Latest news with #NewMexican
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Oil and gas have boomed in New Mexico. Its schools are contending with pollution's effects
COUNSELOR, N.M. — On a Tuesday in March, Billton Werito drove his son Amari toward his house in Counselor, N.M., driving past natural gas pipelines, wellheads and water tanks. Amari should have been in school, but a bout of nausea and a dull headache kept him from class. 'It happens a lot,' Amari explained from the backseat. The symptoms usually show up when the sixth grader smells an odor of 'rotten egg with propane' that rises from nearby gas wells and wafts over Lybrook Elementary School, where he and some 70 other Navajo students attend class. His little brother often misses school for the same reason. 'They just keep getting sick,' Amari's father, Billton, said. 'Especially the younger one, he's been throwing up and won't eat.' The symptoms are putting the kids at risk of falling further behind in school. Lybrook sits in the heart of New Mexico's San Juan Basin, a major oil and gas deposit that, along with the Permian Basin in the state's southeast, is supplying natural gas that meets much of the nation's electricity demand. The New Mexican gas has reaped huge benefits. Natural gas has become a go-to fuel for power plants, sometimes replacing dirtier coal-fired plants and improving air quality. Oil and gas companies employ thousands of workers, often in areas with few other opportunities, and their revenue boosts the state's budget. But those benefits may come at a cost for thousands of students in New Mexico whose schools sit near pipelines, wellheads and flare stacks. An Associated Press analysis found 694 oil and gas wells with new or active permits within a mile of a school in the state. This means around 29,500 students in 74 schools and preschools potentially face exposure to noxious emissions that can be released during extraction. At Lybrook, Amari's school, fewer than 6% of students are proficient at math, and only a fifth meet state standards for science and reading proficiency. Other factors could help explain poor achievement. AP's analysis found two-thirds of the schools within a mile of an oil or gas well are low-income. But research has found student learning is directly harmed by air pollution from fossil fuels — even when socioeconomic factors are taken into account. The risks go far beyond New Mexico. An AP analysis of data from the Global Oil and Gas Extraction Tracker found more than 1,000 public schools across 13 states within five miles of a major oil or gas field. 'This kind of air pollution has a real, measurable effect on students,' said Mike Gilraine, an economics professor at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. Gilraine's research has shown student test scores are closely associated with air contamination. America's shift to natural gas has resulted in substantial increases in student achievement nationwide, Gilraine's research shows, as it has displaced dirtier coal and led to cleaner air on the whole. But there have been little data on air quality across New Mexico, even as it has become one of the most productive states in the nation for natural gas. State regulators have installed only 20 permanent air monitors, most in areas without oil or gas production. Independent researchers have extensively studied the air quality near schools in at least two locations in the state, however. One is Lybrook, which sits within a mile of 17 active oil and gas wells. In 2024, a study at the school found levels of pollutants — including benzene, a cancer-causing byproduct of natural gas production that is particularly harmful to children — were spiking during school hours, to nearly double the levels known to cause chronic or acute health effects. That research followed a 2021 health impact assessment that found more than 90% of area residents surveyed suffered from sinus problems. Nosebleeds, shortness of breath and nausea were widespread. The report attributed the symptoms to the high levels of pollutants — including, near Lybrook, hydrogen sulfide, a compound that gives off the sulfur smell that Amari associates with his headaches. Those studies helped confirm what many community members already knew, said Daniel Tso, a community leader who helped oversee the 2021 health impact assessment. 'The children and the grandchildren need a safe homeland,' Tso said in March, standing outside a cluster of gas wells within a mile of Lybrook Elementary. 'You smell that?' he said, nodding toward a nearby wellhead, which smelled like propane. 'I've had people visiting this area from New York. They spend five minutes here and say, 'Hey, I got a headache.' And the kids are what, six hours a day at the school breathing this?' Lybrook school officials did not respond to requests for comment. Researchers have identified similar air quality problems in New Mexico's southeast. In 2023, a yearlong study of the air in Loving found air quality was worse than in downtown Los Angeles, containing the fifth-highest level of measured ozone contamination in the U.S. The source of the ozone — a pollutant that's especially hazardous to children — was the area's network of gas wells. Some of that infrastructure sits within a half-mile of Loving's schools. For most locals, any concerns about pollution are outweighed by the industry's economic benefits. Representatives of the oil and gas industry have claimed the air quality studies themselves are not trustworthy. Andrea Felix, vice president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Assn. (NMOGA), said other sources of emissions, such as cars and trucks, are likely a larger source of air quality problems near wells. Officials with Loving schools are also skeptical. Superintendent Lee White said funds from the oil and gas industry paid for a new wing at the elementary school, a science lab for students, turf on the sports field and training for teachers. In the most recent fiscal year, oil and gas revenue supported $1.7 billion in K-12 spending in New Mexico, according to an NMOGA report. 'Are we willing to give that up because people say our air is not clean?' White asked. 'It's just as clean as anywhere else.'
