News

MLG shakes down O’Reilly Auto Parts store for $80k after it allegedly defied COVID mandates

On Tuesday, it was announced by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) that the Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Administration had “settled” a dispute with an O’Reilly Auto Parts store on Airport Road in Santa Fe for allegedly not forcing employees to wear masks or display government-mandated COVID-19 signage. 

According to the release, in July, the store was cited after they were snitched-out by “several citizen complaints.” The Department “observed that management did not require employees to wear face coverings– a violation of state law, public health orders and COVIDSafe Practices.” NMED claimed that the alleged non-compliance by the store exposed “staff and customers to the imminent danger of COVID-19.” 

“The store was also cited for failing to post signage requiring customers to wear face coverings while inside the store, further endangering employees. During subsequent inspections, NMED observed store management corrected the violations,” wrote the NMED release. 

“Failure by employers to protect staff from COVID-19– a known workplace hazard – is unacceptable,” said Lujan Grisham’s NMED Cabinet Secretary James Kenney. “Employers must take their worker protection responsibility seriously or they will face robust enforcement action by the State of New Mexico.”

O’Reilly Auto Parts will pay $79,200 in penalties, says the release. The penalties will go to the state general fund, meaning the Governor and the Legislature will have access to these funds at the upcoming Legislative Session in January. Gov. Lujan Grisham’s giant $7.6 budget passed the last Legislature in 2020, which included the creation of a new state department, among other pork-filled measures.

O’Reilly being a national franchise most likely can afford to expend nearly $80,000 in fines, however, a mom and pop shop would likely be forced to close for good if faced with such steep demands.

MLG shakes down O’Reilly Auto Parts store for $80k after it allegedly defied COVID mandates Read More »

Egolf says 2021 Legislature to be ‘100% virtual to the public,’ dealing a blow to rural NM

On Monday, Speaker of the New Mexico House Brian Egolf confirmed to KRQE News 13 that the 2021 Legislative Session will be “100% virtual for the public,” meaning the “Roundhouse will be closed to the public.” 

Previously, legislators were discussing utilizing the Santa Fe Convention Center to accommodate “social distancing,” however, that appears not to be the case, according to one report.  

“Speaker Egolf said they will be expanding the use of Zoom so people can participate remotely in the session. They will even have closed captioning for people hard of hearing,” said the report

The move to go 100% virtual, however, will be the final call of the Legislative Council, but Egolf appears to have the votes.

Republican legislators responded to the news that was delivered to them via tweet, instead of the Speaker letting them know any other way. Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-Catron, Socorro & Valencia Counties) wrote on Twitter, “So much for transparency!” 

Rep.-elect Stefani Lord (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval & Santa Fe Counties) wrote to her followers, “If you don’t have internet.  If you have a spotty internet connection. If you don’t know how to use ZOOM, well, your voice won’t be heard this year at the roundhouse.  P.S. I can’t believe I learned about this on Twitter.  Shouldn’t the speaker let the legislators know?” 

The upcoming Legislature will be 60 days long and many hot-button issues including an abortion up-to-birth bill, recreational marijuana legalization, anti-gun bills, and other previously defeated legislation from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham are expected to be discussed. The move to go 100% virtual may hamper access to those who live in rural communities without access to a reliable internet connection, among many others. 

Speaker Brian Egolf can be contacted via email at this address brian.egolf@nmlegis.gov.

Egolf says 2021 Legislature to be ‘100% virtual to the public,’ dealing a blow to rural NM Read More »

KOB 4 News reports wrong name of newly sworn-in U.S. rep.

On Sunday, liberal media outlet KOB 4 reported the incorrect new U.S. representative being sworn into the 117th Congress from the Third District. 

During the evening newscast, Kai Porter, a reporter for the station, reported that “Alexis Martinez Johnson (D)” was sworn in, despite Teresa Leger-Fernandez (D) being sworn in instead. Martinez Johnson was the Republican nominee in the Third District, who is not a Democrat.

Watch the clip below:

The actual new representative posted on her Twitter account, “What a joy to get to share this day with my sons Dario, Alisandro, and Abelino. They made calls, marched in parades, put up signs, and supported me each step of the way – and today they saw their mom sworn in to Congress.” 

