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New Mexico is Giving Away Free Portable Cribs. Here’s How to Get One

Gregg Morgan
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New Mexico is Giving Away Free Portable Cribs. Here’s How to Get One

If you are a parent or guardian who cannot afford a crib for your baby, this program may help you. The New Mexico Department of Health announced that it will provide free portable cribs for families in need. The initiative is part of the state’s efforts to recognize Safe Sleep Awareness Month. 

In 2022, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham officially declared October as the first Safe Sleep Awareness Month. She highlighted that the NMDOH is working with partners to raise awareness and encourage safe sleep practices for infants. 

Lujan Grisham said New Mexico loses an average of 22 infants each year to sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). She added that unsafe sleep factors contribute to more than 8 in 10 of these deaths, which experts consider preventable. 

“Parents, grandparents, other relatives, childcare providers, and anyone caring for an infant are encouraged to learn more about safe sleep practices in order to reduce sleep-related infant deaths,” the proclamation read. 

As part of its Safe Sleep campaign, NMDOH began distributing free portable cribs on August 6, 2025. The department has continued the program for more than a year to help more families provide their babies with a safe space to sleep. 

While many residents welcome the initiative, others have raised concerns about how it works. Some claim cribs are not really free. Others suspect the state is offering them now because of the upcoming midterm elections. Some have criticized the application process as “ridiculous.” They said you need a referral from an agency to ensure you receive a crib. 

Our team looked into the free portable crib program and the Safe Sleep campaign to address these claims and separate facts from misinformation. We’ve gathered reliable information to help you understand the program. You can also learn how to get a crib if your family needs one. 

Why is New Mexico providing free cribs for families?

This Safe Sleep Awareness Month, NMDOH reminds you to create a secure sleeping space for your baby. The agency is also providing free portable cribs to families who cannot afford one. 

NMDOH said safe sleep practices can help protect babies from SUID and other sleep-related fatalities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 3,500 infants die from SUID each year in the United States.

In New Mexico, SUID is the third leading cause of infant deaths after congenital malformations and perinatal conditions. From 2020 to 2024, the state recorded an average of 110 infant deaths per year. 

Screenshot from CDC

According to the CDC, SUID includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), unknown cause, and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB). In 2024, SIDS accounted for 40% of SUID, while unknown causes accounted for 32%, and ASSB made up the remaining  28%.

“Every infant in the state deserves a safe start in life, and there are simple steps everyone can take to ensure that happens,” NMDOH Chief Medical Officer Miranda Durham said in a statement. 

Who qualifies for the free portable cribs? 

NMDOH provides free portable cribs to parents with children under age 2 who complete a free training on safe sleep habits. The Safe Sleep Ambassador program is part of a campaign that aims to prevent sudden infant death and other sleep-related fatalities.

The training teaches you to place babies on their backs on a firm, flat surface, keeping pillows, toys, or loose bedding out. NMDOH also recommends supervised tummy time while infants are awake.

“A Pack ‘n Play and 30 minutes of training can save a life,” Durham said.

Here’s how to get a free portable crib:

• Go to safesleepnm.org.

• Finish the free safe sleep training session.

• Save your completion certificate.

• Fill out the online request form and upload your certificate.

According to NMDOH, around 2,400 residents have completed the Safe Sleep training and received a free portable crib.

Why was the Safe Sleep New Mexico campaign launched?

Introduced in August 2023, the Safe Sleep campaign teaches parents, caregivers, and communities how to build a safe space for babies to sleep. These practices can help reduce sleep-related infant deaths, such as SUID and accidental suffocation.

“Informing parents about protective practices for babies drives down rates of mortality, plain and simple,” then Secretary for Children, Youth and Family Services Department Teresa Casados said. 

Several state agencies worked with community partners to develop the campaign. These include NMDOH, Early Childhood Education & Care Department, Children, Youth & Families Department, University of New Mexico, and the Office of the Governor.

What do experts recommend for your baby’s sleep space?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), an infant with an underlying vulnerability to SIDS may face a higher risk of sleep-related death when placed in an unsafe sleep environment. Annual deaths have remained stable since 2000. In the 1990s, however, deaths declined significantly after a nationwide campaign encouraged parents to put babies on their backs to sleep.