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Oil and gas have boomed in New Mexico. Its schools are contending with pollution's effects
COUNSELOR, N.M. (AP) — On a Tuesday in March, Billton Werito drove his son Amari toward his house in Counselor, New Mexico, driving past natural gas pipelines, wellheads and water tanks. Amari should have been in school, but a bout of nausea and a dull headache kept him from class. 'It happens a lot,' Amari explained from the backseat. The symptoms usually show up when the sixth grader smells an odor of 'rotten egg with propane' that rises from nearby gas wells and wafts over Lybrook Elementary School, where he and some 70 other Navajo students attend class. His little brother often misses school for the same reason. 'They just keep getting sick,' Amari's father, Billton, said. 'Especially the younger one, he's been throwing up and won't eat.' The symptoms are putting the kids at risk of falling further behind in school. Lybrook sits in the heart of New Mexico's San Juan Basin, a major oil and gas deposit that, along with the Permian Basin in the state's southeast, is supplying natural gas that meets much of the nation's electricity demand. The New Mexican gas has reaped huge benefits. Natural gas has become a go-to fuel for power plants, sometimes replacing dirtier coal-fired plants and improving air quality. Oil and gas companies employ thousands of workers, often in areas with few other opportunities, and their revenue boosts the state's budget. But those benefits may come at a cost for thousands of students in New Mexico whose schools sit near pipelines, wellheads and flare stacks. An Associated Press analysis found 694 oil and gas wells with new or active permits within a mile of a school in the state. This means around 29,500 students in 74 schools and preschools potentially face exposure to noxious emissions that can be released during extraction. At Lybrook, Amari's school, fewer than 6% of students are proficient at math, and only a fifth meet state standards for science and reading proficiency. Other factors could help explain poor achievement. AP's analysis found two-thirds of the schools within a mile of an oil or gas well are low-income. But research has found student learning is directly harmed by air pollution from fossil fuels — even when socioeconomic factors are taken into account. The risks go far beyond New Mexico. An AP analysis of data from the Global Oil and Gas Extraction Tracker found over 1,000 public schools across 13 states within five miles of a major oil or gas field. 'This kind of air pollution has a real, measurable effect on students,' said Mike Gilraine, an economics professor at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. Gilraine's research has shown student test scores are closely associated with air contamination. America's shift to natural gas has resulted in substantial increases in student achievement nationwide, Gilraine's research shows, as it has displaced dirtier coal and led to cleaner air on the whole. But there has been little data on air quality across New Mexico, even as it has become one of the most productive states in the nation for natural gas. State regulators have installed only 20 permanent air monitors, most in areas without oil or gas production. Independent researchers have extensively studied the air quality near schools in at least two locations in the state, however. One is Lybrook, which sits within a mile of 17 active oil and gas wells. In 2024, a study at the school found levels of pollutants — including benzene, a cancer-causing byproduct of natural gas production that is particularly harmful to children — were spiking during school hours, to nearly double the levels known to cause chronic or acute health effects. That research followed a 2021 health impact assessment that found more than 90% of area residents surveyed suffered from sinus problems. Nosebleeds, shortness of breath and nausea were widespread. The report attributed the symptoms to the high levels of pollutants — including, near Lybrook, hydrogen sulfide, a compound that gives off the sulfur smell that Amari associates with his headaches. Those studies helped confirm what many community members already knew, said Daniel Tso, a community leader who helped oversee the 2021 health impact assessment. 'The children and the grandchildren need a safe homeland,' Tso said in March, standing outside a cluster of gas wells within a mile of Lybrook Elementary. 'You smell that?' he said, nodding towards a nearby wellhead, which smelled like propane. 'I've had people visiting this area from New York. They spend five minutes here and say, 'Hey, I got a headache.' And the kids are what, six hours a day at the school breathing this?' Lybrook school officials did not respond to requests for comment. Researchers have identified similar air quality problems in New Mexico's southeast. In 2023, a yearlong study of the air in Loving found air quality was worse than in downtown Los Angeles, containing the fifth-highest level of measured ozone contamination in the U.S. The source of the ozone — a pollutant that's especially hazardous to children — was the area's network of gas wells. Some of that infrastructure sits within a half-mile of Loving's schools. For most locals, any concerns about pollution are outweighed by the industry's economic benefits. Representatives of the oil and gas industry have claimed the air quality studies themselves are not trustworthy. Andrea Felix, vice president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA), said other sources of emissions, such as cars and trucks, are likely a larger source of air quality problems near wells. Officials with Loving schools are also skeptical. Superintendent Lee White said funds from the oil and gas industry paid for a new wing at the elementary school, a science lab for students, turf on the sports field and training for teachers. In the most recent fiscal year, oil and gas revenue supported $1.7 billion in K-12 spending in New Mexico, according to a NMOGA report. 