Sights of Aretesia basketball
Scenes from the Artesia swim meet
Immigrant Safety Act passes first chamber in Santa Fe
Alex Ross
El Rito Media
aross@elritomedia.com
A ban on local entities entering into immigrant detention agreements with the federal government passed the New Mexico House of Representatives on Friday, Jan. 30.
House Bill 9, also known as the Immigrant Safety Act, passed on a 40-29 vote with Democratic Reps. Martha Garcia of Pine Hill, Wonda Johnson of Rehoboth and Patricia Lundstrom of Gallup joining all 26 Republican representatives in opposing the bill. One Democrat, Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde, was absent and did not cast a vote.
The measure now will be considered by the Senate and if it passes that chamber will head to the desk of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Lujan Grisham, who placed HB 9 on her agenda for lawmakers to take up during the 30-day legislative session, would have until March 11 to sign or veto the bill. If the governor takes no action, the bill is subject to an automatic veto and will not become law.
HB 9 would prohibit public bodies in New Mexico, including state agencies, county and municipal governments, law enforcement agencies and school districts from entering into or maintaining agreements with ICE to host facilities used to detain individuals accused of civil immigration violations such as entering the U.S. illegally or overstaying visas.
Under such agreements the local government receives federal payments for housing detainees and uses the money to contract with private companies to operate the facilities.
Under HB 9, Cibola, Otero and Torrance counties, which are party to such agreements, would have to end their involvement.
An amendment added to the bill by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 28, also bars local bodies from entering into or continuing agreements that deputize state or local law enforcement to take part in certain immigration enforcement duties.
Passage of HB 9 came amid continuing controversy over President Donald Trump’s border enforcement policies and the actions of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers, particularly in response to anti-ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities.
Following the vote, House Democrats applauded passage of the bill, as a signal that New Mexico will no longer take part in immigration enforcement or detention.
State Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-35) of Las Cruces, and one of the bill’s co-sponsors, said in a news release from House Democrats that HB9 “is about protecting our friends, our neighbors, and our family members from pain and suffering at the hands of untrained, unchecked, masked federal agents and for-profit detention facilities.
“New Mexico is making a clear statement that we want no part of the Trump administration’s chaotic and increasingly violent deportation machine.”
Republicans are staunchly opposed to the bill, arguing that prohibiting the contracts will lead to job losses and cause ICE to close detention facilities.
State Sen. Jim Townsend (R-34) of Artesia, whose district includes Otero County, criticized Democrats who supported the measure in a Jan. 31 Facebook post in which he accused them of killing jobs “because they hate Trump more than they love New Mexicans.”
Legislative reporter Alex Ross can be followed on X @alexrosstweets.
Ty Houghtaling writes on truth in love
Ty Houghtaling
Every Sunday morning thousands of preacher’s step into the pulpit to speak a word of truth in love. One goal of the preacher is to help people see themselves the way God sees them. It is a lofty goal. Another goal is to confront the church with expectations for how to live in this broken world. We do not always want to hear these hard truths, but they are good and hopefully spoken in love. Ephesians chapter 4 is a passage of Scripture that helps us understand why preachers preach. When Jesus left this world to return to Heaven, He left behind pastors and teachers to equip His people. These pastors and teachers were challenged to speak truth in love so that God’s people would no longer be deceived by the cunning and craftiness of deceitful people who scheme against God’s will. Maybe you like to be preached at, maybe not, but there is a reason why preachers preach. Read Ephesians chapter 4 and as you do you will realize that we Christians are called to a high standard of living before the Lord. I appreciate the Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians chapter 4. They are hard truths spoken in love with the goal of challenging the church to grow in maturity. I need to hear these words and live them out and I am encouraged by the thousands of you out there that read your Bibles and live for the Lord. Thank you for being not just hearers but doers!
Movie filmed in Ruidoso nominated for Oscar
Todd Fuqua
Ruidoso News
tfuqua@elritomedia.com
A movie filmed in Ruidoso has been nominated for an Academy Award for visual effects.
The film, entitled The Lost Bus, tells the story of school bus driver Kevin McKay, who had to navigate a bus carrying 22 children and their teachers to safety during the Camp Fire, which devastated much of Paradise, California, in 2018.
Directed by Paul Greengrass, The Lost Bus stars Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey as McKay. Filming was done in and around Ruidoso because the area’s landscape resembled the California region where the Camp Fire occurred, according to an account posted on the Discover Ruidoso tourism website. The local scenes were shot in the spring of 2024, before Ruidoso suffered its own devastation from the Salt and South Fork fire.
“Ruidoso’s soaring pines, winding mountain roads, and even parts of Midtown provided the perfect backdrop for several of the film’s most intense scenes,” read the report on discoverruidoso.com. “Additional filming took place in Santa Fe, Española, Truchas, and Glorieta, where New Mexico’s diverse landscapes helped recreate the desperate escape at the heart of the story.”
