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DOGE cuts cost tribes $470M, gutting funding for climate projects

DOGE cuts cost tribes $470M, gutting funding for climate projects

Two new reports from the Brookings Institution reveal the Department of Government Efficiency made significant cuts to tribal communities

New Mexico Governor's Council Releases Plan to Protect Ratepayers and Strengthen Grid

New Mexico Governor's Council Releases Plan to Protect Ratepayers and Strengthen Grid

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's Energy Affordability and Grid Reliability Council has issued 22 recommendations aimed at safeguarding New Mexico electricity customers and enhancing the state's power grid amidst increasing demand. The council, comprising leaders from electric utilities, rural electric cooperatives, consumer advocates, and energy experts, focused on affordability, reliability, economic development, and environmental sustainability. Key recommendations include statewide ratepayer protections, a rate framework for large electricity users to prevent existing customers from bearing higher costs, and incentives for large users to reduce consumption during peak grid strain. The plan also advocates for wider adoption of technologies to boost existing transmission line capacity, expansion of transmission and storage infrastructure, and better integration of renewable energy sources. These recommendations are expected to inform the 2027 legislative session, which commences in January.

Direct Relief Dispatches Emergency Supplies to Flood-Affected Tribal Communities in Southwest U.S.

Direct Relief Dispatches Emergency Supplies to Flood-Affected Tribal Communities in Southwest U.S.

Direct Relief has sent emergency supplies to Native Health in Phoenix, Arizona, to aid communities in Shiprock, New Mexico, impacted by recent flooding. The shipment includes 70 personal care kits with hygiene items for displaced individuals, along with 20 solar chargers and 25 reading lights provided by Unite to Light, a Direct Relief partner. Native Health, an Urban Indian Health Program, operates four healthcare facilities and a mobile medical unit in the Phoenix area, offering various health services. This recent dispatch is part of Direct Relief's broader flood response across the Southwest, which has also involved sending shipments to the University of New Mexico for areas in Bloomfield and Farmington, and to Utah Navajo Health System for communities near Blanding, Utah. These collective shipments include 275 personal care kits, 880 N95 respirators, 175 reentry kits with protective gear, and seven field medic packs for triage care.

USDA Reports Sharp Increase in New World Screwworm Infestations Across Southwest States

USDA Reports Sharp Increase in New World Screwworm Infestations Across Southwest States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported a significant surge in confirmed New World screwworm infestations across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, with cases climbing to 128 since June. Federal agricultural data indicates a tenfold increase in detections during October alone, with 33 domestic cases reported in October and an additional 42 cases in the first 11 days of November. The majority of these 128 cases involve domestic livestock and pets, with two wild elk also affected in West Texas. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing severe damage and potentially death if untreated. In response, state and federal officials have implemented movement restrictions, inspection checkpoints, and quarantine protocols in affected zones, which now include 21 Texas counties and portions of New Mexico and Arizona.

KinderCare Reports Q3 2026 Revenue Decline Amid Enrollment Pressures, Leverages New Mexico's Universal Childcare Program

KinderCare Reports Q3 2026 Revenue Decline Amid Enrollment Pressures, Leverages New Mexico's Universal Childcare Program

KinderCare Reports Q3 2026 Revenue Decline Amid Enrollment Pressures, Leverages New Mexico's Universal Childcare Program

Roswell Authorities Investigate Death of New Mexico Military Institute Cadet

Roswell Authorities Investigate Death of New Mexico Military Institute Cadet

Roswell authorities are currently investigating the death of 16-year-old Juan Geovanny Sagche López, a cadet at the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) from Santa Fe. Information surrounding the death remains scarce. Roswell Police were initially dispatched to NMMI on October 17 regarding an incident involving López, but the institute handled the investigation internally at that time. Roswell Police Department was later notified of López's death by forensic investigators on October 22. Further details regarding the circumstances of his death have not been released, according to The New Mexican. The investigation is ongoing to determine the cause and contributing factors.

Earthworks Utilizes Optical Gas Imaging to Combat Oil and Gas Pollution Across U.S.

Earthworks Utilizes Optical Gas Imaging to Combat Oil and Gas Pollution Across U.S.

