Source New Mexico || bsky @sourcenm.com

Please follow us on Bluesky, where we’re posting our work: @ sourcenm dot com

New Mexico’s water governing board voted to safeguard 250 miles of river under the state’s strongest water quality protections, outlawing degradation including quality harms such as pollution, heavy metals, increased temperature or clouding. buff.ly/3BkxQLZ

An effort to pass a sweeping measure aimed at protecting press freedoms was struck down in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday night. buff.ly/49xP2Ky

ICYMI: Outgoing chairman Steve Pearce said the party has “a strong and committed team of leaders and fighters who will continue the hard work of turning New Mexico red for the long term.” buff.ly/49rbGEr

Mediation talks start today for the federal government, the states of Colorado, New Mexico and Texas and a host of interested groups in a decade-old lawsuit over Rio Grande water. Here's a look at one of the core issues and what might come next: buff.ly/4f6LAaN

Congress will not expand access to in vitro fertilization for active duty military members and their families in this year’s defense budget bill.

In an interview before RPNM’s 2024 Biennial Convention, party chair-elect Amy Barela said she has an “aggressive plan” to flip New Mexico red by registering more voters and building the party from the bottom up.” buff.ly/49rbGEr

New Mexico state agencies are asking for $445 million in damages from the 2022 wildfires, noting damages from lost tourism revenue, to additional water well testing and more. buff.ly/3OKLv1J

New Mexico now allows residents to carry and use virtual driver’s licenses. But for now, they’re mostly just taking up memory on your phone. buff.ly/3ZDEHtc

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday it will require dairy farms to share samples of unpasteurized milk when requested, in an effort to gather more information about the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. buff.ly/3ZJ9gOh

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Sarah Davenport, a federal prosecutor from Las Cruces, as the latest federal trial judge for New Mexico. President Joe Biden nominated Davenport for the position in August. buff.ly/3ZqcZ1z

More than 3 million adults would be at risk of losing health coverage should the GOP reduce the extra federal Medicaid funding that’s enabled states to widen eligibility. buff.ly/3ZrpHx6

So far, researchers have not reached a consensus about potential harms, though three papers released this year found poor financial results for consumers in states with legalized sports gambling. buff.ly/4f8fSdn

Oil and gas drilling on state lands drove high revenues, officials said, earning the state more than $2.5 billion this year. A larger share than ever (just over 8%) was made up of non oil and gas sources. buff.ly/3Zq8DYB

The New Mexico Supreme Court on Wednesday set the stage for a fight between all three branches of state government early next year, as it chose not to intervene in a dispute over how much court workers can be paid for extra, unused leave. buff.ly/4gneAfL

Senate Republicans on Tuesday plotted the path forward for the unified control of government they won in November, though GOP senators said afterward a very narrow House majority will likely determine how sweeping their policy proposals will be. buff.ly/3VoTQfs

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s series of tough-on-crime bills failed in a special legislative session earlier this year, so in 2025 she and the Legislature are trying a different approach: Packing all the reforms into one big bill. More here: buff.ly/3Vq0BO9

Lockdowns are common in jails and prisons nationwide, but most usually last only a few hours or days. Recently, lockdowns have been extended for weeks or even months at many facilities suffering staff shortages. buff.ly/3ZjPYxs

New Mexico’s three congressional representatives urged leaders of both parties in the U.S. House of Representatives to act before the end of the year on deals which would settle tribal rights for the rios San José, Jemez, Chama and the Zuni River. buff.ly/4ggPbnR

New Mexico state campaign donations for the 2024 election show the country’s biggest oil and gas production companies gave $1.2 million to Democratic candidates, and $1.1 million to the industry’s traditional Republican allies. buff.ly/3D8xXdS