New Mexico News & Current Events | Public News Service

Since 2019, volunteers have helped complete a watershed restoration project in Midnight Meadows, located in New Mexico's Carson National Forest. (amigosbravos.org)

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Volunteers Continue Restoration Work in NM's Midnight Meadows

Midnight Meadows in northern New Mexico's Carson National Forest is one of 22 sites identified as "wetland jewels," and volunteers will continue their…

Annual suicides by non-elderly Hispanic adults increased by nearly 36% from 2010 to 2020, while the rate for Hispanic women spiked by 40%, according to a study by the University of New Mexico. (pttcnetwork.org)

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Study: Hispanic Suicide Rate Increasing, Highest in Southwest

A study by New Mexico State University shows the number of suicides among U.S. Hispanics is on the rise, in part because they are buying more guns…

The new Indian Youth Service Corps enlists Indigenous youths for paying jobs that include trail restoration, habitat surveys, climate mitigation, watershed restoration and other culturally important tasks. (Kristi Rugg/National Park Service)

Indian Youth Services Corps Offers Jobs in Conservation, Preservation

Indigenous youths have been enlisted in the Southwest, including New Mexico, to help conserve natural and cultural resources on tribal lands as part …

New Mexico ranks second in the nation for childhood hunger, according to Feeding America, with one in five children, or about 20.5% of children in the state, at risk of hunger. (nokidhungry.org)

Your Chance to Help Alleviate Hunger in New Mexico

A silver lining of the pandemic was more money available to address hunger, but those funds are drying up, and many in New Mexico will struggle this …

Methane emissions from oil and gas infrastructure in New Mexico are the state's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the University of New Mexico. (umm.edu)

NM Fossil-Fuel Industry Fights Methane, Ozone Rules Compliance

Environmental groups in New Mexico say a lawsuit filed by an advocacy group for the state's fossil-fuel industry suggests it values profit more than p…

Children ages 5 to 17 miss nearly two million school days in a single year due to dental health problems, according to the Healthy Schools Campaign. (teeth.org.au)

Health Screenings: Getting NM Kids Back to School on the Right Foot

As children head back to school in New Mexico, experts say it is important to get them in for a physical and get their hearing, vision, and teeth …

Food banks help the one in five New Mexico children estimated to be at risk for hunger, and one in eight overall, according to Roadrunner Food Bank. (dosomething.org)

Making 'HELP' Available to New Mexico's Hungry, Food Insecure

Inflation has caused some New Mexico families, who were breaking even six months ago, to once again struggle, and groups working to alleviate hunger …

A new report shows the meal gap in New Mexico is 43.6 million meals, according Feeding America's

Federal Pandemic Funds Reduced NM Hunger; Longterm Worries Remain

Food insecurity in New Mexico dropped during COVID, but groups working to fight hunger worry the temporary reprieve will reverse itself now that …

The states of Texas, Florida and Missouri stand to lose the most money following implementation of extreme abortion laws, according to the Institute for Women's Policy Research. (erikawittlieb/Pixabay)

Will Anti-abortion Red States Face Professional 'Brain Drain?'

By Linda Burstyn for Ms. Magazine Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection/Public News Service Bad Business: Anti-abortion …

FBI Director Christopher Wray recently told the Senate Judiciary Committee the investigation of hate crimes is the number one priority within the agency's civil rights program. (fbi.gov)

Albuquerque's Muslim Community On Edge After Four Murders

Albuquerque has been thrown into the national spotlight after the shootings of four Muslim men, including three in the past two weeks, prompting …

The COVID pandemic caused major challenges for families and blunted progress in New Mexico to improve child well-being, according to New Mexico Voices for Children. (DeanMoriarty/Pixaby)

NM Struggles in Child Well-Being Report but Celebrates Positive Trends

Since 2020, New Mexico has been working to create a more cohesive, equitable and effective early-childhood system. But it could be a while before it …

Certification of primary results came down to the deadline in several conservative New Mexico counties after both elected officials and voters floated unspecified concerns with voting systems. (fairvote.org)

Will Tuesday Primary Losers Encourage New Mexico-Like Chaos?

