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ASUNM Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates: Karis Daskalos and Alana Baca

Elliott Wood | March 23

In the upcoming elections for president and vice president of ASUNM, Student Special Events Executive Director Karis Daskalos (ballot #1) and Governmental Affairs Executive Director Alana Baca (ballot #1) are vying for each position, respectively. Daskalos is vice president of the UNM Panhellenic Council and a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. Baca is an early alum of the Chi Omega sorority.

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ASUNM Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates: Hope Montoya and Owen Salinas

Addison Fulton | March 23

ASUNM Vice President Hope Montoya (ballot #2) is launching a campaign for ASUNM President and joining her ticket, running for Vice President, is ASUNM President Pro-Tempore Owen Salinas (ballot #3). Montoya said she has a three-pillar plan for their campaign: stronger for every Lobo, student life for every Lobo and a voice for every Lobo. She said stronger for every Lobo refers to expanding student support throughout campus, particularly around mental health, food insecurity and financial challenges. “(The second pillar) student life for every Lobo is about building a campus that works for students by expanding academic opportunities, improving essential campus systems, strengthening student safety and transportation,” Montoya said.

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ASUNM Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates: Bailey Rutherford and Zoe Baca

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | March 23

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico’s elections will take place from April 1, 9:00 a.m. to April 2, 5:00 p.m. There are three candidates for President, three candidates for Vice President and 11 candidates for ASUNM Senate. To view all the candidates and cast your ballot, go to vote.unm.edu ASUNM Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Bailey Rutherford is running for ASUNM President (ballot #3) alongside Office of Communications Director of Web Design Zoe Baca, running for ASUNM Vice President (ballot #2). One of the main topics of their campaign is resisting actions by President Donald Trump’s administration, specifically policies meant to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion, they said.

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Community voices opinions on Iran war

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | March 9

One week after the United States and Israel launched military strikes across Iran on Feb. 28, Albuquerque saw two separate rallies take place on Saturday, March 7, each shining a light on the contrast of perspectives among the community. One rally occurred on Girard Boulevard and Central Avenue at the University of New Mexico monogram where demonstrators, thankful for U.S. and Israeli intervention, called for an Iranian regime change. Another rally took place at Robinson Park, where anti-war protesters rallied against the intervention.

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Lawsuit alleges UNM failed to maintain public records

Penelope Loyd Sment | March 9

Thomas Newsome, a retired journalist and University of New Mexico alum, is suing the University alleging that they’ve failed to meet their obligation to document their activities involving public business resulting in the denial or obstruction of Newsome’s right to access these records. The lawsuit, which was filed on Feb. 26, claims UNM violated the Inspection of Public Records Act. The lawsuit alleges a pattern of poor records management on the part of UNM in denying the public access to records they have a legal right to see. Examples of poor management outlined include failure to locate documents, identify which records exist and if requested records exist at all.

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UNM considering increasing paid parental leave for staff

Shin Thant Hlaing | March 9

A resolution to extend the paid parental leave period from four to 12 weeks paid was passed by the Staff Council, a body representing University of New Mexico Staff. On Friday, March 6, the University Policy Office released a policy update for internal review that would increase allotted paid leave for UNM staff to eight weeks. According to the policy update, UNM is looking to offer eight weeks of paid leave for staff. It will take approximately two weeks to hear if it will be officially adopted after the initial 30-day comment period. It is also possible for the updated policy to go into a second round of internal review, or become available for public comment.

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A recap of the 2026 Legislature’s important bills

Penelope Loyd Sment | March 2

On Feb. 19, the New Mexico Legislature adjourned their 30-day session, the last to be overseen by the outgoing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. According to a press release from the Office of the Governor, the three cornerstone priorities of the governor were medical malpractice reform, mental health commitment and universal child care. Here are some of the most impactful bills that could affect New Mexicans.

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Dry, hot NM weather brings higher risk of wildfires

Ethan Alvarez | March 2

Even as the decades-long drought in the Southwest continues, New Mexico is experiencing an unusually dry winter that could result in increased wildfires. Most wildfires in New Mexico occur in mid-elevation mixed conifer forests, where fire suppression and human activity has increased fuel loads that would historically burn every five to 25 years. The Director of the University of New Mexico’s Center for Fire Resilient Ecosystems and Society, Professor of Biology Matthew Hurteau, said some of the causes of severe wildfires are related to human intervention in natural fire cycles.

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ABQ BioPark Zoo celebrates International Polar Bear Day

Elizabeth Bolke | March 2

Kiska the polar bear has been a charismatic character at the Albuquerque BioPark since 1997, wowing visitors with his white coat, huge paws and playful demeanor. Zoo-goers celebrated their bear for International Polar Bear Day. On Saturday, Feb. 28, the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo celebrated their bear for International Polar Bear Day. The BioPark hosted discovery stations packed with biofacts, hands-on activities to help guests explore polar bears’ natural history, how they stay warm and what locals can do to help polar bears and their cubs in the wild.

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The Pit renamed through Lobo Athletics, Nusenda partnership

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | March 2

Since its opening as University Arena in 1966, The Pit has hosted the Lobo men’s and women’s teams. Through a partnership with Nusenda Credit Union, the arena will now bear the name The Pit - Powered by Nusenda. The 10-year deal, which was announced on Thursday, Feb. 26, will net UNM Athletics an average of $1.74 million per year and marks an advancement in the relationship between the partners.

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New Mexico-born Project ECHO treats millions

Addison Fulton | March 2

In 2003, a New Mexican woman died of untreated hepatitis C, after an eight year struggle with the disease. Despite the fact that hepatitis C is treatable, the woman could not make the eight-hour drive from her rural home to Albuquerque for specialized care, and died of her condition. In an effort to prevent tragedies like that one from occurring again, Project ECHO was born. For the last 23 years, Project ECHO has connected health care experts to communities in need of care, Project ECHO Director of Communications, Deborah Trevino said.

