Featured Stories
Rural hospitals brace for ‘last hope’ as lawmakers take up malpractice
“I’ve had a few people that were interested, and then once they check into New Mexico, all of a sudden they back out and they’re not interested anymore,” said Kaye Green, CEO of Roosevelt General.
Another fight brewing over medical malpractice reform in New Mexico
As lawmakers prepare for the start of a jam-packed 30-day legislative session Tuesday, House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski said she’s starting to feel the enthusiasm. “The vibes are high-energy,” she said. “I’m feeling excited.” While the session will be focused primarily on drafting a budget for fiscal year 2027, lawmakers are nonetheless expected to take up…
State Sen. Candy Spence Ezzell keeps her boots on the ground
The best part of ranching, according to Candy Spence Ezzell, is when everyone helps each other out — whether it’s branding time or there’s a broken center pivot sprinkler. She would know. The self-proclaimed “staunch conservative” state senator, who represents parts of Chaves and Eddy counties, has been a full-time farmer and rancher since 1993 —…
New Mexico, other states in sprint to launch rural health plans
Imagine starting the new year with the promise of at least a $147 million payout from the federal government. But there are strings attached. In late December, President Donald Trump’s administration announced how much all 50 states would get under its new Rural Health Transformation Program, assigning them to use the money to fix systemic…
Power players: Women take on lead roles in New Mexico’s energy sector
A growing number of women are in high-profile energy jobs, and many are mentoring young women to continue the trend.
Growing pains: Challenges emerge as New Mexico rolls out no-cost child care for all
A lack of child care capacity still leaves parents desperately seeking care, while providers face new hurdles to participate in the program.
Free Villa Therese Catholic Clinic seeks to open wider after surge in patients
The clinic, located on Hopewell Street in Santa Fe since 2022, is recruiting more volunteer providers and trying to establishing a mobile clinic.
Comunidad de Colores free clinic set to open to patients in 2026
Organizers of new free clinic plan to open to patients in June, offering an array of adult primary and behavioral health care.
State-run Turquoise Lodge Hospital in Albuquerque offers path to sobriety
The facility, which has struggled with underutilization, is one of two adult drug and alcohol treatment programs operated by the state.
New Mexico to receive $211.5 million in federal rural health care funds
The money is earmarked to expand access to care, strengthen training programs for providers and build a statewide health data system.
Data: Little progress so far in expanding New Mexico child care capacity
Data shows capacity in licensed facilities and registered homes increased by just 10 slots between July and mid-December.
Health
Devastating loss led state suicide prevention coordinator to her role
The moment she met Brett Miller, Clarie Miller knew he would change her life. Then Clarie Brown, she returned to Albuquerque — where she grew up — from Maine in 1998, planning to visit family and get a glimpse of the mountains. While in town, Clarie was set up on a blind date with someone else…
UNM Health Sciences seeks $600 million cash infusion for medical school building
What does a new medical school cost these days? About $600 million, if plans to reconstruct the University of New Mexico School of Medicine are any indication. Dr. Mike Richards, executive vice president of UNM Health Sciences Center and CEO of UNM Health System, presented before the powerful Legislative Finance Committee on Wednesday requesting state money…
New Mexico seeks $1 billion in federal rural health care dollars
The New Mexico Health Care Authority has requested $1 billion in federal funding to bolster rural health care, with the goals of expanding access to specialty care and chronic condition management, strengthening training programs for providers and building a statewide health care data system. The state submitted a 128-page application dated Nov. 4 to secure…
child & Family Welfare
Early Childhood Department pitches $1.2B budget as it grows child care access
Amid an expansion of New Mexico’s child care assistance program to universal access, the state Early Childhood Education and Care Department pitched a $1.2 billion budget for the coming fiscal year to the Legislative Finance Committee on Tuesday. The proposed spending plan, which includes an additional $160.6 million to expand a state-subsidized child care program…
CYFD asks for $422.3M in coming fiscal year to fill jobs, meet other requirements
Amid mounting pressures from a landmark child welfare case and lawmakers’ concerns, the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department pitched a $422.3 million spending plan for the coming fiscal year to the powerful Legislative Finance Committee on Tuesday. The ask, which the agency said was an overall 4.7% increase over the current fiscal year’s…
CYFD again relying more on placing children out of state, to advocates’ chagrin
More than 100 children in New Mexico’s foster system are in homes and treatment facilities in other states, according to numbers provided by the state Children, Youth and Families Department this week. The numbers mark the latest uptick in a practice the agency was directed to curb years ago through the landmark Kevin S. child…
Government
From DACA recipient to New Mexico Senate, Cindy Nava charted her own path
“Growing up being undocumented shaped my entire life: Everything that I am, everything that I do was shaped by that,” she said.
‘I’ve lived it’: Valeria Alarcón pushes for state funding for rural, tribal health councils
“As a woman of color, cancer survivor in this field of work, it feels like all of my life experiences are … to inform the work that I do — because I’ve lived it,” Alarcón said.
55,000 New Mexico SNAP recipients face work requirements starting Jan. 1
The changes are the result of a federal reconciliation bill signed into law earlier this year by President Donald Trump.
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