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U.S. News report reveals New Mexico’s decline to second-worst state

29 Comments / New Mexico, News / By

Despite improved rankings in fiscal stability, natural environment, and opportunity, New Mexico remains near the bottom of U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best States rankings. 

The state was ranked 49th overall, just above Louisiana, slipping from 47th in the previous year’s report to 48th in 2021.

The Best States report draws on thousands of data points in 71 metrics over the last three years, mainly sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal data. 

These metrics are organized into eight key categories: health care, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and corrections, and natural environment.

New Mexico showed strong performance in some areas, ranking 32nd overall in natural environment, primarily due to being fourth in the nation for low pollution levels. However, air and water quality issues dragged this score down, leaving the state 47th in that subcategory. 

The state’s opportunity ranking stood at 40th, but its affordability was a strong point, with a cost-of-living index nine points below the national average.

Education and crime/corrections were the state’s biggest challenges. Despite being 21st in higher education, New Mexico was last in Pre-K-12 education. While the state was eighth in corrections outcomes, it also ranked last in public safety. 

Healthcare and education were the most heavily weighted categories, contributing nearly 16% each to the final score.

The report ranked Utah as the best state, with strong showings in seven out of the eight categories, followed by Washington, Idaho, Nebraska, and Minnesota. 

The bottom five were West Virginia, New Mexico, Mississippi, Alaska, and Louisiana.

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Early voting for New Mexico’s June primary election begins Tuesday

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Early voting for the June 4th primary election in New Mexico starts tomorrow, May 7th, 2024. Registered voters can cast their ballots at the County Clerk’s office beginning on May 7th, with additional early voting locations opening up on May 18th. 

All early voting locations will close on June 1st, and Election Day polling stations will be open on June 4th from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

If you’re unsure of your registration status or need to register for the first time, you can check or update your voter registration online via New Mexico’s voter portal. 

Same-day registration will also be available at every polling location statewide on Election Day. 

For those who won’t be able to make it to the polls to vote, requesting an absentee ballot as early as possible and returning it promptly to avoid postal delays is advisable. You should hand-deliver your ballot to the County Clerk’s Office to ensure it gets in the proper hands. If there is no other option, it can also be mailed.

In-person voting locations for early and Election Day voting can be found through the New Mexico Secretary of State’s voter portal linked here, along with specific information on districts and sample ballots. 

Remember that New Mexico conducts closed partisan primaries, so voters registered with a political party can only vote in that party’s primary. 

Further details on primary election protocols, including mail-in ballots and FAQs, can be found on the New Mexico Secretary of State’s website and your county clerk’s office simply by putting “X County Clerk” in the search engine of your choice.

Voting in the primary is vital to ensure the strongest and most qualified candidates get elected to office across the board, and voting early is helpful, especially if you are unsure if you’ll be in-town or available on Election Day.

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Dueling op-eds debate NM’s Senate race: Career politician or outsider?

20 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The upcoming U.S. Senate race in New Mexico has sparked intense debate, encapsulated by two dueling op-eds in the Albuquerque Journal from state representatives Gail Chasey and Jim Townsend. Both pieces reflect deep partisan divides and sharply different perceptions of the candidates, incumbent Democrat Sen. Martin Heinrich and Republican challenger Nella Domenici.

State Rep. Gail Chasey, a far-left Albuquerque Democrat, bends over backwards to prop up Sen. Heinrich’s record in a passionate piece. Chasey highlights Heinrich’s dedication to New Mexico, stating he “knows every nook and cranny of New Mexico” and has a track record of delivering “billions of dollars in federal investments,” despite Heinrich’s primary residence being in Maryland and every U.S. congressional representative and senator bringing money to the state. 

She praises his efforts in securing funding for infrastructure projects across the state, including water and sewer lines in Chama and a mental health clinic in Santa Teresa. Chasey asserts, “Heinrich’s ability to navigate the complexities of federal funding mechanisms and deliver concrete results demonstrates his effectiveness as a leader who puts the needs of New Mexicans first.”

