New Mexico
New Mexico leaders push colleges to keep tuition flat
New Mexico leaders are pushing colleges to keep tuition flat, saying strong state funding should mean lower costs for students and families.New Mexico offers tuition-free college through the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, but hikes can still hurt graduate students, out-of-state students and some student-athletes.Higher Education Department Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez said the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands University and Eastern New Mexico University have so far kept tuition unchanged.Rodriguez said keeping tuition low is important not only for students currently covered by scholarships, but also for protecting the long-term promise of tuition-free college in New Mexico. She said if state revenues decline in the future, scholarship funding could face pressure.She also said community colleges have generally seen somewhat higher tuition increases than four-year institutions.According to the Higher Education Department, statewide enrollment has increased for four consecutive years and is up about 13.4% since 2022. Freshman enrollment is up 18.2% over the same period.Rodriguez said affordability is helping attract students and encouraging them to remain in New Mexico after graduation. “Nationally, tuition has increased astronomically, and that has to do with inflation, the increased cost of construction, and just– but here in New Mexico, we are seeing the lowest tuition increases that we have seen since the implementation of the lottery scholarship in 1996,” Rodriguez said.She also said New Mexico now ranks 20th in the nation for higher education, up from 50th seven years ago.
New Mexico leaders are pushing colleges to keep tuition flat, saying strong state funding should mean lower costs for students and families.
New Mexico offers tuition-free college through the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, but hikes can still hurt graduate students, out-of-state students and some student-athletes.
Higher Education Department Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez said the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands University and Eastern New Mexico University have so far kept tuition unchanged.
Rodriguez said keeping tuition low is important not only for students currently covered by scholarships, but also for protecting the long-term promise of tuition-free college in New Mexico. She said if state revenues decline in the future, scholarship funding could face pressure.
She also said community colleges have generally seen somewhat higher tuition increases than four-year institutions.
According to the Higher Education Department, statewide enrollment has increased for four consecutive years and is up about 13.4% since 2022. Freshman enrollment is up 18.2% over the same period.
Rodriguez said affordability is helping attract students and encouraging them to remain in New Mexico after graduation.
“Nationally, tuition has increased astronomically, and that has to do with inflation, the increased cost of construction, and just– but here in New Mexico, we are seeing the lowest tuition increases that we have seen since the implementation of the lottery scholarship in 1996,” Rodriguez said.
She also said New Mexico now ranks 20th in the nation for higher education, up from 50th seven years ago.
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. — The Bernalillo County Assessor filed an ethics complaint against the treasurer over short-term rentals and allegedly costing the county nearly $2 million.
Assessor Damian Lara accused Treasurer Tim Eichenberg of setting up “NM Property Tax,” a business hired by the owners of at least seven residential properties, to help lower their taxes and represent them before the county’s valuation protest board – as they faced higher taxes for reclassifying their properties as short-term rentals.
While the board sided with the reclassification, Lara accused Eichenberg of ignoring the decision and costing the county “nearly $1.8 million.”
Lara filed a letter with the State Ethics Commission regarding these claims. He’s asking them to investigate Eichenberg’s alleged violations of state law regarding government conduct.
“Lowering the tax liability for these businesses means that the average homeowner has to pick up that cost,” Lara said, “and that’s unfair to all homeowners who have played by the rules.
“The law is clear on this issue: If you operate as a business, you are classified as a business.”
In April, Lara’s office developed a first-of-its-kind policy reclassifying short-term rentals. The policy will classify properties that are rented for fewer than 29 nights-in-a-row as commercial properties.
This new policy affects houses, condos, and apartments but doesn’t include leased apartments or hotels.
In 2023, there were approximately 4,000 properties considered short term rentals. With this new policy, 1,000 are considered short term rentals and the remaining 3,000 are now available as long-term housing.
MORE: Bernalillo County reclassifies short-term rentals
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Albuquerque police are shutting down Interstate 25 northbound near Avenida Cesar Chavez after a two people were seriously injured in a crash.
The crash happened at about 7 p.m. at the Coal exit.
Police said crews took two people with serious injuries to a local hospital for treatment.
Detectives are investigating the crash, and police said traffic on Interstate 25 northbound remains open but drivers should expect delays near Coal.
Acres: 2673
Start Date: 4/20/2026
Location: 15 Miles East of Glenwood, NM
Personnel: 197
Containment: 0 %
Cause: Lightning
Summary: The Hummingbird Fire saw additional growth in the Gila Wilderness moving northeast across Iron Creek Mesa and west into Iron Creek. Wind gusts up to 35 MPH were a major safety concern throughout the day. Air tankers and helicopters were unable to support ground crews yesterday due to high winds and unsafe aerial firefighting conditions. Firefighters on the ground continued to secure spot fires from the previous shift using a combination of direct and indirect handline protecting critical values. Crews scouted additional indirect handlines to keep fire on Iron Creek Mesa in the 2024 Ridge Fire footprint. In the Willow Creek Subdivision fire crews cleared debris and completed setting up structure protection equipment in the community.
Today, as Red Flag conditions subside, firefighters will assess firing opportunities to complete the indirect handline above Willow Creek. Structure protection resources will remain in Willow Creek Subdivision with overnight staffing.
Evacuations: Level 3 “GO” Willow Creek Subdivision.
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587055259089
Closures: A Fire Closure has been issued for Hummingbird Fire.
for closure order and map visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/gila/alerts/forest-closure-hummingbird-fire
Weather: Winds are forecasted to be lighter over the fire today at 14 MPH with gusts up to 24 MPH along ridge tops. However, dry conditions with low relative humidities dipping down to 14%.
Safety: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is over the Hummingbird Fire. Reminder a TFR is a No Drone Zone and If You Fly We Can’t.
Smoke: Smoke can be seen from multiple locations across to include Willow Creek Subdivision, Gila Cliff Dwellings, Gila Valley, Gila Cliff, Truth or Consequences and Silver City.
For more information visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/.
Fire Restrictions: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in Effect
For more information visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/gila/alerts-notices.
For more information: https://nmfireinfo.com/
Public Information Officer: 2026.hummingbird@firenet.gov
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmgnf-hummingbird-fire
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GilaNForest
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