Latest news with #NM
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Back to the days of land grabs': NM state lawmakers on alert against sale of public lands
Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Albuquerque) attended a watch event for a court hearing in the Yazzie/Martinez education equity case on April 29, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Prokop / Source NM) Even though the Republican tax and spend bill that cleared the United States House of Representatives last month no longer authorizes the sale of thousands acres of public land, state lawmakers in New Mexico say they will continue to monitor how the federal government's actions toward public lands could impact Native nations. As the interim legislative Indian Affairs Committee on Monday planned its work for the rest of 2025 at its first meeting since this year's legislative session, two members said the U.S. government's plan to sell public lands could threaten tribal sovereignty and economic development in New Mexico, which is home to 23 Indigenous nations. Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, an enrolled member of the Piro Manso Tiwa Tribe and an Albuquerque Democrat, said she anticipates the federal government's sales of public lands may affect tribal sovereignty, and she wants to know what legal mechanisms are available to the state government to 'push back against those land grabs.' 'I envision us going back to the days of land grabs,' Roybal Caballero said. U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), who co-founded the Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus earlier this year, last month applauded the removal of a provision in the budget bill that would have authorized the sale of thousands acres of public land in Utah and Nevada. At the time, Mark Allison, executive director of conservation advocacy group New Mexico Wild, said this is the first of many fights in coming days to stave off efforts to privatize public lands. 'The same forces that tried to sneak this land grab through would love nothing more than to come after New Mexico's public lands next time,' he said. NM delegation: Three national monuments could be reduced, eliminated Rep. Charlotte Little, an Albuquerque Democrat from San Felipe Pueblo, said on Monday she wants the committee to receive a report on the impact of the federal government's proposed actions toward the Chaco Canyon and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks national monuments, and how those actions could also affect economic development in the surrounding areas. New Mexico's federal delegation, led by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), in April asked the federal government to leave intact Tent Rocks along with Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument and Rio Grande del Norte, which they said were 'under consideration for reduction or elimination.' Roybal Caballero also said she wants the committee to discuss issues related to sustainable management of tribal lands including water rights, resource extraction and environmental protection. By the end of the year, the committee is expected to endorse legislation for the 2026 legislative session. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmaker asks U.S. attorney to intervene in New Mexico common lands case
Rep. Miguel Garcia (D-Albuquerque) wants U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Ryan Ellison to attend an interim legislative Land Grant Committee meeting this year. Garcia is showing speaking during the committee's first meeting since the most recent legislative session on May 30, 2025. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM) A state lawmaker is asking the top federal prosecutor in New Mexico to reopen a case that allowed the American government to take millions of acres of commonly owned land promised to New Mexicans in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Rep. Miguel Garcia (D-Albuquerque) on May 28 sent a letter to U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Ryan Ellison asking him to reopen a 128-year-old court case called United States v. Sandoval. Garcia is asking Ellison to attend one of this year's interim legislative Land Grant Committee hearings, at which land grant attorney Narciso Garcia will present the legal arguments and questions surrounding the case to either Ellison or his designee, and the committee will ask him to intervene. Last Friday, at the committee's first meeting since this year's legislative session, Garcia said he took it upon himself to make the request, and that Ellison's office is deliberating how to respond to it. Ellison's office declined to comment. The case deals with commonly owned land — locally managed lands meant to sustain communities — in seven areas in New Mexico granted by the Spanish Empire and later recognized by Mexican law. The justices ruled that the common lands were actually owned by the Spanish Empire, and therefore became the U.S. government's property as a result of the the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the end of the Mexican-American War. During this period, land speculators, including U.S. government officials, took advantage of adverse U.S. Supreme Court decisions to defraud communities of their common lands, Arturo Archuleta, director of the New Mexico Land Grant Council and the University of New Mexico Land Grant-Merced Institute, told the committee. The Sandoval decision resulted in the seven land grants shrinking from an average of 450,000 acres to 1,500 acres, Garcia wrote. He wrote that the ruling was a travesty of justice, and told the committee that it resulted in the depopulation of some land grant communities who could no longer herd as many cattle and sheep or produce as many forestry products. 