Earthworks, an advocacy organization, has spent the last decade using optical gas imaging (OGI) cameras to detect and record volatile organic compounds, carcinogens, and greenhouse gases emitted from oil and gas extraction sites. This technology, specifically the FLIR GF320 OGI camera, makes otherwise invisible pollution visible. Earthworks was the first advocacy group to train and certify staff in its use. Their efforts have focused on states like Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Pennsylvania, where a significant portion of U.S. oil and methane gas is extracted. Over 17.3 million Americans live within half a mile of these operations, often experiencing health issues such as foul odors, nosebleeds, and asthma. Earthworks' investigations have brought national and international attention to the scale of emissions and community exposure, leading to policy changes like New Mexico's State Land Office banning new oil and gas wells within one mile of schools.

New Mexico Proposes Co-Pays for High-Earning Families in Universal Childcare Program Amid Economic Conditions

New Mexico Proposes Co-Pays for High-Earning Families in Universal Childcare Program Amid Economic Conditions

New Mexico is considering implementing co-pays for high-earning families utilizing its universal childcare program. This proposal stems from current economic conditions, which necessitate adjustments to the program's funding and structure. The state's universal childcare initiative aims to provide accessible and affordable care for all families, but the introduction of co-pays for those with higher incomes would mark a shift in its financial model. This move is intended to ensure the program's sustainability while still supporting families most in need. The specifics of what constitutes a 'high-earning family' and the co-pay structure are still under discussion, but the core idea is to create a more tiered system of financial contribution based on household income.

Trump administration wants to sell public lands and shrink the federal estate

Trump administration wants to sell public lands and shrink the federal estate

President Donald Trump’s administration wants to sell public lands to states, tribes and local governments as part of an effort to “decrease the size of the federal estate.”

Representative Gabe Vasquez Advocates for Veteran Support and Introduces Key Legislation

Representative Gabe Vasquez Advocates for Veteran Support and Introduces Key Legislation

U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) has actively championed increased support and resources for veterans, particularly on Veterans Day. He has called on Congress to take urgent action to expand benefits and ensure veterans have full access to the care they have earned. Representative Vasquez is a co-sponsor of a bipartisan resolution honoring veterans and has introduced several pieces of legislation aimed at improving veterans' quality of life. These include the Socorro Vet Center Act, which proposes a new veteran center in Socorro for social and psychological support; the Feed Our Veterans Act, designed to combat food insecurity among veterans; and the Major Richard Star Act, which would allow combat-injured veterans to receive both full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation. Additionally, he introduced the New Mexico Rural Veteran Health Care Access Act to improve care access in Otero and Eddy counties, and the Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act to increase student veterans...

Montana Childcare Advocates Propose Legislative Changes Inspired by New Mexico's Universal Program

Montana Childcare Advocates Propose Legislative Changes Inspired by New Mexico's Universal Program

Childcare advocates in Montana are planning legislative proposals for the upcoming session, drawing inspiration from New Mexico's model of no-cost universal childcare. This initiative stems from a recent discussion at the University of Montana, where New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham shared insights into her state's successful early childhood programs. While Montana's advocates acknowledge that universal free childcare is a long-term goal, they aim to strengthen existing programs and lay groundwork for future expansion. Key areas of focus include addressing the economic impact of childcare on families and its importance for the workforce. Montana has already made strides with its Early Childhood Account, seeded with $10 million for initiatives like business expansion grants and workforce training, and expanded early literacy and numeracy programs in schools. However, advocates like Caitlin Jensen of Zero to Five Montana and Grace Decker of Montana Advocates for Children emphasize the need for more...

Heavy Rainfall Alleviates Short-Term Drought in U.S. Southwest, Boosts Navajo Reservoir Levels

Heavy Rainfall Alleviates Short-Term Drought in U.S. Southwest, Boosts Navajo Reservoir Levels

The U.S. Southwest, particularly the Four Corners region, experienced back-to-back extreme rain events in late October and early November 2026. These heavy downpours significantly alleviated short-term drought conditions that had been exacerbated by a snow drought and high temperatures earlier in the year. One notable impact was the rapid rise of water levels in Navajo Reservoir, located in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Between September 20 and November 7, the reservoir's water level increased by nearly 60 feet (18 meters), reaching 108 percent of its average capacity for that date. This contrasts sharply with its 60 percent capacity in September. While the rains provided drought relief, they also caused rivers like the San Juan and Piedra to swell, leading to record or near-record flood levels in some areas, including Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where evacuations and property damage occurred.