States holding primaries could be facing a repeat of New Mexico's election chaos if challenges take hold, and one watchdog argued it will further …

Experts say noise-induced hearing loss due to earbud use is almost 100% preventable if you don't use them too long or blast the volume. (Adobe Stock)

Too Long, Too Loud Can Cause Hearing Loss from Earbuds, Headphones

Many people who exercise outside or at the gym use headphones or earbuds to eliminate piped-in music or other noise. But hearing experts caution …

The national infant formula shortage has been an ongoing issue since the pandemic began in 2020, when formula was among the products stockpiled by consumers.(Dirk[Beeki]Schumacher/Pixabay)<br />

States Can Make Baby Formula Easier to Get for WIC Participants

Shopping for baby formula online could soon be a reality for those enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and …

A January leak and subsequent shutdown of the federally operated Cliffside Helium Plant in Texas has contributed to a shortage of helium in the United States. (blm.gov)

Environmental Concerns Slow Helium Mining Proposal on Navajo Nation

People on the Navajo Nation have lived through decades of oil, gas, uranium and coal extraction, and helium could be next. The Navajo Nation Oil and …

Since the 1970s, the number of days deemed

according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control's 2022 Wildfire Preparedness Plan. (BrunoGermany/Pixabay)">

Could Burying Power Save More Homes, Lives from Wildfires?

Western states under extreme drought made worse by climate change are a giant tinderbox - and one expert says it's time to minimize possible fire sour…

Post-pandemic, Do�a Ana Community College in Las Cruces will offer classes 60% online and 40% in-person in Fall 2022. (dacc.nmsu.edu)

NM Community College Creates Path to Bachelor's Degree

When it opened in 1973, Doña Ana Community College in Las Cruces, New Mexico, focused on relatively short-term training. It's since branched out …

The federal government has issued a license to Holtec International to store 8,680 metric tons of highly radioactive uranium from some 80 nuclear reactor sites around the country in southeastern New Mexico. (portside.org/AliyaMood)

Governor: NM Won't Be a 'Dumping Ground" for Nuclear Waste

After being rejected by Texas and Utah, the federal government has now picked New Mexico to house the nation's spent nuclear fuel, but the governor …

If passed by Congress, legislation to recognize

NM "Downwinders" Continue Fight for Radiation Exposure Relief

A New Mexico group seeking financial compensation for those suffering negative health effects from the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb tests has two more yea…

Life expectancy for Native Americans fell more than any other ethnic group during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research by the University of Colorado-Boulder. (newmexico.org)

Study: Native Americans' Lifespan Reduced Most by COVID-19

New research shows COVID-19 caused life expectancy to drop for all groups of Americans, but none as much as American Indians and Native Alaskans…

Agave only blossom at night, making them the perfect food for pollinator species such as the nocturnal Mexican long-nosed Bat. (news.arizona.edu)

Long-Nosed Bats and Agaves: The Tequila Connection

The Mexican long-nosed bat population is in trouble, which has prompted a fundraising effort to restore agave plants along their Southwest migrating …

In New Mexico, herds of pronghorn typically are found roaming the high plains throughout the eastern part of the state. (Steppinstars/Pixabay)

USGS Seeks More Funding for Big-Game Migration Mapping

A four-year project to map big-game routes throughout the West will end without additional funds from Congress - at least for now. Since 2018…

Albuquerque is the first New Mexico city to prevent property owners from screening out applicants who plan to pay their rent using Section 8 vouchers. (benefits.gov)<br />

Albuquerque Ordinance Set to End Discrimination Against Renters

A new law in Albuquerque will soon prohibit landlords from refusing to rent to people based on their source of income. The ordinance is designed to …

Three-quarters of Americans have experienced extreme weather events in the past five years, but the Biden administration's efforts to tackle climate change are limited after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in West Virginia v. EPA. (WildEarthGuardians/Flickr)

