Home Blog Page 24

For Gallup coach Ryan Becenti, the Artesia basketball team is the model

JT Keith
-
0
For Gallup coach Ryan Becenti, the Artesia basketball team is the model

After watching his team suffer an 80–19 loss to Artesia in the state tournament, Gallup boys’ basketball coach Ryan Becenti didn’t dwell on the score. Instead, he talked about what the Bulldogs represent — and what he wants his own program to become.

In an era of debate over whether high school athletes should specialize in one sport or compete year-round in multiple sports, the Artesia Bulldogs are prompting coaches to think the team is on to something.

“That is a veteran team,” Becenti said. “Artesia’s coaching staff is excellent, and the team has very skilled athletes. We had a game plan, but we didn’t execute it very well. To be honest, a lot of intimidation was a big factor.”

The stage mattered, too. Playing at The Pit in Albuquerque proved too much for his group, which was seeing Artesia in the postseason for the second straight year.

Last season, the Bulldogs eliminated Gallup in the opening round with a 91–57 win at the Bulldog Pit — a game that was competitive until the third quarter, when Artesia pulled away. This time, the result came quicker.

Gallup couldn’t contain Artesia shooting guard Braylon Vega, who hit 9 of 11 from 3‑point range and finished with a game‑high 40 points.

“You can’t lose sight of ball and man,” Becenti said. “For our kids, being in The Pit — something they hadn’t experienced — the moment got a little too big. We got excited, and we were frustrated on defense.”

Becenti said Artesia’s roster looks largely unchanged from last season, only more refined.

“They’ve put more work in,” he said. “They look in shape. They look strong. It’s the same team. They’ve played together and spent a lot of time together in the summer. I know they went to some big team camps. It’s a veteran group with veteran coaches.”

JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press

Artesia guard Braylon Vega scores on a three-point shot as the Bulldogs win 80-19 at the Pit in Albuquerque on Wednesday night.

Gallup’s plan was to wear the Bulldogs down. Instead, Artesia’s length and athleticism flipped the script, and the Bengals couldn’t get out and run — the part that hurt most, Becenti said.

“That’s the competition we want to play,” he said. “We want to be at Artesia’s level, and we have to work toward that.”

For Becenti, the lesson extends beyond basketball.

“Our kids need to play other sports,” he said. “They need to run track and play football and do the things their kids do.”

He pointed to Artesia standout Charlie Campbell IV — an all-state football and baseball player — as an example of the multi-sport model Gallup hopes to develop.

Asked whether Gallup’s preseason schedule prepared his team for Artesia, Becenti said it did not. He plans to pursue tougher competition in the metro, teams from southern New Mexico, and top 4A and 5A programs going forward.

For Artesia coach Michael Mondragon, both Pits feel like home

JT Keith
-
0
For Artesia coach Michael Mondragon, both Pits feel like home

If the Artesia boys’ basketball team takes on its coach’s personality, then the Bulldogs are fun-loving, loose, relaxed, and welcoming.

Bulldogs coach Michael Mondragon looks right at home in the Pit- not just the Bulldog Pit in Artesia, but the Pit in Albuquerque, which is quickly becoming his second home.

Mondragon carried himself like a celebrity coach Wednesday night in Albuquerque. When he took the court, he made his way to the opposing bench and greeted Gallup coach Ryan Becenti. The two shared a hug- Mondragon holding a cup of water- and chopped it up before the game.

There were no outward signs of pressure from Mondragon, even if he felt it. This is a Bulldogs team that opened the season ranked No. 1 in Class 4A and was a one-point loss to Portales away from staying there.

JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press
Artesia coach Michael Mondragon acknowledges fans from the stands.

Before the game, Mondragon appeared almost impervious to the stakes- a semifinal berth on the line. Instead, he looked relaxed, comfortable, and familiar, as if he had done this countless times before.

Well-wishers walked onto the court to shake his hand and hug him. Mondragon smiled and even made time for a pregame handshake with the two team trainers.

