Author Archives: merilee

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 →

New Mexico doctors got a bit of relief in an amendment to the tax law enacted this past session. Doctors have had to pay New Mexico gross receipts tax on co-pays and deductibles — the portion of the bill paid … Continue reading →

If teenager Beau Wilson – now forever labeled the Farmington mass murderer — had been behaving erratically and a relative or friend had noticed, and had sought help from law enforcement, what might law enforcement have done? If a friend … Continue reading →

New Mexico has passed the one-year anniversary of legalizing recreational adult-use marijuana. The news releases were bursting with excitement. Government and business leaders were celebrating, saying the industry is off to a great start. These announcements focused only on the … Continue reading →

If your children attend New Mexico schools, starting next school year you can decide whether to give them three meals a day or let the schools provide two of them. The choice is yours, if you can afford it. It’s … Continue reading →

Years ago, as a young reporter in Taos, I was assigned to interview candidates for the local school board. This was considered a booby prize for the new kid in the newsroom. Most candidates had no major policy positions and … Continue reading →