Although overall deaths have dropped, research shows that racial and ethnic disparities persist indicating broader inequities in society.  From 2010 to 2013, Black infants experienced more than twice the rate of sudden unexpected SUIDs as white infants, while American Indian/Alaska Native infants experienced nearly three times the rate. White infants had a SUID rate of 85 deaths per 100,000 live births. 

To help prevent sleep-related infant deaths, the AAP recommends the following practices: 

  • Place your baby on a firm, flat sleep surface that does not slope or incline. Make sure the product meets federal safety standards for cribs, bassinets, play yards, and bedside sleepers under the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s June 2021 rule. Use only products specifically designed and marketed for infant sleep.
  • Avoid letting your baby sleep routinely in sitting devices, such as car seats, strollers, swings, infant carriers, or slings, whether at home or in the hospital. This is especially important for babies younger than 4 months.
  • Breastfeeding can lower a baby’s risk of sleep-related death, and any amount of breast milk offers more protection than none. Research shows that feeding your infant breast milk, even partially, for at least two months can significantly reduce this risk. The AAP recommends feeding your baby on breast milk for the first 6 months. You can continue breastfeeding for a year or longer as long as you and your baby wish to continue. 
  • The AAP recommends that you share a room with your baby, but not a bed. If possible, keep the infant in your room for at least the first six months.
  • Keep your baby away from nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and illicit drugs.
  • Make sure your baby receives all recommended vaccinations.
  • Avoid products that claim to prevent SIDS or other sleep-related deaths, as research has not shown that they work. These products may give a false sense of security. Home cardiorespiratory monitors have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
  • Give your baby short periods of supervised tummy time while awake, starting soon after you bring them home from the hospital. Tummy time helps the infant develop and reduces the risk of flat spots on their head. 

What do the figures say?

New Mexico’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data from 2022 data shows how mothers care for their babies, including their sleep routines. 

Chart from: New Mexico’s Children Cabinet

In 2022, more than 80% of mothers said they placed their babies on their backs to sleep and used approved sleep surfaces, such as cribs, bassinets, pack and play. More than 90% said they shared a room with their babies. Meanwhile, fewer than half of mothers said their babies slept alone.  

The practices mentioned above align with the AAP recommendations for reducing the risk of SUID.

Chart from: New Mexico’s Children Cabinet

Since 2017, fewer mothers have used blankets in their baby’s sleep spaces, with the share dropping from 67.7% to 50.3%. Meanwhile, more moms have turned to sleep sack or wearable blankets, with usage rising from 24.1% to 39.0%.  

Experts warn that blankets and quilts can cover your baby’s airway and cause accidental suffocation during sleep. They can also lead to overheating, which increases the risk of SUID. Using a sleep sack or wearable blanket may help lower your child’s risk of SUID by reducing the chance of airway obstruction. 

New Mexico Researchers are Studying Native Bees as Drought and Rising Heat Temperatures Threaten Pollinators

Ruben Reyes
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New Mexico Researchers are Studying Native Bees as Drought and Rising Heat Temperatures Threaten Pollinators

Many of New Mexico’s native bees remain so poorly studied that scientists do not know how their populations are changing, raising concerns about how drought, rising temperatures, and habitat loss could affect the state’s ecosystems.

Ashley Rohde, a postdoctoral researcher at NMSU, said public awareness of bee conservation often centers on honey bees, even though the state is home to a wide range of native species that play important roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

“When people hear ‘save the bees,’ they often think about honey bees because those are the bees that people have had the most interactions with and the most knowledge about,” Rohde said.

Researchers at New Mexico State University are trying to understand the wild pollinators, including species not yet formally identified, and the environmental pressures that could put them at risk.

New Mexico’s desert landscapes, particularly the Chihuahuan Desert, support an unusually diverse range of native bees. But limited research makes it hard to determine population trends or identify which species are most vulnerable to environmental changes.

Drought, shifting weather patterns, development, and pesticide use can affect bees differently depending on their habitats and life cycles.

Scarlet Sellers, a doctoral candidate in NMSU’s Department of Biology, studies bumble bees in higher-elevation areas, including the Sacramento Mountains and Gila National Forest. Her research examines how bee populations, despite being separated by geography remain genetically connected.

Mountain habitats can provide cooler conditions as temperatures rise, but those environments may offer limited room for species to adapt.

“If they’re already on the tops of mountains, there’s kind of nowhere else to go once you reach the top,” Sellers said.