Chasey contrasts Heinrich’s supposed extensive experience in Washington, D.C. with what she claims is Domenici’s lack thereof, arguing that Domenici, despite her impressive decades-long business background, “lacks a substantive record of public service, tangible accomplishments, or even a cursory knowledge of the state.” That could, very well, be the point of Domenici’s run — not being a career politician or Santa Fe/Washington, D.C. insider. 

On the flip side, State Rep. Jim Townsend, a Republican from Artesia, offers a starkly different view. He reminisces about Nella’s father, the late Sen. Pete Domenici, and criticizes Heinrich’s approach to governance by stating, “Martin Heinrich is no Pete Domenici.” Townsend accuses Heinrich of being “hands-off” in his responses to crises, notably in managing the aftermath of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfires, which he says led to “chaos, misery, and delay.”

Townsend praises Nella Domenici’s proactive approach, noting her quick action to meet with wildfire victims and her proposals for remediation. He commends her understanding of New Mexico’s energy needs, stating she, like her father, recognizes the importance of both traditional and renewable energy sources. Townsend criticizes Heinrich’s extreme focus on green energy as neglectful of the practical energy needs and economic realities of New Mexico.

Both op-eds vividly illustrate the high stakes and the sharp ideological contrasts at play in this Senate race. Chasey’s endorsement of Heinrich contrasts with Townsend’s portrayal of Domenici as a fresh, practical voice echoing her father’s legacy while bringing a new, amplified voice for New Mexico to the U.S. Senate.

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Amazon expands its New Mexico footprint

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News / By

Amazon.com Inc., the e-commerce powerhouse based in Seattle and founded by Albuquerque native Jeff Bezos, has expanded its footprint in New Mexico by acquiring approximately 16.5 acres of land in Farmington. The transaction was completed on March 14, with records from the San Juan County Assessor’s Office confirming the purchase from Cummins Rocky Mountain LLC. The acquired land is located at 160 S. Browning Pkwy., just south of Burnham Road, near key local facilities like the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter and the San Juan Veterinary Hospital. The property is valued at just under $700,000.

This acquisition adds to Amazon’s significant presence in New Mexico, where the company already operates two fulfillment and sortation centers—one in Los Lunas and another in West Albuquerque—along with four delivery stations. Collectively, these facilities employ over 3,000 people across the state. According to a 2023 economic impact study conducted by Keystone Strategy, Amazon’s investments in New Mexico have surpassed $1.1 billion, not counting the potential development of a new facility in Farmington.

In response to inquiries about this new land purchase, a spokesperson for Amazon stated to Albuquerque Business First via email, “Amazon does not comment on land purchases or leases.”

The company also recently announced its plans to establish a “last mile” facility in Grand Junction, Colorado, further expanding its regional logistical network.

Farmington city manager Robert “Rob” Mayes expressed enthusiasm about Amazon’s decision to invest in the area. “It’s meaningful that a company as astute as Amazon sees a bright economic future for the city of Farmington,” he remarked.

This new development is part of a broader surge in economic activity in northwest New Mexico. For instance, in July 2023, D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, based in New York City, revealed plans for a 300-megawatt solar and battery storage facility near the now-retired San Juan Generating Station. Additionally, in January, the New Mexico Economic Development Department highlighted a notable acquisition involving Calgon Carbon Corp., a water treatment product manufacturer from Pittsburgh, and two local firms.

Amazon’s broader business momentum continues to be strong, as evidenced by a recent earnings report from its cloud division, Amazon Web Services, which showcased a record profit margin. According to MarketWatch, this news contributed to a late surge in Amazon’s stock, which closed at $184.72 on Thursday.