“It’s awesome and amazing that Ruidoso has a $200 million feature film that’s been nominated,” said Eddie Ryan, film liaison for the Village of Ruidoso. “All it does is show that this is a viable filming community. If it wins, Ruidoso will have an Oscar-winning film under its belt.”
Nominations for the annual film industry awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were announced Jan. 22. The awards, popularly known as the Oscars, will be presented Sunday, March 15, at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
The ceremony will be televised live on the ABC network and streamed on Hulu starting at 5 p.m. Mountain time.
Besides The Lost Bus, this year’s nominees for Best Achievement in Visual Effects are Avatar: Fire and Ash; F1: The Movie; Jurassic World: Rebirth; and Sinners.
The films were selected for their groundbreaking technical achievements, according to information posted on the Internet Movie Database.
Todd Fuqua is Editor for the Ruidoso News and can be reached at 575-937-0344.
Kayak fisherman prepares for jigging on ice
Mike Smith
Carlsbad Current-Argus
msmith@currentargus.com
Artesia native Anthony Barrera loves to fish, from the shore or from a kayak. He has mixed feelings about his next fishing trip, a Feb. 6 outing on an ice-covered lake in northeastern New Mexico.
“This is my first-time ice fishing,” he said. “I’m excited to go fishing (but) not excited about the cold.”
The State Parks Division of New Mexico’s Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department announced Jan. 27 that Eagle Nest Lake in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains was open for ice fishing after recent frigid temperatures thickened the ice to safe levels.
Barrera, a 31-year angling veteran who began kayak fishing in 2020, said he will take to the ice with two of his kayak fishing mates, Richard Ross and Victor Garde. Barrera and Ross work together at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque and both met Garde during a kayak fishing trip.
“He (Ross) is the one that twisted my arm for about three years. He is giving me advice and pointers,” Barrera said.
Between now and fishing day, Barrera plans on tracking the weather forecasts and staying warm.
Staying warm might be difficult for ice fisherman but staying safe is possible and crucial, according to park officials.
In a news release announcing the opening of ice fishing season at Eagle Nest Lake, New Mexico State Parks director Toby Velasquez reminded anglers that “venturing onto frozen water always carries risk.”
“We once again welcome outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the winter fishing season,” Velasquez said. “However, we advise them to take precautions to ensure that their outings are safe.”
The release included a list of safety precautions:
· Don’t fish alone. Before you leave shore, inform someone of your destination and expected return time.
· Go on the ice on foot – motorized vehicles are not allowed on the ice.
· Always wear a life jacket (personal flotation device).
· Be aware of and prepared for weather conditions. Dress in layers and wear thermal underwear, fleece or wool and wind and waterproof outerwear, especially for feet, hands and head. Take extra clothes, food, water, etc.
· Be prepared for emergencies. Carry equipment such as ice picks or awls, rope, and cellular phones. Pack a first-aid kit and matches or other tools for starting a fire.
· Keep fishing holes small and few. When drilling fishing holes with an ice auger, keep the diameter under eight inches. Bigger holes are not necessary to land fish and can create a safety hazard for others.
· Stay cautious around known weak ice areas such as feeder streams, springs or cracks.
· Disperse weight and fishing holes to avoid overcrowding in one area.
Anglers can call Eagle Nest Lake State Park at 575-377-1594 for more information and current updates on the lake’s ice conditions.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.
Around Town
Flourish: A Women’s Community
Coming in January we will gather twice a month for friendship, networking, personal development, more joy, and just plain fun! We gather at 5:30 pm the second and fourth Tuesday’s of each month starting Jan. 13 at Kith and Kin, in the back room. More info visit Facebook @flourishartesia.
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President Trump’s Prayer Initiative:
President Trump has asked that the American People come together and pray for our Nation weekly until July 4th, 2026.
Artesia will be holding its prayer gathering every Thursday at Lucky Duck Restaurant, 2209 W. Main St, Artesia NM at 10-11am.
Come and go during the hour. Everyone is welcome Come join and pray for our Nation.
We’ll begin again on January 8th, 2026.
Come & go during the hour. Everyone is welcome.
Shared prayers or silent prayers- whatever you feel comfortable with
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PHLEBOTOMIST PROGRAM
Applications are now open for Artesia General Hospital’s certified phlebotomist program. To learn how to apply and for more information on this career opportunity, call 575-736-8178 or email foundation@artesiageneral.com.
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GRIEF SUPPORT
A Grief Group meets at 1:30 p.m. each Tuesday in the Saint Damien Center at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 1111 N. Roselawn Ave. Free support is offered in both English and Spanish. For more information, contact Nora at 575-308-3248.
