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Disclosure rules unclear for commissioners set to decide on O&G wastewater rules
Changes for rules around New Mexico’s oil and gas wastewater are under consideration, but questions about how the people responsible for adopting those rules – specifically their personal business dealings – have taken the debate into murky waters. Concerns raised by environmental groups before the hearings said failures to add financial disclosures and declare alleged […]
As early voting expands, more than 27,000 New Mexicans cast their votes in primaries
May is basically early voting month in the lead-up to the 2024 primary Election Day on Tuesday, June 4. More sites statewide are open for voters to cast ballots early in the New Mexico primary elections, and will continue to be open until Saturday, June 1. Polls will reopen for Election Day from 7 a.m. […]
NM Senate candidates spend more than $1 million – at times on each other – ahead of primary
Three tight primaries, payments to campaign consultants, and donations from leadership are driving spending in campaigns for state Senate as the June 4 primary election date approaches. While early voting has already kicked off, spending in April heated up, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed May 13. Candidates across the state spent more […]
State officials not planning to test wastewater in New Mexico for avian flu
Experts around the country have called on federal officials to use wastewater testing for the avian influenza strain H5N1, which has broken out in more than 33 dairies across eight states, including New Mexico. While there are only two documented cases of viral crossover to humans documented in the U.S. since 2022, scientists said that […]
No new NM dairy cow avian flu cases confirmed in weeks
Despite surrounding states recording additional herds infected with avian flu in recent weeks, there’s been no change in the number reported in New Mexico. New Mexico is still counting eight herds with confirmed positives of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, all in Curry County, and no presumptive positive cases, state agriculture officials said Monday. “We do […]
The blind spot in the state’s most expensive election so far this year
The primary race for Albuquerque’s top prosecutor job is the most expensive in the state so far, between incumbent Sam Bregman and challenger Damon Martinez. But a gap in disclosure laws means voters have less information about one candidate’s finances and potential conflicts than the other’s. The sharp increase in spending in the Second Judicial […]
New Mexico efforts to catalog lead water lines off to ‘slow start’ as federal money flows in
Millions in federal dollars are headed to 10 New Mexico communities to address lead and copper pipes in local water systems. State finance officials said other municipalities need to act soon and apply to receive what’s left of the $28.6 million New Mexico received in its portion of the $3 billion from the 2021 Bipartisan […]
Rep. Vasquez inquires about troubled water utility in Southern New Mexico
State agencies aren’t the only ones taking a harder look at operations and oversight of a troubled Southern New Mexico water utility. In recent months, scrutiny has intensified from the state auditor and attorney general’s office, after top environment officials called for a look into how the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority spent millions in […]
Camino Real Regional Utility Authority asks people to cut all outdoor water use due to shortage
The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority is urging no outdoor water use for the 19,000 residents in southern Doña Ana County, Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, citing low water supplies in a public announcement sent late afternoon Thursday. The utility said they are experiencing “extremely low water levels” caused by a combination of high water […]
NM to meet with Pueblos in May on Rio Grande governance
The Rio Grande Compact Commission meeting on Friday had a small portion dedicated to describing future meetings with six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos to get tribal perspective on governing the state’s largest river. The three-member commission met for its annual meeting Friday, hearing from legal advisors and New Mexico State Engineer Mike Hamman on the […]
Rio Grande Compact commission meets in El Paso Friday
It’s that time of year again when Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and the federal government meet to discuss the Rio Grande. This year, Texas takes its turn to host the meeting, which is being held at the Plaza Hotel in El Paso. The Rio Grande Compact Commission includes Colorado State Engineer Kevin Rein, New Mexico […]
Doña Ana County commission announces official leadership for troubled water utility
Juan Carlos “JC” Crosby is losing the “interim” in his job title at the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority, and is now the full-time director of the water utility under scrutiny for sending water with high arsenic to its 19,000 customers in Southern New Mexico. Susana Chaparro, a Doña Ana county commissioner and chair of […]