Robinson: Red Tape & Indifference Slow Disaster Recovery
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2025 New Mexico News Services
Exactly one day before the Rio Ruidoso swelled from 18 inches to 20 feet of death and destruction, Mayor Lynn Crawford told legislators that money they approved for disaster recovery is bottled up.
“The process is broke,” he said. “What you passed, we don’t have access to.”
The Village of Ruidoso is still rebuilding from last year’s fires and floods, reported Source New Mexico. Crawford told a July 7 meeting of the interim legislative Economic and Rural Development and Policy Committee that Ruidoso spent $16.8 million on repairs Read More
Posts From The Road: Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
Listen To Me: A female elephant seal appears to be barking orders at a young male seal that does not seem to be hearing much! The male elephant seal has a nose that resembles a short elephant trunk called a ‘proboscis’ – thus the name elephant seal. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Just Another Day At the Beach: Elephant seals lie in groups scattered about the beach at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery when we visited the area in May. These are almost all female seals with a few younger male seals mixed in during the molting season. Molting takes about a month, and then the female seals will depart Read More
Fr. Glenn: Do Likewise
By Fr. Glenn Jones:
As I scroll through the pictures of devastation wrought by the flood in Texas, many things go through my mind. First of all, there is the obvious: the tremendous power of nature unleashed—houses wrecked, vehicles tumbled, bridges collapsing. And so many lives—many of them just begun—gone. It is only the hardest of hearts that could not sympathize with an anguished heart, the sufferers’ plight, especially that of parents whose little ones are no longer here … and have not even been found.
Sadly, in a flood such as that with the many tons of debris and silt it carries with it, many Read More
LANL: First Comprehensive Study Finds New Mexicans Likely Among Most At-Risk Populations For Valley Fever
A new study finds that Valley fever, a fungal disease that is contracted when infected soil is inhaled, is present in New Mexico. People most at risk are those who live in dry, dustier areas of the state that are prone to dust storms. Courtesy/Dreamstime.com
LANL News:
- Evidence of the fungal disease found in Catron, Doña Ana, Sierra and Socorro counties, with the most reported in the northwest and southwest part of the state
The first comprehensive study of Valley fever in New Mexico found that people in the state are likely among the most at-risk populations for the disease in the United States. Read More
Beautiful Clouds Mixed With Smoke Northwest Of Velarde
View of the sky filled with beautiful clouds mixed with smoke from the Laguna Fire Thursday northwest of Velarde. Photo by Johnnie Martinez Read More
Laguna Wildfire Update: Monastery Of Christ In The Desert Moves To Evacuation ‘Set’ Status & Gallinas Ranch To ‘Go’
SFNF News:
The Santa Fe National Forest has released the update for July 12 on the Laguna Wildfire, which has consumed 16,634 acres in the Coyote Ranger District, 8 miles north of N.M. 96 and west of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness.
Rio Arriba County Information: Due to the growth on the Laguna Wildfire Saturday, Rio Arriba County is implementing “set” status for the Monastery of Christ in the Desert and “go” status for Gallinas Ranch. These areas are near Forest Service Roads 151 and 434 within Chama Canyon where the Rio Chama and the Rio Gallinas intersect. Set Status describes being prepared Read More
Citizens By Virtue Of The Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo Celebrated In Author Event And Anthology Aug. 1
New Mexico History Museum:
University of New Mexico retired Distinguished Professor Dr. A. Gabriel Meléndez will discuss his new book “Citizens by Treaty”, which gathers works from Spanish-speaking people who became US citizens under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 1.
What: In the book, “Citizens by Treaty: Texts by Hispanic New Mexicans, 1846–1925”, a selection of songs, poems, speeches, and journalism reflects the persistence of a vibrant culture in the face of upheaval and change. Dr. Meléndez will talk about his new book and the works produced by Spanish-speaking Read More
Game & Fish: Public Comment On License Vendor Fees
NMDGF News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) is seeking public comment regarding potential changes to fees currently charged by hunting and fishing license vendors.
Currently, all license vendors, including the Department, charge a fee of $1 per license sold. The passage of Senate Bill 5 by the New Mexico State Legislature during its 2025 session enables license collectors to “collect and retain a vendor fee for each license or permit issued; provided that the fee shall be just and reasonable; as determined by regulation of the State Wildlife Commission”.
The Department Read More
Gessing: BBB Is Not The Tragedy Our Politicians Portray
By PAUL J. GESSING
President
Rio Grande Foundation
If you haven’t heard already, over the 4th of July weekend, President Trump signed the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB) into law. Setting aside the merits and demerits of the legislation, you have to hand it to President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson for achieving the President’s goal of signing the bill by July 4.
Considering the complexity of the bill and the narrow majorities held by Republicans (with implacable opposition from Democrats), there was not much wiggle room for compromise or lost Republican votes. Needless to say, New Mexico’s Read More
Laguna Wildfire Consumes 11,334 Acres At 87% Contained
Fire crews working on the Laguna Wildfire. Courtesy/SFNF
Map of the Laguna Wildfire closure area. Courtesy/SFNF
SFNF News:
The update Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) issued for Thursday indicates that the Laguna Wildfire has burned 11,334 acres in the Coyote Ranger District, 8 miles north of N.M. 96 and west of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness.
Update:
- Start Date: June 25, 2025
- Completion: 87%
- Personnel: 174
- Fuels: Oak brush, ponderosa pine, pinyon-juniper
- Resources: 3 hotshot crews, 1 Type 2 Initial Attack crew, 2 suppression modules, 7 engines and 3 water tenders (2 support; 1 tactical).