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P.A.L.S.
People about losing safely meets at 9 a.m. Wednesdays at the Senior Center. For more information, call the Center at 575-746-4113.
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ALZHEIMER’S/DEMENTIA SUPPORT GROUP
Every other Tuesday from 6:30pm-7:30pm at Artesia Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center -1402 Gilchrist Ave. RSVP to Helen at 575-746-6006.
Warming trend awaits New Mexico anglers
Information and photos provided by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Winter Storm Fern brought snow and colder temperatures to parts of New Mexico last weekend. Projected mild temperatures should attract anglers to their favorite lake or stream this week.
In northern New Mexico, along the Rio Grande River, streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 411 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for brown trout was very good using red worms.
Near Silver City at Bill Evans Lake, fishing for trout was good when trolling trout lures from a kayak and when using PowerBait from the bank.
Near Truth or Consequences at Elephant Butte Lake, fishing for white bass was very good when using Rat-L-Traps.
Rainbow trout fishing was very good when using worms at Escondida Lake. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair when using spinners.
In Lincoln County at Bonito Lake, trout fishing was fair to good using Yellow PowerBait and Rainbow Glitter PowerBait and slow using rooster tails, Kastmasters and Dardevle lures.
This fishing report, provided by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from area officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.
Tie legislator pay to performance
Jose Garcia
Milan Simonich in the Jan.19 issue of the Santa Fe New Mexican, lays out the shifty tricks legislators played on the public in the last few years to increase their take-home pay. First, they raised their pensions by 27% in 2022, during the pandemic when no one was paying much attention, citing inflation. Two years later Rep. Harry Garcia (D-Grants) offered up a “cleanup” bill to increase pensions on top of that by 50% as the oil production that many progressives love to hate was adding billions of new dollars to the state’s treasury. These increases allow legislators with 10 years of service to retire on a lifetime salary of $29,110 from a part-time job that requires attendance only 90 days in a two-year term, fully a 90% increase in two years. If you were a state government employee earning $50,000 in 2021, with the same increases the legislature gave itself, equivalent increases would have given you a salary of $95,000 in 2024. Did you get this kind of raise? During those years PERA pensions increased by a total of about 3%, after an inflation rate of about 20%.
Full disclosure: I receive a state pension based on ERA and PERA service. Am I resentful of the legislature helping itself to a 90% increase for its service when I only got 3%? You bet I am.
Legislators, feeling sorry for themselves, also helped themselves to taxpayer money to provide for a legislative assistant for each one, a move touted loudly by legislators as a step in “professionalizing” the legislature. But now, I am occasionally told, when you try to call a legislator on the phone you are asked on voicemail to contact the legislative assistant. This is hardly a step in keeping with the concept of a citizen’s legislature as baked into the New Mexico Constitution. Abuse is already popping up. And we have learned from decades of observation how malleable some legislators can be with their vote after a steak dinner and a glass of wine or two at a lobbyist’s expense. What guarantee will we have of better government if we now provide legislators with salaries? Particularly if gerrymandering continues to reduce the ability of candidates out of line with their party to have a chance at beating an incumbent?
Now, Simonich asserts, Cristina Parajón (D-Bernalillo) is introducing legislation to float a constitutional amendment for a vote allowing salaries for legislators. This, as envisioned by Parajón, will provide a salary in 2024 money of about $64,000, going up in lockstep as NM median incomes increase over time. No such legislation is proposed for state government workers’ salaries.
But instead of talking about fairness in the past, let me make a modest proposal for the future that might improve the performance of the legislature enough for voters to swallow a constitutional amendment to provide salaries for legislators. The strongest case for salaries up to now has been that legislators typically come from only three buckets: the rich, the retired, and the highly resourceful (the latter covering a lot of ground). Salaries should help create a legislature that is more like most New Mexicans, a move in the direction of greater democracy.
Under my proposal salaries would be tied to legislative performance in improving state government. Exactly one year after U.S. News & World Report moves New Mexico up from 50 out of 50 in education to, say, 45, a constitutional amendment allowing for salaries will be put up for a vote. Think the task is impossible? If Mississippi could move up dramatically from 48 in 2014 to the low 30s (U.S. News & World Report), why can’t we, especially with incentives to do so?
Should the amendment allowing salaries be approved by the voters, future increases in legislative salaries would be tied to a specific metric of improvement in the operations or policy outcomes of state government. Parajón wants a salary of $64,000? Sure. But New Mexico needs first to improve its standing in education. Want a cost-of-living increase after that? Sure, as soon as New Mexico’s ranking in health care goes up 5 places. Instead of the usual excuses given by legislators for poor performance in health care, education, the condition of our roads, efficiency metrics for the operations of state agencies, etc., only tangible progress must happen if you want a salary increase. That’s the way CE0s and professional athletes often get salary increases. Why can’t we adopt this here?
