New Mexico
New Mexico lawmakers monitor federal funding freeze fallout
The New Mexico legislature can only watch and wait for a formal resolution of the issues caused by a temporary federal funding freeze.
SANTA FE, N.M. — By the time the New Mexico legislative finance committee director was able to update lawmakers today, the federal funding freeze was essentially over. But that doesn’t mean New Mexico was spared from the temporary consequences.
Charles Sallee, the LFC director, confirmed to lawmakers that New Mexico’s Medicaid funding portal was shut down Tuesday — like many other states — but he said no services were interrupted.
However, he did reveal that the health care authority is still missing $40 million worth of federal funding it was expecting to receive on Monday, but it’s not exactly clear what that money is earmarked for. Other than that, it seems things are back to normal.
But the big question is whether or not state lawmakers need to prepare a contingency plan.
New Mexico receives billions of dollars in federal funding every year, and the LFC director revealed those payments are often reimbursements, meaning the state fronts the cost for things like Medicaid and the feds pay them back. And there’s only so much money in New Mexico’s bank account.
“If it were a two-week period, then we’d have to work around that reimbursement process to make sure services don’t stop,” Sallee said. “But we know that we’re going to be able to have enough money in the treasury that would be longer than that would be problematic.”
That’s where state lawmakers left it today. They do have a lot of other stuff to think about, after all, and New Mexico’s federal delegation is working on this as well.
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich joined fellow senate democrats to speak out against the funding freeze this morning, saying federal money earmarked for drug enforcement operations, sexual assault victims’ resources and even natural disaster aid was all in jeopardy.
“So, you’re going to tell people who are the victim of these fires, one of which was actually the result of actions of the federal government that impacted these communities, that that we’re going to hold up your disaster assistance funding until we figure out whether giving you that funding is somehow woke,” Heinrich said. “I mean, this is just ridiculous, folks.”
A spokesperson with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office said she’s working with attorney general Raul Torrez, lawmakers and her cabinet secretaries to determine the implications in New Mexico.
“Our initial assessment indicates serious constitutional concerns that require immediate attention,” the spokesperson said.
The governor’s office is expected to provide a more detailed response to this in the coming days. And legislative leaders said they’ll be keeping a close eye on the developments, but it does not seem there’s plans for an alternate state budget right now.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife rereleased a wolf into Grand County this week after it had traveled into New Mexico, according to a news release.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish captured gray wolf 2403 and returned the animal to Colorado.
Colorado wildlife officials decided to release the wolf in Grand County yesterday because of the proximity to “an unpaired female gray wolf,” nearby prey populations and distance from livestock, according to the release.
“Gray wolf 2403 has been returned to Colorado and released in a location where it can best contribute to CPW’s efforts to establish a self-sustaining wolf population while concurrently attempting to minimize potential wolf-related livestock conflicts,” said acting director of CPW Laura Clellan, according to the release.
The wolf was once a member of the Copper Creek pack but departed from it this fall.
A memorandum of understanding between Colorado and Arizona, New Mexico and Utah requires that any gray wolves that leave Colorado and enter those states be returned. That was created in part to maintain the integrity of a Mexican wolf recovery program.
“We recognized during the planning process that we would need to have consideration and plans to protect the genetic integrity of the Mexican wolf recovery program, while also establishing a gray wolf population in Colorado,” said CPW’s Wolf Conservation Program Manager Eric Odell, according to the release.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A judge sentenced a New Mexico man to nearly 20 years in prison for distributing meth and having guns in his possession to use while doing so.
Court records indicate 43-year-old David Amaya sold meth from a trailer on his parents’ property in Anthony throughout July and August 2024. Agents executed a search warrant Aug. 22 and found 1.18 kilograms of meth, two firearms and ammunition in the trailer and a makeshift bathroom.
Amaya pleaded guilty to possession of meth with intent to distribute it. A judge sentenced him to 235 months in prison.
Once he is out, Amaya will face five years of supervised release.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office and the Las Cruces Metro Narcotics Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Williams prosecuted it.
The New Mexico Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 10, 2025, results for each game:
Powerball
10-16-29-33-69, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Day: 8-2-7
Evening: 6-9-2
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Lotto America
03-13-37-42-44, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 03
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 5-0-7-8
Day: 3-7-2-0
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Roadrunner Cash
02-04-06-21-22
Check Roadrunner Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Powerball Double Play
13-15-51-67-68, Powerball: 08
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Las Cruces Sun-News editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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