US energy department invites AI data center development at Los Alamos and other federal lands 鈥� Matt O鈥橞rien, Associated Press
The U.S. Department of Energy said it has identified 16 federal sites, including storied nuclear research laboratories such as Los Alamos, where tech companies could build data centers in a push to accelerate commercial development of artificial intelligence technology.
The sites are "uniquely positioned for rapid data center construction, including in-place energy infrastructure with the ability to fast-track permitting for new energy generation such as nuclear," the agency said in a statement Thursday.
The move follows an executive order signed in January by outgoing President Joe Biden that sought to remove hurdles for AI data center expansion in the U.S. while also encouraging those data centers, which require large amounts of electricity, to be powered with renewable energy.
While President Donald Trump has since sought to erase most of Biden's signature AI policies, he made clear after returning to the White House that he had no interest in rescinding Biden's data center order.
"I'd like to see federal lands opened up for data centers," Trump said in January. "I think they're going to be very important."
The lands identified as potential sites include a number of national laboratories, such as the New Mexico-centered Los Alamos and Sandia laboratories and Oak Ridge in Tennessee.
While the tech industry has long relied on data centers to run online services, from email and social media to financial transactions, new AI technology behind popular chatbots and generative AI tools requires even more powerful computation to build and operate.
A report released by the Department of Energy late last year estimated that the electricity needed for data centers in the U.S. tripled over the past decade and is projected to double or triple again by 2028 when it could consume up to 12% of the nation's electricity.
The United States, under both presidents, has been speeding up efforts to license and build a new generation of nuclear reactors to supply carbon-free electricity.
While Biden's executive order focused on powering AI infrastructure with clean energy sources such as "geothermal, solar, wind, and nuclear," Thursday's statement from Trump's energy department focused only on nuclear. But in a lengthy request for information sought from data center and energy developers, the agency outlines a variety of electricity sources available at each site, from solar arrays to gas turbines.
Snatched pets and livestock deaths blamed on wolves prompt emergency in rural New Mexico 鈥� Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
Commissioners in a rural New Mexico county say pets are being snatched from front yards and livestock are being maimed and killed by endangered Mexican gray wolves that seem to have no fear of humans, prompting them to declare a state of emergency.
In the latest flash point over efforts to reintroduce wolves into the western U.S., Catron County commissioners heard nearly three hours of testimony Thursday from frustrated ranchers and concerned rural residents 鈥� some of whom traveled from Arizona to attend the packed meeting. Dozens more joined online, including environmentalists and state and federal officials.
"For us, for the people in this room, wolves are not some romanticized concept. ... For those of us on the ground, they're a very real daily threat," said Tom Paterson, a rancher and president-elect of the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association. He's worried about his grandson playing on the deck, just 100 yards (90 meters) from where wolves killed a steer in February.
County commissioners issued a warning to residents last week to be aware of their surroundings when outdoors and maintain constant supervision of children and pets.
The concerns stretch beyond New Mexico, as officials in parts of Oregon and Northern California say gray wolves 鈥� the larger, more common cousins of Mexican gray wolves 鈥� seem brazen and are killing more livestock. Two California counties declared emergencies in recent weeks and the sheriff in another requested help from state wildlife officials.
Ranchers in New Mexico and Arizona have been at odds with the reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves since the first release in the late 1990s. Despite limited programs for reimbursing certain losses, ranchers say wolves pose a threat to their way of life, which is already challenged by prolonged drought and rising prices.
Environmentalists argue that Mexican wolves should have a place in the Southwest, often criticizing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for not releasing more captive wolves to ensure genetic diversity among the wild population. They contend there's no incident in recorded history of a Mexican wolf attacking or injuring a person.
While fatal attacks are rare in North America, Catron County Sheriff Keith Hughes said there's danger in not removing Mexican wolves that frequent developed areas. He said one was spotted Wednesday in the community of Reserve.
There are at least 286 Mexican wolves in Arizona and New Mexico, but federal officials acknowledged Thursday that they don't know how many actually are on the landscape. They also say livestock kills are decreasing, with 100 confirmed in 2024. Ranchers argue that for every confirmed kill, there are likely five more where investigators don't have enough evidence left to add them to the list or the animals are never found.
