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Nella Domenici campaign launches supply drive for Ruidoso fire victims

11 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The Nella for Senate campaign is asking for support and donations to assist families in Ruidoso and surrounding areas affected by the Lincoln County/Mescalero Apache South Fork Fire.

Donations can be dropped off until Wednesday, June 19th, at the locations listed below between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. MST.

Needed Items:

To support displaced families, we are requesting new or gently used items such as:

  • Blankets
  • Pillows
  • Towels
  • Toiletries
  • Non-perishable food items
  • Bottled water
  • Clothing
  • Books, games, puzzles, or other activities for children
  • Pet supplies
  • Sleeping bags/blow-up mattresses
  • Hygiene products

Drop-Off Locations:

  • Nella for Senate Campaign Headquarters
    • 8010 Palomas Ave NW Ste C, Albuquerque, NM 87109
  • Republican Party of New Mexico Headquarters
    • 5150 San Francisco Rd NE Unit A, Albuquerque, NM 87109
  • NRCC Battlestation
    • 201 S. Solano Ste D, Las Cruces, NM 88001
  • KSVP Radio Office
    • 317 West Quay Avenue, Artesia, NM 88210

Evacuation Updates:

The City of Roswell, in collaboration with the Red Cross, has set up an emergency shelter at the Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell gymnasium, located at 52B University Blvd. If this facility reaches capacity, the New Mexico Military Institute’s Godfrey Athletic Center at 101 W. College Blvd. will serve as a secondary shelter.

Additionally, those with RVs or large animals can stay at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds at 2500 SE Main St.

“Meanwhile, thanks to Roswell hospitals, which are trying to accommodate as many patients as possible who are being moved out of the Ruidoso hospital,” wrote the Domenici campaign.As of Tuesday morning, 13,921 have been burned in the South Fork Fire with zero percent containment. More information about the fire will be updated on this website.

14,000+ Texas babies killed in NM last year: Report

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In 2023, approximately 70% of the estimated 21,000 abortions performed in New Mexico were on patients who traveled from Texas to kill their unborn babies, according to a study by the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion research organization. 

This means that about 14,200 Texas babies were killed in the womb in New Mexico, marking a tragic influx since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Texas law protects life in the womb unless the life or health of the mother is at risk.

The increase in abortions in New Mexico has been dramatic, with a more than 260% rise since 2020. Many attribute this rise to Texas’ pro-life laws. Additionally, around 400 patients traveled from Oklahoma and Arizona for abortions.

The percentage of out-of-state abortion “patients” in New Mexico surged from 38% in 2020 to 71% in 2023, the highest proportion in the country. This influx demonstrates the extreme lengths to which individuals will go to kill the babies in their wombs, a stark reality that highlights the tragic loss of unborn lives.

Each month, about 1,610 abortions are performed in New Mexico, with the number exceeding 2,000 in March 2023 alone. Nationally, the New York Times reported that 171,000 patients traveled out of their home states for abortions in 2023, indicating a widespread movement driven by restrictive state laws.

Isaac Maddow-Zimet of the Guttmacher Institute commented on the extensive travel for abortion services, stating it shows “just how far people will travel to obtain the [abortions] they want and deserve.” However, from a pro-life perspective, this highlights the urgent need for stronger protective measures for unborn children across the United States.

The study’s estimates are based on monthly surveys from abortionists near state borders and statewide data collection, reflecting a comprehensive overview of interstate abortion trends.

For more detailed information, the full report is available on the Guttmacher Institute’s website.

New report measured states’ population growth: See where NM ranks

14 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The Pew Charitable Trusts has released an insightful report on American population growth patterns, which holds significant implications for New Mexico and its policymakers.

According to the report, New Mexico’s population growth has been notably sluggish since 2008, trailing behind the national average. 

New Mexico’s growth rate has been at 0.34 percent since 2008, while states such as Arizona had a 1.13 percent growth rate and Colorado had 1.23 percent growth. New Mexico’s neighboring state of Texas, albeit classified as a southern state, saw 1.52 percent growth.  

