Last Monday was Epiphany, the 12th day after Christmas, when we traditionally celebrate the arrival of the wise men and also celebrate the baptism of Jesus.
You may wonder what baptism is all about, so let’s get into it, a bit!
Those who are baptized in Jesus do not need to strive after a new life. They have already attained new life through being baptized and symbolically washing away the past. But they do need to nurture that their new life so it can grow and mature.
That’s what church is for. That’s what Bible study is for. That’s what prayer is for. It is like the Parable of the Sower. Many of those seeds sprouted up, but only a few grew into maturity. The rest withered and died.
Many people often search for new meaning in life but often for the wrong reasons.
A wealthy businessman was horrified to see a fisherman sitting beside his boat, playing with a small child.
“Why aren’t you out fishing?” asked the businessman.
“Because I caught enough fish for one day, “replied the fisherman.
“Why don’t you catch some more?”
“What would I do with them?”
“You could earn more money,” said the businessman. “Then with the extra money, you could buy a bigger boat, go into deeper waters, and catch more fish.
“Then you would make enough money to buy nylon nets. With the nets, you could catch even more fish and make more money.
“With that money you could own two boats, maybe three boats. Eventually you could have a whole fleet of boats and be rich like me.”
“Then what would I do?” asked the fisherman.
“Then,” said the businessman, “you could really enjoy life.”
The fisherman looked at the businessman quizzically and asked, “What do you think I am doing now?”
See what I mean?
The baptism of Jesus is dying to our self-centered endeavors and being resurrected into a life marked by grace and love. When we live in the baptism of Jesus, we touch the hearts of others and help open them to the Holy Spirit and new life in Christ.
So, now the question becomes, are you living and growing in the new life you have been given?
Some of you may have seen the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou. This is a whimsical retelling of Homer’s Odyssey set in 1930s Mississippi. Three hapless escaped convicts – Everett, Pete and Delmar – are hiding out in the woods, running from the law.
There they encounter a procession of white-robed people going down to the lake to be baptized. As they move toward the water they sing, “Let’s go down to the river and pray.” As the baptism ceremony begins, Delmar is overwhelmed by the beauty and the mystery of this rite. He runs into the water and is baptized by the minister.
As he returns to his companions, he declares that he is now saved and “neither God nor man’s got nothing on me now.” He explains that the minister has told him that all his sins have been washed away. Even, he says, when he stole the pig for which he’d been convicted.
“But you said you were innocent of that,” one of his fellow convicts exclaims.
“I lied,” he says, “and that’s been washed away too!”
Later the three convicts steal a hot pie from a window sill. The one who felt that his sins had been washed away returns and places a dollar bill on the window sill.
You see, Delmar wasn’t made perfect by his baptism any more than any of the rest of us are made perfect by our baptism. But he was conscious that it was time for him to make a new beginning. That is why in understanding baptism we begin with the washing away of our sins.
Charles L. Allen once told about a wild duck. This duck could fly high and far, but one day he landed in a barnyard. There life was less exciting but easier. The duck began to eat and live with the tame ducks and gradually he forgot how to fly. He became fat and lazy.
In the spring and fall, however, as the wild ducks flew overhead, something stirred inside him, but he could not rise to join them. A poem about this duck ends with these lines:
He’s a pretty good duck for the shape he’s in,
But he isn’t the duck that he might have been.
Maybe you are not the man or woman you intend to be. And certainly, none of us are all God intends for us to be. Fortunately, such a state of perfection is not a requirement for baptism. Indeed, baptism is an admission of our need for God’s mercy and grace.
Now, that is something worth considering as we begin a New Year!
David Grousnick, is the Pastor at the First Christian Church in Artesia.
Know that there is extra pressure on Nissan’s Frontier truck line with the demise of its big Titan – discontinued following lagging sales up against the Big Three. There is speculation that a similarly named electric variant may pop up down the road though.
The 2025 Frontier has unveiled a mild refresh including a rugged looking front fascia, grille and bumper design across its lineup. It also benefits from a longer wheelbase to accommodate an available six-foot bed, an increased tow rating, larger touchscreen and telescoping steering column to help driving positions.
The midsize truck comes in two-door King Cab and four-door Crew Cab, the latter being our tester for the week. The Frontier has hefty competition from redesigned Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado and Ford Ranger vehicles.