'Are we willing to give that up because people say our air is not clean?' White asked. 'It's just as clean as anywhere else.' Efforts to limit drilling near schools were boosted in 2023, when State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard issued an executive order prohibiting new oil and gas leases on state-owned land within a mile of schools. ____ AP journalist Sharon Lurye contributed. ____ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Business Journals
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
CEO to CEO: Molzen Corbin — Table of Experts
For nearly three decades, Kevin Eades has played a key role in shaping New Mexico's infrastructure landscape. Now President and CEO of Molzen Corbin—one of the state's most prominent engineering and architecture firms—Eades continues to lead with a focus on innovation, community impact and employee ownership. Since joining the firm in 1994, he's contributed to transformative projects like the I-25/NM 14 Diverging Diamond Interchange and the Los Lunas Corridor Project, and in 2021, he helped usher in a new era by transitioning Molzen Corbin to a 100% employee-owned company. Albuquerque Business First Publisher Will Martinez sat down with Eades to discuss his journey and the firm's evolution. WILL MARTINEZ: Kevin, thank you so much for having us. I would love to hear a little bit about your background KEVIN EADES: I was born in Salt Lake City and then moved here when I was 8. I've lived here since. I grew up in Kirtland, outside of Farmington, about a mile off the Navajo Reservation. MARTINEZ: So, by all accounts, you are an adopted native New Mexican! And then you went to New Mexico State. Was Molzen Corbin your first job out of college? EADES: Yes, it was my first real adult job. That was 1994. You might be surprised, but there are a bunch of us here with that story. There are probably five, six, seven of us, with more than 30 years, that this was the only job we ever had. MARTINEZ: That's really incredible. I think it shows how special Molzen Corbin is. Could you talk a little bit about your journey from being an employee to basically becoming the employee-owner in charge. EADES: We kind of have that reputation; of it being more organic. I'd be lying if I said that it was my dream. It just kind of happened. MARTINEZ: That's usually how it happens to the best of us, hopefully. EADES: I'd say it was lucky. Being in the right place at the right time. When I came here, Molzen Corbin hired me out of college. I had other offers. Some were government and some were construction. I worked in construction during college, so I think that helped me a lot. When I came here, I started out in the field in construction. Then things just kind of happened. We had some people leave and they gave me a lot of responsibility early with some of our major clients. I was excited about it, and I didn't have anything else going on. I was young. I wasn't married and didn't have kids yet. So, I jumped in. The job was a lot of night meetings. A lot of council and P&Z meetings, so that led me to get to know those communities really well. At the time, I didn't know that it was our legacy clients. I just started working. Later, we had another opportunity and I ended up being the department leader for our civil department at a very young age. You've probably discovered in your research, but we have civil, water resources, airports, architectural, electrical and then our Las Cruces and El Paso offices. A lot of it I just learned being involved here and there and then as Del Archuleta started to look towards retirement, he told me, 'You can start driving the car. Here are the keys and I'm going to keep an eye on you and make sure you don't drive outside the lanes.' MARTINEZ: Well, it sure seems like you have driven the car well. Could you maybe walk us through the origin story of your company, and how have its mission and values evolved under your leadership? EADES: Molzen Corbin got its start back in 1960 as D.F. Molzen & Associates, founded in Albuquerque by Dayton Molzen. A few years later, Albert Corbin joined him, and it became Molzen Corbin. Together they built a strong reputation across New Mexico for integrity and personalized service. They believed in doing business on a handshake and their word—values that still guide us today. The firm really expanded under Del Archuleta, who became sole owner and CEO, growing our water resources work while staying true to that original vision. I stepped into the CEO role in 2021, we had transitioned to being 100% employee-owned—a major milestone and a meaningful way to carry that legacy forward. MARTINEZ: Well congratulations to you all! This May marks a major milestone for Molzen Corbin as your firm will be celebrating 65 years serving New Mexico's communities. How has your mission evolved to meet the changing needs of municipalities while