Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

New Mexico has a new first: a permanent fund dedicated to water and land conservation across the state. Lawmakers in the House passed SB 9 late on Sunday night. It now heads to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk for a signature.

About 71% of New Mexican students qualify for free or reduced-price meals yet some of our children are still going hungry. The Healthy Universal School Meals Act introduced by Democratic Senators Michael Padilla and Leo Jaramillo would give all public and charter school students free access to breakfast and lunch regardless of family income. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is a supporter of this bill and made it one of her priorities in her State of the State address.

Lawmakers have advanced a substitute bill that would provide free breakfast and lunch to New Mexico school kids. Some legislators are skeptical about the price tag and whether the state can afford it in years to come. But supporters say this bill could keep thousands of kids from going hungry.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was joined by a group of bipartisan legislators at the Roundhouse Wednesday who emphasized the importance of bills curbing gun violence in this session.

The 2023 legislative session is in full swing; with representatives and senators settling in and discussing bills. KUNM spoke with Gwyneth Doland, a political correspondent for New Mexico PBS, who was in Santa Fe this week talking to lawmakers about their priorities for this 60-day session and how it feels to be back in person.

The White House and U.S. Treasury have announced yet another round of funding to expand internet access in New Mexico and Colorado’s tribal and rural communities.

New Mexicans have signaled their approval of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s first term by sending her back to the governor’s mansion for four more years. Lujan Grisham made protecting access to abortion a centerpiece of her campaign after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June.

It’s less than a week until the midterm elections, and President Joe Biden has been making the rounds countrywide to make a final plea for voters to swing blue. The President stopped in New Mexico Thursday to highlight his administration's financial aid policies and New Mexico’s historic free college program.

Seven New Mexico counties, including McKinley and San Miguel, have Medium community levels of COVID19 according to the latest CDC data. But when the metric is COVID transmission alone without considering hospitalizations, that green and yellow map turns an alarming red and orange. Nationally, health officials warn that colder months could bring a surge in cases as people gather indoors. But Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said mandatory measures are not going to happen.

Saturday October 22, marks the first “Missing In New Mexico Day” created by the legislature to bring families of missing Indigenous persons together with law enforcement agencies to offer services and raise awareness. The event will take place at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center hosted by the Department of Public Safety. KUNM has more on how this day can help impact families with missing loved ones.