Fans called out to him from the stands. Mondragon waved back. For Mondragon, this felt like home. And while the Pit in Albuquerque is not the one in Artesia, it has become a second home- the building where he won his first state championship last year and where he is now chasing history as the first Bulldogs basketball coach to win back-to-back titles.

“We are at the Pit,” Mondragon said. “I want this team to enjoy themselves and leave no stone unturned.”

Mondragon is one victory away from another championship appearance, bolstered by a senior-heavy roster with 10 seniors.

If Mondragon has nerves, he is not showing them. The same calm he carried before tipoff followed the Bulldogs onto the floor. On Wednesday, the Bulldogs annihilated Gallup 80-19 in Albuquerque, two nights after routing Bloomfield 73-33 at home in the Bulldog Pit.

In two games in fewer than five days, Artesia unleashed a potent offense, outscoring its opponents 153-52- an alarming 101-point margin.

On Thursday at 3 p.m., the Bulldogs face Hope Christian, the No. 3-seed they defeated 79-58 on Jan.17 at the Hope Christian Tournament.

At stake is a berth in the Class 4A championship game-once again, in a building that feels more and more like home.

CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL: Fig, Ham & Blue Cheese Flatbread with Honeyed Thyme

Michael Smith
-
0
CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL: Fig, Ham & Blue Cheese Flatbread with Honeyed Thyme

Bruce Lesman

Some of the most successful dishes I serve at home are the simplest ones—those that balance sweet and savory and invite people back for just one more bite. This fig, ham, and blue cheese flatbread is one of them. Whenever I entertain, it’s consistently been a hit with my guests.

The combination is deceptively straightforward: jammy figs, thinly sliced ham, and blue cheese layered over a crisp flatbread, finished with fresh thyme and a light drizzle of honey. What makes it work is contrast—the sweetness of the figs against the salt of the ham, the richness of the cheese lifted by herbs and acidity.

I like this dish because it feels effortless yet thoughtful. Cut into small pieces, it’s an ideal opener for a gathering. Served with a simple green salad, it becomes a relaxed meal on its own—food meant to be shared, the kind that disappears quietly while the conversation carries on.

Paired with a New Mexico sparkling wine or a crisp white, the flatbread feels complete—elegant without being fussy, generous without being heavy. It’s a reminder that the most memorable dishes often come from restraint rather than excess.

Fig, Ham & Blue Cheese Flatbread Recipe

Serves 4–6

Ingredients

• 2 large flatbreads or naan

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 6 fresh figs, sliced (or 3 tablespoons fig jam, dotted)

• 4 ounces thinly sliced ham (prosciutto or Black Forest), torn

• 4 ounces blue cheese or gorgonzola, crumbled

• 1½ teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Honey, for drizzling

• Optional: lightly dressed baby arugula for finishing

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Place a baking sheet or pizza stone in the oven to heat.

2. Brush flatbreads lightly with olive oil and place on parchment.

3. Arrange figs evenly over the flatbreads. Add torn ham.

4. Sprinkle with blue cheese, thyme, and a few cracks of black pepper.

5. Transfer to the hot baking sheet or stone and bake 10–12 minutes, until crisp and lightly browned.

6. Remove from oven, drizzle lightly with honey, and finish with arugula if using.

Bruce Lesman is a veteran culinary professional with extensive experience as Corporate Food and Beverage Director for Cunard and Seabourn Cruise Lines, Vice President, Canyon Ranch Wellness Resorts.

New Mexico governor signs suite of health care bills

Michael Smith
-
0
New Mexico governor signs suite of health care bills

Joshua Bowling
Source New Mexico

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday morning signed medical malpractice reform and three other bills aimed at boosting health care affordability, prohibiting certain facility fees and supporting hospitals that honor Medicaid into law.

Lujan Grisham joined a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers at the construction site of the forthcoming 15-bed Valencia County hospital in Los Lunas to sign the legislation. The state has pledged $50 million toward the hospital, which is expected to open later this year. Lujan Grisham praised lawmakers for their “herculean” efforts to put a cap on punitive damages that arise from medical malpractice claims and said she believes the legislation is a key step toward remedying New Mexico’s physician shortage.