staying true to your roots? EADES: For over 65 years, Molzen Corbin has been right there alongside New Mexico's communities. Our mission— inspired professionals defining excellence—has guided us from day one, but at the heart of it, our work has always been about more than just infrastructure. It's about helping communities grow and thrive. Over the years, the challenges have definitely changed—things are more complex, and the needs are more diverse—but we've kept pace by evolving our approach, expanding our capabilities, and staying ahead of the curve technically. What hasn't changed is our commitment to serving with purpose and heart, and with a deep respect for the people and cultures that make New Mexico so special. Because we're locally based, this isn't just where we work—it's home. Our team reflects the spirit and diversity of the Southwest, and that connection helps us deliver practical, lasting solutions rooted in the realities of the communities we serve. I think that authenticity and adaptability are what have helped us build trust across generations. MARTINEZ: As a 100% employee-owned company, how does employee ownership influence your culture, decision-making, and the long-term commitment of your team? EADES: Being 100% employee-owned really enhances the game. When everyone has a stake in the company's success, it naturally creates a culture where people take pride in their work and look out for one another. It's no longer just about completing tasks—it's about building something together. That ownership mentality shows up in how we make decisions, how we collaborate, and how we go the extra mile for our clients. For our employee-owners, the benefits are both personal and financial. Ownership means having a real, tangible stake in the value we create—and as the company grows, so does their equity. It's a long-term wealth-building opportunity that provides security beyond a traditional paycheck. That sense of financial empowerment motivates people to stay, contribute at a high level, and take real pride in the future, they're helping to build—for themselves, their families, and their communities. MARTINEZ: I really think you all have an incredible model that builds that 'we' mentality in your people from the start. Apart from employee ownership, what sets Molzen Corbin apart from other engineering and architecture firms? EADES: That is easy - we have incredible employees! At Molzen Corbin, we don't just design projects, we help shape the communities we call home. A lot of our employee-owners grew up in the very towns and neighborhoods we now serve, so there's a personal connection to the work that's hard to replicate. And with 100% employee ownership, that connection runs even deeper. Everyone has skin in the game, which fuels a culture of pride, accountability, and real collaboration. What really sets us apart is our commitment to staying rooted. While other firms may grow by acquisition or chase markets far from home, we've made a deliberate choice to focus on New Mexico and El Paso. In short, we're proud of 'delivering state-of-the-art projects with a local touch'! MARTINEZ: Molzen Corbin is known for nurturing 'homegrown talent.' How do you support employee development and foster a culture where professionals feel valued and empowered? EADES: At Molzen Corbin, we don't look at talent development as just an HR box to check—it's a key part of our long-term strategy. As I said, a lot of us started here right out of college and have built our entire careers with the company. That's not unusual for us. Over 24% of our employee-owners have been with Molzen Corbin for more than 25 years. For a company of almost 100 employees, that kind of continuity is rare in the AEC industry. We want people to grow, step into leadership, and stay connected to the bigger mission along the way. We encourage a real sense of ownership from those who are closest to the work and the communities we serve. These aren't just projects on a spreadsheet; they're the parks our kids play in, the roads we drive every day, the fire stations that protect our families, and the water systems that serve our neighborhoods. Our team lives in the same places we work and that lived connection brings a level of care and responsibility that you can't fake. MARTINEZ: Molzen Corbin has led high-profile projects like Spaceport America, the UNM PIT renovation, and the $240 million Los Lunas Corridor. How do you balance pushing the boundaries of innovation with meeting the practical needs and tight budgets of municipalities? EADES: At Molzen Corbin, we see innovation and fiscal responsibility as two sides of the same coin. The communities we serve often face tight budgets, so our challenge—and opportunity—is to deliver creative, forward-thinking solutions that are also practical, affordable, and built to last. We've learned how to make a big impact without overspending. Whether it was Spaceport America or the renovation of The PIT, our approach has always been grounded in smart planning. We use tools like phasing, life-cycle cost analysis, and strategic grant funding to help municipalities stretch every dollar while still reaching their goals. The Los Lunas Corridor project is a great example. It's the largest 'Local Lead' project in New Mexico history and includes a new I-25 interchange, the longest bridge in New Mexico (across the Rio Grande) and a critical connection between I-25 and NM 47. It's innovative not just in design, but in how