'This was devastating for these communities because this is what brought on poverty in our state,' Garcia told the committee. 'This is a good example of how our land grant communities were turned from a vibrant, self-sustaining community to an impoverished community.' Garcia attached to the letter a 2018 working paper written by John Mitchell, who argues that after Mexico ceded the Territory of New Mexico to the U.S., Congress failed to incorporate it and allowed a temporary government to grant common lands to the inhabitants, which took away jurisdiction from the U.S. Supreme Court concerning land titles in the territory. 'Ultimately, the decision still belongs to the New Mexico Supreme Court who could hold that the de facto government did in fact grant common lands under existing law,' Mitchell wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New Mexico school complaint, New Mexico deputy charged, Weekend rain, Roswell Amazon, Bernalillo County animal shelter
What's happening around NM May 30-June 5? Kirtland Air Fiesta and more City rolls out new barricades for downtown Albuquerque weekend nights Alamogordo man believes he was bitten by shark off North Carolina coast Clovis police arrest teen accused of shooting at cars NM leaders speak out against possible bill to cut SNAP and Medicaid funding Lobo football selected for 7 national TV games Faizan Zaki overcomes shocking flub, wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee [1] Complaint filed against NM school after questions about student's immigration status – A local teachers union is claiming a New Mexico school district has been asking students about their citizenship status. Espanola Public Schools have used optional career-readiness programs that help connect students with potential future employers. According to a group of teachers in the district, as part of one of the program's assessment, the district directed teachers at Espanola Valley High School to ask students for their country of origin and their alien registration number. The union has filed a complaint against the school district, arguing the directive is out of the educators agreed upon work conditions. The district says they've started an investigation into the concerns and will take appropriate action if any violations are found. [2] Las Vegas deputy charged with aggravated battery and robbery – A Las Vegas deputy is in trouble with the law again, now facing new charges. On Sunday, NMSP were called out to a disturbance at Storrie Lake. According to witnesses, San Miguel Sheriff's Office Deputy Justin Padilla and his brother, Jeffery, attacked a man, beat him unconscious, and took his gun. Justin Padilla told officers the victim had been pointing the gun at people at the park, and he had to be disarmed. He's facing robbery and aggravated battery charges. In 2023, Padilla was accused of holding down a woman while another woman hit her. He was placed on administrative leave for that incident [3] Breezy with more storms, then cooler weather around New Mexico – Temperatures continue to heat up into Friday. Isolated storm chances will continue into the weekend, mainly around the mountain. Widespread rain is likely on Monday. Storms will continue to develop each afternoon through Sunday, with the best chance for rain and thunderstorms in the mountains and nearby areas. Temperatures will continue to warm through Friday afternoon, but stay very warm to hot across the state through the weekend as well. [4] Roswell expected to be the location of new Amazon facility – The City of Roswell is one step closer to getting a new Amazon facility, and the potential economic opportunities that come with it. Amazon is eying a 7.5 acre plot of land on Roswell's south side by the airport to build a new 'Last Mile Facility.' This will make it easier to route deliveries to their final stops in southeast New Mexico. The city is offering the land for $60,000, saying the return on the sale could bring hundreds of jobs and the potential of expanding. [5] Bernalillo County animal shelter well over capacity – The Bernalillo County Animal Care and Resource Center is beyond over capacity, and they need help to get their furry friends adopted before it's too late. The shelter can fit about 120 dogs comfortably, but with more than 150 in their care right now, the shelter's resources and staff are strained to the limit. There will be a spay and neuter clinic at the end of next month. All adoption fees at the shelter are currently waived. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
With billions on the line, New NM federal funding legislative subcommittee meets for the first time
New Mexico ranks first among U.S. states for its share of federal dollars, with billions at risk pending Congress' budget decisions (Photos by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom and Danielle Prokop/Source NM) Members of the recently created Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee met for the first time Wednesday for briefings on how federal funding is funneled into New Mexico and how current and future cuts might impact the state The subcommittee formed in response to the loss of funds and threats of cuts from the Trump administration to programs that affect state residents, including Medicaid, federal nutrition programs and programs run by the various state agencies. Lawmakers started with an overall look at where federal funding is allocated throughout the state. New Mexico Department of Finance Secretary Wayne Propst explained to the committee that according to a Federal Funds Information for States report released last week, New Mexico is the top state receiving federal funds. The report is based on data from fiscal year 2023. 'The study confirmed that New Mexico is number one in terms of federal funding coming into the state,' Propst said. 