New Mexico lawmakers debate controversial funding, vaccine bills in special session
鈥� Clara Bates,
New Mexico lawmakers on Wednesday were flying through their agenda for a special legislative session aimed at minimizing the impact of federal funding cuts, with hopes of wrapping it up Thursday.
Around 6 p.m. Wednesday, the House was debating House Bill 1, the major funding bill intended to address federal cuts to health care, public broadcasting and other programs. The bill had cleared the House Appropriations and Finance Committee on a party-line vote Wednesday afternoon.
Committee Chair Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces, rattled off statistics on the potential impacts of the federal cuts contained in the budget reconciliation bill President Donald Trump signed into law in July.
When federal tax credits that help cover health insurance premiums for higher-earning patients who enroll in coverage on the state exchange expire at the end of the year, he said, a household of two in Taos County making $95,000 a year would see monthly premium costs skyrocket from $150 to more than $2,800.
"This will only grow over time 鈥� the challenge to New Mexico will only grow over time 鈥� but by getting started today we are going to do a few concrete things," Small said.
Republicans objected to several things about the bill, particularly $3 million to "contract for health care services provided by nonprofit health care facilities not eligible under federal law to receive Medicaid funding." Small told the committee some of the money could go to Planned Parenthood.
鈥淚 believe we are all sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father," said Rep. Mark Duncan, R-Kirtland. "And I will not give money to kill his kids."
House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, makes a note on the invocation she will present on the House floor to open the 2025 special session at the state Capitol on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
The Senate is expected to take up the bill late tonight.
Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, predicted Wednesday evening the bill would pass the House a little before 8 p.m., at which point the Senate would take it up, sending it through the Senate Finance Committee and then returning to the floor to vote late Wednesday night.
The Senate unanimously passed a bill Wednesday afternoon making a minor change to state law on mental competency in criminal cases, allowing Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court to hear competency cases, and appointed Greg Trujillo of Taos to the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents. A little before 6 p.m., senators voted along party lines, with Republicans opposed, to pass a bill giving the state control over vaccine requirements instead of relying on certain federal recommendations.
The Legislature's Democratic leaders were "laser focused" on minimizing the impacts of federal cuts on families, House Speaker Javier Mart铆nez said at a Wednesday morning news conference in the Roundhouse before the special session began.
"While dysfunction in Washington, D.C., grinds the federal government to a complete halt," Mart铆nez said 鈥� referring to the federal government shutdown that began Wednesday 鈥� "we are here today to step up for our friends and our neighbors all across the state."
The cuts will "hit New Mexican families the hardest and the fastest," he added.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham , which started at noon Wednesday, in large part to soften the effects of federal safety net funding cuts on vulnerable New Mexicans.
Democratic leaders said their priorities include protecting rural health care by expanding a state grant program; filling in for expiring tax credits on the health insurance marketplace for self-employed workers and small businesses, which could otherwise cause premiums to skyrocket; and directing resources to the agency that oversees federal food assistance and Medicaid 鈥� all issues they say are key to address before the regular 2026 session starts in January.
Republicans argued Wednesday the special session was anti-Trump political theater in reaction to cuts that won鈥檛 take effect until 2027 at the earliest. Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, said it is 鈥渂ased on the possibility that something might happen that isn鈥檛 happening.鈥�
鈥淲e don鈥檛 need to be here now for that,鈥� he added.
At a House Appropriations and Finance Committee meeting, Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, grilled Small on various points in HB 1 she argued were either in reaction to federal cuts that won鈥檛 take effect for more than a year or are unrelated to the budget reconciliation bill Lujan Grisham cited as creating the emergency necessitating the special session.
For example, Dow said, the fluctuations in commodity prices Small said made a proposed $8 million for food banks necessary have happened for years and aren't due to the federal bill. She also pointed to the inclusion of $100,000 to implement interstate health care compacts.
鈥淚 just have to remind people we鈥檙e having a special session with an emergency declaration blaming Donald Trump,鈥� Dow said. 鈥溾�� This has nothing to do [with it], and it didn鈥檛 require a special session and doesn鈥檛 need a study.鈥�
Small said some of the federal cuts, such as the expiration of the health insurance tax credits, will take effect sooner. He acknowledged others, such as the Medicaid cuts, won't happen until later, but he said the state should start to prepare.
