New Mexico

House Speaker Mike Johnson called on to pass nuclear weapons reparations for New Mexicans

Published

2 years ago

May 8, 2024

House Speaker Mike Johnson called on to pass nuclear weapons reparations for New Mexicans

Reparations for New Mexicans impacted by nuclear weapons testing could be held up in the GOP-led House of Representatives after the U.S. Senate passed a bill in March to provide payments to those suffering health impacts tied to the tests.

The U.S.’ first nuclear bomb was tested in New Mexico in 1945 at the Trinity Site near Alamogordo, setting off a generational wave of cancers and other health impacts for nearby residents. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) passed in 1990 to fund federal payments to those who could prove their health was impacted by weapons testing but did not include reparations for New Mexicans near the Trinity Site.

That could change thanks to legislation sponsored by U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan to expand RECA to include New Mexico residents near the test, known as “downwinders.” The law currently provides payments to downwinders of the Nevada Test Site in multiple states.

After passing the Senate, supporters of the bill urged the U.S. House and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to take up and pass the measure before the law’s funding sunsets in about a month on June 7.

Lujan, along with Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and several other members of the chamber including GOP senators along with U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) and members of the House, penned a letter to Johnson demanding the bill be moved on to President Joe Biden’s desk to become law.

The letter pointed to the Oscar-winning film “Oppenheimer” released in July 2023 about the events at Trinity to show an increased awareness for the test and its potential impacts on the New Mexican people.

“The landmark film Oppenheimer has brought renewed attention to these events, particularly highlighting the first nuclear explosion in New Mexico in 1945,” the letter read. “The ‘downwinders,’ along with those involved in uranium mining, milling and transportation, are still enduring the health impacts from their exposure to this radiation.”

The lawmakers argued the nuclear test exposed nearby residents to radiation, creating illnesses passed through generations that many are still struggling with today.

“Their livelihoods, often devastated by the long-term consequences of radiation exposure, depend on your leadership and commitment to rectifying past injustices. Let us honor the commitment we made to these citizens by ensuring they receive the support and recognition they so rightly deserve,” read the letter.

More: US Senate OKs funding bill for New Mexicans impacted by Trinity Site

GOP bill extends but does not expand nuclear testing reparations

A Republican-led bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) was introduced in April to extend the RECA program for two more years but did not add language to allow New Mexicans to receive payments or expand the program to any other communities.

“When the government harms people, victims should be able to receive compensation. Downwinders and others harmed by the nation’s early atomic program often suffer the consequences of exposure decades after the fact,” Lee said in a statement.

The omission of New Mexico downwinders was a sticking point for the Union of Concerned Scientists. The national organization called Lee’s bill a “slap in the face” to downwinders in New Mexico and other states impacted by nuclear testing.

“I would ask Senator Lee: how do we decide who deserves to be taken care of and who doesn’t? Who gets to make these decisions? Why are people in certain zip codes considered more important than others?” said Tina Cordova, founder of the New Mexico Downwinders Consortium and a native of Tularosa.

She said it was Congress’ and the federal government’s duty to repay New Mexicans and other impacted for the health of affects of nuclear weapons in the U.S.

“We urgently need for our government to take responsibility for the egregious harm that was done to American citizens, including children, when nuclear testing was taking place in the American west and the Pacific,” Cordova said.

“Not only did that testing negatively affect the health of those alive at the time, it destined our children and grandchildren forevermore to a life never free of the genetic damage associated with our overexposure to radiation. I can think of no other act that is more immoral than this.”

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

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New Mexico

“It’s very much needed right now”; CYFD watchdog office taking shape

Published

10 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

“It’s very much needed right now”; CYFD watchdog office taking shape

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – With years of well-documented problems for the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department, New Mexico is making its first watchdog agency to monitor the department, and that office is finally taking shape.

“It’s very much needed right now, and I think that New Mexico is making some good moves and ways to look out for child well-being in this state,” said Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta (D-To’hajilee).

It’s an effort to keep a closer eye on continued problems in New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department, a department long criticized for failing to protect children. Under the control of the New Mexico Attorney General, the “Office of the Child Advocate” is expected to open next year, and the committee tasked with picking that leader is well underway in its work. A bipartisan group of lawmakers backed House Bill 5, creating New Mexico’s “Office of the Child Advocate,” and a handful of candidates vying to lead that office have already been interviewed.

“The candidate pool was very impressive, almost every candidate met the minimum qualifications of having the social work background, a law background, or a psychology background, and combined with that, education was years of experience,” said Rep. Abeyta.

A To’hajiilee democrat, Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta, is part of the seven-member committee doing the interviews. The national search is now down to eight candidates.

“The Office of the Child Advocate will be focused on complaints that we’ve all been hearing about in the media, most recently, children sleeping in CYFD offices will be a huge one, and then also looking at what we’re doing to help support families with family reunification,” said Abeyta.

The Office of the Child Advocate exists within the New Mexico Department of Justice, which right now said they’ve been taking on an administrative role.

“We as you know have broad statutory authority in the state of New Mexico and for the Child Advocate to be sending us investigations, and recommendations, and tips and things of that nature, it makes sense for our office to tackle since we do have a broad range of statutory obligations,” said Lauren Rodriguez, Chief of Staff for the New Mexico Department of Justice.