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Lujan Grisham regime hands nearly half a million dollars to UPS

18 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In an era where politicians are quick to allocate public funds towards their own agendas, often without regard to efficacy, an interesting development has emerged in the realm of electric vehicle (EV) adoption by major delivery companies like FedEx and UPS. According to a recent Reuters report, as noted by Errors of Enchantment, these companies face significant hurdles in transitioning to green vehicles, primarily due to battery shortages and high EV prices, compounded by the financial struggles of startup electric van manufacturers.

Luke Wake, the vice president of fleet maintenance and engineering at UPS, expressed skepticism about the future landscape of these businesses, asking, “The question is how many of those (companies) will be here in five years, 10 years?”

Amid these uncertainties, an April 30 report from KRQE 13 highlights an initiative by far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s New Mexico Environment Department, which has allocated over $473,000 in grant money to UPS. This funding is intended for the replacement of 16 aging delivery vehicles with newer, presumably more “environmentally friendly” models.

“At UPS, we believe in contributing positively to the communities in which we live and work. With over 18,000 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles in our fleet, we are proud to collaborate with the New Mexico Environment Department to increase our number of renewable natural gas vehicles and make a difference on the road,” Ryan Bankerd, UPS Corporate Affairs director of sustainability, wrote in a press release. 

While delivery vehicles are arguably more suitable for EV technology compared to personal cars due to their routine city routes and regular return to a home charging station, the current challenges of battery shortages and an unstable supply chain raise concerns. These issues highlight the risks associated with relying on EVs for consistent delivery services.

Moreover, the decision to grant a substantial sum to UPS, a highly profitable corporation, sparks further debate. Per UPS, in 2023, it had an “[o]perating profit of $9.1 billion; adjusted operating profit of $9.9 billion.”

This situation begs the question of whether such financial support from taxpayer money should be cause for concern, particularly among those on the political left who typically advocate for responsible and equitable government spending.

Furthermore, this raises an additional query about whether FedEx will also receive similar support from New Mexico for its “green” vehicle initiatives, or if this assistance will remain exclusive to UPS. Such decisions are pivotal, especially in light of the potential implications they carry for the sustainability and efficiency of large-scale corporate transitions to environmentally friendly technologies.
Read more about it at Errors of Enchantment.

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Anti-Israel protest at Kirtland forces closure of school, disrupts businesses

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Early Thursday morning, activists converged on the streets leading to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, causing significant disruptions as they fruitlessly protested the U.S. Government’s support for Israel. The protest, which started around 6:30 a.m., blocked the main entrance at Louisiana and Gibson, leading to considerable traffic backups and compelling the Albuquerque Police Department to shut down traffic in the vicinity.

A protester at the scene shared their motivations with the media, stating, “I think it’s complicated to say that this is a frontline, but, for me, it’s… it’s impossible to sit by and to be inactive, and to live a comfortable life as if I don’t know what’s happening.” The extremists remained until approximately 1:30 p.m. before dispersing voluntarily.

The protest’s location is strategic, given Kirtland Air Force Base’s significance in military and federal operations. The base, one of the largest employers in Albuquerque, houses several defense and research facilities. Although the temporary closure of the Louisiana gate did not affect base operations, it highlighted the potential future impact such annoyances can have on national security.

The blockade’s effects extended beyond the base. Wherry Elementary School, located nearby, was forced to switch to online learning for the day. A teacher from the school expressed concerns to KRQE News 13, noting that the protest had not only disrupted educational activities but had also hindered food access for students and interrupted some testing processes.

Local businesses also felt the impact of the protest. An employee from Family Appliances, located in the vicinity, described the challenges faced due to the disruption. They told KRQE News 13, “It really slowed us down, it’s just due to the fact that our techs weren’t even able to come in, so they weren’t even to fix, like, to do like, repairs on our appliances, it was like, it was pretty bad.” The employee chose to remain anonymous for privacy reasons.

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Democrat state senator makes shock retirement announcement

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State Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill of Silver City has decided not to pursue re-election, opening up a potential opportunity for a shift in party control of her legislative seat. 

