Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News

Trump administration says it will comply with court order to fund SNAP, partially for now

The 559,500 New Mexicans who rely on SNAP for food assistance will get at least some of their monthly federal benefits this month, after the Trump administration agreed to follow two court orders and use a contingency fund to partially fund the benefits. A four-page document submitted to the United States District Court for the […]

$6.20 a day: For many New Mexicans, SNAP is economic stability, not charity

Corner to Corner Diane Denish is a former lieutenant governor of New Mexico. She is a native of Hobbs and now lives in Albuquerque. Reach her at diane@dianedenish.com For 30 days, the government shutdown has dominated the news. It’s now the longest in U.S. history, and the effects are becoming impossible to ignore. Across federal […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News

“I have zero confidence in the Trump administration”: Gov. presses ahead with $30 million in state SNAP funds

The $30 million that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pledged to offset losses in federal SNAP funding will go out as promised, even though two court rulings issued Friday direct the Trump administration to tap a contingency fund to pay out some of those benefits.  “Because I have zero confidence in the Trump administration to release […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Westside Albuquerque

Judges order feds to fund SNAP after lawsuit by NM Atty. Gen. and others

Two federal judges on Friday ruled that the Trump administration must use a roughly $5 billion contingency fund to cover the cost of SNAP benefits to 42 million Americans, including 459,500 New Mexicans.  Both judges, one from Massachusetts and one from Rhode Island, each ruled that the Trump administration could not withhold SNAP benefits in […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness

Bernalillo County fire stations to distribute Halloween candy during ‘Operation Boo’

Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue will welcome trick-or-treaters at all 14 fire stations Friday evening as part of its annual “Operation Boo” initiative. Firefighters will distribute candy from 5 to 8 p.m. while supplies last at stations throughout the county’s north, east and south regions. “We love seeing the excitement on kids’ faces when they […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness

East Mountains restaurants offer free meals amid federal SNAP benefit halt

Editor’s note: This is not a complete list. If you know of any restaurants stepping up to help people in the community, please email the information to kevin@newmexico.news. Restaurants and food pantries across New Mexico’s East Mountains region are stepping up to provide free meals and food assistance as federal SNAP benefits are set to […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Westside Albuquerque

Sandoval County to honor Native American artists at November reception

Sandoval County will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with an artists’ reception honoring two artists whose work has reached millions worldwide. The reception, scheduled for Nov. 12 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at 1500 Idalia Road, Building D, will feature Mateo Romero of the Pueblo of Cochiti and Jason D. Valencia of the Pueblo of […]