鈥淓very one of the dollars we鈥檙e looking at appropriating here, where it goes, it鈥檚 going to start doing good as soon as this bill is signed,鈥� Small said.
The federal multitrillion-dollar budget reconciliation Trump signed in July is expected to cut taxes and slash discretionary spending through 2034, in large part through cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
"Make no bones about it: New Mexico is ready for this fight," said Mart铆nez, the House speaker. "That's because of years of smart budgeting and thoughtful policymaking, and because we've got the right leadership for the moment."
Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, said rural hospital closures could result from federal cuts and "leave entire communities without access to emergency care, maternal health services and chronic disease management."
House Majority Floor Leader Reena Szczepanski of Santa Fe noted the expiring .
"We're keeping health care in reach for the middle class," she said. "We want New Mexicans to know, regardless of what happens in Washington, D.C., your state lawmakers are looking out for you."
The Democrats said they're hopeful the session will move quickly with bipartisan support.
Wirth said he hopes to be done Thursday, crediting the work lawmakers did in advance of the session with the governor.
"We have to be here, and so you're going to see an efficient session run in both chambers," he said. "And again, if we're still here on Saturday, that'll be a problem."
New Mexico could be particularly hard hit by federal cuts: Medicaid, the joint state-federal program for low-income Americans, provides health coverage for 38% of New Mexico鈥檚 population 鈥� the highest per capita enrollment rate in the country. There were enrolled in Medicaid as of last month. Over 88,000 could permanently lose coverage under the federal Medicaid cuts, the state Over 459,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in SNAP or one in five of the population 鈥� also the highest per capita in the country.
Outside the Roundhouse, members of the New Mexico Dream Team, an immigrant youth organization, protested U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with a makeshift cage.
Members of the group read harrowing testimonials of detainees while kneeling or standing inside the makeshift cage.
鈥淎s people are getting picked up on the streets by ICE, they鈥檙e being thrown into cages, they鈥檙e being separated from their families,鈥� said Andres Esquivel, a spokesperson for the group, referring to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. 鈥淭his is something that鈥檚 happening all around the country.鈥�
The governor had initially proposed what her office called a robust legislative package for the special session that included prohibiting immigration detention facilities. The governor narrowed the agenda after talks with legislative leaders but plans to ask lawmakers to take up a proposed ban on immigration detention facilities during the regular 30-day session next year.
Santa Fe New Mexican staff reporter Daniel J. Chac贸n contributed to this report.
New Mexico Democrats rush to shore up safety net programs after federal cuts - By Morgan Lee, Associated Press
New Mexico's Democratic lawmakers were set to meet Wednesday to begin shoring up safety net spending in response to President Donald Trump's recent cuts in a top state for participation in Medicaid and federal food assistance.
Legislators are seeking new food assistance spending, while Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is calling for a quick response to federal Medicaid and tax cuts signed by Trump. She wants to provide state grants that can stabilize health care services in rural areas where clinics and hospitals often rely heavily on Medicaid.
The governor also wants to expand state insurance subsidies on the Affordable Care Act exchange. Exchange subsidies are a sticking point in the federal budget standoff in Washington.
"We're not going stand by while Washington abandons New Mexico families," Lujan Grisham said Tuesday. "This special session is about protecting the people who need help most."
Leading Democratic legislators also want to backfill federal spending cuts to public broadcasting. New Mexico could also become the latest state to break with the federal government on vaccine policy and recommendations.
Food assistance
Nearly one-fourth of New Mexico residents receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.
"It's really the first line of defense. It's not our only solution to food insecurity, but it's a big one," said Sovereign Hager, legal director at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.
New Mexico legislators are considering a quick infusion of state spending on food assistance through SNAP, as well as support for food banks and distribution networks.
Trump plans to expand work and reporting requirements for SNAP participants, end eligibility for many noncitizens, and alter deductions.
Jasmin Jaquez of Sunland Park says SNAP changes are looming over her final year at New Mexico State University. She said she and her 7-year-old son rely on the program.