The interview team is hoping to narrow down the pool of candidates down from eight before sending their suggestions to the governor, who will have the ultimate say in who leads the “office.” The governor is expected to make that pick by January.

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New Mexico

Gophers open as favorites over New Mexico in Rate Bowl matchup

Published

22 hours ago

December 8, 2025

Press Room

Gophers open as favorites over New Mexico in Rate Bowl matchup

The Gophers and Lobos don’t face off in this year’s Rate Bowl until December 26, but early betting odds from FanDuel Sportsbook view Minnesota as a 3.5-point betting favorite for this year’s showdown.

The Gophers open as early (-3.5) point betting favorites in the Rate Bowl against New Mexico.
The Lobos had two road games against B1G opponents this season, a 34-17 loss at Michigan and a 35-10 win at UCLA.
Let’s hear some early predictions. 👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/YgJ9XZu9nW
— Tony Liebert (@TonyLiebert) December 8, 2025

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Jason Eck

The Lobos are led by first-year head coach Jason Eck, who’s one of the fastest-rising names in the profession. The former Wisconsin offensive lineman in the 1990s has plenty of Midwest ties. He coached at Minnesota Division-II programs Winona State in 2007-08 and Minnesota State in 2013-14. His first head coach job came in 2022 at Idaho, and he built the Vandals into a 10-win program by 2024. He delivered New Mexico its first nine-win campaign since 2016 in his first season with the program.

New Mexico players to know

There are always going to be opt-outs in the modern edition of bowl games, but these two teams could wind up having some of the fewest in the country. The Lobos are littered with former Idaho transfers, mainly quarterback Jack Layne, who has completed 65.9% of his passes for 2,398 yards, 17 total touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.

Nov 22, 2025; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; New Mexico Lobos quarterback Jack Layne (2) pitches the ball as Air Force Falcons linebacker Jaylin Reese (45) pressures in the second quarter at Falcon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Their top offensive playmakers are Weber State transfer running back Damon Bankston, who has 952 yards from scrimmage, along with Kansas State transfer wide receiver Keagan Johnson, who leads the team with 57 catches for 730 yards and three touchdowns. The head coach’s son, Jaxton Eck, leads the team with 126 total tackles.

More Big Ten road wins than Minnesota

The Lobos opened the season with a hard-fought 34-17 loss at No. 14 Michigan to open the season. They proceeded to have one of their best regular seasons in program history, which was highlighted by a 35-10 blowout win at UCLA. They were surprisingly left out of the Mountain West conference title game, despite finishing in a four-way tie for first place.

According to ESPN writer Bill Connely’s latest SP+ ranking, New Mexico is No. 65 in the country, which is higher than Minnesota at No. 71. The Lobos are one spot below Northwestern, and ahead of other notable Gophers’ regular-season opponents, such as Rutgers, California, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Buffalo and Northwestern State. Don’t let the Lobos’ conference affiliation fool you; they will provide Minnesota with a real test.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

San Diego State gets tough draw in New Mexico Bowl

Published

1 day ago

December 8, 2025

Press Room

San Diego State gets tough draw in New Mexico Bowl

San Diego State will be making another trip to Albuquerque this season, this time to play No. 23 North Texas in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 27.

Kickoff is set for 2:45 p.m. PT at University Stadium and the game will air on ESPN.

The Aztecs will have to move past the bad memories of their trip to Albuquerque on Nov. 28, when they lost 23-17 in double overtime to New Mexico, the first of two results that knocked the Aztecs out of the Mountain West championship game.

The Aztecs ended the regular season in a four-way tie at 6-2 with New Mexico, Boise State and UNLV, and MW officials used computer rankings to pick BSU to host UNLV for the title. The Broncos won and are set to face Washington in the Los Angeles Bowl.

Why this matters

But this is still a big deal for the Aztecs (9-3), who had a six-win turnaround in Sean Lewis’ second season as head coach to earn their first bowl invitation in three seasons.

The six-win improvement over the 3-9 record in Lewis’ first season matches the largest win increase by SDSU since the program started in 1921. The only other time the Aztecs had that big of a swing was going from 1-6-1 in 1960 to 7-2-1 in 1961.

Scouting the Mean Green

North Texas finished the regular season at 11-2 and 25th in the College Football Playoff Rankings after losing 34-21 to Tulane in the American Conference Championship Game. Tulane will face Ole Miss in the first round of the CFP.

North Texas dropped to No. 23 in The Associated Press poll on Sunday and was receiving votes in the coaches poll. The 11 victories are the most in Mean Green history.

The Aztecs are 6-1 all-time against North Texas, but haven’t played in 50 years, with SDSU winning 30-12 in 1975.

SDSU bowl history

SDSU is playing in its 17th bowl game in its Division I era and 21st overall. The Aztecs are going bowling for the 13th time in the last 16 seasons.

They played in 10 straight bowl games from 2010-2019. They withdrew from consideration in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season before returning to postseason action in 2021 and 2022. They missed the postseason in Brady Hoke’s final season as head coach in 2023 and Lewis’ first season last fall.

San Diego State is playing in the New Mexico Bowl for the second time after beating Central Michigan 48-11 in 2019.