New Mexico
New Mexico Olympian sets sights on becoming a doctor
Andrea Howard has been called an Olympian and a Lobo but she is hoping she can add “doctor” to that very soon.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Olympic softball player Andrea Howard calls New Mexico home and she fell in love with the sport at a young age.
“My love for softball comes from when I was little. My brother plays baseball and I always wanted to beat him at something and softball comes naturally as a sport that I can beat him at that I can play,” she said.
Eventually, Howard played at La Cueva High School and then at UNM, playing five seasons in the cherry and silver.
When she wasn’t hitting home runs for UNM, she was spending her summers in Italy, playing for their national team.
“I’m a dual citizen, so I was able to play on that Italian team and during my college career I went every summer to Italy and I was able to play with them,” she said.
Howard took to the field with Team Italy in 2021 when they played in the Tokyo Olympics.
“We were either in the Olympic Village or the field, but we couldn’t be anywhere in between. I think that made it even more fun because we were able to kind of bond as a team a little bit more in the village,” she said.
While Howard’s team didn’t make it very far in the Games, she walked away with an unforgettable experience.
“I think it [the most memorable moment] was playing center field and being able stand in the rings. That was super cool,” she said.
After being a Bear, a Lobo and an Olympian, Howard hopes to become a doctor.
“I’ve always been interested in medicine and I knew I wanted to be a doctor one day. And that’s why I chose UNM for softball in college, because I knew they had a great medical school. So now I get to live out my second dream,” she said.
Living out her dream and inspiring other softball players to follow in her footsteps.
“I think if you have that big dream, you can absolutely do it. You just need to put the work in and you will flourish,” Howard said.
Regional gas prices rose for the second consecutive week and reached an average of $3.60 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, up from last week’s price of $3.41 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Gas prices are jumping around because traders are trying to price in how long the Iran war will disrupt oil flows from the Middle East, on top of the usual spring run‑up in demand as driving season approaches. Markets are baking in higher risk and “additional volatility” but not a long-term shutdown, and prices could retreat if it becomes clear the tensions are short-lived, petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan said.
Analysts say another 20 to 30 cents a gallon is still likely in the weeks ahead.
The average fuel price in the Gulf Coast region rose about 107 cents since last month. According to the EIA, gas prices across the region in the last year have been as low as $2.37 on Jan. 5, 2026, and as high as $3.60 on March 23, 2026.
A year ago, the average gas price in the Gulf Coast region was 31% lower at $2.74 per gallon.
>> INTERACTIVE: See how your area’s gas prices have changed over the years at data.lcsun-news.com.
The average gas price in the United States last week was $3.96, making prices in the Gulf Coast region about 9.0% lower than the nation’s average. The average national gas price is higher than last week’s average of $3.72 per gallon.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s tally of prices in the Gulf Coast states includes Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.
USA TODAY Co. is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Please leave any feedback or corrections for this story here. This story was written by Ozge Terzioglu.
QUAY COUNTY, N.M. – A grass fire has burned an estimated 1,000-2,000 acres near San Jon in Quay County.
Emergency crews say the Old 66 Fire is threatening structures, and remains 0% contained.
The New Mexico Forestry Division said crews discovered the fire at 12:30 p.m. Friday, March 27 east of San Jon, north of Interstate 40 in Quay County.
Smoke is visible from Interstate 40 and surrounding areas.
The fire is on private land and the cause remains under investigation.
State Road 469 is closed at Main Avenue. Officials said local residents should use caution and avoid the area.
Structures threatened include a wind farm to the southwest.
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