State

CYFD Responds To Department Of Justice Report

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CYFD News:

SANTA FE — The Children, Youth and Families Department issued the following statement in response to a state Department of Justice report on CYFD released Wednesday:

We are still reviewing the attorney general’s report, but it’s clear that it underplays or ignores significant, measurable progress the department has made in the last seven months — progress acknowledged by outside partners, the plaintiffs and co-neutrals in the Kevin S. settlement and sister agencies.

The death of any child is a tragedy. We grieve the loss of every life and share in the heartbreak endured by family Read More

Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard Proposes Stronger Financial Protections For State Lands

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Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard

New Mexico State Land Office News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard announced Wednesday the opening of the public comment process and a public hearing on a proposed new rule to strengthen bonding requirements for oil and gas development on state lands.

Currently, oil and gas lessees are required to have a $10,000 bond on file to cover expenses for plugging abandoned wells and remediating other damage to state lands – a figure that has long been woefully inadequate considering plugging a single abandoned well with no other Read More

Heinrich, Risch Lead Legislation To Ensure Long-Term Funding For Community Infrastructure Projects In New Mexico Surrounding WIPP

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) introduced the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Economic Assistance Assurance Act, legislation to amend the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Land Withdrawal Act.

 The Economic Assistance Assurance Act will ensure sustained, inflation-adjusted funding for New Mexico communities to maintain vital infrastructure projects, such as road maintenance Read More

New Mexico Earns Clean Audit On $33.5 Billion For FY2025 

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DFA Secretary Wayne Propst

NMDFA News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico passed an independent audit of its fiscal year 2025 finances with no significant findings, confirming that the state accurately and transparently accounted for $33.53 billion in public funds—and delivered the results among the earliest in state history.

The Department of Finance and Administration’s Financial Control Division leads production of the state’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), which covers 130 agencies and component units. The FY25 audit reflects a $1.32 billion or 4 percent increase over the previous Read More

Health Department Urges Caution After Reports Of Aggressive Wildlife Behavior

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NMDOH News: 

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Wildlife urges outdoor recreationists to remain cautious following two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife behavior in Catron County.

In different incidents, a bobcat and a fox approached and engaged with hikers and campers within the Gila Wilderness. Though nobody was bitten, these reports raise suspicion of rabies infection, and come after a bobcat tested positive for rabies in Sierra County in March.

Rabies has been diagnosed in both bobcats and foxes in New Mexico. Rabid animals may be aggressive and unafraid Read More

State Parks Expand Student Transportation Grants—More Than 170,000 Students Have Participated Since 2007

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Kids in Parks at Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. Courtesy photo

EMNRD News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico State Parks has increased funding for its Kids in Parks transportation grant program after school requests surpassed available funds for the 2025–2026 school year. 

The program reimburses teachers for transportation costs to bring students to state parks for curriculum-based outdoor learning. For the current 2025-2026 school year, total funding increased to $34,199—a roughly 128% increase over the program’s   original $15,00 allocation, with State Parks providing an additional $19,199.   Read More

Ricky Serna Sworn In As New Mexico Deputy State Treasurer

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New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver administers the oath of office to New Mexico Deputy State Treasurer Ricky Serna as his Aunt Liddie Martinez holds the Bible during the ceremony Monday morning at the State Treasurer’s Office in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

State Treasurer’s Office Communications Director Bushra Elfarissi takes a photo of, from left, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya, Deputy State Treasurer Ricky Serna and his Aunt Liddie Martinez during Serna’s swearing in ceremony Monday morning Read More

State Brings Public Wi-Fi To 12 Historic Sites And Museums

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CONNECT NM News:

SANTA FE — Visitors to 12 of New Mexico’s historic sites and museums will have free public Wi-Fi access after the state’s broadband office awarded the Department of Cultural Affairs a $460,000 grant to establish connectivity at sites ranging from the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque to the Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner.

The award comes from the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) through its Community Connect Grant Program, which funds public Wi-Fi expansion in communities across New Mexico. The Department of Cultural Affairs Read More

New Mexico Judiciary Develops Interdisciplinary Educational Program For Judges

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Chief Justice David K. Thomson speaking to employees of the Administrative Office of the Courts in 2025. Courtesy/AOC 
COURT News:

SANTA FE — Judges can explore the law and its origins in more depth through a new judicial educational program that brings together three leading research and academic institutions.

The program, called “To the Roots,” was developed by New Mexico’s Court Education Institute and Chief Justice David K. Thomson.

“This is an advanced program for judges that blends scientific methods from Los Alamos National Laboratory, seminar-based studies at St. John’s College, Read More

NM Delegation Statement On Trump Administration Reversing Pecos Watershed Protections

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STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Co-Chair of the U.S. Senate Stewardship Caucus, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), released the following statement in response to the Trump administration cancelling a withdrawal application that would protect the Upper Pecos Watershed from new mining operations. 

“The Trump administration’s move to roll back protections Read More