New Mexico

NM Legislature Day 5 recap: Senior Day shenanigans • Source New Mexico

Published

10 months ago

January 27, 2025

NM Legislature Day 5 recap: Senior Day shenanigans • Source New Mexico

Hundreds of New Mexicans convened today at the Roundhouse for day 5 of the legislative session.

For the first half of the day, the Roundhouse was packed with older New Mexicans, caregivers and advocates in honor of Senior Day, hosted by the state’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department. Secretary-Designate Emily Kaltenbach said several hundred people attended.

“Those stories you share will have a direct impact on the budget we get for our department this year,” Kaltenbach told the crowd in the rotunda. “That budget, which I think is very reasonable this year but critically needed, will support aging in place, providing services in our homes and our communities.”

Fern Reyna, Laverne Zaragoza and Alfie Levaldo traveled from Acoma Pueblo to ask lawmakers for additional funds for the senior center.

“We’re looking to build a computer center, so we can learn to use computers and our smartphones, which are way too smart for us,” Zaragoza quipped.

In addition, Levaldo said the pueblo needs additional funds to expand services with an assisted living facility and a daycare.

Adrienne Smith, president and CEO of the New Mexico Caregivers Coalition, joined the crowd to encourage people to find their legislators and share with them their personal stories of caring for loved ones.

“I’ll tell you what, if you’re not a caregiver now, I bet you will be,” Smith said.

She specifically asked Senior Day attendees to encourage lawmakers to reactivate the Long-Term Services Division and call for more direct funding for family caregivers.

Ernest Smith, 61, and Emily Wauneka 66, the Elder King and Queen from both from the Sheep Springs Chapter of the Navajo Nation, sit in the Rotunda for Senior Day. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department seeks $1M to reactivate key division

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also made an appearance at Senior Day, where she maintained her stance on public safety, promising New Mexicans that legislators would address stricter sentencing for drug offenses.

Bill Watch

The Paid Family & Medical Leave Act received its first committee hearing this morning in the House Health & Human Services Committee and passed by a 6-4 vote.

Both bills before the Senate Rules Committee moved on. Senate Bill 85, which proposes expanded definitions of expenditures and donations in campaigns, received a unanimous 9-0 pass, while Senate Bill 5, which reforms the state’s game commission, received two amendments and passed by a 7-2 vote.

Tomorrow, committees are getting warmed up with big bills. House Bill 4 on criminal competency, one of the top priorities by both lawmakers and the governor, will be heard in the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee at its 1:30 p.m. meeting.

Senate Conservation Committee has a full slate, with Senate Bill 4, the Clear Horizons Act first up, which would codify state emission reduction goals into law. Committee members will also hear two bills on stream protections, which you can read more about here. The agenda concludes with Senate Bill 23 which proposes increases to the state’s oil and gas royalty rates. NM State Land Office Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard backed earlier this month.

House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources is scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. to discuss a proposed one-mile buffer zone preventing oil and gas companies from producing pollution around schools, daycare facilities and public parks.

Pups in the people’s house

Dolores Aragon drove up from Clovis, with Pumpkin and Boo, both aged 6, to show up in the Roundhouse on Jan. 27, 2025 for Senior’s Day. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

Phillip Mondragon and Dolores Aragon brought their two dogs, Boo and Pumpkin, with them to Senior Day, driving up from Clovis on Sunday. Mondragon told Source NM that their 6-year-old service pups go everywhere with them to help Aragon with her sight.

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New Mexico

Sam Bregman says he would push for term limits for New Mexico lawmakers

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6 hours ago

November 21, 2025

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Sam Bregman says he would push for term limits for New Mexico lawmakers

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New Mexico

New Mexico’s Chaparral High School football team is making history

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2025

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New Mexico’s Chaparral High School football team is making history

The Chaparral High School football program in Southern New Mexico is making a name for itself these days.

And for the first time, the state of New Mexico is taking notice of the Lobos program. Chaparral High School is located less than 30 miles from Northeast El Paso.