High points include its handling in city and highway travel where the Frontier has added grip around curvy roadway and serves well as a mild off-roader. Road imperfections are no match for the Frontier as it absorbs most bumps while delivering a compliant ride.
All Frontiers are powered by a single gasoline engine – a 3.8-liter V-6 making 310 horsepower mated with a nine-speed transmission. Our top-of-the-line SL Crew Cab reached 60 miles per hour from a dead stop at our independent testing facility in a leisurely 7.7 seconds, about average in this segment of all-wheel drive trucks.
Curiously, we found the Frontier’s heavy power steering problematic especially while negotiating parking spaces. Its power-less feel extends to off-roading too. Go figure.
The Frontier is available in five trim levels – S, SV, Pro-X, Pro-4X and SL with base prices ranging from the low $30 to mid $40s – slight increases from last year.
Buyers can pick between five and six-foot beds, rear or all-wheel drive and King or Crew cabs to match needs and budgets.
EPA fuel economy ratings list the Frontier at 19 miles per gallon, a figure we were able to confirm in our 100-mile evaluation.
Our tester included a full suite of driver safety equipment including adaptive cruise control, emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, rear automatic braking with sonar, tire pressure monitoring and high beam assist.
Its rugged look is enhanced with 17-inch machine painted alloy wheels, steel front skid plate, full LED lighting and 120-volt bed and rear console outlets.
As expected, inside treatment on our SL included a 12.3-inch color touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Nissan navigation and a premium 10-speaker Fender sound system.
Other amenities in our near $50,000 tester included full leather seating, six-way power adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar, four-way adjustable passenger seat, dual zone front climate control, trailer sway control, tow/haul mode switch and remote engine start.
Rear legroom in the Frontier comes up short, literally, when compared with rivals’ Ranger and Colorado. Unfortunately, rear passengers have no air vents.
Cargo space is also less with the short bed comparison although the six-foot bed measurement exceeds both.
We recommend test drives with rivals listed as well as the superior Honda Ridgeline.
EPA rated mileage: 17 city, 21 highway, combined 19
MSRP/as tested: $45,610/ $47,750
Assembled: The new Frontier is assembled at a Nissan Vehicle Assembly Plant in Canton, Mississippi where the Frontier has been assembled since 2012. U.S./Canadian parts content – 40 percent; major source of foreign parts – Japan -20 percent; country of origin – engine U.S. – transmission Japan.
Crash test ratings: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in partial testing, gave the Frontier Crew Cab five stars, its highest rating, in side crash protection and three stars in rollover protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in partial testing, gave the Frontier its highest rating of “Good” in overall evaluation and moderate overlap crashworthiness, second-best “Acceptable” in side crash testing and front crash prevention – pedestrian.
Warranty: 3-year/36,000-mile bumper to bumper; 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain. Three scheduled oil changes within 2 year/24,000 miles.
Contact independent automotive columnist Len Ingrassia at editor@ptd.net.
The Artesia High School bowling team is the only team to consistently enter two and sometimes three teams into the elite Advanced division of each New Mexico High School Bowling Association (NMHSBA) tournament.
“It is a complete reflection of the efforts and the talent of our student athletes, that they can achieve tournament averages that place them in the top division of our sport” said coach Ken Clayton.
“We have a few bowlers competing at All-state choir this weekend or we would be taking three Advanced teams on Saturday.”
The only drawback to having multiple teams in the same division is that you are competing against the best of the rest of the state as well as the best of the rest of your teammates. “Makes for some interesting tournaments and even some fun practices,” said Clayton.
With Artesia No. 2 having captured the Championship of the West Texas High School Shootout and winning the first two NMHSBA events, Artesia No. 1 was determined to get in the win column at Bernalillo.
With Albuquerque Eldorado High School posting the highest score of the season with a 3292 score in the morning squad, the Bulldogs had something to shoot for and proved to be up to the task. Artesia No. 1 opened the scoring with a 916 game and then jumped to the lead by nearly averaging 220 per bowler in a big 1095 game for a 2011 two game total and a 29-pin lead on Eldorado.
Artesia No. 1 was led by Payton Demerritt’s 475 series with games of 255 and 220, Ayden Gomez with his tournament leading 278 game and 425 series and Kambry Collins with 203 and 193 games for her 396 series. Also adding to the leading qualify score were Hagen Murph with a 305 and Brent McIntire with a 199.
