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Artesia City Council passes budget, despite concerns. Here are the details from the May 26 meeting.

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Artesia City Council passes budget, despite concerns. Here are the details from the May 26 meeting.

Moriah Lovato
For the Artesia Daily Press

Artesia city officials planned to grapple with an annual $3.8 million loss over the next four years.

The City Council at its May 26 regular meeting voted to approve the city’s budget for Fiscal Year 2027, which runs from July 1 to June 30 of next year.

Included in the budget is an overall deficit of $11 million, which City Clerk Summer Valverde said will be overcome with part of the $18 million the city holds in reserves for its General Fund in the FY 2027 Interim Budget.

But the city expected a $3.8 million deficit to continue annually until 2030, based on current spending levels, which future budgets must address.

That portion of the deficit resulted from planned increases in employee pay at all levels and in all departments, as well as an additional 5% increase to Artesia Police and Fire Departments this year, Valverde said.

She said the city adopted this pay scale and schedule four years ago when an analysis compared the City of Artesia’s compensation plans with Eddy County and other municipalities. The pay schedule is designed to maintain competitive compensation, reward employee retention and ensure promotions correlate with appropriate increases in pay, Valverde said.

“Back in 22-23 the council elected to come up quite a bit and it cost the city,” explained Valverde. “We want to keep ahead, but where we won’t have that much catch up for any department [in future years].”

Councilor Michael Bunt postulated the problem is an outpacing of employee pay increases in comparison with city revenues.

“Nothing to do with anything other than (if) you run a $4 million deficit for four years that’s $16 million you’ve spent.” Bunt continued. “That’s a concern I have. I think its valid. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give people raises. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take care of our people.”

Valverde said the city devised the budget assuming gross receipts tax revenue about $400,000 less per month that recent average revenue, hoping to give the City “some cushion,” she said.

But Valverde said the city may reach a point where it must freeze pay increases.

Noteworthy expenses in the budget included $7 million in capital projects for remaining in renovations at city hall and the current Artesia Recreation Center on Chisum Avenue, separate from the rec center being built alongside the Artesia Aquatic Center on Bowman Drive.

That funding was also supporting work on waterlines throughout the city and the Bulldog Water Well.

Council approved the budget without stipulations to avoid requesting an extension to the June 1 deadline.

Fourth of July Festivities

Jessica Bollema and Kamili Burnett of the Artesia Chamber of Commerce received approval from City Council for the 2026 Fourth of July Extravaganza festivities set to occur on July 3 and 4.

Jaycee Park will be closed to vehicular traffic all day July 4 with the exception of vendors, cars with handicap placards and emergency response vehicles. Event attendees must park in the parking lot south of Jaycee Park and walk from their vehicles into the event space.

“The reason for encouraging people to walk into the park is safety as whole” explained Burnett, “Sitting down with fire and police they advised it would be easier to manage on their end if we just shut the park completely down to vehicles.”

The celebration of America’s 250th Independence Day will begin in downtown Artesia with a city-wide salute, 5k and parade and then continue at Jaycee Park with vendors and sporting events for all ages and ability levels.

Residents can kick back in the beer garden or elevate the day with a skydiving venture. The festivities will conclude with live music and a firework show. The event’s $75,000 budget doubles that of previous years.

Other Business

Regional Emergency Dispatch Authority Executive Director Bambi Kern sought and gained approval for Resolution 1951 which “recognizes Public Safety Telecommunicators as First Responders and as critical infrastructure within the public safety framework.”

“This will include dispatch in any local policies for dispatchers as it now places them correctly within the emergency response system alongside the other First Responders.” Kern explained.

The resolution does not affect pay, training or other work conditions and has already been adopted by over 80 counties in New Mexico, including Eddy County.

Democrat incumbents in Congress secure nominations during June 2, primary

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Democrat incumbents in Congress secure nominations during June 2, primary

Adrian Hedden
El Rito Media
achedden@elritomedia.com

New Mexico’s incumbent Democrats in Congress won renomination in the Tuesday, June 2, primary, securing their places on the ballot in the Nov. 3 general election.

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan led his primary race, outpolling Matt Dodson with 181,419 votes, or 84%, according to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office. Dodson had 34,166 votes or 16%.

Vote tallies are unofficial until they are canvassed during a special meeting by county commissions where the ballots were submitted.

Lujan will face write-in candidate Larry Marker, who was unopposed as the GOP nominee to the U.S. Senate.

“In the Senate, I will keep fighting to lower costs, protect access to health care, help families put food on the table, and ensure New Mexico’s kids can grow up in safe, strong communities,” Lujan said. “I will continue standing up to the Trump administration’s cruel agenda and working to make sure federal investments reach every corner of our state.”

