Fr. Glenn: Make It So
By Fr. Glenn Jones:
I was meeting some people who had had a recent death in the family recently, and in the conversation they spoke both about the various virtues and quirks of the deceased—of the kindnesses of which they had been the fortunate recipients, and also chuckling about the quirky things that drove some of them nuts at times. Concerning the latter, one incisive comment that was offered when things got a little too uncharitable: “Yeah, but she never had meanness or a bad intention.” Not a bad, though rather sideways, compliment. Would that we could say that about all people.
After all, whom Read More
Robinson: Outdoor Recreation Division Deserves Kudos, But Don’t Neglect State Parks
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
Carl Colonius, an outdoor recreation planner for the state Outdoor Recreation Division, sat down before the Legislative Finance Committee recently, prepared to talk about trails. He found that lawmakers want to know about more than hiking. They’re eager to learn about the full range of outdoor recreation enjoyed all over the state.
In the conversational silos of state budgeting, they weighed outdoor recreation only from the Outdoor Recreation Division’s perspective, which they support. Days later, another silo of state government Read More
Gessing: Cartoon & Road Trip Highlights Massive Policy Gap Between New Mexico And Lone Star State
By PAUL J. GESSING
President
Rio Grande Foundation
A recent cartoon by John Trever highlights the vastly different approaches towards governance of New Mexico and Texas.
The cartoon is of the state border circa 2030 as New Mexicans head to Texas for gas-powered vehicles while Texans visit NM for abortions and marijuana.
These are hardly the only differences between the two nowadays as Texas has no income tax or job-killing gross receipts tax, it is a right to work state, and state spending per-person is less than half of what it is in New Mexico. Not coincidentally, Texas is also one of the fastest Read More
Denish: Moms For Liberty Use Harassment, Intimidation To Push Agenda
By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
When a local or national advocacy group uses words like “freedom”, “patriot” or “liberty” in their title, it raises my suspicions. The title may be catchy but usually disguises the true intent of the organization. This is especially true in the case of Moms for Liberty.
Moms for Liberty was founded in Florida in 2021 and began campaigning against COVID-19 protections in schools, including masks and vaccine mandates. All three of the original co-founders are Republicans (although they claim to be non-partisan) and one of them, Bridget Read More
Legislator OpEd: New Fines And Fees Law
By Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth
Sen. Crystal Diamond Brantley, and
Rep. Christine Chandler
At a time when politics are more divisive than ever, New Mexicans have meaningful bipartisan change to celebrate. A new state law went into effect June 16 mandating the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) no longer suspend driver’s licenses for simply missing an appearance or payment in minor traffic cases. While this highly technical change may sound tedious, it has an enormous impact.
License suspensions are a severe punishment in a state like ours that relies so heavily on driving. When people lose Read More
Amateur Naturalist: Butterflies & Thistles
Picture 1: One of 11 butterflies sipping nectar from the florets of a thistle bulb. Three thistle bulbs are next to the butterfly. Photo by Bob Dryja
By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos
The slopes going up mountain sides often are covered in snow during the winter. There is not much to see up close since plants are hidden under the snow and insects are not active. Most birds have migrated to lower and warmer elevations. Only the footprints of animals in the snow are occasionally apparent. This situation reverses with the arrival of summer. A great variety of plants, insects, birds and animals become apparent. Read More
McQuiston: You Just Had a Car Wreck … Now What?
By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1963
Being involved in a car wreck is a scary event. There are many things to think about after. Is everyone okay? Are there any witnesses? How is this going to affect my auto insurance rates?
If the accident is serious enough that your vehicle is a total loss, it can magnify the scariness and confusion. Here, we explore some of the steps you can take immediately following an accident that you believe might result in a total loss declaration for your vehicle.
What is a Total Loss? After an accident occurs, if it is determined that the Read More
