New Mexico
Sources: Mendenhall set to take over Utah State
Utah State is expected to hire New Mexico’s Bronco Mendenhall as its next football coach, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Thursday.
Mendenhall just finished his first season with the Lobos, guiding them to a 5-7 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the Mountain West — the same conference record as Utah State.
He has deep ties to Utah, having served as the coach at BYU from 2005 to ’15. He led the Cougars to 11 consecutive bowl games and five seasons of 10 or more wins.
He left BYU in late 2015 to take over at Virginia, which he built into a contender in the ACC, including a 9-5 Orange Bowl season in 2019, before he stepped down after the 2021 season.
After two years off, he was named New Mexico’s coach, taking over a program that hadn’t won more than four games since 2016. But that changed this year, the highlight being a 38-35 win over then-No. 18 Washington State that kept the Lobos’ bowl hopes alive entering their final regular-season game. But those hopes ended with a loss to Hawaii.
Overall, Mendenhall is 145-95 over 19 years as a head coach at the three schools.
Utah State went 4-8 overall this season under interim coach Nate Dreiling, who took over after Blake Anderson was fired in July. The Aggies will leave the Mountain West for the Pac-12 starting in the 2026 season.
New Mexico
New Mexico maintains full childhood vaccine recommendations despite HHS rollback
SANTA FE, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) – The New Mexico Department of Health says it will continue to recommend the full schedule of childhood vaccines.
State officials announced the move Tuesday, directly defying a new federal policy that scaled back routine immunization guidance.
The announcement comes after U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., reduced the number of vaccines it recommends for all children.
The New Mexico Department of Health stated the federal changes were “not based on new scientific evidence or safety data.”
“New Mexico will not follow the federal government in walking away from decades of proven public health practice,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “Our recommendations remain unchanged.”
State health officials sought to reassure parents, emphasizing that vaccines remain widely available and covered by insurance.
“We know this is confusing for parents, but the science is clear: vaccines are safe, effective, and save children’s lives,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, chief medical officer for NMDOH.
All childhood vaccinations will continue to be covered under programs like Medicaid and the federal Vaccines for Children Program.
The state encourages parents to consult their healthcare providers using the American Academy of Pediatrics’ immunization schedule.
RECOMMENDED: CDC cuts childhood vaccine list, sparking healthcare professionals’ concerns
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New Mexico
Texas man charged with selling artist Fritz Scholder fakes to New Mexicans
New Mexico
Fourth Republican candidate announces bid for New Mexico governor
SANTA FE, N.M. — Former New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner Jim Ellison is running for governor as a Republican, he announced on social media Tuesday.
Ellison is running on affordability, opportunity and trust in government as the key points of his campaign. His experience includes serving on the NMPRC in 2023 and 2024.
“New Mexico deserves leadership that listens, acts, and delivers results. Our state has enormous potential, but too often that potential is held back by policies that don’t serve everyday New Mexicans,” he said on his website. “I’m running to bring practical solutions, honest accountability, and a renewed focus on the public interest.”
A Georgia native, Ellison has lived in New Mexico for 20 years and currently lives in the Albuquerque area with his wife and two children.
Ellison is aiming to get 5,000 signatures by Feb. 2, to appear on the primary ballot with at least three other Republicans who have announced their candidacy.
Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez announced his campaign in December and recently confirmed to KOB 4 that he received enough signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and New Mexico State Sen. Steve Lanier are also running.
Three Democrats are running – Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.
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