Desert-dwelling bees face a different challenge: surviving extended dry periods when flowering plants become scarce.

Some native species spend long periods underground in a dormant state, emerging after rainfall when flowers provide food. Certain bees can remain dormant for multiple years, an adaptation that helps them survive drought.

However, increasingly prolonged dry conditions could disrupt timing of their emergence and availability of food, Sellers said.

Researchers also faced difficulties in tracking these populations because much of a bee’s life takes place underground. Scientists have fewer opportunities to observe their behavior and determine how environmental changes affect them before they emerge to forage.

“A big challenge in bee research is that these are much easier to research when they’re out moving around pollinating flowers because we can see them and we can actually access them,” Rohde said.

The consequences of a declining native pollinator population could affect all of New Mexico’s ecosystems. Bees help flowering plants reproduce, supporting vegetation that provides food and habitat for other wildlife.

“If all the pollinators go away, then all of the plants that require pollination by animals also go away,” Rohde said. “That’s going to be a foundational shift and probably a pretty catastrophic shift.”

The risks are not limited to bees. Rohde also pointed to the endangered Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly near Cloudcroft, which she said researchers have not detected in the wild since 2022. The absence of recent sightings does not mean that the butterfly is extinct, but it has heightened concerns about its survival.

Despite the challenges, researchers see opportunities to improve insect conservation in New Mexico. Rohde said expanded access to state wildlife funding could support research into species that have historically received less attention.

Public participation can also help scientists fill in their knowledge gaps. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation manages the New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas, which trains community scientists to document bumble bees across the state. Residents can also submit observations through iNaturalist, providing researchers with information about where and when species are found.

Reducing pesticide use can help protect pollinators, Rohde said, but she emphasized that lasting conservation requires broader community involvement.

“We really need to be working with a community if we want to see the needle move on any sort of pollinator conservation,” she said.

For researchers, better understanding New Mexico’s native bees is an essential first step toward protecting a largely overlooked part of the state’s natural heritage.

“We’ve got this very special resource in New Mexico that other places don’t have,” Rohde said. “This is one of the things that I think we should really be cherishing — one of the natural resources that we should be cherishing and protecting, simply because it’s something that makes New Mexico special.”

Health Groups Urge New Mexico to Expand Medicaid Coverage for Obesity Drugs

Ruben Reyes
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Health Groups Urge New Mexico to Expand Medicaid Coverage for Obesity Drugs

Expanding New Mexico’s Medicaid coverage for weight-loss drugs could help reduce obesity-related health disparities among Hispanic, Native American, and low-income residents, the National Health and Hispanic advocacy groups said.

The advocacy groups are asking New Mexico to broaden Medicaid coverage for weight-loss medications, saying stricter access rules could leave communities already facing higher rates of obesity and related diseases without treatment.

In a letter sent Oct. 1 to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, leaders from five national Hispanic and health organizations urged the state to set aside funding to expand access to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, commonly known as GLP-1 drugs.

The organizations include the National Hispanic Health Foundation, National Hispanic Council on Aging, League of United Latin American Citizens, American Diabetes Association, and MANA, a National Latina Organization.

The request comes as obesity rates in New Mexico continue to rise and health disparities persist among Hispanic and Native American residents, rural communities, and lower-income households. State Department of Health data show the percentage of New Mexicans with obesity increased from 26% in 2013 to 35% in 2023. Obesity can increase the risk of chronic conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Advocates argue that expanding access to medications could help address those risks, particularly for people who face financial and other barriers to treatment.

“GLP-1s have proven to be among the most effective treatments for obesity ever seen,” the organizations wrote in their letter. They said the medications could help prevent complications that lead to higher health care costs over time.

More than individual choices influence obesity rates, health experts say. Income, access to nutritious food, health literacy and opportunities for physical activity can all affect a person’s risk.

New Mexico’s Medicaid program, which covers about two in five residents, already pays for some weight-management medications. However, existing rules require patients to have a body mass index above 40 to qualify for obesity treatment, according to the state Health Care Authority.

Medicaid also covers Ozempic for certain approved medical conditions, including Type 2 diabetes. Although the drug is widely associated with weight loss, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved Ozempic specifically to treat obesity.

The cost of these medications is also becoming a growing concern for the state. New Mexico Medicaid spent $38.7 million on Ozempic in 2025, more than a 34% increase from 2024 and more than double its 2023 spending, according to previously reported figures.

