John Block

After witnessing Hamas’ atrocities, my support for Israel is unshakable

29 Comments / Opinion / By

As you might know, I have always been a strong supporter of Israel. I recently had the opportunity to join 249 other legislators from across the country — the largest ever delegation — to visit Israel.

My strong connection to the Holy Land grew even stronger on this trip, where we met face-to-face with victims of the Hamas-Palestinian massacre on October 7, 2023, when terrorists invaded the country, starting at the rural Be’eri kibbutz in the Gaza Envelope. Hamas terrorists threw grenades, fired shots, smoked out homes, and then killed 132 people. These were the very individuals who had been advocating for peace for decades, aiding Palestinian people with health care, food, and support. Despite that, they were brutally slaughtered.

Hamas terrorists led the charge into Israel, with Palestinians following their parade of terror — killing, raping, and looting. Brave residents of the kibbutz fought hard until the Israeli Defense Forces could arrive amid the chaos. Heroes saved hundreds, but still hundreds died. The heartbreaking stories of these families encapsulate the reality they have endured.

We then toured the site of the Nova music festival massacre, where 378 young partygoers were slaughtered. Survivors recounted stories of rapes and mutilations, of couples forced to watch each other’s murders by these savages, and of others hunted down and executed in cold blood.

In 2005, Israel decided to cede the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians so they could form their own government. Instead, the people of Gaza elected Hamas terrorists, who have since ravaged the area. Gaza could have been a place of prosperity and trade, but Hamas turned it into a terror state — using its own people as human shields, hiding in hospitals to frame Israel as the aggressor, and blocking 99% of food aid (most of which comes from Israel). What Hamas didn’t seize outright, it resold to its starving population at 300% markups — effectively murdering their own people through starvation.

By contrast, Israel goes out of its way to reduce civilian casualties, issuing warnings days before strikes through leaflets, text messages, and radio signals. Though this limits Israel’s military effectiveness, it preserves countless innocent lives. Hamas, meanwhile, built a 500-mile underground tunnel system for terror operations, making hostage recovery and troop safety nearly impossible.

During our trip, I spoke with people in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Samaria, Kibbutz Or HaNer, and beyond. Some told me how narrowly they escaped the Nova massacre; others described life under daily rocket fire. On our first day, we visited the Old City of Jerusalem — the deeply spiritual experience of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where our Lord was crucified and rose again. We prayed at the Western Wall and toured Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, a powerful reminder of the importance of memory.

We also met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visited the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, where even anti-Israel voices can be elected — proof of Israel’s commitment to free speech.

Our delegation traveled to Ofakim, where each state planted a tree in memory of victims of Hamas terror. We saw the yellow ribbons symbolizing the 48 hostages still in captivity. We dined with young people at Or HaNer kibbutz, witnessed Tel Aviv’s resilience under missile sirens, and learned of the sacrifices of IDF soldiers killed just the day before our departure.

We visited the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, SpacePharma, and the Tel Aviv Medical Center, where cutting-edge trauma care has lowered battlefield mortality rates to just 6%. We ended in Samaria and heard from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, closing with one last walk on the beaches of Tel Aviv.

This journey reaffirmed my unwavering support for Israel. This war can end immediately if Hamas releases the 48 hostages and renounces its extremist rule. As an American of Sephardic Jewish descent, this trip felt like a reconnection to my roots and reinforced the critical road ahead: standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel in its fight for survival.

We must continue advocating against Hamas’s propaganda and lies, which manipulate statistics and fake images to spread hate. Having seen the evidence firsthand, spoken to the people, and reviewed the facts, there is no way any reasonable person could support Hamas or its vision of “Palestine,” which seeks to wipe Israel off the map.

I will not be silenced, nor will I abandon my biblical belief that the Jews are God’s chosen people. We must stand with Israel, no matter the onslaught of hate. God bless the United States, and God bless Israel.

P.S. An interesting fact: over 700,000 Americans live in Israel — more than in any other country — according to Ambassador Huckabee. Supporting Israel is not only standing with our greatest ally but also standing with hundreds of thousands of fellow Americans.