Alexis Martinez Johnson responded to the flub my KOB, writing in a statement, “I ran over a yearlong campaign as the Republican candidate for U.S. Congress and feel it is important that the media, specifically in this case KOB, clarifies this fact to not confuse the public. It is also important that the 3rdCongressional District knows who in fact is their current congressional representative.” 

KOB 4 News reports wrong name of newly sworn-in U.S. rep. Read More »

New Mexico patriots holding three-day rally for President Trump at Roundhouse

On Monday through Wednesday, New Mexico patriots will be rallying in support of President Donald J. Trump at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, aligning with nationwide protests against the certification of former Vice President Joe Biden’s alleged illegitimate presidential victory. 

According to posts about the event, patriots will be meeting at Placitas Exit 242 in Bernalillo at 10:00 a.m. on January 6th and riding into Santa Fe to support the 45th President. 

The protests in Santa Fe will occur Monday through Wednesday at 12:00 noon, with people from all across the state coming up to rally for Trump.

On January 6th, members of Congress will vote on the certification of the election results despite credible allegations and evidence of widespread Democrat fraud in multiple battleground states, including New Mexico. The state’s newly sworn-in Republican Congresswoman Yvette Herrell from the Second District will object to the certification of the vote. At least 140 members of the House and 12 members of the Senate will also plan on objecting. 

More information on sponsors and other details can be found in the below tweet:

Over the weekend, a patriot protest in support of President Trump at the Roundhouse was met by State Police telling Trump supporters to follow the Governor’s “mandates” to “social distance.” Police officers circled the block regularly to check-in on the peaceful protest for the President and against Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s lockdowns. 

New Mexico patriots holding three-day rally for President Trump at Roundhouse Read More »

Yvette Herrell sworn in as Congresswoman for NM’s 2nd District

On Sunday, Republican Congresswoman Yvette Herrell was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for New Mexico’s Second District after she beat one-term Democrat Rep. Xochitl Torres Small by around 20,000 votes. Torres Small allegedly was aided by voting irregularities in her win over Herrell in 2018.

Herrell wore a white chequered dress while she showed her constituents her new House office before being sworn-in to the 117th Congress. She wrote, “Excited and blessed to join the 117th Congress later today.” 

Herrell, who has committed to voting against the alleged illegitimate election of former Vice President Joe Biden as president, cast one of her first votes in the House against Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s re-election to the post, casting her vote for Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy instead.

She wrote, “We don’t need Nancy Pelosi’s socialist agenda. Today I cast my vote for [McCarthy] instead.” 

Yvette Herrell sworn in as Congresswoman for NM’s 2nd District Read More »

Mainstream media tries to victimize hostile man tased by Park Ranger—bodycam shows full story

On Sunday, a man named Darrell House was walking off the trail at Petroglyph National Park with his dog and sister. A Park Ranger later tased him for being belligerent and refusing to identify himself despite being asked multiple times to cooperate. House’s video, which he and his sister recorded, was taken out-of-context by liberal outlets to victimize him. However, the bodycam footage shows the full story that differs from the one House tried to portray.

Despite the Park Ranger being patient with House and giving him multiple chances to get back on the path, as seen in the video leading up to the incident, House did not cooperate with him.

“You guys gotta stay on the trail, all right,” said the Park Ranger, adding, “And then also — sorry, I’m out of breath, I was trying to haul to keep up with you guys. When you’re up along the rocks and all that, that’s super sacred to the tribes — they don’t want anyone up there.”

“It’s also really, really important not to have pets off the trail as well, okay? So, even like right here, we’re not on the trail. We really should be along the fenced-in trail area,” the Ranger continued. “Do you guys have ID’s with you? I don’t intend on writing any–.” 

Then House started walking away and ignoring the Ranger, to which he had to inform House that he was “not free to go right now — hold on. Hold on. Hold on…. Hey, bud, listen, you are not free — do not do it like this. Okay? Please don’t be like that. This is just a simple contact that is honestly, a warning. I don’t expect it to be more than that, okay?” 

After House refused to identify himself, the Park Ranger notified him that he was “refusing a lawful order,” and according to his protocol, he had to detain House until he could be ID’d. House continued walking away from the Ranger, while he was asked to give his sister the dog. 

“My dog ain’t going anywhere,” House repeated multiple times. 