The organizations are urging the state to consider broader coverage as agencies develop budgets for fiscal year 2028. They want action before a new governor takes office in 2027.

However, expanding the coverage could be difficult as New Mexico prepares for federal Medicaid changes under the 2025 reconciliation law, which is expected to put additional pressure on state health care spending.

Despite those financial challenges, advocates say access to obesity treatment should be part of the state’s effort to reduce health disparities and prevent chronic disease.

The groups said they want New Mexico to build on its existing health coverage efforts by ensuring that communities disproportionately affected by obesity can access treatments that may improve long-term health. 

Super El Niño Could Bring Drought Relief, Flood Risks to New Mexico

Juan Oliveros
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Super El Niño Could Bring Drought Relief, Flood Risks to New Mexico

New Mexico is likely to see a wetter winter as a potentially strong El Niño develops in the Pacific that could become one of the strongest climate events in the past 1,000 years and among the strongest recorded since monitoring began in 1950.

A recent study published in the journal Science said the El Niño events over the past four decades have been more than one-third stronger than those recorded during the preindustrial era. The team of researchers led by Julia Cole at the University of Michigan has shown that El Niño varies in parallel with global warming and that current occurrences are less frequent than those over the past 1,000 years.

El Niño occurs when ocean waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific become unusually warm, disrupting weather patterns worldwide. Strong events often strengthen the subtropical jet stream, pushing storms into the southern U.S. and increasing the odds of wetter-than-normal conditions in parts of the Southwest.

This year’s El Niño is strengthening rapidly and has a greater than 90% chance of becoming very strong, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

James Belanger, vice president of meteorology at The Weather Company, said NOAA relies on long-term data to filter out short-term weather and ocean fluctuations, allowing the El Niño signal to stand out more clearly. 

The climate pattern is expected to peak in late 2026 or early 2027, with possible impacts on the Southwest becoming more noticeable between December and March. During that period, El Niño often shifts atmospheric circulation in ways that favor storms over the southern United States.

The impact, however, is not the same everywhere. The wet signal tends to be stronger south of I-40, while the northwest and far north-central regions tend to see less of an effect.

More rainfall could help restore water supplies

More mountain snowfall, including in the Sangre de Cristo Range, would help build snowpack and could provide valuable spring runoff, offering some relief to communities and water managers dealing with prolonged drought and strained river systems.

Snowmelt, especially after heavy snowfall, could increase flood risks in rivers, arroyos, and other low-lying areas. More frequent winter storms could bring a mix of rain and snow, with impacts varying by local temperature and elevation.

Temperature impacts are harder to predict because cloud cover and frequent storms can lead to cooler periods. Strong El Niño patterns also tend to reduce the number of severe Arctic cold outbreaks in some parts of the country.

Drought relief is possible, but far from guaranteed.

A wetter winter would likely help ease drought conditions in much of New Mexico and parts of the neighboring Southwest, but it would not solve the state’s longer-term water problems.

For example, next year’s water availability along the Rio Grande will depend on mountain snowpack, spring temperatures, evaporation rates, and how much water reaches rivers and reservoirs. Strong El Niño periods have often led to more favorable precipitation patterns in parts of the Southwest. The winters of 1982-83 and 1997-98 brought substantial moisture to parts of the region, while the 2015-16 event produced more mixed results.

Past winters can provide useful comparisons, but they do not guarantee identical results. Various atmospheric and ocean conditions can influence storm tracks and the amount of rain or snow they bring.

The effects of the developing El Niño are likely to become clearer from late fall through winter and into early spring 2027. During that period, El Niño often alters atmospheric patterns and directs more storms toward the southern United States. That typically results in greater winter rainfall and mountain snowfall, especially in southern and central New Mexico. ​

New Mexico Secures Japanese Tech Giant Fujitsu in Major Quantum Computing Push as State Pours $450M Into Emerging Technology

Juan Oliveros
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New Mexico Secures Japanese Tech Giant Fujitsu in Major Quantum Computing Push as State Pours $450M Into Emerging Technology

New Mexico is intensifying its push to become a major player in the global race for quantum computing, partnering with Japanese technology company Fujitsu to establish a research center in the state.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the partnership on Thursday, The initiative will combine Fujitsu’s global technology expertise with the strengths of New Mexico’s universities, national laboratories and research institutions, she said.

