By Julia Goldberg | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, everyone. Happy Tuesday and welcome back from the long holiday weekend. In case you unplugged, congrats and not to worry — we’ll catch you up with the news in a flash. Below, find stories on the federal fallout for New Mexico’s veterans’ services; new resources being offered by an immigrant advocacy group; and recent studies about the impact of the state’s oil and gas industry on pollution in the Permian Basin. We have also kicked off our candidate interviews for the Nov. 3 general election with the state auditor’s race. You’ll find even more to read at sourcenm.com. Thanks for being here!
The Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is the primary campus for the New Mexico VA Healthcare System. (Photo courtesy of New Mexico VA Healthcare System)
Federal actions caused ‘significant strain’ on New Mexico veterans’ agency, report says
Source’s Matthew Mondschein reports that an independent oversight agency found that the Trump administration’s federal hiring freeze and deferred resignation program caused staffing vacancies and increased patient wait times at the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Healthcare System last year.
Marcela Diaz is executive director of immigrant advocacy group Somos Un Pueblo Unido, which recently launched Somos Futuro, an online platform aimed to connect New Mexico immigrant workers with job skills and education. (Source NM file photo)
New Mexico immigrant advocates launch platform for training, job opportunities amid federal threats
Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a New Mexico immigrant advocacy organization, has launched an online platform seeking to connect foreign-born residents with a variety of state workforce development programs aimed at connecting workers with industries that need them.
A pair of natural gas flares near Loving, New Mexico. (Photo by Jerry Redfern/Capital & Main)
Studies link New Mexico drilling to radiation, air pollution, health risks
Capital & Main reporter Jerry Redfern takes a look at two new scientific studies that
tie oil and gas operations in the Permian Basin to radioactive airborne plumes near the small New Mexico town of Loving, and outline how high levels of ozone pollution in the same area are also the byproduct of oil and gas production in the nation’s most productive oilfields.
The Nov. 3, 2026, general election features a race between incumbent State Auditor and Democrat Joseph Maestas, left, and Republican write-in candidate Joshua Ryan James Lawrence. (Courtesy photos)
New Mexico Election 2026: New Mexico state auditor
Source New Mexico kicks off its coverage of the Nov. 3 general election with candidate interviews in the state auditor’s race. Patrick Lohmann spoke with incumbent Democrat Joseph Maestas and his challenger, Republican Joshua Ryan James Lawrence, about their experience, opinions and plans for the office.
ICYMI
Thanks for reading!
We're reading (and gifting) a Washington Post story about the “rocky debut” of New Mexico’s universal childcare program.
Thanks for reading Direct From the Source. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.