The Lobos are 8-3 overall and seeded No. 3 in the Class 4A playoffs. The eight wins are the most in school history and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs is the highest seed the Lobos have ever had in the playoffs.

The Lobos defeated No. 6 seed Moriarty, 42-41, in the state quarterfinals on Nov. 14 when Lobos quarterback Israel Nieto scored with a rushing touchdown and it was followed by a successful extra point to advance the Lobos. Twelve teams made the state playoffs.

There are multiple classifications in New Mexico, ranging from Class 2A to Class 6A, as well as six-man and eight-man football divisions.

Chaparral football history

The Lobos played their first varsity game in 2007 and went 1-9 that season. The Lobos have had seven seasons with no wins,

The Lobos had winning seasons in 2015 and 2017, both times going 6-4.

Chaparral breaks through in 2024

Chaparral made the postseason in 2024 and defeated Portales in the first round on the road, securing the program’s first-ever playoff win.

Fast forward to 2025

The Lobos have won 8 of their last 10 games after losing their season opener to Gadsden. They went 4-2 in District 2-4A, which placed them second behind Albuquerque St. Pius.

The Lobos defeated strong teams from Albuquerque (Academy and Manzano), the state’s largest city, and another team from Los Lunas (Valencia HS), which is near Albuquerque.

Chaparral players to watch

Israel Nieto, QB. He has 1,786 yards passing, 634 yards rushing, 19 touchdown passes and 15 rushing touchdown runs.
Raul Lopez, RB. Lopez has rushed for 1,092 yards and has 470 yards rushing.
Aaron Eliserio, WR. He has caught eight touchdown passes.

Chaparral’s coaching staff

Joseph Frias, who played quarterback at El Paso’s Franklin High School and graduated in 2003, is the second-year head coach.

His staff includes defensive coordinator Stephen White, offensive coordinator Esai Ontiveros and defensive backs and wide receiver coach David Butler.

What’s next for Chaparral

The Lobos will play No. 2 St. Pius at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Nusenda Community Stadium in Albuquerque in the state semifinals. The winner will play either No. 1 Bloomfield or No. 4 Taos in the state finals.

What Chaparral head coach Joseph Frias said

“The kids have worked hard and bought into what we want to do,” Frias said. “Making the playoffs last year and winning a playoff game meant so much to the program. It gave us momentum.”

What Chaparral player Israel Nieto said

“We’ve had great support from the community, we’ve played with confidence and determination,” Nieto said.

Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X

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New Mexico

NMSU to host public reading by New Mexico native Dec. 5

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

NMSU to host public reading by New Mexico native Dec. 5

Joshua Wheeler was raised in Alamogordo, New Mexico and his work has been described as “lyrical and funny” as well as “poetic and highly entertaining.” One of the two books he will read excerpts from next month is about southern New Mexico.

As part of the Nelson-Boswell Reading Series, La Sociedad para Las Artes will host a public reading by Wheeler, a Louisiana State University professor, from his publications “Acid West: Essays” and “High Heaven: A Novel.”

The reading begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 in New Mexico State University’s CMI Theater in Milton Hall, Room 171. A free reception will follow, where copies of Wheeler’s books will be available for purchase.

Wheeler is now based in New Orleans where he teaches creative writing at LSU. His debut novel “High Heaven” explores the evolution of faith and technology through the U.S.’s space age. His collection of essays “Acid West” follows the history of innovation and identity as seen from southern New Mexico – from cowboys and UFOs to nuclear testing and spaceports.

The Nelson-Boswell Reading Series invites visiting writers to NMSU to share their work with the community. La Sociedad para Las Artes is seeking to establish a permanent endowed fund through the NMSU Foundation whose earnings will support creative writing programs, including visiting writers and reading series as well as creative writing workshops for children in Las Cruces Public Schools.

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CUTLINE: Louisiana State University assistant professor of creative writing Joshua Wheeler will read from “Acid West: Essays” and “High Heaven: A Novel” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 in New Mexico State University’s CMI Theater in Milton Hall, Room 171 as part of NMSU’s Nelson-Boswell Reading Series hosted by La Sociedad para Las Artes. (Courtesy photo)

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