Correa Hemphill, a far-left Democrat, announced her decision not to seek a second term in a news release, expressing a desire to explore new career opportunities.

Correa Hemphill noted her significant legislative contributions since her election in 2021, stating, “…after careful consideration and a lot of deliberation I have decided not to run in the general election so I can explore new career opportunities.” Although she will remain on the ballot for the upcoming Democrat primary on June 4, she plans to withdraw before the general election on November 5, where all seats in the statehouse will be contested.

State Sen. Siah Correah Hemphill (D-Silver City)

Reflecting on her time in office, she added, “I look forward to continuing our work together to support the needs of our community and state, [which] I love so dearly and has been home to my family for hundreds of years.”

Representing Senate District 28, which includes all of Hidalgo County and parts of Grant and Luna counties, Correa Hemphill initially won the seat in a surprising victory over then-incumbent Gabriel Ramos, who was a moderate Democrat at the time. 

Ramos lost in the Democratic primaries as part of a broader wave of defeats for less progressive incumbents in 2020, driven mostly by the radical far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and her so-called “progressive” ally organizations.

Ramos left the Democrat Party and is running again for the state Senate seat.

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New Mexico once again tops national rankings, this time for drugs

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As National Prevention Week approaches, the personal finance website WalletHub has released a comprehensive report identifying the states with the most severe drug problems. This timely study aims to spotlight the regions most impacted by drug addiction, leveraging data from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, analyzed across 20 critical metrics.

The metrics include a range of indicators from arrest and overdose rates to opioid prescriptions and the prevalence of employee drug testing laws. New Mexico emerged as a focal point in this study, ranking as the state with the largest drug-related challenges.

Here are some notable findings from the report regarding New Mexico:

  • New Mexico ranks first in the percentage of teenagers who reported using illicit drugs in the past month.
  • It comes in third for the percentage of adults who admitted to using illicit drugs over the same period.
  • The state is ranked seventh in drug overdose deaths per capita.
  • New Mexico is second in terms of adults who were unable to access treatment for illicit drug use in the past year.
  • It holds the eighth position for the number of substance abuse treatment facilities per 100,000 people aged 12 and older who use illicit drugs.

“New Mexico has the biggest drug problem in the U.S., especially when it comes to teenagers. The state has the highest percentage of teens using illicit drugs, and the highest share of teenagers who report having tried marijuana before age 13,” said WalletHub Analyst Cassandra Happe. 

“New Mexico has the third-highest share of adults who use illicit drugs, as well. In addition, New Mexico has a large number of drug overdose deaths per capita, and that rate is growing faster than in most other states.”

As a border state, the border crisis and the massive flow of fentanyl have no doubt contributed to the exacerbated issue that is plaguing communities across all 33 counties.

The full report, which provides a deeper dive into these issues, is available on WalletHub’s website. 

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16 arrested after barricades, graffiti, and NMSP intervention at UNM protest

26 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Across the country, university campuses have become epicenters for anti-Israel demonstrations, with activists calling for institutions to sever all affiliations with companies and organizations that back the Israeli government amid its ongoing conflicts. These demonstrations have led to blockades and occupations of university buildings, prompting some schools to transition to online classes and even cancel graduation ceremonies.

On April 29, 2024, the University of New Mexico (UNM) experienced significant disruptions when over 100 anti-Israel activists gathered. They conducted workshops on protest tactics at the university’s Duck Pond and raised funds via social media to support their day-long occupation of the campus. The activists later occupied the Student Union Building (SUB), where they set up tents and chanted, clearly intending to stay for an extended period.

A poignant moment captured on social media depicted a student, surrounded by protesters in the SUB, desperately pleading for quiet to study, his words drowned out by the chants. This scene, amidst the chaos, resonates with the struggle of maintaining academic focus in such disruptive circumstances. Interestingly, the equipment used by the protesters was sourced from companies with pro-Israel affiliations, a stark irony given the protesters’ cause, as these companies are the primary manufacturers of such materials, with no comparable pro-Palestine firms found.