More strikingly, when examining a 15-year span, New Mexico’s growth lags behind every state west of Kansas.

The most concerning projection from Pew is that by 2040, New Mexico is expected to experience a net population decline. Between 2030 and 2040, New Mexico’s population is projected to be -0.03 percent, declining the most among younger people ages 20-24, with a -0.27 percent rate. 

“In the 2020s, New Mexico is one of the 25 states with projected decreases in population of 25-to-64-year-olds and younger. And in the 2030s, New Mexico is one of the 40 states with a projected increase,” Pew noted.

On a national scale, The Pew Center wrote, “According to the center’s projections, growth is likely to remain tepid through 2040 with the national population forecasted to grow at about the same pace from 2020 to 2030 as the prior decade—already the slowest on record—before dropping to new lows from 2030 to 2040. In the 2020s, 31 states may face population slowdowns compared with the previous decade, and the number climbs to 45 in the next decade. The Census Bureau also projects that nationally, population growth will remain moderate at best and largely attributes that forecast to declining fertility rates combined with rising death rates as baby boomers age.”

While it is not the only state anticipated to see a population decrease, it stands out as the only state west of the Mississippi River with such a forecast.

However, this future is not inevitable. New Mexico has the potential to leverage its oil and gas revenues to implement much-needed policy reforms, as noted by the Rio Grande Foundation’s Errors of Enchantment. Such changes would require proactive measures from the state legislature.

Dem NM State Auditor Maestas has bad news for wasteful Lujan Grisham regime

16 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In the fall of last year, New Mexico Environment Department Secretary James Kenney and a division director undertook a costly trip to Australia, with taxpayers footing the bill for $30,000 for their two flights. 

This expenditure has drawn scrutiny and criticism from the state auditor, who labeled it a misuse of public funds and a breach of state regulations.

Democrat State Auditor Joseph Maestas addressed a letter to Kenney, highlighting that the trip’s expenses were inflated due to the officials upgrading their seats to business class. 

While economy class tickets would have cost approximately $2,000 each, the business class seats purchased were nearly $15,000 each, leading to a 600% increase in costs. Maestas described this as a “clear case of waste of public resources” and noted it violated state policy.

“In seeking and obtaining airfare rates at greater cost than otherwise normally allowable, NMED management inappropriately applied private business standards for travel and overrode important preventative internal controls. Specifically, NMED Out of State Travel Policy 07-04, which was last updated in 1996, requires travel be taken in a manner that optimizes NMED resources, and Department of Finance and Administration travel guidelines requires the utilization of the lowest fare available,” read Maestas’ letter.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham also attended the Asia-Pacific Hydrogen Summit in Sydney during this trip. She announced a partnership with an Australian company to establish an innovation hub in New Mexico.

Lujan Grisham has been well-known for her taxpayer-funded jet-setting across the globe, from Scotland and the Netherlands to multiple trips to Washington, D.C., funded by New Mexico taxpayers. 

Secretary Kenney did not grant an interview to KRQE but issued a statement explaining that the business class upgrade was to ensure a full and productive workday upon arrival, which was crucial for the summit’s effective participation. 

He acknowledged the need for stronger internal controls and mentioned that the Department of Finance and Administration would introduce a final travel policy for state employees soon.

“The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) upgraded to business class for extended international air travel to allow for a full and productive workday upon arrival. This was essential for effective participation in the Asia Pacific Hydrogen Summit where the Governor and NMED secured and announced a $100M investment in Albuquerque by Australian-based Star Scientific. The NMED acknowledges the need for stronger internal controls, and the Department of Finance and Administration will replace its interim travel policy with a final travel policy for state employees next month,” his statement read. 

Read State Auditor Maestas’ letter here.

Desperate to win reelection, Heinrich bathes in Wall Street cash and hypocrisy

3 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Far-left Sen. Martin Heinrich, who is campaigning for a third term this November, has criticized his Republican opponent, former hedge fund executive Nella Domenici, for her Wall Street connections. Despite this, according to Federal Election Commission filings reviewed by the Washington Examiner, Heinrich has received significant donations from financial industry political action committees and executives from private equity, hedge funds, and venture capital firms.

