News - The Daily Lobo

News

New Mexico LGBTQ+ advocates prepare for Trump presidency

Lily Alexander | November 25

As former President Donald Trump prepares to take office, LGBTQ+ advocates in New Mexico are preparing for the administration’s potential impact on Queer and transgender rights in the state. New Mexico is considered one of the most protected states in the country for LGBTQ+ people, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico. The state’s Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Act was updated during the 2023 legislative session, extending its scope and expanding definitions.

News

ASUNM Senate elects Rutherford next president pro tempore

Elliott Wood | November 25

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico met not just to deliberate 10 appropriations and three bills — all of which eventually passed — but also to celebrate the semester and elect a new president pro tempore. In his opening address, Vice President Mutazz Jaber congratulated the senators on their individual and committee accomplishments. This semester, the Finance Committee awarded over $420,000 to student groups across UNM through appropriations, outgoing President Pro Tempore Hope Montoya said.

News

Cloned parents of endangered ferrets give birth to offspring

Arly Garcia | November 22

On Nov. 1, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the first-ever birth of black-footed ferrets to a cloned parent — marking the first time a cloned U.S. endangered species has produced offspring. The ferret babies — aka kits — named Red Cloud and Sibert were born to their cloned mother, Antonia, and their father, Urchin, earlier this year, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Cloning refers to processes used to create an identical genetic copy of a biological entity, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute.

News

Protesters gather and march after Trump’s reelection

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | November 18

On Nov. 11, community members and activists rallied in Downtown Albuquerque and marched against fascism following former president Donald Trump’s reelection. Fascism is a “far-right, authoritarian political philosophy that exalts nation and race above the individual,” according to The Associated Press. Fascist governments are associated with having a dictatorial leader, according to Merriam-Webster. In an interview with The New York Times, Trump’s former chief of staff called Trump a far-right authoritarian who falls into the general definition of fascist.

News

How does lobbying work at UNM?

Lily Alexander and Nate Bernard | November 18

The University of New Mexico, like many other educational institutions across the country, lobbies the local and federal government to advance its interests. Lobbying is the attempt to influence a legislative decision or an official action by a state official or state agency, board or commission, according to the New Mexico Office of the Secretary of State. UNM employs five lobbyists, including two contract lobbyists, who are hired to work on a certain issue for a certain period of time, according to Mike Puelle, chief government relations officer and lobbyist at UNM.

News

New Mexico experiences warmest October in more than a century

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | November 18

In October, New Mexico experienced an average temperature of 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit — the highest for the month since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration began keeping records in 1895. The high temperatures in the fall are expected to continue throughout the winter as well, according to a recent report from NOAA. Throughout the United States, above-average winter temperatures will likely occur across the east coast, the Gulf of Mexico and the Southwest, according to the report. Along with the warmer temperatures in these areas, NOAA predicts lower-than-average levels of precipitation over the next few months. Drought conditions are expected to persist in the southern part of New Mexico, according to the report.

News

Community participates in same-day voter registration at UNM

Shin Thant Hlaing | November 12

After 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, a line of students and community members for same-day voter registration voting extended through about half of the Student Union Building’s lower level. The line of voters extended from Louie’s Lounge to the Lobo Food Pantry. Earlier in the evening, the moving line went as far back as the entrance of the Southwest Film Center. Some voters waited in line for up to four hours. This is the first year that same-day voter registration on Election Day was made available in New Mexico, according to the Bernalillo County Clerk website.

News

Winter storm leaves thousands of New Mexicans without power, trees damaged

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | November 11

On Thursday, Nov. 7, a winter storm caused 50,000 people to lose power throughout the northern half of New Mexico. Impacted areas included Albuquerque, Valencia County, Santa Fe County and Sandoval County, according to Public Service Company of New Mexico spokesperson Jeff Buell. The University of New Mexico and Albuquerque Public Schools were closed on Nov. 7 due to the snow. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared two statewide emergecies Nov. 7, providing $1.5 million to state agencies that were responding to the impacts of the storm, according to a press release.

News

From ‘concrete pond’ to ‘center of peace’: Students react to Duck Pond renovation

Shin Thant Hlaing | November 11

The University of New Mexico Duck Pond is scheduled for renovations from Nov. 6 until late spring 2025. Originally named University Pond, the Duck Pond was previously an artificial structure built over the area of a parking lot that lacked surrounding foliage. University Pond was perceived as an obtrusive, tacky structure, until the introduction of ducks made it an “instant hit” among students, according to UNM Campus History. The Daily Lobo called the pond the “Concrete Pond” in an article that ran on Oct. 8, 1975. Today’s Duck Pond, as UNM Over the Years put it, is “almost never devoid of student life.”

News

ASUNM denies Lawbook amendment

Elliott Wood | November 11

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico passed 10 appropriations and one bill after ultimately denying a bill that would have, in part, created a new role in ASUNM. Bill 12F would have amended the ASUNM Lawbook to create a position for a student advocate who would have represented any student acting as a defendant in an ASUNM case. The bill also would have allowed for more extensive questioning of witnesses in court procedures.

