Editor’s note: In August 2025, New Mexico’s largest utility, privately-owned PNM, asked state regulators for permission to sell to a subsidiary of Blackstone, a private equity firm which has offered $11.5 billion for the company. Since PNM is a public utility, the sale must be approved by the Public Regulation Commission and that process has […]
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Posted inEnvironment, Conservation & Climate
Tree deaths in New Mexico tripled in 2025 as warming summers increases insects, stress on forests
Tree deaths tripled in New Mexico during the second warmest year on record, according to new analysis of the state’s forest health from the U.S. Forest Service and New Mexico Forestry Division. 2025 saw a rapid expansion of bark beetle-caused deaths with 209,000 acres of conifers now dead — up from 67,000 acres in 2024 […]
Posted inPueblos
Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico’s largest winery forge grape-growing partnership
A Sandoval County pueblo and New Mexico’s largest winery are joining forces to grow premium wine grapes on tribal land — a deal both parties say will strengthen local agriculture and tribal economic independence. The Pueblo of Santa Ana and Lescombes Family Vineyards of Deming announced the partnership June 1, covering cultivation of chardonnay, pinot […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg
NM revenue increases $850M due to Iran war, state economist estimates
By Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico — The ongoing war in Iran means $850 million more will flow into state coffers by the end of the current fiscal year ending June 30, according to new projections from the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee. The projected windfall results from a sharp increase in the price-per-barrel of […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Protecting our right to read, a call to support librarians
Submitted by Rep. Kathleen Cates Imagine walking into a library filled with thousands of books and never finding one with a character who looks like you. Out of all the books in a public library, not one featured a character who shared your lived experience. Banning books is harmful because everyone should be able to […]
Posted inCorrales
Mayor Hashimoto: Corraleños need to keep up water conservation efforts
Corrales Mayor Fred Hashimoto says recent rains are delightful, but that residents should still remember the village is in a drought. “It doesn’t take a meteorologist to tell us that,” he said, citing low winter snowpack and high early-spring temperatures. In his weekly message to the community, Hashimoto wrote that meteorologists say chances are good […]
Sandoval Signpost
Posted inPlacitas
Not a forecast, but a warning: US Forest Service ranger details wildfire possibilities for Placitas
By Rodd Cayton, The Paper. A recent presentation about a theoretical wildfire threatening Placitas was a success, according to leaders of the host organization. District Ranger Ken Born of the U.S. Forest Service visited the community earlier this month, using the agency’s FSPro program to demonstrate how a blaze might behave under a pair of […]
Posted inLocal Government
City Council ejects speakers in raucous debate, before approving new Albuquerque minimum wage
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños workers making minimum wage have something to be excited about – if they have patience – after the Albuquerque City Council approved a $3 increase to the city’s minimum wage Monday night after a packed and at times raucous meeting that drew so many people that some were […]
Posted inStatewide News
No sparks allowed: Local governments enact sweeping burn and firework bans in New Mexico
By Rodd Cayton, The Paper. State and local governments are sharing the goal of keeping New Mexico from burning up. This week, the Village of Corrales and Bernalillo County approved new restrictions aimed at fire prevention. The Bernalillo County Commission voted to ban all open burning in the unincorporated areas of the county. “One small […]
Sandoval Signpost
Posted inPlacitas
Placitas drought crisis: Water shut-offs loom as springs run dry
By Rodd Cayton, The Paper. Placitas, like numerous other New Mexico communities, is in dire straits in terms of water supply. The village is looking at severe conservation rules and possibly waterless nights, if help doesn’t come from the skies Harvey Vigil, mayordomo of Las Acequias de Placitas, told the Sandoval Signpost a second consecutive […]