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Trump administration cuts LGBTQ+ youth crisis hotline

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | June 25

On July 17, the Trump administration will be shutting down a national suicide and crisis hotline intended to assist LGBTQ+ youth, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The service is provided as part of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and sometimes known as the press 3 option. It has routed nearly 1.3 million calls since its introduction in September 2022. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will continue to operate without the subnetwork service. LGBTQ+ high school students are over three times more likely to have seriously considered suicide within the last year than cisgender and heterosexual students, according to the Centers for Disease Control’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report.

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Hair braiders to be able to practice without a cosmetology license

Shin Thant Hlaing | June 20

Starting July 1, hair braiders will be exempt from the requirement of a cosmetology license to practice hair braiding due to the recently signed “Exempting Hair Braiding from Provisions of the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act.” Four State House Representatives — Rep. Janelle Anyanonu (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Harold Pope (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Pamelya Herndon (D-Albuquerque) — sponsored the bill. The bill would open up the opportunity for many black people to start small businesses in New Mexico, stimulating the local economy, Herndon said.

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Thousands denounce Trump’s authoritarianism in ‘No Kings’ protest

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | June 16

On Saturday, June 14, a crowd of approximately 8,000 people braved the afternoon heat at Mariposa Basin Park to participate in a “No Kings” protest, organized by local groups including Albuquerque Indivisible and Third Act NM. The protest was part of a national movement of over 2,000 planned protests with over 5 million participants across the country, according to NPR. The protesters aimed to oppose what they see as an authoritarian turn by the Trump administration. The event occurred on the same day as a military parade in Washington, D.C., which celebrated the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday. The protest included music, poetry and multiple speeches, which crowds listened to before commencing in a march around the park. Rep. Melanie Stansbury and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller delivered keynote addresses.

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Protesters walk in solidarity with ‘Palestinian right of return’

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | June 16

On June 8, community members marched from the Rio Bravo Riverside Picnic Area to the Rail Yards Market to protest the Israeli blockade of all entrances to the Gaza Strip, where close to half a million people are facing acute malnutrition, starvation, illness and death as of May 12, according to the World Health Organization. Protesters carrying signs with scenes from the war in Gaza took one lane along with vehicles supplied with hydration and medical supplies. When the walk concluded at the Rail Yards Market, protesters confronted and questioned Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller about Albuquerque's sister city relationship with Rehovot, Israel.

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Duck Pond to reopen in August

Shin Thant Hlaing | June 13

On Aug. 8, The University of New Mexico Duck Pond is expected to have its long-awaited grand opening that invites students into a lush and vibrant habitat teeming with aquatic life, according to UNM Facilities Design and Construction. The nine month long renovation project is expected to bring improvements in water quality, compliance with ADA guidelines and the return of most of the pond animals. The $4 million renovation project will keep character defining features — the shape of the pond, waterfall and fountains — unchanged from its 2006 condition, according to a Project Overview document provided to the Daily Lobo.

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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.