Author Archives: merilee

The situation at the U.S.- Mexico border is a tragedy for the migrants who, out of desperation, started a journey in hope and ended up in despair or frustration. It is a hardship for communities forced to deal with the … Continue reading →

The governor’s declaration of a temporary gun moratorium was such a spectacular error that it took public attention off the issues that provoked it: the senseless murders of children in New Mexico. Now we have lots of yammering about how … Continue reading →

My old friend Robert Daigh liked to joke that he was in the “used beer and groceries” business.  That was his bit of earthy humor when talking about the community water and sanitation district that he helped to create. My … Continue reading →

In a recent op-ed article, Rep. Greg Nibert (R-Roswell) sounded the alarm about New Mexico school children, gender identity issues and new legislation. Nibert referred specifically to two bills passed this year: House Bill 7 and Senate Bill 397. His … Continue reading →

If we want our country to continue to be a representative democracy that works – and I hope we all do – as citizens we need to know more than a little about how it functions. Some of us have … Continue reading →

Is it better to have meat inspections conducted by a state agency or a federal agency? What do you think? Some New Mexicans who understand the economics of cattle growing and meat processing want to reinstate the state program. Legislation … Continue reading →

Communities cherish their local libraries. We count on them not only for books but for music, movies, access to computers and other services. We are so used to them that we often take them for granted. But recently, libraries have … Continue reading →

How has New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department gotten it so tragically wrong so many times? Don’t you wonder? A recent special report by KOAT television highlighted the story of 4-year-old James Dunklee Cruz, beaten to death by his … Continue reading →