The seven game Baker format of the tournament saw Artesia No. 1 put on a show. With games of 223-205-192-197-218-214-190 and a series of 1439 the Bulldogs won the Bernalillo title with a tremendous 3450 to Eldorado High’s 3292.
“A 3450 total score in a high school bowling tournament and a seven-baker game block with a low score of 190 is good bowling,” said Clayton.
Not to be left out in the scoring was Artesia No. 2. Rolling their second No. 2 took home a third-place finish. Leading Artesia again, Junior Brenden Depew with his 201-198-399, Mason Jeter 202-181, Damian Lopez 223, Chase Collins 183-179 and Jace Miles 181. Artesia #2 added Baker games of 216-222-197-197.
The Novice Division team of Artesia No. 6 brought home a second-place finish, missing the first-place trophy by a slim five pin margin. “Our young bowlers get better so fast, and they expect to do so well. It is a nice feeling for coach (Laura) Weddige and I when we tell them that their averages are too high to field a Rookie division team,”said Clayton.
Leading the Novice runners-up were Jurijah Gonzalez with 178-168, Kaine McCall 162 and Sophie Kitchen 138.
Clayton added that the Bulldog team overall scored its highest tournament of the season with the addition of scores from Ayden Huffman 211, Darius Mendoza 209, Diego Molina 178, Alejandro Bahena 169, Maggie Morris 169, Gael Ruiz 168 and Adam Longoria 155.
The Bulldog bowlers now travel to Silva Lanes on Jan. 11 in Albuquerque before hosing the Artesia Bulldog Invitational Jan. 18 as well as the Dan Harvey Sr. Memorial Singles Tournament, Friday on Jan. 17.
Adrian Hedden El Rito Media News achedden@currentargus.com
Visitors to state parks throughout New Mexico will be paying higher fees for admission, camping and boating in 2025.
The New Mexico State Parks Division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department opted to hike fees to increase revenue to the division, with most of the changes adding additional cost for visitors who don’t live in the state. Past fees were consistent, regardless of residency.
Officials said the new fees are expected to raise the State Parks Division’s revenue by $4.8 million.
That money will help maintain New Mexico’s 35 state parks, including Living Desert Zoo and Gardens and Brantley Lake in the Carlsbad area, said Division Director Toby Velasquez.
“State parks offer invaluable outdoor experiences, but our fees haven’t kept pace with rising operational costs,” Velasquez said. “These adjustments are essential to enhance visitor experiences and protect our parks for future generations.”
Here’s what to know about the changes taking effect Jan. 1.
Living Desert Zoo cost increase
The fee to enter Carlsbad’s Living Desert Zoo, located off Pierce Street on the north side of the city, will rise from $5 to $10 in 2025.
Entrance fees upped at other parks
Visitors to New Mexico’s other state parks who do not live in the state will be charged a $10 fee to enter, while residents will enter for free from Oct. 1 through April 30. A $5 entrance fee is assessed to residents in the remaining months, which are considered “peak season.”
Day-use fees are assessed per vehicle, per day. Residential rates are provided to those with a New Mexico ID or in-state license plates.
Camping fees increase
Fees for both camping in primitive, or undeveloped, campsites and at developed sites will increase.
The fees for primitive sites will increase from $8 per vehicle, resident or non-resident; to $10 per vehicle for residents and $15 per vehicle for non-residents. Developed camping fees will increase by $10 a vehicle to $15 for residents and $20 for non-residents.
Water hookups were free before the changes, but will now cost $5 a day, while electric hookups will go from $4 per day to $10 a day next year.
Annual passes almost double in cost
An annual day-use pass for New Mexico residents will increase from $40 to $75 for the peak season, excluding Oct. 1 to April 30 when entry is free to residents. Non-residents will pay $150.
Camping passes for residents go from $180 to $300, while non-resident passes will jump from $225 to $600 to camp all year in New Mexico parks. Annual camping passes for seniors and the disabled were increased from $100 to $150. That fee is also assessed for members of the military.
Boating rates going up
Boaters at New Mexico state parks pay a fee based on the size of the vessel, ranging from 16 feet or less to 65 feet or more. The previous fee range charged $28.50 to $66 to register a vessel based on its size. The new fees range from $60 to $180. Launching a non-motorized vehicle will remain free.
New boat safety rules take effect
Starting in 2025, users of non-motorized vessels must wear a personal flotation device such as a life jacket approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Non-motorized vessels include anything powered by hands, feet, oars, paddles or pedals.
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.
