Nation

Interior Department Begins Nationwide Review Of Rock Climbing And Wilderness Study Area Management Policies

DOI News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced a 60-day public comment period on proposed recreational climbing guidance and potential updates to wilderness study area management policies for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service.   

The Department is seeking public input on two important efforts:

  • First, establishing a consistent approach to recreational rock climbing management across designated wilderness areas; and
  • Second, evaluating whether existing wilderness study areas and
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Heinrich Calls For Consideration Of Conservation Bills, Bipartisan Cooperation On ENR Legislation

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivers opening remarks at a hearing to consider pending legislation before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, June 10, 2026. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a business meeting on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to consider pending legislation, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, criticized Chairman Mike Lee (R-Utah) for continuing to advance Republican priorities while leaving bipartisan and Democratic conservation, public lands, and Read More

Sen. Luján Presses Agriculture Secretary Rollins On New World Screwworm At Senate Agriculture Hearing

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. SENATE News: 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, pressed Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on the New World screwworm that has now been detected in Lea County, New Mexico. At a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Sen. Luján questioned Secretary Rollins on the impacts of staffing cuts on the response to the spread, the federal government’s response, and USDA’s commitment to prioritizing impacted states.

A full video of the exchange is available here.

Senator Luján’s Read More

Heinrich, Luján Introduce Legislation To Help New Mexico Farmers & Ranchers Access Virtual Fencing

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) led the introduction of the Fencing Eligibility for New Conservation Equipment (FENCE) Act, legislation cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), to allow farmers and ranchers to access U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funding for virtual fencing.

Virtual fencing technology allows for the controlled movement and grazing of livestock through GPS-enabled collars that deliver audio cues and electrical pulses; replacing physical infrastructure that often interferes Read More

Luján, Heinrich Introduce Legislation To Boost Funding For Indian Water Rights Settlements

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026, legislation to ensure the federal government fulfills its trust responsibilities by providing dedicated, mandatory funding for Indian water rights settlements through the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund, first authorized in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

As of May 2026, there are 39 enacted Indian Read More

AMA Adopts New Public Health Policies For Nation

HEALTHCARE News:

CHICAGO – The American Medical Association (AMA) gathered physician and medical student leaders from all corners of medicine at its Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates to shape guiding policies on emerging health care topics.

The new policies adopted on the second day of voting at the AMA Annual Meeting include supporting “food is medicine” interventions to improve health outcomes, protecting the public and firefighters from wildfire toxins, opposing flavored vaping products to protect youth, advocating for restoring EPA’s Endangerment Finding on Greenhouse Read More

DEA, UAF Announce National Partnership For Walk For Lives 2026 To Advance Fentanyl Free America

DEA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 8, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and United Against Fentanyl (UAF) announced a national partnership in support of DEA’s Fentanyl Free America initiative. Walk for Lives 2026 is a coordinated series of more than 100 family-led community events across the United States on July 11, 2026. These events aim to bring increased attention to one of the country’s greatest public safety and health threats by uniting the federal government’s lead drug enforcement agency with the nation’s largest non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to ending Read More

Most Dangerous Places For People Walking Are Still Getting More Deadly

SGA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new study by Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition identifies the deadliest metro areas for people walking in the United States. Dangerous by Design 2026 ranks all 50 states and the 101 largest metro areas for pedestrian deaths and finds the vast majority—more than 80%—have gotten more deadly over time.

In 2024, the year with the most recent complete federal data, 7,080 people were struck and killed while walking in the U.S. Despite modest improvements from historic highs in 2022, that number represents 72% more pedestrian fatalities Read More

Los Alamos Middle School Student Qualifies To Compete At Worlds Largest Junior High Rodeo June 21-27

Los Alamos Middle School eighth-grade student Paige Trujillo will represent New Mexico in girl’s goat tying at the National Junior High Finals Rodeo June 21-27 in Guthrie, Okla. Courtesy photo

COMMUNITY News:

DENVER — Los Alamos Middle School eighth-grade student from Paige Trujillo has earned the opportunity to represent New Mexico on the National Junior High Rodeo Team at the 21st Annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) on June 21-27 in Guthrie, Okla. The prestigious event will bring together more than 1,200 of the nation’s top junior high rodeo athletes from across the United Read More

Rep. Vasquez Opposes $70 Billion Blank Check For ICE

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez

From the Office of U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 9, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) remained firm in his calls for reform and accountability at ICE, rejecting “MAGA extremists” latest request for another $70 billion blank check for ICE through the budget reconciliation process. 

“Last summer, ICE got a $75 billion blank check with no spending guardrails, and we all saw how those taxpayer funds were used—to terrorize folks without accountability, infringe on civil rights across the country, and murder American citizens in the streets,” Vasquez said. Read More