Over the past decade, PACs associated with major banks have contributed more than $330,000 to Heinrich’s campaign and leadership PAC. Additionally, Heinrich has accepted at least $450,000 from executives at influential firms. This includes donations from executives at top firms such as Bain Capital, Blackrock, Blackstone, Lone Pine Capital, and Schooner Capital.

This could expose Heinrich to Republicans’ accusations of hypocrisy as he campaigns against Domenici. In a recent fundraising email, Heinrich criticized Domenici for “making the ultra-wealthy wealthier,” referencing her financial disclosure that she and her husband hold up to $94 million in assets.

Domenici’s background includes working at Bridgewater Associates, Citadel, Credit Suisse, and other companies. She is also the daughter of the late former New Mexico Republican Sen. Pete Domenici.

Heinrich has made pointed remarks about Domenici on social media, suggesting that her career path to the U.S. Senate follows a history of profiting at the expense of American workers. He reiterated his stance in a fundraising email, asserting that he is “not in this fight to prop up Wall Street.”

Despite his critiques, Heinrich’s campaign continues to receive support from executives and corporate PACs, including UBS, the American Bankers Association, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo. Heinrich’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment on these donations.

A recent poll showed Domenici trailing Heinrich by only three points. However, Domenici closed this gap when respondents heard positive information about her and negative messages about Heinrich.

Poll spooks Heinrich, showing him with razor-thin lead over Domenici

NM med student brags about helping mutilate 16 people during ‘#Pride month’

19 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A New Mexico osteopathic medical student at the Burrell College of Medicine in Las Cruces, Ryan Keller, took to social media to brag about his third year of plastic surgery school where he says he and other students “performed 16 top surgeries during #Pride month,” saying it “is something I’ll never forget.” 

Keller added, “Proud of healthcare in New Mexico and proud of my new suturing (stitching) skills,” sharing pictures of the location he assists with, where body mutilation occurs. 

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, so-called “top surgery” “is surgery that removes or augments breast tissue and reshapes the nipples and chest to create a more masculine or feminine appearance.” This may include a double mastectomy for women to remove their breasts or surgically implanting silicone implants for men.

Apparently, from Keller’s bio, he is studying pediatrics-physical medicine, and rehabilitation, meaning he is potentially training to perform these “gender-affirming” plastic surgery procedures on children. 

In previous posts, Keller has touted lectures held at Burrell College, such as “Trans and Nonbinary People in Care, Special Considerations.” 

Burrell College of Medicine Campus in Las Cruces. Mac2678, Wiki Commons

He wrote of these body mutilation lectures, “Pretty proud of these initiatives and those who have helped us put them on. #LGBTQIA health education belongs in #MedEd everywhere. Thank you to these advocates and leaders for sharing your invaluable insights. We need you now and always!” 

These types of body mutilation described by Keller are supported by New Mexico legislators, who have in recent years passed measures, such as 2023’s H.B. 207 amending the Human Rights Act that states that public bodies, including schools, “cannot discriminate against a person based on a wide variety of personal characteristics. Gender identity and gender are among those factors, gender being added in several places in this bill,” per the legislation’s fiscal impact report.

Also in 2023, Democrats rammed through H.B. 7, which prohibits “public bodies from discriminating against persons based on their use or non-use of reproductive or gender-affirming care,” which can also extend to these public bodies facilitating and referring prospective patients for these body-mutilating procedures. 

The 2023 budget (H.B. 2) under the Higher Education Department (HED) included a $1,000,000 line-item “[f]or the Burrell [C]ollege of [O]steopathic [M]edicine for outreach, minority student services, and to assist with enhancing and expanding graduate medical education programs. For expenditure in fiscal years 2023 through 2026.”  Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s HED touted this spending.

Therefore, public money is directly contributing to the mutilation of people in New Mexico through its sponsorship of the school, which purportedly trains medical professionals in so-called “gender-affirming care.”  

