Opinion News
Sen. Brandt on Shooting Threat Bill: 'no reason why we should treat a shooting threat as any less serious than a bomb threat'
Senator Craig Brandt has reintroduced a bill to escalate the penalties for shooting threats, classifying them as felonies.
Senator Woods on LFC Budget: 'Throwing money at problems has not generated positive outcomes'
Senator Pat Woods expressed concerns regarding the Legislative Finance Committee's (LFC) Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget recommendation, highlighting the need for measurable goals, targeted expenditures, and increased accountability for taxpayer...
Latest News
OPINION: House Republicans challenge status quo with sweeping legislative agenda
By Gail Armstrong, Alan Martinez, and Rebecca Dow | Jan 17, 2025
Just days away from another 60-day session of the Legislature, New Mexico’s wins and losses will once again be defined by a overwhelming progressive majority in both chambers.
OPINION: Facing Evil, Embracing Innovation: My Diplomatic Journey to Israel
By State Senator Craig Brandt | Jan 17, 2025
In December 2024, I had the honor of visiting Israel with the Consul General of Israel to the Southwest United States. The purpose of this trip was to deepen the relationship between New Mexico and Israel.
OPINION: The Untapped Power of the Voters Voice
By Jodi Hendricks | Jan 14, 2025
For many New Mexicans, the annual Legislative Session can feel distant and disconnected.
OPINION: The Menorah and The Obelisk
By Robert Witsenhausen | Jan 12, 2025
The Sunday after Christmas this year also happened to be the fifth night of Hanukkah, so I went down to the Santa Fe Plaza to see the Santa Fe Jewish Center’s Menorah lighting ceremony.
Arts & Culture: 'Ladmo' with Bryan Konefsky
By Brian C. Nixon | Jan 12, 2025
When I moved from Southern California to New Mexico, I picked up a flyer that read “Experiments in Film.” I was intrigued. The host was Basement Films.
OPINION: Fixing the broken system – protecting communities from repeat offenders
By Sarah Smith | Jan 10, 2025
Our communities are bearing the brunt of a criminal justice system that is broken—one that fails to adequately address mental health challenges and drug addiction.
OPINION: Ready or not, here we go
By James Townsend | Jan 8, 2025
The Legislature will convene January 21st at twelve noon, which is the third Tuesday of January as required by law.
OPINION: Citizen engagement in NM legislative decisions is more vital than ever
By Sarah Smith | Jan 8, 2025
The 2025 New Mexico Legislative session begins on January 21st and runs through March 22nd
Arts & Culture: Paisley Rekdal’s Poems of Translation
By Brian C. Nixon | Jan 3, 2025
In one hand I have the article A Movable Peace—from the newspaper Pasatiempo—extoling the joy of riding Sky Railway, a train venture partially funded by George R.R. Martin, author of Game of Thrones.
Native American Rights Fund shares holiday greetings with art collaboration
By New Mexico Sun | Dec 23, 2024
From all of us at the Native American Rights Fund, we extend our warmest wishes for a joyful and peaceful holiday season and a bright and prosperous New Year.
Arts & Culture: Julia Lambright—A Light in the Desert
By Brian C. Nixon | Dec 19, 2024
Walking into the Norbertine Abbey in Albuquerque’s South Valley for an art exhibit a few years back, I was smitten by a small icon.
OPINION: Realize Las Cruces: City Council’s Vote Could Reshape Neighborhood Zoning
By Sarah Smith | Dec 17, 2024
Zoning codes don’t sound exciting, but they impact many aspects of our City and daily lives.
OPINION: Vindicated but not consoled: congressional report and the toll of ill-conceived mandates
By Sarah Smith | Dec 12, 2024
Many of us remember 2020 as the year of COVID, when our lives were upended and nothing would ever be the same again. What began as a novel illness quickly cascaded into “2 weeks to flatten the curve,” followed by lockdowns, school closures, mask mandates, and vaccine mandates.
Arts & Culture: Albuquerque in Three Songs
By Brian C. Nixon | Dec 3, 2024
When it comes to popular music, Albuquerque is well represented. From Weird Al Yankovic to Albuquerque’ own, The Shins, Albuquerque is sung about with humor, hubris, and honor. A cursory Google check shows over twenty songs with Albuquerque in the name or within the lyrics.
OPINION: New Mexico should dump its clean energy policies
By Kenneth Costello | Dec 2, 2024
It’s important to preface my remarks by saying that I don’t question the existence of climate change and that humans are a major (but not the sole) contributor. This is what science is telling us. As I argue below, I do object to energy policies that derive from a political or quasi-religious agenda, misinformation and ignorance of economic principles. Such policies are inescapably destined to jeopardize the public good for the sake of benefitting special interests.
Arts & Culture: Purgatory in New Mexico
By Brian C. Nixon | Nov 22, 2024
Purgatory may not be something all people believe in, but to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Mexican actress Lupe Vélez, indigenous interpreter La Malinche, and La Llorna, a fictitious, forlorn woman, the intermediate state between life and death comes to life in Living Purgatory, a play penned by Patricia Crespin and directed by Alicia Lueras Maldonado.
Arts & Culture: Voices From the Other Side of the Tracks
By Brian C. Nixon | Nov 19, 2024
History barely remembers Asa Whitney, Theodore Judah, and Lewis Clement, or the thousands of other Americans—Native, Chinese, Irish, Italian, German, Japanese and African—who helped build the first transcontinental railroad.
OPINION: Examining New Mexico’s HB7: Implications for Parental Consent and Youth Gender Care
By Sarah Smith | Nov 18, 2024
In 2023, the NM legislature and Governor signed law HB7, which requires that school districts must not “interfere” in any way with children accessing transgender (and abortion) procedures. Despite what some lawmakers have said about this law, there is no requirement for parental notification and there are no age restrictions for children to access these procedures. Schools can be fined $5,000 per instance if teachers or nurses “interfere” by talking to children's parents about their transgender procedures.
