Inspired By Creating Community Through Youth Advocacy
CASA First’s Grace Korthuis and a child play with blocks. Courtesy/CASA First
By GRACE KORTHUIS
CASA First
As a 24-year-old living in Northern New Mexico, it can be difficult to create community. Working at the nonprofit CASA First, I’m inspired by the compassionate community I’m now part of. It includes my colleagues who uplift vulnerable children, and volunteers who inspire me with their care and steadfastness. I feel especially connected to the families and kids whom I get to see grow and heal over time.
Working within the child welfare system is often devastating, especially here in New
Dannemann: Lawyer-Legislator Interferes With Health Care Access
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2025 by Merilee Dannemann
Katy Duhigg blew up the interstate compacts discussion. Again.
This was a few weeks ago, and the latest news reports indicate that the discussion is back on track. But one critical question is, who put Duhigg on the committee?
The interstate compacts I’m referring to are related to access to healthcare for New Mexicans. Medical professionals, including physicians, can legally practice their profession only in a state where they are licensed. For a doctor licensed in another state to do anything professional in New Mexico, Read More
Community Invited To Super Saturday At LAMC Lobby Shop!
EM-LA Updates Los Alamos County Council On Efforts To Resolve Chromium Plume
Images of EM-LA’s various meetings with stakeholders regarding the hexavalent chromium plume. Courtesy/LAC
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
For more than 20 years, the Department of Energy (DOE) has been attempting to successfully eradicate the hexavalent chromium plume in the aquifer 1,000 feet below Mortandad and Sandia canyons.
Los Alamos County Council learned about DOE’s Environmental Management-Los Alamos Field Office’s (EM-LA) progress on resolving this long-term issue during its Tuesday night meeting.
EM-LA Manager Jessica Kunkle emphasized Read More
New Federal Rules May Affect SNAP Food Benefit Eligibility
NMHCA News:
SANTA FE — About 55,750 New Mexicans will need to work, volunteer or attend training for 80 hours a month to keep receiving SNAP food benefits under the new federal law taking effect Jan. 1, 2026.
These federal mandates, passed by Congress in July, expand work requirements for able-bodied adults to include those ages 55-64, add an exception for Native Americans, and remove exceptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness and former foster youth.
The new law will only begin affecting SNAP eligibility when someone first applies for benefits or renews their case on or after Read More
Los Alamos Community Foundation Provides ABC Suicide Prevention Training To Los Alamos Commerce And Development Corporation Staff
Attending the ABC Suicide Prevention Training session on Nov. 5, from left, Trainer Dawnmarie Shipley, Discover Los Alamos staff Paul Grubel, Ambassador Program Manager Jennifer Armstrong, LACDC Executive Director Lauren McDaniel, Building Manager Clarice Rodriguez, Discover Los Alamos Director Melanie Pena, Discover Los Alamos staff Annie Kuiper. Not pictured Program Manager and Anchorum Fellow for the LACF Brandi Weiss. Photo by Brandi Weiss
LACF News:
The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) organized and facilitated an ABC Suicide Prevention Training session on Nov. 5,
Public Health Offices Closed Christmas And New Year’s Day
NMDOH News:
SANTA FE — State public health offices and administrative offices will close at 12 p.m. noon, Wednesday, Dec. 24 and be closed Thursday, Dec. 25 in observance of Christmas and again the following Thursday, Jan. 1 in observance of New Year’s Day.
All New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) offices will reopen as regularly scheduled the following Fridays of Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.
New Mexicans can call the NMDOH Helpline, 1.833.SWNURSE (1.833.796.8773) or text the Helpline at 66364 (NMDOH) during regular business hours throughout the holiday season, including both Christmas and New Read More
State Launches Campaign To ‘Do The Loving Thing’
NMHCA News:
SANTA FE — A new statewide public awareness campaign encourages parents to support their children by paying child support, with television and radio ads launching this month.
The Health Care Authority’s Child Support Services Division (CSSD) is airing “Do the Loving Thing” ads in English and Spanish beginning this December for 12 months through the New Mexico Broadcasters Association’s Public Education Program.
Last year, the Child Support program collected $119 million in collections with 65 percent of payments coming through wage withholding Read More
ALTSD Invites Public To Senior Day 2026 At The Roundhouse
ALTSD News:
Join Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, at the Roundhouse as we come together to celebrate and advocate for older adults across New Mexico.
Here’s what the morning will look like:
- 8–9 a.m. — Visit resource tables and connect with organizations serving older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers in New Mexico.
- 9–11 a.m. — Participate in a guided tour and visit with legislators representing your community to discuss the importance of fully funding services for seniors and caregivers.
- 11 a.m.–12 p.m. — Formal presentation featuring
Free Well Testing For Mora, San Miguel And Taos Counties
Environment Secretary James Kenney
NMED News:
MORA COUNTY — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is offering free private well water testing to well owners in parts of Mora, San Miguel and Taos counties located within one mile of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon burn scar area.
