OP/ED

Op-Ed: Protection From Extreme Heat

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By WHITNEY HOLLAND
President, AFT New Mexico

SHELLEY MANN-LEV
Executive Director, Healthy Climate New Mexico

New Mexico may be enjoying cooler temperatures now, but in a few short months, the state’s workers- including thousands of union members- will face another summer with temperatures that make their jobs unsafe. On high heat days, jobs as varied as farming, construction, education, warehousing, food service, and package delivery put workers at risk and force the hard decision between making a living and staying alive.

The dangers for workers are clear. Almost all occupational heat-related Read More

Op-Ed: About Diabetes Risk Check

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By BILL HEINMILLER
Los Alamos

Regarding the Diabetes risk check published on March 28 (link), it is understood T2D is very common, and it is managed, not cured. The linked quiz requires less than a minute. It asks 8 questions (9 if a woman) regarding age, sex, family, blood pressure, exercise, race and BMI to determine your overall risk to T2D. 

There is no zero risk response. One caution is if one gets a low risk response, they should not conclude low risk means no risk and nothing more need be done. Similarly, one who gets a high risk response should not choose to do nothing because they are not experiencing Read More

Op-Ed: HB 143—Transparency For Everyone But The Elected

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By JASON HARPER
Former State Representative

Sharing a meal is one of the simplest ways a community comes together. Everyone brings their best—different dishes, different ideas—contributing to something larger than themselves.

Think of a neighborhood potluck: Carlos’ BBQ ribs, Jenny’s chicken sliders, Emma’s apple crisp. Now imagine if, before bringing a dish, you had to file paperwork listing every ingredient. If you wanted to adjust the seasoning, you had to submit a report. Pretty soon, creativity dries up. Bureaucratic red tape smothers the spirit of participation, and the community Read More

Op-Ed: Defunding Science, Is At Our Peril

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By MARTIN LAWLER
Santa Fe

Modern medicine saved my life, what about yours? From polio to COVID vaccines to surgery at a famous medical center to our local New Mexico hospital, I owe my life to medical researchers and doctors.

Europe used to be the genesis of modern medicine: Louis Pasteur invented pasteurization and vaccines, Marie Curie discovered x-rays. Then American scientist took over. Under the leadership of President Roosevelt, the National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation were created. Our government has funded important cancer, heart, and HIV research. Read More

Op-Ed: As Budget Cuts Loom – Programs For Rural Libraries, Historical Societies, Tribal Organizations, Museums, Teachers, Students, Veterans And Elders Face Devastating Cuts

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By MIRIAM LANGER
Board Chair
New Mexico Humanities Council

Over the past 50 years, the New Mexico Humanities Council (NMHC) has supported rural libraries, historical societies, tribal organizations, local museums, teachers, students, veterans, and elders. Our programs have helped preserve endangered traditions and supported intergenerational programs that connect us through storytelling, reflection, and understanding across differences. These aren’t luxuries—they’re lifelines. In communities where there isn’t a museum or college nearby, these programs may be the only provider Read More

Op-Ed: Igniting The Spark Through Volunteering

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By JOHN KLEINDIENST
DAV (Disabled American Veterans)
National Voluntary Services Director

My personal journey into volunteering began in 2013 when I flew home to Texas to be by my grandpa’s side before he died.

Grandpa was an Army veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars and was forever changed by service. His kidneys and liver were shutting down because of the effects of toxic exposure. He knew his time was short, and wanted to spend his remaining time at home, not in a hospital. 

We set him up with home hospice care. He died peacefully not long after. It was then, sitting by his side, that I realized how Read More

Op-Ed: Dangerous Left Turning At Anderson Overlook

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By ROBERT BOURQUE
Los Alamos

A couple of days ago I was heading down the hill following another vehicle. Upon reaching the first turn at Anderson Overlook, that vehicle tried to turn left into it, but needed to stop for oncoming vehicles. I stopped suddenly and the vehicle behind me slammed on its brakes, barely missing rear-ending me.

There are barricades preventing such dangerous turns near the high school, the hospital and the North Mesa roundabout.

But why are there not such barricades at the most dangerous of all – the Anderson Overlook. In fact, that entire S-turn should have them. Read More

Trask: Denish’s Diatribe On Musk A Misguided Hit Piece

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By CHARLIE TRASK
Los Alamos

At the end of her Op-Ed, Diane Denish recommends that we speak up and push back against Elon Musk. Well, SURPRISE, I’m going to push back on Denish and the failure of our Democrat leadership. I’m urging our normal citizens to stand up for America.

Denish has thrown her/their cards on the table. She tells us that the world’s smartest person is a racist, bullied kid, non-engineer, Trump donor, user of drugs, father, emotionless, adolescent user of “X”, empathy-less, lover of chaos, and a multitude of other unfounded liberal innuendos and lies.

This is such a standard play Read More

Op-Ed: Yet Another Misguided Gun Ban – SB 279

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Figure: All of these AR-15 variants would remain unaffected, but others would be subject to retroactive registration requirements that could make you a felon if you did it wrong.Courtesy/Michael Ham

By MICHAEL HAM
Los Alamos

As a New Mexican who generally votes Democratic for their economic and personal freedom agenda, I dread the repeated efforts by some of the party’s legislators to criminalize law-abiding gun owners—not for any wrongdoing, but simply by changing the law. SB 279 is the latest misguided attempt, transforming legal gun ownership into a crime through technicalities riddled Read More

Op-Ed: Nation’s Report Card Should Be A Warning

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By CARTER SWANSON
Policy Analyst
Opportunity for All Kids

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as “The Nation’s Report Card”, was released in January. Released every two years, this report provides the most comprehensive data on educational performance nationwide. It is a stark reminder of what SHOULD be the most important issue facing New Mexico’s Legislature and Governor. Unfortunately, the results barely garnered media attention in New Mexico. 

For the last two reports, 2022 and 2024, New Mexico has been 52nd (behind all 50 states, plus the District of Read More