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New Mexico's 1st Congressional District: Steve Jones

Lily Alexander and Nate Bernard | October 21

Steve Jones (R) is running for election against incumbent Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D) to represent New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District — which encapsulates central New Mexico, including parts of Bernalillo County. Born in Cisco, Texas, Jones is an army veteran with experience as a certified public accountant and a chief financial officer in the energy industry. In 2020, he ran as an Independent for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District and lost. Here’s where he stands on key issues.

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I’m OpenAI and I approve this message

Addison Fulton and Elijah Ritch | October 21

On Aug. 18, former President Donald Trump posted a series of images to Truth Social, one of which was real. The rest were AI-generated images of Taylor Swift fans endorsing and supporting him. The post was captioned, “I accept!” This is not the first instance of AI being used to distort information regarding the election. Also on Aug. 18, Trump's official X account posted an AI-generated image of a Kamala Harris rally decorated with communist symbols and regalia. The post has over 81 million views.

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New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District: Melanie Stansbury

Lily Alexander and Nate Bernard | October 21

Incumbent Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D) is running for reelection against Steve Jones (R) to represent New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District — which encapsulates central New Mexico, including parts of Bernalillo County. Born in Farmington, Stansbury was a New Mexico state representative from 2019-21 until she ran for her current position. Here’s where she stands on key issues.

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Bond question one: Senior Citizens Facilities

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 21

The Senior Citizens Facilities Bond Issue on the New Mexico ballot will issue $30.75 million to upgrade facilities for senior citizens if it passes. Funds would go to the New Mexico Aging & Long-Term Services Department to upgrade senior citizen facilities across the state. Upgrades would include meals, building renovations, equipment installation and transportation services, according to House Bill 308.

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Bond question three: Public Education

Maria Fernandez | October 21

The Public Education Bond Issue on the New Mexico ballot will issue $230 million in bonds to fund higher education if it passes. The funds would be dispersed among New Mexico’s public higher education colleges, special schools and tribal schools. Institutions — including the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, Eastern New Mexico University, San Juan College and Navajo Technical University — will split the funding if the bond is approved by voters, according to House Bill 308.

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Bond question four: Public Safety Radio Communications Systems

Shin Thant Hlaing | October 21

The Public Safety Radio Communications Systems Bond Issue on the New Mexico ballot would issue $10 million to improve radio communication systems for first responders in the state if it passes. This type of radio infrastructure is used by first responders — such as police and medical professionals — to stay in contact with people in need of their services and with each other, according to Advanced Network Services. The funds would aim to “plan, design, purchase, install and implement related infrastructure to stabilize and modernize public safety radio communications systems statewide,” according to House Bill 308.

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Bond question two: Public Libraries

Addison Fulton and Elijah Ritch | October 21

The Public Libraries Bond Issue on the New Mexico ballot would issue $19,305,000 in bonds to fund public libraries if it passes. Bond question two would provide respective departments $6 million for non-tribal public libraries, $1 million for tribal libraries, $6 million for academic libraries and $6 million for public school libraries, according to House Bill 308. Rep. Derrick Lente (D) sponsored the bill in the New Mexico House of Representatives.

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United States Senate: Martin Heinrich

Lily Alexander and Nate Bernard | October 21

Incumbent Sen. Martin Heinrich (D) is running for reelection against Nella Domenici (R) to represent New Mexico in the United States Senate. Born in Fallon, Nevada, Heinrich has a background in engineering and has been in the Senate since 2013. Here’s where he stands on key issues.

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United States Senate: Nella Domenici

Lily Alexander and Nate Bernard | October 21

Nella Domenici (R) is running against incumbent Sen. Martin Heinrich to represent New Mexico in the United States Senate. Born in Albuquerque, Domenici is the daughter of former New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici. She served as chief financial officer for Bridgewater Associates — the world’s largest hedge fund, according to Forbes. Here’s where she stands on key issues.

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Treatment for opioid use disorder reduces reincarceration, researchers say

Arly Garcia | October 18

In 2005, Bernalillo County implemented a program that allowed people to get treatment for opioid use disorder while incarcerated. Researchers at the University of Mexico have since found evidence that the treatment reduces someone’s likelihood of returning to jail. Robert Agnew’s general strain theory of crime and delinquency suggests that when people experience excessive stress, they seek ways to cope with it, according to the journal “Criminology.” If people lack appropriate resources, they may turn to deviant behaviors as coping mechanisms. Edwin Sutherland’s differential association theory suggests that people learn criminal behavior from their social groups.

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Downtown sidewalk obstruction bill fails in City Council meeting

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 14

The Albuquerque City Council voted against a bill on Monday, Oct. 7 that would have banned obstructing sidewalks by sitting, laying or sleeping in certain areas of Downtown Albuquerque. Council bill O-24-42 aimed to benefit economic development in Downtown Albuquerque by restricting “visible homelessness” that could deter customers from local businesses, according to City Councilor Joaquín Baca. It would have imposed a $100 fine or community service for obstructing sidewalks. The bill also aimed to address vacant buildings. Baca, who sponsored the bill, was the only one to raise his hand when the Council voted on it; the bill failed 1-8.

