ALBUQUERQUE—The annual New Mexico KIDS COUNT data book—a project of New Mexico Voices for Children—will be released on the first day of the 2017 legislative session. The annual publication presents the latest state and national data on child well-being in New Mexico in the areas of economic security, education, health, and family and community. Data are presented by county, tribal area, school district, race and ethnicity, and other demographics where available.

This year’s essay focuses on how important it is to make public investments in our children despite the state’s precarious financial situation. The release will be part of Celebrating Children and Youth Day and will...

SANTA FE – Gov. Susana Martinez announced Jan. 10 her proposal to balance the state budget, which involves moving $268.5 million from various state agencies.

“This is a responsible budget that reduces the size of government while at the same time protects the progress we’ve made in diversifying our economy, reforming our education system, and keeps our communities safe,” Martinez said in a press release.

The proposal includes taking $120 million from public education in funds that Martinez’s press release referred to as “slush funds.”

Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, told NM Political Report that the proposal is a “starting point for negotiation purposes,” but that...

ALBUQUERQUE – Climate change protesters in downtown Albuquerque spoke out against four of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks.

Rallying outside the offices of Democratic Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, protesters called on the two lawmakers to oppose the confirmations of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, former Governor of Texas Rick Perry as head of the Department of Energy and Montana congressman Ryan Zinke as Secretary of the Department of the Interior.

Organized by 350.org, a nonprofit organization focused on cutting greenhouse gas emissions enough to...

The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office will hold its quarterly oil and gas lease sale using the internet-based auction system EnergyNet Jan. 25.

The sale was  originally scheduled for Jan. 18, but has been rescheduled for Jan. 25.  Beginning at 9 am MST, each parcel will have its own unique open bidding period, with the complete bidding process expected to last a total of 3 hours.

The parcels to be considered are comprised of Federals minerals located in northwest New Mexico.  A total of four parcels will be offered containing 842.66 acres – three parcels in Sandoval County totaling 401.16 acres and one parcel in Rio Arriba County that is 441.5 acres.  The Bureau of...