Latest News from New Mexico Sun

The New Mexico State University Board of Regents has announced a closed meeting scheduled for March 2 to discuss the finalists for the position of president. The meeting will take place at 8 a.m. in Hadley Hall, Room 130, on the Las Cruces campus.According to the information provided, the discussion of candidates will be held behind closed doors as permitted under NMSA 1978, Section 10-15-1.H(2) (2013). It was clarified that no official board action will be taken during this meeting.Individuals seeking further details about the meeting can reach out to the Office of the...

Art student Mikaila Dart receives Behl Award

The University of New Mexico College of Fine Arts recently awarded Mikaila Dart, a talented alumna, with the Reggie Behl Drawing Award, providing her with a $1,000 grant to support her exceptional drawing skills. Dart, who submitted her artwork into the competition with hopes of validation and recognition, expressed her excitement upon receiving the award, stating, “I was very excited hearing a ‘yes’ and hearing it from the faculty at UNM that I look up to and that I've been learning from. It was like a boost of confidence that told me this is a valid thing that I'm doing,...

Buffalo Soldiers and Fort Stanton Recognized for Role in Taming the Wild West

Black troopers known as Buffalo Soldiers from Fort Stanton played a key role in the transition of New Mexico from a territory into a state. In recognition of the site’s significance to Black History, the National Park Service recently added the Fort Stanton Historic Site to its Reconstruction Era National Historic Network."In 1876 Buffalo Soldiers built the Fort Stanton Laundress Quarters which still stands at the site and is one of the few surviving structures directly associated with the Black troops. The fort and the structure are some of the most important Black...

NMSU Board of Regents to convene for closed meeting Feb. 29

The New Mexico State University Board of Regents has announced that they will be holding a closed meeting on Thursday, Feb. 29, to interview finalists for the position of NMSU president. The meeting, scheduled from 2:30 to 5 p.m. in Hadley Hall, Room 130, on the Las Cruces Campus, will be closed to the public as allowed under NMSA 1978, Section 10-15-1.H(2) (2013).According to the announcement, the regents will not be taking any official board action during this closed meeting. Individuals seeking more information about the meeting are encouraged to contact the Office of...

APD Warns Residents of Thief Hitting Local Fitness Centers

ALBUQUERQUE – The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is cautioning residents about a thief who has been targeting local fitness centers and stealing vehicles by exploiting unlocked lockers in women's locker rooms.According to APD, detectives have pinpointed Angelique Silva, 43, as the individual behind a string of commercial burglaries, auto thefts, and larcenies. Silva has been observed in various local gyms, specifically entering women's locker rooms to rummage through open lockers and pilfer the contents within, at times even taking victims' car keys. Subsequently,...

New Tools Help UNM Physician Assistant Expand Street Medicine Services

Lindsay Fox, MSPAS, PA-C, a physician assistant at The University of New Mexico, is leading the charge in bringing medical care directly to those in need through street medicine. Fox, who works within UNM's Department of Internal Medicine, highlighted the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness or transitional housing in accessing traditional healthcare services. She emphasized the importance of bringing medical care to them, stating, "Rather than forego medical care, we bring it to them."To enhance her street medicine services, Fox now has a new truck...

W. K. Kellogg Foundation awards UNM Child Health Grand Challenge team $300K to study child maltreatment

The Child Health Grand Challenge team at The University of New Mexico has been granted a $300,000 award from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation to conduct a two-year study on child maltreatment incidence. Led by principal investigators Rebecca Girardet and Gabriel Sanchez, the team aims to identify cultural practices that may act as protective factors in reducing negative outcomes related to child maltreatment.Girardet highlighted the importance of the study, stating, "New Mexico is making strides in implementing strategies that hold promise for preventing child maltreatment......

Mayor Keller and First Lady Kistin Keller Request Nominations for Outstanding Albuquerque Volunteers

The Albuquerque Volunteers Advisory Board has opened nominations for the ninth annual Mayor’s Day of Volunteer Recognition. Individuals and groups of volunteers will be celebrated at the recognition event on Friday, April 19, 2024, at the Albuquerque Museum. Nominations can be submitted on the City website, and are due by 5 p.m. on March 15, 2024.“Every year, Liz and I look forward to celebrating the volunteers working to make our city a better place, and reflecting on the spirit of civic engagement that makes Albuquerque so special,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Volunteers...