U.S. House

Incumbent U.S. Reps. Gabe Vasquez in the 2nd Congressional District, Melanie Stansbury in the 1st Congressional District, and Teresa Leger Fernandez in the 3rd Congressional District were unopposed in the Democratic primary.

“Thank you to all the voters across this district that put their faith in me and chose me to represent them in Congress,” Vasquez said in a statement Tuesday night. “There is no doubt this will be another competitive general election, but I know that New Mexicans are ready to fight for what is important.”

State Rep. Martin Zamora was unopposed for the GOP nomination in the 3rd Congressional District as was Didi Okpareke in the 1st District.

Gregory Cunningham was the likely winner in his bid for the GOP nod in the 2nd District with 26,757 votes or 85%. Jose Orozco tallied 4,888 votes for 15% of the vote.

Lt. Governor

Current New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver was the apparent winner of the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, with 169,039 votes or 80%, according to Secretary of State’s Office.

State Sen. Harold Pope earned 42,366 votes or 20% of the vote.

Republican State Sen. David Gallegos was poised to claim his party’s nomination to the office with 56,508 votes or 50% compared with 42,888 votes or 38% for Attorney Aubrey Blair Dunn. Third-place finisher Manny Lardizabal had 14,203 votes or 13%.

Federal bill would shield small oil wells from air quality rules

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Federal bill would shield small oil wells from air quality rules

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@currentargus.com

A congressman from the Texas side of the Permian Basin wants to exempt low-producing oil wells from federal air quality regulations.

The Protect Domestic Oil and Gas Small Business Act of 2026 was introduced May 21 by U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and backed by U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming). The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and had yet to receive a hearing.

If passed, the bill would exempt so-called “marginal wells” – those that produce 15 barrels or less of oil per day or 90,000 cubic feet or less of natural gas per day from certain air quality standards under the Clean Air Act, a federal law passed in 1963 to establish guidelines for air emissions by oil and gas and other industries.

Pfluger argued the measure would help sustain smaller oil and gas producers, which he said are often priced out of the market by costly regulations tailored to larger operators.

“America’s energy security depends on the strength of our domestic production, and small producers are a critical part of that equation,” Pfluger said in a statement. “Too often, these operators are disadvantaged by costly, one-size-fits-all regulations that were never designed with their operations in mind.”

Specifically, the bill would ban the Environmental Protection Agency – which enforces the Clean Air Act – from enforcing any performance standards on marginal wells. It would also block any state regulatory agency from submitting air quality standards or emissions restrictions that include such wells.

The bill drew the ire of environmentalists on the New Mexico side of the Permian Basin, a 50,000-square-foot oil and gas deposit known as the nation’s busiest. It includes the state’s southeast corner and towns such Carlsbad as well as West Texas cities such as Midland and Odessa.

In New Mexico, about 144,000 people live within a half mile of an oil and gas well, argued the Environmental Defense Fund in a May 22 report, many near the low-producing wells that would be exempt under Pfluger’s bill.

The Environmental Defense Fund is a national environmental nonprofit headquartered in Washington, D.C., with operations throughout the U.S. The fund often lobbies for environmental interests at the state level, including in New Mexico.

Nin Gu, the group’s regulatory manager focused on western states including New Mexico, argued that while marginal wells account for about 6% of oil wells in the U.S., they produce about half of the industry’s methane emissions.

Gu called on New Mexico lawmakers to enact tougher legislation to target methane emissions, increase air monitoring around oil and gas sites and require companies to take steps to prevent releases.

She said such measures were needed in response to an effort at the federal level to reduce environmental regulations, which she said could disproportionately harm New Mexico, the nation’s No. 2 oil-producing state following Texas.

“New legislation to exempt low-producing wells would have damaging, long-term consequences for New Mexico communities already bearing the heaviest burden of oil and gas pollution,” Gu said.

Is New Mexico doing enough?

The New Mexico Environment Department in 2022 did enact regulations targeting emissions of chemicals from oil and gas facilities known to create ground-level ozone, or “smog,” by adding requirements for electric instead of gas-driven pumps and increased monitoring.

That followed a rule adopted in 2021 by the Energy, Mineral and Natural Resources Department requiring that operators capture 98% of produced gas, including methane, by 2026.

And in April, the Environmental Improvement Board, the environment department’s governing body, enacted revised air pollution fees charged to oil and gas operators, raising the fee from $165 per ton of federally defined “hazardous air pollutants” to $258 per ton more than allowable under state requirements for each pollutant.

“The Environmental Protection Agency has defined 188 hazardous air pollutants emitted during industrial activities – most of them chemicals such as benzene, which is often created during oil and gas production.

Larry Behrens, New Mexico-based spokesperson for oil and gas advocacy group Power the Future, said the state’s recent fee increase was part of a pattern by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration of placing overly burdensome rules on industry.

