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Wildfire season begins in New Mexico

Maria Fernandez | June 9

Since April, New Mexico has been experiencing a wildfire season with nearly half the state listed in extreme drought intensity or higher, according to a June 3 U.S. Drought Monitor map. Drought symptoms have intensified across southwest New Mexico with fire activity increasing in late May, according to a national wildfire report released by the National Interagency Fire Center on June 1. Due to very dry fuel conditions in the shrubs and trees as well as above-average grass loading, the potential for significant fires is expected to be above normal across southwest and south central New Mexico in June, according to the report.

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Holloway leaves provost position

Elliott Wood | June 6

James Paul Holloway, previously theUniversity of New Mexico’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, was selected by the University of Toledo as its new president on May 22, according to an announcement from President Garnett Stokes. He’s set to begin his duties in the position on July 15. Holloway had been in the role of provost since 2019 after he was selected to replace the previous provost, Chaouki Abdallah, after Abdallah left to lead Georgia Tech’s research program the year prior.

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UNM increases student fees to strengthen Lobo Athletics

Shin Thant Hlaing | June 2

On May 20, the University of New Mexico Board of Regents approved a $45 increase in student fees per semester next year and an additional $60, totaling $105 per semester for undergraduates in two years, to fund UNM Athletics for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years. The fee increase is expected to address the athletics funding gaps between UNM and peer universities in the Mountain West Conference, according to a Board of Regents meeting summary document.

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UNM cybersecurity team responds to Western New Mexico hacking

Maria Fernandez | May 19

On April 13, Western New Mexico University's website and digital system were cyberattacked, leading to a two-week disruption in web-based services, including Canvas, the WNMU website, and the University's email system. In the following weeks, news sources including Searchlight New Mexico and Source New Mexico began reporting that a group of foreign hackers, who identified themselves as “Qilin” in messages displayed on University computers, had taken WNMU’s web services hostage, crippling the University’s ability to process payroll, internet access on campus and jeopardizing sensitive employee information.

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NM public media risks losing millions in federal funding following executive order

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | May 12

On May 1, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a publicly funded nonprofit that supports public broadcasting, to cease federal funding for National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service due to the networks not presenting a “fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens,” the order reads. The CPB distributes taxpayer money to member stations of PBS and NPR, according to its website. This includes Albuquerque-based PBS member station KNME, as well as NPR affiliate KUNM.

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UNM post-docs forewarn threats to research at Stand Up for Science event

Danielle Prokop | May 12

On the last day of classes for the spring semester, organizers for the New Mexico Stand Up for Science tabled at the University of New Mexico, asking more students to join efforts to protest White House efforts to dismantle funding mechanisms for science research. “The intent really is to make sure that people don’t lose steam throughout the summer,” said Nina Christie, a post-doctoral researcher studying substance use. The group is part of a national movement seeking an expansion of research science funding and reinstating research cuts under anti-diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

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Elizabeth Secor graduates with leadership and journalistic skills

Shin Thant Hlaing | May 12

Student journalist Elizabeth Secor has touched most bases when it comes to journalism as an undergraduate. A former multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo, a former editor for New Mexico News Port and a member of The New York Times Corp mentorship program, Secor is graduating this semester with a bachelor’s degree in journalism & mass communication and a minor in professional writing. Secor started writing for the Daily Lobo her freshman year and served as the multimedia editor from January to June 2023. “I’ve always enjoyed being able to write,” Secor said. “In college, unless you’re getting internships, it’s kind of hard to go find stories and be able to write for a publication.”

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Marcela Johnson cultivates community through journalism

Isaac Suarez Flint | May 12

Four years ago, Marcela Johnson walked into the newsroom of her hometown’s newspaper, The Silver City Daily Press, as a summer intern with little interest in journalism and an undeclared college major. Now, four years later, she is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism & mass communication with a distinction in Honors from the University of New Mexico. Johnson has spent three of the last four years at the Daily Lobo as a reporter, making her way up to the senior reporter position. Beyond the Daily Lobo, she has served as the editor-in-chief of Limina: UNM Nonfiction Review, an Honors Pathmaker mentor and as a member of the Association for Jotería, Arts, Activism and Scholarship (AJAAS). Within each of her commitments, Johnson has demonstrated her deep devotion to community.

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Outgoing Daily Lobo editor-in-chief holds power to account

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | May 12

After almost two years of reporting, Lily Alexander will hang up her Lobo News cap in exchange for a graduation cap as she retires from her position as editor-in-chief of the Daily Lobo. Alexander joined the paper in August 2023 as a freelance reporter, quickly got promoted to a beat reporter and then to news editor in November 2023 before being elected editor-in-chief and assuming the role in May 2024. She graduates this spring from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in journalism & mass communication to accompany her wealth of experience, collection of invaluable friendships and numerous awards won for her reporting.

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Lauren Lifke signs off

Nate Bernard | May 12

After three years chasing answers from University officials, searching through crime data and helping steer the Daily Lobo newsroom through an era of change, Daily Lobo Managing Editor Lauren Lifke is graduating with a bachelor's degree in journalism & mass communication and signing off. Known for her data-driven reporting, dark humor and fun little beverage in hand, Lifke leaves a legacy of accountability journalism and mentorship that helped reshape how student journalists cover the University of New Mexico. Lifke first joined the Daily Lobo her sophomore year with a piece for the 2023 satire issue — a fake article about celebrating Women’s history month by offering free hysterectomies in front of Chick-Fil-A at the UNM Student Union Building.

