By Jesse Jones Republican Sen. Jay Block of Rio Rancho, who represents Senate District 12, returned to familiar ground in April, giving Sandoval County commissioners a rundown of legislative wins and losses from the 60-day session. The freshman senator sponsored 37 bills during his first session, which included major wins like a $1 billion behavioral […]
Government
Library advocates want budget increase
By Rodd Cayton Public library advocates Monday went to bat again for their cause, urging the Albuquerque City Council to boost it as the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget takes shape. Mayor Tim Keller’s proposed budget includes about $16.54 million for libraries, which is down about $49,000 from fiscal year 2025. Janet Saiers, who sits […]
New Mexico Senator wins inaugural Kamala Harris Trailblazer Award
By Kevin Hendricks It was a night of firsts at Emerge America’s 20th anniversary gala in San Francisco on April 30, as former Vice President Kamala Harris returned to the national spotlight and New Mexico Senator Cindy Nava was honored as a “trailblazing alum” of the political organization. In her first public speech since leaving […]
Vasquez, Zinke launch public lands caucus amid push to sell off parcels
By Hannah Grover U.S. Reps. Gabe Vasquez, a New Mexico Democrat, and Ryan Zinke, a Republican from Montana, launched a new effort known as the Public Lands Caucus on Wednesday. This effort comes on the heels of the House Natural Resources Committee adopting amendments Tuesday evening to the budget bill that would lead to the […]
City Council approves behavioral health voucher database
By Rodd Cayton Albuquerque City Councilors Monday approved a contract to produce a database aimed at simplifying access to addiction treatment and support services. Contractor Real Time Solutions will be paid $300,000 for creating the database, designed to help administer vouchers for the Providing Addiction Treatment and Healing (PATH) program. City officials say the Albuquerque-based […]
Lawmakers deliver legislative update as Corrales grapples with tax hikes, water fears
By Jesse Jones Soaring property tax valuations and shrinking water access have Corraleños on edge, turning the village into a vivid example of how state policies hit home. At an April 19 town hall, Rep. Kathleen Cates of Rio Rancho and Sen. Cindy Nava of Bernalillo met with Corrales residents to explain how recent legislation […]
Tijeras celebrates grand opening of Pocket Park
By Andrea Vasquez The Village of Tijeras officially unveiled its new Pocket Park with a grand opening celebration on May 3. The event featured remarks from Mayor Jake Bruton, music by local band Tripple-X and a heartfelt gesture as children, or “little villagers,” placed their handprints on the well house, as a tribute to the […]
Leger Fernandez joins Democratic leaders for Town Hall in Coachella Valley
Staff report Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) took the stage in the Coachella Valley this weekend to join a community town hall hosted by the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz. The town hall brought together local leaders, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Steering and […]
U.S. Sen. Luján calls out Trump order on NPR, PBS
by Julia Goldberg, Source New MexicoMay 2, 2025 “Unlawful” and “illegal” is how U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) on Friday described President Donald Trump’s May 1 executive order eliminating funding for NPR and PBS. Entitled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” the order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease current and future […]
Council grills APD chief over proposed police budget
by Rodd Cayton Albuquerque City Councilors traded barbs with Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina at a budget meeting Thursday night, criticizing the number of command staff in the department, Medina’s internal affairs strategy and a recent decision to seek National Guard troops to assist officers. Medina and Councilor Louie Sanchez accused each other of […]