The center will focus on quantum computing hardware, software, algorithms and theory, while helping train the next generation of scientists and engineers. It will also support student internships, research opportunities and workforce development programs.

“Fujitsu’s decision to partner with New Mexico is more proof that our bet on quantum is paying off,” Lujan Grisham said. “By pairing Fujitsu’s global expertise with the strength of our universities, national laboratories, and research community, we’re building an ecosystem where quantum innovation can thrive.”

The agreement significantly expands Fujitsu’s existing relationship with New Mexico State University, which began in 2025 and initially focused on the company’s FUJITSU-MONAKA processor and high-performance computing.

The new collaboration will extend that work into quantum computing and hybrid systems that combine conventional computing, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.

Fujitsu will also conduct research with the Quantum New Mexico Institute at the University of New Mexico on quantum algorithms, applications and systems.

The partnership draws on the state’s concentration of scientific institutions, including Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University.

Vivek Mahajan, Fujitsu’s chief technology officer, said the collaboration would create opportunities to advance the design, engineering and validation of quantum systems, as well as develop algorithms for fields including chemistry, materials science and advanced energy.

A $450 million bet on quantum technology

The announcement comes as New Mexico accelerates efforts to establish itself as a center for quantum research and commercialization.

When the Lujan Grisham administration launched its quantum initiative, there were no quantum companies in the state. Less than two years later, five companies have established a presence there, according to the administration.

Since 2019, New Mexico has invested more than $450 million in quantum-related infrastructure, underscoring its aim to turn scientific expertise into economic growth.

This month, the Quantum Lab for Roadrunner in Albuquerque has moved forward with programs aimed at workforce training. The shared facility is intended to connect national laboratories with private companies and startups.

Rob Black, secretary of the Economic Development Department, described the Fujitsu partnership as further evidence of the state’s growing quantum ecosystem. He also said trade missions to Japan had been essential to developing the relationship.

Quantum computing uses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information in ways that differ fundamentally from conventional computers. Although the technology remains under development, researchers are exploring its potential to tackle complex problems in areas such as materials discovery, chemistry and energy.

From quantum computers to ancient mass extinctions

The Fujitsu announcement is part of a broader surge in scientific research in New Mexico.

In early October, Cori Myers, a paleobiologist at the University of New Mexico, participated in an international study examining how Earth’s climate has shifted among five major climate states over the past 500 million years and how those shifts correspond with the planet’s five major mass extinction events.

To investigate the relationship between long-term climate conditions and biodiversity, the researchers combined evidence from carbon levels, temperature records and the fossil record.

Myers noted that Earth’s present climate state is associated with a relatively low level of climate vulnerability for biodiversity, but said that does not mean today’s wildlife is safe.

Species losses caused by human activity continue at alarming rates, raising concern that a sixth mass extinction could occur—one distinct from the climate-related changes recorded in the geological record.

Myers was scheduled to present the findings at the Geological Society of America meeting in Denver.

Discovery of exoplanets

Meanwhile, astronomers from New Mexico State University and Northwestern University discovered a young exoplanet by reanalyzing previously collected observations.

The gas giant, known as HD 143811 AB b, has a mass about five times that of Jupiter and is approximately 13 million years old, making it far younger than the 4.6-billion-year-old Earth.

The planet is about 400 light-years away and orbits a binary star system in which the two stars revolve around each other every 18 days. The planet takes about 300 years to complete one orbit.

The research team included Eric Nielsen, an assistant professor of astronomy at NMSU; several graduate students; Jason Wang of Northwestern; and lead author Nathalie Jones.

The finding emerged from a more detailed analysis of observations collected between 2016 and 2019 by the Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey, along with data obtained at the W.M. Keck Observatory in 2022.

Directly imaging planets outside our solar system remains difficult, making the discovery especially noteworthy.

The planet has often been compared to Tatooine, the fictional Star Wars world that orbits two suns. It is notable because it orbits relatively close to its two stars compared with other directly imaged planets in binary systems.

Studying such unusual planetary systems could help scientists better understand how planets form around more than one star and improve techniques for detecting smaller, potentially Earth-like worlds.

Also, this year, Diana Dragomir, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Mexico, has helped discover a giant exoplanet, Gaia23bra b, which is a super-Jupiter about 1.6 times Jupiter’s mass through micro-lensing.

