New Mexico

Tree nurseries sprout up as a climate mitigation strategy

New Mexico’s Climate Ready Trees Program helps officials identify which tree types are most likely to survive in future climate conditions.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

A New Mexico Official Who Joined the Capitol Attacks is Barred From Politics

COMMENTARY | The little-known law behind the removal has some potential pitfalls for democracy.

  • By Aziz Huq, David Landau and Tom Ginsburg

A Uranium Ghost Town in the Making

Time and again, mining company Homestake and government agencies promised to clean up waste from decades of uranium processing. It didn’t happen. Now they’re trying a new tactic: buying out homeowners to avoid finishing the job.

  • By Maya Miller and Mark Olalde , ProPublica

Two Cities Took Different Approaches to Pandemic Court Closures. They Got Different Results

Did closing courts contribute to the resurgence in violent crime that began in 2020? What happened in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Wichita, Kansas, may provide clues.

  • By Alec MacGillis, ProPublica

What Happens When You Have an All-Women City Council? New Mexico Is About To Find Out.

The city of Las Cruces will soon have women representing all six of its city council district seats. It joins a short list of all-women or nearly all-women governing bodies.

  • By Barbara Rodriguez, The 19th

Booster Mandates Are a Tough Call for States, Businesses

New Mexico is the first and only state to require boosters for its employees.

  • By Alex Brown and Matt Vasilogambros, Stateline

As States Ease Covid-19 Mandates, (Some) Legislative Buildings Reopen

State capitols and legislative chambers are beginning to reopen their doors to the public amid increasing vaccination rates and shifting health guidelines.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

New Mexico Must Provide Internet, Devices to At-Risk Remote Learners, Court Rules

The ruling is the latest development in a years-long case alleging that the state’s education department failed to provide uniform public education to Native Americans, low-income children and others.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Longer, More Frequent Droughts Hit Western US

COMMENTARY | Periods of drought in the western United States have become longer over the past 50 years, according to a new study.

  • By Rose Brandt, Futurity

Ranking: The Worst States for Retirees

The least favorable places to live post-work years on the list, which was compiled from several sources, have high taxes and soaring housing costs, among other things.

  • By Brent Woodie

Interstate Water Wars are Heating Up Along With the Climate

COMMENTARY | Sates should put at least as much effort into reducing water use as they do into litigation, because there are no guaranteed winners in water lawsuits.

  • By Robert Glennon, The Conversation

Timber, Condos, Glamping? States Debate Land Use to Fund Schools

Some states are getting into the development business.

  • By Alex Brown, Stateline
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Lawmakers in One State Hope to Create a New Broadband Office

About a quarter of New Mexico students don't have home internet access. Legislators are proposing to create a division in the state's IT department to help address this and other digital equity issues.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

12 Million People to Lose Unemployment Benefits This Month When Federal Programs Expire

Federal safety net programs that have provided additional unemployment benefits for workers who lost their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic are set to end.

  • By Andrea Noble

New Mexico, Oregon, Michigan and Washington State Issue New Shutdown Orders

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Jackson, Mississippi accuses biodiesel plant of illegal dumping … A high denial rate for Hawaii workers compensation claims linked to Covid … Gov. Gavin Newsom expresses regrets for attending outside restaurant gathering.

  • By Laura Maggi

Former City Council Candidate Arrested in Shooting at Albuquerque Statue Protest

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Iowa governor to sign order to allow people with felonies to vote … New Jersey police must report misconduct findings … Lawsuits filed against state-run nursing homes in New Jersey.

  • By Emma Coleman and Laura Maggi

Medicaid Providers At The End Of The Line For Federal COVID Funding

State Medicaid directors say that without immediate funding, many of the health facilities that serve Medicaid patients could close permanently.

  • By Julie Rovner, KFF Health News

New Democratic Majorities Lead to Rush of Bills—and Conflict

With new trifectas, Democratic leaders in six states had the opportunity to push through many new laws. But there were also clashes, both internally and with Republicans.

  • By April Simpson

The Pros and Cons of 'Banning the Box'

New Mexico became the 12th state to prohibit private employers from asking about criminal records on job applications, a practice designed to reduce recidivism by helping ex-offenders gain employment.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Instead of a Border Wall, Why Not a ‘Clean Energy Corridor’?

Building solar panels and wind turbines along the U.S.-Mexico border, say scientists, could unite demands for a Green New Deal and stronger border security.

  • By Amal Ahmed, The Atlantic

Congress Could Could Move Quickly on Drought Contingency Plan for Colorado River

Seven states submitted their agreements on March 19 with water officials asking for action before the end of April.

  • By Dave Nyczepir