This initiative responds to water quality testing conducted as part of a 2025 independent geological study, which showed the presence of heavy metals in some of the wells tested in the area. Well owners in this area can sign up for free well testing by completing NMED’s form at https://www.env.nm.gov/morasanmigueltaos-pws/mora-san-miguel-and-taos-county-private-well-sampling-form/ Read More
New Mexico Governor Addresses ACA Tax Credits Block
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
From the Office of Gov. Lujan Grisham:
SANTA FE — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement:
“On Thursday, Senate Republicans in Congress blocked a Democratic proposal to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits for millions of Americans, which will cause healthcare premiums to skyrocket in January. It’s an appalling failure by a Republican Party that is more concerned with placating President Trump than protecting the constituents they were elected to represent.
“My administration saw this coming, which is why we worked with Read More
Epilepsy Foundation To Host Education Day January 2026
UNM News:
Epilepsy Foundation New Mexico is pleased to host Epilepsy Education Day on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at the University of New Mexico (UNM) Center for Development and Disability.
Epilepsy Education Day is an educational conference for pediatric, teen, and adult patients and their families. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn from renowned epileptologists and epilepsy professionals.
Light lunch will be provided. Childcare will not be provided; this event is geared toward the patients and parents or caregivers.
Epilepsy Education Day New Mexico 2026 Agenda
- 9 a.m.
New Documents Added To Electronic Public Reading Room
LANL News:
The following documents have been added to the Los Alamos National Laboratory Electronic Reading Room.
The document(s) have been submitted to fulfill one or more requirements of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
- LANL IBC Meeting Minutes, September 4. 2025
- 2020 Results for Avian Monitoring of Inorganic and Organic Element Concentrations in Passerine Eggs and Nestlings Collected from Technical Area 16 Burn Grounds, Technical Area 36 Minie, and Technical Area 39 Point 6 at Los Alamos National Laboratory: Revision 2
New Southwest Coalition For Life Leader To Head Multi-State Expansion Of Pro-Woman Birthing Centers
SOUTHWEST COALITION News:
LAS CRUCES — the new Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Coalition for Life, Mayra Rodiguez is advancing a new model for the future of serving pregnant mothers. After exposing Planned Parenthood’s deceit of women and achieving a landmark victory over the abortion giant in court, Rodriguez is now a champion for authentic women’s health.
“From the heart of Mexico City to the corridors of women’s healthcare in the United States, my journey has always been about serving women,” said Rodriguez, who once ran three Planned Parenthood centers and will now lead a network Read More
District 1199 New Mexico Endorses Sam Bregman For Governor, Citing Comprehensive Healthcare Plan
From the Sam Bregman for Governor Campaign:
ALBUQUERQUE — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sam Bregman, announced the endorsement of District 1199 New Mexico, a leading union representing healthcare workers across the state.
District 1199 New Mexico’s leadership highlighted Bregman’s platform, which focuses on increasing access to care, ensuring adequate staffing levels, and improving working conditions for all healthcare professionals. The union specifically recognized Bregman’s commitment to protecting essential healthcare jobs and making critical investments Read More
ABC Hosts Suicide Prevention Training At Mesa Library Monday
Martinez: Challenges Of Grandparents, Kin Raising Children
Jeramay Martinez
By JERAMAY MARTINEZ
Health Care Specialist
Los Alamos County
Most of us know how the adoption and foster care system works, but kinship care is somewhere in the middle. It’s when grandparents, extended family members or even family friends take in, become legal guardians, and care for the children when their parents can’t. Kinship care is more common than you may think in New Mexico. A recent report from the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation found that 8 percent of all kids in New Mexico are in some type of kinship care arrangement. That is more than double the national Read More
Algae Bloom Advisory Lifted At Santa Cruz & Clayton Lakes
NMED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is lifting a harmful algae bloom advisory that was issued in late September for Santa Cruz Lake in Santa Fe County and Clayton Lake in Union County following updated monitoring data showing improved conditions.
Harmful algae blooms (HABs) occur when certain algae rapidly grow in surface waters, creating potential health risks for people and animals. These blooms can appear blue, bright green, brown, or red and may look like scum or floating grass clippings. Some HABs can produce toxins that are dangerous to both humans and animals. Read More
State Seeks To Hire Hundreds Of Child Welfare Workers, Expand Kids’ Mental Health Services
Valerie Sandoval
Acting Cabinet Secretary
CYFD News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico is seeking to hire hundreds of child welfare workers, expand substance abuse and infant mental health programs, and strengthen safety nets for vulnerable children and families under a proposed $422.3 million state budget.
The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) fiscal year 2027 budget represents a 4.7 percent increase and seeks $43.1 million of General Fund investments to replace expired federal health services grants, to add wrap-around services in communities and to broaden alternative Read More
NM To Open Five More Behavioral Health Clinics In 2026
HCA News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico will add five new agencies as Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in 2026 to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder services across six counties.
“For too many New Mexicans, getting behavioral health care has meant long waits or long drives,” Secretary Kari Armijo said. “This expansion is about meeting people where they are and making sure comprehensive care is available when and where it’s needed. By expanding Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in six counties, we are bringing services closer to home and removing barriers Read More