Adrian Hedden

Former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was the apparent winner of New Mexico’s gubernatorial race, defeating Republican Gregg Hull 57% to 43%, according to unofficial results. Haaland pledged to expand health care and affordable housing, support early childhood education, strengthen environmental protections and oppose data-center construction, succeeding term-limited Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

House Speaker Mike Johnson joined Republican congressional candidate Greg Cunningham in Carlsbad days before the election for New Mexico’s 2nd District. Johnson called the race nationally significant and criticized Democratic incumbent Gabe Vasquez over oil and gas and law enforcement. Vasquez’s campaign accused Cunningham of answering to Donald Trump’s MAGA movement rather than New Mexicans.

Southeast New Mexico’s Eddy and Lea counties produce nearly 80% of oil pumped from U.S. public lands, making the Bureau of Land Management’s Carlsbad office the nation’s busiest. At Carlsbad’s energy summit, speakers highlighted faster permitting, billions in lease revenue, policy changes reducing industry burdens, and oil and gas’s major economic impact statewide.

A proposed Bureau of Land Management resource plan would make 97% of federal lands in Eddy and Lea counties available for oil and gas development, reducing restrictions on surface use for some parcels. Supporters say the plan provides energy and regulatory certainty, while environmental groups warn of thousands of wells, heavy water use, spills and greenhouse gas pollution.

El Rito Media’s five New Mexico newspapers won 43 awards at the New Mexico Press Association’s annual banquet in Albuquerque. The Ruidoso News led with 18 honors, followed by the Carlsbad Current-Argus with 10, Rio Grande Sun with seven and Alamogordo News with four. Artesia Daily Press also earned top honors, underscoring the company’s strength in local and digital journalism.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich is demanding an independent investigation after a hoist at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant fell 1,600 feet when its rope snapped during testing. No one was injured, but the incident renewed concerns about WIPP’s aging hoist infrastructure. Heinrich urged the Energy Department to involve workers and address documented safety issues.

Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez campaigned across conservative southeastern New Mexico seeking a third term in Congress, emphasizing stronger safety oversight at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and more balanced management of public lands beyond oil and gas. He criticized Republican challenger Greg Cunningham as a Trump loyalist, while Cunningham accused Vasquez of undermining public safety and police support.

The new rule, which was devised after months of public input and a two-day hearing on May 27 and 28, took effect Sept. 28. It comes as State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard serves out her final months at the helm of the land office.

The announcement came as the federal government and the state of New Mexico are considering a modification to WIPP’s operations permit that would require the facility to increase disposal of waste from within the state, specifically from Los Alamos.

During her visit Haaland touched on several topics such as immigration, her support of a data center moratorium in New Mexico, healthcare and education.

The suit, filed Sept. 8 in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico by Santa Fe-based environmental group WildEarth Guardians, called on the federal government to act and list the species as threatened, offering federal protections to prevent its extinction.

This marks the second year the event has been held in Roswell and those in attendance can expect pilots battling it out on the high-speed course and a daily airshow, along with hands-on aviation, science and technology activities.