For Isadore “Izzy” and Yvonne Alire, rescuing, fostering and transporting dogs are all part of being good community members.

The couple began rescuing animals four years ago when they joined Shelby Davis, the director and creator of Soul Dog Rescue, whom they credit for being an integral part of controlling the stray pet population in the Four Corners area.

These days, they devote an impressive amount of their time rescuing and fostering stray dogs in the area for Soul Dog Rescue, some of whom may be injured or in poor shape. Any animals they find are immediately picked up and taken back to their farm in Shiprock where they are fed, bathed, and vaccinated.

Izzy and Yvonne...

TSE BONITO, N.M. – As soon as Navajo Nation Veterinary and Livestock Program Director Glenda Davis got word about a positive human case of Bubonic Plague on the vast Navajo Reservation on May 13, she immediately contacted her Foreign Animal Disease Task Force.

Davis explained that the task force was created in November 2011 in response to the high risk of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever on the reservation.

She pointed to a “2015 Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) Calendar” that the task force members developed and said that the members are all listed on the cover.

The members are tribal veterinary and livestock program; the Navajo Epidemiology Center; the Navajo Health...

WASHINTON, D.C. – Congressional Democrats, including all four Democrats in the New Mexico delegation, are pushing for a $12 minimum wage.

With both the House and Senate controlled by Republicans, it is very unlikely that a minimum wage increase would pass during the current Congress. However, the push could be an attempt to bring the wedge issue up in time for the 2016 elections.

In addition to increasing the minimum wage to $12 by 2020, the legislation would index the minimum wage to inflation.

Senators Udall and Heinrich are among the co-sponsors of the Senate version of the legislation, introduced by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. The two made the announcement in a press release...

Marijuana legalization is likely far off in New Mexico, but you wouldn’t know it from the way some businesses are acting.

Recent news of a Canadian company’s encroachment into Santa Fe spawned backlash from those critical of an out-of-state, out-of-country company attempting to get a piece of New Mexicos’ medical marijuana industry.

Last month, Toronto-based Nutritional High announced that it would be acquiring 51 percent of shares from and assuming management operations of Sacred Garden, a Santa Fe nonprofit medical marijuana producer that’s been operating for nearly five years.

The plan drew immediate backlash from patient advocates and others in the industry.

“We don’t...