U.S. Supreme Court Strips EPA's Power to Curb Pollution

The Environmental Protection Agency now has fewer tools to fight climate change, after the U.S. Supreme Court stripped the agency of its authority to …

Many Latinos celebrate those who have died on Dia de los Muertos, but don't talk about death beforehand and shy away from hospice services. (EduardoTaboada/Pixabay)

NM Latino Families Urged to Initiate End-of-Life Discussions

Hispanic groups are coming together to encourage people in New Mexico and elsewhere to have end-of-life conversations with their loved ones before ill…

Black, Hispanic and Native American people are up to two times more likely than white people to suffer from chronic disease, according to the health publication WebMD. (Myrriah G�mez/news.unm.edu)

Environmental Advocates: Empowerment Doesn't End With Juneteenth

Juneteenth celebrations this month commemorated freedom, but Black and Brown people are still disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices …

Bans on abortion in Texas and Arizona will make New Mexico, where it is legal, the closest destination for many seeking access to the procedure. (centerforlanduseinterpretation)

Roe Domino Effect: Are Contraception, Gay Rights Next?

Leaders in the equality movement are warning the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade may soon lead to a reversal of other landmark privacy-…

Only three states - Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin - continue to prosecute 17-year-olds in adult courts, according to The Sentencing Project. (AlexasFotos/Pixabay)

Report: Blaming Youth for COVID Crime Wave is False

Data from The Sentencing Project showed the share of crimes in the U.S. committed by young people has fallen by more than half in the past two …

The Kit Carson Electric Cooperative creates revenue for the Picuris Pueblo in northern New Mexico, meeting 100% of daytime energy demand with solar power and reducing energy costs for tribal members. (Photo courtesy Kit Carson Electric Cooperative.)

Equity, Environmental Justice Critical to NM Infrastructure Spending

A new report outlined how state officials can use money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address environmental justice, an …

Miners' Colfax Medical Center opened in 1906 in Raton to provide acute and long-term care for treatment of miners with lung disease. (members.nmhca.org)

NM-Based Telementoring Supports Sick Miners in Rural America

By Kristi Eaton for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaborat…

Less than one-half of 1% of New Mexico's river miles are protected under the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System. (The Pew Charitable Trusts)

NM's Gila Returns to Forefront for National Rivers Month

June is National Rivers Month, and New Mexicans who want the Gila and San Francisco Rivers protected monitored U.S. Senate talks this week on the M.H…

Experts cite a lack of affordable housing, systemic racism and inadequate safety nets as contributors to the nation's homeless crisis. (schluesseldienst/Pixabay)

Santa Fe Converts Route 66 Hotel to Affordable Housing

The conversion of a 60-year-old Santa Fe hotel should offer those seeking affordable housing, including the city's homeless community, a new lease on …

In New Mexico, a new map indicates 144,377 residents - including 38,749 children - face potential health threats by pollution from the oil and gas industry. (Jimmy Cloutier/Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

New Map Shows More People Live within Oil & Gas "Threat Radius"

A newly created map reveals more Americans are being exposed to health threats from proximity to oil-and-gas production facilities. The map's release …

Seven states, including New Mexico, hold primary elections on June 7, 2022. (AngelaYurikoSmith/Pixabay)

LGBTQ+ Advocates Endorse NM Primary Candidates

While lawmakers in many states have introduced legislation to roll back LGBTQ+ rights within their borders, New Mexico is not one of them, and …

The Rio Grande Basin provides critical habitat to sandhill cranes, migratory and wintering waterfowl and many other species. (nm.audubon.org)

Champions for Biodiversity Want Biden Administration to Do More

Land-use changes, pollution, and climate change all contribute to declining biodiversity. Now a broad group of U.S. lawmakers wants the Biden …

In New Mexico, where major wildfires continue to burn, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has warned residents to be ready for evacuations all summer because of strong winds, higher temperatures fueled by climate change, and no significant precipitation on the horizon. (Wikipedia)