"It's one big, huge help that's getting me through college, and attending full-time," she said.
Rural health care
Grants have been proposed to help services continue at rural health clinics and hospitals that rely heavily on Medicaid spending. Rural health care providers across the country are preparing to lose billions of dollars from Trump's signature tax and spending cut bill signed into law this summer.
Trump's bill sets aside $50 billion over five years for rural hospitals, providers and clinics 鈥� but that doesn't offset significant cuts. The stakes are high in New Mexico, where about 38% of residents rely on Medicaid.
New Mexico may also expand subsidies toward the federal insurance exchange that covers about 75,000 state residents.
Democratic House Speaker Javier Mart铆nez of Albuquerque acknowledges that many federal health care changes don't kick in until 2027 or later, but says that funds for rural health care and to offset other cuts are urgent.
New Mexico expects to lose about $200 million annually because of new federal tax cuts, but starting this fiscal year, it still has a large surplus thanks to booming oil production.
Vaccines
Many Democratic-led states have begun making their own recommendations for who should be vaccinated for seasonal respiratory viruses, including the flu and COVID-19, saying the Trump administration has jeopardized public health by politicizing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New Mexico lawmakers are considering a similar shift to state standards for the immunization of children and adults.
Changes are needed for access, consistency on childhood vaccines and to give the state's health department flexibility so that residents can have options, said Democratic state Sen. Majority Leader Peter Wirth of Santa Fe.
Rural radio
New Mexico legislators are considering spending millions of dollars for public broadcasters in television and radio as federal funds dry up.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which finances NPR and PBS, has announced its closure after being defunded by Congress. Trump also signed federal legislation in July that rescinds more than $1 billion earmarked for public broadcasters.
The claw-back sent shock waves through at least 13 public public radio and television broadcasters across New Mexico, said Franz Joachim, General Manager at New Mexico PBS.
"We no longer had two years to figure out how to survive, we had two months," said Joachim, who oversees a staff of 50.
Small public radio stations serving remote areas of the country, often beyond internet or cell service, are confronting an uncertain future. Many, including five tribal radio stations in New Mexico, relied on community public service grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, said Loris Taylor, president of Native Public Media.
She warned of stark consequences for public safety initiatives, including the recent deployment of emergency broadcast alert systems for missing and murdered Indigenous people.
"They're communication hubs, and they're also safety hubs," she said of New Mexico's public radio stations. "What you want are informed citizens."
Government shutdown begins as nation faces new period of uncertainty - By Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Stephen Groves Associated Press
Plunged into a government shutdown, the U.S. is confronting a fresh cycle of uncertainty after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday's deadline.
Roughly 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed, some potentially fired by Trump's Republican administration. Many offices will be shuttered, perhaps permanently, as Trump vows to "do things that are irreversible, that are bad" as retribution. His deportation agenda is expected to run full speed ahead, while education, environmental and other services sputter. The economic fallout is expected to ripple nationwide.
"We don't want it to shut down," Trump said at the White House before the midnight deadline.
But the president, who met privately with congressional leadership this week, appeared unable to negotiate any deal between Democrats and Republicans to prevent that outcome.
This is the third time Trump has presided over a federal funding lapse, the first since his return to the White House this year, in a remarkable record that underscores the polarizing divide over budget priorities and a political climate that rewards hard-line positions rather than more traditional compromises.
Plenty of blame being thrown around
The Democrats picked this fight, which was unusual for the party that prefers to keep government running, but their voters are eager to challenge the president's second-term agenda. Democrats are demanding funding for health care subsidies that are expiring for millions of people under the Affordable Care Act, spiking the costs of insurance premiums nationwide.
Republicans have refused to negotiate for now and have encouraged Trump to steer clear of any talks. After the White House meeting, the president posted a cartoonish fake video mocking the Democratic leadership that was widely viewed as unserious and racist.
What neither side has devised is an easy offramp to prevent what could become a protracted closure. The ramifications are certain to spread beyond the political arena, upending the lives of Americans who rely on the government for benefit payments, work contracts and the various services being thrown into turmoil.
