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Mia Casas
Student ReporterMia Casas is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in Journalism and Theatre at the University of New Mexico. She comes to KUNM through an internship with the New Mexico Local News Fund and is staying on as a student reporter as of fall 2023. She enjoys reporting on social justice, local culture and the arts.
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Bernalillo County is working with ABQ Ride to gather input on a proposed new bus route network in hopes of making it easier to get around.
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Some may know Damien Flores as the host of KUNM’s “spoken word hour” on Sunday evenings. Others have known him as a teacher and mentor over the past 15 years. As of July 7, he will now be known as Albuquerque’s 7th Poet Laureate.
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Two organizations in New Mexico are providing relief to hospitality workers who lost jobs due to the natural disasters in the Mescalero Apache reservation, Ruidoso and Las Vegas. But– their funds are depleting fast.
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The University of New Mexico has less than 3% African American students. Within that community, there are even fewer who also identify as queer. A new student organization aims to create a space for both of these communities.
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The New Mexico Holocaust & Intolerance Museum in Albuquerque has opened a new exhibit, marking the first time it has ever focused on LGBTQ+ issues. Also a first for the museum, it was created by high school students.
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A study done last year found that seven out of 10 pills sold on the street contain potentially lethal doses of synthetic drugs. Over 150 people nationwide die every day from these substances, like fentanyl or xylazine. A new harm reduction initiative in the Albuquerque music scene aims to help educate and protect people from these fates.
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Juneteenth, the holiday recognizing the release of the last enslaved people more than a year after the end of the Civil War, is coming up soon. Our communities commemorate the day with parades, conferences, and even yoga in the park. On the next Let’s Talk New Mexico we’ll discuss those celebrations and whether the holiday goes far enough to help heal the wounds of slavery. What will you do to recognize Juneteenth?
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Historically, voters aged 18-34 are some of the most underrepresented in elections across the country – but, these trends are starting to shift as younger folks are becoming increasingly politically active and more diverse.
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Hispanic and Latino youth have historically lower rates of bank account ownership and overall knowledge of financial well-being. A local credit union is trying to address that gap with a new location in Albuquerque’s South Valley and programs designed to make finances fun.
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The first ever Earth Day in the U.S. took place on April 22, 1970. Fast forward to 2024, with the help of many sponsors and a man with a “green” heart, Albuquerque is hosting the first statewide Earth Day Festival.