In The News

February 2nd, 2026

New website accepting applications for radiation exposure claims

— by Hamilton Kahn

It's been a long time coming, but finally, compensation will be coming to New Mexicans and their families who were exposed to radiation from the testing of atomic weapons in the 1940s. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), who was instrumental in getting Congress to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, announced Friday that the U.S. Department of...

January 30th, 2026

NM congressional delegation calls on FEMA wildfire claims office leader to resign

— by Patrick Lohmann

Members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation on Friday called on the federal official overseeing a multi-billion dollar wildfire compensation fund to resign, following Source NM’s reporting this week that the official had applied for and received a six-figure payout. According to documents obtained by Source NM and New Mexico PBS, Jay Mitchell,...

January 29th, 2026

Energy Affordability Emerges as Top Election Issue for Democrats

— by Kellie Lunney

Skyrocketing energy bills are shaping up to be a cornerstone of congressional Democrats’ election-year message for why voters should return them to power in November. The Trump administration is responsible for Americans’ bigger electric bills, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said Thursday after a roundtable discussion on energy affordability with...

January 28th, 2026

Kristi Noem Is Holding Up More Than $1 Billion in Hazard Mitigation Funds

— by Anna Kramer and Torrence Banks

Somewhere in the pile of projects awaiting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s personal signature sits a plan to protect the town of Los Alamos, New Mexico, from devastating wildfire. “We were approved last summer, and it’s been sitting on her desk since,” Philo Shelton, Los Alamos county’s utilities manager, told NOTUS. The county wants to...

January 28th, 2026

NMSU introduces new institute, degrees in artificial intelligence

— by Minerva Baumann

New Mexico State University is fast-tracking its artificial intelligence efforts by expanding development of AI programs in several directions through collaborations with all NMSU colleges and NMSU’s system of community colleges. In spring 2025, strongly supported by $500,000 from NMSU President Valerio Ferme’s office and $2 million from the State...

January 28th, 2026

Senators look to revive permitting talks, but put onus on Trump

— by Josh Siegel

Key Senate negotiators on Wednesday said they could revive stalled talks over easing federal permitting rules if the Trump administration stops its attacks on renewable energy projects. The comments from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and others come as pressure builds for Congress to act in a bipartisan manner to address voters’ concerns about...

January 27th, 2026

NM senators reintroduce bill to extend compensation program for atomic radiation exposure

— by Cathy Cook

WASHINGTON — A program to compensate uranium miners and people who lived downwind of nuclear bomb testing then developed certain cancers came to an end last summer, but Sens. Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich are trying to renew it. Luján, D-N.M., reintroduced the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Friday with Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of...

January 26th, 2026

Heinrich and Luján say they will vote against DHS funding without oversight, transparency

— by Cathy Cook

New Mexico’s U.S. senators are two of a slew of Democrats saying they won’t vote for annual funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after a federal law enforcement officer fatally shot a Minneapolis man over the weekend — the second fatal shooting by federal agents in the city this month. “With multiple deadly shootings of American...

September 27th, 2025

Las Cruces panel warns of 'Big Beautiful Bill's cuts to health care

— by Algernon D'Ammassa

LAS CRUCES — A panel of community advocates and a physician sounded an alarm Friday over how New Mexico's health care system will be affected once changes enacted under the federal reconciliation law, known as H.R. 1 or the "One Big Beautiful Bill" signed by President Donald Trump in July, take effect in January. At the end of this year, federal...

September 26th, 2025

SNAP cuts on Heinrich's mind during Las Cruces visit

— by Noah Raess

Sen. Martin Heinrich joined local nonprofit leaders and SNAP recipients to discuss the effects federal cuts to the SNAP program could have on New Mexico. Heinrich, who has been a vocal opponent to The One Big Beautiful Bill which was passed into law in July, called the cuts that were included on the bill harmful and said many New Mexicans are at...

September 26th, 2025

Heinrich stresses impact lost health insurance tax credits could have on New Mexico

— by Leah Romero

As a possible federal government shutdown looms, so does the chance that thousands of New Mexicans will see significant increases to their health insurance premiums. Federal health insurance tax credits have become a sticking point in negotiations over a spending bill Congress needs to pass to avoid a government shut-down at the end of the...

September 25th, 2025

New Mexico delegation urges exclusion from Trump administration’s roadless rule rollback

— by Staff

New Mexico’s congressional delegation is demanding the Trump administration exclude the state from efforts to rescind federal protections for roadless areas in national forests, citing economic and safety concerns. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led the effort alongside Sen. Ben...