“This action is just the latest example of the Lujan Grisham administration never meeting a fee increase they didn’t like and once again, working families will be stuck holding the bill,” Behrens said. “This move has nothing to do with clean air, it’s really about a pattern of higher costs, less accountability, and bureaucrats raising fees New Mexicans never wanted.”

But Gu said the state still needed tougher rules, specifically to curb the emission of methane, the most potent greenhouse gas emitted during oil and gas production, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

“This proposed federal exemption for low-producing wells makes it even more urgent that New Mexico move forward this year under state and federal authority to adopt strong methane standards and improve existing state protections against oil and gas emissions,” Gu said.

Pfluger countered environmental concerns by arguing that the exemptions for low-producing wells were needed to support small businesses and operators of marginal wells, which he said were critical to the U.S. energy industry.

“Through targeted, common sense reforms to the Clean Air Act, this bill will help keep small producers in business, protect American jobs, and preserve the stable domestic energy supply our economy depends on,” he said.

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

Paul Gessing: Report on economic development incentives incomplete

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Paul Gessing: Report on economic development incentives incomplete

Paul J. Gessing

Recently the Legislative Finance Committee produced a report in which (to summarize the findings) they made the case that New Mexico “spends” over half-a-billion-dollars on tax breaks that generated little economic return for New Mexico. The report had many important findings that should certainly influence the way our Legislature and next governor look at economic development, but there are also some issues with the report that need to be addressed and even corrected.

The problems start with its opening line “In FY25, New Mexico spent $520 million on 24 economic development tax expenditures.” Simply put, most tax incentives are NOT spending. Rather they are reductions or the elimination of taxes that might otherwise be collected but aren’t. Things like the high wage jobs tax credit and jet fuel deduction, both of which are mentioned in the report, may or may not be good policy, but they aren’t spending.

Film subsidies and LEDA (Local Economic Development Act), on the other hand, ARE spending. Why are these to be treated differently? Simply put, exempting a specific business activity from taxation (say a gross receipts tax credit) leaves numerous other taxes to be paid (income, property, etc.). Funds are not required from the state treasury, and the business still generates revenue for state and local government.

In the case of New Mexico’s film subsidy which pays Hollywood up to 40% of the cost of filming here, those are payments from New Mexico’s treasury to private businesses. Other businesses and people must generate enough money for the state to then hand it over to the film company.

The LFC has criticized (rightly) film subsidies for their poor rate of return. As a starting point both the Legislature and the LFC should distinguish between tax credits or exemptions and outright spending (and work to eliminate the latter).

What about those tax credits? It’s not that Rio Grande Foundation is a cheerleader for them. We agree with the LFC in general insofar as they are economically inefficient and a generally poor way for New Mexico to attract businesses and boost economic growth.

Rather than narrowly targeted incentives, the Legislature and next Gov. should focus on broad-based tax reforms like transforming the GRT into more of a sales tax. The Legislature should also consider phasing out the state’s personal and corporate income taxes over time. Those steps alone would lead New Mexico to far greater growth than the state has seen.

Another point of contention in the LFC report that needs to be clarified is the seeming assertion that tax incentives should “pay for themselves” or not reduce government revenue. That is simply not realistic. Nearly all tax cuts or credits result in a short-term reduction in government tax revenues.

But New Mexico remains awash in revenue from the oil and gas industry. Policymakers have greatly increased general fund spending by 75% during Lujan Grisham’s time in office. They have also poured money into the State’s permanent funds which are now valued at more than $70 billion.

Broad based tax reform along with a few narrowly targeted tax credits can help New Mexico diversify and grow New Mexico’s economy. They can also diversify it away from overdependence on oil and gas.

These pro-growth tax policies, hopefully in concert with other economic reforms, will make New Mexico a more attractive destination for people and businesses. This will lead to economic growth and will help us keep more of our human capital at home rather than seeing it flee to other states as has happened for many years.

The LFC does a lot of great work. We understand the political difficulty of advocating for broad-based free market reforms when their budget relies on appropriations from a very “progressive” legislature. The Rio Grande Foundation does not face that problem and can highlight both the LFC’s work and shortcomings in their approach to better economic development policy.

Paul Gessing is president of the Rio Grande Foundation, an Albuquerque-based think tank focused on the importance of individual freedom, limited government and economic opportunity.

Environmental group files lawsuit over threatened Pecos River mussel

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Environmental group files lawsuit over threatened Pecos River mussel

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@currentargus.com

A mussel native to the waters of the Pecos River is the subject of a federal lawsuit filed by a national nonprofit.

The Texas hornshell mussel was listed in 2018 as endangered – the highest class of species protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.

An endangered listing means the species’ extinction is believed imminent, and requires the designation of critical habitat, lands where the species exists and could be repopulated.

The lower “threatened” class indicates an endangered listing will soon be warranted, requiring additional reporting and oversight by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for developers in known habitat areas.

