Published inNew Mexico Local News Fund·Jul 27, 2021Discussions Aim to Boost Mental Health Support for NM and West Texas JournalistsWe asked and you answered. In a recent anonymous survey conducted by Society of Professional Journalists, Rio Grande Chapter and New Mexico Local News Fund, eight out of 10 journalists reported that their work takes a toll on their mental health. …Mental Health4 min readMental Health4 min read
Published inNew Mexico Local News Fund·May 19, 2021Are you a journalist? There’s no shame in seeking mental health supportAfter 15 years of working in a daily newspaper, I can attest to the high levels of stress that go hand in hand with the job. There’s the stress of daily deadlines. The stress of whether you’re going to be able to reach that source who’s critical to your next…Journalism4 min readJournalism4 min read
Published inNew Mexico Local News Fund·May 19, 2021Mental health support is a need among New Mexico journalistsThe Society of Professional Journalists Rio Grande Chapter and the New Mexico Local News Fund recognize mental health is an important aspect of journalists’ well-being. And we’ve identified a strong need for greater mental health support within the state’s journalism community. We’re hoping to help continue destigmatizing mental health, while…Mental Health3 min readMental Health3 min read
Published inSouthern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative·Apr 2, 2021Lawmakers pass marijuana legalization bills in special sessionBy WALTER RUBEL/ Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Marijuana sales will be legal in New Mexico next year following passage of a bill Wednesday, March 31, on the second day of a special session called by Gov. …Marijuana Legalization4 min readMarijuana Legalization4 min read
Published inSouthern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative·Mar 31, 2021Marijuana bill to be split for special sessionBy Walter Rubel/ Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative LAS CRUCES, N.M. — New Mexico State Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, said legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales may be split into two bills when the Legislature convenes for a special session Tuesday, March 30. One bill would…New Mexico Legislature4 min readNew Mexico Legislature4 min read
Published inSouthern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative·Mar 31, 2021How Southwestern NM lawmakers votedBy WALTER RUBEL/ Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative LAS CRUCES, N.M. — There was a lot more agreement during this year’s legislative session than you may have thought, given all the attention paid to contentious bills like those seeking to provide paid sick leave to workers or lower the Annual…New Mexico Legislature9 min readNew Mexico Legislature9 min read
Published inSouthern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative·Mar 31, 2021How Southeastern NM lawmakers votedBy WALTER RUBEL/ Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative LAS CRUCES, N.M. — There was a lot more agreement during this year’s legislative session than you may have thought, given all the attention paid to contentious bills like those seeking to provide paid sick leave to workers or lower the Annual…New Mexico Legislature8 min readNew Mexico Legislature8 min read
Published inSouthern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative·Mar 23, 2021Legislative session ends without passage of marijuana bill; governor calls special session to address itBy WALTER RUBEL/ Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The 60-day session of the New Mexico Legislature, which was conducted entirely on Zoom in a state capitol building closed to the public because of the COVID-19 pandemic, ended Saturday without passage of legislation to legalize marijuana. Gov…Marijuana4 min readMarijuana4 min read
Published inSouthern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative·Mar 21, 2021Persistence pays off on early childhood billBy WALTER RUBEL/ Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative LAS CRUCES, N.M. — After years of failure, the effort to increase the annual distribution from the Land Grant Permanent Fund for early childhood programs achieved final passage with a 26–16 vote in the Senate Thursday, March 19. House Joint Resolution 1…Early Childhood Education2 min readEarly Childhood Education2 min read
Published inSouthern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative·Mar 21, 2021Soules rejects House changes to small loan billBy WALTER RUBEL/ Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative LAS CRUCES, N.M. — New Mexico Sen. …Payday Loans3 min readPayday Loans3 min read
