State

Luján, Blackburn Bipartisan Bill To Crack Down On Carjacking Passes Senate Judiciary Committee

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statements after their Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

This legislation would make a long overdue fix to the federal carjacking statute, empowering prosecutors to hold more offenders accountable.

“The Albuquerque area continues to rank among the top cities for carjackings. This is unacceptable and puts people’s lives and livelihoods at risk,” Sen. Luján said. “It is a positive step that legislation to give prosecutors Read More

Luján Secures Senate Passage Of Amendment To Strengthen Public Safety During Extreme Weather Events

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. SENATE News: 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, secured the passage of an amendment to enhance public safety by protecting natural gas pipeline infrastructure from extreme weather events as part of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, which was unanimously passed by the Senate. 

“I am proud that my amendment to boost pipeline safety and protect Americans was passed unanimously in the Senate as part of the PIPELINE Safety Act,” Sen. Luján said. “My amendment will ensure that Read More

New Mexico Rep. Chávez And 113 Fellow State Lawmakers Oppose ‘Reckless Proposal’ From U.S. Department Of Labor

Rep. Eleanor Chávez of Albuquerque

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — This week, New Mexico State Rep. Eleanor Chávez (D-Albuquerque) led 113 fellow state legislators across 23 states in a joint letter opposing a U.S. Department of Labor proposal that threatens the benefits of American workers and solvency of state governments.

The Department’s proposal would revoke rules in the Fair Labor Standards Act for determining whether a worker is classified as an employee or an independent contractor. This change is expected to reclassify 250,000 American workers as independent contractors, putting Read More

State Launches Dashboard To Track Water Security Plan

STATE News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico launched a public dashboard on Tuesday that enables New Mexicans to track progress on a 50-year Water Action Plan aimed at preparing the state for a climate crisis expected to leave the state 25% drier within 50 years.

The 50-Year Water Action Plan Implementation Dashboard provides the public with a real-time window to monitor the state’s progress in addressing projected water shortages driven by drought and climate change. The plan is based on three pillars: conserving existing freshwater supplies, developing new water sources and protecting water quality. Read More

Candidate Sam Bregman Calls For Reform Of SB 72 To Restore Financial Dignity For New Mexico’s Public Retirees

Gubernatorial candidate Sam Bregman

From the Sam Bregman for Governor Campaign:

ALBUQUERQUE — Gubernatorial candidate Sam Bregman announced a comprehensive plan to restore compounding Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) for the state’s 35,000 public retirees. Bregman’s proposal addresses a growing financial crisis created by 2020’s Senate Bill 72, which has left thousands of former public employees struggling against record-breaking prices.

Since the passage of SB 72, the purchasing power of PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association) retirees has plummeted. While the Read More

New Mexico Governor’s 2026 Litter Prevention Campaign Marks Largest Organized Cleanup Effort In State History

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham at the Breaking Bad Habits cleanup event in Española with Luis, left, and Daniel, far right, Moncada, known as the Salamanca Cousins in the hit TV series, Breaking Bad. Courtesy photo

STATE News:

  • More than 7,000 volunteers collected 60,046 pounds of litter held on April 17-18 just ahead of Earth Day during the largest organized cleanup effort in state history.

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico’s statewide litter prevention campaign, Breaking Bad Habits, mobilized more than 7,000 volunteers who collected 60,046 pounds of litter during the largest organized cleanup effort Read More

Police Checkpoints & Saturation Patrols Across State In May

NMSP News: 

New Mexico State Police (NMSP) will be conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols, and registration, insurance, and driver’s license checkpoints in all New Mexico counties during May 2026.

NMSP is bringing awareness to these events to reduce impaired driving-related fatalities through continued media attention and intensive advertising.

These checkpoints are helping to change society’s attitude about driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Hundreds of lives could be saved each year if every driver had the courage to make the right Read More

New Mexico Forward Party To Hold Town Hall May 2 At Fuller Lodge

From The New Mexico Forward Party:

The New Mexico Forward Party is scheduled to hold a Town Hall from 3-5 p.m. Saturday at Fuller Lodge.  Party Chair Bob Perls will meet with the public to discuss how the Forward Party achieved ballot access, and why they are running candidates up and down the ballot in the November general election.

“Forward is committed to making elections more competitive, running independent thinkers who want to coalition-build and problem solve using data-driven solutions,” Perls said. “30 percent of Los Alamos voters are registered independents, and in the next two Read More

New Mexico Medical Foundation, BCBSNM Collaborate To Strengthen State’s Maternal Health Workforce

HEALTHCARE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Medical Foundation, the charitable arm of the New Mexico Medical Society, recently announced it received a grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico as part of the 2026/2027 Special Beginnings® initiative. This collaboration will help mothers, infants and families in New Mexico, with a focus on expanding access to quality care, reducing health disparities and addressing the social determinants that influence maternal and infant well-being.

Through the Special Beginnings grant, the New Mexico Medical Foundation is developing and delivering Read More

Farmington Man Charged In Federal Firearms Case Following Undercover Operation

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Farmington man has been charged in federal court after allegedly selling multiple firearms and ammunition to an undercover law enforcement officer.

According to court documents, Sept. 14, 2025, Pete Kimbell, 41, allegedly spoke to an undercover officer with the New Mexico Region II Narcotics Task Force using coded language and stated that he had multiple firearms for sale. The undercover officer arranged to meet Kimbell the following day to view and purchase the firearms.

Sept. 15, 2025, the undercover officer met Kimbell at a residence in Kirtland while surveillance Read More