New Mexico

NM Legislature Day 3 recap: Orders from the court • Source New Mexico

Published

10 months ago

January 23, 2025

NM Legislature Day 3 recap: Orders from the court • Source New Mexico

Good will abounded around the Roundhouse on Thursday. No, really – it was Goodwill Industries of New Mexico and Highlands University day, decking the halls in the Rotunda blue and purple.

But just down the stairs, lawmakers were pushing efforts to lay out public safety and behavioral health priorities – and hearing from one of the institutions that will be most impacted: the courts.

Chief Justice David Thomson’s address to lawmakers on the House floor included a notable absence: While members of both chambers were invited, no Senate Republicans attended.

But it wasn’t an intentional snub, said Brandon Harris, the spokesperson for the Senate GOP.

“They went to join the governor at the luncheon sponsored by New Mexico Amigos, an organization that promotes NM business and industry around the country and internationally,” Harris told Source NM in an email.

You can read more about Thomspon’s State of the Judiciary speech here.

The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday afternoon received a basic overview of New Mexico’s civil commitment laws from attorneys Megan Dorsey and Brandon Cummings. The committee’s chair, Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos), is carrying a bill that would make it easier for courts to involuntarily commit people. Read more here.

Bill Watch

The governor signed the “feed bill” Thursday evening, which appropriates $68.75 million for the costs of the current legislative session.

Senate Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) brought forward her three climate bills, including Senate Bill 4, the Clear Horizons Act, which sets pollution reduction goals into law – reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% in 2030 and net-zero by 2050 – and asks for $3 million to implement the program. Clear Horizons heads for the Senate Conservation Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 28, for a 9 a.m. hearing.

Stewart also released Senate Bill 48 to provide $340 million in grant funding for local communities to reduce pollution or mitigate impacts from climate change,and Senate Bill 83 which requests $10 million for assisting state agencies reduce emissions.

Speaking of climate disasters, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are working to address home insurance in the wake of disasters. Read more here.

A good bolo

Joey Jimenez Jr. pictured in the Rotunda on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

Joey Jimenez Jr. is a social worker and administrative assistant at the Center for Excellence in Social work at Highlands University.

Jimenez (Akimel O’odham/Pueblo of Isleta/Mexicano), grew up in Arizona, and said he enteredsocial work because of a “desire to be helpful and to be of service.” Now he supports social work students at Highlands University, as well as professional social workers around the state by connecting them to resources and further training.

For anyone considering social work, Jimenez had this to say: “You’re definitely wanted and needed; if you enjoy being of service to others, this is the profession for you.”

Lawmakers are pushing for behavioral health expansions this session, which has included some bills relating to social work. For example, House Bill 52, from Miguel García (D-Albuquerque) would offer health care workers such as social workers in rural New Mexico to receive a $3,000 state tax credit. A request in House Bill 2 would allocate $2 million in grants through the Department of Public Safety for municipalities and tribal communities to spend on diversion, mental health programs, crisis intervention and social work training.

Last year, lawmakers appropriated $10 million for the Department of Higher Education to spend on expanding social worker enrollment. Another $3.5 million went to the Children, Youth and Families Department to retain and recruit social workers.

Looking ahead

The Roundhouse may look more like a ghost town, as lawmakers appear to be ending the week a little early. Neither the Senate nor the House will meet on the floor Friday.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

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New Mexico

New Mexico Star Habtom Samuel Finally Earns His First NCAA Cross Country Title

Published

23 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

New Mexico Star Habtom Samuel Finally Earns His First NCAA Cross Country Title

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 22: Habtom Samuel #713 of the New Mexico Lobos runs during the Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship held at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course on November 22, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Amy Kontras/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

NCAA Photos via Getty Images

When it comes to championship racing, timing is everything.

New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel certainly knew this heading into the NCAA Cross Country Championships at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri, on Saturday.

Making matters more pressing, though, was the fact that the University of New Mexico junior had finished second at nationals over the prior two seasons—in 2024, in fact, he lost one of his spikes and still finished second overall.

This time, though, he didn’t want to leave a doubt.

And that’s exactly what Samuel did, unleashing a spectacular move with 1,500 meters left to pull away from the field and claim his first individual win in a time of 28:33.9 over 10,000 meters. Meters from the finish, Samuel drew out his arms and weaved his way to the finish, soaking in the moment.

NCAA Photos via Getty Images

“I said to my coach, ‘I’m going to surprise you guys today,’” Samuel told reporters afterward. “I wanted to be patient. I understood the game and made a good decision.”

Samuel’s 1,000-meter split over the ninth kilometer was 2:37.4, a time that equals out to a 4:13 mile. That surge mattered in the long run, because it put distance between him and his competition. In fact, it put him three seconds on Wake Forest’s Rocky Hansen and Oklahoma State’s Brian Musau, and four seconds on Oklahoma State’s Denis Kipngetich and five on Washington State’s Solomon Kipchoge.

