Nation

U.S. Rep. Vasquez Votes To Pass National Defense Bill, Delivering Military Strength, Wins On New Mexico Priorities

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From the Office of U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On July 15, 2025, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) – a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) – voted in favor of the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

“It is vital that we ensure America’s armed forces have the training, equipment, and resources they need to carry out their missions,” Vasquez said. “This bipartisan bill includes my legislation to improve health care for our rural veterans, give our troops a pay raise, recognize New Mexico’s Downwinders, and add many additional provisions Read More

Luján Statement Ahead Of 80th Anniversary Of Trinity Test

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Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Trinity Test:

“Tomorrow marks 80 years since the Trinity Test — eight decades of pain, loss, and injustice for the victims still living with the fallout of nuclear testing and uranium mining. 

“For over a decade, our Congressional Delegation has worked alongside courageous advocates to fight for justice. Thanks to this tireless work, Congress passed a historic expansion and extension of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, Read More

Rabbi Shlachter: Promoting Peace Requires More Than Open Dialogue—It Requires Discernment, Responsibility, And An Unwavering Rejection Of Hate In All Its Forms

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By Rabbi Jack Shlachter
Los Alamos Jewish Center

I write today as a committed advocate of free speech and open dialogue. I fully support the rights of those who are organizing the upcoming Free Palestine Summer Series, which includes events scheduled at SALA and the Unitarian Church from now through September. Many of the individuals involved are sincerely dedicated to fostering peace in the Middle East—a goal that I, too, share, though I hold a markedly different perspective from that presented in the films and talks planned for this series. That difference, of course, is a legitimate subject Read More

Heinrich On $12.5 Million+ For New Mexico

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From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:

Investments Heinrich championed fully fund SNAP & WIC, increase funding for the Southwest Border Commission, support Tribes & farmers, provide rental assistance, & more

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) has announced the bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies Bill. With Committee approval of this bill, Heinrich secured support for more than $12.5 million for New Mexico, Read More

Op-Ed: A Few Words About Demand-Side Economics

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By ALAN HALL
© 2025 New Mexico News Service

Allow me to introduce myself. I am an arrogant man. It is a particular type of arrogance; the arrogance of Margaret Thatcher, who famously scorned economic ideas that were contrary to her real-life experience. Now, unlike Dame Thatcher, I was not raised in an apartment over the family grocery. But I was raised in an apartment over the family motel and gift shop, and like Thatcher, I was immersed in the business from earliest memory. That puts me firmly in her camp.

One thing that I learned as a child was the overriding importance of “business”. Whenever one Read More

Robinson: Red Tape & Indifference Slow Disaster Recovery

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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

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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

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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

Gessing: BBB Is Not The Tragedy Our Politicians Portray

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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

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Seeks Help For Ruidoso Victims

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From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:

  • “Let’s help Ruidoso rebuild”.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich met Friday with emergency managers and local leadership in Ruidoso.

“We’re all strategizing on the path forward, and how to best help the community as it rebuilds from the devastating floods this week,” Sen. Heinrich said. “I’m reaching out to ask for your support. Let’s all step up for our neighbors and lend a helping hand. If you’re able to make a monetary donation, you can do so right here. If you’re local, here’s a list of donation and distribution sites in the area. 

“Thank you in advance for Read More