“This was an incredible herculean lift because you want to protect patients, but we have to change the climate of practice,” she said. “We can’t make New Mexico the No. 1 place to move and raise and grow a family if you are waiting more than a year to see a primary care doctor.”

At the halfway point of the legislative session, Lujan Grisham signed a bill into law to make it easier for out-of-state licensed medical professionals to move to and practice in New Mexico. Several similar pieces of legislation focused on licensed professionals in other fields did not make it to the governor’s desk, though. Lujan Grisham, whose final term as governor ends at the end of the year, told reporters on Friday that if “legislators are interested in doing a little more work in the next nine months, I’m interested.”

House Bill 99, the medical malpractice reform bill, stood among the most closely watched pieces of legislation during the recent 30-day session. Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos), who championed the bill, said at Friday’s bill signing that she believes it represents a “balanced approach” and a “reasonable compromise” to limiting the dollar amounts juries can award for malpractice cases while making sure families still have recourse.

Police Blotter

Michael Smith
-
0
Police Blotter

Feb 21

Arrest

Joseph Olivas arrested for DWI, traffic lanes, operators and chauffeurs must be licensed.

WANTED

8:43 am – Officer dispatched to S. 13th St. and W. Washington Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

9:21 am – Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to a wanted subject.

HARASSMENT

10:49 am – Officer dispatched to W. Richardson Ave. in reference to harassment.

SUSPICIOUS

11:34 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Mahone Dr. in reference to suspicious activity.

DISTURBANCE

12:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Gilchrist Ave. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

SUSPICIOUS

12:19 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to suspicious vehicle.

ACCIDENT

2:42 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Main St. and N. 13th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

DOMESTIC

6:06 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of W. Alvarado Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

ACCIDENT

6:25 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

HARASSMENT

6:38 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 20th St. in reference to harassment.

WELFARE

7:03 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Ray Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

DOMESTIC

8:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 3800 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

SHOTS FIRED

8:57 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S. 20th St. in reference to shots fired gun shot wound.

WELFARE

10:01 pm – Officer dispatched to 2300 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

Feb 22

Arrest

Victor Alfonso Ballard arrested for battery against household member, criminal damage to property of household member, false imprisonment.

Joshua Aaron Sillas arrested for DWI driving on streets landed for traffic.

Ishmael Jerome Duran arrested for municipal failure to pay.

Ignacio Duron arrested for failure to appear.

ALARM

10:54 am – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of S. 17th St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

DOMESTIC

11:48 am – Officer dispatched to 3600 block of W. Quay Ave. in Reference to domestic.

SUSPICIOUS

1:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of Briscoe Ave. in reference to suspicious vehicle.

ACCIDENT

6:57 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Main St. and N. 13th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

DOMESTIC

9:16 pm – Officer dispatched to 400 block of N. 26th St. in reference to verbal domestic.

WELFARE

9:32 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Hank Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

Feb. 23

WELFARE

12:50 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 11th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

2:59 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of Heathcliff Ct. in reference to suspicious activity.

5:41 am – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Currier St. in reference to suspicious person.

7:01 am – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Jacobs St. in reference to suspicious person.

7:25 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of N. 4th St. in reference to suspicious person

10:38 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 15th. in reference to suspicious person.

ACCIDENT

12:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

12:10  pm – Officer dispatched to 1700 block of W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

GRAFFITI

1:32 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to graffiti.

1:36 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to graffiti.

WELFARE

2:20 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Hank Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

DISTURBANCE

6:21 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Hank Ave. in reference to disturbance.

HARASSMENT

11:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to harassment.

11:34 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to harassment.

Feb 24

Arrest

Amy Necole Valenzuela Romero arrested for resisting, evading, obstructing an officer, criminal trespass, aggravated assault upon peace officer other deadly weapon.

DISTURBANCE

9:13 am – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of Champ Clark Ave. in reference to a family disturbance.

9:20 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to disturbance.

