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Trump administration denies fire and flood disaster assistance for Colorado | Colorado Newsline The Trump administration denied Colorado's disaster declaration appeals, which would have opened up funding for wildfire and flood recovery.

The Trump administration notified Colorado Gov. Jared Polis that it denied two disaster declaration appeals, which would have opened up federal funding to support recovery. It's the first time in 35 years Colorado has been denied federal disaster assistance.
By @lindseytoomer.bsky.social

New Mexico Republicans seek legislative committee on fraud, waste, abuse • Source New Mexico Every Republican in the New Mexico Senate co-signed a letter seeking a new committee to examine potential fraud, waste and abuse.

“New Mexicans deserve to know that every dollar they send to Santa Fe is being used as intended,” Sen. Crystal Brantley (R-Elephant Butte), who’s leading the effort, said in a statement.

New Mexico U.S. Rep. Vasquez says unregulated sports betting hurting tribal sovereignty • Source New Mexico Unregulated betting platforms are bypassing tribal casinos, depriving pueblos and tribes in New Mexico of vital revenue, leaders said.

The Isleta Pueblo relies on its gambling operations to pay the 20% cost-share required to receive federal funds for the Isleta Head Start and Child Care center.

Unregulated prediction markets threaten that revenue, Pueblo leaders said Thursday.

NM official calls for full environmental review of Carson National Forest uranium mine proposal • Source New Mexico Tirzio Lopez, a board member of the Upper Chama conservation district, said a full review is necessary of Gamma Resources' Canjilon proposal.

“No one that I know in our little community here in northern Rio Arriba had heard about it at all,” said Tirzio Lopez, who grew up in nearby Cebolla, of a Canadian company's push to drill for uranium in Canjilon.

NM state land commissioner rejects application for gas pipeline to power Project Jupiter data center • Source New Mexico The New Mexico State Land Office denied a request by a Texas energy company to build a segment of a 17-mile pipeline to fuel Project Jupiter.

New Mexico State Land Commissioner denied an application to use state trust lands for a segment of a proposed pipeline.

Thousands rally in Albuquerque, Santa Fe for No Kings anti-Trump protest • Source New Mexico In Albuquerque and Santa Fe, thousands rally against Trump in 3rd No Kings March, with Democratic leaders urging them on

Thousands came to protest, as Democratic leaders also rallied in the New Mexico iteration of the third national No Kings events.

New Mexico Election 2026: trail notes • Source New Mexico New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez endorsed Deb Haaland's gubernatorial campaign and advocates educate voters on semi-open primaries.

New Mexico House speaker endorses Deb Haaland, semi-open primaries, Dems oppose federal election bill and more in this week's installment of Trail Notes.

Cibola County Commission votes to exit ICE immigrant detention contract • Source New Mexico Cibola County is first of three counties with ICE contracts to formally announce its exit from the agreements due to House Bill 9.

While the county has begun to formally exit its contract with ICE, a letter commissioners sent Thursday leaves open the possibility that litigation might stall enforcement of the new state law banning such agreements.

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State funding helps Las Cruces launch heat pump program after federal funds fall through • Source New Mexico A Las Cruces project to cool the city’s hottest homes will move forward despite a loss of federal funds, after a state fund stopgap.

With a stopgap provided by state funds, the city of Las Cruces plans to install heat pumps for free in an anticipated 70 homes. The city has committed to installation in 60 residences, and is seeking an additional 10 homes to participate.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows lists annexing slice of New Mexico among 2027 priorities • Source New Mexico Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows directed lawmakers to study the secession of New Mexico counties to Texas, among other items.

Meanwhile, in Texas...

Otero County extends federal immigrant detention contract again after first attempt deemed illegal • Source New Mexico Otero County re-extends immigrant detention contract, but NM Department of Justice says it is still invalid and violates state law

Despite the Otero County Commission's attempt to extend its ICE immigrant detention agreement, the NMDOJ alerted the county's attorney Wednesday that the contract may still be illegal under state law.

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NM Republican candidate for governor talks health care, economy at newspaper’s town hall meeting • Source New Mexico At a town hall meeting, Republican candidate for New Mexico governor spoke on health care, the economy and whether he lives in Arizona.

Almost as soon as New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez took the stage at the Albuquerque Journal’s ongoing town hall series Wednesday, he faced the question that’s plagued his campaign for months: Does he live in Arizona or New Mexico?

Canadian-based company seeks exploratory permit to drill uranium in northern New Mexico • Source New Mexico Gamma Resources Ltd filed a notice of intent last month to drill up to 12 500-foot-deep holes in search of uranium in Rio Arriba County.

A Vancouver-based uranium company is seeking federal approval to conduct exploratory uranium drilling within the Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico, according to U.S. Forest Service officials.

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NM environment officials will hold public hearing on Project Jupiter air permits, push back decision • Source New Mexico New Mexico environment officials say they will host a public meeting on Project Jupiter's air quality permits.

