UNM’s Spring 2021 graduation ceremony to be in-person outdoors

University Stadium, soon to be filled with UNM Spring 2021 graduates. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

By Bodie “Bo” Russell / NM News Port The University of New Mexico (UNM) decided it would hold a graduation ceremony for its 2021 class this May at University Stadium, allowing only graduating students and faculty to attend. “This is a discussion the leadership team at UNM has been having since the first day of… Continue reading UNM’s Spring 2021 graduation ceremony to be in-person outdoors

New Mexico schools promise safe return to classrooms

By Shane Farias / NM News Port As public schools gear up for student reentry for the first time in more than a year, staff and students are expected to follow the guidelines provided by the New Mexico Public Education Department.   “We expect all schools to offer full reentry no later than April 5,” NMPED… Continue reading New Mexico schools promise safe return to classrooms

How New Mexico schools returned to in-person learning

By Adam Evarts / NM News Port The state of New Mexico is sending kids back to school in-person and on a full-time basis beginning this week. For many parents, the move is long overdue, after spending more than a year of having their students learn from home under coronavirus safety restrictions.  Dr. Ryan Stewart,… Continue reading How New Mexico schools returned to in-person learning

Same COVID setting, but Lady Lobos prevail while men dwindle

Sports Analysis by Shane Farias / NM News Port Both the University of New Mexico men’s and women’s basketball seasons are in the books, and while both teams dealt with the same COVID-19 restrictions, their results were much different. The Lady Lobos strove to a 15-4 record, winning the Mountain West Conference regular-season title outright,… Continue reading Same COVID setting, but Lady Lobos prevail while men dwindle

Pine Ridge or Bust

Even as Dineh Benally’s illegal cannabis operations in the Navajo Nation are under ongoing investigation, he’s looking for more opportunities across Indian Country. By Wufei Yu and Ed Williams | Searchlight NM Last year, Dineh Benally, the former president of San Juan River Farm Board in the Navajo Nation, oversaw the transformation of 400 acres of cropland into… Continue reading Pine Ridge or Bust

Redrawing of NM’s districts looms

Current Map for Representative Districts

By Adam Evarts / NM News Port The 2020 Census data will be put to use later this year in a special legislative session that will determine a redrawing of legislative districts throughout New Mexico, as required by federal law every 10 years. The reason there is redistricting is to create districts that are even,… Continue reading Redrawing of NM’s districts looms

In Their Own Words:What children say about online learning and a school year lost to COVID

Anthony, Amelia and Adamina frolic on the trampoline at home. (Don J. Usner/Searchlight NM)

This the first in a series of articles that ask students in New Mexico how they feel about school during the pandemic. What has online learning been like? What do they think about returning to the classroom? Today we hear from a 9-year-old and a 5-year-old in Albuquerque. (The comments have been lightly edited.) By Alicia… Continue reading In Their Own Words:What children say about online learning and a school year lost to COVID

Mayor Keller names two to leadership positions at APD

By Ludella Awad / NM News Port / After a six month national search for a new police chief, Mayor Tim Keller has named two leadership positions at the Albuquerque Police Department with Harold Medina being selected as Chief of Police and Sylvester Stanley as Superintendent of Police Reform. “Each of these leaders will focus… Continue reading Mayor Keller names two to leadership positions at APD

NM combat sports gyms persist against COVID-19 lockdown

Ray Zamora was nearly forced to close the Warrior Boxing Club after 19 years due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Manuel Romero / NM News Port As New Mexico observes the one year anniversary of the statewide lockdown that began in mid-March 2020, many local businesses are looking to rebound, including those in the boxing and combat sports industry. The pandemic socked New Mexico’s boxing industry hard as events were cancelled and local gyms were… Continue reading NM combat sports gyms persist against COVID-19 lockdown