HARASSMENT

10:58 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to harassment.

ACCIDENT

11:14 am – Officer dispatched to N. 10th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

ALARM

11:42 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of W. Main St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

LARCENY

12:19 pm – Officer dispatched to 2000 block of W. Main St. in reference to larceny.

DISTURBANCE

3:37 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to neighborly disturbance.

WANTED

3:57 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 10th St and W. Lolita Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

ACCIDENT

5:15 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Main St. and N. 16th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SUSPICIOUS

8:55 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S. 20th St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

ARMED

9:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to an armed subject.

Feb 25

Arrest

Zedrick Cole arrested for failure to pay penalty assessment.

Gabriel Joe Chavez arrested for battery.

SUSPICIOUS

4:37 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of N. 5th St. in reference to suspicious trespass.

SHOTS FIRED

6:27 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to shots fired.

WELFARE

7:49 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

VANDAL

8:26 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of S. 20th St. in reference to vandal.

WANTED

9:27 am – Officer dispatched to 2600 block of Menefee Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

11:04 am – Officer dispatched to S. 1st St. and E. Main St. in reference to a suspicious person.

WELFARE

12:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of W. Mahone Dr. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

BATTERY

2:05 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Cannon Ave. in reference to battery.

WANTED

3:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 block of N. 15th St. in reference to a wanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

4:05 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 8th St. and W. Lolita Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

DISTURBANCE

5:18 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of N. York St. in reference to neighbor disturbance.

SUICIDAL

5:38 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to a suicidal subject.

UNWANTED

6:17 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of N. 1st St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

ALARM

8:07 pm -Officer dispatched to 2300 block of Sierra Vista Rd. in reference to a burglary alarm.

Feb 26

WELFARE

12:50 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Alvarado Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

1:02 am – Officer dispatched to N. 5th St. and W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

DISTURBANCE

1:35 am -Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to disturbance.

ALARM

4:03 am – Officer dispatched to 200 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

ACCIDENT

6:30 am – Officer dispatched to 2200 block of W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

UNWANTED

6:37 am – officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject.

SHOTS FIRED

9:26 am – Officer dispatched to 2300 block of Sierra Vista Rd. in reference to shots fired in the area.

GRAFFITI

1:17 pm – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Sears Ave. in reference to graffiti.

ACCIDENT

1:23 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

UNWANTED

4:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of N. 1st St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

DISTURBANCE

5:16 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Quay St. S. 4th St. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

DOMESTIC

5:27 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of N. 13th Rural Rt. In reference to verbal domestic.

SUICIDAL

5:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Sears Ave. in reference to a suicidal subject.

ALARM

6:21 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of W. Richardson Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.

DOMESTIC

7:11 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of W. Hermosa DR. in reference to verbal domestic.

SUSPICIOUS

7:31 pm – officer dispatched to 3700 block of Lowell Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

SHOTS FIRED

10:19 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Chisum Ave. in reference to shots fired.

Feb 27

Arrest

Ronald Troy Bettencourt arrested for municipal failure to appear.

Kendra Lee Cross arrested for battery against a household member.

Antonio Morales Hernandez arrested for contributing to delinquency of minor.

Jonathan Aldo Olguin Garcia arrested for criminal trespass.

ARMED SUBJECT

1:25 am – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Currier St. in reference to an armed subject.

DISTURBANCE

1:50 am – Officer dispatched to 1700 block of Harrison Ct. in reference to disturbance.

SUSPICIOUS

4:26 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to suspicious person.

