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Viewpoints

New Mexico’s children deserve a landscape free of orphaned wells

Friday, 25 March 2022 05:41 By Paige Knight Senior Research and Policy Analyst, New Mexico Voices for Children

As proud New Mexicans, we know our state has the best scenery and natural beauty in the nation. While we want to keep it that way, that’s hard to when our landscape is dotted with old, pollution-spewing orphaned oil wells.

With New Mexico being the second largest oil-producing state in the country, we’ve been stuck with a multitude of orphaned wells. When the companies who drilled and profited from the wells don’t take responsibility for capping and cleaning them, the rest of us end up footing the bill.

The federal government is distributing money for orphaned well cleanup from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will be a big help. But funding the cleanup of...

Are you planning to retire?

Friday, 25 March 2022 05:41 By Lawrence Castillo Guest Columnist

Here are a few things to consider

“Planning to retire? Be sure you have your exit plan in place and remember, when you retire, you never have a day off.” - Lawrence Castillo

‘Layin’ it on the line’

Retirement is not likely to look anything like your parents’ retirement. The economic impact of government actions related to the pandemic, inflation caused by loose monetary policy, and stock market volatility have created craters in even the best-laid retirement plans. Many Americans are considering taking the money and running, opting for early retirement.

Joel a long-haul trucker, says he was initially going to wait another five years before retiring. “Dealing with...

Lawsuit filed against the city of Rio Rancho for records denials

Friday, 25 March 2022 05:37 By Shannon Kunkel Executive Director, NM Foundation for Open Government

AG: Minors names can’t be withheld from police reports

Law enforcement records involving the shooting death of a Santa Fe police officer’s two-year-old son held secret by the city for months

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) and The Santa Fe New Mexican filed a complaint against the city of Rio Rancho Monday in the New Mexico Thirteenth Judicial District Court.

The complaint filed to enforce the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) alleges that the city of Rio Rancho has wrongfully shielded from public view police reports and 911 audio and transcripts stemming from the shooting death of two-year-old Lincoln Harmon, son of Santa Fe police officer...

Sunshine Week highlights government transparency, role in upholding democracy

Friday, 25 March 2022 05:36 By Shannon Kunkel Executive Director, NM Foundation for Open Government

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) is marking Sunshine Week with reverence and appreciation for the essential role freedom of information and freedom of the press serve in guaranteeing our American democracy.

Sunshine Week is a national initiative spearheaded by the News Leaders Association to educate the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy. Coinciding with James Madison’s birthday and National Freedom of Information Day on March 16, Sunshine Week 2022 runs from March 13 through 19.

The fourth President of the United States, James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution, who valued deeply...

Do you want green sauce or red sauce with that?

Friday, 18 March 2022 05:05 By Lawrence Castillo Guest Columnist

“If you are within a couple of years of retirement, you will want to know the answer to this critical question.”- Lawrence Castillo

‘Layin’ it on the line’

Here in New Mexico, it isn’t unusual for someone ordering Mexican food to be asked, “Red or green?” In fact, “Red or green?” was adopted as the official state question in 1999. (Did you even know such a state question existed?) Chile is the fiery soul of New Mexican food, and everyone here has their opinion about which chile sauce goes best with which dish.

I like to ask my clients and prospects the same question regarding their retirement savings. “Do you prefer green money or red money?” Red money, I...