SANTA FE – The Legislature has authorized state officials to impose civil administrative penalties to enforce public health emergency orders restricting business operations, the New Mexico Supreme Court concluded in an opinion issued Nov. 5.

The Court’s unanimous written opinion provides the detailed legal reasoning for an oral decision issued from the bench in August following a hearing in which attorneys presented arguments to the justices.

A group of businesses had filed a lawsuit in district court challenging emergency health orders issued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham petitioned the state’s highest court to resolve the dispute.

The Court concluded...

Data shows NM outdoor recreation economy growth outpaced national average

SANTA FE —The Bureau of Economic Analysis released data on the size and scope of the outdoor recreation industry in the U.S. and in New Mexico Nov. 11.

In New Mexico, the updated data show that the outdoor economy contributed $2.4 billion to the state’s GDP in 2019 (2.2% of GDP). According to the report, 35,065 people were employed in this sector, with $1.2 billion in total income.

At the national level, the data shows that the outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.1 percent ($459.8 billion) of U.S. GDP in 2019.

Here are a few highlights from the report:

•       New Mexico’s outdoor...

Week ending Friday, November 6, 2020


Light Pollution

Humanity’s pervasive use of artificial light is causing widespread impacts on the world’s animals and plants, and researchers say it should be limited where possible. Writing in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, University of Exeter scientists say their analysis of more than 100 studies reveals light pollution causes changes to animal behavior and physiology, especially hormone levels and patterns of waking, sleeping and activity. They say even low levels of artificial light can have profound effects. “In effect, we need to view light like any other pollutant,” wrote researcher Kevin Gaston.

Earthquakes

More than...

SANTA FE – The New Mexico State Land Office and the NM Healthy Soil Working Group teamed up to offer a series of informative webinars for state trust land agricultural lessees and the greater agricultural community. The second in the series was held Nov. 10 on Zoom on the topic of “Greater Profitability through Soil Health.” It featured Gregg Simonds of Open Range Consulting.

The State Land Office leases nearly 9 million acres of state trust land to ranchers, farmers, and agricultural producers across the state. The webinar series with the Healthy Soils Working Group is part of a continued engagement effort to provide soil health resources and information to nearly 3,500 grazing...