'For every $1 in taxes that we send to the federal government, we receive approximately $3.21 back in New Mexico. That includes those direct payments, but it also includes the funding for our military bases, our national labs and other items.' He said the state's overall budget for Fiscal Year 2026 is $33.16 billion, with 43.5%, $14.44 billion, funded by federal money. The Health Care Authority receives the most federal money — more than $11 million, which makes up about 74% of its annual budget this fiscal year. Propst also noted that if Congress ends up passing the budget bill — which made its way out of the U.S. House of Representatives last week and will now be considered by the Senate — New Mexico will see impacts to Medicaid; a $290 billion reduction in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; and a reduction in the federal oil and gas royalty rate from 16.67% to 12.5%. NM reps say GOP bill will gut Medicaid and also reduce oil money that could help state save it Eric Chenier, principal analyst for the Legislative Finance Committee, further broke down federal funding by state agencies, including the Early Childhood Education and Care Department, Higher Education Department, Department of Transportation and Department of Health. Chenier noted that as of May, the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology reported losing $36 million, $27.2 million and $2.5 million in federal grant revenue respectively. Legislative Education Finance Committee Director John Sena delved into how federal funds are used for public education in New Mexico. He explained that the state is aware of several areas that have lost federal funding, including $12.3 million for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, which was awarded to the state during the COVID-19 pandemic; $5.1 million for the Teacher Quality Partnership Program, which funded residency programs and mentoring for 68 people; and $5 million for school-based mental health services, which supported programs in Silver City and the Central Region Educational Cooperative and puts 18 positions at risk. AG Torrez joins lawsuit over federal education funds Sen. Bill Soules (D-Las Cruces), co-chair of the subcommittee, added that he wants to see flexibility from the group as more changes are announced from the Trump administration. 'There are going to be things that come up that we haven't thought about. For instance, we're getting into fire season and lots of the fire response often comes from the federal government. That's somewhat more in question now. Is the state going to be responsible to uphold all of those? That could be a major budget area,' Soules said. 'There also, I think, are areas where already we're seeing some of our small businesses, because of tariffs, are closing down, pulling back, have lower amounts and stuff, which means that's less revenue coming in on the state level as those businesses close or have to lay off workers or things of that sort.' The next subcommittee meeting is scheduled for July 1 and 2 in Santa Fe. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Officials speak on wildfire that damaged Fort Stanton Historic Site
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – A Wildfire burning near Ruidoso has now left its mark on a major piece of New Mexico history, destroying and damaging buildings at one of the oldest military forts in the country. 'The good news is that the majority of the site is intact,' said Oliver Horn, New Mexico Historic Sites, Lincoln/Fort Stanton Regional Manager. Story continues below Don't Miss: Body of airman recovered at Elephant Butte Lake, Kirtland Air Force Base says Weather: When does monsoon season start in NM? What you can expect this summer? Crime: Man reflects on YouTube after family killed by younger brother in NE ABQ But after burning structures built during World War II, the Camp Fire has now left destruction at one of New Mexico's most historic military sites. 'And so, the fire essentially swept through the internment camp, and so, we lost two wood structures from the CCC, what we think are from the original CCC camp,' said Horn. Sunday afternoon, the blaze ripped through two wooden buildings on the northwest part of the property outside of Capitan. Those include an old residence and an old bowling alley, both built in the 1940s near areas where German sailors were held in internment camps. 'The firefighters, the incident commanders, incident response team, they were able to channel the fire away from the main site and on the northern side of the Rio Benito river,' said Horn. With buildings dating back to 1855, Fort Stanton is among the largest, oldest, and most intact military forts in the country and one of the best preserved in New Mexico. The 240-acre property has nearly 90 buildings on it, most of which the wildfire didn't touch. 'However, the other remaining features over there survived, and so, some of them, you know, the key ones are, there's a guardhouse. So, all of these are a combination of concrete and adobe structures. So, they're fire resistant, and so the guardhouse survived,' said Horn. The state Department of Cultural Affairs documented and photographed all the buildings on the site in the last few years, which is something they'll use for visitors now as a reminder of what's been lost. 'We lost some historic structures that we cannot replace,' said Horn. Fort Stanton remains closed until further notice because crews also need to replace a damaged water pumping system. They're also working on a continued project to remove all invasive species in the area while looking to replace some of the building roofs on the site with more fire-resistant materials. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