"What the government spends money on is a demonstration of our country's priorities," said Rachel Snyderman, a former White House budget official who is the managing director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a think tank in Washington.
Shutdowns, she said, "only inflict economic cost, fear and confusion across the country."
Economic fallout expected to ripple nationwide
An economic jolt could be felt in a matter of days. The government is expected Friday to produce its monthly jobs report, which may or may not be delivered.
While the financial markets have generally "shrugged" during past shutdowns, according to a Goldman Sachs analysis, this one could be different partly because there are no signs of broader negotiations.
"There are also few good analogies to this week's potential shutdown," the analysis said.
Across the government, preparations have been underway. Trump's Office of Management and Budget, headed by Russ Vought, directed agencies to execute plans for not just furloughs, as are typical during a federal funding lapse, but mass firings of federal workers. It's part of the Trump administration's mission, including its Department of Government Efficiency, to shrink the federal government.
What's staying open and shutting down
The Medicare and Medicaid health care programs are expected to continue, though staffing shortages could mean delays for some services. The Pentagon would still function. And most employees will stay on the job at the Department of Homeland Security.
But Trump has warned that the administration could focus on programs that are important to Democrats, "cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like."
As agencies sort out which workers are essential, or not, Smithsonian museums are expected to stay open at least until Monday. A group of former national park superintendents urged the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors, arguing that poorly staffed parks in a shutdown are a danger to the public and put park resources at risk.
No easy exit as health care costs soar
Ahead of Wednesday's start of the fiscal year, House Republicans had approved a temporary funding bill, over opposition from Democrats, to keep government running into mid-November while broader negotiations continue.
But that bill has failed repeatedly in the Senate, including late Tuesday. It takes a 60-vote threshold for approval, which requires cooperation between the two parties. A Democratic bill also failed. With a 53-47 GOP majority, Democrats are leveraging their votes to demand negotiation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said Republicans are happy to discuss the health care issue with Democrats 鈥� but not as part of talks to keep the government open. More votes are expected Wednesday.
The standoff is a political test for Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who has drawn scorn from a restive base of left-flank voters pushing the party to hold firm in its demands for health care funding.
"Americans are hurting with higher costs," Schumer said after the failed vote Tuesday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home nearly two weeks ago after having passed the GOP bill, blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
"They want to fight Trump," Johnson said Tuesday on CNBC. "A lot of good people are going to be hurt because of this."
Trump, during his meeting with the congressional leaders, expressed surprise at the scope of the rising costs of health care, but Democrats left with no path toward talks.
During Trump's first term, the nation endured its longest-ever shutdown, 35 days, over his demands for funds Congress refused to provide to build his promised U.S.-Mexico border wall.
In 2013, the government shut down for 16 days during the Obama presidency over GOP demands to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Other closures date back decades.
___
Associated Press writers Matt Brown, Joey Cappelletti, Will Weissert, Fatima Hussein and other AP reporters nationwide contributed to this report.
Journal poll: How do voters feel about Albuquerque's sanctuary city status? - Noah Alcala Bach,
A slim majority of Albuquerque residents support the city鈥檚 immigrant-friendly policy, a new Journal Poll found.
A total of 51% of voters surveyed said they support a policy that bars city departments from assisting in enforcing federal immigration laws. By contrast, 40% of those surveyed opposed the local ordinance.
鈥淭his issue is a very partisan issue. It鈥檚 one where party affiliation, political philosophy and how you feel about the mayor strongly correlates with your opinions or support levels on this issue,鈥� said Brian Sanderoff, the president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc., which conducted the poll.
础濒产耻辩耻别谤辩耻别鈥檚 has made headlines over the summer and has become an increasingly prevalent issue in the upcoming mayoral race.
In July, Mayor Tim Keller 鈥� who is vying to become the first Albuquerque mayor to serve three consecutive terms 鈥� signed an executive order as immigrant-friendly. Additionally, he created a line for residents to call city police to find out if immigration agents are operating in their neighborhood.
The following month, the Department of Justice among 18 other cities. In a news release, Attorney General Pam Bondi said, 鈥淭he Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.鈥�
Who supports it?
