Brant's Exclusive

Five years after New Mexico dismantled qualified immunity, county governments say soaring insurance costs and civil rights lawsuits are straining already fragile budgets. Supporters of the law argue the financial pain reflects a long-overdue reckoning with police misconduct and constitutional violations. The clash has turned New Mexico into a national test case over the true cost of accountability.

A deadly overdose scene in Mountainair, New Mexico, left three people dead and 18 first responders hospitalized, exposing both the devastating reach of fentanyl and the growing fear surrounding accidental exposure. The tragedy reflects a broader crisis gripping rural America, where synthetic opioids, methamphetamine and collapsing behavioral health systems are colliding with deadly consequences.

A silent poison has flowed through American taps for decades. As New Mexico receives over $27 million to root out lead service lines, the urgent race to protect children from irreversible harm is finally accelerating.

The ACLU is asking the New Mexico Supreme Court to halt a state policy requiring the automatic removal of newborns exposed to drugs, arguing it violates constitutional rights and separates families without individualized investigations. Supporters say the directive protects vulnerable infants and prioritizes child safety amid rising concerns over addiction and neglect.

Santa Fe police officers are increasingly living in Rio Rancho due to soaring housing costs, raising concerns about community connection and public safety.