A bill to stop the bulk collection of data as allowed through the post-9/11 Patriot Act passed the Senate on Tuesday and was quickly signed by President Barack Obama.Both members of the Senate from New Mexico voted in the majority on the 67-32 vote on the bill dubbed the USA Freedom Act.

The bill had overwhelmingly passed the House weeks ago, but the Senate failed to get 60 votes to pass the bill and instead tried to pass a full reauthorization of the Patriot Act. That effort by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., failed because of bipartisan opposition, highlighted by a filibuster by his fellow Kentuckian, Sen. Rand Paul.

New Mexico’s junior Senator Martin Heinrich was...

CARLSBAD, NM - Attorney General Hector Balderas’ office today charged four top personnel at Carlsbad Mental Health Center with Medicaid fraud and also brought charges against the center as a corporation. Criminal complaints against the four individuals— Michael Stoll, Noel Clark, Darrill Woodfield and John Bain—and the corporation were filed June 2, 2015, in Eddy County Magistrate Court. The corporation and each of the individuals was charged with eight counts of Medicaid fraud under the Medicaid Fraud Act, one count of conspiracy and one count of fraud involving non-Medicaid funds.

“We will aggressively defend victims of fraud and abuse by prosecuting providers who violate the...

Driving by the corner of Miyamura Overpass and Hassler Valley Road it’s hard to tell there is good work happening just to your side. The Jim Harlin Community Pantry is not just a distribution site for food for the hungry. The Garden of Hope is a living opportunity to learn about home-grown foods and healthy eating.

The staff at the pantry took master gardening classes from New Mexico State University in an effort to become familiar with the best way to utilize the property around the pantry facility. Kenworth Jones developed a passion from the classes and has become the official gardener for the pantry. His knowledge about growing and maintaining a large garden is evident when he...

Alice Perez will officially take over as director of the Jim Harlin Community Pantry on June 1. She hopes that with a “combination of passion, a great team to work with and community support it can turn into one of the best pantries in the state.”

A 35 year resident of Gallup, Perez and her husband, Max, have raised four children here.  They have four grandchildren and one on the way.

Perez takes over a pantry that was started in 1999. The pantry has had its challenges, but has a strong foundation. With only nine employees, seven of whom are part time, the food pantry contributes to the needs of over 3,000 individuals or families each month. It depends on volunteers and the...