Among those who consider themselves conservative, 73% said they opposed the city鈥檚 sanctuary status 鈥� an identical percentage of those who identify as liberal expressed support.
Additionally, approval of the mayor 鈥� a Democrat 鈥� provided another stark contrast in how participants responded: 67% of respondents who approve of the mayor鈥檚 work supported the local policy, while 58% of those who disapprove opposed it.
鈥淧eople who approve of the mayor鈥檚 job performance are much more likely to support the mayor鈥檚 policy,鈥� Sanderoff said.
Among those who support the mayor鈥檚 policy, 54% of women surveyed expressed support, while 46% of male respondents opposed it.
鈥淲omen in Albuquerque are more likely to be registered as Democrats and more likely to be liberal than are men,鈥� Sanderoff said. 鈥淎nd women are more likely to be more progressive on social issues than men.鈥�
Age also influenced people鈥檚 opinions on the issue, with 49% of seniors surveyed opposed to the ordinance, while 61% of those 18 to 34 years old expressed approval.
Familiarity
In a separate poll question, voters were asked how familiar they were with the policy. Some 25% of respondents said they were 鈥渧ery familiar,鈥� 46% said they were 鈥渟omewhat familiar鈥� and 28% said they were not.
However, among those who were very familiar, 51% opposed the local law, and 48% supported it. Only 1% of those very familiar said they were unsure.
鈥淲e do see that Republicans, conservatives, men and those who disapprove of the mayor are more likely to be very familiar with it in the first place,鈥� Sanderoff said. 鈥淭hose who are paying more attention to the issue are more likely to be opposed.鈥�
For those who said they were 鈥渟omewhat familiar,鈥� 56% said they supported the sanctuary status, while 36% opposed.
Methodology
The Journal Poll is based on a random sample of 514 voters who cast ballots in the 2021 and/or 2023 local government election, and a sample of adults who registered to vote since January 2024 and who said they are likely to vote in the upcoming local government election.
To ensure a representative sample, Research & Polling Inc. sets quotas for race, gender, and age, and weights by education level and party affiliation, if necessary, based on traditional voting patterns in local government elections.
The poll was conducted Sept. 19 through Sept. 26. The voter sample size of 514 has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points. The margin of error grows for subsamples.
All interviews were conducted by live, professional interviewers, based in Albuquerque, with multiple callbacks to individuals who did not initially answer the phone.
Both cellphone numbers (96%) and landlines (4%) of likely voters were used.
Legislators to pursue updated study, $15M for suicide deterrents at Rio Grande Gorge Bridge - John Miller,
At a youth rally held Friday in response to a recent string of suicides at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, state Rep. Susan Herrera, D-Embudo, said state lawmakers would be seeking an updated feasibility study and between $10 million and $15 million from next year鈥檚 legislative session for additional safety measures, such as higher railings, at the 60-year-old structure.
鈥淏y God, if there鈥檚 anything I care about, it鈥檚 this,鈥� Herrera told a crowd of students, first responders and families of people who have died at the bridge. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to do everything in my power to get that money in the budget this year with an emergency clause, so as soon as we have the money, we can start building it. That鈥檚 what we need to do.鈥�
Speaking at a Legislative Finance Committee meeting a day prior in Hobbs, New Mexico Department of Transportation Secretary Ricky Serna said the department鈥檚 previous bridge study was commissioned in 2018 but did not result in additions such as raised railings, fencing or netting 鈥� solutions that have proven effective at mitigating suicides at high bridges elsewhere in the U.S.
In addition to examining the feasibility of physical suicide deterrents, which were the focus of Friday鈥檚 rally, Serna told the Journal last week that the state would also examine the possibility of professional mental health support personnel for the bridge. The department recently increased the number of security guards at the tourist destination to three and last year repaired 10 call boxes designed to connect people in crisis to counseling.
鈥淭he range of what we鈥檙e looking at now goes from preventative measures to counter measures to infrastructure upgrades and everything in between,鈥� Serna said.
Responding to a request from Taos County Sheriff Steve Miera, whose staff for decades has descended into the rugged canyon below the bridge to recover the bodies of suicide victims, Serna closed the structure to foot traffic on Sept. 22. The bridge remained closed as of Tuesday.
