AGP Executive Report

Higher Education Closures: A Palos Heights college is being preserved virtually as more schools shut down, with states pushing “tuition recovery” funds and federal plans to streamline takeovers by healthier competitors. Public Safety & Fireworks: Wildfire danger is already forcing Fourth of July fireworks cancellations across the West, including New Mexico, as officials warn heat and wind could turn sparks into fast-moving blazes. Animal Health & Food Prices: The New World screwworm is spreading in the U.S.; health leaders say it’s not a direct food-safety threat, but it could hit livestock costs and raise beef prices. Opioid Politics: An opinion piece argues Bernalillo County’s fentanyl fight was undermined by DEA actions. Local Economy & Jobs: New Mexico is putting $3.06M toward Project Jupiter workforce training in Santa Teresa, while residents and officials question whether the project is meeting compliance promises. PFAS Regulation Fight: NFIB is challenging New Mexico’s PFAS labeling rule as a burden on small manufacturers.

State Budget & Cost of Living: New Mexico’s next governor candidates are cool on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s proposed $250 rebate round, with Deb Haaland and Gregg Hull saying they want longer-lasting tax relief instead of one-time checks. Data Centers & Jobs: The state is putting more than $3.05 million toward workforce training for Project Jupiter in Santa Teresa, aiming to prepare 95 trainees for the hyperscale buildout. Local Accountability: Doña Ana County residents and officials are pressing for enforcement over Project Jupiter’s compliance, arguing delays and missing reports are undermining promised oversight. Historic Science Fight: A coalition is urging the National Science Foundation to stop the planned demolition of the nearly 80-year-old Sunspot Solar Observatory after a mercury leak forced closure. Wildfire & Holiday Disruptions: Western drought and active fires have led some communities to cancel or restrict Fourth of July fireworks, with conditions driving heightened fire risk. Business & Regulation: NFIB is suing over New Mexico’s PFAS labeling rule, saying it creates a heavy compliance burden for small manufacturers. Culture & Community: Hilary Duff’s “Lucky Me” tour stop in Albuquerque drew a big, colorful crowd, with fans packing the amphitheater lawn.

Republican turmoil: New Mexico GOP leadership is roiled after court-ordered removal of chair Amy Barela, a failed replacement vote, and rapid website changes as Treasurer Kimberly Skaggs faces criminal charges. Election update: A recount in House District 66 confirms LeAnne Gandy won the GOP primary with no change to the original 999–991 tally. Data privacy fight: Santa Fe retailers are using controversial license plate-reading cameras, raising concerns about 24-hour surveillance on private property. Public safety & weather: Wildfires and drought across the West are forcing cancellations or limits on Fourth of July fireworks, while a heat-wave collapse is expected to bring severe storms and flash flooding risk. Local business pressure: Albuquerque’s My Mom’s restaurant will close July 31, part of a broader squeeze on small businesses tied to rising costs. Early childhood expansion: UNM Children’s Campus received $4.71 million to expand licensed childcare capacity by 52 spots, with a waitlist now exceeding 2,400. Screwworm readiness: Federal and state officials report New World screwworm infestations, including one in New Mexico, as Arizona and others push detection and response planning. Cultural reflection: New Mexicans marked the 250th anniversary by debating what “American” means, amid the state’s long Spanish and Indigenous history.

Data Centers & Local Control: New Mexico lawmakers plan to introduce a 2027 statewide moratorium on “large-scale” data centers, aiming to pause new projects until the state can map water use, power demand, emissions, ratepayer impacts, and community benefits—while communities like Sierra County are already organizing petitions and pushing back over projects tied to Project Jupiter. PFAS Rule: New Mexico finalized its PFAS consumer-products rule, with phased compliance starting July 1, 2026 and major reporting and labeling deadlines rolling into 2027. Fentanyl Fallout: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says the state may seek billions in civil damages after reports that DEA agents allowed fentanyl shipments into New Mexico, calling it a federal “stunning failure.” Public Health & Families: Medical providers warn that New Mexico’s policy of taking custody of substance-exposed newborns is harming families, even as courts have rejected efforts to halt the directive. Wildlife Disease Watch: USDA confirmed 31 New World screwworm infestations nationwide, including one in New Mexico, as officials urge vigilance for at-risk animals. Elections & Voting: New Mexico’s Secretary of State race shifts after Maggie Toulouse Oliver suspended her campaign for health reasons, with Democrats set to pick a replacement through the party’s state committee.