It’s Electric! City Drives Toward Equity with New Affordable Mobility Platform

The City of Albuquerque has taken a significant step towards promoting equity in transportation with the launch of the Affordable Mobility Platform (AMP) electric vehicle carshare pilot project. The initiative, a collaboration between the City of Albuquerque Sustainability Office and partners Forth, PNM, and Sol Housing, aims to provide affordable and environmentally friendly transportation options to all communities.Mayor Tim Keller emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable access to clean transportation, stating, “We’re keeping equity in the driver’s seat and...

City Taking Proactive Measures to Curb Pedestrian Fatal Crashes

Albuquerque's Mayor Tim Keller, Police Chief Harold Medina, and Municipal Development Director Pat Montoya recently addressed the media to discuss the city's proactive efforts in reducing pedestrian fatal crashes along Central Avenue. Mayor Keller emphasized the importance of these actions, stating, "Tragedy is occurring far too often on our streets in the form of fatal collisions that could be avoided." Chief Harold Medina highlighted the impact of pedestrian crashes, noting that they are often avoidable and have traumatic consequences for both victims and drivers. He...

55 years of Black student activism: the legacy of BSU

The Black Student Union (BSU) at the University of New Mexico is commemorating its 55th anniversary this year, with celebrations starting during Black History Month and leading up to the official anniversary in December. Reflecting on the history and significance of BSU, African American Student Services (AASS) and UNM alumnus Brandi Stone highlighted the importance of the organization's advocacy and community-building efforts, stating, "My team now has also been so awesome, and I'm just really proud of them in addition to our students and everyone who's just leaning in and...

Paid Family Medical Leave Act dies in New Mexico House

The New Mexico Senate Bill 3, also known as the Paid Family Medical Leave Act, failed to pass in the New Mexico House of Representatives. This development has been perceived by many as a political upset. Critics of the bill argued that it would excessively increase taxes, leading to its defeat in the House with a vote count of 36 against and 34 in favor.

Faculty Focus: Joyce Garay Leading Chicana/o Studies Program at NMSU

Joyce Garay, an associate professor of Latino/Latina literature and feminist theories at NMSU, has been appointed as the inaugural director of the Chicana/o Studies program in the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation. Speaking about the program, Garay emphasized its inclusivity, stating, "These courses are really for everyone."Garay highlighted the importance of a Chicana/o Studies program at NMSU, emphasizing the significance of understanding the complex experiences of Chicanas/Chicanos in the region. She expressed, "The opportunity for students to take...

UNM Scientists Awarded 2024 Newcomb Cleveland Prize for Groundbreaking Research on Horse Evolution

An interdisciplinary team of Indigenous and western scientists has been honored with the 2024 Newcomb Cleveland Prize from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for their research on the evolution of domestic horses. The team's study, titled "Early Dispersal of Domestic Horses in the Great Plains and Northern Rockies," published in spring 2023, has garnered significant recognition in the scientific community.Lead author of the research, Will Taylor, a UNM Anthropology graduate and assistant professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder,...

Albuquerque detectives arrest school coach for child sexual solicitation

ALBUQUERQUE – APD Child Exploitation Detectives arrested Treyjan Felipe, 24, today after investigating an anonymous tip advising of sexual misconduct with a student athlete at Sandia Preparatory School.APD was alerted by the “Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS),” a downloadable application, telephone hotline and website that students can use to report classmates who may be at risk of harming themselves or others.The tip advised there was a student athlete being sexually addressed through Snapchat and sent genitalia pictures by one the school’s athletic...

Forever chemicals reach extraordinary levels in wildlife at Holloman Air Force Base

A team of researchers from The University of New Mexico’s Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) have made a concerning discovery regarding the levels of chemical contamination in wildlife at Holloman Air Force Base. The study, recently published in Environmental Research, revealed that various wild birds and mammals at the base are heavily contaminated with 'forever chemicals' known as per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).Lead author of the study, MSB Director and Professor of Biology Christopher Witt, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, "Across 23...

NMSU, Local Performers to Showcase Talents at Dance Concert