The Washington, D.C. -based Center for Biological Diversity sued the Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday, May 18, contending the agency failed to designate critical habitat for the hornshell in the eight years since its listing.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia asked a judge to order the agency to make a critical habitat designation and blamed the extraction of groundwater associated with the oil and gas industry as a key threat to the mussel’s survival.

Habitat was proposed in 2021, in an eight-mile stretch of Pecos River tributary the Black River, which runs through southern Eddy County into far-west Texas.

But that was the last time the agency took any action to protect the mussel, the suit read, while its numbers dwindled to 15% of its historic range.

Graham Rex, attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, said the health of the hornshell could indicate the health of the river and all waterways that connect to it. Mussels feed by allowing the river water to flow through their bodies and are dependent on a strong current and high-water quality to survive.

“Without protection for the places they live, the Texas hornshell could soon vanish forever,” Rex said. “These mussels are living water filters that help keep the rivers of the Southwest clean, clear and healthy. If we lose the hornshell, we lose a vital guardian of the Rio Grande River system.”

Setting aside lands at the federal level for hornshell recovery could duplicate local efforts already ongoing in the Carlsbad area, argued the Carlsbad Irrigation District in public comments submitted when the habitat proposal was made.

The Irrigation District, which manages water supplies for about 500 members along the Pecos River in southern Eddy County, said agreements between local landowners and the federal government signed before the listing have already led to adequate conservation of the species.

Those arrangements are in the form of Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances, or CCAAs, which function as contracts between landowners and the government. CCAAs provide for local owners to take conservation activities and then be insulated from further restrictions should the species be listed.

The Carlsbad Irrigation District called for the Black River and another Pecos tributary, the Delaware River in the Carlsbad area, to be excluded from the designation as its members already held several agreements in those areas.

“The broad scope of the proposed rule for the hornshell habitat designation will lead to regulatory and jurisdictional uncertainty and duplication of efforts with the existing CCAAs,” read the Irrigation District’s comments. “The proposed designation of critical habitat for these areas will not support these efforts or provide additional conservation benefits beyond those provided by existing agreements.”

In southeast New Mexico, the conservation agreements are facilitated by the nonprofit Center for Excellence from its office on Main Street in Carlsbad.

The Center for Excellence assists industry groups and local landowners in complying with federal and state conservation regulations regarding endangered species designations and other environmental regulations.

About 685,000 acres in southeast New Mexico were enrolled in the agreements by landowners and the center for hornshell mussel conservation as of the first quarter of 2026, according to the group’s quarterly report.

“Through the CCAAs, conservation actions are tied directly to habitat conditions within the Black and Delaware river basins and reflect evolving science and management needs,” read the report. “This structure allows the program to adapt to changing hydrologic conditions, land use patterns, and new information regarding species ecology.”

And the area is critical to New Mexico’s oil and gas industry, argued the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association in its public comments on the habitat proposal. The trade association contended that tightening regulations could unduly burden New Mexico’s oil and gas industry, threatening the revenue it brings to the state.

“The (Fish and Wildlife Service) needs to ensure that it considers all economic impacts, and that it uses the best available science, when making its final critical habitat designation decision,” read the comments.

Gentry Doolittle gives Artesia baseball a grand-slam hire

JT Keith
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Gentry Doolittle gives Artesia baseball a grand-slam hire

JT Keith

Artesia found its man when athletic director Jeremy Maupin promoted assistant baseball coach Gentry Doolittle to head coach of the Bulldogs.

“Gentry Doolittle is a good family man with head coaching experience,” Maupin said. “He has been on the staff for the last several years.”

Doolittle has served as an assistant coach for the past two years. He steps into the lead role after Jackson Bickel resigned to become an assistant principal at Artesia High School.

A coach shaped by family and mentors

Doolittle, 30, is a 2014 graduate of Texico High School and comes from a coaching family. His father, Steve Doolittle, also served as an assistant coach there and spent 25 years coaching football, basketball and baseball.

“My dad never wanted to be a head coach,” Gentry Doolittle said. “That drove me to want to be a head coach because I knew how good a coach he was.”

Doolittle said his father was his mentor who taught him to be professional and to build strong relationships. He also pointed to former Texico basketball coach Scott Karger, who helped show him what it takes to be a head coach, and former University of New Mexico baseball coach Ray Birmingham as key influences.

Doolittle said he hoped to walk on at New Mexico, but when that did not work out, he attended Eastern New Mexico University and later Arizona Christian University in Glendale, Arizona.

He has stayed in touch with Birmingham over the years. Birmingham even spoke to one of Doolittle’s teams at Muleshoe during the 2023 season.

“I love the hire for Artesia,” Birmingham said. “It is a grand-slam hire. He is ready. He is everything a young man needs in a coach to help him become a good person and a champion.”

Birmingham said Doolittle’s character, work ethic and coachability are the qualities that can make Artesia a winner.