Data Centers & Water: New Mexico lawmakers are pushing a statewide moratorium on new large-scale data centers, arguing the state is moving faster than its rules on water, energy, emissions, and ratepayer impacts—amid ongoing backlash over Oracle/OpenAI’s “Project Jupiter” in Santa Teresa. Screwworm Watch: New World screwworm is spreading in the Southwest, with experts urging tighter biosecurity and wildlife surveillance as confirmed animal cases mount in Texas and New Mexico. Public Health & Animals: New York has added import limits on domestic animals from impacted areas to slow the spread of screwworm, requiring testing, certification, and preventative treatment. Elections & Voting Rights: New Mexico’s AG is part of a multistate push against a USPS proposal aimed at restricting mail voting, arguing it would undermine state control of elections. Fentanyl Records: New Mexico’s AG is seeking DEA records tied to decisions not to seize fentanyl, after allegations that federal agents allowed large amounts into the state. Local Business & Economy: Albuquerque Business First released a new list of the state’s 433 largest employers, mapping who drives New Mexico’s workforce. Utility Oversight: Regulators ordered PNM and Blackstone to unwind a controversial stock deal, reversing a $400M sale and imposing fines. Ethics: The New Mexico State Ethics Commission named retired Judge Celia Foy Castillo as its new chair. Community Notes: Crews began demolishing Albuquerque’s Bliss Building (Lindy’s Diner), with road closures continuing.

Immigration Courts: A Denver appeals court ruled the Trump administration must provide bond hearings to many ICE detainees held in the interior, a decision that could speed releases for hundreds across the West. Energy Regulation: New Mexico’s Public Regulation Commission ordered PNM and a Blackstone affiliate to undo a controversial $400 million stock sale for skipping required approval, though the broader merger is still pending. Digital Equity: New Mexico rolled out a Community Wi‑Fi program and a Permit Finder Tool to help providers navigate permitting and expand broadband access. Data Centers: Santa Fe County approved an 18-month data center moratorium, lowering the review threshold to one megawatt and adding environmental justice protections. Public Health & Agriculture: UNM is placing high school students in hands-on lab work for mosquito and insect surveillance, while New World screwworm continues to spread with new confirmed cases and tighter livestock movement rules. State Oversight: NMDOJ demanded federal records tied to DEA fentanyl investigations in New Mexico from 2022–2025.

Wildfire & fireworks risk: With extreme fire danger across the West, New Mexico is urging residents to skip backyard fireworks as restrictions spread statewide and cities tighten enforcement. Water stress: The Colorado River’s headwaters are drying up, threatening supplies for millions—while New Mexico communities and ranchers brace for drought impacts on services and revenue. Impaired driving crackdown: New Mexico State Police plan July sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols statewide, targeting drunk and drugged driving. Screwworm watch: USDA reports New World screwworm cases remain in Texas and New Mexico, with new detections pushing officials to keep livestock protections tight. Cannabis enforcement: New Mexico’s new cannabis cops are moving against the black market, aiming to curb illegal operators as legal sales expand. Community & culture: “250 Flags” honors New Mexicans for service and leadership ahead of America’s 250th, while local events like Sangre Joven’s performances keep the celebration rolling. Local government: Colfax County officials warn drought could hit ranching and tourism—and strain county finances.

Wildfire & emergency response: New Mexico’s governor approved $500K for statewide wildfire response, including the McCauley Springs Fire in Jemez, as dry, windy conditions keep risk elevated. Public health & safety: A national report highlights a growing problem with for-profit ER operators opting out of Medicare rules, raising concerns that patients can be turned away or asked to pay before care. Economy & jobs: New Mexico’s Job Training Incentive Program approved $12 million to support more than 440 jobs this quarter, backing hiring and upskilling across 70 companies in FY26. Tech & power: Sandia researchers are testing AI tools to stabilize the electric grid as data centers and distributed energy grow. Local governance: Santa Fe County adopted an 18-month data center moratorium to build rules around water, energy, and noise. Agriculture & disease: USDA updates show New World screwworm remains concentrated in Texas, with a New Mexico dog case reported earlier in the outbreak. Community & culture: Route 66-themed STEAM Night is set for July 18 at the Albuquerque Balloon Museum, and Las Vegas’ Fiestas continue with new honorees and performances.