Together, the developments highlight New Mexico’s expanding scientific capacity, from a major international initiative in quantum computing to research on the history of life on Earth and the formation of planets beyond our solar system.

​

Thousands of New Mexico Immigrants Lose Medicaid Coverage as New Federal Eligibility Rules Take Effect

Ruben Reyes
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Thousands of New Mexico Immigrants Lose Medicaid Coverage as New Federal Eligibility Rules Take Effect

Thousands of immigrants in New Mexico lost Medicaid eligibility on October 1 as federal changes took effect, according to the New Mexico Health Care Authority. 

For about 2,350 immigrants in New Mexico, losing Medicaid eligibility this month means navigating a new health care system while trying to avoid a coverage gap.

The change is about more than numbers. Health advocates say it could confuse families who have relied on Medicaid to cover routine visits, prescriptions, and other medical needs.

“We know that here in New Mexico, a lot of our families rely on their Medicaid coverage,” said Shanae Satriana, a health care advocate with the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.

Satriana said immigrant families need clear information about what the changes mean and what they can do next.

“People deserve to know what’s happening with their health care coverage,” she said. “We don’t think that, just because they’re not born here in New Mexico or in the United States, that they shouldn’t receive access to health care coverage.”

The changes are part of a broader overhaul of federal Medicaid eligibility requirements enacted in 2025. The impact extends beyond immigrant communities, with the Health Care Authority estimating that about 89,000 more New Mexicans could lose coverage beginning in January.

New Mexico is attempting to soften the impact by directing residents who no longer qualify for federal Medicaid toward BeWell, the state’s health insurance marketplace. Advocates have encouraged those affected to enroll by November 1 to help prevent their coverage from interruptions.

But for families already dealing with changing eligibility rules, moving from one coverage program to another can be difficult.

“They’re used to having their coverage whenever they need it, right?” Satriana said. “If they have a need, and they go and apply, they can automatically receive it. Now, they’re only going to have a certain time frame that they can apply for this coverage.”

Community organizations are stepping in to help residents understand their options and navigate the transition.

The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty is among the groups providing information and assistance to people facing changes to their health coverage. Satriana said the state has made progress expanding access to health care, but gaps remain.

“We’re proud to be in a state that has expanded coverage for all New Mexicans,” she said. “But there’s still more work that we need to do.”

For immigrant families, the immediate challenge is making sure the loss of Medicaid eligibility does not become a loss of access to medical care.

State and nonprofit resources help residents determine whether they qualify for other coverage and complete the enrollment process.

New Mexico Health Officials Urge Flu Shots as Respiratory Virus Season Gets Underway

Ruben Reyes
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New Mexico Health Officials Urge Flu Shots as Respiratory Virus Season Gets Underway

Health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated now rather than wait until flu cases increase as respiratory virus season has arrived in New Mexico.

Meghan Brett, an infectious-disease physician and hospital epidemiologist at The University of New Mexico Hospital, said October is a good time to get a flu shot because protection can last through the typical flu season, which can extend into March or April.

“Now’s the time to get the flu vaccine to protect you for the entire flu season,” Brett said.

The vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older, importantly for people with underlying health conditions who face a higher risk of serious complications from influenza.

Brett said vaccination can reduce the likelihood of hospitalization by about 30% to 40% and may also shorten illness duration.

Flu vaccination is available through health care providers and local pharmacies, and a prescription generally is not required. The New Mexico Department of Health also provides an online map showing locations offering flu vaccinations.

Brett said people should not assume that getting the flu once they are protected for the remainder of the season. Multiple strains can circulate at the same time. A person who has recovered from one strain can still become infected with another.

The same applies to people who delay vaccination until later in the season.

“There’s no reason not to get vaccinated later in the season,” Brett said.

For people who develop symptoms such as fever, coughing, and a runny nose, Brett recommends testing for influenza, particularly for those with conditions such as heart, kidney, and liver disease.

Testing can help distinguish flu from COVID-19, which can cause similar symptoms but may require different treatment. People at higher risk for complications may benefit from early treatment, Brett said.

“People can die from the flu,” Brett said. “That happens every year.”

Health officials also recommend protection against other respiratory viruses. Brett encouraged eligible residents to consider COVID-19 vaccination as well, noting that receiving flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time does not reduce their effectiveness.

Some people also may benefit from vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Brett particularly recommends RSV vaccination for pregnant people, adults 50 and older, and those with underlying health conditions, with additional emphasis on adults 75 and older.