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PATS increases parking permit rates

Maria Fernandez | May 5

On Tuesday, April 29, University New Mexico Parking and Transportation Services held a virtual town hall to alert students and faculty about permit price increases and changes to parking lots as UNM moves forward with construction on two new facilities on campus. Motorized two-wheel vehicle passes, pay stations and ParkMobile costs will not increase. Student commuter and proximity parking permit costs will rise $12, student structure parking $27, and campus resident passes will cost $19.50 more.

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ASUNM senate passes climate, inclusion resolutions in final spring meeting

Elliott Wood | May 5

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico Senate passed two resolutions at its last meeting of the semester on Wednesday, April 30, aimed at addressing the effects of climate change in New Mexico and students and staff who are at risk, due to “shifting federal priorities” regarding inclusion and citizenship status, according to the resolution. Resolution 2S is a formal declaration from ASUNM urging UNM to declare a climate emergency. The resolution supports the creation of a UNM sustainability council, which resolution sponsor Sen. Jayce McCloud said is already in progress. In addition, the resolution reads that ASUNM advocates for implementing a Strategic Sustainability Plan that would lay out measurable goals for carbon neutrality, responsible investments and sustainable infrastructure on campus.

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UNM Hospital cuts 53 leadership positions amid proposed federal funding cuts

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | May 5

The University of New Mexico Hospital has cut 53 leadership positions due to financial challenges and preparation for federal funding changes, according to UNM Health System Communications Director Chris Ramirez. President Donald Trump is proposing to cut billions of dollars from the Department of Health and Human Services and millions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according to Reuters.

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United Graduate Workers bargain for undocumented workers’ rights, freedom of expression

Leila Chapa | May 2

The United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico are bargaining for wages and rights with UNM. UGW’s bargaining priorities include higher wages, health insurance, tuition coverage, free parking, greater benefits, international and undocumented workers’ rights and protections and maintaining academic freedom and freedom of expression, according to a UGW petition. UGW is in the process of collective bargaining so that graduate workers from all departments university-wide will receive the benefits if they get the bargain, UGW steward Noah Mertz said.

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The founding of the Daily Lobo, the University of New Mexico’s student newspaper

Makayla Grijalva | April 28

The student-run newspaper has been a near constant presence in the history of the University of New Mexico. The New Mexico Daily Lobo serves as a resource to students and carries more than 125-years of University history within its many pages, names, and iterations. The newspaper’s humble beginnings started in 1895 when The Cactus, a student-run paper, began to circulate on the UNM campus. However, it didn’t last more than a school year and only released a few issues.

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Archbishop of Santa Fe reflects on the life of Pope Francis

Maria Fernandez | April 28

On April 21, Pope Francis died at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican. In an interview with the Daily Lobo, Archbishop John C. Wester described the Pope as a humble, kind and gentle man who put people at ease. “I think Pope Francis brought the virtue of compassion and mercy to the forefront of his ministry,” Wester said. “I think people picked up on that: Catholics and non-Catholics alike, worldwide and in New Mexico. He was a parish priest, and he looked upon the world and the whole Catholic Church as his parish.” Francis’ motto throughout his papacy was “A merciful God has called me,” which was a message he lived by, Wester said.

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Former Daily Lobo photographer recounts Occupy Wall Street movement coverage

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | April 28

When students and community members established the 25-day occupation of Yale Park at the University of New Mexico during the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement, it was all hands on deck for Daily Lobo journalists. The Occupy Wall Street movement was a protest against economic inequality and corporate corruption, during which protesters occupied a park in the New York Financial District, according to Britannica. This inspired similar occupations across the country. The protest in Albuquerque, which took place at UNM, was called (un)Occupy to honor Indigenous people.

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War, fraud and golf: New Mexico journalist recounts the Daily Lobo in the 2000s

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 28

At the Daily Lobo in the early 2000s, Jeff Proctor cut his teeth covering campus protests against the Iraq War, uncovering billing fraud at the University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Center, and chasing stories on the golf course — all of which helped him launch his career into investigative journalism. Proctor was the assistant news editor for the Daily Lobo over the 2002-03 school year. He later worked for the Albuquerque Journal, the Santa Fe Reporter, New Mexico In Depth, KRQE and is currently the executive producer of New Mexico PBS.

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Daily Lobo alum reflects on his 2020 protest coverage

Maria Fernandez | April 28

During his two years at the Daily Lobo starting in early 2020, Liam DeBonis worked first as a reporter before becoming photo editor, and later, copy editor. His coverage included the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests held in Albuquerque, which DeBonis said helped him discover his voice as a journalist and photographer. “I think one of the most important things that we covered during my time was the climax of the national anger and rage and conflict,” DeBonis said. “I was out in the street pretty much every day, every event, every protest — whether it was anti-lockdown, pro BLM, or counter BLM. Whatever the case, I was out there with my team, and we were trying to cover it the best we could.”

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Limón Romero’s journey from Daily Lobo journalist to LA Times sports editor

Elliott Wood | April 28

Iliana Limón Romero is the assistant managing editor for sports at the Los Angeles Times, but before her job at the sixth-most circulated paper in the nation, Limón Romero wore more hats at the Daily Lobo than many people have in their closet at home. “I was a reporter, I was an assistant news editor, I was managing editor,” Limón Romero said — on top of being a photographer and, during her final year at the Lobo, the editor-in-chief. “I did some copy editing shifts and some design shifts, and tried my hand at a lot of things.” From 1998 to 2002, Limón Romero studied journalism and Spanish at the University of New Mexico after growing up in El Paso, Texas. She joined the Daily Lobo her freshman year.