Wildfire Response: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed emergency orders sending $500,000 to the state’s emergency management agency as more than 16 large fires burn across New Mexico, including the McCauley Springs Fire. Childcare & Local Rules: A new state law aims to make it easier to open in-home childcare centers by limiting how local zoning can block providers, part of New Mexico’s broader universal childcare push. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Albuquerque has started demolition of the historic Bliss Building, home to Lindy’s Diner, after owners failed to follow through; asbestos remediation is underway and officials expect Central Avenue to reopen by July 15. Health & Animals: New World screwworm remains a concern in the Southwest, with USDA reporting active cases tied to Texas and New Mexico and renewed guidance for vigilance and sterile-fly efforts. Justice: A Las Cruces family filed a wrongful death lawsuit over a fatal hit-and-run involving former New Mexico GOP treasurer Kimberly Skaggs. Business: Wilson & Company promoted three leaders to expand finance, civil practice leadership, and human resources.

Medicaid Fight: 25 Democratic-led states (including Nevada) sued the Trump administration over new Medicaid work requirements, arguing the “medically frail” exemption is too narrow for ill and disabled people. Housing Policy: HUD told New Mexico lawmakers it’s encouraging local housing authorities to opt into a Work & Dignity rule that could require many non-elderly, non-disabled tenants to work up to 40 hours a week and face eviction after two years. Wildfire Response: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued $500,000 in emergency wildfire funding as at least 16 fires burn statewide, including the McCauley Springs Fire and the Beehive Fire near Tres Piedras. Screwworm Pressure: A moderate House Dem coalition, led by NM Rep. Gabe Vasquez, pressed USDA for more details and resources as the New World screwworm outbreak threatens livestock and food prices. Public Safety & Health: A study tied lower legal alcohol limits to fewer driving fatalities, and New Mexico also announced $24.5 million in behavioral health reform awards. Politics & Elections: Deb Haaland endorsed Stephanie Garcia Richard for New Mexico lieutenant governor after Maggie Toulouse Oliver withdrew for health reasons.

Wildfire & fireworks risk: With hot, dry conditions fueling an unusually dangerous season, officials are urging Americans to pause before lighting fireworks; Utah has moved to let communities restrict consumer fireworks as blazes burn across the West. DEA fentanyl fallout in New Mexico: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says the state may seek billions in federal reparations after allegations the DEA let fentanyl shipments reach streets while building cases, and New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez has opened a criminal investigation. Medicaid work requirements fight: Democratic-led states, including New Mexico, are suing to block new federal Medicaid work rules that narrow “medically frail” exemptions. New World screwworm watch: USDA confirmed 26 cases in Texas, with New Mexico mentioned in the spread risk as officials push quarantines and sterile-fly controls. Tech & infrastructure: FCC cybersecurity rules for Emergency Alert System equipment require password changes and added safeguards, while a Colorado River water lawsuit spotlights growing pressure from AI data centers. Local politics: Deb Haaland endorsed Stephanie Garcia Richard for New Mexico lieutenant governor.

DEA fentanyl fallout: New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says the state may pursue “hundreds of millions” to more than $1 billion in civil damages after allegations that DEA agents repeatedly let fentanyl shipments reach communities while building bigger cases, with local leaders demanding federal answers. Medicaid work requirements fight: Oregon and other states are suing the Trump administration over new Medicaid work rules, arguing the “medically frail” exemption is being narrowed too much for people with serious illnesses and disabilities. Screwworm response: U.S. and Mexico opened a sterile fly plant in southern Mexico as New World screwworm cases rise to 27 in the U.S., with quarantines in Texas and added travel paperwork for dogs coming from Mexico. Wildfire readiness: Albuquerque-based 10 Tanker Air Carrier is sending DC-10 air tankers to help fight Arizona’s Round Valley Fire. Local history: A new plaque at San Miguel del Bado honors Diego Manuel Baca, linking local land-grant history to the American Revolution. Energy bills: PNM is rolling out customer tools to track electricity use and cut costs through its My Energy Usage platform. Community recognition: Las Cruces honored Historic Preservation Committee Chair Jerry Wallace with a state Heritage Preservation Individual Achievement Award.