Wildlife managers conducted 290 successful hazing operations last year to scare wolves away from rural homes and livestock, and the Fish and Wildlife Service reiterated its commitment Thursday to minimizing conflicts and reducing the economic effects on ranchers.
In the resolution, Catron County states the culture and customs of residents have been compromised by the reintroduction of Mexican wolves. It requests emergency financial aid from the state and asks the governor to order the New Mexico National Guard into service to support county authorities as needed.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office has not returned messages from The Associated Press on whether she supports the declaration.
In Oregon, ranchers in Lake County said they were forced to hire extra workers to patrol their herds around the clock because of issues with gray wolves there. Some bought night vision goggles to help with the task. That county commission declared an emergency in February, and wildlife managers ended up killing a wolf after nonlethal means failed to stop it.
California's Sierra County declared an emergency Tuesday, following similar action by Modoc County in mid-March. Neighboring Lassen County also has reported increased gray wolf activity.
In Colorado, a group is gathering petition signatures in hopes of putting the question of wolf reintroductions to voters through a ballot initiative in 2026. Federal wildlife managers recently killed a collared wolf that appeared to have crossed into Wyoming and killed several sheep.
In Montana, lawmakers are considering legislation to extend the wolf hunting season, while wildlife managers in Idaho allow limited trapping and snaring to manage the population there.
Disputes over management of both gray wolves and Mexican wolves have fueled legal and legislative battles for years. In the Southwest, the fate of a management rule and the boundaries of the recovery area are pending before a federal appeals court.
Western NM University regents tasked with addressing previous allegations of financial malfeasance - Leah Romero,
Western New Mexico University鈥檚 new board of regents will meet for the first time next week, taking the first steps in getting the university 鈥渂ack on track鈥� following claims of misuse of funds and violation of fiduciary responsibilities.
The state Senate confirmed four regents for the Silver City university during the recent 60-day session, including former state Sen. Steven Neville, attorney John Wertheim, WNMU alumnus J. Dean Reed and student regent Keana Huerta.
The fifth regent seat remains empty. A spokesperson for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told Source NM that they did not have any updates about when the governor might announce a fifth regent nomination.
The terms of two members of the previous board of regents expired at the end of December and the other three regents submitted their , about a year after the finding university leadership had misused hundreds of thousands of public funds on lavish trips and other spending.
The board voted in December to terminate former university President Joseph Shepard鈥檚 contract and then authorized a $1.9 million severance package. against Shepard and the board in January, alleging they had violated fiduciary duties, New Mexico鈥檚 anti-donation clause, the Open Meetings Act and laws pertaining to unjust enrichment, not fulfilling contractual obligations and acting on an unenforceable contract.
Shepard filed a motion in March to dismiss the case against him, . A hearing on the motion is scheduled for June 16, according to court records.
Huerta told Source NM in a statement that the new board intends to keep the university鈥檚 students at the forefront of 鈥渙ur discussions and work diligently to ensure that any issues are addressed appropriately.鈥�
鈥淲e as the board are committed to doing the right thing in this situation,鈥� Huerta told Source in a written statement. 鈥淓nsuring transparency and accountability while upholding the integrity of the institution are our priorities.鈥�
Huerta is originally from the Silver City area and a third-year student at WNMU, which she said makes her uniquely qualified to 鈥渦nderstand the needs and challenges of our local students, faculty, and staff,鈥� she said.
Neville, a former state senator who represented Senate District 2 in San Juan County, told Source he does not want to make a judgement on the ongoing investigation and litigation until he has more facts and that he will leave the legal action to the attorney general and the state auditor.
鈥淢y job is to try to get us a new president, try to get things back on track, make sure that the books are balanced and go from there,鈥� he said, noting that ensuring students鈥� experiences remain positive and quality education is provided are a priority. 鈥淲estern鈥檚 a very good university so we want to make sure that that focus continues.鈥�
Neville added that he has spoken to his fellow regents and said they are all working on gaining more knowledge of the university鈥檚 situation and are thinking along similar lines in regard to their next steps.
Legislators introduced four pieces of legislation addressing the role of university regents and how they are chosen during the recent 60-day session, but only one bill passed and awaits the governor鈥檚 signature. would 10 hours of training within six months of being appointed.