To view these photos from this trip on Facebook, please see this post linked here.

State Rep. John Block represents the 51st District in the New Mexico House of Representatives located in Alamogordo. John is also the founder and editor of the Piñon Post, New Mexicos #1 conservative online news publication.

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Sketchy Gabe Vasquez declares war on Trump in Trump country

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In New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District — a district President Donald Trump decisively carried in 2024 — far-left Democrat Gabe Vasquez continues to alienate his constituents by doubling down on radical opposition to the president’s commonsense agenda.

Since Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, Vasquez has taken every opportunity to obstruct policies overwhelmingly supported by working Americans. Earlier this year, Vasquez voted against the Laken Riley Act, a commonsense bill requiring the detention of illegal aliens accused of serious crimes. Despite bipartisan support for this basic public safety measure, Vasquez instead sided with open-borders extremists, choosing the interests of criminal aliens over the safety of American citizens.

Worse yet, Vasquez opposed President Trump’s efforts to strengthen election integrity, including legislation to ban non-citizens from voting in local, state, and federal elections. Even though the overwhelming majority of Americans — including many Democrats — support restricting voting rights exclusively to U.S. citizens, Vasquez showed where his loyalties lie: with the radical left, not the voters of southern New Mexico.

At a recent town hall event in Las Cruces, Vasquez launched into a bitter tirade against President Trump, blasting the administration’s “immigration crackdowns” and accusing Trump of promoting “fear and division” — rhetoric more at home in deep blue New York City or Washington, D.C. than in Trump country New Mexico.

His contempt for the president is especially clear in his unhinged fundraising emails.

In two recent blasts to his donor list, Vasquez ranted about Trump’s investigation into ActBlue, the Democrat fundraising giant facing mounting scrutiny for suspected widespread fraud. In one email, Vasquez seethed:

“Donald Trump just signed a memorandum targeting ActBlue — the grassroots fundraising platform that powers nearly every Democratic campaign in the country — in an attempt to shut it down… Trump knows that grassroots movements like ours are the only thing standing between him and total control.”

Rather than addressing the credible allegations of financial misconduct surrounding ActBlue — including concerns about illicit foreign donations and donor fraud — Vasquez played the victim, calling Trump’s efforts to safeguard campaign finance laws an “attack” and a “rigging of the system.”

In another desperate appeal, Vasquez went even further, lashing out at Trump’s economic policies and bizarrely blaming the president for New Mexico’s economic woes:

“Trump’s economic policies are a disaster for the country and the world… Instead, they’re falling in line and remaining silent. They are letting Trump drag our economy into chaos.”

Vasquez even bragged about teaming up with radical leftist Senator Cory Booker to introduce legislation targeting private companies like those owned by Elon Musk — a transparent publicity stunt that does nothing to help New Mexico’s struggling farmers and ranchers.

For a man representing a district that overwhelmingly voted for President Trump, Vasquez’s nonstop hostility toward the administration is nothing short of political malpractice. Instead of working with President Trump to secure the border, lower inflation, and restore law and order, Vasquez seems more concerned with playing resistance warrior for a Washington, D.C. donor class out of touch with New Mexican values.

With his reckless and sketchy voting record, repeated attacks on the president, and open disdain for his own constituents’ priorities, Gabe Vasquez is making it clear: he’s not interested in representing the people of southern New Mexico — he’s only interested in fighting Trump at every turn.

Voters will remember.

John Block represents New Mexico House District 51 — Alamogordo — in the state Legislature. He is the founder and editor of the Piñon Post — New Mexico’s #1 online conservative news source.

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We need candidates to run for the Legislature — Here’s how!

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New Mexico is at a crisis point where the most extreme far-left proposals are being rammed through the legislature, as we saw some this session to hike gas prices, force us to wait a full week to make a simple gun purchase, and so many others. 

Republicans fought hard for your rights this legislative session, as we did last year, but we need more of us to run — and win — to stop the bleeding caused by the other side.

Make sure you are prepared to fight to win in the race you are entering, and it is recommended you talk to leaders in your area to make sure you are the only candidate in the primary so you can win in November against the Democrats. If there is someone else in the primary, make sure you have discussions to make sure you are ready to do what it takes to win both the primary and general elections.

