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SANTA FE - As nationwide demand for health protection equipment surges, New Mexico's health care system has a limited statewide stock of about 44,000 snug-fitting N95 face masks that protect medical workers from the coronavirus by filtering out small airborne particles, state officials said. New Mexico also has about 2.4 million exam gloves, 70,500...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich wants rural and tribal communities in New Mexico to be prepared for the eventual spread of COVID-19. Heinrich is calling on the federal government to focus on underserved communities. "It can feel like the news you're seeing in cities like New York or even Albuquerque won't hit home where you are,"...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Tribal communities are being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and the U.S. federal government is bound by treaties to help them. "We're the first citizens of the United States of America, but yet we haven't seen one penny come to the Navajo Nation," President Jonathan Nez, of the Navajo Nation, said. "Army Corps of...

As the New Mexico death toll from COVID-19 reached seven Thursday, the state reported a limited supply of medical equipment meant to keep frontline health workers safe during an anticipated surge in cases. According to the New Mexico Human Services Department, the state has a stockpile of 43,873 N95 face masks used to protect medical workers from...

Nuclear waste repository the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant gradually reduced the amount of nuclear waste received and emplaced for disposal in its underground salt deposit during the last three months as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spread throughout the country and world leading to the disruption of operations at government facilities. As of...

Detainees in a federal facility near Grants say more than 20 people are being held in one room with no social distancing, little access to hygiene products and scant information about the new coronavirus, even as the global health crisis continues to spread. In an interview with The New Mexican, Yulian Llerena, a Cuban man being held in U.S....

More than $1.25 billion to help cover state and local government expenses tied to the COVID-19 outbreak will be coming to New Mexico from the $2 trillion congressional coronavirus response package, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said last week. Details have yet to be released on how some of the funding will be distributed, the senator said in a...

New Mexico is one step closer to seeing its share of a massive $2.2 trillion economic stimulus package unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate Wednesday night. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., told reporters on a call Thursday morning he’s fighting for the aid money to arrive in the state as soon as possible to help residents stay afloat as...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- The two U.S. senators from New Mexico say help is on the way.  Senators Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall voted to pass the COVID-19 relief package Wednesday night. Udall says part of the $2 trillion will go to helping New Mexicans including small business owners. The bill also gives Americans, who make less than $75,000 a...

U.S. Sen. Martin Henrich of New Mexico joined a coalition of senators pushing for funding for the “clean energy” industry when drafting legislation to relieve America’s economy as it struggles to rebuild amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Originating in China, the virus recently spread globally and into the U.S., stymieing demand for...

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, said more action needs to be taken to increase how many tests for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are processed in New Mexico and provide economic assistance to people directly impacted by the pandemic. “I strongly believe that our first, second and third priority need to be bringing all our resources to bear in...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- New Mexico's congressional delegations is calling for quick and more relief for people and businesses in the state. U.S. Senator said he supports a proposed measure that would send checks to Americans. "I do think that direct payments like that are one of the more efficient ways to stimulate the economy," Heinrich said. "I...

New Mexico U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich said during a press conference Thursday that he received confirmation the Food and Drug Administration approved money that will eventually help provide more supplies for New Mexico.   “I’m pleased to announce this morning that we received confirmation that the FDA has granted an...

New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined fellow Democrat, Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith, to introduce the Free COVID-19 Testing Act, which would expand free tests to confirm coronavirus infections. The legislation would waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and related health care services for individuals enrolled in private...

President Donald Trump asked Congress on Twitter earlier this month to send him legislation that would permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund. New Mexico Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall are among lawmakers taking him up on the request. They joined a bipartisan group of senators who introduced the Great Outdoors Act,...

Following a temporary ban on large public gatherings and warnings from officials about the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in New Mexico, two programs were announced Friday to help the state cope with the potentially deadly illness. Forcing insurers to provide free testing and treatment is one of them. In response to Gov. Michelle...

Late last week, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) held a press conference to note the introduction of two powerful pieces of legislation designed to ameliorate multigenerational poverty in New Mexico and the rest of the US, too. The two-generation system links services for parents and children in such a way as to enable success and increase...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico is supporting legislation that would require employers to provide paid sick days immediately to workers to address the coronavirus crisis, and in preparation for future public health emergencies. The bill would require all employers to allow workers to accrue seven days of paid...

New Mexico’s senators are hoping to restore funding to America’s public lands while addressing a maintenance backlog at national parks across the state. U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) called on the administration of President Donald Trump to support full funding for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), established in 1964 to...

The promise of wilderness lies fully manifest yet largely unknown in a remote pocket of San Miguel County, where a desolate shortgrass prairie abruptly collapses into a sprawling system of piñon- and juniper-covered canyons that hold countless secrets waiting to be discovered. For several years, the Sabinoso Wilderness held the dubious...