Adrian Hedden
El Rito Media achedden@currentargus.com
Eddy County’s newly elected officials were sworn into office during the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners’ first meeting of 2025.
The Jan. 7 swearing-in ceremony followed the results of the Nov. 5 general election in which the county’s voters chose three commissioners, the county sheriff and the country treasurer. New Mexicans also voted for U.S. president, all three of the state’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and one of its U.S. Senate seats, along with state offices.
Hayley Klein was sworn in to replace Artesia Mayor Jon Henry as District 2 commissioner and Phillip Troost assumed the District 3 seat vacated by Fred Beard, who did not seek reelection. Henry ran successfully for state representative.
District 5 County Commissioner Sarah Cordova was also sworn in after being reelected in November.
Cordova was chosen as commission chair and the previous chair, District 4 Commissioner Bo Bowen, was named vice chairman. Bowen and District 1 Commissioner Ernie Carlson both have two years to serve on their current terms.
Matthew Hutchinson was sworn in as Eddy County sheriff, succeeding Mark Cage who was ineligible to run for re-election after serving two four-year terms. Patricia Carrasco was sworn in as country treasurer, replacing Laurie Pruitt who decided not to seek reelection.
Klein and Troost ran unopposed in the general election, securing their seats in the June Republican primary. Cordova won the Democratic primary and ran unopposed in November.
Hutchinson and Carrasco won their Republican primaries and ran unopposed in the general election.
The newly elected officials will benefit from pay raises recently approved by the commission. Under the new salary structure, the sheriff’s annual salary will increase from $78,000 to $153,000; the county treasurer’s pay jumps from $75,000 to $129,000; and commissioners’ pay will increase from $26,000 per year to $44,000.
Officials welcomed to Eddy County
Artesia Magistrate Judge Jimmy Foster presided over the ceremonies at the Eddy County Administration Building in Carlsbad.
The meeting was also the first with the new Eddy County Manager, Mike Gallagher. The county manager oversees day-to-day operations of county government.
“I’m looking forward to working with this board – there are some very talented people,” said Gallagher who was appointed in December, resigning his previous job as manager of neighboring Lea County.
Gallagher’s contract with Eddy County includes a $249,500 salary for an indefinite period, he said. His salary in Lea County was $246,000.
Gallagher introduced his family during the public comment period following the swearing-in ceremony.
“We just want to take this opportunity to thank you for welcoming us,” said Gallagher’s wife Rachel Gallagher. “We’re excited to be here.”
Cordova thanked the Gallaghers for coming to Eddy County.
“We hope you enjoy the community very much,” Cordova said. “We’re really excited to have you here.”
Bowen said Gallagher’s experience in Lea County, located east of Eddy County and sharing New Mexico’s portion of the Permian Basin oilfields, makes him well-prepared for his new job as both communities continued to grow rapidly amid increased fossil fuel demand.
“I think he’s going to be a big asset to us as a county,” Bowen said. “I look forward to the upcoming year and what we can do together.”
Other commissioners expressed their excitement to serve the county in the coming years.
“I want to thank the people of Eddy County, specifically those from District 3, for trusting me,” Troost said. “God bless Eddy County.”
Klein, who also serves as executive director of the Artesia Chamber of Commerce, said the county “was awesome” during her onboarding process since being elected.
“I’m glad to get started with the new year,” said holdover Carlson. “It’s a new start with new commissioners. We have always been successful at getting things done, and that will continue.”
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.
Information and photos provided by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Cold and snowy weather in some parts of New Mexico have not curtailed fishing activities at lakes and streams, according to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
In eastern New Mexico, fishing for trout was good using Cheese PowerBait along the Pecos River below Sumner Lake.
The eastside and eastern shoreline at Sumner Lake are closed for winter and reopen April 1.
At Oasis Lake State Park near Portales, fishing for trout was exceptionally good using PowerBait and Pistol Pete Red Worm flies. Fishing for bass was slow.
In Lincoln County, fishing for trout was good using PowerBait at Grindstone Lake.
Fishing for trout was good using earthworms at Corona Pond and at Bonito Lake, fishing for trout was good using flies, lures and worms.
In southern New Mexico, fishing for walleye was slow to fair using plastic power baits. Fishing for catfish was fair to good using cut bait at Elephant Butte Lake near Truth or Consequences.
At Young Park Pond in Las Cruces, fishing for trout was fair to good using small rainbow-pattern spoons and PowerBait Salmon Eggs.
