Hospital staffing has been a hot topic for a while, but it didn’t get much traction in this past legislative session. House Bill 138 would have established a staff to patient ratio but stalled in committee.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Hospital staffing has been a hot topic for a while, but it didn’t get much traction in this past legislative session. House Bill 138 would have established a staff to patient ratio but stalled in committee.
The New Mexico Patient Safety Act was one of several pieces of legislation that never made it past the finish line.
“The patients are the ones that are hurting, besides our nurses, because they don’t have enough nurses or any healthcare employees to run the facility,” said Yolanda Ulmer, the District 1199 New Mexico CEO.
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The bill would limit the number of patients a nurse can care for on shift, forcing hospitals to create staffing limits. Local union leaders said the nursing shortage is causing burn out and this would help retention.
“You have patients waiting to get medicines, you have patients waiting to be discharged, you have patients waiting in the hall to be seen, you know nurses are spread so thin,” said Ulmer.
A spokesperson for UNM Health said they did not support HB 138 initially, and one “key initiative has been expanding the nurse residency program in response to the UNM College of Nursing increasing its class sizes.”
“Within two years, nurses are leaving the profession after getting their degree, and they are just not staying. Working conditions is the number one reason that they site,” said Adrienne Enghouse, RN who is also an organizer with United Health Professionals in New Mexico.
KOB 4 reached out to the New Mexico Hospital Association as well. Along with UNMH, they believe, “More efforts must be focused on training and recruiting additional healthcare workers to serve New Mexico.”
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“The hospital association and the hospitals have brought forth solutions that have not sent us in the right direction. It is time for us to turn this ship around and head in the right direction. It is a multi-prong approach, absolutely, but they must start adding working conditions and how we perform our work as part of one of the things that needs fixed,” said Enghouse.
Full statement from UNM Health:
“As stated before, UNM Hospital does not support legislation mandating hospital staffing ratios, as such measures pose significant risks, including the potential closure of beds, reduced capacity to care for those in need, and limitations on accepting critical patients from across New Mexico. Staffing ratios fail to consider the varying levels of patient acuity—a critical factor in determining safe and appropriate care. A “one size fits all” model of care undermines the flexibility hospitals need to address the unique and dynamic needs of their patients. Maintaining adaptability in staffing is essential to continuing our mission of delivering exceptional care to our community.
Mandated staffing ratios will not fix health worker shortages or make health care more safe in New Mexico. For nearly five years, UNM Hospital has taken proactive steps to address higher patient volumes and work through the national health worker shortage. One key initiative has been expanding the nurse residency program in response to the UNM College of Nursing increasing its class sizes. This approach creates a sustainable nursing labor pipeline that strengthens our staffing capabilities. Additionally, we are collaborating with community partners to increase the availability of post-acute care discharge beds, which enhances hospital throughput. By improving the efficiency of care delivery, we are also reducing the length of hospital stays, enabling us to care for more patients.”
Full statement from the New Mexico Hospital Association:
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“New Mexico continues to face a severe healthcare workforce shortage that threatens access to care when and where people need it, including a need for nearly 7,000 nurses. Without more healthcare providers readily available, had HB138 passed, hospitals across our state would have been forced to close beds in order to meet the staffing ratios proposed by the bill sponsors, resulting in fewer patients seen and longer waits for care. Community hospitals and healthcare providers across our state recognize and value the doctors, nurses and all healthcare workers who deliver the expert care we need and agree with frontline providers that the number of patients and the severity of their conditions are higher than prior to the pandemic. We do not believe that HB138 would have solved the problems it seeks to address. We need more nurses. We believe that more efforts must be focused on training and recruiting additional healthcare workers to serve New Mexico. HB138 would have caused more families to have to seek care outside of the state and far from their homes by reducing access to care within our state
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Americans now say they need $1.46 million to retire comfortably, up $200,000 from last year, according to a study discussed by Oakmont Advisory Group.
David Hicks of Oakmont Advisory Group said the number can feel overwhelming, but he said people should focus on starting and adjusting a plan instead of panicking.
“The average retiree actually has less than $300,000 saved for retirement, so that’s about a $1 million gap there,” Hicks said.
Hicks said the $1.46 million figure reflects what people think they need, but he said retirement planning depends on each person’s savings, income and timeline.