Flu vaccines are available as a standard shot and nasal spray. A higher-dose version is also available for some older adults. Health care providers and pharmacists can help determine which option is appropriate.

With respiratory virus season underway, Brett said vaccination and early testing help reduce severe illness and keep people from needing hospital care.

Draconid Meteor Shower Peaks Over New Mexico With Prime-Time Viewing After Dark

Juan Oliveros
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Draconid Meteor Shower Peaks Over New Mexico With Prime-Time Viewing After Dark

New Mexico skywatchers have a chance to catch the Draconid meteor shower Thursday evening, with peak activity expected around 7 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time.

Unlike many meteor showers that are best viewed after midnight, the Draconids are known for their early-evening display, making them one of the more convenient celestial events to watch.

The shower’s radiant — the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate — is in the northern sky near the head of the constellation Draco, the Dragon. The stars Eltanin and Rastaban can help observers locate the area, although meteors may streak across any part of the sky.

The Draconids are produced by debris left behind by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Their meteors tend to move more slowly than those of many other showers, sometimes leaving visible trails for a second or two.

Under dark skies, observers can typically expect about five to 10 meteors per hour. No major outburst is predicted for 2026, but the Draconids have occasionally produced unexpected bursts of activity.

The shower is active from about Oct. 6-10, with peak activity expected Thursday evening into early Friday. Viewing conditions could be favorable this year because the waning crescent moon is expected to set before darkness, leaving the sky relatively dark.

How to watch the Draconids in New Mexico

For the best chance of seeing meteors, observers should head outside after dark, around 7:30 to 8 p.m., depending on their location, and allow at least an hour or two for viewing.

A location away from streetlights and other sources of light pollution will offer better conditions. A clear view of the northern sky can help observers locate the radiant, but there is no need to stare at one spot because meteors can appear anywhere overhead.

No telescope or binoculars are necessary. The best approach is to use the naked eye, bring a blanket or reclining chair, and allow about 20 minutes for the eyes to adjust to the darkness.

New Mexico is well positioned for viewing because the Draconids are best observed from the Northern Hemisphere.

Cloud cover could affect visibility, so checking local weather forecasts before heading out is recommended.

With its early-evening peak and no special equipment required, the Draconid meteor shower offers New Mexico residents an accessible opportunity to watch one of October’s celestial events.

‘Definitely Worth It’: Balloon Fiesta Keeps Albuquerque Businesses Busy

Gregg Morgan
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‘Definitely Worth It’: Balloon Fiesta Keeps Albuquerque Businesses Busy

Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The event gives you plenty of chances to explore local shops and discover unique vendors. This year is no different, with visitors once again boosting business activity in the city. 

If you’re a Balloon Fiesta vendor, you can turn the event’s massive crowds into more customers and sales. Zeke Gomez said preparing for the annual celebration takes a lot of time and effort. He has worked with Roadrunner Concessions for 15 years.

“I stock all the material, I build this booth from basically the floor all the way up to everything you see,” Gomez said in an interview. 

Gomez said Roadrunner Concessions spends thousands of dollars to set up and operate during the fiesta, but the cost is worth it.

“We make it back,” he said. “It’s definitely worth it for us. You know, as long as we got great weather. It’s always worth it for us to be out here.”

Local Shops Also Feel the Balloon Fiesta Rush

While businesses along vendor row profit from the fiesta crowds, the economic impact also reaches outside the park. Shops in areas such as Old Town are also preparing for a surge of tourists this week.

19twelve Clothing Company CEO Fred Franco said it takes weeks to prepare for the increase in customers during the international event. 

“I have to be prepared for it. So we start prepping a month before just to have enough product and, you know, to have plenty of stock for the crowd that comes in,” Franco said.

He said products often sell quickly once they are displayed. His team works to keep pace with the steady flow of shoppers, and the results are noticeable.

“During Balloon Fiesta, we do about three times what we normally do, maybe even more than that,” Franco said.

As the fiesta heads into its final weekend, businesses are looking forward to bigger crowds and stronger sales. 

Two Pipeline Disasters: How Safe is New Mexico’s Sprawling Oil and Gas Network

Juan Oliveros
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Two Pipeline Disasters: How Safe is New Mexico’s Sprawling Oil and Gas Network

Two pipeline incidents occurred in New Mexico on Tuesday, one being 300 miles from the other, and the results could not have been more different. In one instance two people were killed, while in the other a natural gas pipeline was ruptured near the border with Colorado, sending flames 100 feet into the air and causing a wildland fire.

