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Legislature takes up multitude of gun bills sure to face a tough road
New Mexico lawmakers are debating a variety of gun bills during the 60-day session in Santa Fe. Although previous legislation centered on firearm restrictions has historically struggled to make lasting progress in the Roundhouse, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is optimistic lawmakers know they have a responsibility to change the state’s laws before another tragic mass […]
Solomon Pena pleads not guilty following grand jury indictment
Solomon Pena pleaded not guilty during a Friday arraignment hearing, his first court appearance since a grand jury indicted him on 14 felony charges related to an alleged plot to shoot at the homes of elected officials. Pena, an election denier and failed 2022 GOP candidate for the N.M. House, is accused of enlisting help […]
Final decision on Albuquerque’s free bus fare program on hold, again
The fate of Albuquerque’s Zero Fares program, which allows anyone to board a bus without paying or showing a pass, will be decided at a future City Council meeting after councilors agreed Wednesday to delay a vote until next month’s meeting. This marks the fourth time the Council has deferred a vote on the matter. […]
Governor pledges $100 million to Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire recovery
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday asked lawmakers to dedicate $100 million of the state’s operating budget to help communities in northern New Mexico devastated by wildfires and subsequent flooding last year. “We will be delivering $100 million for communities affected by the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire,” she said. “I propose that we make sure […]
Failed GOP candidate for NM House charged in connection to shootings at Dem politicians’ homes
A traffic stop in early January led police to 893 fentanyl pills, two firearms and the arrest of a man wanted on a misdemeanor stalking charge. Albuquerque police say it also helped lead them to 39-year-old Solomon Pena, a 2022 Republican candidate for the New Mexico House who police suspect is the architect of a […]
Public Regulation Commission stumbles into the new year
The state is accepting applications for a newly created council designed to advise the Public Regulation Commission on issues relevant to Native American communities in New Mexico. Applicants have until Jan. 23 to apply, and tribal enrollment is a requirement. The Tribal Advisory Council will consist of one representative from the eight northern Pueblos, one […]
Legislator seeks to ban springtime burns like the ones that sparked the state’s largest wildfire
Two fires set by federal agencies last year meant to manage vegetation and reduce hazardous fuels ultimately grew out of control and led to the largest wildfire in New Mexico history. This week, a state senator prefiled legislation aimed at making these types of government-managed burns illegal from the beginning of March to the end […]
Scope of New Mexico’s fake elector scheme detailed in Jan. 6 committee report
The House select committee investigating the violent and deadly Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and former President Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results released its final report late Thursday. The 846-page report is the culmination of an 18-month investigation that included more than 1,000 witness interviews and nearly a dozen […]
NM High Court denies Indigenous groups’ attempt to block changes to PRC
The New Mexico Supreme Court on Monday denied a challenge made on behalf of Indigenous groups that sought to block a constitutional amendment set to take effect next year. New Mexico voters approved a constitutional amendment during the November 2020 election that changed membership on the state’s utility regulatory body from being an elected position […]
New Mexico officials warn of potential disruptions to county-level election certifications
Voters statewide cast ballots last week to decide a number of races and local issues, and now that those votes have been counted, it’s up to county canvassing boards and commissions to complete the legal process of certifying election results. The certification process is typically quick and straightforward, but in recent elections, unfounded fears, conspiracy […]
Know your rights as a voter in New Mexico before you head to the polls
Election Day is here, New Mexicans last chance to have their say in the 2022 midterm election that will decide several important state, congressional and local races. Polling locations across the state have procedures in place to assure that ballots are cast in compliance with federal laws. The Justice Department has even announced plans to […]
Explainer: Certifying results after New Mexicans vote
This summer, three New Mexico counties — Sandoval, Otero and Torrance — thrust the issue of certifying election results into the spotlight by delaying certification of the state’s primary election results. In Otero County, the state Supreme Court even had to intervene to compel the commission there to vote on the matter. NM Supreme Court […]