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He said longer life spans now mean many people need to plan for 20, 25 or even 30 years in retirement.
“When you start saving when you’re younger, it makes a lot of difference in the future,” Hicks said.
Hicks said 57% of people do not start saving until after age 30, and he said about a third do not start until their 40s.
Hicks pointed to Fidelity benchmarks that suggest workers should aim to save one times their salary in their 30s, three times in their 40s, six times in their 50s and 10 times by retirement.
“Don’t wait another year. Don’t wait another month. Just start that process of saving,” Hicks said.
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Hicks also said the study found people who work with a financial adviser improve their chances of retirement success by about 50% and report more confidence about their plans.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A New Mexico rodeo tradition is changing lives one horse at a time. For years, the Stables at Tamaya have kept old western traditions alive at Santa Ana Pueblo, and they’re also giving dozens of rescue horses a second chance at life.
Every Thursday night under the stable lights at Tamaya, folks from all over gather for a one-of-a-kind rodeo.
Head Wrangler at the Stables at Tamaya, Dominic Duran says, “Our rodeos are so special because they really show the growth of all of our horses out here.”
From team roping to barrel racing and steer stopping the stunts are all performed by none other than rescue horses. “The main thing to know is it’s not a regular rodeo. It’s not about the competition. It’s about the growth of the horses,” explained founder and owner of Tamaya Horse Rehab Connie Collis.
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Collis founded Tamaya Horse Rehab 14 years ago, saving horses from across the state and country, providing them with much-needed TLC to get them back on their hooves.
“These horses are all rescued from various situations. We have a lot of owner surrenders. We have horses that we get through the livestock board, neglect cases, abuse cases, as well as some Mustangs,” explained Duran.
The rodeo started shortly after the horse rehabilitation program was launched to generate funding to pay for everything from the alfalfa they eat, to the costly treatments for the dozens of horses in their care.
“Our goal is to make them the best versions of themselves. And so when we take them in, we want to analyze what we have and our goal is to get them as far as we can,” emphasized head wrangler Duran. “Horses are just like people. They need a job and they start to love what they do, just like we do out here.”
Duran says every horse has a different story and journey, but over the years, they’ve helped hundreds, offering them a full and enriching life through riding and activities like the rodeo.
“It is an amazing journey to get one, especially a skinny one or one that has really bad behavioral problems, and turn it around,” shared Collis.
Collis says the rodeo has grown in size every year and has quickly become a beloved tradition at the stables and across the equestrian community, becoming one of their larger fundraisers throughout the year. And with 126 horses in their care right now, they hope more people will make their way out to the stables this summer.
“Whether you’ve been here one time or 10 times, you should definitely come on out and come love on your favorite horses and see what progress they made over the last couple years,” said Duran.
The Stables at Tamaya will continue to run their rodeo season every Thursday from 7 to 9 through the third week of August.
North Sandia Mountain Wilderness – Sandia Ranger District
(Albuquerque, NM – June 21, 2026) — Firefighters continue with direct extinguishment strategy on the Osha Canyon Fire within the northern Sandia Mountain Wilderness on the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands.
Operations: Yesterday fire crews focused on securing containment lines and mopping up along the fire perimeter. With 100% containment recorded yesterday afternoon, some resources were released from the Osha Canyon fire to assist with other wildfires burning in the state. Today, Mt Taylor Ranger District Crew 3-2 is on scene at the Osha Canyon Fire to patrol containment lines and work on mopping up interior hot spots. Aviation resources will continue to support fire operations.
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Reported start date / Time: June 19, 2026 / 1322
Cause: Lightning strike.
Size: Estimate 1 acre.
Containment: 100%
Location: Northern Sandia Mountain Wilderness south of Placitas, west of FSR 165 within the Sandia Ranger District on the Cibola National Forest, New Mexico.
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Residual Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Placitas and Bernalillo.
Resources on Scene: US Forest Service Mt Taylor Ranger District crew 3-2.
Fuels: Mixed Conifer.
Fire Activity is minimal.
Weather: Today for Albuquerque, NM (June 21, 2026): Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight. https://www.weather.gov/
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Additional updates will be sent as new information is received. Photo: Sandia Ranger District – Osha Canyon Fire on June 20, 2026.