Scenes from the Bulldogs 80-19 rout

JT Keith
-
0
Scenes from the Bulldogs 80-19 rout
JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press
Both teams honored the playing of the National Anthem before Wednesday night’s game.
Artesia guard Charlie Campbell IV locks down Gallup guard Jayson Bruner during first-half action at the Pit.
Artesia’s trio of Charlie Campbell IV, Cael Houghtaling, and Trent Egeland intercepts a Gallup pass.
Artesia center Clay Kincaid blocks a shot against Gallup guard Jayson Bruner in first-half action at the Pit in Albuquerque.
Artesia center Clay Kincaid follows through on his block shot at the Pit on Wednesday night.
Artesia center Clay Kindcaid swats the shot of Jayson Bruner away in first-half action on Wednesday night.
Artesia assistant coach Charlie Campbell III talks to the team as Derrick Warren listens closely.
Artesia guard Charlie Campbell IV is excited after Gallup took a timeout in the game in the first-half.
Artesia forward Trent Egeland is happy about the domination of the Bulldogs over the Bengals.
Artesia center Clay Kincaid shoots a shot against Gallup on Wednesday night.
Artesia guard Braylon Vega scores two of his 40 points on the night against Gallup on Wednesday night at the Pit.
The team is excited after being taken out at the beginning of the fourth quarter as Artesia wins in an 80-19 rout.

Bulldogs’ Braylon Vega pours in 40 in quarterfinal rout

JT Keith
-
0
Bulldogs’ Braylon Vega pours in 40 in quarterfinal rout

Albuquerque — Artesia guard Braylon Vega has embraced coach Michael Mondragon’s motto of playing the best basketball at the end of February and the beginning of March.

Vega saved his best performance for Wednesday night.

The senior scored a game-high 40 points to lead the Bulldogs to an 80-19 quarterfinal win over Gallup at The Pit, turning the game into a rout well before halftime.

All of our offense is generated from defense and rebounding, Mondragon said. People look at our 80-point score, but I think we did a good job of making it hard for them and frustrating them.

The defending Class 4A state champion Bulldogs were relentless on both ends of the floor, holding Gallup to just two points in the first quarter as the game quickly slipped away from the Bengals.

“Yes, that is a very good team over there,” Gallup coach Ryan Becenti said. “They are a really good coaching team with a lot of really good athletes. We did not execute very well. To be honest, a lot of intimidation was a big factor.”

Vega played a major role in that.

If he was not already in the All-State conversation coming into the game, Vega strengthened his case by shooting 14 of 17 from the field. He was nearly automatic from beyond the arc, hitting 9 of 11 three-pointers for 27 of his 40 points. At one point, Vega had outscored Gallup by himself.

“When this guy gets hot like that, and his teammates find him, it is tough,” Mondragon said. “I think they had a game plan to stop the inside, and they left him open.”

JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press

Artesia shooting guard Braylon Vega scores on one of his nine made 3-point shots Wednesday night at the Pit. Artesia would rout Gallup 80-19

Artesia extended its defense early and overwhelmed the smaller Bengals, scoring 30 points off turnovers and adding 26 fast-break points. The Bulldogs allowed just eight points in the first half and carried a 48-8 lead into the break.

Gallup began the second half under a running clock, as New Mexico Activities Association rules call for continuous time when a team trails by 35 points or more.

The win moves Artesia into the semifinals, where the Bulldogs will face Hope Christian at 3 p.m. Friday at The Pit. Artesia defeated Hope Christian 79-58 on Jan. 17 during the Hope Christian Tournament.

“Take that meeting,” Mondragon said. “They have gotten better since January, and we have gotten better since January. It is going to be a fight. We will enjoy this for a couple of hours, then get the film, get back to work, and get ready for tomorrow.”

Opinion: Don’t get too comfortable, health care supporters

Michael Smith
-
0
Opinion: Don’t get too comfortable, health care supporters

Sherry Robinson
All She Wrote

Sometimes I’m happy to be wrong.

Before the legislative session began I didn’t have much faith that lawmakers would deliver on healthcare needs and told readers as much. But in the 30-day sprint we call governing, legislators pushed through a couple of the landmark bills, along with several important but less known measures.

And they showed some overdue love and respect to our dwindling number of doctors.

It’s a good beginning, but those of you who contacted your legislators, wrote letters to the editor or posted online should stay vigilant. The people who brought us this disaster are still in place.

There’s a lot of good news: Medical malpractice reform and a compact allowing interstate licensing of physicians passed. Democrats kept premiums affordable for some 46,000 self-employed workers, small business owners and others who depend on the Affordable Care Act.

