State

Santa Fe National Forest Postpones Blanco Prescribed Fire; No Projects Planned This Spring

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Borrego Campground jackpot prescribed fire on the Espanola Ranger District. Courtesy photo

SFNF News:

Santa Fe National Forest fire managers have postponed the Blanco prescribed fire, a 718-acre broadcast burn planned this week on the Española Ranger District. The decision was based on several factors, including unpredictable winds from incoming cold fronts that created a narrow burn window, red flag warnings on the east side of the state, and varying fuel conditions—dry south facing slopes and wet north facing slopes—that could leave unburned pockets likely to ignite as conditions Read More

New Mexico Public Schools Achieve Highest Graduation Rates In Over A Decade

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PED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) today announced that the statewide graduation rate has risen 2.4 percentage points to 80.6%, the highest rate in more than a decade. 

Eight schools have exited school improvement status, including seven that successfully exited More Rigorous Intervention (MRI) status, the state’s highest level of support for chronically struggling schools.

The eight schools are:

  • Albuquerque Public Schools:
    • Mark Armijo Academy
    • Highland High School
    • Rio Grande High School
    • Siembra Leadership High School
    • Technology Leadership High
Read More

Dannemann: The New Malpractice Law

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By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2026 by Merilee Dannemann

Like most New Mexicans, I am deeply relieved that our medical malpractice law has been changed to get rid of unlimited punitive damages, the part of the law that has been scaring the heck out of our doctors and leading too many of them to leave the state.

I have already seen the first attack on the new version of the law – an article by a trial lawyer implying that injured patients won’t receive the compensation they deserve and greedy corporations will have no incentive for safety. Let’s clear this up.

The news coverage has focused Read More

Post-Session Op-Ed From NM House Leadership

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By New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque), House Majority Floor Leader Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe, House Majority Whip Day Hochman-Vigil (D-Albuquerque), and House Majority Caucus Chair Raymundo Lara (D-Chamber)

In January, House Democrats laid out plans to make life better and more affordable for New Mexico families by expanding access to healthcare, building a sustainable universal childcare system, and protecting our communities from harm.

Over the last several weeks, we have delivered on those promises and more, in a productive, fast-paced 30-day legislative Read More

NMSP Arrests Juvenile For Homicide In Buena Vista

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NMSP News:

Feb. 20, 2026, at approximately 1:52 a.m., the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Investigations Bureau investigated a homicide at 69 County Road C011 in Buena Vista, N.M. 

Earlier that morning, at approximately 12:44 a.m., NMSP Dispatch received a call regarding 10 to 15 gunshots being heard in the area of 69 County Road C011, possibly coming from a white pickup truck.

Approximately 2 minutes later, Uniform Bureau officers were dispatched to 69 County Road C011 in reference to a male who had been shot. Officers arrived on scene and observed individuals performing CPR on the victim, later Read More

Republican Party Of New Mexico To Hold Candidate Debates At 2026 Pre-Primary Convention March 6-7

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RPNM News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The Republican Party of New Mexico’s (RPNM) 2026 Pre-Primary Convention & Debate Night is scheduled for Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7.

DEBATE NIGHT:

  • WHO: Candidates running for the following offices,
    • Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Congressional District 2 (NM-2)
  • WHAT:  2026 Pre-Primary Convention Debate Night
  • WHEN:  Friday, March 6, at 5-8 p.m. 
  • WHERE:  Ruidoso Convention Center: 111 Sierra Blanca Drive in Ruidoso

CONVENTION: 

  • WHO:  Qualified Candidates for the Preprimary Convention Designation 
  • WHAT:  2026 Pre-Primary Convention 
  • WHEN:  
Read More

CYFD Ends Overnight Office Stays For Children

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CYFD Acting Secretary Valerie Sandoval

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday that the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) has officially ended the practice of placing children overnight in CYFD offices, eliminating a burden on children in CYFD custody and the staff who have cared for them.

Children and youth previously staying in CYFD offices have been placed in safe and appropriate settings following CYFD’s creation of a new system to ensure safe placements for all children in its care now and into the future.

“Every child in New Mexico deserves a safe Read More

Ricky Serna Appointed NM Deputy State Treasurer

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Newly appointed Deputy State Treasurer Ricky Serna

From the Office of the State Treasurer:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico State Treasurer’s Office (STO) has announced the appointment of Ricky Serna as Deputy State Treasurer. Treasurer Laura Montoya appointed Serna to succeed Deputy Janice Y. Barela who is retiring after 25 years of service.

Serna brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles as Acting Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Workforce Solutions, Acting Director for the State Personnel Office, and co-leadership for the Higher Education Department during the COVID-19 Read More

Community Advocates Applaud Cleanup Of Abandoned Mining Materials On The Gila National Forest

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The Gila National Forest Challenge Venture Mill Site. Courtesy/USDA Forest Service

WILDEARTH GUARDIANS News:

SILVER CITY — The U.S. Forest Service announced on Thursday that it will begin the cleanup of mining materials at the abandoned Challenge Venture Mill near Mogollon, approximately eight miles northeast of Glenwood, N.M.

Conservation and community advocates applauded the cleanup, which is a result of years of advocacy from local community members and WildEarth Guardians. The Challenge Venture mill site, a 40-plus-year-old mining facility that was shut down by the EPA in 1985, Read More

New Mexico Courts Face Increasing Requests For Interpreting Services

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Post file photo

COURT News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico’s Judiciary is expanding its network of interpreters to help address a growing need for language access services for jurors and people in court cases who have a limited proficiency in English or are deaf or hard of hearing. 

Interpreting services were provided in 87 languages in New Mexico courts in the 2025 fiscal year. People requested about 50,300 hours of interpreting in FY25 — more than double from the 2021 fiscal year. The five most frequently requested languages were Spanish, American Sign Language (ASL), Navajo, Arabic and Vietnamese. Read More