New Mexico
Minimum wage in Las Cruces raised above state rate – Source New Mexico
A raise to the minimum wage in Las Cruces city limits went into effect Jan. 1 requiring employers to pay $12.36 minimum hourly wage and $4.95 per hour wage for tipped workers.
The new wage is a 3 percent increase from the 2022 rate of $12 per-hour.
New Mexico’s second-largest city has a higher minimum wage than most of the state, after Las Cruces enacted its own local ordinance in 2014 that ties minimum wage increases to higher inflation rates measured by the national Consumer Price Index.
The U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics measures the change in prices paid for different goods and services over time in the Consumer Price Index.
Preliminary data from November showed that people in cities were paying 3.1% more than 2022 for food and other goods, although full seasonally-adjusted data won’t be available until February.
Las Cruces’ changes to its minimum wage ordinance followed local laws passed by the City of Santa Fe, and tied wage increases to inflation measures in 2002. A measure was adopted by the Santa Fe County government in early 2014. There’s no announcement yet about any increase to Santa Fe’s wages, which would be announced in February for any changes on March 1.
Santa Fe raised its minimum wage to $14.03 per-hour in 2023.
Albuquerque’s wage rates remain unchanged from 2023, at $12 hourly for most employees and $7.20 per-hour for tipped workers, according to the 2024 wage notice to businesses.
New Mexico’s statewide minimum wage of $12 per-hour went into effect in January 2023, the final raise across four years to the state’s minimum wage, after a change to the law in 2019. Under state minimum wage laws, tipped workers are paid $3 per-hour.
The state’s minimum wage law excludes most people under the age of 18, and most agricultural and domestic workers. Other exceptions to state minimum wage laws include religious employment, workers at day or away camps and direct family employees, among others.
A bill to increase statewide minimum wages did not make it out of committees in last year’s legislative session. House Bill 28 would have gradually raised the statewide minimum wage $15.50 by 2026 and would have tied future wages to inflation increases in the Consumer Price Index.
It’s unclear if any lawmakers plan to bring that proposal back this year. The New Mexico legislature begins a 30-day session on Jan. 16.
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New Mexico
Great New Mexico Food Truck & Craft Beverage Festival happening this weekend
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Great New Mexico Food Truck & Craft Beverage Festival returns to Balloon Fiesta Park this weekend.
Teppanyaki King is among the newer trucks on the menu.
General Manager said the Albuquerque food truck has been open for about six months and will make its second festival appearance this weekend.
Pacheco showed off several dishes and said one of the truck’s best sellers is “lobster and filet mignon.”
Pacheco said the team wanted to bring something different to Albuquerque because “there’s taco trucks everywhere, you know, and we wanted to bring something completely different to Albuquerque so people can experience restaurant-style cooking, but on the streets.”
He said the truck has about 7 to 10 pounds of filet mignon stocked ahead of the event and full refrigerators as the team prepares for the crowd.
Teppanyaki King also serves daily in Albuquerque near San Antonio and Louisiana, Pacheco said.
People can buy tickets online ahead of time, with a pre-sale discount available if they buy them before the event. Special VIP and beer lover packages are also available.
The festival is happening on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. VIP tickets can get in an hour earlier.
New Mexico
Human remains found in Santa Fe are those of Joel ‘Deano’ Valdez
SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico State Police say human remains found in Santa Fe County are missing man Joel “Deano” Valdez.
State police said the update came after someone walking a dog found human remains on Caja del Rio Road on April 12.
Through coordination with the Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI), state police said investigators positively identified the remains as Valdez.
The cause and manner of death have not yet been determined. OMI will conduct further anthropological examination.
Valdez was reported missing on Sept. 21, 2025, after he did not return home to Coyote after work in Silver City, according to New Mexico State Police.
State police said the investigation remains active and ongoing.
The family of Joel “Deano” Valdez sent the following statement:
“We confirm that the remains of Joel “Deano” Valdez have been located. While this development marks a profoundly difficult moment for the family, it brings a measure of closure to a long and painful period of uncertainty that began last September, when he disappeared.
At this time, there are significantly more questions than answers. The circumstances surrounding Deano’s disappearance and death remain under active investigation, and we will not speculate or comment beyond confirmed facts.
The family is seeking clarity and accountability and is committed to allowing the appropriateauthorities the time and space necessary to conduct a thorough and careful investigation. Through counsel, the family is closely monitoring all developments and will pursue every appropriate avenue to ensure that the facts are fully uncovered.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the tremendous support,
encouragement, and prayers they have received over the past seven months. They are deeply thankful to all who have sacrificed their time and effort in the search for Deano. The family also extends its appreciation to the individuals and agencies who have contributed to the ongoing investigation and commitment to getting answers.
Additionally, they extend their sincere gratitude to all those who have supported and remained invested in Deano’s story. The family deeply appreciates the outpouring of support from both the online community and the media. They understand that many are awaiting answers and assure that updates will be shared when appropriate and available.
The family respectfully requests privacy as they process this devastating news. They ask the public and the media to honor their need for space and dignity during this period of mourning.
May Deano rest in peace.”
Anyone with information related to the case can contact New Mexico State Police at 505-841-9256.
New Mexico
Settlement could make EpiPen cheaper, more accessible in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. — A new settlement between the State of New Mexico and the maker of EpiPen is expected to make the EpiPen more accessible and affordable in the state.
Drugmaker Mylan, Inc., agreed to pay $2.25 million to the state. It’ll resolve claims that they engaged in unfair and anticompetitive practices related to its products that are used for emergency allergic reactions.
As a part of the settlement, the company doesn’t have to admit any wrongdoing to those practices. However, they will have to do the following:
- Increase copay coupons from $25 to $40.
- People can get $40 off instead of $25.
- Donate 10,000 more EpiPens to the state for distribution.
- 1,000 two-packs per year for five years, starting this year.
- State will distribute as they see fit.
- Increase awareness of EpiPen’s school program and how to enroll.
- Program provides free EpiPen devices to schools.
- Participation in New Mexico is among the lowest in the nation.
- Around 10% of schools participate.
- Participation in New Mexico is among the lowest in the nation.
- Program provides free EpiPen devices to schools.
“This settlement serves as an important protection for New Mexico consumers and families who depend on affordable access to life-saving epinephrine products,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “The New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to fight for fair pricing and transparency in the pharmaceutical industry. We look forward to working with Mylan to raise public awareness of the relief this settlement provides.”
The State accused Mylan of violating consumer protection and antitrust statutes with its business and pricing practices. That includes general delay tactic, patent litigation strategies, marketing practices and pricing decisions.
The $2.25 million to settle those claims will go to the state to support investigation costs, programs, personnel, training and “urgent health care needs.”
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