Dangerous PFAS contamination threatens water and food supply. Feds reveal plan to curb the chemicals.
DOH will allow some hospitals to ration care
The pandemic has only made the state’s existing problems worse, according to researchers. ICUs across the state are beyond capacity in a time when health care workers are “beyond burnout.”
Unvaccinated people who contract COVID-19 are increasing the amount of patients needing care at New Mexico hospitals amid a shortage of staff and resources. Most New Mexico hospitals are above 100% capacity.
(Photo by Shelby Kleinhans for Source NM)
In response, the state Department of Health announced Monday, Oct. 18, that it will allow some hospitals to ration treatment by using the Crisis Standards of Care as guides. These standards are meant to allow health care staff to prioritize people who need care the most, state officials said, and keep up with the rate of COVID-19 cases arriving at New Mexico emergency rooms. Read more
Feds announce three-year plan to fight ‘forever chemicals’
Cows with high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS at a farm in Maine.
Nonprofit releases records showing 120,000 industrial facilities throughout the U.S. “may be handling” PFAS, including 277 in New Mexico. At least three oil companies reported using PFAS in numerous fracking wells across New Mexico between 2012 and 2020, according to Physicians for Social Responsibility.
(Photo by Adam Glanzman / Bloomberg)
Amid outcry, Gallup hospital board promises open meetings and more transparency
A town hall meeting on Oct. 2 in Gallup drew dozens of residents and health care workers to discuss the state of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital, which announced in late September it would close its labor and delivery unit. Physicians at the hospital formed a union to combat what they say is mismanagement by an out-of-town company.
The hospital's new union sought more transparency from the board, which has made questionable financial decisions in the past. The chairman of the Gallup hospital board announced Monday that the public would soon be allowed into sections of board meetings, following weeks of criticism that the hospital is being mismanaged and the board is too secretive.
(Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM)
‘It’s your gun. It’s your responsibility.’
Advocates call for firearm-storage law. APS hasn’t yet backed a proposed bill responding to August’s middle school shooting.
Under a proposed gun storage bill co-sponsored by Rep. Pamelya Herndon, a gun owner would be guilty of a misdemeanor if their firearm was used by a minor in the commission of a crime not resulting in death. However, if the crime results in the death of at least one person, the owner of the firearm would be charged with involuntary manslaughter — a fourth-degree felony. Read moreTereshia Brown pays her respects on Thursday, Aug. 19., 2021. Students, faith leaders and community members gathered to remember Bennie Hargrove, and left balloons and flowers near Washington Middle School in Downtown Albuquerque.
(Photo by Lissa Knudsen / Source NM)
LIVE ON THE RADIO THURSDAY
Bringing more attention to missing and murdered Indigenous relatives
Anita King, the mother of Pepita Redhair, thanks the crowd for coming out in support of her missing daughter and others like her at the MMIW rally at Tiguex Park in Albuquerque on Oct. 3.
Family members, legal experts and law enforcement talk about the ongoing crisis with Source NM Thursday morning on KUNM News.
(Photo by Shelby Kleinhans for Source NM)
We want to hear from you
What can be done to prioritize cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people? What do you wish you were seeing that you aren’t when it comes to these cases? What strategies do families and advocates employ to search for loved ones? How can people help?We’re hosting a live, hourlong radio show about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Relatives on KUNM News, which is broadcast around the state. Tune in Thursday, Oct. 21, at 8 a.m. Read more