Since the publishing of this article, Keller has attempted to wipe evidence of the so-called “gender-affirming care” by making his X account private:

New Mexico wages plummet in May after April increase

6 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The latest ADP Pay Insights report shows that the median annual wage in New Mexico declined in May.

In April 2024, the median annual wage stood at $40,000. However, in May 2024, it dropped by 1% to $39,600. Despite this recent dip, there was a 2.06% increase compared to May 2023, when the median wage was $38,800.

New Mexico’s wages have hovered around $40,000 since experiencing a decline in the spring of 2022. Unlike some neighboring states, New Mexico hasn’t witnessed sustained wage growth since the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Among its neighbors, Utah was the only state with an increase in median annual income between April and May 2024.

The ADP Pay Insights report is based on payroll data, tracking pay changes for approximately 17 million jobs over a 12-month period. This results in about 10 million monthly individual pay change observations, which are then used to compile the report.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate was 3.9% in April. North Dakota and South Dakota had the lowest unemployment rates, at 2%. New Mexico ranked 33rd in the country with an unemployment rate of 3.8%, the same as in March 2024.

New Mexico’s unemployment rate falls in the middle in the Southwestern region. States like Texas, Nevada, and California have higher unemployment rates, while Colorado, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Utah have lower rates.

New Mexico no longer safe for Democrats: Cook Political Report

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The Cook Political Report has shifted its rating of Virginia and New Mexico from “Solid Democrat” to “Likely Democrat” in its latest forecast for the 2024 election.

This adjustment comes amid Joe Biden’s ongoing struggles in polls across several states, particularly with black and Hispanic voters.

“Virginia and New Mexico are the only two states in our Solid Democrat column that Biden carried by 11 points or less in 2020,” remarked Cook Editor-in-Chief Amy Walter. “Given the current polling, they are now in the mid-single digit range and, as such, move into the Likely Democrat column.”

Walter added that while the Cook team believes these states “are at low risk of flipping to [45th President Donald] Trump, they are no longer the ‘gimmes’ a Solid Democrat rating suggests.”

If Trump were to win either state in November, he would achieve something no Republican presidential candidate has done since George W. Bush carried both states in his 2004 re-election.

Virginia, once a Republican stronghold, has consistently voted Democratic since 2008. However, recent polling indicates potential changes. Walter cited a FOX News poll showing Biden and Trump “in a dead heat” in Virginia, with both receiving 48% in a head-to-head matchup.

Trump’s unexpected competitiveness in Virginia is attributed to his rising support among black voters. While Biden still leads among black voters, his margin has significantly decreased from 81 points in 2020 to 48 points in the latest survey, with Trump increasing his share from 9% to 25%.

Walter noted, “The fact that the Biden campaign is spending as much time reaching out to Black voters as they are suggests that they too are worried about lagging support from this critical constituency.” She remained skeptical, however, that Trump would maintain his current level of support among black voters, suggesting the real danger for Biden is that many black voters may choose to stay home.

In 2020, Biden won Virginia by just over 10 points. The state has also voted Democratic in the previous three presidential elections, with Hillary Clinton carrying it by five points in 2016 and Barack Obama winning it by six points in both 2008 and 2012.

Virginia’s recent Democratic success is largely attributed to the heavily populated, deep-blue suburbs of Washington D.C. in the north. Despite this, Republicans have recently seen victories in statewide elections, with Glenn Youngkin, Winsome Sears, and Jason Miyares winning the top three statewide offices in 2021.

Regarding New Mexico, Walter mentioned that while there hasn’t been recent public polling, a well-placed Republican source indicated Biden’s lead has narrowed to around four points, reflecting similar trends in Arizona and Nevada.

Walter highlighted that “43% of New Mexico’s citizen voting-age population is Hispanic,” suggesting Biden’s challenges with this demographic could have a significant impact in the state.

Polling has consistently shown Biden underperforming in battleground states with substantial Hispanic populations. For instance, a recent New York Times/Siena poll found Trump leading Biden by 12 points among registered voters and 13 points among likely voters in Nevada, where roughly 20% of voters are Hispanic. Similarly, Trump leads in Arizona by seven points among registered voters and six points among likely voters, with Hispanic voters making up about a quarter of the electorate.

