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Did School Closures Impact Education In New Mexico?

New Mexico suffered from some of the most draconian pandemic-related school closures in the country: how did this impact educational outcomes? On Tuesday, Esteban Candelaria, a staff writer with the Albuquerque Journal, reported on delays in academic assessment reporting from the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED). While data from SAT testing will be made […]

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New Mexico Paid Sick Leave Takes Effect July 1

Even employers with a single employee are obligated to implement a sick leave policy under the new law. Next month, on July 1, 2022, the New Mexico Paid Sick Leave Law will take effect. The Healthy Workplaces Act of 2021 requires all private employers, no matter the size, to pay sick leave to all employees. […]

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Post-Pandemic, Utah’s Unemployment Rate Recovery Tops The Charts

According to WalletHub’s latest report, post-pandemic, Utah’s unemployment rate has recovered more than any other state in the nation. Source: WalletHub In order to identify the states whose unemployment rates are bouncing back most, personal finance website WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on six key metrics that compare unemployment […]

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Southwest Public Policy Institute Joins Free Speech Alliance

The Southwest Public Policy Institute is the latest addition to the Free Speech Alliance, joining over 90 organizations and individuals who oppose the silencing of conservative voices on social media. You can find out more about the Free Speech Alliance at mrc.org/freespeechalliance. Here’s the Problem. Conservatives are under attack. Conservatives face an existential crisis as social […]

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Uvalde Makes The Somber Case For School Choice

The nation mourns the loss of so many innocent lives. How do we prevent future tragedy? The answer is school choice. In New Mexico, Senator Martin Heinrich is capitalizing on the Uvalde school shooting to demand changes in gun laws. Elsewhere, former President Barack Obama is using the crisis to stoke racial tension. They are […]

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PNM Requests Proposals, Acknowledges the Energy Crisis

The Energy Transition Act is shaping up to create the worst energy crisis the southwest has ever seen. On May 17, the Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) released data on a comprehensive energy survey. With over 3,000 respondents, New Mexicans clearly prioritized affordable and reliable energy with 7 out of 10 preferring either affordability or […]

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Texas Severs Ties with NSBA, All States Should Follow Suit

Texas is the most recent state to leave the NSBA following the “domestic terrorism” controversy involving Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland. The Texas School Board Association (TSBA) announced on Monday that it was cutting ties with the National School Boards Association (NSBA). The NSBA sent a letter to President Biden in September 2021 requesting federal […]

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Budget and Spending Culture Domestic Policy Education Government Spending Life New Mexico Political Thought Public Opinion Top Issues

Albuquerque Public Schools Makes the Case for School Choice

Are the worst educational outcomes on record causing declining enrollment? Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Scott Elder announced a need to trim 5% of its staff in the coming school year in response to an enrollment-driven deficit estimated at $17 million. The media dutifully reported that the district faces a “budget deficit,” but that is not […]

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Latest Unemployment Rates of the American Southwest

The latest unemployment figures have been released by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April 2022, New Mexico tops the list as the state with the worst unemployment rate in the country at 5.3%. Utah was among the best at 1.9%, with only Nebraska reporting a lower unemployment rate. State Labor force Unemployed […]

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Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Domestic Policy Economy Energy & Environment Energy Economics Government Regulation Infrastructure & Technology New Mexico Nuclear Energy Renewable Energy Top Issues Trade

Looming Energy Crisis Exacerbated By Nuclear Energy Exit And Solar Supply Crunch

Regulators blame the utility, and the utility blames the supply chain. Is anyone blaming the legislation?