Also, make sure you know what you are signing up for. You will need the flexibility to take off of work each January-March in even years and January-February in odd years. You will attend interim meetings across the state after the legislative session, so be prepared to take off work for those also. Legislators do not make a salary (exclusive of set per diem rates for your hotels, meals, and gas), so take all of these factors into account before you run for office.

So, here is a how-to guide for becoming a candidate for getting on the ballot to run for the Legislature!

What you will need to get started: 

Pick a Treasurer

To begin your campaign, you will need a campaign treasurer. Find someone you know and trust to help you with this. 

Open a CFIS Account

You will need to open a CFIS (Campaign Finance Reporting Information System) account through the Secretary of State’s (SOS) website for your campaign by clicking this link here or by visiting https://login.cfis.sos.state.nm.us/ 

This will be used for reporting campaign contributions. 

The first primary report is due on April 8, 2024, for the reporting period spanning October 3, 2023, to April 1, 2024. All other campaign reporting dates can be found linked here or by visiting https://www.sos.nm.gov/candidate-and-campaigns/how-to-become-a-candidate/campaign-finance-reporting-schedule/ 

Save your Candidate Campaign Committee Registration Form. Print it out. This will be needed later.

Also, while in CFIS, fill out your Financial Disclosure Statement. This will be needed on filing day, so print this out also. 

Get an EIN Number

Your campaign will need an EIN number through the IRS to conduct its activities. Here is a link to the IRS website to apply for that: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online 

Make sure to save your EIN number and, ideally, make a copy of the “success” page affixed with the number for your records. You will need this EIN document in the future. 

Open a Bank Account

Now that you have successfully opened a bank account and a CFIS account, you can now open a bank account. Make sure to bring the official printed documents from the SOS and the IRS to do this. You will need a campaign treasurer to come with you to open the account, or the bank may need them to sign forms remotely if they cannot physically come with you to the bank. I recommend they be there in person.

Once you have your bank information, you will need to enter this into CFIS. 

Gather Signatures 

Now that you have all these steps done, you must register and get your petition signature site up and running. You can do that on the SOS site by clicking here or by going to this link: https://www.electronicpetitions.elections.sos.nm.gov/ 

To get paper signature forms ready, you will need to find the form here (https://www.sos.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2024-Primary-Statewide-Nominating-Petition_English.pdf) on the SOS website and ensure it is filled in correctly for your campaign with the exact name on your voter registration, the correct home address, the proper county, and the proper office (such as State Representative District __ or State Senate District __). Walk around your neighborhood or disseminate these forms to friends to gather signatures. Note: the form is also available in Spanish here: https://www.sos.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2024-Primary-Statewide-Nominating-Petition_SPANISH.pdf 

Each district has a different number of signatures required for your race. The required number of signatures you will need to gather is found on pages 31-33 of the SOS candidate guide linked here or found here: https://www.sos.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-Primary-Candidate-Guide.V2-1.pdf 

File for Office

You will file for office at the county clerk’s office in the county where you live. For example, if your residence is in Albuquerque, you will file at the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office. If your residence is in Rio Rancho, you will file at the Sandoval County Clerk’s Office regardless of how many counties are in your district. 

IMPORTANT: Filing Day is 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on March 12, 2024, and on March 12, 2024 only! It is vital to have all your signatures collected by then and ready to go. Print your online signatures via the tools on the petition portal site and bring in the petitions you have gathered by hand as well. Ensure they add up to ideally 150% of the number required to account for any errors that may exist in the hand-gathered signatures. 

DO NOT BE LATE TO FILING DAY. Getting to the Clerk’s Office as early as possible (9:00 a.m. sharp) is recommended.

Things to Bring to Filing Day

Miscellaneous:

Now that you have completed all of these steps and have all the proper information filed with the county clerk, you should receive a letter from the clerk telling you your filing was successful.

For any questions or concerns about what you need to file or if you have any issues finding any of this information, call the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office at 505-827-3600 (Option 2). 

