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A new U.S. Census Bureau report shows the rate of children without health insurance in New Mexico was 5.9% in 2023, compared to 5.4% nationwide. (FotoAndalucia/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

New census data show significant drop in NM's child poverty

A new federal report shows anti-poverty policies enacted by New Mexico are making a big difference. This month, the U.S. Census Bureau has released …

In New Mexico, 70% of extremely low-income renter households face a severe cost burden, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. (qingwa/AdobeStock)

America's 2-decade-long housing shortage needs a fix

New Mexico houses cost less to buy than in many other states but there's also less inventory and one data expert does not expect a building boom to re…

En 2020, el presidente Joe Biden gan� el estado de Nuevo M�xico por un margen de victoria del 10,79% sobre Donald Trump. (mrr/AdobeStock)

Prioridades para votantes demócratas de NM: atención médica, educación y seguridad fronteriza

Un delegado de Nuevo México en la Convención Nacional Demócrata de la semana pasada dice que escuchó temas específicos que es…

Sixty-two percent of student parents are first-generation college students, according to a study by Child Trends. (Unsplash/ElijahHiett)

NM parents, mostly women, pursue better paying jobs through higher education

Student parents at New Mexico's community colleges represent a significant portion of the postsecondary population. And while the state has taken …

In New Mexico, immigrants account for 22% percent of the state's construction workforce. (NicholasFelix/peopleimages.com/AdobeStock)<br />

Political scapegoating of immigrants surges ahead of U.S. elections

Polls show a significant number of Americans believe immigration is the most important issue facing the U.S. but experts argued claims of immigrants …

The average college scholarship recipient in New Mexico is under 25 years old, female and Hispanic. (Julie/Adobe Stock)

New Mexico earns high marks, boosts enrollment with no-cost college

New Mexico consistently ranks low in childhood educational achievement, but its path to a college degree is being recognized at the highest levels…

States ranked lowest in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation tend to have more children of color in their populations, highlighting institutionalized and systemic racism. (Diego Cervo/Adobe Stock)

Children's advocates: NM 'cradle to career' investment pays off

Advocates for New Mexico's kids say at the heart of an annual report on child welfare is positive news for the state's families. The Annie E…

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in Las Vegas, New Mexico, on Wednesday for the community's new Rural Minority Business Center. (Photo courtesy NMRMBC)

Rural NM community hit hard by 2022 wildfire opens new business center

A small New Mexico community working to get back on its feet following a devastating wildfire has opened a new rural business center. Two years ago…

New Mexico volunteers will join their counterparts in more than 10,000 cities and towns this Saturday for the annual

NM's postal carriers go to bat for hunger May 11

It is nearly summer, and time to go to bat for those struggling with hunger in New Mexico. This Saturday, letter carriers with the U.S. Postal …

Vegetables make up nearly 30% of the food and meals distributed by New Mexico's Roadrunner Food Bank. (Courtesy: RoadrunnerFoodBank).

Individuals, groups contribute thousands of volunteer hours to NM food bank

Volunteering is a "leap of faith" - donating time and in-kind support to help others who are struggling - but research shows people who pitch in…

Four large corporations control 85% of the U.S. beef market, up from 25% in 1977. (Courtesy Carruth Cattle)

New Mexico panelists tackle food, farming and fairness

Food, farming and fairness will be the topics in Albuquerque this week, at a gathering of those who support the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming …

Many New Mexico lawmakers travel hundreds of miles for annual legislative sessions and must rent lodging for 30 to 60 days. (JohnMcGrawPhotog/Adobe Stock)

Women in NM Legislature make the case for an annual salary

New Mexico's Legislature is becoming more diverse but its lawmakers are still the only ones unpaid in the nation, limiting who can afford to serve…

Attendees at a New Mexico summit discuss how to help in a state ranked one of the most food-insecure in the nation. (Courtesy Roadrunner Food Bank)

