According to a Reuters report, Chevron is selling its Texas and New Mexico properties in the Permian Basin up for sale as it attempts to divest from the region.
The outlet wrote, “This month, it launched an auction for a parcel covering 2,134 net acres in New Mexico and a second covering 29,901 acres in the New Mexico and Texas, according to listings on the EnergyNet online auction site.”
“The combined value is about $100 million, according to a source familiar with shale asset values. Both bids are due on July 27, according to marketing brochures.”
Reutersnoted, “Production at the larger parcel on offer was estimated at about 770,000 barrels of oil and gas net and the smaller parcel was estimated to be about 1,818 barrels of oil and gas equivalent (boe) per day, according to the documents.”
Last month, Chevron agreed to buy PDC Energy Inc. in a stock and debt deal worth $7.6 billion. It also recently acquired Noble Energy to boost its international holdings and U.S. shale positions.
Zacks Investment Research, which currently has the Chevron stock (CVX) as a “hold,” adds, “The dealmaking is presumably a move to sell lower-valued assets in the area and choose high-performance assets. This strategy is perfectly in line with Chevron’s long-term goals.”
According to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), another disabled patient on the state’s Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD Waiver) has passed away.
NMDOH wrote in a press release, “The client reportedly fell, was treated at a hospital for a head injury and subsequently died on June 17, 2023. The department’s Division of Health Improvement continues to investigate this case for any instances of abuse, neglect and exploitation in relation to the care provided to this client.”
“The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating this matter. In an abundance of caution the DOH is also referring this case to the Attorney General’s Office for further review and investigation.”
The Department added, “The individual received an in-person wellness check on April 4, 2023, and appeared healthy without evidence of abuse or neglect when the state conducted in-person wellness checks on all individuals being cared for under the state’s Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD Waiver) programs.”
However, the revelation of the April wellness check raises more questions.
In May, a 38-year-old disabled woman, Mary Melero, died due to constant physical, emotional, and sexual torture for years under her two caregivers. She was also on the state’s DD Waiver, and her abusive caregivers raked in $250,000 of taxpayer money.
At the time, the NMDOH wrote on May 18, 2023, “This shocking case prompted DOH to conduct and complete in-person wellness checks on all individuals being cared for under the state’s Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD Waiver) programs to ensure they are in good health and being well cared for by providers.”
So, if NMDOH did, indeed, conduct wellness checks in May, why is the state now only noting the wellness check from early April?
After Ms. Melero’s death caused by her caregivers’ torture, NMDOH wrote, “State leadership and the DOH also immediately established what is now an ongoing independent, third-party investigation evaluating both the agency’s Developmental Disabilities Support Division and the Division of Health Improvement procedures to identify systemic flaws that allowed the alleged incidents to occur.”
The Department repeated this claim verbatim, writing in the June 29, 2023, statement on the latest death, “State leadership and the DOH established what is now an ongoing independent, third-party investigation evaluating both the agency’s Developmental Disabilities Supports Division and the Division of Health Improvement procedures to identify systemic flaws and improve processes.”
While the complete details of the latest DD Waiver patient’s death are unknown, the state’s claims to have done wellness checks on “all individuals” after Ms. Melero’s tragic slaughter identify more problems with the NMDOH’s care for people with disabilities under state oversight and care.
Anti-fossil fuels Democrat U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich posted on Twitter Saturday a picture of him standing in what is supposed to be a New Mexico backyard with grilling supplies and an outdoor wok-type burner, traditionally used for cooking chicharrones, but one thing stood out in the photo.
The burner was attached to a propane tank. Propane is made through the processing of liquified natural gas.
The Rio Grande Foundation’s president Paul Gessing wrote, “Gas grill. Love it.”
State Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo), the founder and editor of the Piñon Post, wrote, “The dude who wants to ban your gas stoves and ‘electrify everything’ cooks with propane,” adding along with a laughing emoji, “Who’s gonna tell him?”
Heinrich has made headlines recently for his crusade against all fossil fuel-using products, including gas heaters, stoves, and water heaters.
The senator has adopted the far-left “Electrify Everything” movement of radical eco-leftists attempting to ban appliances, such as stoves, that run on gas.
The Joe Biden administration has recently been under fire for its proposed attempt to ban gas stoves. The State of New York recently did just that, but going further to ban gas furnaces as well.
During a 2021 nomination hearing for then-U.S. Energy Secretary Designate Jennifer Granholm, Heinrich pushed for electrifying “everything,” adding in a tweet, “Addressing the climate crisis means we need to focus on full electrification of our building, transportation, and industrial sectors. Thankfully, Secretary of Energy nominee @JenGranholm is on board to help us begin to electrify everything.”
