New Mexico
New Mexico capital outlay: Here’s what your county and city gets
Funding to update local public infrastructure and other projects throughout New Mexico came this year in the form of the annual Capital Outlay bill passed by the New Mexico House and Senate during the 2024 Legislative Session.
The $1.5 billion bill provided funds for local communities, advocated for by the lawmakers who represent them, to counties and cities throughout the state.
It passed both chambers unanimously and was sent to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham who can sign it into law as is or removed certain projects via “line-item vetoes.”
More: New Mexico Democrats criticized for inaction on fentanyl bills
Here’s are the key projects counties in southeast New Mexico got out of the bill.
Eddy County
Eddy County and its municipalities had $79 million in projects funded this year, compared to about $12 million last year.
$70 million – Improvements on U.S. Highway 180
$1.38 million – Sewer extension project on National Parks Highway
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$700,000 – Sheep’s Draw wellfield generators
$600,000 – Eddy County splashpad construction
$500,000 – Eddy County Healthcare Facility renovations
$600,000 – Malaga Domestic Water Consumers Sewage Works Association improvements
$200,000 – Eddy County Sheriff’s Office shooting range
$200,000 – Hope rest area improvements
More: ‘Clean fuels’ bill advances in New Mexico Senate, to make oil companies pay for pollution
Carlsbad
$1 million – Double Eagle waterline replacement
$600,000 – Southeast New Mexico College Vocational Technology Building construction
$500,000 – Carlsbad Riverwalk Recreational Center improvements
$250,000 – Equipment purchases at the National Cave and Karst Research Institute
More: 2024 Legislative session wrap up: Here’s how energy and environment bills fared
Artesia
$500,000 – HVAC construction at Artesia Jr. High School kitchen
$495,000 – Artesia generator purchase
$585,000 – upgrades and equipment at the Artesia Special Hospital District
$125,000 – Truck driving training academy
Loving
$750,000 – South 6th Street improvements
Hope
$300,000 – Pump house improvements
More: Tax credits, rape kits & highways: Find out what bills your Eddy Co. Senators are sponsoring
Otero County
Otero County and its municipalities received $13 million in projects, compared to about $14.2 million last year
$2.1 million – Purchases and construction for Mescalero Apache tribe facilities
Alamogordo
$1.5 million – New Mexico State University – Alamogordo fine arts theater renovations
$1.1 million – NMSU- Alamogordo facility demolition
$1 million – Museum of Space History improvements
$695,000 – Otero County golf facility improvements
More: Short term state revenue loss for Hobbs passes committee, bills for Carlsbad stalled
Cloudcroft
$750,000 – Water treatment facility improvements
$359,000 – Public restroom expansion
Tularosa
$350,000 – Community Ditch Association repairs
Lincoln County
Lincoln County and its municipalities got about $5.2 million this year, compared with $8.5 million last year.