“I kind of planned on not coming with the guys through 400 (meters) or something,” Samuel said. “I know some guys at 1,500, maybe they gonna kick me out, so I prefer to just run longer and just run hard. That was my plan.”

Hansen, the first American collegian to finish and one of just two inside the top 10, was second in 28:38, while Kipchoge was third in 28:40.1. Musau was fourth, while Oklahoma State’s Fouad Messaoudi and Kipngetich were fifth and sixth.

All were vying for the win down the stretch.

How The Men’s NCAA Cross Country Championships Shook Out

It wasn’t all bad news for the Oklahoma State men, though.

The Cowboys totaled a low of 57 points, winning their second championship since 2023 under head coach Dave Smith.

The win was also a bit of validation for the 19-year head coach, who in the days leading up to the championship was involved in a somewhat heated discussion about the use of international athletes on NCAA rosters.

In a story by the Desert News that published before NCAAs, BYU coach Ed Eyestone commented on the proliferation of overseas companies specializing in the signing of African runners to U.S. colleges for fees, saying “I always felt I’d be embarrassed to have seven foreigners on the team.”

Oklahoma State’s top four runners on Saturday were recruited and signed internationally, while its fifth, senior Ryan Schoppe, joined the Cowboys from a Texas high school in 2020.

Smith was apparently not happy with the comment and countered in a pre-race press conference.

“I have no problem with anybody running their program within the rules and doing things the way they should be done,” Smith said. “If I believe that someone doesn’t like a rule or doesn’t like a situation in the NCAA, don’t b**** about it. Go change it. Get involved. Get involved in the sport. Get involved in leadership and make change the way change is supposed to be made. Otherwise, shut up and coach your team. That’s what I think about this stuff.”

Elsewhere, New Mexico’s men slotted in second overall in the team race with 82 points, while one of the pre-race favorites, Iowa State, was third with 158 points. Syracuse and Oregon were fourth and fifth, respectively.

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 22: Doris Lemngole #109 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs during the Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship held at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course on November 22, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Amy Kontras/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Doris Lemngole, Jane Hedengren Battle In Women’s NCAA Cross Country Championships

In the women’s race, a two-way battle emerged between defending NCAA champion Doris Lemngole and BYU star freshman Jane Hedengren.

After leading for the first half of the race, Hedengren succumbed to Lemngole’s press at about the 3,000-meter mark, though she stayed on the runner’s hip almost until the near end.

It wasn’t until the final last meters–about less than 800 meters to go–that the 23-year-old Lemngole finally began to leg past Hedengren.

The Alabama junior went on to claim her second straight national title over 6,000 meters, this time crossing the line in 18:25.4. She’s the first repeat champion since Villanova’s Sheila Reid in 2010 and 2011.

Hedengren was vying to become the first freshman since Suzie Tuffey in 1985 to win a national cross-country title.

Florida senior Hilda Olemomoi was third in 18:46.4, while BYU’s Riley Chamberlain was fourth in 18:47.0.

The NC State Women Win Their Fifth Cross Country Title Since 2021

Next brought home NC State’s title run.

Between Hannah Gapes and Grace Hartman, who finished fifth and sixth, the two juniors led the Wolfpack to their fifth national title since 2021 under head coach Laurie Henes.

NC State, which nabbed a three-peat from 2021-2023, scored 114 points and outlasted BYU’s own bid for a repeat.

The Cougars were second with 130 points, securing their fifth first- or second-place finish since 2019 under head coach Diljeet Taylor.

Oregon was third overall with 153 points, while New Mexico was fourth and Florida fifth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

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New Mexico

Deyton Albury scores 13 for New Mexico in 80-78 win over Mississippi State in Hall of Fame Classic

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Deyton Albury scores 13 for New Mexico in 80-78 win over Mississippi State in Hall of Fame Classic

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Deyton Albury scored 13 points for New Mexico, including the go-ahead layup with 30 seconds left in an 80-78 win over Mississippi State in the Hall of Fame Classic consolation game on Friday night.

Albury’s layup came off a turnover on a bad pass, sending the Lobos (4-2) on a fast break before Uriah Tenette was fouled. Tenette hit both shots from the free-throw line with seven seconds left to end the game.

Thomislav Buljan earned his third double-double of the season, finishing with 19 points and 21 rebounds, breaking a freshman program record for most rebounds in a game. Tenette added 13 points, and Antonio Chol had 12.

Mississippi State (2-3) was led by Josh Hubbard, who scored 29 points and dished out four assists. He shot 11 of 25 from the field and six of 13 from beyond the arc. Jayden Epps added 21 points.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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