By Joshua Bowling | Senior Reporter

Good morning, everyone. It’s Thursday. Yesterday, a judge ordered the social media giant Meta to pay $25 billion after a Santa Fe jury found the company committed nearly 44 million violations of New Mexico’s consumer protection law. The ruling in the New Mexico Department of Justice’s case came down while Attorney General Raúl Torrez was addressing a room full of reporters about a new lawsuit he filed in federal court against the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime attorney and accountant, alleging that they played key roles in covering up his trafficking operation. You’ll find these stories and many more — including a powerful investigation co-published with ProPublica about catastrophic flooding in Ruidoso — below and online at sourcenm.com. Thanks for reading.

New Mexico judge orders Meta to pay state $25B

New Mexico judge orders Meta to pay state $25B

A New Mexico District Judge on Wednesday issued a penalty ruling in the state's case against social media giant Meta, decreeing the company would pay $25 billion for unfair practices.
New Mexico AG sues Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime lawyer, accountant in federal court

New Mexico AG sues Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime lawyer, accountant in federal court

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime personal attorney and accountant in federal court, alleging that the two helped to facilitate and conceal his sex trafficking operation.
‘The river can’t be trusted’

‘The river can’t be trusted’

After wildfires scarred the Sacramento Mountains above Ruidoso, New Mexico, the community was under heightened threat of catastrophic flooding. Officials were aware but continued to promote the town to tourists who were oblivious to the danger. Source NM co-publishes an investigation by Abe Streep with ProPublica.
New Mexico hunting outfitters group says it ‘strongly rejects’ AG opinion that carveout is illegal

New Mexico hunting outfitters group says it ‘strongly rejects’ AG opinion that carveout is illegal

A coalition of New Mexico professional outfitters earlier this week pushed back against a recent opinion from Attorney General Raúl Torrez that concludes a state policy reserving 10% of tags for hunters who contract with outfitters is unconstitutional.
ICYMI

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We're reading this Hollywood Reporter story about Indigenous filmmakers finding a home for their work at the Santa Fe International Film Festival, which concluded earlier this week.

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