
By Julia Goldberg | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, everyone. It’s Thursday, already, with much of New Mexico likely to experience showers and thunderstorms today, any of which could be accompanied by “gusty and erratic” winds. As of last night, the McCauley Springs Fire near Jemez Springs had no containment, had prompted evacuations and was one of six fires burning in the state. We will be keeping an eye on that fire, along with numerous other developing stories today. Keep up with the news below and online at sourcenm.com. Thank you for being here.

The Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act’s executive committee — from left to right: Dr. Violette Cloud, Behavioral Health Services Division Director Nick Boukas, Health Care Authority Secretary Kari Armijo and Administrative Office of the Courts Director Karl Reifsteck pictured on Aug. 5, 2025. (Source NM file photo)
New Mexico’s plan to rebuild behavioral health creating clashes, confusion in some communities
Source senior reporter Joshua Bowling delves into some of the challenges emerging as New Mexico works to rebuild its behavioral health care system. Local leaders are crafting plans to rebuild behavioral healthcare in their communities through a new system of healthcare regions approved by the Legislature, but in some cases clashes and conflicting priorities have emerged.

New Mexico Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo) this week urged New Mexico’s tribes and pueblos to consider allowing online sports gambling across the state. (Photo by Danielle Prokop/Source NM)
NM lawmaker urges tribes to reopen gaming compact to allow online sports betting
Source’s Patrick Lohmann reports that a New Mexico state lawmaker this week urged the state’s tribes and pueblos to renegotiate the intertribal gaming compact to legalize statewide online sports betting, a practice currently allowed only in-person at tribal casinos. Rep. John Block’s (R-Alamogordo) comments to the Legislature’s interim Indian Affairs Committee meeting comes amid state and tribal litigation against online gambling platform Kalshi.

An oil well pumps during a snowstorm in the checkerboard region of northwest New Mexico. (Photo by Jerry Redfern/Capital & Main)
U.S. Interior’s reduced oil and gas bonding proposal draws rebuke from New Mexico conservationists
A U.S. Department of the Interior proposal to dramatically reduce both the amount of money oil and gas operators need to guarantee for cleanup efforts and the amount of time members of the public have to comment on oil and gas leases has prompted criticism from New Mexico conservationists. “This is a giveaway to the oil and gas industry, plain and simple,” Mark Allison, executive director of the conservation nonprofit New Mexico Wild, wrote in a statement.

Food Not Bombs Roswell can now return to Pioneer Plaza for its bi-weekly food distributions, following a settlement announcement Wednesday between City of Roswell officials and the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. (Photo courtesy NM Center on Law and Poverty)
Lawsuit settlement allows Roswell anti-war group to resume distributing food at plaza
An anti-war group that distributes free food to Roswell residents can resume its bi-weekly giveaways at a centrally located plaza in Roswell as a result of a settlement agreement with city officials announced on Wednesday.
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