$1.1 million – Enchanted Forest water system replacement
$450,000 – Ft. Stanton veterans conference center construction
$265,000 – Crime scene vehicle purchases
Ruidoso
$500,000 – Ruidoso forest and watershed improvements
$225,000 – Eastern New Mexico University trades education facility renovations
Capitan
$100,000 – Capital water facility solar system construction
Carrizozo
$750,000 – Lincoln County Detention Center water and sewer upgrade
$350,000 – Water system information technology purchases
Lea County
Lea County and its municipalities had $86.7 million in project funded this year, compared to about $12.7 million last year
$75 million – New Mexico Highway 128 improvements
$2 million – Construction on West County Road and New Mexico Highway 208
$400,000 – Lea County event center amphitheater
$420,000 – New Mexico Junior College improvements
Hobbs
$1.5 million – HAZMAT rescue vehicles
$1.4 million – Hobbs Public Safety Center Construction
$525,000 – Hobbs water well construction
Lovington
$250,000 – Library roof and plumbing repairs
$266,000 – Medical transport vans
Chaves County
Chaves County received $16.7 million this year compared with $23.7 million last year
$500,000 – Macho Draw flood control repair
Roswell
$3 million – Roswell Air Center improvements
$2 million – Youth Challenge Building renovations
$2 million – ENMU Roswell nursing center expansion
$1 million – World Champion Park facility upgrade
Hagerman
$700,000 – Water System improvements
Dexter
$700,000 – Lake Van Drive improvements
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

New Mexico
New Mexico’s Epic Whitewater Run Is A Thrill-Seekers Dream Hidden Between Stunning Southwest Cliffs – Islands

New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment thanks to its otherworldly desert landscape, star-filled night sky, and the oldest capital city in the United States, filled with a rich history and culture. But some know it as a land of excitement, since it’s a premier whitewater rafting destination. Just 25 minutes outside of Taos, thrill-seekers will find the Taos Box, an epic whitewater run where foaming rapids, dramatic drops, and massive boulders are bordered by stunning cliffs. It’s these 800-foot basalt cliffs of the Rio Grande Gorge that give this area its name, as they box the river in.
The Taos Box refers to two separate reaches: the 15-mile Lower Box has Class IV rapids, while the Upper Box is a 6-mile Class V+ stretch that’s for experts only. With rapids like the “Boat Reamer” and “Screaming Left-Hand Turn” in the Lower Box, it’s not hard to imagine what you’re in for: frothy water and wild rapids course through the canyon and under the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, a steel behemoth that’s the fifth-tallest bridge in the country, hanging 650 feet above the water’s surface.
The last four miles of the Lower Box are especially thrilling … or harrowing, depending on who you ask. Cisco Guevara, owner of Los Rios River Runners, describes them (via High on Adventure): “The last four miles are just screaming huge big stuff.” There’s a single 13-foot drop and the infamous rock garden that still gives him butterflies. These whitewater runs aren’t for the faint of heart, but rather for those seeking an adventure in pristine wilderness, as the canyon doesn’t have a railroad or road next to it, and you may see wildlife like bighorn sheep, beavers, and eagles soaring above.
What to know when rafting the Taos Box
Getting to the Taos Box is convenient, since Taos is only a 1.5-hour drive from Santa Fe and 2.5 hours from Albuquerque, both of which have airports. Taos also has a small airport, which services direct flights from several regional locations. Taos may be famous for its unbelievable 1,000-year-old world heritage site and Taos Ski Valley, its winter sports destination, but its whitewater rapids are close behind, as seen by the number of rafting companies in the town. It can be hard to choose, but some favorites are Los Rios River Runners and New Mexico River Adventures, both of which currently have a 4.9 rating on Yelp.
The rafting season is from spring to fall, typically from March to October, depending on weather conditions and water levels. The Rio Grande is not only one of the longest rivers in the U.S., but it’s also one of the most endangered due to climate change, pollution, and agricultural overuse, so its water levels can change greatly throughout the year. It’s possible to check them online or speak to the company you’re booking with to determine the best time for your trip.
The Upper Box is only suitable for expert kayakers and rafters who can navigate Class IV and V rapids, as well as self-rescue. If you’re a beginner or intermediate, it’s highly recommended that you tackle the Lower Box with an expert or someone who’s run it before. The Box isn’t the only option near Taos either; the Racecourse is a stretch just south of the town that has Class III rapids, which are family-friendly but still exciting and challenging enough to offer an exciting adventure for everyone.
New Mexico
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New Mexico
CAMINOS Brings New Hope for Treating Addiction in New Mexico Hospitals

When patients are admitted to The University of New Mexico Hospital, they are usually there for something like an infection, a surgery or another medical emergency. But many of those same patients also live with substance use disorders. Until recently, that aspect of their health often went untreated during their hospital stay.
Now, a program called CAMINOS is changing that.
