Denish: Remembering New Mexico First – RIP
By DIANE DENISH
Corner To Corner
diane@dianedenish.com
In Mid-January, New Mexico First, the non-profit public policy organization, closed its doors after 38 years.
As a participant and observer of NM First from the beginning I have a historical view. I served as board chair early on, was at the first board meeting and recently at the last board meeting as a guest. (and dozens of board meetings in-between). Initially in 1986, I was co-chair of the task force brought together by U.S. Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Jeff Bingaman.
As a task force, we visited Texas and Arizona, who had examples Read More
Paying Out-Of-Pocket: New Mexico’s Thorny Medical Malpractice System Explained
By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Dr. Debbie Vigil didn’t plan to retire in 2023.
Born and raised in Santa Fe, Vigil started practicing as an independent OB-GYN in the city in 1989, out of a desire to serve her home state.
“I was committed to the people of New Mexico,” she said. “I’m Hispanic. I speak the language. I know the culture. That was the whole reason I went into medicine.”
But Vigil said her choice to practice in New Mexico came at a cost, specifically the high cost of medical malpractice insurance in the state, which regularly runs OB-GYNs like Vigil more than $100,000 per year in Read More
New Mexico House Moves Two More Public Safety Priorities
HB 31 Sponsor Rep. Joy Garratt
House Judiciary Committee News:
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- Legislation would deter shooting threats and vehicle thefts
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SANTA FE – The House Judiciary Committee (HJC) has advanced two more priority policies that will be considered for inclusion in the House Democrats’ integrated public safety package.
House Bill 31 would increase the penalty for making a shooting threat toward a school or public to a fourth-degree felony, aligning it with the state’s penalty for bomb threats. It is sponsored by Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Brian Baca (R-Los Lunas), and Andrea Reeb (R-Albuquerque). Read More
Posts From The Road: Fort Griffin State Historic Site
Administration Building: Ruins of the stone administration building stand in the center of the hill where Fort Griffin was constructed. The administration building housed offices including the office of the commanding officer of the fort. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Sutler’s Store: Windblown grassy fields in Fort Griffin with the remains of Sutler’s Store, a civilian owned business that furnished canned food and other general supplies to soldiers. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
In post-Civil War years the U.S. Army Read More
Ringside Seat: Former Senator Turns Down Regent Seat
By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Bathed in scandal and soaked by greed, Western New Mexico University lost its chance to land an excellent administrator.
Former state Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill, D-Silver City, told me she turned down an offer from the governor to be a regent of WNMU. Litigation regarding irresponsible spending by the previous board shaped her decision.
“After a lot of thought about the reality of being on the board of regents, I declined. The attorney general said new board members will be the ones who most likely will be sued ‘in their capacity,’ so I’m sure it will be a Read More
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Strengthen Public Safety In Indian Country
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Sharice Davids (D-KS) introduced the bipartisan Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act to support the recruitment and retention of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officers, bolster federal missing persons resources, and give Tribes and states tools to combat violence.
U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced Read More
Legislative Roundup: 42 Days Remaining In Session
The Santa Fe New Mexican:
Fentanyl trafficking bill dies in committee: A bill to boost penalties for fentanyl trafficking failed in a House committee Saturday morning.
House Bill 107, sponsored by Rep. Andrea Reeb, R-Clovis, would have imposed a nine-year prison sentence for first-offense trafficking which didn’t result in death and a 12-year sentence in instances in which a person died of an overdose, with additional penalties for subsequent offenses. Numerous law enforcement representatives testified in favor of the proposal.
“This will help us out with addressing those folks who cause Read More
All Shall Be Well: Sadly God Is Not Glorified And America Is Not Living Up To Her Promise
Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill and The Rev. Lynn Finnegan. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By The Rev. Mary Ann Hill
Rector
Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church
What a difference two decades makes! At the very beginning of his first term in office, President George W. Bush issued two executive orders aimed at faith-based and community organizations in order to improve the delivery of social services:
“Faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) have a long tradition of helping Americans in need and together represent Read More
$340 Million Climate Measure Clears Senate Committee
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
By ANDRÉ SALKIN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The Senate Conservation Committee voted Saturday to recommend spending $340 million on both statewide and local sustainable energy projects.
Those investments would come through a new “Community Benefit Fund” proposed by Senate Bill 48, with Senate Bill 49 proposing the $340 million in one-time allotments to be used between fiscal years 2026 and 2028.
Both bills are being sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque; both passed committee Saturday on 5-3 party-line votes.
Proposed Read More
Op-Ed: Calling On Elected Officials To Honor Oath
By CELINA STEWART
CEO
League of Women Voters of the United States
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the League of Women Voters of the United States CEO Celina Stewart issued the following statement in response to actions taken by the new administration and the impact on voters.
“In the first 17 days of the Trump administration, we’ve witnessed nothing short of the weaponization of government against Americans. The callousness of the most recent actions, including the terrorizing of the immigrant community, shows a blatant disregard for the well-being of the American people. We’ve seen the weakening Read More