鈥淗e called on us to do something that could preserve life immediately,鈥� Serna said. 鈥淚 concurred that closing the bridge to pedestrian traffic could present a short-term, but effective countermeasure. Right now, we don鈥檛 have a timeline for that.鈥�
The bridge鈥檚 sidewalks often draw hundreds of sightseers daily. Miera called for them to be temporarily closed following a string of three suicides last month. Six suicides have occurred at the bridge this year, double the annual average cited by officials.
State Sen. Roberto 鈥淏obby鈥� Gonzales, D-Ranchos de Taos, a New Mexico lawmaker based in Taos County since the mid-鈥�90s, told the Journal that 鈥渢here鈥檚 more support now than ever to make something happen.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 more awareness within the legislators that are not from the area,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 recognized that the problem is not going away 鈥� the problem is there.鈥�
State Rep. Kristina Ortez, D-Taos, said local legislators have for years pressed the state to take action to make it harder for people to commit suicide at the bridge, which sits 600 feet from the canyon floor and whose railings are currently 4 feet tall.
But she added that the call to action at the bridge is coming at a time when the state鈥檚 budget may be under unusual strain.
鈥淲e have to be really careful with how we steward our money right now because we have so many things that we have to make up for with federal cuts,鈥� she said.
Taos County Manager Brent Jaramillo also added his voice to the mix of advocates calling for action.
鈥淲e believe the State of New Mexico has the capacity and responsibility to address this issue,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith some of the brightest minds working in state government, we are confident that a meaningful and effective deterrent can be developed. If we can put a man on the moon, surely, we can find a solution to help prevent further loss of life at the Gorge Bridge.鈥�
Anna Maria Gonzales, who lost her teenage son to suicide at the bridge in March 2022, told rallygoers Friday that the site had been one of her family鈥檚 favorite places to hike and sightsee.
EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE: If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide 鈥� you can call or text the at 988.
Mayoral candidate ends campaign amid low polling and battery allegations - Gillian Barkhurst,
Mayoral candidate Daniel Chavez confirmed that he will end his campaign due to low polling numbers.
鈥滻 am dropping out of the race to (be) 础濒产耻辩耻别谤辩耻别鈥檚 next mayor as I no longer see a viable path forward after the poll results from Sunday,鈥� Chavez said in a statement Tuesday.
In a Journal Poll, 1% of likely voters said they would vote for Chavez. Comparatively, incumbent Tim Keller and challenger Darren White are polling at 29 and 16%, respectively.
Though Chavez has suspended his campaign, his name will still appear on the ballot as the announcement came after the drop-out deadline in early September.
With Chavez out of the running, this leaves six candidates vying for the mayoral seat. Though Keller and White are currently polling the highest, 37% of voters are undecided, according to the Journal Poll.
Last week, news broke that Chavez had been charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly a campaign staffer, according to court records. A criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court says that Chavez 鈥済rabbed and patted (a former staffer鈥檚) buttocks twice without consent.鈥�
Chavez pleaded not guilty Aug. 18 to the petty misdemeanor charge and was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled for a bench trial on Oct. 14 before Metropolitan Court Judge Renee Torres.
Chavez said the allegations did not influence his decision to suspend his campaign.
Enormous new duck-billed dinosaur species identified in northwest New Mexico - 91暗网 News
New Mexico has a newly discovered dinosaur.
About 75 million years ago, Ahshiselsaurus wimani roamed what is now northwestern New Mexico.
This particular dinosaur had two distinctive characteristics: It was duck-billed. And it was enormous.
A team of researchers, including paleontologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, said that the dinosaur could have weighed more than nine tons. Scientists estimate the creatures could grow to about 35 feet long.
Back in 1916, bones uncovered in San Juan County were attributed to a different duck鈥揵illed herbivore, Kritosaurus navajovius.
But, it turns out this dinosaur didn鈥檛 have the Kritosaurus distinctive head crest. So, welcome to the Late Cretaceous social register, the no-head-crest-having Ahshiselsaurus wimani.
The dinosaur was named for the Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness in San Juan County, where it was uncovered.