Wildfire Update: Unified Fire In Valencia County March 27
NMFD News:
Highlights: Containment lines on the Unified Fire held up to tests from higher winds yesterday, raising containment to 50%. Today, fire crews will continue suppression activities as well as rehabilitation efforts within the affected area. This will be the final notification on the Unified Fire unless significant changes occur.
Acres: 300.
Containment: 50% contained.
Start Date/Time: 10:49 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24.
Fuels: Grass, brush, timber and timber understory.
Cause: Under investigation.
Location: Madrone, east of I-25, south of Rio Communities in Valencia Read More
Gessing: Is New Mexico Suffering From The Curley Effect?
BY PAUL GESSING
President
New Mexico Rio Grande Foundation
I recently came across a concept called The Curley effect. It has nothing to do with Larry and Moe. After some research I learned that The Curley effect, coined by economists Edward L. Glaeser and Andrei Shleifer, is a real concept in political economy. It describes how politicians use wasteful redistributive policies and divisive rhetoric to drive opposing voters out of a city (or in our case a state), thus securing their electoral base.
Named after former Boston Mayor James Michael Curley, it explains how leaders can maintain power Read More
State Police Checkpoints And Saturation Patrols Across New Mexico In April
NMSP News:
State Police will be conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols; and registration, insurance, and driver’s license checkpoints in all New Mexico counties during April 2026.
We are bringing awareness to these events to reduce impaired driving-related fatalities through continued media attention and intensive advertising. These checkpoints are helping to change society’s attitude about driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.
Hundreds of lives could be saved each year if every driver had the courage to make the right decision Read More
House Speaker Javier Martinez: Haaland The Best Choice To Support Our Kids, Build A Bright Future For New Mexico
Gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland
From the campaign of Deb Haaland:
ALBUQUERQUE — Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives Javier Martinez announced his endorsement of Deb Haaland in the race for governor.
“New Mexico is rebuilding the village it takes to raise a child with every dollar we invest and every policy we pass. We’ve made life better and more affordable for working families across the state by lowering costs, improving access to healthcare and housing, and launching a first-of-its-kind universal childcare program,” Speaker Martínez said. “Right now, as federal Read More
Heinrich Shares Statement On DHS Appropriations
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after Senate Republicans agreed to Senate Democrats’ demand to fund agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that are not responsible for immigration enforcement—including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and U.S. Coast Guard.
Heinrich and Senate Democrats Read More
FBI: Las Cruces Felon Charged Federally With Fentanyl Trafficking And Firearm Offenses
FBI News:
ALBUQUERQUE — A Las Cruces man with prior felony convictions has been charged in federal court with fentanyl trafficking and multiple firearm offenses after allegedly threatening victims with a handgun and later possessing more than 40 grams of fentanyl while armed.
According to court records, July 5, 2025, Kenneth Manuel Aguirre, 43, allegedly pointed a handgun at three victims during an incident outside his residence in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office deputies took Aguirre into custody and recovered a handgun and suspected fentanyl pills from his vehicle, Read More
NRAO To Host Town Hall In Los Alamos To Discuss NGVLA Project April 15
NRAO News:
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is hosting a community listening session on the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), a future world-leading radio telescope that will be built largely in New Mexico and transform our understanding of the universe.
This year’s session in Los Alamos will take place at 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Bradbury Science Museum. The event will feature brief presentations from the Director of the Observatory, as well as the Director of Special Projects, followed by an open Q&A. Members of the public, local leaders, and Read More
Rep. Gabe Vasquez Announces Major Milestone: $5 Million Returned To New Mexican Taxpayers Through Casework
CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 27, 2025, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) announced that his office had successfully returned more than $5 million to constituents in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District this Congress through casework services.
Rep. Vasquez’s casework team helps constituents cut past red tape and resolve issues with federal agencies, including the IRS, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and more.
“Hardworking New Mexican families don’t have time to deal with slow government bureaucracy and wading through red tape. My Read More
New Mexico State Sen. Cindy Nava Appointed Vice Chair Of NHCSL Housing Task Force For 2026-2027 Term
Sen. Cindy Nava
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Sen. Cindy Nava (D- Bernalillo) has been appointed Vice Chair of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators’ (NHCSL) Housing Task Force for the 2026-2027 term.
The appointment was made by NHCSL Vice President for Public Policy Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk of Maryland and approved by NHCSL President, Rep. Juan Candelaria of Connecticut.
Sen. Nava brings exceptional credentials to this national leadership role. Before her election to the New Mexico State Senate in 2024, she served as Senior Policy Advisor and Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary Read More
Leger Fernández Opposes Blank Check For ICE; Reiterates Pay For TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA Bill Must Be Passed
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández released the following statement after voting against H. Res. 1128 and opposing efforts to tie funding for critical homeland security agencies to unchecked authority for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):
“I support the mission of agencies from TSA to the Coast Guard, and FEMA to the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency,” Leger Fernández said. “That’s why I’ve consistently pushed to fund them—and voted to make sure TSA agents, Coast Read More