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New Mexico legislative session begins

The 2025 New Mexico legislative session begins Tuesday, Jan. 21 and ends March 22. This session marks New Mexico’s 57th legislative session. Legislative sessions occur in New Mexico annually. Sessions last 60 days in odd-numbered years and 30 days in even-numbered years. During legislative sessions, New Mexico lawmakers meet to discuss and rule on various proposed bills. In order for a bill to make it to the docket, it must be sponsored by a member of Congress, then referred to and discussed by a committee. Each piece of legislation is typically referred to two or three committees, according to the State Legislature handbook.

How the Trump presidency might affect UNM

In October 2023, President-elect Donald Trump announced he would close the Department of Education during his administration. It is unlikely that this idea will gain traction, according to NPR. The DOE provides funding for public schools and higher education. It also awards funding, such as federal Pell Grants, to undergraduate students with financial need, according to the DOE. Any defunding of the DOE could result in changes for New Mexican education through less federal funding and less oversight of educational systems, according to Bailey Rutherford, senate president pro tempore of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico.

Guild Cinema screens documentary on the science of reading

On Saturday, Jan. 18, Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema hosted a screening of the documentary “The Right to Read.” The event was presented by the May Center for Learning and the International Dyslexia Association-Southwest Branch. The proceeds went to benefit May Center students. The May Center, which is located in Santa Fe and led by Executive Director and co-founder Amy Miller, is an organization that is focused on empowering “students with learning differences to be successful, confident learners,” according to the mission statement on its website. The organization has multiple programs, including the May School, which serves students through 8th grade with learning differences like dyslexia, ADHD and language processing disorder.

Men’s Basketball: Lobos dismantle Broncos

The University of New Mexico men's basketball team was able to get back in the win column as they put on a show at The Pit against another conference opponent, the Boise State Broncos on Friday, Jan. 17. Coming off of a disappointing 71-70 loss to conference opponent San José State, the Lobos outplayed and outcoached the Broncos. The Lobos blew out Boise State 84-65. Throughout the first half, it was clear Boise State had no answer for the Lobos’ offense, and a big reason for that was guard Donovan Dent. Dent was everywhere on the floor — one moment making a flashy pass to a teammate, the next doing an impressive finish at the rim. Donovan Dent was just doing Donovan Dent things.

REVIEW: Ethel Cain confronts listeners with the grotesque on ‘Perverts’

On Jan. 8, alternative musician Ethel Cain released her newest project, “Perverts.” This marks her first release since her 2022 debut album “Preacher’s Daughter,” which garnered Cain critical acclaim and a devoted cult following. Ethel Cain, aka Hayden Anhedönia, is also a character and the protagonist of much of the artist’s discography. Her work encompasses a wide range of genres and styles, from Springsteen-esque heartland rock to haunting, epic ballads. Cain frequently explores themes like generational trauma, religious indoctrination — particularly growing up Queer in an evangelical Christian community — and sexual violence. After the release of her debut album, Cain “wrote on Tumblr about the ‘irony epidemic’ that had turned her dead-serious lyrics about sex, death and the divine into meme fodder,” according to Stereogum.  

Sci-Fi and Sci-Fact exhibition explores how science fiction has shaped our world

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque is presenting the Sci-Fi & Sci-Fact exhibition until June. The exhibit “explores the ways that science fiction and scientific fact overlap and help create our modern world,” according to the museum’s website. The exhibit is on loan from the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, where it initially debuted in December 2023. The exhibit explores the relationship between science fiction, scientific inventions and the future via displays that include memorabilia and props from books, films and television shows. Information plaques on the walls throughout the exhibit provide additional context on how science fiction has shaped reality and opened “doors for tomorrow’s creators.”

OPINION: College football National Championship winner prediction

The College Football Playoffs will come to an exciting conclusion on Monday, Jan. 20, when the Ohio State Buckeyes face off against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for an all-or-nothing national championship. With Atlanta being painted shades of green and red from opposing fans, here are predictions for the potential winner of the National Championship.

OPINION: Bobbleheads of the week — NFL Wild card edition

Wild Card Weekend came to an exciting conclusion when six NFL teams advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs. However, with great success also comes disappointment, as the losing teams grappled with teammates whose bad performances crumbled a potential run at a Super Bowl. These players are favorably called bobbleheads. With a long road ahead for AFC and NFC contenders that advanced, here is a list of bobbleheads who helped buy their team a ticket to Cancun instead.

City Council passes resolution to prohibit overnight camping in public spaces

Last month, the Albuquerque City Council voted to pass ordinances O-24-56 and O-24-58, which prohibit camping in tents or any other structure intended for spending the night in parks and public spaces. During a city council meeting on Dec. 16, 2024, O-24-56 passed on a 6-3 vote and O-24-58 passed on a 5-4 vote. Some public commenters expressed concerns about how the ordinances would impact Albuquerque’s unhoused population. Both bills were sponsored by city councilor Renée Grout, who represents District 9. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller did not sign either bill but did not exercise his veto power, meaning both bills went into effect.