Dates to know: 

  • March 12, 2024 — Filing Day
  • June 4, 2024 — Primary Election Day
  • April 8, 2024 — First Primary Report Due
  • Early Voting Dates will be found on the local county clerk’s office website. 

I hope this short guide helped you know what you need to begin your run for the Legislature in 2024. Thank you for stepping up to serve New Mexico! 

NOTE: This article is by no means meant to be an all-inclusive guide for getting access to the ballot in 2024. Any and all questions about the process should be directed to the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office or your local county clerk. 

John Block serves as state representative for New Mexico House District 51, first elected in 2022. He is also the founder and editor of the Piñon Post. 

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Dem Party desperately wants us to stop talking about impeaching MLG—we won’t

31 Comments / Opinion / By

The Democrat Party of New Mexico (DPNM) has characterized Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s illegal order banning guns and subverting her oath as a mere “policy dispute,” attacking myself and state Rep. Stefani Lord for upholding our oaths by holding her accountable.

DPNM told KOB 4, “New Mexico needs real solutions to take on the public safety issues impacting our communities. Calling for an impeachment over a policy dispute isn’t a real solution,” claiming impeachment was “disrespectful to the people of this state.” Did you hear that, fellow peasants? The New Mexico Democrat Party has spoken!

Oh, but wait… There’s more! Lujan Grisham’s office condescended, “It is unsurprising but disappointing that Republicans in the state are choosing to use this time to orchestrate a political stunt instead of coming up with solutions to protect all New Mexicans. With less than 120 days until the start of the session, now is the time to focus on drafting comprehensive legislation to stem the epidemic of gun violence in the state.”

First and foremost, let us acknowledge that public servants, regardless of their political affiliation, take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of the citizens they serve. 

The actions of Governor Lujan Grisham, particularly her executive order restricting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to bear arms and her comments that her oath and our rights are not “absolute,” go way beyond the bounds of a policy dispute. It is a matter of profound concern when public officials abuse their oath and deny citizens their constitutional rights. Breaking one’s oath is an impeachable offense.

DPNM’s sad attempt to downplay these actions as a mere policy disagreement is both disingenuous and dismissive of the gravity of the situation. When a governor takes unilateral action to curtail fundamental rights, it is not a matter of partisan politics; it is an affront to the principles of liberty and democracy that should unite us all.

Governor Lujan Grisham and her allies have flagrantly gaslit the public by venomously spewing the lie that Republicans have no ideas to address the issue of violence in our state. This claim is not only false but serves to polarize our political discourse further, further proving the governor’s deceit and lack of fitness for high office. We, Republicans, have consistently put forward ideas and proposals to address crime and ensure our communities’ safety. 

The GOP sponsored bills to keep violent criminals behind bars, increase sentences for felons who illegally get ahold of firearms and use them in crimes, enhance sentences for trafficking, and the list goes on and on. Each of these tangible and results-based solutions died immediately at the hands of the governor’s allies in the legislature.

Let us not forget that Governor Lujan Grisham has had five years to confront the crime issue in our state. To suggest that this is a sudden crisis that requires emergency measures, such as her recent illegal executive order, is disingenuous at best. It raises the question of why she has yet to prioritize this critical issue earlier in her tenure or at all.

Addressing crime and ensuring the safety of our citizens should always be a top priority for any leader. The people of New Mexico deserve nothing less. Rather than resorting to criminal executive orders, we should be engaging in a constructive dialogue, working collaboratively across party lines to find effective solutions that enhance public safety while respecting our constitutional rights.

The actions of Governor Lujan Grisham are not a matter of mere policy disagreement. They represent a serious breach of trust, an abuse of the oath of office, and a denial of the constitutional rights of our citizens. We must recognize the gravity of these actions and impeach the governor for knowingly violating our rights and her oath. 

To take immediate action to help impeach Gov. Lujan Grisham, please visit ImpeachMLG.com. 

John Block is the founder and editor of the Piñon Post and is the state representative for New Mexico’s 51st House District in Otero County. John has fought for years for New Mexicans’ constitutional rights and is the primary sponsor of New Mexico’s Constitutional Carry legislation.