SW food banks meet to brainstorm hunger solutions, create action plan

People who receive emergency food services from New Mexico food banks and other charitable organizations were among those at a strategic summit Friday…

In the United States, some 200 food banks feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other community-based agencies. (Roadrunner Food Bank)

How hunger disproportionately impacts rural communities

Some 44 million Americans are struggling with hunger, including 250,000 in New Mexico, and a nationwide food bank network wants Congress to help…

A 2022 New Mexico legislative report found providing health care coverage for low-income or unemployed individuals and families can lead to higher labor force participation. (Dee/AdobeStock)

Improved policies could boost purchasing power for U.S. households

It is a neck and neck race in the U.S. between consumer prices and wages allowing the typical worker to keep up. Economic data show consumer prices …

On average, the 20% of taxpayers who make the least money face a state and local tax rate nearly 60% higher than the top 1% of households, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. (narawit/Adobe Stock)

NM child advocates seek more 'tax equity' from 2024 legislative session

It is no secret the majority of state and local tax systems favor the wealthy but New Mexico is making progress in turning it around. The latest …

A recent food and fund drive by Albuquerque's Corrales Elementary School raised $2,500 and collected more than 1,200 pounds of food. (Courtesy Roadrunner)

Hosting a food drive could be your best ever New Year's resolution

The new year is an opportunity to reset and presents an opportunity to give back to your community by hosting a food or fund drive. New Mexico's …

Following participation in a guaranteed income pilot program, 12% of rural New Mexico families said their child was on track to complete their grade level. (Fernanda/Adobe Stock)

NM cash-assistance program eased hardships for immigrant households

A new report from the nonprofit advocacy group New Mexico Voices showed a guaranteed cash assistance program designed for immigrants improved work and…

Immigrants start more than 25% of all businesses in seven of the eight sectors that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects to grow the fastest over the next decade. (Adriana/Adobe Stock)

Santa Fe's economic vitality depends on immigrants

From construction and hospitality to business creation and consumer spending, a new report shows the oversized contributions immigrants are making to …

Albuquerque's ABQ RIDE bus program averages 500,000 users a month. (wiki)

ABQ's 'Zero Fares' pilot bus program on track to become permanent

Free buses may soon become a basic city service in Albuquerque. A vote to make a pilot "Zero Fares" rider program permanent is set to come before …

In New Mexico, 44% of student borrowers were under age 35, per data from 2022. (Sidekick/Adobe Stock)

Expert: Master financial aid before taking on student debt

An expert on student loans said many college-bound high-schoolers should do themselves a favor and take a financial literacy class before they pursue …

Families that live in rural areas, are of mixed status, have limited English proficiency or experience significant residential instability are most likely to struggle with the current

Steps New Mexicans Can Take to Preserve Medicaid Coverage

After three years of continuous Medicaid coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, that protection has ended. As a result, New Mexico is assessing …

Las familias que viven en �reas rurales, son de estatus mixto, tienen un dominio limitado del ingl�s o experimentan una inestabilidad residencial significativa son las que tienen m�s probabilidades de tener dificultades con la actual

Medidas a tomar para preservar la cobertura de Medicaid en NM

Después de tres años de cobertura continua de Medicaid durante la pandemia de COVID-19, esta protección terminó. Como resultado…

Students at New Mexico State University and three other Hispanic-serving institutions are benefiting from a federal grant designed to increase the placement of Hispanic graduates at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (CookieStudio/AdobeStock)

NMSU Trains Hispanic Students as Next-Gen Ag Leaders

Hispanic students at New Mexico State University who are interested in agricultural careers will get help, starting this semester, from a program …

New Mexico is one of only a few states to include immigrant tax filers who use their Individual Taxpayer Identification Number in filing for state and federal credits and rebates. (JoshuaResnick/Adobe Stock)