There will be fewer reports available during the cooler seasons when fishing slows. The Department of Game and Fish will make every effort to provide as much information as possible during the winter months.
This fishing report, provided by the Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from anglers and local fishing experts. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.
Adrian Hedden El Rito Media achedden@currentargus.com
A sense of tension and rising concern about crime and violence encased the Alamogordo community after the murder of a police officer in 2023 and last year’s fatal shooting of an Indigenous teenager by a county sheriff’s deputy.
On Wednesday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham responded to those concerns by holding a crime-focused town meeting at Alamogordo’s Tays Center. The meeting also aimed to ratchet up support for Lujan Grisham’s public safety agenda about two weeks ahead of the 2025 Legislative Session starting Jan. 21 in Santa Fe.
The governor advocated during the town hall for legislation that would add stiffer penalties for felons in possession of firearms during the commission of violent crimes and expand a court’s ability to hold repeat offenders in pretrial detention.
“In many places in New Mexico, they’re out in 2-3 hours. That’s very frustrating to the men and women that are public safety officials keeping our communities safe,” Lujan Grisham said. “If you’re a repeat offender, you have to make a stronger case to be released during the trial.”
Alamogordo, a town of about 31,000 in Otero County, is where repeat offender Dominic De La O was convicted in November of murdering an Alamogordo police officer in 2023 and sentenced to life in prison.
That followed the June 2024 death of 17-year-old Elijah Hadley who was fatally shot by an Otero County Sheriff’s deputy answering a call for a welfare check on a person in a roadway median. It was later reported that Hadley, a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, was carrying an airsoft gun when he was shot by police. That shooting was under review by the New Mexico State Police.
A small group of audience members repeatedly chanted “Elijah” during the meeting, in recognition of the boy’s death, and held up signs reading “Apache Lives Matter.”
“It was a really rough year,” Alamogordo Mayor Susan Payne said to the audience of about 200 residents and community leaders. “Criminal justice has been a big initiative of mine, criminal justice reform.”
Greg Gutierrez with the League of United Latin American Citizens argued that widespread homelessness must be addressed if New Mexico is to see a reduction in crime. He said the organization raised funds to support the homeless, providing basic resources they need including food and shelter. He asked the city and state to join such efforts and bring a state-funded homeless shelter to Alamogordo, rather than “teaching cops to be more aggressive.”
“People that have mental health issues, they don’t need to be beaten and shot at, they need help and assistance,” Gutierrez said.
Payne responded that along with providing basic needs to the homeless, the community must also teach them life skills and provide services to help people lift themselves out of poverty.
“When does it end?” she said. “If we don’t teach them, they will just keep coming to us.”
Greg Gutierrez with the League of United Latin American Citizens speaks during the public comment period of a town hall hosted by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Jan. 8, 2025 at the Tays Center in Alamogordo.Elva Osterreich | El Rito Media
A ‘revolving door’
The Alamogordo City Commission passed a resolution last year prioritizing criminal justice and public safety and inviting Lujan Grisham to hold a town hall in Alamogordo, Payne said.
This was after the governor held a trio of town halls over the summer in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Espanola, followed by additional meetings the governor did not attend in rural areas such as Carlsbad, Farmington and Clovis.
“We need to be able to express what we want her to hear,” Payne said of the governor. “We’re not Las Cruces, our views are very different. We need that opportunity to speak to her.”
The governor said one thing Alamogordo does have in common with other cities in New Mexico is a “revolving door” effect when repeat offenders such as known drug traffickers are quickly let out of custody ahead of trial. She said many are not prosecuted because of mental health issues that lead to them being deemed incompetent to stand trial.
Lujan Grisham said that as of last year 16,000 criminal cases had been dismissed statewide since 2017 for this reason, with “thousands” representing repeat, violent offenders.
“It is clear that if they’re coming before a judge multiple times that this is a serious risk in our communities,” Lujan Grisham said. “That notion that you won’t be held accountable in this state means that people will come here (to commit crime).”
Payne said she agreed with the governor’s past statements that crime and public safety are frequently linked to mental health and substance abuse issues, which she said the state and local communities can work together to address.
Payne said mental health and crime sometimes “go hand in hand.”
Crime bills fail so far
Last year, Lujan Grisham proposed multiple failed reforms to New Mexico’s criminal justice laws, including steeper penalties for felons in possession of firearms and bills to strengthen the state’s ability to require repeat offenders with documented mental health problems to undergo treatment.