Outgoing regent pushes for neutral position on divestment from Israel

On Dec. 19, after public comment during the final University of New Mexico Board of Regents meeting of 2024, Robert Schwartz became the first regent to formally speak publicly about University divestment from Israel. Students, faculty members and community members in support of Palestine have been speaking about the topic at Regents meetings since February. The agenda for the Dec. 19 Regents meeting initially listed “Consideration of Administration Analysis of Recommendations Regarding Divestment from Israel and Certain Companies” as an action item, but it was later removed, according to an email from the Board of Regents’ office provided to the Daily Lobo. During the meeting, Schwartz said that the decision to remove divestment from the agenda was “cowardly,” and that UNM should take a neutral position regarding divestment.

OPINION: 2024-25 NFL playoff predictions and Super Bowl contenders

The NFL’s regular season ended Jan. 5, ushering in a new era of football. Below are Wild Card Weekend predictions and potential LIX Super Bowl contenders. NFC No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) vs. no. 7 Green Bay Packers (11-6) This will be a tight match-up, with both teams struggling with injuries: Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is coming off a concussion, and Packers QB Jordan Love injured his elbow playing against the Chicago Bears Jan. 5.

Comic, Jan. 13 2025

Comic, Jan. 13 2025

Native American Student Art Show highlights Indigenous youth creativity

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque is currently hosting the 44th Annual Native American Student Art Show. The art show features the works of Indigenous youth from kindergarten through 12th grade who attend schools all across New Mexico. The exhibition opened on Nov. 23 and can be seen through Feb. 6. This year, the show’s theme is “Water is life.” “For Native American youth in New Mexico, this year’s exhibition activates a responsive avenue to channel their understandings of the vitality and sustaining force of water into innovative and artistic expressions,” a placard in the exhibition room reads.

1920s-themed musical ensemble performs at Wheels Museum

On Saturday, Jan. 11, the Wheels Museum in the Albuquerque Rail Yards hosted a show by 3 On A Match Kabarett, a 1920s-themed musical duo comprised of lead singer Tina Panaro and pianist Brad Clement. The duo provided an immersive historical performance, embodying two performers in a German cabaret club around the 1920s. Both were dressed in era-appropriate costuming and the set was decorated with 1920s paraphernalia and red curtaining. The songs included only live vocals and piano accompaniments and were all roughly period-accurate lounge jazz songs in English, German and French.

Albuquerque’s art community comes together at Lost Cultures Tea Bar

On Tuesday, Jan. 7, Lost Cultures Tea Bar in Albuquerque hosted another Open Art Night: an evening occurrence from 6 p.m. through 10 p.m. every Tuesday. On these evenings, local art is combined with the social atmosphere of the tea bar. Open Art Night is a community-based art event. Anyone may stop by Lost Cultures Tea Bar and bring their own art projects from home or begin a new one. The tea bar website describes the event as a place to “connect and grow the local art scene over some pots of tea or non alcoholic beverages.”

100 years of Jimmy Carter

On Dec. 29, 2024, former President Jimmy Carter died in Plains, Georgia in the home that he shared with his wife Rosalynn Carter. During Carter’s 100 years of life, he impacted the United States with his political and nonprofit work. Carter was the 39th president of the U.S., serving from 1977-81. In 1979, Carter established the U.S. Department of Education with the purpose of strengthening the federal commitment to ensuring equal access to education, improving education quality and making federal education programs more accountable to the president, Congress and the public, according to the ED.

Men’s basketball: Lobos remain undefeated in conference play with win over Aztecs

Defense was the order of the day. Coming into the game on Saturday, Jan. 11, the San Diego State University Aztecs were ranked sixth nationally in defensive efficiency. Their defense did not disappoint, as they held the Lobos to 35.8% from the field and only 21.4% from beyond the arc. However, the Lobos’ defense was equally impressive. The Lobos came out with energy bolstered by the sold-out crowd of 15,428 fans, eventually winning the game 62-48. The Lobos ended the game with seven steals and nine turnovers, compared to San Diego's 14 turnovers. The 48 points scored by the Aztecs were their lowest of the season so far, according to ESPN.

Guild Cinema January preview

Here are a few of the exciting films that Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema will screen during the remainder of this month. Over the past 93 years, horror maverick Tod Browning’s 1932 classic “Freaks” has built a reputation as one of the most notorious films of all time. Set in a run-down traveling circus, the film follows a group of disabled carnival workers who must contend with abuse and exploitation from their employers, the ableism of their able-bodied coworkers, and the cruel jeers of circus attendees.

REVIEW: 1922 ‘Nosferatu’ out-vampires its remake

Perfect for a dark and stormy night with popcorn and wax vampire fangs — hopefully not at the same time — is the original 1922 “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror” directed by F. W. Murnau. The movie bests the 2024 remake “Nosferatu,” directed by Robert Eggers, in every way possible. It’s not even a contest, it’s a bloodbath. While some younger people might only recognize the original Count Orlok — the vampire known as Nosferatu — from the SpongeBob SquarePants episode “Graveyard Shift,” the 1922 Orlok is sure to change that SpongeBob smile to a shriek with his eerie and unsettling presence.