We know how tough it is to keep up with all the news every week, especially in current times. Here’s a list of the stories that appeared on NM Political Report this week that you can catch up on this weekend—before the news cycle starts again next week.
- Rural residents continue decade-long battle against San Augustin Ranch water project by Laura Paskus: A plan to pump water in southwestern New Mexico and ship it to urban areas is not popular with residents of the area.
- Zinke ‘horses around’ on trip, New Mexicans wait for decisions by Laura Paskus: A recap of Ryan Zinke’s trip to New Mexico, where he avoided public interactions.
- What does Utah have to do with NM’s national monuments? by Laura Paskus: Related to Zinke’s trip, a look at why the federal government is reviewing about 20 national monuments.
- Will Democrats expand House majority in 2018? by Matthew Reichbach: Elections in 2018 could be big for Democrats, but will it impact state House races?
- DOJ threatens to withhold crime-fighting resources over ABQ immigration policies by Matthew Reichbach: AG Jeff Sessions wants answers before deciding if Albuquerque will get resources it qualifies for because of its high crime rate.
- Pruitt says he’ll re-evaluate Gold King Mine claims EPA had rejected by Laura Paskus: Despite what Pruitt said, New Mexico’s Attorney General never received a letter.
- Committee clears Luján on ethics complaint by Matthew Reichbach: The House Committee on Ethics took no action on an ethics complaint against Luján over an email sent after Democrats staged a sit-in to demand a vote on a “no fly, no buy” law.
- War correspondent Ernie Pyle honored in Albuquerque by Laura Paskus: Ernie Pyle, the legendary war correspondent who died in World War II, was honored in Albuquerque.
- Report shows minorities driving rural growth in NM, rest of western U.S. by Matthew Reichbach: Many see rural areas as primarily white, but growth throughout the rural west is being driven by minorities.
- A farewell to the EPA at a troubling time (Opinion) by Betsy Southerland: Betsy Southerland is retiring from the EPA after working there for three decades. She sees the current situation as troubling.
And here are some stories we published this week from news partners:
- The Interior secretary gave a closed-door speech to ALEC by Anna V. Smith, High Country News: Before he traveled to New Mexico, Zinke was giving an unpublicized speech to ALEC, a controversial conservative group.
- Nuclear weapons contractors repeatedly violate shipping rules for dangerous materials by Patrick Malone, the Center for Public Integrity: Los Alamos National Labs and others have violated safety rules for shipping radioactive and other dangerous materials.
- Border agency set to jumpstart Trump’s wall in a Texas wildlife refuge by Kiah Collier, Texas Tribune, and T. Christian Miller, ProPublica: While Trump is struggling to get funding for his border wall, construction may start soon in a wildlife refuge.