“Anytime he needs me, I am there, baby,” Birmingham said. “I love Artesia, the baseball coaches, the football coaches. Artesia is one of the last places where they do it right all the time.”

A new era for the Bulldogs

Doolittle and his wife, Bailey, have two children, Bryar, 3, and Nash, 6 months.

Doolittle takes over a roster that will be young in both experience and class. The Bulldogs are set to return three seniors next year: pitcher Lucas Atkins, Elijah Carrasco and Destin Pacheco.

The cupboard is not bare. Artesia returns several players who saw varsity action this season, including Jared Flores, who hit a home run this year, along with freshman pitchers Kolton Hamilton, Kai Greathouse, DeAngelo Catano, Kaden Chavarria and Logan Rodriguez.

On offense, the Bulldogs also bring back Hayden “Mo Hitting” Moser, who played well as a sophomore.

“With the group that we have coming back, we are going to build a culture and a program,” Doolittle said. “I like what I see from these guys and seeing them flourish and become their own players. I am blessed to be the coach of this team.”

JT Keith can be reached at 575-420-0061 or on X at @JTKEITH1.

David Grousnick: the healing power of Jesus Christ

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David Grousnick: the healing power of Jesus Christ

David Grousnick

First Christian Church

In Matthew 9:18-26, Jesus, the great physician, is on his way to make an emergency house call. There was a little girl who was in a grave state and her father implored Jesus to come. We are told that a large crowd of the curious followed Jesus. Some were hoping he would succeed, others that he would fail; most probably got caught up in the excitement of the parade.

In this crowd was one woman who was there for quite a different reason. We are told that for twelve years she had been suffering from a bleeding hemorrhage. Some modern scholars have theorized that this was a bleeding cancer. If this were the case, she was, of course, beyond all medical help.

Mark tells us that she has already been to all of the doctors and she had only gotten worse, and beside that, they had taken all her money.

Interestingly, Luke, who was a physician, tells this story as well, but he could not bring himself to tell that side of story. Call it professional pride but he is not about to say that she was taken for all her money by a long string of doctors.

How could she get the attention of Jesus?

Her problem was of a very personal nature and she did not want to discuss the issue publicly. According to Levitic Law, a woman who was bleeding was considered unclean and under law could touch no one.

There were many ancient taboos. She did not want to have to go through the disciples to see Jesus. She wanted the doctor and not the nurse.

She thus devised a plan.

Having heard the stories of Jesus’ power, she declared: If I but touch the hem of his garment I will be healed.”

We can smile at that and say: How innocent, how naive.

She reached out from the crowd and touched the garment of Jesus.

Immediately he stopped, bolted upright, and asked: “Who touched me?” The disciples were taken aback. Was this some kind of rhetorical question? Who touched you? Why master, look around, everyone is touching you. The New English version quotes their words as being: “What is the purpose in asking?”

Jesus replied with one of the most mysterious lines in the Bible.

He said: “I felt power flow from me.” For years I have been mesmerized with that verse.

What exactly happened in that moment? Did the lady drain his battery? It sounds as though he is almost describing a power surge. “I felt power flow from me.” Whatever happened, the important matter of course is that in the midst of the crowd, Christ felt the touch of a single person.

Don’t ever say that in the enormity of the cosmos God cannot care about my concerns and me. Not only does God care, but he also actually solicits our concerns “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you peace.”

Daughter, said Jesus (and I might add parenthetically at this point that that is the only recorded time in scripture that Jesus used that term) daughter, your faith has made you well.

And, we are told, she was immediately healed. The desperation of her faith thus became the channel that led to her healing. The story says there are two kinds of touch: the first being physical touch. The other is spiritual touch.

The United States most read columnist, Thomas Friedman, likes to tell a story he got from Johns Hopkins University’s foreign policy professor Michael Mandelbaum (in his book The Ideas That Conquered the World).

A young girl is eating dinner at a friend’s house. Her friend’s mother asks if she likes brussels sprouts. “Yes, of course,” the girl replied. “I like brussels sprouts.”

After dinner, though, the mother noticed that the brussels sprouts remained untouched. “I thought you liked brussels sprouts,” the mother asked.

“I do,” answered the girl. “But not enough to actually eat them.”

We Christians like a lot of things – peace, love, harmony. But not enough to actually do something about them.

Not only are there two kinds of touch but there are also two kinds of compassion we often feel when we see the needs of others around us in our daily living.

What kind of crimes have been committed in Artesia? Here is the latest from the Artesia Police Department

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What kind of crimes have been committed in Artesia? Here is the latest from the Artesia Police Department

May 16

LOUD

12:25 am – Officer dispatched to the 600 block of N 8th St. in reference to loud music.

1:01 am – Officer dispatched to the 900 block of S 1st St. in reference to a loud party.

