The amount of money expected to come into New Mexico’s coffers this year looks better than previous estimates, but with several caveats.

At the beginning of the year, dipping oil and gas prices put the state’s projected surplus lower than previously expected levels.

But now, new projections show $136 million more coming to New Mexico in revenue through the end of the year, a 2.2 percent increase compared to similar forecasts in February.

In total, revenue projections for New Mexico add up to $6.25 billion.

Yet while the projections look good and news headlines gush over this seemingly sudden and unexpected “money under the mattress,” state Legislative Finance Committee Chief...

SANTA FE – New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas joined with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, all 50 States and the District of Columbia in a complaint charging four sham cancer charities and their operators with bilking more than $187 million from consumers.

The defendants told donors their money would help cancer patients, including children and also women suffering from breast cancer, but the overwhelming majority of donations benefitted only the perpetrators, their families, friends, and fundraisers.

“Our office works diligently to protect New Mexicans from scammers and fraudsters, but this case is repulsive. We must support legitimate charities and stamp out...

CHURCH ROCK – The month of May is when the U.S. including the Navajo Nation, celebrates travel and tourism.

The tribal Division of Economic Development Tourism Department held a Navajo Nation Tourism Appreciation Week from May 4-8.

The tourism appreciation week was kicked off with a “Hiking the Trail” event at the Red Rock State Park, which is about 19 miles east of Gallup, on May 8.

The trail was actually two hikes that both started at the Red Rock State Park in the morning.

The first one, which was estimated to be about three hours, ascended to a red sandstone monolith called Church Rock.

The second hike, which was about two-hours, went up to the top of Pyramid...

WASHINGTON - A bill introduced by U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) to create a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) received an important hearing May 19 in the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The bill, S. 1264, would create jobs, save consumers money, and reduce pollution. In an effort to diversify the United States’ energy sources and lead in clean energy production, the bill would require utilities to generate 30 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.

The hearing was a key step forward in order for the bill to receive a vote by the committee later this year.

“This legislation builds on the...