The national outpouring of anger and frustration triggered by the killing of George Floyd by police reveals an urgent need today:  we need many more leaders who will bring people together. President Donald Trump’s brutal, racist words and actions in response to the resulting protests have tried to divide people even further than they already are, American against American.  I commend Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s efforts now, in welcome contrast, to begin a state-wide community conversation about new policies to improve racial justice here in New Mexico. That’s how we make progress as the human race.

As the horrifying video showed, George Floyd’s life was taken from his...

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government filed a complaint June 2 claiming the Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico  Board of Trustees violated the state’s Open Meetings Act at their meeting May 29.

The meeting agenda for May 29 lists an item about the discussion and termination of withholding of Retire Public Employees of New Mexico membership dues from PERA retirement benefits. However, during the meeting, an amendment was voted on and approved by the PERA Board that an additional group, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, would also have their dues terminated.

“The PERA Board’s decision to act on an issue not...

According to news outlets, people are planting. Why? Humans want to become more self-sufficient because of the pandemic. Having available food at the backdoor is comforting. Picking your own produce is pleasant. Spending time outdoors is refreshing.

The 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020 coincided with the coronavirus outbreak, which may have factored into the seed-buying craze. Whatever the reason, growing vegetables is a good thing. By the way, tomatoes are classified as a fruit.

“The victory garden movement began during World War I and called on Americans to grow food in whatever spaces they could — rooftops, fire escapes, empty lots, backyards. It maintained that there...

COVID-19 has hit Native American communities harder than most. As a member of Isleta Pueblo, I am deeply concerned. Currently, the New Mexico Department of Health’s website reports that Native Americans account for nearly 50 percent of our state’s COVID-19 cases, and there is no telling what that number could be by the time you read this.

To make matters even worse, the Native population also has the highest uninsured rate in New Mexico.

As a lifelong advocate for the health and well-being of Native Americans, I worry that many of our community members will not have access to the healthcare they may need during this pandemic. At beWellnm, we want to make sure Native Americans...