Addressing the climate crisis means we need to focus on full electrification of our building, transportation, and industrial sectors. Thankfully, Secretary of Energy nominee @JenGranholm is on board to help us begin to electrify everything. pic.twitter.com/a35LjKLUX9
He has since pushed for the electrification of everything from appliances to government buildings, such as some in Las Cruces.
Las Cruces is not shying away from climate action—they’ve gone big & bold with plans to #Electrify city buildings and their vehicle fleet.
The work this city has done to begin transitioning smartly is a blueprint we can use across the country to move towards an electric future. pic.twitter.com/p8HShMLvpQ
Now, Heinrich made one big faux pas in his supposed genuine quest to “electrify everything” by forgetting to electrify his Fourth of July cookout as he seeks to swindle the voters of New Mexico into another term in the U.S. Senate.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman has announced his candidacy for election in a campaign launch video released on Friday.
However, this announcement directly contradicts statements Bregman made about six months ago. In a previous interview, he expressed his satisfaction with not worrying about politics or campaign preparations, stating that he could solely focus on accomplishing tasks. Furthermore, in January, he declared that he would not seek election to the seat in his own right.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Bregman as the Bernalillo County district attorney after Raúl Torrez’s successful election as attorney general last November. The governor’s news release at the time also mentioned that Bregman “will not run for re-election to the office.”
Bregman (far-left) at a press conference with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Democrat anti-gun lawmakers, and anti-gun activists.
However, during a recent news conference, Bregman clarified his change of heart, stating that he now intends to run for district attorney. He claimed that his initial decision was sincere, but the supposed positive impact he believes he has made in his current position motivated him to continue working towards making a difference.
“I will be running for district attorney. When I got into this office, I was sincere in the sense that I didn’t think I would. But we have put things in place that I believe are starting to make a difference,” Bregman claimed.
Proud of the progress made since my appointment as Bernco DA in Jan 2023! We've tackled crime head-on, capturing violent gang members, supporting mental health initiatives, and ensuring safety in schools. But the journey continues, and I'm running for a full term as DA. pic.twitter.com/fliub3k8HO
Bregman has advocated for far-left policies as district attorney, including support for anti-gun legislation and weak-on-crime bills that would reward bad actors for breaking the law.
Bregman’s campaign website and Twitter account were established in May, and he has already begun accepting donations. The New Mexico Secretary of State’s website confirms that he registered his campaign on June 1, 2023.
Lujan Grisham’s office told KOAT 7, “Gov. Lujan Grisham wanted to make sure that whomever she appointed as Bernalillo County DA would be squarely focused on the work of the office, and not a re-election bid. In his first six months in office, DA Bregman has illustrated his commitment to fighting crime, resulting in a safer New Mexico. Our expectation is that he will continue that focus moving forward.”
No other individuals have declared their candidacy for the Second Judicial District Attorney position.
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard andthe Students for Fair Admission v. University of North Carolina cases that brings fairness back to American college admissions by ruling it is unlawful to consider race as the main factor in one’s admission to a U.S. college or university. The racist practice known as “affirmative action” pushes qualified candidates aside and, instead of admitting them, lets potentially less qualified candidates have their places due to various racial attributes.
Leftist University of New Mexico president Garnett Stokes, who assumed the role in 2018, was angered by the Court’s decision, writing on Twitter, “We at @UNM are concerned about the precedent today’s Supreme Court ruling sets for further efforts to curb diversity, accessibility, and social mobility within our institutions and impact access and opportunities for all underrepresented members of our communities.”
We at @UNM are concerned about the precedent today's Supreme Court ruling sets for further efforts to curb diversity, accessibility, and social mobility within our institutions and impact access and opportunities for all underrepresented members of our communities. /1
— Garnett S. Stokes (@PresidentStokes) June 29, 2023
“We know the educational and social benefits of inclusivity and will actively participate in exploring new ways that universities, including ours, can ensure diversity on their campuses,” she continued. “We will be examining the legal implications of the ruling and its possible effects on our practices. We will also continue to champion what we already do: build belonging through inclusivity and ensure our doors, experiences, and culture remain accessible and open to everyone.”
Despite the Supreme Court’s majority opinion clearly stating that “nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise,” Stokes and others have shown bitterness with the anti-racist ruling.
New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez claimed the ruling was made by a “rogue Supreme Court” he claims is “endangering Americans’ fundamental rights, freedoms and protections.”
He continued, “By rolling back decades of progress toward racial equity in education, we risk repeating a long, dark history of discrimination and exclusion within the very system intended to foster opportunity.” Notice how Martinez stressed the word “equity” and not “equality.”
“To hollow out affirmative action ignores a history of oppression. The playing field has never been level for marginalized communities,” Democrat U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján said.