September 25th, 2025

Senator Heinrich visits Las Cruces

— by Emma Hoggard

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich hosted three events in Las Cruces today. Heinrich visited Mayfield Student Health Clinic for a tour and a roundtable. Then he went had a news conference to discuss insurance premiums. Heinrich put health care costs at the center of his visit today. His team says that Republicans' efforts...

September 25th, 2025

New Mexico congressional delegation push for an exemption to Roadless Rule rollback

— by Cathy Cook

New Mexico’s all-Democratic congressional delegation is asking for a ban on building new roads in roadless areas of national forests to stay in place, at least for the Land of Enchantment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering repealing the Roadless Rule, which prohibits building new roads, rebuilding others or harvesting timber in more...

September 25th, 2025

NMSU water researcher gives tour to Sen. Heinrich

— by Susan Morée

During Sen. Martin Heinrich’s visit to New Mexico State University on Thursday, Sept. 25, the Democrat heard researchers talk about the potential future of produced water. Heinrich visited with Professor Pei Xu, New Mexico State University professor of civil engineering and research director of New Mexico Produced Water Consortium, and her graduate...

September 25th, 2025

Heinrich addresses SNAP, Medicaid cuts in Las Cruces stop

— by Algernon D'Ammassa

LAS CRUCES — With federal cuts to food assistance and Medicaid looming, students at Mayfield High School told Sen. Martin Heinrich on Thursday that their school-based health clinic, whose provider relies on Medicaid funding, provides crucial services for the community. Heinrich, a Democrat, opened a two-day visit to Las Cruces hearing from students...

September 23rd, 2025

Delegation wants Trump administration to exempt NM from proposed rollback of Roadless Rule

— by Leah Romero

All five members of New Mexico’s all-Democratic Congressional delegation have signed on to a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that requests the state be excluded from the Trump administration’s proposed repeal of the so-called Roadless Rule. The 24-year-old Roadless Area Conservation Rule was implemented to restrict...

September 18th, 2025

Health insurance premiums a key sticking point for New Mexico Democrats in government funding standoff

— by Cathy Cook

A government shutdown could be on the horizon and health care is the sticking point for New Mexico Democrats. “The Republicans are attacking health care,” said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M. “They’re raising prices on health insurance premiums, and they’re cutting health research.” Republicans in Congress have proposed a continuing resolution...

September 17th, 2025

Pueblo Leaders, N.M. Delegation Press to Keep 10-Mile Buffer Protecting Chaco Canyon

— by Diego Lopez

GRANTS, N.M. — Thirteen current and former Pueblo governors and lieutenant governors joined members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, urging Congress and the administration to maintain a 10-mile buffer that restricts new oil, gas, and exploratory mining around Chaco Culture National Historical...

September 17th, 2025

Pueblo leaders call for permanent Chaco Canyon protections, ask interior secretary to visit

— by Cathy Cook

Pueblo leaders and three members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation spoke in front of the Capitol building Tuesday morning, pushing to make permanent a ban on oil drilling around Chaco Culture National Historical Park. “We go to sacred places like Chaco where our ancestors today still live,” said Acoma Gov. Charles Riley. “We go and pray that...

New website accepting applications for radiation exposure claims

NM congressional delegation calls on FEMA wildfire claims office leader to resign

Energy Affordability Emerges as Top Election Issue for Democrats

Kristi Noem Is Holding Up More Than $1 Billion in Hazard Mitigation Funds

NMSU introduces new institute, degrees in artificial intelligence

Senators look to revive permitting talks, but put onus on Trump

NM senators reintroduce bill to extend compensation program for atomic radiation exposure

Heinrich and Luján say they will vote against DHS funding without oversight, transparency

Las Cruces panel warns of 'Big Beautiful Bill's cuts to health care

SNAP cuts on Heinrich's mind during Las Cruces visit

Heinrich stresses impact lost health insurance tax credits could have on New Mexico

New Mexico delegation urges exclusion from Trump administration’s roadless rule rollback

Senator Heinrich visits Las Cruces

New Mexico congressional delegation push for an exemption to Roadless Rule rollback

NMSU water researcher gives tour to Sen. Heinrich

Heinrich addresses SNAP, Medicaid cuts in Las Cruces stop

Delegation wants Trump administration to exempt NM from proposed rollback of Roadless Rule

Health insurance premiums a key sticking point for New Mexico Democrats in government funding standoff

Pueblo Leaders, N.M. Delegation Press to Keep 10-Mile Buffer Protecting Chaco Canyon

Pueblo leaders call for permanent Chaco Canyon protections, ask interior secretary to visit