it was phased, funded, and planned in close partnership with the Village over more than two decades. To us, innovation isn't about chasing the latest trends, it's about solving real-world problems with discipline and creativity. We focus on delivering solutions that reduce long-term costs, enhance sustainability, and meet the true needs of the community. At the end of the day, it's about creating value that lasts—not just a finished product. MARTINEZ: Sustainability is increasingly important in public infrastructure. How does Molzen Corbin incorporate greener, more sustainable solutions into your engineering and architectural projects? EADES: At Molzen Corbin, sustainability isn't a buzzword, it's a responsibility we bring to every project. It's not just about checking boxes or chasing awards; it's about making thoughtful, lasting choices that serve communities now and for generations to come. We're proud to have led the way in New Mexico with the state's first Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Silver Rating for the I-25/University Interchange Project in Las Cruces. We've also earned LEED Silver Certifications for major projects like The PIT renovation and the Santa Fe Regional Airport Terminal Expansion. But for us, sustainability goes beyond certifications—it's about designing smart, efficient infrastructure that balances environmental stewardship with real-world practicality and cost-effectiveness. MARTINEZ: Molzen Corbin has earned a number of notable awards and accolades over the years. How do you see these recognitions influencing your company's culture and reputation? EADES: While we're honored to receive industry awards, what means the most to us are the compliments from our clients and seeing our projects truly serve the communities they were built for. Whether it's renovating the iconic UNM 'PIT' (a venue that holds meaning for generations of New Mexicans as well as being one of the top college basketball venues in the nation), designing a community center that gives kids a safe place after school and seniors a place to connect, designing a runway for future space travel, or bringing clean drinking water to a rural community for the very first time—those are the moments that define success for us. That said, formal recognition does play a role in reinforcing our culture. It validates the high standards our employee-owners hold themselves to and builds pride across the organization. It also strengthens our reputation with clients, helping them see that they're partnering with a firm that consistently delivers excellence. MARTINEZ: Looking at the future, what is your vision for Molzen Corbin's growth, and how are you preparing the next generation of leaders to carry the firm forward? EADES: At Molzen Corbin, our vision is centered on intentional, meaningful growth. We're not chasing size—we're focused on deepening our impact across New Mexico, staying true to our values, and preparing the next generation of leaders to carry the torch. That means investing in people who want more than just a job—they want to build something that matters. We look for professionals who take the initiative, think beyond their roles, and genuinely care about the communities we serve. Leadership here isn't about titles—it's a mindset we expect from everyone. As a 100% employee-owned firm, that mindset runs deep. Ownership fosters a shared sense of responsibility and a culture of trust, mentorship, and empowerment. We give our people the tools and space to lead because our future depends on them. At the end of the day, our success comes down to leaders who care, think boldly, and act with integrity—and that's exactly the kind of foundation we're building on. MARTINEZ: How do you maintain strong relationships with your municipal clients over the years? What sets Molzen Corbin apart in that regard? EADES: At Molzen Corbin, our relationships with municipal clients go far beyond the transactional. They're built on trust, consistency, and a shared sense of purpose. Some of our earliest clients—like the Village of Los Lunas and the City of Belen—have been with us since the 1960s. Today, about 90% of our work comes from repeat clients. That kind of long-term loyalty doesn't just happen, it's earned by consistently showing up, solving problems, and honoring our commitments year after year. And because we live and work in the same communities, we bring a level of insight and accountability that's tough to replicate. At the end of the day, everything comes back to trust. Whether it's a small upgrade or a major infrastructure investment, every conversation is an opportunity to build that trust—through responsiveness, follow-through, and a real commitment to serving the public good. We often say, 'We take our client's pain away'—and that's really the Molzen Corbin difference.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New Mexico chiles earthbound after research on plants in space trimmed
