By Julia Goldberg | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, everyone. It’s Tuesday and, if Monday serves as any indication, another busy news week has begun. Below, we have updates on yesterday’s announcement by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that the state will seek restitution from the federal government following allegations that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials knowingly allowed fentanyl into the state. Speaking of the governor, she is scheduled to appear at the Western Governors’ Association’s annual meeting kicking off today in Utah, along with other New Mexico officials. Closer to home, the state Democratic Party is facing internal conflict in the aftermath of Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s withdrawal as its lieutenant governor candidate, with at least two public figures hoping to replace her on the Nov. 3 ballot. Read all about it below, and find even more news online at sourcenm.com. As always, thank you for being here.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham spoke alongside (left to right) state Department of Health Secretary Gina DeBlassie, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and New Mexico National Guard Adjutant General Miguel Aguilar on Monday to demand the federal government be held responsible following allegations that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials let copious amounts of fentanyl flow into the state. (Photo by Joshua Bowling/Source NM)
New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham calls for restitution amid allegations that feds let fentanyl into NM
Alongside city, state and law enforcement officials, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham at a news conference Monday said she would seek restitution from the federal government over allegations that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials knowingly let fentanyl shipments into New Mexico. Source senior reporter Joshua Bowling reports that Lujan Grisham said she was working to schedule a meeting with the White House.
Firefighters with the 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron test hose-water pressure before an exercise Aug. 14, 2015, at Cannon Air Force Base. New Mexico environment officials have cited the base for a spill of wastewater containing firefighting foam with toxic chemicals that soaked into the aquifer. (Photo by U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alex Mercer)
Talks between New Mexico, Air Force officials progressing on PFAS cleanup
Some headway has been made between New Mexico environment officials and U.S. Air Force leaders in discussions on how to clean up toxic “forever chemicals” that have seeped into the groundwater on and around Cannon Air Force Base in eastern New Mexico. Source senior reporter Joshua Bowling reports on a recent update provided by the state to New Mexico legislators.
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) urged New Mexico officials in a letter June 26, 2026, to reduce its high rate of errors in administering the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Photo by Leah Romero for Source NM)
NM U.S. Rep. Vasquez urges state Health Care Authority to bring down SNAP error rate
U.S Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) recently wrote a letter to Health Care Authority Secretary Kari Armijo and fellow Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham chiding them for the state’s high error rate in administrating the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program. In a statement to Source NM reporter Patrick Lohmann, Lujan Grisham said she shares Vasquez’s concerns, but said he did not have “all the facts before he wrote the letter.”
New Mexico State Sen. Harold James Pope Jr. (D-Albuquerque) announced on Monday that he was staying in the race to become lieutenant governor, despite Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland’s endorsement of another candidate a few days prior. (Photo courtesy Harold James Pope Jr.)
NM Sen. Pope staying in Dem lieutenant governor race even after losing Haaland endorsement
On Friday, New Mexico’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland endorsed state Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard as her running mate for the Nov. 3 general election ballot. But state Sen. Harold Pope (D-Albuquerque) tells Source NM reporter Patrick Lohmann he remains in the running as the state Democratic Party’s Central Committee prepares for a vote later in July. The upheaval in the aftermath of Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s withdrawal from the race has created conflict and concern regarding the process for replacing her.
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