Columns

Op-Ed: Time To Recognize Vital Contributions Of K-12 Classified Educators And Pay Them Fairly

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By WHITNEY HOLLAND
President
American Federation of Teachers New Mexico

Our K-12 public schools cannot function without classified staff. Bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, educational assistants, secretaries, and countless others keep our schools running. Every student, parent, and even lawmakers have a story about how a classified educator has impacted their life in a positive way. Yet too often, these essential employees are overlooked and underpaid, struggling to make ends meet while providing critical services to our students, families, and communities. Classified Read More

Houck: The Sales Process

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By DAVE HOUCK
Atomic Realty QB

If your property is in a Trust, you have a Power of Attorney, have a deed on death, or have a death certificate keep the originals as the title company will likely need them to close.

We suggest Seller having a pre-listing inspection done. We believe it usually makes for a smoother transaction.

A flurry of paperwork will come your way for electronic signature. We will take care of which documents you need. Documents will come to you for review or signature throughout the process.

Make sure you have a bank account the money can go into. If in a trust you will need an account Read More

Ringside Seat: Give These Two Bad Bills A Fast Burial

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By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican

Contrary to popular mythology, useless legislation isn’t only a strain on paper-pushers at the state Capitol. These measures can be dangerous.

That’s the case with two bills before the Legislature. Backers of both proposals claim they would be good for consumers, and they are happy to spread false information to advance that theme.

I’ll deal first with House Bill 59, a poorly written, badly researched measure. Rep. Doreen Gallegos called the bill “clear as mud” after it was presented to the committee she chairs.

The proposal would exempt tech Read More

Best Of Liddie’s Recipes: Red Hot Chocolate Soufflé

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Preparation for Red Hot Chocolate Soufflé. Photo by Liddie Martinez

By LIDDIE MARTINEZ
Española Valley

Years ago, my husband was invited to participate in a dune buggy adventure in Mexico.

The invitation did not extend to me, which was fine; a long weekend covered in sand would not have been my idea of a fun time. Luckily, I was able to tag along with him to San Diego and while he caught up with his buddies, I arranged for my own private weekend to take in uninterrupted jaunts at Balboa Park museums, stroll along manicured gardens, inhale the salty air of coastal drives to old Spanish missions and meander Read More

Home Country: Rain Frozen Cowboys

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Home Country
By Slim Randles

“This is ‘bout the best time of year,” Steve said, “to get out and do something fun, like go to a rodeo.”

“Awful cold out there right now, Steve,” said Doc, who has more degrees than a thermometer. “I guess it’s a good thing they have all those building rodeos these days.”

“Well, that would take all the sport out of it, wouldn’t it?” Steve said. “Dud, pass the sugar please.”

Dud passed the sugar. “Don’t know what you mean, Steve. Why would it take all the sport out of rodeo if the folks in the stands were comfortable?”

“Cold factor,” he said.

“What?”

Now Steve was our resident cowboy Read More

Op-Ed: Be A Warrior For Democracy!

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By GEORGE CHANDLER
Los Alamos

On Saturday Feb. 22 at noon, Chair Andrea Determan will convene the Democratic Party of Los Alamos County at the Unitarian Church on North Sage Loop. First the three wards (North Townsite, South Townsite, and White Rock) will meet to elect ward officers and members of the Central Committee. Then the new Central Committee will meet to elect County officers (Chair, vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) and at-large members of the State Central Committee. Takes usually about two – three hours. You can attend, vote, and run for any of the positions if you are a registered Read More

Commentary: Rube And New Mexico Residents Should Be Confused By This Bad Bill

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By BILL CHURCH
The Santa Fe New Mexican

The dynamics of a legislative body — especially one trying to find its identity — are similar to the junior year of high school. The 11th grade is cited as critical for social emotional learning, which is a fancy way of describing the art of playing well with others.

There are lawmakers who get noticed for their personal skills, work ethic and public service. Others who are more focused on getting attention. And others who are ignored.

Just like high school.

Who knows which cool-kids clique Rep. Kathleen Cates, a Democrat, wants to hang with at the Roundhouse, Read More

Ringside Seat: Fresh Hope For New Mexicans Without Representation

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By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican

Maybe one of the bigger messes in state government can be cleaned up without Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham again having to summon the residency police.

The McKinley County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously nominated 78-year-old Martha Garcia to fill the vacant seat in District 6 of the state House of Representatives.

She lists her hometown as Pinehill in Cibola County. Barring any doubt about her residency, Garcia looks like the new front-runner to belatedly take office in District 6.

An appointment can’t come soon enough. The district’s 30,000 Read More

Weekly Fishing Report: Feb. 4, 2025 

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By GEORGE MORSE
Sports and Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post 

The snowpack in Northern New Mexico  is 42-percent of normal. The weather forecast for this coming week is warm and dry. 

The Arctic Blast appears to be over. Temperatures can still  plunge well-below zero in some of our high mountain valleys.

The Moreno Valley where Eagle Nest Lake is located is a prime example. Temperatures can still fall below zero even into March. Please dress warmly and in layers. 

The record low temperature for New Mexico is -50 degrees in 1951 at Gavilan, a small community near Lindrith in Rio Arriba County. 

The colder Read More

Op-Ed: New Mexico Legislature Should Focus On Current Needs, Not Building Permanent Funds

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By CARTER SWANSON
Policy Analyst
Rio Grande Foundation

More and more New Mexico chooses to stockpile money in permanent funds, rather than spend. The total value of these funds is currently a mind-blowing $58 billion. This means that the New Mexico State Investment Council has one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world (according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute).

There are only two states, Texas and Alaska, that have larger funds. It is speculated that in the coming decades, revenue from these permanent funds will surpass revenue from oil and gas.

On its face this sounds like Read More