Defense & Industry: The U.S. Department of Defense awarded Lockheed Martin a $35.3 billion THAAD interceptor production contract, with a successful flight test tied to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Local Economy & Energy: Mexco Energy reported fiscal 2026 results showing lower revenue and net income, with most new drilling activity in New Mexico’s Delaware Basin. Public Health & Care Capacity: New Mexico’s adult daycare system is stretched thin, with only 31 programs statewide and 19 counties lacking any—at the same time childcare shortages continue. Wildfire Tragedy: Three firefighters died and two were injured battling fast-moving blazes along the Utah-Colorado border as extreme heat and wind drove dangerous burnovers. Food Assistance Oversight: USDA data shows Illinois’ SNAP payment error rate rising to 14.7%, setting up major penalties—while New Mexico remains among states with higher error rates. State Policy & Infrastructure: New Mexico vehicle registration fees rise July 1, and Albuquerque added four new speed cameras. Community & Culture: Santa Fe’s 505 Night Market is set to launch this summer, spotlighting local food, art, and music.

DEA fentanyl probe: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is pushing for a criminal investigation after whistleblowers allege the DEA let large amounts of fentanyl pills reach New Mexico streets from 2023 to 2025; Torrez opened the probe and leaders plan a public discussion on next steps. Public safety & cannabis enforcement: New Mexico is rolling out a new cannabis enforcement push, with state “cops” targeting the black market as legal retailers complain illegal operators still undercut them. Higher education: UNM law’s former dean Sergio Pareja is defending Dean Camille Carey ahead of her contract renewal fight, disputing claims about admissions, faculty turnover, and retaliation. Wildlife & land use: A Journal investigation details wolf trappings across the state, including a redacted Game and Fish report tied to the death of a Mexican gray wolf. Community events: Santa Fe’s 505 Night Market debuts this summer with a free kickoff and a flagship market featuring local food, art, and music. Culture & heritage: A Mount Cristo Rey pilgrimage is planned amid a land fight tied to border wall eminent domain claims.

Wildfire Crisis: Hot, dry, windy weather is driving major blazes across the West, including Utah’s Cottonwood Fire, which has surged through rugged terrain and damaged a ski resort area as firefighters struggle to move heavy equipment. Colorado River Gridlock: Colorado River negotiations have collapsed again, with basin states walking away from talks as Lake Powell’s outlook worsens and agreements near expiration. New Mexico Cannabis Enforcement: New Mexico is rolling out a small but growing cannabis enforcement team aimed at cracking down on the black market, after lawmakers expanded the state’s ability to use certified law enforcement agents. Public Safety & Justice: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from withholding transportation funds from states that won’t comply with immigration enforcement conditions. Local Utilities: Southern New Mexico ratepayers are pushing back against an El Paso Electric proposal that critics say could add more than $40 to typical bills. Letters & Policy Debate: A letter argues that allowing psychologists prescriptive authority could ease mental health provider shortages, urging Gov. Lujan Grisham not to veto the measure.

Screwworm Watch: Federal and state agriculture officials say New World screwworm detections have climbed to 26 nationwide, with Texas still carrying the bulk of cases and one domestic animal case reported in Lea County, New Mexico—prompting tighter animal movement rules and new quarantine zones. Wildfire & Fire Weather: A major wildfire in the West—Utah’s Cottonwood Fire—kept spreading as red-flag conditions hit multiple states including New Mexico, with officials warning that extreme fire behavior could return as heat and wind pick up. Local Government Pay: In Grant County, commissioners voted to raise pay for future elected officials, with the sheriff’s salary set to increase to $92,000 for incoming terms. Higher Ed & Facilities: Western New Mexico University’s board approved its infrastructure plan and discussed a potential new baseball facility, while also opening the door for public bids on items from the president’s residence. Community Events: The Santa Fe Wine Festival returns for its 32nd year at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas over the Fourth of July weekend.