Domestic

8:18 am – Officer dispatched to the 200 block of W Main St. in reference to physical domestic.

DISTURBANCE

10:45 am – Officer dispatched to the 100 block of West Cleveland Ave. in reference to a neighborly disturbance.

RECKLESS

12:32 pm – Officer dispatched to the 1900 block of W Runyan Ave. in reference to reckless vehicle.

ACCIDENT

1:17 pm – Officer dispatched to the 500 block of S 15th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

UNWANTED

3:06 pm- Officer dispatched to the 200 block of N 10th St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

339 pm – Officer dispatched to the 200 block of N 10th St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

Reckless

3:46 pm – Officer dispatched to W Washington Ave. and S 7th St. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

SUSPICIOUS

7:27 pm – Officer dispatched to West Bullock Ave. in S 11th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

RECKLESS

7:32 pm – Officer dispatched to West Dallas Ave. in S 4th St. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

DISTURBANCE

8:07 pm – Officer dispatched to the 500 block of West Hollis St. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

SUSPICIOUS

10:44 pm – Officer dispatched to the 1100 block of W Main St. in reference to a suspicious person.

10:46 pm – Officer dispatched to the 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to a suspicious trespass.

LOUD

11:20 pm – Officer dispatched to the 700 block of W. Texas Ave. in reference to a loud party.

May 17

ALARM

12:18 am – Officer dispatched to the 700 block of bellman drive in reference to a burglary alarm.

DISTURBANCE

12:39 am – Officer dispatched to the 600 block of N 8th St. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

LOUD

12:57 am – Officer dispatched to the 700 block of West TX Ave. in reference to allowed party.

SUSPICIOUS

139 am – Officer dispatched to the 1800 block of West Briscoe Ave. in reference to a suspicious prowler.

UNWANTED

2:15 am – Officer dispatched to the 1900 block of W Main St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

LOUD

4:59 am – Officer dispatched to the 700 block of West TX Ave. in reference to a loud party.

ALARM

6:33 am – Officer dispatched to the 2700 block of N 1st St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

ACCIDENT

11:23 am – officer dispatched to the 600 block of N 26th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

WELFARE

3:42 pm- officer dispatched to the 1400 block of colt Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

SUSPICIOUS

4:22 pm – officer dispatched to the 1100 block of N 1st St. in reference to a suspicious person.

INCORRIGIBLE

4:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to an incorrigible child.

DOMESTIC

8:11 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

8:29 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

WELFARE

9:24 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 13th ST. And Mulberry Dr. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DISTURBANCE

9:57 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

May 18

Arrest

Lena Segura arrested for contempt of court/failure to comply.

SUSPICIOUS

12:48 am – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

HARASSMENT

1:45 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of S. 2nd St. in reference to harassment.

DISTURBANCE

1:59 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of W. Runyan Ave. in reference disorderly disturbance.

SUSPICIOUS

5:52 am- Officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Kemp Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

ALARM

6:23 am – Officer dispatched to 2700 block of N. 1st St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

ACCIDENT

8:21 am – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of N.  1st St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SUSPICIOUS

9:20 am – Officer dispatched to Bowman Dr. and Gilchrist Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

ALARM

4:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 6th St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

WELFARE

4:24 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to the welfare of a child.

4:59 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S.  13th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DOMESTIC

6:53 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S. 20th St. in reference to physical domestic.

LOUD

8:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 13th St. in reference to loud music.

WELFARE

8:14 pm -Officer dispatched to 100 block of N. 26th St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

WANTED

10:12 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 1st St. in reference to a wanted subject.

WELFARE

11:15 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Menefee Ave. and S. 28th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

May 19

Arrest

Steven Leaton Jr. arrested for disorderly conduct.

SUSPICIOUS

3:07 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

BATTERY

3:09 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of Bullock Ct. in reference to battery.

 ARMED

10:31 am – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Main St. in reference to an armed subject.

ACCIDENT

11:20 am – Officer dispatched to W. Main St. and N. 13th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

DOMESTIC

1:3 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of S. 1st St. in reference to domestic.

ALARM

1:52 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of N. 13th St.  in reference to an alarm.

3:14 pm – Officer dispatched to 2500 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.

ACCIDENT

3:09 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 13th St. and W. Grand Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

DISTURBANCE

3:38 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 20th St. and W. Main Ave. in reference to disturbance.

WELFARE

3:39 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

7:07 pm – Officer dispatched to 1700 block of S. 26th St. in reference to the welfare of a child..

7:23 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of Champ Clark Dr. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

ALARM

9:45 pm – Officer dispatched to 2700 block of N. 1st St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

10:20 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Main St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

SHOTS FIRED

11:52 pm – Officer dispatched to 2200 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to shots fired in the area.

May 20

Jordan Coddington arrested for failure to appear.

Kayla Deanna Alvarado arrested for municipal failure to comply.