An Axios/Ipsos poll reported that from December 2021 to March 2024, Biden’s favorability among Latinos dropped 12 points, while Trump’s favorability increased by eight points. This shift has narrowed Biden’s lead among Latinos who plan to vote in November to just three points.

In 2020, Biden won New Mexico by a margin of 10.8%. The state had also voted Democratic in previous elections, with Clinton winning by eight points in 2016, Obama by 10 points in 2012, and 15 points in 2008. Bush narrowly won New Mexico in 2004, defeating John Kerry by less than one percent, as reported by Catholic Vote.

‘Most prominent’ national school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis coming to NM

7 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A leading national school choice advocate, Dr. Corey A. DeAngelis, Ph.D., is making a stop in the Land of Enchantment next Monday, June 17th, as part of the Rio Grande Foundation’s (RGF)education project, “Opportunity for All Kids NM.” 

“School choice is sweeping the nation. Arguably the most prominent national spokesperson and expert on allowing education dollars to follow students is Corey DeAngelis,” wrote RGF. DeAngelis is a visiting fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, a senior fellow at the Reason Foundation, and an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, among other accolades. 

45th President Trump wrote about DeAngelis, “Corey DeAngelis is a FIGHTER for Parental Rights. His new book, The Parent Revolution, is a great guide to help Moms and Dads take back control of their children’s education from the RADICAL MARXISTS ruining our schools. As I have long said, School Choice is the CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE of our time, and parents must have a voice in their child’s education!”

DeAngelis is the author of “The Parent Revolution: Rescuing Your Kids from the Radicals Ruining Our Schools.” The book is the #1 seller on Amazon for education funding and is a national USA Today bestseller. 

There will be talks and book signings in Albuquerque and Alamogordo. The Albuqueruqe event will be held at 12:00 p.m. at the Greater Association of Albuquerque Realtors (GAAR) located at 1635 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. The registration link is here.

The Alamogordo talk will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the Flickinger Center for Performing Arts at 1110 N New York Ave, Alamogordo, NM 88310. The registration link is here.

For a special Piñon Post reader exclusive offer, enter the code PINONPOST at checkout to receive 10% off your ticket to either event! 

NMSP Officer Hare’s suspected murderer has trial delayed

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A federal judge has postponed the trial for a Marion, North Carolina, man charged with the murder of a New Mexico State Police officer in March. U.S. District Court Judge James O. Browning granted the defense team’s request to delay the trial of Jaremy Smith by nearly a month, moving the date from June 10 to July 8.

Jaremy Smith, 33, is accused of several charges, including carjacking resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death, related to the March 15 shooting of Officer Justin Hare on Interstate 40 near Albuquerque. Smith was arrested on March 17 by Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputies in an Albuquerque neighborhood after being shot multiple times during a brief foot chase.

Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 9. Prosecutors have stated they are considering the death penalty if he is convicted. Smith’s attorneys mentioned in court documents that a “mitigation presentation” is planned for early July, which could potentially remove the death penalty from consideration. They argued that preparing for this presentation, along with the criminal trial, is overwhelming.

“There is still a great deal of work to be done, which cannot be accomplished by the current deadlines set by the court,” Smith’s attorneys stated in their motion.

On April 18, Smith pleaded not guilty to charges including carjacking resulting in death, causing death by the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, kidnapping resulting in death, and interstate transport of a stolen vehicle.

Last week, Smith’s legal team requested a delay in the trial, citing the “voluminous” evidence, which includes over 7,700 individual items.

Judge Browning, in his June 4 decision, noted, “The court finds that granting the continuance will strike a proper balance between the ends of justice and the best interests of the public.” He also mentioned that the delay was necessary as “defense counsel anticipates plea negotiations with the government will begin shortly.”

In addition to the charges related to Officer Hare’s death, Smith is facing 17 charges in connection with the death of Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore, whose body was discovered on March 15 outside Lake View in Dillon County, North Carolina.

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