The seemingly unconnected events when considered together underscores the reality how dangerous it is to keep going with the huge pipeline system that supplies power to New Mexico’s oil and gas industry.

In Lea County down in the southeast, an industrial accident involving a pipeline turned deadly on Tuesday, October 6. 

Around 1 p.m., deputies pulled up near the U.S. Highway 176 and Bootleg Road outside Eunice and found both victims already dead at the scene. Officials say it was an isolated incident—no danger to the public, no damage to any buildings, and the fire was already under control.

By October 8, officials still hadn’t released the names of the victims, waiting until families could be notified. The investigation was ongoing.

Just three hours later and about 300 miles away, another pipeline accident hit San Juan County in northwestern New Mexico. Near La Boca, close to the Colorado border, a natural gas pipeline run by Harvest Midstream ruptured, shooting flames 50 to 100 feet into the air.

The fire spread into nearby woods along the pipeline easement, sparking a wildland blaze. No one was hurt—every crew member was accounted for. Some residents briefly lost power, but service was restored soon after.

Harvest Midstream Co. stopped the flow and cooperated with the emergency responders. However, the cause of the rupture has not yet been established. 

Company spokesman Jerrod T. Jones said, “Crews responded, the flow of gas to this portion of the system was stopped, and crews continue to coordinate with first responders as they address conditions in the surrounding area,” Jones said. 

The authorities in both counties have emphasized that the incidents seem to be separate and not connected. Meanwhile, the local authorities and people from the company are still carrying out their investigations.

Pipelines rarely fail for just one reason

Both cases underscored the reality that pipeline incidents are by no means rare across the United States.. 

Analysis of data collected by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration shows that the United States has had 1.7 incidents per day, or about 600 to 700 reportable pipeline incidents each year since 2010. 

Texas had 37% of the reported incidents, exceeding the national average.

The incidents involved leaks, releases, fires and explosions.

There were hundreds of explosions and more than 1,200 fires between 2010 and 2024. These pipeline explosions had resulted in nearly 200 deaths, hundreds of injuries, tens of thousands of evacuations, and property damage in the region of billions of dollars.

These incidents are not indicators that pipelines are inherently unsafe. In fact, the United States has hundreds of thousands of miles of transmission pipelines and millions more miles of distribution lines, so that the number of serious incidents is still small in relation to the size of the network.

What investigators will look for

Jahan Rasty, the director of forensic engineering at Texas Tech University, has been investigating previous cases of pipeline explosions. Generally, he said, investigators typically start with some basic questions, such as digging or doing other work near the pipeline, and whether the pipeline itself is in good condition.

He stressed that pipelines should be regularly inspected in order to look for problems like thinning of the walls, corrosion and other damage.

“You’re supposed to do periodic inspections to make sure that, you know, the pipelines are maintaining their structural integrity in terms of wall thickness, in terms of corrosion, and corrosion rates must be monitored,” Rusty said. 

Corrosion is one of the major long-term dangers. It can cause the pipe wall to become weaker until it is no longer able to endure the operating pressure.

However, corrosion is not the only issue. Investigators would also look for several common risk factors, including harm due to excavation or by construction close to the pipeline; corrosion of the pipe from inside and from the outside; effect of age and pressures; failures of equipment or operations; and natural forces, such as flooding and landslides among others.

In numerous instances, investigators conclude that multiple factors combined rather than one single failure causing the incident.

Two basins, thousands of miles of pipeline

New Mexico is heavily dependent on this infrastructure, particularly the Permian Basin and San Juan Basin regions. Both of these regions have extensive networks of gathering, transmission and midstream pipelines to serve the state’s oil and gas industry.

In remote areas there are many lines since regular monitoring is difficult. It is therefore especially important to carry out maintenance and inspections.

The deaths in Lea County are likely to lead to inquiries concerning worker safety, the way the site was being operated, and the circumstances surrounding the pipeline at the time the incident took place.

The fact that the San Juan County rupture brings up a different set of concerns. Though no one was hurt, the failure of a pipeline in a distant wooded region did result in a potentially dangerous wildfire, temporarily causing a disruption of power for the residents.

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