NM Aims to Promote Justice with Tax Rebates for Immigrant Workers

Tax rebates can boost economic growth, and the rebates available in New Mexico this summer are designed to reverse discriminatory exclusions of …

New Mexico used federal pandemic funds to expand child care assistance, which was replaced by state funding during the 2023 legislative session to prevent a reversal. (nmvoices.org)

NM Kids' Well-Being Falls Short; Child Advocates Expect Turnaround

New Mexico ranks last in a new report on kids' overall well-being by state, but children's advocates said the two-year-old data does not tell the …

The New Mexico Legislature passed a bill this year to provide free IDs for individuals experiencing homelessness. (Seventyfour/AdobeStock)

Study: New Mexico Homelessness Up Nearly 50% in 2023

Rent for New Mexicans has increased 70% since 2017, while wages have only grown by 15%, which is one factor pushing more people into homelessness…

A report based on federal data shows New Mexico's rate of homelessness is 12 individuals per 10,000 people, compared with 18 per 10,000 nationwide - lower than neighboring Colorado, also at 18 per 10,000, but higher than Texas at eight per 10,000. (M-SUR/AdobeStock)

NM Homelessness Declines, But Rural Folks Face Barriers

In the past two years, homelessness in America has risen only 1%, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - which …

The average European gets 21 days of vacation each year and takes all of them, while Americans get about 15 days annually and only use about 13, according to New View Strategies. (mimagephotos/AdobeStock)

Study: To Boost Health & Happiness, Treat Your Weekend Like a Vacation

If weekends fail to reduce your stress levels or bring you happiness, behavioral scientists say you should instead think of them more like a vacation…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has internship openings for Latino youth interested in pursuing careers in public land management, program coordination, outdoor recreation and community engagement in California, Minnesota and Oregon. (Kayt Jonsson/USFWS)

MANO Internships Broaden Horizons for NM Latinos

More than 200 young U.S. Latinos completed internships last year, which could lead to jobs historically difficult for them to access. Unpaid …

When the 2023 legislative session convenes, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says she'll push lawmakers to ensure all public school students get free school meals. (vejaa/AdobeStock)

Post-Pandemic, Hunger in NM Still a Critical Concern for Thousands

Holiday preparations are underway, and those who battle hunger in New Mexico are urging communities to remember their neighbors at a time when food …

An estimated 29 million Latinos are eligible to vote in the United States, with a record 11.7 million voting in the 2018 midterms. (niyazz/Adobe Stock)

Last-Minute Campaigning Brings President Biden to New Mexico

President Joe Biden delivered remarks about his student loan debt-relief program at a stop in New Mexico Thursday, while campaigning for Gov…

Direct support professionals enjoy recreational time with participants in program for people with developmental disabilities in Albuquerque. (Michele McCoy/ARCA)

NM Labor Shortage Putting People with Developmental Disabilities at Risk

Come next year, people with developmental disabilities in New Mexico may not be able to find the help they need - because of a severe labor shortage …

New Mexico ranks second in the nation for childhood hunger, according to Feeding America, with one in five children, or about 20.5% of children in the state, at risk of hunger. (nokidhungry.org)

Your Chance to Help Alleviate Hunger in New Mexico

A silver lining of the pandemic was more money available to address hunger, but those funds are drying up, and many in New Mexico will struggle this …

Food banks help the one in five New Mexico children estimated to be at risk for hunger, and one in eight overall, according to Roadrunner Food Bank. (dosomething.org)

Making 'HELP' Available to New Mexico's Hungry, Food Insecure

Inflation has caused some New Mexico families, who were breaking even six months ago, to once again struggle, and groups working to alleviate hunger …

The COVID pandemic caused major challenges for families and blunted progress in New Mexico to improve child well-being, according to New Mexico Voices for Children. (DeanMoriarty/Pixaby)

NM Struggles in Child Well-Being Report but Celebrates Positive Trends

Since 2020, New Mexico has been working to create a more cohesive, equitable and effective early-childhood system. But it could be a while before it …