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UNM senior pushes for new crosswalk along Central Avenue

Shin Thant Hlaing | October 14

A senior at the University of New Mexico is spearheading an initiative to get a crosswalk installed on Central Avenue and Buena Vista Drive to minimize risky pedestrian crossing. Jackie Davis is a geography major who regularly crossed at the intersection of Central Avenue and Buena Vista Drive during her junior year. She saw that she wasn’t the only one crossing at the intersection, which doesn’t currently have a crosswalk. The two closest crosswalks are at Yale Boulevard to the east and University Boulevard to the west.

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UNM students hold walkout for Palestine

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 9

On Monday, Oct. 7, protesters at the University of New Mexico rallied and marched from campus to Nob Hill in support of Palestine. Students, faculty members and community members rallied and marched from the Student Union Building to the Q Station space technology hub in Nob Hill. They marched down — and blocked one side of — Central Avenue, carrying handmade signs and chanting “out of your classes and into the streets” and “UNM, your hands are red.” The walkout was sponsored by 16 UNM student organizations, according to UNM Students for Justice in Palestine.

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REVIEW: Logical fallacies in the vice presidential debate

Lauren Lifke | October 8

On Tuesday, Oct. 1, Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz met in New York for their first and only vice presidential debate. Compared to the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, the candidates used far fewer obvious logical fallacies — “reasoning that comes to a conclusion without the evidence to support it,” according to Merriam-Webster. Still, Vance and Walz each used their fair share of fallacies this week.

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Pro-Palestine protests recognize one year of war in Gaza

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 7

On Oct. 4 and 5, two separate pro-Palestine protests took place in Downtown Albuquerque as the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel neared. University of New Mexico students, faculty and alums were among those protesting. Friday, Oct. 4 On Friday, Oct 4, pro-Palestine protesters gathered and marched from Civic Plaza to Robinson Park, where members of the group formed a blockade at the roundabout on Eighth Street and Central Avenue. The blockade lasted about five hours.

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Hurricane Helene signals a rocky future as global temperatures rise

Maria Fernandez | October 7

With NASA’s estimated 140 mile per hour winds and the reported 8-foot wall of water crashing ashore in Florida, Hurricane Helene was projected to be the strongest the state had seen since 1851. After it unexpectedly encroached onto Appalachia, conversations sparked about regions that used to be deemed climate “safe havens” — including New Mexico. By the time Helene hit the Big Bend region of Florida as a Category 4 storm, it wreaked havoc from the Gulf Coast all the way to North Carolina, flooding neighborhoods and damaging buildings, according to NBC. At least 227 people are dead as of Oct. 5, according to the Associated Press.

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UNM loses ‘freedom of speech’ lawsuit against conservative student organization

Lily Alexander and Nate Bernard | October 7

The University of New Mexico can no longer enforce its security fee policy for on-campus speech events after the judge made a decision in a First Amendment lawsuit filed by the student chapter of conservative group Turning Point USA. The University is not prohibited from enforcing security fees for non-speech events, like sports, according to the lawsuit. In the initial complaint, the Turning Point USA UNM chapter and the Leadership Institute alleged that UNM’s security fee and free speech policies were unconstitutional, in part citing the First Amendment. The complaint resulted from the security fees UNM imposed last year for conservative speaker Riley Gaines’ event on campus, according to the lawsuit.

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Campus crime: Sept. 16-29

Lauren Lifke | September 30

From Monday, Sept. 16 through Sunday, Sept. 29, there were 39 individual entries of crimes reported on or near the University of New Mexico campus that were entered into its daily crime log. There was also a criminal trespass citation issued at Marron Hall, where the Daily Lobo newsroom resides. The incident occurred on Sept. 29 and was not entered into the crime log as of the morning of Monday, Sept. 30.

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Lobo statue found covered in red paint and keffiyeh

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | September 30

On Sept. 13, the University of New Mexico Police Department discovered red paint had been poured on a Lobo statue near Hodgin Hall. The statue, which stands at the corner of University Boulevard and Central Avenue, was wrapped in a keffiyeh — a symbol of Palestinian identity and solidarity, according to Al Jazeera. In a statement to the Daily Lobo, UNMPD Public Information Officer Larry Bitsoih wrote that when a patrolling officer found the statue, the red paint that had been used was placed next to it. There is no information on who was involved and the case is considered closed, Bitsoih wrote.

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Suspect drops off gunshot wound victim at UNMH and flees

Lauren Lifke | September 30

On the early morning of Sept. 15, the University of New Mexico Police Department received a call from security at UNM Hospital about a man who had been dropped off from a truck at the emergency room with a gunshot wound to his head. The victim was later pronounced dead, according to the police report for the incident. The driver drove away after dropping the victim off. UNMH security told UNMPD that the truck had “appeared to be riddled with apparent bullet impacts,” according to the police report.