ALARM

1:51 am – Officer dispatched to 2700 block of N. 1st St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

SUSPICIOUS

6:07 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of N. 10th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

ACCIDENT

1:04 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 26th St. and W. Richey Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SUICIDAL

5:45 pm – Officer dispatched to 2900 Browning Ave. in reference to a suicidal subject.

SUSPICIOUS

9:59 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

11:59 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Runyan Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

May 21

Arrest

Cassandra Marie Jimenez arrested for possession, delivery, manufacturing of drugs, distribution of a controlled substance, synthetic narcotic.

Krystal Garrett arrested for failure to appear.

SUSPICIOUS

1:50 am – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

SHOTS FIRED

3:17 am – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to shots fired in the area.

BURGLARY

8:05 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of S. 1st St. in reference to structure burglary.

LOUD

8:15 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to loud music.

DISTURBANCE

8:27 am – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Gilchrist Ave. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

BURGLARY

8:57 am – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Main St. in reference to an auto burglary.

10:08 am – Officer dispatched to 400 block of N. Paris St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

WELFARE

11:26 am – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. JJ Clark Dr. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

11:54 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

VANDAL

12:24 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 20th St. in reference to a vandal.

WELFARE

1:53 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

SUSPICIOUS

4:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S. 20th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

DISTURBANCE

7:42 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to disturbance.

SHOTS FIRED

9:59 pm- Officer dispatched to Jaycee Park in reference to shots fired in the area.

May 22

Arrest

Amanda Dawn Price arrested for driving on a revoked license, DWI of intoxicating liquor or drugs, resisting, evading, obstructing an officer, battery upon a peace officer.

Angela Esquibel arrested for DWI of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Yuavanni Campasoucedo arrested for battery against a household member.

Mark Alexander Alamanza arrested for plates display, vehicle registration, no insurance, driving under the influence of drugs.

John David Guitierrez arrested for failure to pay fines, criminal trespass, burglary of residential attempted forcible entry.

Berlinda Ann George arrested for municipal failure to appear.

SUSPICIOUS

1:27 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Main St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

ACCIDENT

4:30 am – Officer dispatched to the 2300 block of W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

ALARM

10:29 am – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.

WELFARE

1:20 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

3:51 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of N. 6th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DISTURBANCE

7:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 400 block of JJ Clark Dr. in reference to disturbance.

SUSPICIOUS

8:04 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of N. 14th St. in reference to suspicious trespass.

SHOTS FIRED

8:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to shots fired in the area.

SUICIDAL

8:41 pm – Officer dispatched to 2400 block of Cerro Rd. in reference to a suicidal subject.

DOMESTIC

9:34 pm – Officer dispatched to 2500 block of W. Mann Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

10:05 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 6th St. in reference to physical domestic.

New Transfer Rule Could Open Pandora’s Box for New Mexico Schools

JT Keith
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New Transfer Rule Could Open Pandora’s Box for New Mexico Schools

 JT Keith

The New Mexico Activities Association Board of Directors took a major step Thursday toward reshaping high school athletics, voting to advance a proposal that would allow students one free transfer with immediate varsity eligibility.

But the rule is not in effect yet. It now goes to the state’s 156-member high schools, which must approve it by June 19 for it to become official.

If the schools vote yes, the change would take hold immediately — and could alter the landscape of New Mexico prep sports overnight.

A rule years in the making

NMAA Executive Director Dusty Young, who has led the association since 2024, said the transfer rule has been under review long before Thursday’s vote. The bylaws committee has spent the last 18 months dissecting it, and the Legislature has repeatedly pushed bills aimed at forcing changes.

“This is not anything that has happened recently about the transfer rule,” Young said. “This has been ongoing for several years, where our state, including our legislature, has tried to introduce bills that would change bylaws for the state association. It has been to the Capitol several times and is happening nationwide.”

What the proposal would do

Under the proposal, every student-athlete in New Mexico would receive one transfer without penalty — regardless of grade level — and would be immediately eligible at their new school. Home-school and charter-school statutes would still apply, as would recruitment and undue-influence rules.

Foreign students entering without parents and students transferring out of a specialized sports academy would not qualify for the free transfer.

A second or subsequent transfer would trigger a 365-day varsity ineligibility period, unless the student meets one of these nine exceptions:

  1. Bona fide residency change
  2. Deceased parents
  3. State custody
  4. First parent-to-parent move
  5. Emancipated or married student
  6. Boarding-school student
  7. Deployed parents
  8. Did not participate
  9. Discontinued program

Young said the proposal is designed to align New Mexico with national trends and give families more flexibility, but he acknowledged the uncertainty it brings.

“There are a lot of unknowns out there,” Young said. “There are concerns that have been brought up by coaches, athletic directors and superintendents. At the end of the day, I think it is our association’s responsibility to put something out there as another option, based on societal and nationwide trends, as well as some external factors.”

