The Sandoval County Commission’s first meeting of the new year Jan. 8 featured a new look, new commissioners and a newly modernized Commission Chambers. Commissioners chose District 3 Commissioner Michael Meek as chair of the board after serving the past two years as vice chair to kick off the meeting in the recently updated and […]
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Democratic legislators search for agreement on alcohol tax hike
By Ted Alcorn, New Mexico In Depth For the third straight year, lawmakers are trying to raise taxes on alcoholic drinks, in an attempt to reduce New Mexico’s worst-in-the-nation alcohol-related death rate. This time, they just might succeed. New Mexico has the highest rate of alcohol-related deaths in the country. In 2023 excessive drinking killed […]
‘Little Cowboy Kid’ from Algodones Chasing Music Dream
Recording artist Daniel Saint Black still calls himself “a little cowboy kid from the middle of nowhere in North New Mexico.” You might have heard of the town of Algodones — a few miles north of Bernalillo situated along the Rio Grande — and Black says there were probably only about 100 people living there […]
U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union Goes Platinum for Family Friendly Workplace
U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union, a New Mexico credit union with more than 95,000 members and 11 branches, was recently awarded platinum-level distinction for its workplace policies by Family Friendly New Mexico, a statewide initiative developed to recognize employers that have adopted policies that give New Mexico businesses an advantage in recruiting and retaining the […]
$20M Secured for Bernalillo Wastewater Plant Overhaul
President Joe Biden signed the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 into law Jan. 4, which includes $20 million in funding for improvements to Bernalillo’s wastewater treatment plant. The Water Resources Development Act aims to strengthen the nation’s water resources infrastructure by funding projects that improve ports, harbors, inland waterways, and flood and storm protection. […]
New Mexico Supreme Court unanimously invalidates anti-abortion ordinances
By Susan Morée The New Mexico Supreme Court announced Jan. 9 its unanimous decision to invalidate ordinances passed in small communities that previously banned abortion. Several municipalities passed ordinances banning abortion, relying on an 1800s law called the Comstock Act. Those municipalities were the cities of Clovis and Hobbs along with Lea and Roosevelt counties. […]
New Mexico Supreme Court unanimously invalidates anti-abortion ordinances
By Susan Morée The New Mexico Supreme Court announced Jan. 9 its unanimous decision to invalidate ordinances passed in small communities that previously banned abortion. Several municipalities passed ordinances banning abortion, relying on an 1800s law called the Comstock Act. Those municipalities were the cities of Clovis and Hobbs along with Lea and Roosevelt counties. […]
Sen. Brandt Wants Expanded Organized Crime Act
The recent human trafficking cases in Albuquerque are being handled by federal law enforcement due to New Mexico’s outdated racketeering law, according to one state legislator. Sen. Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, pre-filed a bill Tuesday aimed at expanding New Mexico’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. The bill seeks to expand the scope […]
Placitas Holiday Market at the Winery benefits budding artists
Children scramble up bleachers to test out new musical instruments in Mrs. DiMartino’s first-grade music class at Placitas Elementary School. On this day, mandolin player Barb Belknap lines up with them not to perform but to deliver about $1,000 earmarked for art and music supplies at the school. The money was raised by a raffle […]
City hopes for state support — in the form of money — as session approaches
Mayor Tim Keller wants lawmakers to shell out money for a sizable list of city legislative priorities that include public safety, housing and homelessness and the ongoing construction of the Rail Trail development. He announced the requests Wednesday, less than two weeks before state lawmakers meet in Santa Fe for a 60-day session Jan. 21. […]