Politics

Heinrich Emphasizes Need To Safeguard National Historic Preservation Act To Protect America’s Public Lands, Improve Permitting Processes

by

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivers opening remarks at a hearing to examine the Section 106 consultation process under the National Historic Preservation Act before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Oct. 29, 2025. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In his opening statement at a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the National Historic Preservation Act, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), the Committee’s Ranking Member, emphasized the importance of protecting America’s public lands by preserving opportunities for Read More

Common Cause New Mexico Launches Statewide Voter Protection Program

by

ELECTION News:

ALBUQUERQUE — As voters prepare to cast their ballots on Election Day this Tuesday, Common Cause launched its nonpartisan voter protection program. The program features its bilingual hotline available to all voters as they navigate the election process, the largest such program in the state.

“We know voter enthusiasm is high and we want to make sure all voters know their rights and know how to cast their ballot,” said Molly Swank, executive director of Common Cause New Mexico. “That’s why our hotline is staffed with friendly, nonpartisan experts who can help voters navigate Read More

Gubernatorial Candidate Sam Bregman Launches Statewide ‘Common Sense Over Chaos’ Tour Throughout November

by

Sam Bregman

POLITICAL News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Sam Bregman announced his statewide “Common Sense Over Chaos” Policy Tour, which will take him to communities large and small across New Mexico throughout November.

At each stop, Bregman will meet with residents to discuss the challenges they face and share solutions from his Blueprint for New Mexico. A bold plan to strengthen the state, take on the chaos coming from Washington, stand up to Trump, and move New Mexico’s economy, schools, and quality of life forward.

“We need to stand up to Donald Trump and deal with Read More

Governor Announces $30 Million To Feed New Mexicans

by

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

From the Office of the Governor:

          • 460,000 New Mexicans set to lose federal SNAP benefits Nov. 1

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced today that the State of New Mexico will provide $30 million in state dollars starting Nov. 1 to ensure that low-income children and families, seniors and New Mexicans with disabilities continue to receive food benefits amidst an ongoing federal government shutdown.

The announcement comes in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits Read More

Council Approves 0.625 Percent Increase In GRT

by

COUNTY News: 

In a 6-1 vote Tuesday night, Los Alamos County Council approved two ordinances to increase the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) in Los Alamos by 0.625 percent. The increase goes into effect July 1, 2026.

The increase is in response to a substantial reduction in GRT revenue that the County will receive from its largest GRT contributor, Los Alamos National Laboratory, now that a portion of its operations is falling under the state’s GRT exemption for manufacturing.

Administrative Services Director Helen Perraglio explained that the increase was necessary because without it the County Read More

Reps. Stansbury, Vasquez, And Leger Fernández Introduce SNAP BACK Act To Protect Families From Federal Shutdown And Prevent Cuts To Food Assistance

by

U.S. CONGRESS News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Trump administration plans to cut off food assistance for 42 million Americans on November 1, U.S. Reps. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), and Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) introduced the SNAP BACK Act to ensure that no child, parent, elder, or veteran goes hungry because of the Administration’s refusal to release SNAP benefits.

The SNAP BACK Act guarantees funding for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) during the current government Read More

National Association Of Counties Leaders Advocate For FEMA Act During Visit To Washington D.C.

by

NACo News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly two dozen county leaders from 15 states are in attendance this week at a National Association of Counties (NACo) fly-in focused on disaster reform. The participants are members of NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force, a group of elected and appointed county leaders focused on strengthening our nation’s disaster mitigation, response and recovery capabilities.

In over two dozen meetings on Capitol Hill, participants advocated for the passage of the FEMA Act (H.R. 4669), which was approved by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Read More

Neeper: About Those Medical Measurements Pertaining To Political Choices

by

By DONALD NEEPER
Los Alamos resident 1968-2014

John Bartlit’s column of Oct. 26 (link) reviewed medical measurements which showed that political choices are set more by brain history than by logical choice. The measurements could support the idea that the desire for group acceptance is an inherited feature that enhanced the survival of early Homo sapiens.

In my recent book on our societal polarization, I reviewed numerical models based on the shifting internal rules of behavior that we each carry. The models, published in 2021, predicted irreversible polarization in America.

On a continental Read More

Robinson: Universal Childcare Needs Legislators’ Close Scrutiny

by

By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2025 New Mexico News Services

Back in September, the governor announced that on Nov. 1 New Mexico would become the first state to offer universal childcare. We made national headlines. It would be a huge benefit to working families and employers, of course, but legislative budget makers are starting to ask hard questions about costs. And they should.

This is when I like to remind readers that I’m not Hard Hearted Hannah.

When I was a single mom on reporter wages, day care took such a big bite out of my paycheck that I had almost nothing left after rent and groceries. Read More

Senator Brantley Votes Against Confirmation Of State Fair Commission Members

by

U.S. Sen. Crystal Brantley. Courtesy photo

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Oct. 24, the Senate Rules Committee voted 5–4 to advance the governor’s appointments to the New Mexico State Fair Commission for full Senate confirmation during the upcoming regular session.

The State Fair Commission is responsible for setting policy and overseeing the operations of Expo New Mexico and the annual New Mexico State Fair. The commission helps guide decisions related to event management, fairgrounds maintenance, youth agricultural programs, and the long-term direction of one of the state’s largest cultural Read More