KRWG News

District 36 Democratic State Representative Nathan Small was a recent guest on "Your Legislators" on television from KRWG Public Media. We feature a preview of that conversation that you can find in full at our website (krwg.org).

As news breaks daily about the impacts of climate change worldwide, taking local action to reduce its effects can seem daunting and even futile. As Michael Hernandez reports, climate scientists are educating the Las Cruces community with a message of hope.

While debate over a border wall continues, the federal government has already started putting up new barriers in Southwest New Mexico and conservationists are concerned about the impact these barriers will have on the ecosystem. KRWG Public Media's Mallory Falk has more on the issue.

Emily Guerra talks with NMSU University Art Gallery Director Marisa Sage and Educational Art Coordinator Karen Conley about their "Outsmart Workshops" connected to exhibitions on display at the gallery.

The New Mexico House of Representatives has passed legislation aiming to curb gun violence and Michael Hernandez reports that local and national economists recently held a 2019 economic forecast in Las Cruces.

On television's "Fronteras-A Changing America" host Robert Palacios talked with Dr. Kelley Cleary Coffeen about her book "Tex-Mex Diabetes Cooking." Here is a preview:

Texas Secretary of State David Whitley says his office only served as an informational pipeline between the Department of Public Safety and county election administrators concerning a list of 95,000 potential non-citizens voters. Many of those voters were found to be naturalized citizens. Texas Public Radio's Ryan Poppe has more on a state lawmaker who has filed legislation that aims to repeal the 2013 law that allowed for the voter purge debacle. In more news...A decade ago, the bones of 11 people were found on Albuquerque's West Mesa. Family members KUNM's Marisa DeMarco has more on the case that remains unsolved.

The national spotlight was on El Paso Monday with President Trump holding his first campaign rally of the year. Also, New Mexico joins Washington and Minnesota in proposing legislation to achieve 100 percent green energy production over the next 25 years.

The Diocese of Las Cruces has released documents regarding clergy sexual abuse to the state Attorney General's office. Also, the use of artificial sweeteners instead of sugar is supposed to help avoid health problems related to obesity, but the latest study of artificial sweeteners doesn't make clear if they really help.

Citizen science projects call on members of the community to help scientists collect data on countless subjects including weather.

As the government works to reach a border security deal, several Democratic lawmakers visited the border themselves. Beto O'Rourke will lead a march through El Paso tonight to protest a border wall at the same time President Donald Trump will be holding a rally there to promote it. Also, unlike New Mexico, Texas did not expand access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

District 38 Republican State Representative Rebecca Dow was a recent guest on "Your Legislators" on television from KRWG Public Media. On this preview Rep. Dow shares information on economic development legislation she is working on.

Doña Ana County Senior Olympics will kickoff it's 40th year. KRWG Public Media's Emily Guerra talks to senior games coordinator Mike Simione to learn more about the games.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports New Mexico's largest medical marijuana dispenser has won a legal battle against the New Mexico State Fair. While a debate over funding a border wall with Mexico continues money has already been allocated for a six-mile border wall stretch in the Rio Grande Valley. Texas Public Radio's Reynaldo Leaños Jr. reports, protesters gathered in Mission, Texas this week to march against the wall.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that NMSU has raised $1 million to fund an endowed research chair to study chile. Also, we get a preview of the upcoming "Cupid's Chase" in Old Mesilla.

Gov. Lujan Grisham has ordered a withdraw of the majority of New Mexico's National Guard troops from the state's border with Mexico. KUNM's Marissa DeMarco reports on how New Mexico has a contingency plan for families who count on food benefits in case there's another federal government shutdown. Also, commentator Peter Goodman shares thoughts on a public servant who was recently laid to rest in Las Cruces.

Congressman Joaquin Castro is asking the Veterans Affairs Department to look into possible links between post traumatic stress disorder and dementia. Texas Public Radio's Carson Frame reports that benefits for veterans could hang in the balance. The National Dance Institute of New Mexico is getting ready for a big show in late February. KUNM's Spencer Beckwith has more on the event.

Seven Latino voters filed a lawsuit against Texas officials this past weekend over their effort to remove people they suspect are not U.S. citizens from the state's voter rolls.

Visa processing times have increased nearly 50% since President Trump took office. Also, on the Tuesday health watch, the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis is a problem for many seniors.

A growing number of asylum seekers are crossing the border in the remote, southwest corner of New Mexico.

Fixing inequality in New Mexico's public school system is a top priority for lawmakers this year.

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan urged New Mexico's state legislature to pass expanded voter registration measures and encouraged the state to provide new options for medical insurance in the state. Also, we get a recap on a conversation on voting during a recent KRWG "Voice of the Public" call-in program with Doña Ana County Clerk Dr. Amanda López Askin and Chief Deputy Clerk Lindsey Bachman.

February is "For the Love of Art" month in the Mesilla Valley. Doña Ana Arts Council Executive Director Kathleen Albers talked with Emily Guerra about the events and workshops that will take place

The New Mexico State Legislature sent a number of bills to Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham that were eliminated by her Republican predecessor. A disclosure deadline for lawmakers and state office holders has arrived. Also, we hear how Albuquerque Public Schools is grappling with critics who say the district disrespects and ignores Native American culture. KUNM's Hannah Colton has more on a recent public media that was prompted by an incident nearly three months ago, when several students say their teacher used a racial slur and cut a Native American student's hair.

Tonight at 7:30 on television from KRWG Public Media. "Fronteras-A Changing America" host Robert Palacios talks with Devon Fletcher and David Soules about their book Exploring Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Here is a preview of the conversation:

Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico are supporting a measure that would prohibit local governments from enacting so-called "right-to-work" ordinances. Also, A bill that outlaws traps, snares, and poison on public lands is being considered New Mexico Lawmakers, and Commentator Peter Goodman shares his thoughts on the recent partial federal government shutdown.

A civil rights group filed a lawsuit over a Texas advisory alleging thousands of non-citizens may be registered to vote. Texas Public Radio's Ryan Poppe reports on the lawsuit. In more news...President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant policies have fueled anxiety among undocumented youth in New Mexico. And KUNM's May Ortega reports that there are local factors that cause stress, too.

There's a water shortage in Southern New Mexico. The Rio Grande is increasingly dry, leaving farmers forced to pump groundwater from the Mesilla Bolson. But there's an untapped source of water in the aquifer: brackish or salty water. KRWG Public Media's Mallory Falk reports on one effort to put that salty water to use.

New Mexico lawmakers are reconsidering the state's mandatory death sentence for dogs that hurt livestock. In health news...About ten thousand people a year have aortic dissections. KERA's Sam Baker talks with Dr. Mark Pool, a cardio-thoracic surgeon with Texas Health Dallas about why so many people may be having aortic dissections.

From tracking monarch butterfly populations to classifying galaxies, there are thousands of projects people can join to help scientists collect data. It's called citizen science. But, as Michael Hernandez reports, you don't have to be a professional or even an adult to contribute.