UNM President Pam Stokes via UNM YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsPn_oVGEUw
During the Black Lives Matter/Antifa riots that plagued the country in 2020, including in Albuquerque, Stokes stood by BLM and said, “Black Lives Matter is more than a social media hashtag. It’s a social movement that compels all of us to listen, stand up, and speak out. It’s a call for positive action to enact meaningful and fundamental change. So, I’m working with my leadership team to take both immediate and long-term action and build upon the efforts we’ve made, and continue to make, to unify our campus, raise and promote different voices, and ensure UNM embodies its foundational principles of strength through diversity, and progress through inclusion.”
The fringe group, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), is attacking Otero County again. This time, the extremist dark money organization is triggered after the announcement Alamogordo’s Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center (GCRMC) is joining the CHRISTUS Health group, which is Catholic. The health group, which is based in Irving, Texas, runs 600 successful facilities in the country, including in Santa Fe, many of them being top-rated.
GCRMC CEO Jim Heckert said the merger would create $100 million in new investment over the next decade.
In a hostage letter typical of the group, the ACLU claimed the hospital’s merger must incorporate abortions and “LGBTQ+ inclusive” services, “including gender affirming care for transgender patients, and end-of-life care options.”
“We firmly believe in the fundamental right to religious exercise and expression, and we have a long history of defending that right,” claimed ACLU’ of New Mexico’s “Reproductive Rights and Gender Equity” managing attorney Ellie Rushforth.
“However, religious freedom does not give a health care system the right to limit information and access to basic health care by imposing a narrow set of directives on everyone. The hospital should seek feedback from their community and take more time to consider the potential risks posed by this transaction to their patients and health care providers.”
Religious freedom guarantees a private non-profit hospital to do whatever it so chooses regarding its beliefs. But the ACLU believes that “religious exercise” in America now must be limited if that religious belief includes pro-life, anti-transgenderism aspects.
At a recent meeting, the Otero County Commission met to reject a proposal to involve the state attorney general in investigating the merger. Instead, the Commission is working on a letter of support for the hospital’s union with CHRISTUS.
Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Economic Development Department (NMEDD) Secretary Alicia J. Keyes has resigned from the administration — the seventh cabinet appointee to bail on the administration since last November’s election.
The governor claimed in the announcement, “Secretary Keyes’ commitment to carrying out the vision of my administration and her dedication to making New Mexico a great place to live have been integral to the economic health of our great state. I wish her the very best in the future.”
Portrait of Secretary Alicia Keyes via NMEDD.
“My greatest joy has been collaborating with New Mexicans in every corner of the state to create higher-paying jobs and build economic security for future generations,” Keyes said in a statement.
She added, “I want to thank Gov. Lujan Grisham for this opportunity and unwavering support and encouragement. I’m looking forward to continuing to drive economic development forward in my next chapter.”
The NMEDD secretary was paid $200,000 annually, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Her last day will be July 13, 2023.
“Keyes plans to take personal time before pursuing opportunities in the private sector while remaining in New Mexico. The administration is actively seeking Keyes’ successor,” according to Lujan Grisham’s press release.
The Lujan Grisham regime has been a revolving door of cabinet members and other staff, with key departments feeling extreme uncertainty amid the constant shift between cabinet members and staffers.
On Wednesday, Republican state Sen. Gay Kernan of Hobbs, who has served for 21 years, announced her retirement in a statement.
“After much prayerful consideration, and with the help of my family, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my seat as New Mexico State Senator for District 42, effective August 1, 2023. I have not taken for granted the trust and confidence the voters have placed in me,” she wrote.
Portrait of Sen. Gay Kernan.
“Serving the constituents of Lea, Eddy, and Chaves Counties in the New Mexico Legislature has been a privilege and a tremendous honor. While I will miss my constituents and colleagues, and while transitions can be challenging, I am confident the Lea, Eddy, and Chaves County Commissions will recommend a qualified nominee from which my replacement will be selected.”
KRQE News 13 reported, “Kernan has been serving in the legislature since 2002 when she was appointed by then-Governor Gary Johnson. With a lengthy record of service, Kernan is among the longest-serving senators in New Mexico.”
State Rep. Larry Scott (R-Hobbs) will apply to serve out the remainder of Kernan’s term, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
“I think I have ably represented the interests of my constituents in Southeast New Mexico, particularly when it comes to energy issues,” said Scott, president of Lynx Petroleum Consultants Inc.
“When I decided to run [for another term] three years ago, it was something that I struggled with, trying to figure out whether to run or not run, and I felt like I still had some things that I wanted to accomplish,” Kernan said to the New Mexican. “I’m glad I did, but four years is a long time … and I just really need to kind of reassess and be there for my family.”