Lawmakers eliminated facility fees for such services as outpatient care, vaccinations and telehealth services starting in 2027. These surprise charges added to the cost of routine care.

And we have in the budget: $300 million to double the size and enrollment of the UNM medical school, $24 million for rural residencies and rotations of doctors in training, $2 million for increased salaries for medical residents and fellows, and $3 million to recruit and retain medical educators. Plus, they expanded the Health Professional Loan Repayment Fund to $300,000 for doctors in return for four years of service in underserved areas of the state.

Now the bad news: Eight other compacts died in the Senate, six of them in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Of course. Chairman Joe Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, whined that they didn’t have time to thoroughly vet the bills, and yet the House moved them in a few days. In this bottleneck we lost greater access to health professionals we really need: physician assistants, audiologists and speech language pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, dentists and dental hygienists, emergency medical technicians, counselors, and psychologists.

Rural areas rely on their EMTs, and yet New Mexico is short about 2,500 of them, according to national benchmarks.

Compacts allow licensed healthcare providers in other states to serve patients in New Mexico and streamline the licensing process for providers moving here. Proponents have said compacts are the easiest way to improve healthcare access in the state.

Some Senate Democrats claimed that the state Regulation and Licensing Department “doesn’t have the capacity to administer them all, even though the department disputes that,” reported Think New Mexico, a nonpartisan think tank that has championed the compact bills. The group also noted that dozens of groups supported the bills while the only opposition came from the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association.

Two other disappointments: The tax package that passed didn’t include a repeal of the state’s gross receipts tax on medical services, the only tax of its kind in the country. And a bill to create a pathway to licensure for physicians trained in other countries failed in the Senate. Eighteen other states have such laws.

After the session, House Democrats and House Republicans each took credit for the successes and ignored contributions of the opposing party.

Said House Dems: “We expanded access by joining interstate healthcare compacts, lowered costs by strengthening the state’s Health Care Affordability Fund and invested in student repayments for medical providers … We made smart, targeted changes to address concerns we heard from both patients and providers about our state’s medical malpractice laws.”

Said House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong: “For more than six years, New Mexico has been losing doctors… Nothing changed until Republicans made ending the status quo a priority … Republicans kept introducing legislation, demanding hearings and pressing progressive leadership to take the issue seriously… That persistence, backed by strong public support, finally paid off with the passage of meaningful medical malpractice reform.”

It’s politics. It’s also dishonest. Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, deserves our thanks for shepherding the medical malpractice bill, but without Republican support it would have died because too many Democrats still listen more to trial lawyers than to their constituents. The eight failed compacts had Dem opposition.

We celebrated when the governor signed the medical malpractice reform bill and the doctor compact, but let’s not kid ourselves. The same people who killed those bills last year and tried to kill malpractice again this year – and nearly succeeded – are still in office. The Senate is turning a blind eye to conflicts of interest when the Legislature’s trial lawyers who sue doctors can hold up bills.

I wish I was wrong about this.

Mild NM winter shutters four ski areas early as others stay open

Michael Smith
-
0
Mild NM winter shutters four ski areas early as others stay open

Mike Smith
El Rito Media
msmith@elritomedia.com

New Mexico’s warm, mild winter prompted early closures for four ski resorts, but some are still open for skiers who want to hit the slopes before the official start of spring March 20.

Pajarito Mountain, Sandia Peak Ski Area, Ski Apache and Ski Cloudcroft all closed for the season over the past week due to lack of snow.

Christy Germscheid, executive director of trade organization Ski New Mexico, said the resorts that remain open have plenty of winter activity.

“It’s a happy vibe,” she said during a telephone interview Tuesday morning. “People are skiing without a shirt or wear funny costumes.”

Germscheid said Red River Ski and Summer Area was still offering its torchlight parades and fireworks shows for the rest of March.

“It’s beautiful,” she said of the remaining snow at the northern New Mexico resort. “It’s great skiing (and) having fun in the sun.”