, , died in a Senate committee, and proposed asking voters to approve a constitutional amendment codifying regents鈥� fiduciary duties, moving proceedings to remove regents from the state Supreme Court to district courts and allow the attorney general or majority of the board to initiate removal of a regent.
also died in a Senate committee. The resolution proposed an amendment to the state Constitution requiring the governor to select regents from a vetted list provided by a nominating committee.
would have required regents to submit certain employment contracts to the State Board of Finance for approval, adding a level of oversight to boards of regents.
Governor, others call Trump tariffs 鈥榓 massive tax increase鈥� -
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and others said and ongoing trade war will hurt the economy and American consumers.
The tariffs, which Trump instituted on what he called 鈥淟iberation Day鈥� impose a charge on foreign produced goods, with different rates for different countries.
Trump framed the tariffs as a way to address trade deficits with other countries, and as a way to make the system more 鈥渇air.鈥�
The charges, experts say, .
On goods from China, for example, the tariffs will be 34% in addition to the 20% already imposed. The tariffs apply to all countries, even those that have been traditional allies for the United States, including a 20 percent tariff on goods from the European Union, a 10 percent tariff on goods from the United Kingdom and 24 percent tariff on goods from Japan.
Lujan Grisham called the tariffs 鈥渁 massive tax increase on New Mexicans鈥� and called them an 鈥渦nnecessary and reckless tax on consumers.鈥�
鈥淭hese tariffs will make everything more expensive 鈥� from groceries and fuel to cars and building materials, electronics and more,鈥� Lujan Grisham said. 鈥淎t a time when household budgets already are stretched thin, these tariffs could cost American households $4,200 a year, according to an analysis by The Budget Lab at Yale University. Shockingly, the president openly stated he 鈥榗ouldn鈥檛 care less鈥� if automakers raise prices on American consumers.鈥�
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luj谩n agreed that it was 鈥渁 tax on hardworking New Mexicans.鈥�
鈥淭hese tariffs are new and drastic tax increases on New Mexicans and the American people,鈥� Luj谩n said. 鈥淧resident Trump is recklessly threatening the American economy 鈥� all while working to give the wealthiest few another tax handout and blowing up the national debt.鈥�
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, who represents the border area with close trade relations with Mexico, called the moves 鈥渁 tax hike on working people.鈥�
鈥淪outhern New Mexico feeds the country and powers the state鈥檚 economy. These tariffs put all of that at risk,鈥� said Vasquez. 鈥淲hen we punish our trading partners, we punish ourselves.鈥�
Vasquez said that the tariffs would hit pecan growers, cattle ranchers and local producers hard.
Vasquez is which would bar the president from having unrestrained powers to impose tariffs.
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury also slammed the tariffs.
鈥淚mposing tariffs will hurt Americans, full stop,鈥� she said. 鈥淭rump鈥檚 handling of tariffs is not only reckless but shortsighted as it will hurt American farmers and manufacturers, crash markets, drive up prices, and undercut investments that keep jobs in America.
NM wildfire outlook above normal for most of state 鈥�
National fire weather forecasters warn that most of New Mexico will face above-normal fire potential this month, and those conditions will worsen until at least until the monsoon season begins in July.
The National Interagency Fire Center issued its Tuesday, presenting a series of maps showing New Mexico with snow pack far below normal, along with severe drought and above normal average temperatures expected throughout the summer.
Those factors combine to make the state, particularly the western two-thirds, at high risk of wildfires beginning in May, according to forecasters.
So far in New Mexico this year, 222 wildfires have started, affecting 31,675 acres. Humans caused the vast majority of those fires, according to the Southwest Coordination Center. The near Wagon Mound, which burned an estimated 15,000 acres, ranks as the biggest New Mexico fire so far this year.
Last week, New Mexico State Forestry released daily wildfire awareness tips, including how and when to
The potential occurs amid federal cuts to the United States Forest Service, including probationary employees who often had wildfire suppression training.
Proposed federal lease terminations also include two New Mexico wildfire dispatch centers covering one-third of the state, though U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich鈥檚 office recently told Source New Mexico that he had received 鈥溾�� that the dispatch centers would stay open.
A Heinrich spokesperson noted, however, that his office was still awaiting official confirmation about the dispatch centers from the General Services Administration. The Heinrich spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday as to whether that official confirmation had yet arrived.