The national infant formula shortage has been an ongoing issue since the pandemic began in 2020, when formula was among the products stockpiled by consumers.(Dirk[Beeki]Schumacher/Pixabay)<br />

States Can Make Baby Formula Easier to Get for WIC Participants

Shopping for baby formula online could soon be a reality for those enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and …

Miners' Colfax Medical Center opened in 1906 in Raton to provide acute and long-term care for treatment of miners with lung disease. (members.nmhca.org)

NM-Based Telementoring Supports Sick Miners in Rural America

By Kristi Eaton for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaborat…

The pandemic and a strong job market have reduced college enrollment - but studies show college graduates will earn nearly $1 million more over the course of their careers. (viviandu/dailycal.org)

College Degree Increasingly Requires Part-Time Job

Many U.S. college degree programs can take years of full-time study, a serious time crunch for working adults. That's why more universities are …

Gasoline prices are higher in California than New Mexico, but drivers could pay over $5 and even $6 a gallon for unleaded during peak summer driving season, according to AAA. (Obelixlatino/Pixabay)

NM Legislature Convenes to Consider Relief for Gas, Food Prices

With the goal of providing financial relief for New Mexicans struggling with higher prices for gas and food, legislators convene today for a special …

Passage of Senate Bill 1 will raise the salaries for New Mexico teachers an average of 20% starting on July 1. (wwkf.org)

New Mexico Teachers Praise "Living Wage" Salary Increase

Teachers returning to classrooms in New Mexico this fall will see the first significant pay raise in several years. As of July 1, all teachers in …

Sanctions against Russia for the Ukraine invasion haven't targeted the oil trade, but have nonetheless sent the worldwide price of oil to more than $100 a barrel. (Elionas/Pixabay)

Russia/Ukraine War Puts Pressure on Governments for More Wind, Solar

In recent years, New Mexico has tried to move away from its historical role as an oil and gas hub, and the crisis in Ukraine could have major …

The New Mexico Supreme Court halted all evictions in March 2020, but its edict was inconsistently applied, as some courts did not follow the order, according to the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. (TierraMallorca/Pixabay)

NM Launches Eviction Prevention & Diversion Pilot Program

New Mexico is preparing to end its eviction moratorium, in effect since the start of the pandemic. At the same time, a pilot program designed to keep …

New Mexico could face tough water decisions if a decades-long drought due to climate change doesn't provide a decent spring runoff in 2022. (nm.water.usgs.gov)

Public Lands Agencies Work to Diversify Staff in 2022

People of color historically have been excluded from outdoor-recreation jobs, but a collaborative effort to diversify staff within agencies that …

In the second cohort of the Magnolia Mother's Trust, the percentage of moms able to keep up with their bills increased from 37% to 80%. (Adobe Stock)

With BBB In Doubt, A Push for Guaranteed Income for Low-Income Families

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Emily Scott for New Mexico News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

New Mexico Voices for Children says, as in many states, families of color in New Mexico were hit hard by the pandemic, in terms of school closures and job losses. (nappy.co)

NM Families Start School Year with Extra Money for Child Care

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Pandemic fallout still has U.S. states clawing their way back to normalcy, and New Mexico believes its decision to provide more …

More than 3 million adults nationwide are at risk of eviction in the next two months, after a federal eviction moratorium expires tomorrow, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey. (HeatherPaque/Pixabay)<br />

New Mexicans Dodge Imminent Evictions Faced by Many U.S. Renters

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Millions of Americans soon could find eviction notices on their front doors, but New Mexico renters will not be among them - as …

New Mexico had a 45% improvement in children without health insurance in 2019, compared with the previous year, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (darkside-550/Pixabay)

NM Notes Marked Improvements in Child Well-Being Report

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A New Mexico child-advocate group is expressing cautious optimism about incremental improvements in the latest Kids Count report…

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