After receiving more than 7,000 comments and a request from two state lawmakers, NM Environment Secretary James Kenney says the agency will hold a public hearing on Project Jupiter's air quality permits, and push back a final decision by several months. buff.ly/zgKO1Jm

Santa Fe jury awards New Mexico $375M in Meta child exploitation case • Source New Mexico A Santa Fe jury found Meta willfully violated New Mexico’s consumer protection laws and ordered them to pay $375 million in damages.

A Santa Fe Jury sided with New Mexico, saying Meta, who owns Instagram and Facebook, willfully violated the state's consumer protection laws. buff.ly/0x0ftF0

Court filing appears to contradict Project Jupiter’s promised job figures • Source New Mexico Developers behind the Project Jupiter data center campus have promised some 1,500 jobs, but a recent court filing anticipated far fewer.

A recent court filing from the tech giant Oracle says Project Jupiter, the massive data center campus under construction in Southern New Mexico, will create “at least 800” jobs once it’s built — an apparent reduction of nearly 50% from what developers have publicly promised.

always read laura paskus

Climate change, overuse send the Middle Rio Grande into ‘dire’ situation • Source New Mexico Climate change and other factors threaten the Middle Rio Grande, with some warning of a looming battle over its water.

Environmental journalist Laura Paskus takes a look at the situation for the Middle Rio Grande.

Federal report commends NM health officials on measles outreach, vaccine efforts in 2025 outbreak • Source New Mexico New Mexico health officials were commended for communication and vaccine outreach during last year’s measles outbreak.

New Mexico's response to the measles outbreak last year could act as a model for other state health departments to provide information and increased access to vaccines, according to independent researchers.

By the #s: NM gives $20M more to reclaim uranium sites, as search continues for those responsible • Source New Mexico State funding for remediating abandoned sites also sends a legal team to pore over yellowed articles of incorporation and old microfiche.

A New Mexico Environment Department official says agency has identified two out-of-state companies as culprits.

See a map here with data from more than 260 abandoned uranium mines, including the ones the state has targeted for remediation:

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New Mexico Election 2026: trail notes • Source New Mexico As candidates file to run for local office in New Mexico, one Republican drops out of the race for governor.

The Republican primary for New Mexico governor got a little less crowded this week, and 19 of the 70 seats in the state House of Representatives are set to have contested primary races. Catch up on the week's campaign news with Source NM's trail notes:

The science on climate change is clear — so is the need for moral reckoning • Source New Mexico Environmental journalist and author Laura Paskus considers the implications of climate change, and the need for a moral reckoning.

Writer Laura Paskus' latest opinion piece for our commentary section considers the drying rivers amid the push for data centers.

Santa Ana Pueblo announces new U.S. Indian Health Service outpatient clinic  • Source New Mexico Pueblo officials hope the construction on the clinic, which has been on a priority list for three decades, will begin in 2027.

The facility is one of five in New Mexico that has been in an Indian Health Service backlog since 1993.

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NM sponsor of vetoed disaster funding bill says he will try again next year • Source New Mexico House Bill 180 would have required the governor to hold a special session to spend more on disasters than the Legislature allocated.

The sponsor of a disaster funding overhaul that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed this week defended the bill as necessary to rein in runaway emergency spending and said he’d re-introduce it during the 2027 legislative session.

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State regulators open probe of $400M stock sale between New Mexico utility and private equity firm • Source New Mexico New Mexico hearing examiners gave PNM and Blackstone until April 6 to show evidence that a $400M stock sale didn't violate state law.

New Mexico Public Regulation Commission hearing examiners have ordered the state’s largest utility company and the private equity firm looking to acquire it to show evidence that a $400 million stock sale did not violate state law.

NM Gov. Lujan Grisham enacts tax package, including ‘unusual’ 1% pay raises for state employees • Source New Mexico The roughly $120 million tax bill aims to spur affordable housing and address the doctor shortage while also giving state workers 1% raises.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday signed into law a roughly $120 million tax package without vetoing any portions, even though she characterized one provision giving state workers raises as “unusual.”

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By the #s: NM Gov. Lujan Grisham signs 71 bills into law • Source New Mexico New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed 71 bills into law, including an $11.1 billion budget and universal child care.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed 71 bills into law, including an $11.1 billion state budget and the nation's first universal child care program. Explore which bills made the cut — and which didn't:

19 NM House seats draw primary challenges • Source New Mexico All 70 districts in the New Mexico House of Representatives are up for election this year. 19 drew races for the June 2, 2026, primary.

March 10 marked the filing deadline for candidates to enter local races, including in the New Mexico House of Representatives, where all 70 seats are up for election, and 19 have drawn both Democratic and Republican primary challenges.

NM Department of Justice, police search former Zorro Ranch owned by Jeffrey Epstein • Source New Mexico The New Mexico Department of Justice and two law enforcement agencies searched the former Zorro Ranch owned by Jeffrey Epstein on Monday.

The New Mexico Department of Justice announced that it searched convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch on Monday along with officers from the New Mexico State Police and deputies from the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office.