As New Mexico Wildfires Rage, Neighboring States Warned of High Fire Danger

New Mexico continues to battle the largest wildfires in its history, and other states including Nevada, along with parts of Arizona and Colorado…

In 2018, the last non-presidential primary, only about one in five eligible New Mexico voters cast a ballot. (bernco.gov)

Early Voting Continues for New Mexico's June Primary Election

Early and absentee voting is underway for New Mexico's June 7 primary, with some speculating if higher prices at the grocery store and gas pump will …

In New Mexico, 32% of roads are in poor condition and each motorist pays $767 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair, according to the 2021 Report Card for America's Infrastructure. (suwichanpralomram/Pixabay)

USDA Pilot Program Launches in Nine NM Counties

New Mexico will be one of the first states to receive help from the Rural Partners Network, a new government initiative aiming to reset the way …

The pandemic and a strong job market have reduced college enrollment - but studies show college graduates will earn nearly $1 million more over the course of their careers. (viviandu/dailycal.org)

College Degree Increasingly Requires Part-Time Job

Many U.S. college degree programs can take years of full-time study, a serious time crunch for working adults. That's why more universities are …

The Journal of the American Medical Association says trans youths with access to gender-affirming care are 60% less likely to have moderate to severe depression and are 73% less suicidal. (MaryBettiniBlank/Pixabay)

States Form Coalition to Counter Anti-LGBTQ Bills

New Mexico and 18 other states have announced plans to introduce legislation they say will be needed to protect transgender kids from civil and crimin…

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico includes one in four children being at risk of hunger, and one in six people overall. (hfcc.edu)

Letter Carriers 'Stamp Out Hunger' Campaign Returns After COVID Hiatus

Mail carriers across New Mexico are gearing-up for the "2022 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive" this Saturday, May 14. The National Association of Letter …

Assuming the Supreme Court's leaked ruling overturning Roe v. Wade becomes effective this year, five decades of what many thought was

NM Activists Want "Sanctuary" Laws for Abortion Providers

Pro-choice activists want New Mexico to follow the lead of Connecticut in providing a safe haven for abortion providers after last week's leaked draft…

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has launched the

NM's Chaco Supporters Rally for Protections from Drilling

At a rally today in Santa Fe, thousands of comments about a proposed withdrawal of new oil and gas drilling leases near New Mexico's Chaco Culture …

If New Mexico adopts clean-car rules, more energy-efficient electric vehicles could be on the roads in 2024 or sooner. (Courtesy newmexico.org)

New Mexico Latest to Consider Adoption of Clean Car Rules

New Mexico may soon join more than a dozen other states in adopting California's clean car standards. The statewide and Albuquerque environmental-…

What Does Musk Takeover Mean for 'Black Twitter?'

Users of "Black Twitter," a community keeping in touch via Twitter about issues of interest to Black Americans, are watching for changes after Elon …

A storytelling project in the desert Southwest demonstrated the resiliency of local food production versus reliance on the industrial food system. (Courtesy Michelle Carreon)

Desert Southwest Shows Resilience in Feeding Families Amid COVID-19

When a nonprofit food center in the desert Southwest began a project to chronicle challenges of land and water access combined with climate change…

Research in 2020 and 2021 at the University of New Mexico found a higher percentage of undergraduates were food insecure than graduate/professional students. (news.unm.edu)

More Money for Food Pantries at NM Colleges, Universities

More than half of Native American students at the University of New Mexico face food insecurity, with Hispanics second-most affected, at 35%…

People of color are 61% more likely than white people to live in a county with a failing grade for at least one pollutant that contributes to poor air quality, according to the American Lung Association. (DavidMark/Pixabay)

Report: NM's ABQ, Eddy County Rank High for Poor Air Quality

A new study found high ozone levels have made the air quality in Albuquerque worse than ever reported. For the past 23 years, the American Lung …

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