mexico Finance Authority’s “Opportunity Enterprise […]
Posted inNew Mexico, State News
Expert in Old West firearms says gun wouldn’t malfunction in fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin
By MORGAN LEE Associated Press SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Courtroom testimony by an independent gun expert Tuesday cast new doubt on Alec Baldwin’s account that his gun went off without pulling the trigger in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer during a 2021 rehearsal on the set of the Western movie “Rust.” Baldwin has […]
Posted inNew Mexico, State News
Biden administration taps $366M to fund clean energy for Native American tribes and rural areas
By SOPHIE AUSTIN Associated Press/Report for America The federal government will fund 17 projects across the U.S. to expand access to renewable energy on Native American reservations and in other rural areas, the Biden administration announced on Tuesday. The $366 million plan will fund solar, battery storage and hydropower projects in sparsely populated regions where […]
Posted inEducation, New Mexico
Women in STEM awards open for applications
It’s time again for female educators and researchers at the University of New Mexico to tout their research ideas. And bring in some cash to make them happen. Applications are being accepted now through May 14 for the Advance at UNM 2024 Women In STEM awards. Recipients will receive $3,000 to $15,000 to support their […]
Posted inNew Mexico, State News
NM officials are testing high schools’ wastewater for drugs without a clear plan for the results
By MEGAN MYSCOFSKI/ KUNM On an afternoon with blowing dust and sideways snow, two people in bright yellow vests and heavy winter clothes worked over an open manhole in the brush behind Belen High School. “Ice packs to make sure that everything stays cold. Not that that’s a problem right now,” said Tom Brown, an […]
Posted inNew Mexico, State News
Man Dies After Being Bitten by His Pet Gila Monster
By MEAD GRUVER Associated Press A Colorado man has died after being bitten by his pet Gila monster in what would be a rare death by one of the desert lizards if the creature’s venom turns out to have been the cause. Christopher Ward, 34, was taken to a hospital shortly after being bitten by […]
Posted inNew Mexico, State Government
The 72 bills that reached the governor’s desk and those that didn’t
Austin Fisher/Source New Mexico New Mexico lawmakers introduced a total of 658 bills this session, nearly 10 times more than they ended up actually voting to pass onto the governor. By the time the Legislature finished the budget-focused 30-day session on Thursday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had signed three bills: House Bill 1, House Bill 141 and House Bill […]
Posted inNew Mexico, State Government
Lawmakers send gov few victories on guns and crime
By Robert Nott and Gabrielle Porter /The Santa Fe New Mexican The House of Representatives nearly blasted two “tough-on-crime” bills across the finish line and up to the governor’s desk on the fourth floor of the Roundhouse on Wednesday evening, less than 18 hours from the legislative session’s end. One of the measures — Senate […]
Posted inNew Mexico, Politics & Elections
Manny Gonzales disqualified from Republican US Senate ballot
Former Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales failed to get enough signatures to qualify him for the Republican Party primary race for U.S. Senate. A spokesman for the New Mexico Secretary of State said Gonzales—a former Democrat—submitted 875 signatures but needed 2,351 to qualify. Nella Domenici, the daughter of long-time senator Pete Domenici and the other […]