New Mexico Opinion Spotlight

This article was originally published by Searchlight New Mexico. Tales of voter intimidation. Record numbers of absentee ballots. A spike in COVID-19 cases. Threats of violence. Amid these challenges — and many more — we wanted to know just how prepared our state is for the most anticipated, contentious and high-stakes civic event in recent history. Some argue that democracy itself hangs in the balance.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque-area hospitals say they’ve never had more COVID-19 patients than right now. However, even with more patients expected, local medical experts aren’t expecting they’ll end up using the field hospital the state’s spent millions setting up for COVID patients due to the facility’s limitations. In April,...

New Mexico Governor Renews Restrictions As Virus Cases Rise - By Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says she will renew public health restrictions and is warning that more stringent rules could be imposed due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. The regulations she announced...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The annual Balloon Fiesta was canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Albuquerque officials decided to make parks available for pilots to keep the fall tradition alive. Hot air balloons filled the sky over Albuquerque for the second day Sunday morning. KOB-TV reported that...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Huge numbers of migratory birds are dropping dead around New Mexico as scientists scramble to determine what is triggering one of the Southwest’s largest bird die-offs in recent memory. After people began finding the dead birds in recent days in locations ranging from hiking trails to suburban...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The state’s five racetrack casinos are asking Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to allow them to reopen at 50% capacity while complying with COVID-19 protocols. The racinos – casinos that operate in tandem with horse racing tracks – have been closed under the state’s public health order issued...

Governor Plunges State Into a Sea of Red Ink and Then Begs Congress for More Financial Help. ALBUQUERQUE, SEPTEMBER 10 — In a shameful political public display, Gov. Lujan Grisham today testified virtually before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee, calling on lawmakers to pump millions of more COVID-19 relief funding into New Mexico. She talked about the state's "healthy fiscal posture prior to the arrival of COVID-19," saying the virus has created an economic downturn and fiscal crisis for New Mexico.

Latest New Mexico news, sports, business and entertainment at 3:20 a.m. MDT. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico officials are reassuring teachers that they can't be sued by students who get the coronavirus as some of them head back to the classroom. Like most public servants, teachers are protected by insurance that covers court costs. Officials with the state's school insurance authority say it's too soon to say how great the risk of lawsuits against schools will be. Many large districts have opted to stay online for now. But Tuesday marked the first day of in-person learning for some younger students in 20 districts and charter schools around the state.

Two Albuquerque council members want more federal COVID-19 relief funding to be allocated to the city. Brook Bassan and Trudy Jones co sponsor a measure to use ten-million dollars of the city’s CARES Act allotment for small business grants. The city’s eligible businesses would have 50-or fewer employees. Mayor Tim Keller proposes using over three-million dollars for the same purpose. The Albuquerque Journal reports today that the city received 150-million dollars of federal CARES Act funds.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Josh “Pitbull” Torres was the main event of Premier Boxing Champions Fox Sports 1 fight card on Sunday afternoon. Torres looked to garner his 8th consecutive victory, but he would lose on Sunday by way of a unanimous decision to Cody Crowley. Crowley won every round...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — After years of study, the National Cancer Institute says some people probably got cancer from the radioactive fallout that wafted across New Mexico after the U.S. government detonated the first atomic bomb in 1945. However, the exact number is unknown. Researchers said in studies released Tuesday...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) — The latest taco craze has hit the Albuquerque metro. Restaurant owners say many of their customers have never heard of birria tacos but they’ve quickly become a best-selling item. If you’ve scrolled through social media, chances are, you’ve seen someone share a video of people dipping...

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government has chosen six New Mexicans as the recipients of its 2020 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Awards. The awards are annually presented to those New Mexicans who believe in government transparency at the state or local level — and who have made significant contributions to casting sunshine (transparency) in government operations in the state.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A program is helping people get more for their money, specifically, more fresh fruits and vegetables. “Double Up Food Bucks” is a program that is matching what customers spend with their EBT cards. If someone spends $20 with an EBT card at one of the nearly...