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Report shows a ‘Poor People’s Pandemic’ in the U.S. and New Mexico
Eight counties in New Mexico are listed in a recent report as having the highest rates of poverty and COVID-19 deaths in the entire United States, a dire statistic as the report concludes that across the country people living in poorer counties have died at nearly two times the rate of people who lived in […]
Prosecutors trade attacks while family grieves
The family of a father killed by Albuquerque police criticized the local district attorney and New Mexico’s top prosecutor on Friday after the two officials each tried to say the other had the power to take another look at the killing. Surviving members of Valente Acosta-Bustillos’ family and supporters held a news conference and a […]
Father killed by APD part of a long history of deadly wellness checks
As Valente Acosta-Bustillos’ family gathered near the site of his death to remember his life, advocates joined in solidarity, pointing to a history of wellness checks by Albuquerque police that turn deadly. One of his sons, Valente Acosta, usually doesn’t speak to anyone or put himself out there, he said, fending off being exposed “to […]
Family of a man killed by APD officers asks DA to reopen case
The last vehicle Rafael Melendez worked on with his father, Valente Acosta-Bustillos, was a 2000 Dodge Dakota truck. “It was always misfiring and stuff,” Melendez said. Even though neither man really knew what he was doing, they would just sit there all day and eventually figure it out. “It was an older vehicle, but we […]
Evidence shows EchoMail involvement in Otero County ‘audit’ canvassing, congressional panel says
A congressional committee is accusing the head of a tech company of lying about his involvement in the so-called “audit” of the 2020 election results in Otero County. The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform is investigating the rise of partisan audits of the 2020 election that representatives say “threaten to undermine the integrity […]
Northern New Mexico officials look to quickly build wireless network
ESPAÑOLA— When COVID-19 hit the world in March 2020, many people living in Santa Clara Pueblo were forced to work from home to avoid catching coronavirus or, if they did not have good connections to the internet, take leaves of absence from work. Geremy Yepa said these circumstances affected everyone’s income and student’s access to […]
New Mexico keeps its COVID-19 treatments despite federal sweeps
With congressional funding for COVID protections in jeopardy, the amount of COVID treatments the federal government is sending to state health departments is being reduced by 30%. The supply of antiviral drugs dwindles as New Mexico’s health authorities have all but abandoned policies to prevent infection, instead putting their hopes into having enough of those […]
Española veterans plead to keep the local VA clinic
ESPAÑOLA—Ben Pearce, a disabled veteran living in Española, said he feels blessed to have people in his life who help him figure out all the logistics of getting medical care. If a plan by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs goes through, he and his fellow veterans in rural parts of New Mexico will need […]
NM lawmaker says he hopes 2022 special session will be ‘surgical’
Two weeks from now, New Mexico lawmakers are scheduled to meet in a special session to again consider funding vetoed by the governor earlier this month — and a new proposal to try to help some New Mexicans deal with rising costs of living. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed a $50 million spending bill a […]
Federal inspectors demand ICE relocate migrants detained in Torrance County
Federal oversight officials this week told U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to move everyone out of Torrance County detention center in Estancia, N.M., until it can fix unsanitary and unsafe conditions inside. “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must take immediate steps to address the critical staffing shortages that have led to safety risks and unsanitary […]
Woman alleges medical neglect at San Juan County jail
A woman being held at the San Juan County jail says medical staff at the facility have repeatedly denied her requests for care and medicine to treat her chronic health conditions. In a tort claim notice filed on behalf of Aurelia Hernandez, she said staff at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center also attempted […]
How prepared is New Mexico for another wave?
A major part of New Mexico’s pandemic strategy moving forward is to widely distribute antiviral medication to every pharmacy in the state, and to some health care offices. The state’s plans are meant to make it possible for people who catch coronavirus to quickly get treatment, according to acting N.M. Health Secretary David Scrase. Paxlovid […]