Following the occupation, UNM issued a LoboAlert advising the community to avoid the SUB area and announced its closure. As protesters built barricades inside the SUB, the UNM Regents requested assistance from the New Mexico State Police to clear the building. The confrontation concluded in the early hours of April 30, 2024, with state police arresting 16 people after a brief skirmish.

Cinnamon Blair, UNM’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, remarked on the university’s planned response, “We’ll follow our normal processes regarding violations of the student code of conduct, which are handled by the Dean of Students. This includes investigating allegations and any discipline.” The arrested protesters were charged with criminal trespass and wrongful use of public property, both misdemeanor offenses. A legal fund to assist the protesters has been established.

Those arrested include Emery Schmidt, 33, of Albuquerque; Stephanie Mendoza, 32, of Brush Prairie, Washington; Sophia Ellis-Young, 23, of Albuquerque; Alexander Schlesinger, 27, of Albuquerque; Hope Alvarado, 28, of Albuquerque; Naomi Meiseles, 22, a UNM undergraduate student; Athenx Lindlan, 39, of Albuquerque; Isabel Spafford, 25, of Albuquerque; Devin Ray, 22, of Albuquerque; Abbey Myrick, 36, a UNM graduate student from Placitas; Abigail Merhege, 19, a Regent’s Scholar at the UNM Honors College and UNMH Department of Pathology employee; Nicholas Martin, 21, a UNM undergraduate from Los Alamos; Anton Oliver Becker-Stumpf, 21, of Albuquerque; Samantha Hughes-Hobbs, 35, of Albuquerque; Cassidy Boe, 28, a graduate assistant at UNM, of Albuquerque; and Dakota Steele, 22, of Albuquerque.

No charges have been filed regarding the SUB’s vandalism, including graffiti and furniture damage, although assessments suggest that the damages may exceed felony levels. With the SUB closed indefinitely during a critical period like Finals Week, the impact on student activities is considerable.

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Lujan Grisham’s PED proposes burdensome school lunch changes

20 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) is seeking public feedback on a newly proposed regulation overhauling the state’s school lunch program. This initiative comes amid concerns about the quality and consumption of the meals provided under the existing program, which has been promoted as providing free lunches to students, though funded by taxpayers.

The proposed changes, open for comment until May 29, 2024, include ambitious requirements for school districts categorized under “level 1” and “level 2”. For “level 1” districts, the proposal mandates that half of all meals must be freshly prepared in an onsite kitchen. Additionally, schools are expected to offer at least three items weekly from local farms, ranches, or food businesses. 

A significant shift toward local sourcing includes directives for no less than fifty percent of schools within a school food authority to either grow food on campus or provide educational resources promoting locally sourced nutrition.

The proposal also highlights a focus on sustainability, requiring at least fifty percent of schools in a school food authority to implement composting programs. This aspect of the proposal aims to address waste management but raises concerns about practical challenges, such as space constraints in urban settings and the inherent risks of composting in arid regions like New Mexico.

Critics of the proposal argue that while some components are beneficial, the overall regulation could impose undue burdens on school districts, potentially leading to massive costs and logistical challenges. Questions are being raised about the feasibility of schools growing their own food, the adequacy of safety measures for food preparation, and the management of composting programs.

Feedback on the proposed changes can be sent to the New Mexico PED via email at Rule.Feedback@ped.nm.gov or through mail to the Policy and Legislative Affairs Division at the specified address in Santa Fe.

This proposal comes at a time when New Mexico schools face broader educational challenges, being ranked 52nd nationally on the NAEP assessments. The debate over these proposed changes highlights the balance policymakers must achieve between innovative nutrition education and the practicalities of implementation in diverse school settings. Find out more about the proposed rule here.

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