News

Students react to Trump's election

Elizabeth Bolke and LaKya Brents | November 11

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, former President Donald Trump was reelected as president of the United States. Students at the University of New Mexico met the news with mixed reactions. Freshman Arykah Melton and chairperson of student organization Powerful Movement of Educated Sistas, said she is saddened and worried by the election results. She said before the election, she believed Vice President Kamala Harris would win and become the first president who is a woman of color. “There wasn’t a doubt in my mind until I started watching the polls,” Melton said.

News

Students evacuate from Mitchell Hall after skateboard catches on fire

Lauren Lifke | November 7

At about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, University of New Mexico students evacuated from Mitchell Hall after an electric skateboard inside the building caught on fire. It is unclear who owned the skateboard or how the fire started, according to UNM Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Cinnamon Blair. Classes will not be held in Mitchell Hall until at least Thursday, Nov. 7 while officials make sure the area is safe, she said. UNM was closed Nov. 7 due to weather.

News

New Mexico Election Day recap

Lily Alexander , Addison Fulton , Nate Bernard and Paloma Chapa | November 6

Former President Donald Trump won the presidential election on Wednesday, Nov. 6, after winning enough electoral college votes. Vice President Kamala Harris won New Mexico by about 50,000 votes, according to The Associated Press. Republicans also took control of the United States Senate. Control of the U.S. House of Representatives had not been called by 8 a.m. Wednesday. Here’s how the U.S. Senate and congressional races went in New Mexico.

News

New Mexicans vote to pass all bonds on ballot

Maria Fernandez | November 6

Along with the presidential and congressional races on Tuesday’s ballots, New Mexicans had the chance to vote for bonds. The results are as follows, according to the New York Times: Bond question one, which would issue $30.75 million to upgrade facilities for senior citizens, had a 70% vote in favor as of 3 a.m. Wednesday morning.

News

What issues do our readers care about the most this election season?

Lauren Lifke | November 5

In August, the Daily Lobo partnered with other newsrooms throughout the state to create a survey that asked readers which issues they care about the most this election season. There were 27 responses to the Daily Lobo survey. Participants were given the option to rank the top three most important issues to them during the upcoming election. Out of the 22 options, the “economy/cost of living” category was deemed most important based on a ranked-choice analysis. The second most important issue to voters was democracy. Climate change was third, followed closely by abortion, international policy, health care and LGBTQ+ rights.

News

Albuquerque City Council moves forward with AI policy implementation

Addison Fulton | November 4

On Oct. 21, the Albuquerque City Council voted on a resolution to establish a working group designed to develop an artificial intelligence policy for the City of Albuquerque. Resolution R-24-81 allocates $50,000 to supporting the creation of an Artificial Intelligence Policy Working Group, which will go toward addressing an AI policy for the City. This includes creating a “prioritization matrix” — identifying potential uses and misuses of AI, according to the resolution. The group will also be charged with creating clear and universally understood definitions of “key terms related to AI development and implementation.”

News

UNM researchers make discovery about human sleep using fly brains

Arly Garcia | November 4

Last month, a research team led by University of New Mexico professor Mubarak Hussain Syed uncovered a link between neural stem cell development and adult sleep behaviors. Using research from fly brains, researchers found evidence to support the idea that sleep problems in humans are rooted in adolescent development. “We wanted to know what makes sleep neurons ‘sleep-promoting neurons,’” Syed said. Stem cells are unique because they can self-replicate and differentiate into different types of cells. Neural stem cells are crucial to understanding the neural circuits of the brain, according to the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center.

News

Students respond to McDonald’s E. coli outbreak

Rodney Prunty | November 4

As of Wednesday, Oct. 30, 90 people across 13 states, including New Mexico, have gotten sick with E. coli after eating food containing onions from McDonald’s, according to the Associated Press. The New Mexico Department of Health released a public health alert declaring the intent to investigate the situation after identifying five cases, including one hospitalization, in Bernalillo County. There are no current additional suspected cases in the state, David Morgan, New Mexico Department of Health public information officer, wrote in an email to the Daily Lobo.

News

Protesters march against Trump's Albuquerque visit

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | November 4

On Thursday, Oct. 31, protesters marched at CSI Aviation in Albuquerque, where former President Donald Trump was making a campaign stop. The protest was organized by the Albuquerque Party for Socialism and Liberation in rejection of Trump’s visit to New Mexico. It focused on criticizing Trump’s stance on immigration, uplifting the working class and ending the war in Gaza. The group of about 40 protesters marched down Clark Carr Road toward where Trump was speaking, until a line of Albuquerque Police Department officers blocked off the road. Protesters chanted and rallied there before marching back.

News

Duck Pond to see renovations; fish, turtles and ducks to be relocated

Shin Thant Hlaing | November 4

The University of New Mexico Duck Pond is scheduled to undergo a renovation that will begin in mid-November and improve aging infrastructure, water quality, safety, accessibility and maintenance demands. The revitalization project will not change the shape or character of the Duck Pond, according to UNM Facilities Design and Construction. The renovation is expected to improve the circulation of oxygen using a new fountain, according to a statement by UNM Institutional Support Services to the Daily Lobo. The pond will be made deeper to reduce sunlight penetration, water temperature and algal growth.