In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump said boots were imminent on the red planet. But chile — red or green — may not be coming on the trip. A 2021 experiment to grow New Mexico chile in space, known as PH-04, relied on the Advanced Plant Habitat, an automated plant growth facility on board the International Space Station. Future research at the facility, is in flux, however. NASA recently announced research applicants would no longer be able to request the use the Advanced Plant Habitat for their proposed experiments 'due to recent resource constraints.' Plant Habitat-04 Debris Removal European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet cleans up debris in the International Space Station's Advanced Plant Habitat, which has harvested a hybrid New Mexican chile that combines Hatch chile with an Española variety. One New Mexico researcher who worked on the PH-04 project said making it to Mars will require the type of research done in the specialized lab — for the health of those embarking on the yearslong mission — and the research, in turn, could inform agricultural practices on our own planet. An early proposal shows NASA's budget for the space station could shrink by more than $500 million, cutting crew members and onboard research, as the agency plans to transition to 'more cost-effective' commercial space missions. Remaining resources would be focused on missions to the moon and Mars. A federal contract award database shows there are two contracts to provide engineering services for the plant habitat: one for $1.4 million and another for $7.9 million. It was unclear if the lab has additional costs, whether it might become available later for research or if there are alternative research opportunities on the space station. A NASA spokesperson did not answer questions about the facility. NASA requested around $1.2 billion total for research and operations in fiscal year 2025 at the International Space Station. Although the price tag might seem high, it's a relatively scant slice of the government pie, representing about 4% of NASA's total budget, which in turn makes up less than 1% of the federal budget. (copy) Jacob Torres, an Española native, holds a New Mexico chile grown in space as part of a NASA experiment. Torres is now working on a doctorate at UNM and visiting schools as "Jacob Pepperseed" to deliver chile seeds, teach kids about astro-botany and generate some good news about his hometown. Hotter in space NASA began planning to grow vitamin-C-rich peppers in space a few years ago. An agency webpage on growing plants in space said astronauts on the International Space Station now receive shipments of freeze-dried and packaged foods. But on long space trips, astronauts wouldn't have regular deliveries, and the vitamins in those foods would eventually break down. That leaves a problem. 'A lack of vitamin C was all it took to give sailors scurvy, and vitamin deficiencies can cause a number of other health problems,' the webpage states. 'Simply packing some multi-vitamins will not be enough to keep astronauts healthy as they explore deep space. They will need fresh produce.' Enter the chile. iss066e023165 New Mexico chiles grown in PH-04 — an agricultural experiment dedicated to peppers. The Española Improved chile was selected as the superior chile to grow in this type of controlled environment. More than 30 pepper varieties from around the world were grown under controlled conditions to replicate the International Space Station. Jacob Torres, an Española native and NASA contract scientist who worked on the project, said half the peppers didn't flower or grow, and other samples blistered and swelled. But varieties from one location thrived. 'And, of course, they were the New Mexico ones,' Torres said. A hybrid variety, NuMex Española Improved, was ultimately selected for the mission. Hatch chiles were mixed with Española chiles, which grow at a higher altitude and have a shorter season, to reduce the growing time. The seeds were delivered as part of a SpaceX resupply mission. Initially, Torres said, the peppers were too mild — more like a bell pepper. That wasn't a problem in space. 'They actually ended up being a lot hotter up in space,' Torres said, 'because microgravity stressed them out [and] they didn't grow as fast.' Torres, who worked at the Kennedy Space Center, felt a lot of pressure to get chile right. 'I felt like it was my job to ensure that our traditions were followed,' he said. 'That meant spelling chile with an e, harvesting green and red.' New Mexico chiles grown in PH-04 — an agricultural experiment dedicated to peppers. The Española Improved chile was selected as the superior chile to grow in this type of controlled environment. Good food is critical In 2023, astronaut Frank Rubio returned to Earth after spending a record-breaking 371 days in space — the longest time an American had spent off-planet. The world record still belongs to the Russian Valeri Polyakov, who spent more than 400 days in space in the 1990s. But a Mars mission would go far beyond that, with NASA estimating last year astronauts would likely be off Earth for around three years. Getting to the red planet alone would take several months. At the time of the PH-04 experiment, NASA officials said the research in the Advanced Plant Habitat was critical to get astronauts — and, eventually, inhabitants — to Mars. In a 2021 news release, researchers said astronauts' physical and mental well-being was improved when they grew colorful and scented plants. In space, astronauts can lose some of their smell and taste capabilities, so some prefer spicy foods, the news release stated. 'The food astronauts eat needs to be as good as the rest of their equipment,' one researcher said in a statement. 'To successfully send people to Mars and bring them back to Earth, we will not only require the most nutritious foods, but the best tasting ones as well.' In his inaugural address, Trump said Mars was a target, and an early budget proposal emphasizes investments in human missions to the planet. 