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Over 100 speak against Blackstone’s PNM acquisition during public comment

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | February 23

For nearly six hours in the University of New Mexico Student Union Building, over 100 people took turns speaking to the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission during a public comment session, with none being in favor of private equity firm Blackstone’s acquisition of the state’s electricity provider, Public Service Company of New Mexico. Several speakers at public comment on Tuesday, Feb. 17, spoke about Blackstone’s major investments in AI data centers, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman’s ties to pedophile sex offender Jeffery Epstein and criticized the operation of private equity firms as a whole. Blackstone Infrastructure and TXNM Energy Inc, which owns PNM, announced the $11.5 billion deal last May, and would result in Blackstone taking ownership of TXNM, according to Source NM.

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Bill forbidding state partnership with immigration officials signed

Penelope Loyd Sment | February 23

On Feb. 5, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the Immigrant Safety Act into law after passing both the Senate and the House, largely along party lines. With the passing of the bill, New Mexico joins eight other states that have recently passed legislation limiting state involvement in federal immigration proceedings, according to ACLU New Mexico. The new law will go into effect in May, and prohibits public bodies, such as state or county entities, from entering into or continuing agreements with federal immigration officials in detaining individuals for civil immigration violations and prohibits the use of public land for immigration detention centers, like those existing in Torrance, Cibola and Otero Counties. Also prohibited is the deputizing of local law enforcement as immigration officers.

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UNM study finds over $1 billion generated by Albuquerque creative economy

Penelope Loyd Sment | February 23

For the first time since 2014, a comprehensive study was conducted on Albuquerque’s creative economy, finding 17,680 workers directly employed by 2,457 creative businesses generating $1.1 billion in economic output in 2024. The sector makes up 4.4% of all local employment, the study found. Administered by the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, in partnership with the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Arts and Culture, the study defines the creative economy as the economic growth generated by producing and consuming art and other intellectual property with the value of these goods and services determined by the creators’ level of skill, expertise and talent.

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State legislature celebrates local Black history

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | February 16

Black community leaders and lawmakers opened African American Day at the State Legislature with a group performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on the House floor. Rep. Pamelya Herndon (D-Albuquerque) led the House floor celebration on Friday, Feb. 13, recognizing the “vital contributions of African Americans to the state’s history, culture and progress,” and honoring ten outstanding African American women in New Mexico for their contributions to communities across the state. The NM State Capitol featured a resource fair in the rotunda with Black-led organizations, including the NAACP, New Mexico Black Leadership Council, Juneteenth Renaissance Institute and the University of New Mexico African American Student Services.

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New BioPark CT scanner progresses animal care

Maria Fernandez | February 16

In December, the ABQ BioPark Zoo became one of a dozen zoos in the U.S. to add an on-site CT scanner to its veterinary care system. CT scanners provide advanced imaging through a series of X-rays, generating a more detailed, 3D rendition of the 2D X-ray information, Carol Bradford, the senior veterinarian at the BioPark, said. “In the past, we would take X-rays or ultrasound here at the zoo, and then if there was something we felt we were not able to diagnose or diagnose properly, we would take the animal off grounds to a veterinary specialty hospital,” Bradford said.

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UNMPD attempts to rein in vehicle theft

Elizabeth Bolke | February 9

The University of New Mexico Police Department is working to reduce car, bicycle and scooter theft by patrolling the Central Campus more thoroughly, monitoring bike racks and promoting proper security practices. While statistics around bike thefts on campus are not widely available, in 2024, reported 81 instances of motor vehicle theft, a category that includes theft of electric scooters and electric bikes. Recently, UNMPD has been distributing flyers around campus that detail which bike locks to use and how to use them, in addition to increasing patrols covering bike racks around campus.

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Bill aiming to eliminate green house gas emissions faces questions

Addison Fulton | February 9

One bill making its way through the 2026 legislative session is the Clear Horizons Act — SB 18 — that aims to codify restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions, require greenhouse gas emission reporting and expand the duties of the Environmental Improvement Board. The bill creates limits on CO2 that can be met either by direct reductions or through carbon offsets that remove greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. The bill’s goals for statewide gas emission limits include at least a 45% reduction by 2030, at least 75% reduction by 2040 and by 2050, 100% less than 2005 levels.

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Proposed UNM School of Medicine building would fill gaps in states healthcare system

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | February 9

The University of New Mexico hopes to continue its North Campus expansion with the construction of a new $600 million School of Medicine Senate Bill 6, which would provide the necessary funds to the University, was most recently given a “Do Pass” recommendation by the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee at the time of publication. State Sen. Elizabeth Stefanics (D-39), one of the sponsors of SB 6, said the new facility will help address many aspects of the state’s healthcare provider shortage.

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Lobos-turned-lobbyists at ‘UNM Day’

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | February 9

Cherry, silver and turquoise coated the Roundhouse in Santa Fe as students, staff and administrators of the University of New Mexico journeyed up to the State Capitol for “UNM Day” on Wednesday, Feb. 4. “It’s just been an amazing day. I think no matter what happens, our students are having fun and they’re learning, and that’s very important to me, so that’s one of the reasons I love doing UNM Day,” the Executive Director of Associated Students at UNM Governmental Affairs, Alana Baca, said. ASUNM held meetings with lawmakers throughout the day to lobby for their legislative priorities, encapsulated in HB 170; the UNM Basic Needs Project that requests $1.4 million from the state.