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Protecting our Constitution from tyranny on Constitution Day

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As we celebrate Constitution Day, we are reminded of the enduring wisdom enshrined in this venerable document — a wisdom that has guided our nation through its most challenging moments. Our Constitution, born from the crucible of liberty, represents the embodiment of our Founding Fathers’ vision: a government of, by, and for the people, firmly grounded in the protection of individual rights.

Yet, on this Constitution Day, our Constitution finds itself under an unprecedented threat right here in New Mexico, where Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s wildly illegal executive order—even in its now-edited form — has stripped away the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. This egregious overreach is not only an affront to our Constitution but also to the oath Governor Lujan Grisham took to uphold it.

Governor Lujan Grisham’s claim that no Constitutional right is “absolute” should send shivers down the spines of all Americans who value their liberties. It is a dangerous assertion that reveals a concerning disregard for the fundamental principles on which our nation was built. Our Founders understood the importance of protecting these rights as bedrock principles, not mere privileges subject to the whims of government officials. Our rights cannot be signed away by the stroke of a pen.

The Second Amendment, like all constitutional rights, is not a suggestion; it is a right expressly guaranteed to the people. It is the safeguard against tyranny and the assurance of our ability to protect ourselves and our loved ones. The lawless governor’s actions undermine the very essence of our Constitution, and it is our duty to defend it.

State Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park) and I are tirelessly working to impeach Gov. Lujan Grisham for her unconstitutional actions. Our efforts should be a beacon of hope for anyone who cherishes the Constitution and the rights it protects. We stand at the threshold of a critical moment where the fate of our Constitution hangs in the balance. Only We The People can protect it.

Now is the time for all lovers of liberty, regardless of party affiliation, to rally behind us and our pursuit of justice. The Constitution is not a partisan document; it is the foundation of our nation, and its preservation is our shared responsibility.

On this Constitution Day, let us recommit ourselves to the timeless principles enshrined in our Constitution. Let us remember that our rights are not subject to the whims of any politician. And let us stand united in support of impeachment efforts against Gov. Lujan Grisham, for the defense of our Constitution is a cause that transcends politics—it is the very essence of our American identity.

To help Rep. Lord and me in this fight, please help our efforts by supporting me here and Rep. Lord here. More information on our impeachment efforts will be released this next week.

John Block is the founder and editor of the Piñon Post and is the state representative for New Mexico’s 51st House District in Otero County. John has fought for years for New Mexicans’ constitutional rights and is the primary sponsor of New Mexico’s Constitutional Carry legislation.

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Former state rep. challenging Leger Fernandez for congressional seat

7 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Former state Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage, a lifelong public servant, veteran, teacher, and former State Representative, has officially announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination in New Mexico’s Third Congressional District. Clahchischilliage’s extensive background in serving her community positions her as a candidate ready to deliver for the hardworking people of New Mexico.

Clahchischilliage is challenging the incumbent far-left Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez, whom she criticizes for prioritizing a radical agenda over the needs of New Mexico’s citizens. She asserts that it is time for Congress to hear a voice like hers, one grounded in service to the country, education, farming, and opposition to radical policies in Santa Fe.

“We are tired of hearing one thing from our elected officials in New Mexico and watching them do another in Washington. Teresa Leger Fernandez has promised a lot and delivered on none of it, probably because she’s too busy playing politics and pushing President Biden’s failed agenda on us,” said Clahchischilliage. “It’s time for Congress to hear a voice like mine, someone who has served our country, taught in the classroom, raised on the family farm, and fought against the radicals in Santa Fe.”

Courtesey photo via former state Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage.

Clahchischilliage’s candidacy centers on restoring commonsense values to Washington and delivering results for the hardworking families of New Mexico. She emphasizes the need to address pressing issues such as high costs, escalating crime rates, struggling public education, and border security, which she believes have been ignored by Teresa Leger Fernandez and President Joe Biden.

“Costs are too high, crime is out-of-control, public education is leaving students behind and pushing parents out, and the border remains open to drugs and dangerous cartels. We can do better, but we need someone in Congress who will tackle these challenges, not ignore them like Teresa Leger Fernandez and Joe Biden,” stated Sharon Clahchischilliage.