“We are an addiction medicine consult service,” said Sergio Huerta, MD, medical director of CAMINOS. “Anybody with an addiction in the hospital, we can see, even if it hasn’t been diagnosed yet. The whole concept is to meet people where they’re at when they’re most vulnerable and most in need.”
CAMINOS, which stands for Coordinating Addiction Medicine with Inpatient and Outpatient Services, connects patients with treatment during their hospital stay and helps them transition into ongoing care once they leave.
Huerta, who is board-certified in both addiction medicine and internal medicine, explained how the program works.
“We go talk to the patient, offer them treatment services, including medications, and refer them to treatment,” he said. “We also have a peer on our team with lived experience in recovery. Patients who are seen by peers tend to do better. They’re more adherent to their medications and treatments when they leave the hospital.”
It’s a reachable moment when patients are here. By offering treatment, we help them feel more comfortable, we help them stay and complete their care, and we give them a better chance at recovery. That’s what makes this work so meaningful.
– Sergio Huerta, MD, Medical Director, CAMINOS
For Chris Smith, MD, director of operations for CAMINOS and section chief of Hospital Medicine, the impact is evident.
“Almost every patient we see is not here primarily for their substance use disorder,” Smith said. “They’re admitted for something else. Before our service, these problems weren’t always addressed. Now, the primary team can call us to see the patient, and we can start them on treatment during their stay.”
Before CAMINOS, patients with addictions often left the hospital with little more than a referral sheet.
“There wasn’t really much help for patients with substance use disorders,” Huerta said. “We treated the admitting diagnosis, like pneumonia, and then gave them a list of resources for when they left. That really wasn’t the best way to do things.”
The stakes in New Mexico are especially high. The state has the highest alcohol-related death rate in the country and is consistently ranked among the worst for drug overdose deaths. Huerta estimates that about one in 10 New Mexicans lives with a substance use disorder.
At UNM Hospital, that means a large share of inpatients also need addiction treatment. In its first year, CAMINOS logged more than 1,200 consults, making it one of the busiest consult services at the hospital. Of those patients, more than 450 were newly started on proven medications like buprenorphine or methadone for opioid use disorder.

Substance use disorders are everywhere. No matter what you end up doing as a physician, you’re going to see patients with this. Having that background makes you a better provider.
– Chris Smith, MD, Director of Operations, CAMINOS & Section Chief, Hospital Medicine, UNM Hospital
“Even if only half of those patients continue treatment after discharge, that’s a huge success for a population that can be very difficult to engage,” Smith said.
The program’s impact is visible every day, Huerta said.
“These patients are always the most appreciative and the most thankful,” he said. “Just showing them that there’s somebody here who cares goes a really long way.”
Smith noted that patients who start treatment for addiction are less likely to leave the hospital against medical advice. They are also more likely to follow through with other treatments for conditions like diabetes, infections or chronic disease.
“It has a dramatic change on their whole hospital stay,” Smith said.
The program is also shifting how hospital staff think about addiction. Huerta shared how some clinical teams that were once hesitant to start addiction medications are now more comfortable doing so thanks to CAMINOS.
“Our goal is that the primary teams feel more comfortable identifying and treating substance use disorders,” Huerta said. “We’re beginning to change the culture.”
CAMINOS is also an educational hub. Medical students, resident physicians, and trainees in their fellowship now rotate through the service, learning to treat substance use disorders alongside experienced providers and peer support specialists.
“Substance use disorders are everywhere,” Smith said. “No matter what you end up doing as a physician, you’re going to see patients with this. Having that background makes you a better provider.”
Huerta and Smith see CAMINOS as a model for the future. They hope to expand the program to serve more patients, strengthen outpatient connections and eventually help people across the state through call-in support lines and partnerships with other hospitals.
“It’s a reachable moment when patients are here,” Huerta said. “By offering treatment, we help them feel more comfortable, we help them stay and complete their care, and we give them a better chance at recovery. That’s what makes this work so meaningful.”
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