On Wednesday, 21-year Republican state Sen. Gay Kernan of Hobbs announced her retirement in a statement.
“After much prayerful consideration, and with the help of my family, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my seat as New Mexico State Senator for District 42, effective August 1, 2023. I have not taken for granted the trust and confidence the voters have placed in me,” she wrote.
“Serving the constituents of Lea, Eddy, and Chaves Counties in the New Mexico Legislature has been a privilege and a tremendous honor. While I will miss my constituents and colleagues, and while transitions can be challenging, I am confident the Lea, Eddy, and Chaves County Commissions will recommend a qualified nominee from which my replacement will be selected.”
KRQE News 13 reported, “Kernan has been serving in the legislature since 2002 when she was appointed by then-Governor Gary Johnson. With a lengthy record of service, Kernan is among the longest-serving senators in New Mexico.”
State Rep. Larry Scott (R-Hobbs) will apply to serve out the remainder of Kernan’s term, the Santa Fe New Mexicanreported.
“I think I have ably represented the interests of my constituents in Southeast New Mexico, particularly when it comes to energy issues,” said Scott, president of Lynx Petroleum Consultants Inc.
“When I decided to run [for another term] three years ago, it was something that I struggled with, trying to figure out whether to run or not run, and I felt like I still had some things that I wanted to accomplish,” Kernan said to the New Mexican. “I’m glad I did, but four years is a long time … and I just really need to kind of reassess and be there for my family.”
The far-left was radio silent during the Black Lives Matter/Antifa riots that resulted in the destruction of property, attacks on businesses, and the desecration of historical monuments. They were equally silent when extremist anti-Hispanic hate groups attacked and toppled the Soldiers Monument that formerly sat in downtown Santa Fe for over 150 years.
However, now they suddenly care about vandalism after an LGBT “Progress Pride” flag installed on the pavement in Santa Fe’s plaza by the City was repeatedly defaced. The flag claims to support not only the gay community but includes transgender and “people of color” in its design as supposed marginalized communities.
Someone wrote “Jesus Saves” across the flag in white chalk.
Santa Fe City Manager John Blair complained about the taxpayer-funded painted flag being defaced, telling KOB 4, “Intentionally placing ‘Jesus saves’ over a version of a pride flag is not intended to be loving or welcoming. It’s meant to be discriminatory and hateful.”
Apparently, Blair believes Jesus is “hateful.”
According to KOB 4, “This display will only be up until the end of the month, but the city is planning on installing a permanent rainbow flag over by the Rail Yard Markets.”
In Albuquerque, a taxpayer-funded $30,000 rainbow crosswalk that was installed by far-left Mayor Tim Keller has been repeatedly vandalized.
It is unclear why these cities that purport to be proud of their flag would put it in a place where it can be written on, much less walked or driven on.
Inflation is taking a toll on New Mexicans, despite the supposed low unemployment rate in the state, being touted repeatedly by Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
USA Todaywrites, “Despite decades-low unemployment levels, adults across the country report feeling unnerved about their finances. The culprit? Inflation…. When prices skyrocketed last year, the annual inflation rate climbed to a mountainous 9.1% in June 2022 before moderating down to 4.9% now. This is still well above the Federal Reserve’s preferred level of 2%. Gas prices, for instance, are down $1.34 a gallon from this time last year, but are still $0.51 higher than two years ago.”
The news network’s analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau Pulse Survey statistics found that New Mexicans are among the top ten states hurting from inflation, with 50 percent of residents “very stressed out by price increases” while 27 percent are “moderately” stressed out by it — that’s 77 percent!
All of New Mexico’s U.S. House delegation voted against a measure that would fight inflation by promoting American energy over that of Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other foreign nations.
The National Republican Congressional Committee’s spokeswoman Delanie Bomar wrote regarding U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez’s vote against the measure, “New Mexico families are hurting and hold extreme politician Gabe Vasquez responsible for their financial stress. Vasquez clearly doesn’t understand everyday people’s struggle.”
Younger people are having outsized effects of inflation felt under the Joe Biden administration, with the report noting, “Most people aged between 25 and 54 felt very stressed by price increases (the largest group being 53% of those aged between 40 and 54). And well over half, 80%, of both age groups were either ‘very’ or ‘moderately stressed.’”
Regarding inflation stress and educational demographics, those without a high school diploma felt the most stress, with 63 percent very stressed and 19 percent moderately stressed.
Those who have children at home were 11 percent more stressed than those without, according to USA Today’s analysis.
The outlet noted, “USA Today Blueprint analyzed data from the United States Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey to determine the number of people in each state and city who reported feeling various levels of stress due to rising prices.”