“Okay, here’s what I need you to do — stop right now, sir. Stop walking. Stop walking or you may be tased. Stop walking…. Put the dog down right now. Put the dog down right now,” said the Ranger. After politely telling House to put the dog down, again and again, the man became hostile, screaming, “Help! Help! Help!” He was tased and the officer politely told House to show him his hands. Upon refusal after telling him repeatedly to show his hands, the Ranger was forced to tase House again. 

Unfortunately, the mainstream media refused to add the context of House being belligerent toward the officer, in an apparent attempt to victimize House as innocent, despite his refusal to follow the requests of the Park Ranger. 

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller’s social justice project, the “Office of Equity and Inclusion,” appeared to side with House, writing, “Like many of you, we have seen the disturbing video of the tasing at Petroglyph National Monument, an area policed by the National Park Service. We reached out to NPS directly, and understand that the events are under investigation — one we expect to be thorough, transparent, and speedy.” 

New Mexico’s far-left Sen. Martin Heinrich took House’s side as well, writing on Twitter, “I am shocked by the video of a National Park Service ranger tasing Darrell House at Petroglyph National Monument on Sunday….This landscape is sacred to Tribes and holds deep meaning for the people of New Mexico. Everyone should feel safe and welcome on our public lands.”

Other socialist members of Congress showed their outrage at the out-of-context video, including far-left Representative-elect Cori Bush (D-MO), an Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed candidate.

Darrell House wrote on Instagram, “I didn’t feel I needed to identify myself for doing absolutely nothing wrong. I’m traumatized. My left leg is numb and still bleeding. Geronimo is shaking and hasn’t stopped. I’m shaking.” However, the National Park Service’s bodycam footage shows that he did many things wrong by not following simple requests.

House and his sister were cited by the National Park Service for being in a closed area off-trail, providing false information, and failing to comply with a lawful order.

Mainstream media tries to victimize hostile man tased by Park Ranger—bodycam shows full story Read More »

‘What are you hiding?’: Toulouse Oliver refuses Trump Campaign’s request for election records

On Thursday, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver refused a request by the Trump Campaign seeking election records, as required by law through an Inspection of Public Records Request (IPRA). 

According to a press release from the New Mexico Republican Party (RPNM), the Secretary of State’s Office said it would respond to the request on or before December 30, 2020. “That hasn’t happened, and now the state has suddenly informed the Trump Team that it will change its response date to January 14, 2021, eight days after Congress meets. The state also told the Trump Team “We deem your request excessively burdensome and broad,” says RPNM.

RPNM Chairman and former Congressman Steve Pearce said, “The Secretary of State’s move is a deliberate effort to keep any evidence of potential election issues from the Trump Campaign until after Congress certifies the Electoral College vote on January 6,” says Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce. “Again, the Secretary of State is partisan and defiant in refusing to uphold and oversee election integrity. She just makes up her rules. There’s no transparency of government here.”

The press release continues: 

“Again, the Secretary of State will not come clean, and it makes one wonder if there are things she doesn’t want to come out,” says Pearce. “It possibly suggests there might have been anomalies or questionable practices that might have occurred in New Mexico’s presidential election.”

The Trump Campaign wants to look at election records to see if there was something rotten in the state of New Mexico, but the state’s top election officer appears to be hiding it.   

It is not an unreasonable question for many to ask the Secretary of State what she may be hiding by delaying and denying the Trump Campaign’s requests for information if there is nothing to hide. Secretary of State Toulouse Oliver has been hostile toward pro-Trump organizations in the past and had a town hall with vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris. 

Read more about election fraud in New Mexico by reading our article on it here. More information about Dominion Voting Systems machines in New Mexico can be found here.

‘What are you hiding?’: Toulouse Oliver refuses Trump Campaign’s request for election records Read More »

The most read Piñon Post stories of 2020

2020 has been a crazy year for most of us, with its ups and downs. Through it all, the Piñon Post has worked day and night to provide New Mexicans with quality, fact-based reporting so that readers can see the full story while not having to sludge through the liberal media spin. As demonstrated by our most popular articles, we have been on the forefront as the only online media source holding the far-left, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, accountable and standing up for conservative voices across our state. Here are the most read stories of 2020:

‘Mom and pop’ shops selling necessary goods served with cease and desist orders by Gov. MLG

Trump’s approval among Hispanic and Latino New Mexicans has skyrocketed since taking office

MLG follows satanic cult leader on Twitter but does not follow Joe Biden

FALSE: MLG’s office claims lines of people waiting outside of grocery stores just GOP ‘talking points’

Democrat NM Rep: ‘Who said the shut down was only supposed to be temporary?’

