Amador Crossing, an affordable housing development under construction on the recently expanded Community of Hope campus, is seen Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Las Cruces. The 50-unit apartment complex is expected to expand housing options for homeless residents. (Photo by Diana Alba Soular/ SNMJC) Rising rents, more first-time homelessness and

(Stock Image) The City of Las Cruces will ask voters to approve $26 million in general obligation bonds to renovate Thomas Branigan Memorial Library. The library renovation has long been identified as a priority project by members of the community and city council. Members of the city council approved a

SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO – Thanks to a new law, independent and most minor party voters can vote in today’s New Mexico primary election for the first time ever. So-called “decline to state” voters, often referred to as independents, and most minor party voters don’t have to change their party affiliation

Editor’s Note: Candidates answered a list of questions emailed by the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative. Their responses have been edited for length and clarity. Some candidates in this Q & A reference House Bill 9 , passed by t he Legislature, that restricts local authorities from enforcing federal immigration

(Stock Image) KRWG Public Media's KC Counts discussed vaccine misinformation and disinformation with Dr. Karen Kopera-Frye and Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani, professors of public health at New Mexico State University, in this May 11 audio episode of Voice of the Public . Khubchandani and Kopera-Frye discuss COVID-19 and measles vaccinations and

Liz Marrufo is an advocate and volunteer who has received compensation under last year’s Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA. She spoke about her experience applying during a forum held Feb. 1, 2026, at Doña Ana Community College in Las Cruces. (Photo by Elva K. Österreich) SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO –

For-profit and nonprofit business owners gather March 26, 2026, during a Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce Green Drinks event introducing Southern New Mexico Giving Day/Give Grandly events in Las Cruces and Silver City. (Photo by Elva K. Österreich/ SNMJC) Southern New Mexico Giving Day dates April 13 : Pr

Inmates in the the Doña Ana County Detention Center are among the first identified measles cases in New Mexico in 2026. (Photo by Diana Alba Soular/ SNMJC) Editor’s Note: This article is one in a series examining measles in Southern New Mexico. LAS CRUCES – For more than a quarter

New Mexico health department officials work in partnership with local governments to sample and test wastewater for early detection of measles cases in communities across the state, including Southern New Mexico. (Photo by Diana Alba Soular/ SNMJC) How watching wastewater helps prevent disease spread SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO – In the

Editor’s Note: This reporting was made possible thanks to a grant from the Puente News Collaborative , based in El Paso. Karen LeCompte of La Luz and her mother, Arlene Maclean of Alamogordo, both experienced measles in their childhoods before vaccinations for the disease were developed. (Photo by Elva K.

Shawna Bailey, director of health services for Las Cruces Public Schools, is seen at the LCPS administrative offices. Bailey said her office worked closely with state health officials to verify immunization records and prepare for potential measles exposures during the outbreak last year. (Photo by Jonny Coker/ SNMJC) Risks remain

(Stock Image) The Mesilla Valley Habitat for Humanity affiliate, in partnership with the City of Las Cruces, will construct five single-family homes within the new Arcadia 4 Subdivision as part of a pilot initiative to expand access to attainable homeownership. The City of Las Cruces is donating 25 fully serviced

(Stock Image) LAS CRUCES — The minimum wage in the City of Las Cruces will increase on Jan. 1, 2026. According to Las Cruces Municipal Code, minimum wage for those employed in the city will increase from $12.65 to $13.01 an hour. The minimum hourly wage for tipped employees will

U.S. Congressman Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District expresses support for restoration of federal health care subsidies that are set to expire nationally Dec. 31; however, the New Mexico Legislature has opted to take over funding of these subsidies within the state’s borders. Vasquez discusses the issue Sept.

(Stock image) LAS CRUCES — It’s a chance to get money that can help students afford transportation, pay their families’ bills and offset some of the negative impact of homelessness on the education of high school students. Educators believe it’s a real opportunity for teenagers to focus on schoolwork and

Three newsrooms collaborated to host a sexual-assault panel discussion at Zuhl Library, seen here on the NMSU main campus. The Nov. 20 discussion featured an NMSU equity representative, a sexual assault recovery professional, and the editor of the Round Up student news site. LAS CRUCES — Three local newsrooms collaborated

The community of Vado was severely inundated during a July 22, 2025 storm, as seen in this screen capture of a video presented to the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners in an emergency meeting focused upon the disaster. Vado, located downstream of a series of arroyos that channel run-off

Doña Ana County commission set to vote on project La Union resident Maria Chaparro expressed cautious optimism about Project Jupiter, but said it would be important for the company behind the project to be held to its promises. Meanwhile, a number of Sunland Park residents told the Southern New Mexico

Organizers protest a proposed $165 billion data center campus that BorderPlex Digital Assets wants to build in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. (Diego Mendoza-Moyers / El Paso Matters) SANTA TERESA, N.M. — After a scene that could have been pulled out of the 2025 film “Eddington,” the Doña Ana Board of

(Stock image) Las Cruces will use an $11 million allocation from Office of Housing at the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions to help fund six projects across the city that address homelessness and affordable housing needs. The funding is part of $120 million for housing and homelessness projects across