How it could play out

Take a hypothetical sophomore transferring from Roswell to Artesia. Under the proposal, that athlete would be immediately eligible — unless recruitment or other violations are found.

If that same athlete later decides to transfer again, say from Artesia to Carlsbad, they would have to sit out a calendar year unless they qualify under one of the nine exceptions. Custody changes, deployments, and discontinued programs would still offer pathways to eligibility.

The vote that decides everything

Now the decision shifts from the boardroom to the schools themselves.

All 156 NMAA member high schools have until June 19 at 4 p.m. to cast their votes. If a majority approves, the rule goes into effect immediately. If not, the current bylaw remains in place.

The NMAA will compile and release the results on Monday, June 22.

Local reaction

Artesia athletic director Jeremy Maupin said the proposal could fundamentally change the identity of high school sports in New Mexico.

“It is a rule out of fear,” Maupin said. “I can’t find any good from it for the state as a whole. If we always operate on fear of lawsuits, we would not have any rules. High school sports are about community and playing for the pride of the school.

“It is about developing an athlete in your program for multiple years. This changes that. All other transfer rules are still in place. This gives a kid the opportunity to be part of at least three schools over a four-year high school career. Who is that good for? Not the kid, not the coach, and not the school.”

JT Keith can be reached at 575-420-006 or on X@JTKEITH1.

Javier Sanchez: Deb Haaland runs on fear, possibly squashing dreams

News Staff
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Javier Sanchez: Deb Haaland runs on fear, possibly squashing dreams

Javier Sanchez

Many years ago, someone told you that you can’t go any higher. Your belief lid was placed on your head, and for lack of knowing any better and for lack of any real alternative, you chose to believe it. A belief lid is the mental ceiling you or someone places on your potential. You won’t get there. You can’t jump that far. College is too hard and you’ll never make it. From the very beginning we have compromised our dreams and possibilities one suggestion and good piece of advice at a time. What sounded like wise counsel or advice to play it safe has made for good shackles. Though they are invisible, these shackles prevent us from achieving our full potential.

We are bound by the consejos (words of wisdom) that our great-grandparents taught our grandparents who in turn passed it to our parents and now down to us. Our parents mean well. It is their job to keep us safe and teach us right from wrong. Don’t go too far. Stay close. So long as you have fun, that’s all that matters. Unfortunately, consejos also become belief lids that silently limit what we think we can achieve. The velocity with which society has chosen to value safety above all else seems to have accelerated in recent years.

We have accepted that coddling our children and even ourselves is preferable to the discomfort of growth. The state of weakness brought on by those willing to cap your initiative comes not only from family but those around you. Even those you trust. Words that sound like friendly advice from those in your inner circle – “have you considered all of the options?” or “what is your backup plan?” – inject doubt. Perhaps it is innocent, or perhaps they subconsciously don’t want you to grow. Or maybe they are giving you advice from a stunted point of view, one that cannot see the trajectory of your growth. Whatever the reason, you cannot allow their limited belief system to hinder your potential.

Once you see belief lids masquerading as advice, consejos or worse yet, political propaganda, you will never see the world through the same lens. Last week I received a postcard from Deb Haaland, Democrat hopeful for governor. She listed the things we need to be afraid of and how she will fight for New Mexicans. There’s nothing more dangerous than a politician putting a belief lid on your head and simultaneously telling you she is the only one who can save you. The mailer said we need to be protected from billionaires and a president who are rigging the system against us somehow conspiring to keep New Mexicans poor and disenfranchised.

The logical failure in her statement becomes evident when you look at our neighboring states. Presumably, they also are being attacked by the same conspirator billionaires and president. Why then can they achieve growth and prosperity that we somehow cannot? Arizona and Texas generate per capita incomes about 17% higher than New Mexico. Colorado bests our state by a whopping 48%. It’s not billionaires and the president conspiring to make New Mexican poorer. We’ve done that very well on our own, thank you very much. We have consistently ranked lowest among livability, health, education and income for years. Don’t blame the bogeymen billionaires who are supposedly trying to “rig the system” against New Mexicans. Keeping old policies and doubling down on progressive ideology will only make New Mexico progressively worse.

By placing belief lids on our potential as New Mexicans, Deb Haaland radically limits our potential and squashes our dreams.

We cannot lose our hopes one political promise at a time. What you know to be possible and what you know you can accomplish are beliefs that come from somewhere deep inside, not from political propaganda. In philosophy, it is known “a priori.” It means you know something before feelings and before sensations or experience. It is knowledge derived through reason alone, completely independent from empirical evidence. We must learn to trust that knowledge – not politicians wielding bogeyman problems only they can solve.

Javier Sanchez is the former Mayor of Espanola, an independent businessman, and El Rito Media investor and columnist.

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