Heinrich calls on DOE to uphold commitments, provide funds for projects 鈥�
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, is calling on U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Christopher Wright to uphold funding commitments for projects authorized under President Joe Biden鈥檚 administration.
Heinrich joined U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, and 25 other Democratic senators in sending a letter to Wright after news organizations reported on a 鈥渉it list鈥� of projects that could lose funding. That list of projects included an in Santa Fe.
Heinrich and Murray maintain that canceling the federal funding for these projects would break existing agreements, harm deployment of new energy resources and lead to lost jobs.
In the letter, the senators say hydrogen hubs, carbon capture facilities, critical mineral and battery storage projects that have already received federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the bipartisan infrastructure law or annual appropriations bills are on the list.
鈥淵ou assured us during your confirmation hearing that you believe that legal agreements should be honored (including managing the financial commitments you have inherited) and that you will follow the law,鈥� the letter states. 鈥淚ndiscriminately canceling program funding and executed contracts, and refusing to execute on the funding directives Congress enacted, neither honors existing agreements nor is consistent with the spending laws that have appropriated funding for specific purposes.鈥�
The letter further states that Congress has authorized the spending and the president does not have the authority to 鈥渟ubstitute his policy preferences for requirements in law.鈥�
鈥淒issolving contracts, cancelling grants and loans, and reneging on loan guarantees without any intention to execute the laws is not only illegal, but is harmful to the public and energy consumers,鈥� the letter states. 鈥淵our indiscriminate cancellations of spending will increase energy prices, make our grid less secure, and stop energy innovation.鈥�
The senators requested Wright provide a detailed list of grants, loans and loan guarantees that he believes should be rescinded along with explanations as to why he believes they should be rescinded.
During a Wright told reporters that projects that have already received allocations would not lose federal funding.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of great projects. There may be some areas that we don鈥檛 think are the most productive use of taxpayer funds, but when agreements are in place, of course, we will follow the law,鈥� he said in response to questions asked by NM Political Report during his Feb. 25 visit to New Mexico. 鈥淭here鈥檚 unallocated funds in both of those bills as well, and I think we鈥檙e going to have some opportunities to direct those towards the greatest bang for the buck.鈥�
New Mexico reports childhood obesity improvements 鈥�
The New Mexico health department on Wednesday said obesity rates for third graders decreased for the fourth consecutive year.
uses data from 40 schools across 21 counties, and assessed close to 2,950 students, according to a news release, which also noted that participation in the data collection is voluntary.
路 a decline in the past year in obesity rates for kindergarten students from 18.2% to 17.3%
路 a decline in obesity rates for third graders in the same time period from 27.5% to 24.1%
路 Boys鈥� obesity rates were 6.5% higher than girls.
路 Ongoing highest obesity prevalence among American Indian students at 27.6% of students
鈥淲e collect and analyze obesity data so we can invest our resources in areas that lack infrastructure for safe physical activity and opportunities to buy affordable healthy food,鈥� Health Secretary Gina DeBlassie said in a statement. 鈥淥besity in children highlights inequities in our community infrastructure and access to resources.鈥�
According to the report, department鈥檚 childhood obesity surveillance program 鈥� established in 2010 鈥� uses 鈥渂ody mass index (BMI) percentile and a standardized measurement protocol to monitor childhood obesity over time, identify at-risk groups, guide state and local prevention efforts, and inform appropriate resource allocation.鈥�
Despite the improvements, the report notes that obesity remains a significant problem in New Mexico, particularly for children, with obesity increasing significantly between kindergarten and third grade.
鈥淐hildhood obesity is a complex issue that is influenced by weight bias, socioeconomic status, food insecurity and community infrastructure,鈥� the report said, noting that in 2023, close to one-in-four (24.7%) school-aged children in New Mexico lived in poverty, compared to nearly one-in-six (15.7%) nationally in 2023. That makes 鈥淣ew Mexican children more at risk for obesity than children in other states,鈥� the report said, and children with obesity are more likely to develop: high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea and depression.
The health department program says part of its strategy to combat childhood obesity includes programs in seven counties and one Tribal community to expand activities such as farm-to-school food programs, exercise activities and nutrition programs.