By Julia Goldberg | Editor-in-Chief
Happy Friday, everyone. Another busy week is just about in the books. Thursday brought announcements from New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez regarding two high-profile evolving situations: the Project Jupiter data center and the criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s time in the state. We have stories on both below, along with updates on the State Ethics Commission’s lawsuit against the Corrections Department for allegedly referring probationers to federal immigration agents in violation of a new state law. You’ll find even more to read below, with more on the way at sourcenm.com. Thanks for being here.
Aerial photos taken on June 26, 2026, show the construction site for Project Jupiter, the Oracle and OpenAI data center project planned for southern New Mexico. (Photo courtesy of Alexa Reynaud, Food & Water Watch, with aerial support provided by LightHawk)
New Mexico AG to investigate ‘alleged fraudulent’ letters supporting Project Jupiter data center
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez opened an investigation Thursday into allegations first reported by Source NM senior reporter Joshua Bowling that written public comments supporting a pending air quality permit application for Project Jupiter, the Oracle and OpenAI data center campus under construction in Doña Ana County, were “fraudulently” submitted under residents’ names without their knowledge or consent.
New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez on Thursday said the U.S. Department of Justice is withholding records the state needs for its investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's activities at Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe. Above: Protesters gather near the entrance of Zorro Ranch in March to help rebuild the Survivor Memorial. (Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/Getty Images)
New Mexico AG Torrez says feds impeding criminal Epstein investigation
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez on Thursday released a letter sent to U.S Department of Justice officials contending the federal agency has delayed release of multiple records related to the state’s criminal investigation of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s activities at his Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe.
A produced water pond in the San Juan Basin in New Mexico. (Photo by Danielle Prokop/Source NM; Aerial support provided by LightHawk.)
Dry New Mexico actually has lots of water. Unfortunately, it’s toxic — so far
Capital & Main’s Jerry Redfern sat down with Water, Access, Treatment and Reuse (WATR) Alliance Vice President Matthias Sayer to discuss what’s driving the Alliance’s petition before New Mexico’s Water Quality Control Commission to change state rules and allow treated wastewater to be used outside the oilfield.
New documents show that New Mexico probation officers’ practice of referring undocumented probationers to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was more widespread than previously known. (Photo courtesy U.S Department of Homeland Security)
New emails allege New Mexico probation officer ICE referrals more widespread than previously known
Source’s Patrick Lohmann reports on new evidence in the State Ethics Commission’s lawsuit against New Mexico Corrections Department Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero that alleges state probation officers’ practice of referring undocumented probationers to federal agents for deportation occurred more extensively than previously known, and continued well after state lawmakers banned such referrals in 2025.
Medicaid and the Road Ahead: Spending Cuts, Work Requirements and What's Next for States, Providers and Families
As a Direct from the Source subscriber, enjoy EARLY REGISTRATION for this public policy briefing from KFF and States Newsroom. Thursday, July 23; 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. MST. (Zoom link provided with registration)
Significant changes to Medicaid are expected to put new pressures on states, healthcare providers and those who depend on the coverage. Join healthcare policy experts from KFF and journalists from States Newsroom who cover these issues at the state and national level for an in-depth discussion on the impacts that federal funding cuts, work requirements and state policy are having on healthcare in the U.S. They’ll explain the latest developments and discuss the political debate around these changes. Audience Q&A to follow.
REGISTER HERE (early registration ends Sunday, July 12)
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