'We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars,' Trump said Jan. 20. Spreading seeds Torres no longer works for NASA. He moved back to New Mexico to pursue his doctorate in mechanical engineering at the University of New Mexico and take care of his family's land in Española. For the past two years, he's been volunteering as his alter ego, 'Jacob Pepperseed,' visiting schools to deliver chile seeds, teach kids about astrobotany and generate some good news about his hometown. 'I sent seeds to the Midwest,' Torres said. 'I sent seeds to Antarctica, to Australia, to China, to South Africa. We sent chile seeds around the world — I have Johnny Appleseed beat.' iss066e023260 Red and green chiles float in the International Space Station in 2021 as crew members conduct a taste test. But Torres had hoped to do more research in the Advanced Plant Habitat as part of his doctoral work. He developed a passive irrigation system that wouldn't require electricity or pumps and hoped to test the design in space. He thinks the irrigation system could help with more sustainable plant growth in space and ultimately be used for longer spaceflights like missions to the moon or Mars. 'We were doing proposals for it, and at least they realized that they needed to give us a heads up because we were all putting like 100 hours to writing this thing,' Torres said. 'We just woke up one day and they canceled it.' Looking at agriculture in space is going to be crucial for space travel, Torres said. But he also sees potential applications for the research on Earth. Torres mentioned hearing about chile wilting in Chimayó last summer from the heat. He sees the research as an opportunity to investigate new ways to grow chile — and get a new generation of Northern New Mexicans interested in agriculture. 'It's very possible that we may need to think of new ways to grow our traditional crop,' Torres said. 'If it does get too hot, or if we do run out of water, what are we doing?'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fight for Medicaid and tell our stories
A poll released Thursday, May 1 showed 76% of Americans oppose cuts to Medicaid. (Photo via Getty Images) Every New Mexican deserves access to healthcare, dignity, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing their family will be cared for. But right now, that basic promise is under attack. As a mom, an attorney, and a healthcare advocate, I work alongside families across New Mexico, in rural towns, Tribal communities, and urban neighborhoods, who rely on Medicaid as a lifeline. For far too many, it's the only path to a doctor's visit, a mental health appointment, or life-saving treatment. Now, Congress is considering a budget that would gut Medicaid and slash funding for the programs our communities rely on every single day. The so-called 'One Big Beautiful Bill' – recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives – would create deep, drastic, devastating cuts to Medicaid, harming seniors, people with disabilities, and children. It even proposes new burdensome 'work requirements,' an old, failed policy that would create needless bureaucracy and strip people of care, not because they don't work, but because they can't keep up with confusing paperwork. Let's be clear about what this means in New Mexico: Nearly 850,000 people, including almost 70% of our children, rely on Medicaid. It covers cancer screenings, prenatal visits, prescriptions, and behavioral health — care that keeps families whole. In rural and Tribal communities, it's the backbone of our healthcare system, funding clinics, keeping hospitals open, and making sure providers can serve everyone who walks through the door. If this budget passes, all of that is at risk. We've already seen more than 100,000 New Mexicans pushed off Medicaid in the past year. Many are still eligible, but are lost in the red tape of the 'unwinding.' These new proposals would make things even worse. It would mean newborns missing out on critical early checkups, parents being forced to choose between groceries and insulin, and people suffering and dying from preventable conditions. And for what? To give more tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations. Let's talk about these 'work requirements.' Most people who can work, already do, especially in low-wage, seasonal, or caregiving roles. And those who aren't working often face real barriers: disability, caregiving, lack of transportation, unstable housing. Studies show that about half of people subjected to these requirements lose coverage, not because they're unwilling to work, but due to the paperwork burdens and red tape. This isn't about encouraging work. It's about terminating people's healthcare. Together, we must reject this reckless and harmful legislation that would strip healthcare from millions of Americans, and our stories are the most powerful defense. We must speak up loudly and boldly to send a strong message: No one can afford to lose their healthcare coverage. Have you or your family benefited from Medicaid? Now is the time to tell your story to protect it. Telling your story can stop harmful cuts before they become law, show what's really at stake, and protect care for millions of families like yours. Let's protect Medicaid and protect each other. Let's not just defend what we have, but demand more: a healthcare system that truly works for all of us.