Sharon Clahchischilliage’s background as a public servant, rooted in family values and a deep connection to New Mexico’s unique issues, positions her as a candidate who understands the concerns of her constituents. With experience in teaching, public health service, and advocacy for the Navajo Nation, she brings a diverse skill set to the table.

As a former State Representative, Clahchischilliage sponsored legislation aimed at building roads, strengthening the economy, and supporting rural New Mexicans. Currently, she serves on the Public Education Commission and the Board of Directors for Be Well NM, where she continues her dedication to improving the lives of New Mexicans.

Sharon Clahchischilliage’s candidacy represents a commitment to public service, strong family values, and a deep understanding of New Mexico’s unique challenges. Her run for the Republican nomination in New Mexico’s Third Congressional District aims to provide a voice for the hardworking people of the state and address pressing issues in Washington.

Former state rep. challenging Leger Fernandez for congressional seat Read More »

UNM offering ‘Critical Whiteness Studies’ course

28 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

According to the University of New Mexico’s  (UNM) Fall class offerings, the course “Critical Whiteness Studies” is being offered, where students will learn about how the professor believes white people are evil.

The course, taught by Bethany “Beth” Davila, Ph.D., “will explore the interdisciplinary field of whiteness studies. We will learn about whiteness as an ideology of supremacy and domination that functions, in part, by labeling what white people do, think, and value as superior and normative.”

“With the understanding of whiteness as an ideology—as opposed to a racial identity, experience, or skin color—whiteness studies is relevant for people of all backgrounds in order to examine how whiteness shapes society, beliefs, and practices,” the course description notes.

Davila’s bio on the UNM website reads, “My primary areas of interest are in race, whiteness, standardness, and perceptions of student identities. I use my scholarship, teaching, and administration to explore opportunities for valuing linguistic diversity in writing classrooms in order to challenge ‘standard’ English.”

The course notes that the “goal” of “Critical Whiteness Studies” is “to learn how to identify and challenge whiteness as part of an antiracist practice. In this course we will largely focus on whiteness in relation to colonialism, educational contexts, and language practices. Class work will include regular readings, informal homework and reflections, and a final research project.”

Similar courses are being offered at the University of Colorado, Denver, titled “Problematizing Whiteness: Educating for Racial Justice.”

Last year, the University of Puget Sound hosted a “Critical Whiteness Studies” course that “engages with ‘whiteness’ as a category of identification in order to develop a theoretically informed understanding of the history, function, and effects of racial encoding within literature.”

The University of Wisconsin Madison offered a now-deleted course titled “The Problem of Whiteness,” according to a report from the Daily Wire.

It is unclear what the blatantly racist course will teach in regards to supposed “whiteness” shaping society, especially from Davila, who is white. 

UNM’s Black Lives Matter-supporting President Garnett Stokes recently fumed after the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed racist affirmative action college admissions.

UNM president fumes after SCOTUS outlaws racist college affirmative action

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Services for fallen Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson announced

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The City of Alamogordo announced services for fallen Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson, who was fatally shot Saturday by a suspect who had previously brandished a gun at law enforcement.

On Wednesday, the community will gather for a candlelight vigil at 6:30 at Alamogordo High School’s gym, known as the Tiger Pit.

Then, on Thursday at 2:00 p.m., funeral services for Officer Ferguson will be held at the Tays Events Center at New Mexico State University-Alamogoro, located at 2400 N Scenic Drive.

“Please be advised that there will be limited parking available at the Tays Special Events Center parking lot for the tribute service for  Officer Ferguson. Overflow parking can be used at the NMSU-A  campus across from the Tays Special Events Center,” wrote the City.

Officer Ferguson via the Alamogordo Police Department.

“For those unable to attend the service in person, the funeral will be live streamed by the KRQE news station. This will allow you to participate and join us in honoring Officer Ferguson remotely. We are grateful for the support and unity of our community, near and far.”