After Lujan Grisham-supported legislation failed to materialize during the 2024 regular legislative session, the governor called a special session in July, pushing earlier priorities and several others intended, she said, to address widespread crime in New Mexico.
The session was ended by lawmakers hours after it started on July 18, with lawmakers passing only a relief funding bill to support those rebuilding their homes and businesses in the wake of the South Fork and Salt Fires in Ruidoso.
Last month, the governor urged lawmakers to hike funding by $4.5 million for the State’s Organized Crime Commission, following a December report from the commission that recommended the increase be approved via a special appropriation across fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
The commission was formed in the 1970s, but its report issued Dec. 23 said that the body had rarely been fully utilized since the 1990s, and that Lujan Grisham revived it in May 2023. Her intention was to crack down on human, drug and firearm trafficking in the state and surrounding areas, the report read.
“I’m very proud of the commission’s work, including its aggressive approach to fighting the cartels in human trafficking, fentanyl, and cannabis,” said Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, who leads the commission.
Adrian Hedden El Rito Media achedden@currentargus.com
Southern New Mexico is host to what conservationists say are some of the state’s most imperiled species of fish, birds and reptiles, and the species’ status has ignited a debate pitting ecological preservation against economic progress.
Several federal decisions on protections for New Mexico’s native animals suffering dwindling populations were made in 2024, with others potentially to come in 2025.
The decision-making centers around the Endangered Species Act, which allows plants and animals to be listed as either “endangered” or “threatened.” Endangered means extinction is imminent, and such a listing requires critical habitat to be set aside and a recovery plan to be developed.
Threatened means an endangered listing could soon be warranted, and tasks the agency with studying and tracking the species in decline, aiming to prevent its numbers from dropping lower.
Here’s a rundown of endangered species actions in New Mexico in the last year, and what could be coming.
Pinyon jay at center of lawsuit
The pinyon jay, a bird native to the forests of southern New Mexico, feeds on the nuts of the iconic pinyon pine trees throughout Lincoln National Forest. The birds deposit nuts in the soil to store them for winter, which allows more trees to germinate and grow.
The jay’s numbers decreased by about 85% in the 13 states where the bird dwells across the American West, according to a report from Defenders of Wildlife. Half of the remaining population was expected to be lost by 2035.
Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to review the status of the species while it conducted its own research in response to Defenders of Wildlife’s petition that the bird be listed as endangered.
That group sued the agency this year after the release of its Domestic Working Plan in October, which appeared to push off a final decision on the bird to 2028. In 2025, the lawsuit could be taken up by U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, perhaps leading to an earlier decision.
Peñasco least chipmunk endangered
The Peñasco least chipmunk was afforded the highest level of federal protections to prevent its extinction, as the Fish and Wildlife Service agreed Dec. 9 to list it as endangered.
The animal is native to the Sacramento and White mountains in southeast New Mexico, mostly in Lincoln County and within the Lincoln National Forest.
Today, the chipmunk survives only in the White Mountains within the forest and is imperiled by the loss of conifer trees it uses for cover from predators while foraging for food, the Fish and Wildlife Service said.
Along with listing the chipmunk as endangered, the government designated about 4,386 acres in Lincoln County as critical habitat, read a news release from the Fish and Wildlife Service.
The designation excluded Mescalero Apache tribal lands in the region and the Ski Apache Resort operated by the tribe under a special use permit with the U.S. Forest Service, the release read.
The chipmunk’s listing was opposed by the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, which argued it would damage the local agriculture industry.
Pecos pupfish proposal draws industry ire
On Nov. 21, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the Pecos pupfish as threatened, opening a 60-day public comment period that will conclude this month, with a 12-month finding required in January 2026.
Threats to the pupfish include drought and climate change, the announcement read, along with declining water quality and the invasive sheepshead minnow, which was introduced to the river in the 1970s and ’80s. The larger sheepshead grows faster and outcompetes the Pecos pupfish for food and other resources, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Today, the species is limited to Chaves County just north of the Permian Basin oilfields and an “isolated” population in Salt Creek in Reeves County, a western Texas area where oil and gas operations are plentiful.
But the agency believes the population could be restored throughout the region, and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association expressed dire concerns that a listing could negatively impact the industry’s access to water needed in drilling.
Texas sues over dunes sagebrush lizard
The dunes sagebrush lizard native to southeast New Mexico and west Texas was listed as endangered in May 2024, despite allegations by the oil and gas industry that the efforts to do so were meant to stymie fossil fuel production.
