Tag: rural America

“The Desert Is Not for Sale”: Inside the Revolt Against a Massive ‘Green’ Data Center in Rural New Mexico

A proposed renewable-powered AI data center in rural New Mexico has ignited fierce resistance from residents who fear the project threatens scarce water resources, fragile desert ecosystems and local control. The battle unfolding in Socorro reflects a growing national conflict over the environmental costs of artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Three Deaths in Mountainair Exposed the Terrifying Reach of Fentanyl — And the Unanswered Questions About America’s Synthetic Drug Era

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.

3 Dead, 18 First Responders Hospitalized in New Mexico — What to Know About the Mountainair Substance Scare

A routine emergency call in Mountainair, New Mexico spiraled into tragedy, leaving three residents dead and nearly 20 first responders hospitalized. Hazmat teams are investigating narcotics as a possible factor, raising urgent questions about rural preparedness and the hidden risks of overdose response.

The Flesh-Eating Fly at America’s Doorstep — and Why New Mexico’s New World Screwworm Website Could Be a Game-Changer

New Mexico has launched a centralized website to help residents identify, report and respond to the threat of New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue and can devastate livestock, wildlife and pets. Officials say the platform could become a critical early-warning system against outbreaks.

State Pays Law School Tuition to Bring Lawyers Where Rural New Mexico Needs Them Most

Across rural New Mexico, thousands navigate family court and civil disputes without legal representation. With nearly 88 percent of family court litigants representing themselves, the state is launching a program to place attorneys in underserved acequias, colonias and land grant communities where access to justice has long been out of reach.

Why New Mexico Is Losing People — and What the Data Reveals

Census data shows most New Mexico counties losing residents, driven by outmigration and natural decrease, raising concerns for the state’s future.