Germscheid said Sipapu Ski and Summer Area plans to carry on with skiing until its announced closing date of April 5. Angel Fire Resort, Ski Santa Fe and Taos Ski Valley are also open, she said.

Germscheid lives in Angel Fire said and said skiing conditions were “great” after a weekend of hitting the slopes.

“The runs that I skied are beautiful in coverage,” she said. “It had a great skiing surface.”

Ski conditions as of Tuesday March 10

(Information provided by Ski New Mexico)

Angel Fire Resort had a base depth of 25 inches with 27 of 95 trails open.

Red River Ski and Summer Area had a 20-inch base depth with 30 of 64 trails open.

Sipapu Ski and Summer Area had a base depth of 20 inches with 14 of 44 trails open.

Ski Santa Fe had a base depth of 34 inches with 71 of 89 trails open.

Taos Ski Valley had a 32-inch base depth with 62 of 120 trails open.

Note – snow conditions can change after this report is compiled.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.

‘A clean place to go’

Michael Smith
-
0
‘A clean place to go’

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@currentargus.com

Local volunteers take to the Pecos River for annual trash pick-up

Nine-year-old Leighton Franks said she’ll “probably” keep volunteering for the rest of her life.

That’s thanks to some early inspiration Franks received along the banks of the Pecos River as one of about 300 volunteers for the annual River Blitz trash pickup.

The event hosted by Keep Carlsbad Beautiful sees volunteers from throughout the community deploy to landmarks and key recreation areas along the Pecos for a morning of picking up trash and removing debris.

This year’s River Blitz was held Saturday, March 7, and was the third year in a row Leighton and her mom Stephanie Franks, a staffer at Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, took to the river.

They were at the Lower Tansill Dam where the waters of the Pecos accumulate on the south end of the Lake Carlsbad Beach area, pulling candy wrappers, bottles and dead fish out of the scenic river.

By about 8 a.m., Leighton found six fish – five dead and one living but tangled in a plastic bag.

“It just helps the community,” said the fourth grader at Monterey Elementary School. “There are so many people that don’t care about throwing garbage in the trash can.

Stephanie Franks said River Blitz helps get her daughter out of the house and teaches her the value of giving back.

“I just want her to understand the importance of helping your community,” Franks said. “It’s everybody’s responsibility to keep things clean. Hopefully it will give her a work ethic.”

That kind of shift in culture is what Carlsbad Mayor Rick Lopez hoped River Blitz could instill in the entire community.

The city of Carlsbad, through Keep Carlsbad Beautiful, leads the project. Keep Carlsbad Beautiful is a subsidiary of national organization Keep America Beautiful, which partners with local governments to establish local chapters.

For his town’s group, Lopez said, the focus is on combating the increase in trash around the city as Carlsbad’s population swells.

“As we grow, sometimes we grow too fast. We don’t stop to take care of our town,” Lopez said. “If everyone threw away one more piece of trash, it makes a huge difference.”

Keep Carlsbad Beautiful Coordinator Mary Garwood said River Blitz started in the 1990s as a “grassroots” initiative led by local residents. The city took on the event in 2015, and it is now funded through a combination of about $13,000 in state grants and city funds, she said.

About $3,000 of that comes from the New Mexico Clean and Beautiful program, which uses state funds to support local beautification efforts around New Mexico, and the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s $10,000 Que Linda grant program.

“We don’t want to be known as a trashy city,” Garwood said. “We want to show that we care about our town. We spend thousands of dollars to advertise our river, why would we want to trash it?”

Caroline Ibarra, 35, wanted to be part of the solution. She brought her son Mateo, 5, and daughter Bella, 14, to the Carlsbad veterans memorial near Lower Tansill to pick up trash, mostly plastic bags and cans concentrated along the riverbank.

She said the family brings its Doberman, Benny, for walks along the river and hopes to keep it clean for him.

“We hang out here a lot and we just hate seeing the trash,” Ibarra said. “We just want to have a clean place to go with the kids.”

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

1...232425...256Page 24 of 256