Dr. Jose Z. Garcia is a former New Mexico Secretary of Higher Education, retired University PhD professor of political science, is active in state politics and a columnist for El Rito Media. He lives in Las Cruces and also frequently spends time in Santa Fe where he maintains a residence.
Lujan Grisham-backed crime bills blocked by lawmakers
Alex Ross
El Rito Media
aross@elritomedia.com
Lawmakers blocked a proposal to give more power to district judges in New Mexico to deny bail for those charged with violent crime.
The House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on Thursday, Jan. 29, tabled the measure on a 4-2 party-line vote, with the committee Democrats supporting the motion to table while its two Republicans opposed it.
Once tabled, the committee must take separate vote to bring the bill back up for consideration and potentially a vote to pass. Legislation must clear two committees in the chamber where it originates before going before the full body.
House Joint Resolution 2 would put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot in the Nov. 4 election that, if approved by voters, would allow a judge to presume a person is a danger to the public if they are charged with a dangerous or violent felony or represent a flight risk.
Currently, to incarcerate someone charged with a felony before a trial, the prosecution must prove in a separate court hearing that the defendant is a danger to the public.
HJR 2 would allow a court to determine a defendant was such a risk without a hearing, by deciding if the offense was a “serious, violent offense,” such as murder or aggravated battery. The defense would be allowed to rebut such a decision.
The amendment would have also allowed someone to be held without bail if they are deemed a flight risk. Reps. Andrea Reeb (R-64) of Clovis and Nicole Chavez (R-31) of Albuquerque, sponsored the resolution.
Lujan Grisham, a Democrat who will term out of office at the end of the year, has been a proponent of the measure and other enhanced criminal penalties, putting her at odds with much of her own party, which controls both legislative chambers.
Jonathan Ibarra, a public defender and the president of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association, argued during the public comment portion of the meeting that HJR 2 would unduly shift the legal system away from placing the burden of proof on the prosecution to prove guilt.
“The presumption of innocence should mean something,” he said.
The committee’s two Republicans, state Rep. John Block (R-51) of Alamogordo and Stefani Lord (R-22) of Sandia Park, expressed outrage that HJR 2 did not pass the committee.
The two are frequent critics of Lujan Grisham but urged the governor to call a special session for lawmakers to reconsider HJR 2.
“It’s shameful that this has not passed this committee, and so this is a message for the governor: ‘Please call a special session, demand this be on your call,’” Block said.
When reached for comment about Block’s suggestion, Michael Coleman, the governor’s communications director, told El Rito Media that all options are on the table when it comes to Lujan Grisham’s priorities and that she still believes New Mexico needs bail reform.
“Everyone knows that Gov. Lujan Grisham is not afraid to call a special session if it’s in the best interest of New Mexicans and that hasn’t changed,” Coleman said.
Lujan Grisham has called seven special legislative sessions since she was sworn into office in 2019.
That included one in July 2024, where she called lawmakers back to Santa Fe to act on a series of public safety proposals after they did not consider them during the regular 30-day session that year.
The session ended hours later with lawmakers only approving relief funds for the Ruidoso area in the wake of the South Fork and Salt fires earlier that spring.
2nd-degree murder penalty increase shot down
The committee on Thursday also tabled another priority of Lujan Grisham’s, House Bill 59, which would have increased the state’s maximum penalty for second-degree murder.
Sponsored by Reeb, Block and Rep. Luis Terrazas, R-39 of Santa Clara, HB 59 would have increased the maximum penalty for second-degree murder from 18 to 25 years in prison.
Reeb, a longtime prosecutor, said the revision is necessary because the current maximum sentence is the same as that for certain other non-violent offenses such as first-degree kidnapping and drug trafficking.
“So, if you kill somebody, you’re treated the same as someone who’s a second-time drug trafficker,” Reeb said.
Critics on the committee noted that the maximum penalty for second-degree murder was elevated in 2024 when the legislature passed, and Lujan Grisham signed a bill to increase the second-degree murder penalty from 15 to 18 years.
“So, it’s been in effect for less than two years,” said Rep. Liz Thomson (D-24) of Albuquerque, arguing not enough time had passed to rate the effectiveness of the statute.
Lolita Moskowitz, staff attorney with ACLU New Mexico, said she believes that bills like HB 59, which increase sentences, do not result in improved public safety.
“Various proposals this year seek to engage the same response, increased penalties, which will not deliver the community safety that New Mexicans deserve,” Moskowitz said.
Legislative reporter Alex Ross can be followed on X @alexrosstweets.