Non-Local News Releases

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Today U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich announced his decision to forgo a potential gubernatorial run and remain in the United States Senate, reaffirming his commitment to representing New Mexico in Washington, D.C.

"After careful consideration and many conversations with my family, constituents, and colleagues, I've decided to remain in the United States Senate. It's clear to me that New Mexico needs a strong voice in Washington now more than ever—the stakes are simply too high.

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has named Taylor Michelle Cook as director of homeless initiatives. Cook brings extensive experience in homeless service system design, project management, and applied research to the role.

"Taylor has dedicated her career to building equitable systems that support the most vulnerable populations," said Gov. Lujan Grisham. "Her deep knowledge, combined with her hands-on experience, will strengthen our state's efforts to combat homelessness and expand access to housing."

SANTA FE – Chief Justice David K. Thomson urged the Legislature today to provide funding to upgrade court security and technology, cover the costs of jury trials and improve employee pay to lessen turnover in court staff.

In his State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Legislature, the Chief Justice stressed the need for adequate funding for state courts to carry out their essential day-to-day functions of resolving civil and criminal cases. State courts in New Mexico heard about 354,000 cases in the most recent fiscal year.

"The overwhelming majority of individuals seeking justice through the courts seek justice in state courts," Chief Justice Thomson said in his prepared remarks. "Above all else, when you enter these doors, it is our obligation to bring a just resolution of these cases in a timely manner, with no prejudice toward status or position, applying reasoned and reliable facts to the rule of law."

JEDI Office first-ever grant program awards funding to 5 organizations

SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary-Designate Rob Black announced today that five organizations have received grants in the inaugural round of awards through the EDD's Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Office.

To tackle systemic inequities and barriers to accessing EDD programs, the JEDI Office launched its first-ever grant program aimed at community organizations, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses. These grants will help fund programs that support the growth of socially and economically disadvantaged business owners and entrepreneurs.

SANTA FE – Public schools and universities may be sued for discriminatory conduct under the New Mexico Human Rights Act (NMHRA), the state Supreme Court ruled today.

In a unanimous opinion, New Mexico's highest court concluded that public schools and public universities are a place of "public accommodation" under terms of the state's anti-discrimination law.

The ruling allows a lawsuit to move forward by a Native American student, McKenzie Johnson, who was allegedly called a "bloody Indian" by a high school teacher in Albuquerque during a class on Halloween in 2018. Johnson, who was 16 years old at the time, was dressed in a costume and had fake blood on her cheek.

HB10 will create enforcement bureau necessary to stop illegal activity

SANTA FE — A bill that would establish an enforcement bureau within the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (NMRLD) and expand the Cannabis Control Division's regulatory authority was introduced in the New Mexico Legislature today.

House Bill 10, sponsored by Rep. Doreen Gallegos, and co-sponsored by Speaker Javier Martinez, Minority Floor Leader Gail Armstrong, Rep. Art De La Cruz, and Rep. Marian Matthews, would give the department in-house, certified peace officers to investigate and pursue criminal charges against individuals who violate licensing requirements and defy the Cannabis Regulation Act.

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Fishing for trout has been good recently at Trees Lake when using PowerBait.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

In collaboration with Father Adrian Sisneros, the mayordomos, and parishioners, NUEVO MEXICO PROFUNDO has commissioned an altar for the historic church in Golden. The church was originally built around 1830 and was redesigned and rebuilt about sixty years ago by Fray Angélico Chávez. A photo taken during the rebuilding is below. In 2024 PROFUNDO collaborated with the parish on the restoration of the church.

Two preliminary altar sketches by santero Nicolas Otero are also below; we will add other images as the project progresses. Some of Otero's work is here; an article is here.

This $20,000 project was made possible by an anonymous donation and by additional support from the Robert L. Clarke Family Foundation, the Parker-Kuntz Fund at the Santa Fe Community Foundation, Elizabeth Glassman, Sallie Bingham, Kathyrn Bard, James Higdon, Susan Howard and Vince Pigott, Katherine Carpenter, Laura Smith, Marie Noelle Meyer, Melissa Eason, Cheryl Nace, Richard Bentley, Tobin Clark, Timothy Mitchell, Michael Cannon, Robyn Hoffman, John Benigno, and Janet Desforges, in honor of Sana Morrow.