Report: MLG-endorsed NM House candidate and ‘CNN hero’ appears to have past as porn actor

ProgressNow NM proudly endorses NM domestic terrorist group ‘Antifa’ doxxing fellow citizens

Leftists horrified as hundreds of patriotic ‘Reopen NM’ demonstrators rally at ABQ’s Civic Plaza

Unknown suspect shoots Trump supporters’ horse in possible politically charged attack

After backlash, ABQ City Council drops bill jailing people for non-compliance with COVID mandates

State senator who defended anti-Police rioters now begging for Police protection after getting hate mail

Police nowhere to be found as anarchists topple downtown Santa Fe obelisk

MLG has hissy fit on Twitter after Pelosi refuses to negotiate with Trump on COVID-19 relief

Dems eat Torres Small alive after she throws Biden under the bus in attempt to salvage political career

Gov. MLG threatens new lockdown if New Mexicans don’t wear masks in their own homes

SF jewelry shop posts pic of MLG with ‘new’ bling — quickly deletes, claiming photo was from 2019

MLG slams 29 out of 33 NM sheriffs — says they’re peddling ‘false information’ about gun control

Trump Campaign official says up to 180k ballots in question in New Mexico

Ben Ray distances himself from MLG, denies that they are related

Sizeable pro-Trump crowd counter-protests tiny Rio Rancho BLM demonstration

MLG’s comms. director says resistance to Governor just exists in ‘angsty corners of social media’

Did Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham go to Hawaii?

(Not actual photograph of Gov. Lujan Grisham in Hawaii. Photograph has been altered from its original form).

Report: New Mexico gave Dominion Voting Systems $52 million

MLG berates anti-maskers, says State Police will cite sheriffs ‘breaking ranks’ with her mandates

ABQ gun store owner Louie Sanchez fights back against Gov. MLG’s cease and desist order

Why did MLG ‘apologize’ for belittling Española but she refuses to stop ridiculing Hobbs?

Piñon Post editor sends letter to Congress urging them to deny MLG’s request for federal bailout

Millionaire NM House Speaker Egolf owes $10k in back taxes while taking $350k in CARES Act funds

It has been an honor to provide New Mexicans from all across this great state with critical stories to help turn this state around. If you would like to make an end-of-year gift to the Piñon Post to continue our work, you can do that below:

The most read Piñon Post stories of 2020 Read More »

Rep.-elect Yvette Herrell to vote against Biden’s alleged fraudulent victory—NM Dems triggered

On Wednesday, Fox News, an increasingly irrelevant cable news station, reported that Congresswoman-Elect Yvette Herrell from New Mexico’s Second Congressional District will join other conservative Republican representatives, led by Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL), in voting not to certify Joe Biden’s alleged fraudulent “victory” in the presidential race. 

According to Fox News: 

GOP Reps.-elect Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, Burgess Owens of Utah, Yvette Herrell of New Mexico, Dr. Ronny Jackson of Texas, Bob Good of Virginia, Jerry Carl of Alabama and Andrew Clyde of Georgia will be supporting Brooks’ effort, for a total of at least 10 incoming reps, Fox News has confirmed. This does not include current members who have said they will also object, like Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga.

Shortly after the news hit, the New Mexico Democrat Party, which suffered a crippling defeat with Herrell’s victory, claimed that Herrell was putting her “personal politics before the voters’ decision” in a statement to the Santa Fe New Mexican. 

“It is grossly irresponsible for an incoming congresswoman to be spreading dangerous misinformation about the recent election. It undermines the legitimate democratic process,” Democratic Party Chairwoman Marg Elliston said in a statement. “Southern New Mexicans deserve a congresswoman who will focus on meeting their needs, instead of putting her beliefs ahead of theirs.”