The lizard dwells in the sand dunes that are typical of the arid landscape but recently have seen an influx of oil rigs and pumpjacks as energy development boomed in the area.
The sand that makes up the dunes is often mined for use in hydraulic fracturing – the process commonly known as “fracking” that oil companies use to pump a mixture of sand, liquid and chemicals underground to break up rock formations and extract crude oil and natural gas.
Conservationists argued that oilfield infrastructure also encroached on the habitat of the lizard, impacting the shinnery oak bushes the species relies on to breed and hide from predators.
Despite these concerns the State of Texas and its Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on Sept. 23, 2024, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas’ Midland-Odessa Division.
The suit sought to overturn the listing, and was awaiting a decision from the court that could reopen thousands of acres in the Permian to development.
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.
The Legislature will convene January 21st at twelve noon, which is the third Tuesday of January as required by law.
I have served in the House of Representatives for ten years and will now begin serving in the Senate as the Legislature convenes this year.
New Mexico is not a poor State. Our tax base has grown each of the last several years by as much as $3.5B each budget cycle. We are awash in money because of the Oil and Gas industry and it appears we have ample supply for generations to come.
What we have been missing in my opinion, is a plan. We have the ability to decrease taxes for each and every New Mexican, which I believe we should do. However, some are hesitant to reduce taxes for everyone, they prefer to redistribute the wealth by decreasing taxes only in lower tax brackets while raising taxes on others. This is simple thinking and fails to create jobs and opportunities that are desperately needed.
I think everyone reading this would agree, we should eliminate taxes on Social Security and we should decrease income taxes across the board on every New Mexican. We should curtail frivolous spending and incentivize the deployment of capital for new jobs and brighter futures.
Our Education system is a mess. We have been ranked last far too long. We need to deploy creativeness and competitive juices into our Education system. We need to allow your tax dollars to follow your child. You should have the right to choose the school your child attends without having to pay additionally. We already pay enough taxes. No child should be trapped in a failing education system and our schools have been failing our children too long, that has to stop. Schools that don’t produce educated children are failures and our children deserve better.
Energy is key. In New Mexico we are fortunate to have amazing resources in reserves and technology. We have two national Labs, abundant oil and gas reserves, amazing sun and wind resources and the technology to develop and deploy nuclear technologies. We have the ability to furnish our businesses and families the most cost effective and dependable power to reduce the cost of living for our families while also serving our industries with abundant, cheap, and dependable power. This Energy Transition Act has failed New Mexicans. It has increased the cost of electricity significantly while simultaneously reducing dependability. It has required millions of dollars of new power lines and that will only continue. Millions of New Mexican tax dollars are being spent funding Industrial Revenue Bonds for power lines that supply residents of California and Arizona. Our citizens deserve the most economical and dependable energy supply we can produce. Thinking a State of two million people is going to lead China away from coal plants is ludicrous. We need to address the needs of New Mexicans and stop following trendy failures of Europe.
We need to stop the stupidity of Electric Vehicle Mandates. We are Americans. If you want to buy an electric vehicle, then by all means go buy one. But this process of mandating what type of vehicles are sold is about the dumbest thing I’ve seen us do and it isn’t working and we all know it isn’t going to work. We are just causing our people to buy out of state which ruins businesses in New Mexico. There is a place for electric vehicles and the market will dictate that, we don’t need stupid laws ruining our businesses. New Mexicans understand the needs of their families and politicians need to help families prosper not harm them and this law harms families all across our State. Mandating EV’s in rural areas where the ability of the vehicle doesn’t meet the needs of the family or their business needs is ridiculous. Then on top of that, mandating EV charging stations where the electrical grid can not support them is pure ignorance. The Construction Industry Board members should be forced to resign and they should be replaced for becoming political pawns. Their job is to protect the public in building code requirements, not imposing the political will of a temperamental Governor who didn’t get her way during the last Legislative session.
The New Mexico Legislature should work to enhance the lives of all New Mexicans. Increasing their opportunities, lowering their cost of living, promoting laws that provide safe communities with better healthcare and the best education system for our children. I encourage you to watch how your Legislator votes and hold them accountable.
Jim Townsend of Artesia is a State Representative from District 54, Eddy, Chavez, and Otero Counties and State Senator-elect from District 34, Otero and Eddy Counties.