Condolences flooded in from across the state, with local leaders, pastors, lawmakers, and others showing unity with Alamogordo as it mourns the tragic killing of Officer Ferguson. 

Services for fallen Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson announced Read More »

Report shows how New Mexico’s GDP changed

13 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A new Axios report compared each state’s gross domestic product (GDP) numbers, showing where they stand from 2012 to 2022.

The report revealed that the “Northeast and Midwest regions saw widespread decreases in their states’ shares of national GDP while Southeastern and Western states saw marked increases.”

According to Bloomberg, “Some 2.2 million people moved to the Southeast in just over two years. That’s roughly the population of Houston.”

The Rio Grande Foundation wrote of the study, “It is hardly a surprise that GDP is moving south and west because PEOPLE are moving south and west.”

“North Dakota’s tremendous growth in its oil and gas sector over the last decade drove dramatic population growth, but that doesn’t seem to be happening in New Mexico (at least so far) with our shrinking share of the national economic pie.”

New Mexico’s GDP decreased approximately ten percent while all of its neighboring states, excluding Oklahoma, increased — Texas increasing around ten percent. 

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Democrat mayor applauds NM Supreme Court’s gerrymandering move

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A recent ruling by the New Mexico Supreme Court has received praise from Roswell Mayor Timothy Jennings, who believes the decision to allow a challenge to the state’s congressional maps to proceed in a lower court was the right one. In an interview with the Roswell Daily Record, Jennings expressed his approval of the court’s ruling, stating, “They made the right decision.” The litigation, which was initially filed in the Fifth Judicial District Court, was supported by Jennings, a Democrat and former New Mexico Senate Pro Tempore, as well as other petitioners, including the Republican Party of New Mexico.

The court’s ruling was unanimous, with all five justices, comprised of all Democrats, agreeing that the lawsuit should move forward in the lower court. The defendants in the case, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, New Mexico Senate Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, and former New Mexico Speaker of the House Brian Egolf, argued that the state’s Constitution does not permit courts to intervene in claims of political gerrymandering or establish clear standards for doing so. However, the justices determined that the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution does grant courts a role in resolving such disputes.

In their order, the justices instructed the District Court to take all necessary steps to ensure a resolution in the case by October 1, 2023. The order also provides standards for the district court judge to use in assessing whether the reconfigured districts violate the state’s Constitution.

Jennings expressed his lack of surprise at the court’s decision, noting that many people believed that the Democratic justices would rule against the petitioners. He stated, “They all thought that the Supreme Court would automatically go the other way against this group, and they didn’t.”

The lawsuit was initially filed after the Democratic-led Legislature approved a redistricting plan in 2021, which Gov. Lujan Grisham subsequently approved. Critics, including Jennings, argued that the redistricting plan unfairly favored Democrats by cracking conservative communities of interest and preventing them from having a fair chance at electing a Republican. Specifically, they pointed to the 2nd Congressional District, which had traditionally leaned heavily toward Republicans but shifted to a Democratic advantage, according to an analysis by FiveThirtyEight.

Jennings also expressed concerns about the impact of the new districts on the oil industry, which has a significant presence in southeast New Mexico. He believes the districts were designed to weaken the industry’s political influence. Regarding the division of Chaves County among the three districts, Jennings said, “When they put us in three districts in Chaves County, that was crazy.”

Jennings’ comments praising the high court’s move comes after multiple groups comprising Fair Districts New Mexico also supported the New Mexico Supreme Court’s order. The groups included the left-wing League of Women Voters. 

The New Mexico Supreme Court’s order followed a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Moore vs. Harper, where a suit claiming that state legislatures have extensive authority over state elections, including redistricting, was rejected. Quinn Yeargin, an assistant professor of law, stated that the outcome of the New Mexico case demonstrates that state court challenges related to political maps will continue after the Moore v. Harper decision. He also noted that while it is difficult to determine the justices’ stance on the constitutionality of the maps, their ruling establishes standards for assessing their constitutionality.

Yeargin anticipates that the Republican challengers will have an opportunity to present their case during the trial, and the challenge will likely return to the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Redistricting group praises NM Supreme Court’s ruling in gerrymandering case

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