However, President Donald J. Trump won the Second District in 2016 and again in 2020 by comfortable margins, and the credible allegations of widespread fraud in the election show that the will of the American people did make their choice known–meaning Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were not legitimately elected to the White House, according to credible evidence. 

The Piñon Post has compiled an arsenal of information on election fraud from years’ past and during this election cycle in New Mexico, where it has been uncovered that Democrats admitted to ballot harvesting and other sketchy vote collecting practices. In 2018, Yvette Herrell “lost” to Democrat Xochitl Torres Small by the thinnest of margins, and a subsequent audit found signs of widespread fraud

Congress votes on January 6th for the certification of the presidential election, and many Republicans in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate plan to object to alleged illegitimately elected Joe Biden. 

Rep.-elect Yvette Herrell to vote against Biden’s alleged fraudulent victory—NM Dems triggered Read More »

Legacy and Calvary churches must resist Gov. Lujan Grisham’s tyranny

Over the weekend and on Monday, liberal media outlets like the Albuquerque Journal, KRQE News 13, and KOAT 7 News all blasted Calvary and Legacy churches in Albuquerque for holding Christmas Eve services to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, allegedly in non-compliance with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s strict 25% capacity limit on churches.

Despite the large churches minding their own business in the practice of worship, that was not good enough for the liberal mainstream media and Gov. Lujan Grisham, who could not stand the thought of free Americans using their First Amendment rights to proclaim the birth of Christ. So, after the press amplified politically motivated liberal voices who claimed the churches were putting health at risk, the Governor’s Health Department slapped the churches with hefty $5,000 fines. 

The Department said that in addition to the $5,000 fine, “other remedies against the same conduct” would be taken “as allowed by state statute.”

The Governor’s pompous communications director Tripp Stelicki–who condescended New Mexicans repeatedly–gave a statement to the Albuquerque Journal, mercilessly bashing Legacy and Calvary churches for their “illegal and selfish gatherings,” saying they “will directly contribute to more suffering and illness in our state.”

Here’s what the Journal reported:

Tripp Stelnicki, a spokesman for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, said the parishioners and leaders of the two churches violated both the state’s public health order “and common sense.”

“They endangered the lives livelihoods and health of not only their parishioners but their entire communities — and given how quickly this virus can spread, potentially our state as a whole.”

Stelnicki went on to say that while all New Mexicans wish that the pandemic was over, it clearly is not and no pastor “may deem it so.”

“These church leaders should reflect on the danger they’ve unleashed in their communities,” he said.

The First Amendment comes first for a reason, and the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled in favor of religious institutions and against tyrannical edicts given from on-high by power-hungry tyrants like Lujan Grisham. “Even in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten,” wrote the Court’s conservative majority in one case’s opinion.

Those words must ring true to Calvary and Legacy churches’ leadership now more than ever. Standing up for what is right may not always be easy, but both churches may be surprised at how many patriots from across our great state are willing to stand with them as they go into battle for New Mexicans’ rights. 

Legacy Church released a strong statement following criticism, saying, “We have taken the pandemic seriously from the start, and have prudent measures in place. But when governments exceed their constitutional authority and contradict what we are called on by God to do, we answer first to His authority.”

According to Calvary’s chief Pastoral Officer, Neil Oritz, he said that the church “experienced a significant attendance on one of the most celebrated and sacred days of our Christian faith.” In response to the large turnout, the church “chose not to break fellowship with any worshiper by requiring them to leave the gathering of their church family.”

“We do care about people’s physical health, and we take great precautions,” he said. “… At the same time, we believe that people can be responsible adults and make their own choices about their life and health and that of their families.”

If these churches choose not to buckle to Gov. Lujan Grisham’s tyranny, I and many readers of the Piñon Post would be the first people to donate to their legal funds in the fight for our Constitutional freedoms.

Take heed in the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the fight ahead: 

“One may well ask: ‘How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?’ The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that ‘an unjust law is no law at all.’”

I urge as many New Mexicans as possible to email Calvary Church with words of encouragement by visiting their online form linked here. Legacy Church can be reached via email at this address: info@legacychurchnm.com. Please leave your name and phone number when contacting these churches so they may reach you better.

Legacy and Calvary churches must resist Gov. Lujan Grisham’s tyranny Read More »

Scroll to Top