Former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-mexico">New Mexico</a> Democratic Governor Bill Richardson is planning to go to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/russia">Russia</a> to try to win the release of WNBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brittney-griners-wife-begs-biden-to-get-wnba-star-freed-from-russia">Brittney Griner</a>, according to a report.
Richardson, who served as energy secretary and UN ambassador in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/bill-clinton">Clinton administration</a> and has mounted several private diplomatic missions over the last few decades, is expected to go to Moscow in the coming weeks, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/gov-bill-richardson-travel-moscow-talks-freeing-brittney/story?id=86531091">ABC News reported</a>.
&#8220;We asked the Richardson Center to help and I&#8217;m encouraged that he might be going,&#8221; Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, said in a statement to the network.
Last week, the 6-foot, 9-inch Phoenix Mercury star, who has been held in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/russia">Russia</a> on drug charges since February 17 despite U.S. diplomatic efforts to win her release, pleaded guilty Thursday to bringing hashish oil into the country. Griner, however, said she did not intend to do so. She was playing in the off-season for a Russian team when she was allegedly caught with illegal vape cartridges at the airport.
The guilty plea sparked speculation it could pave the way for a prisoner swap. Russia reportedly wants the release of arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is known as “the Merchant of Death” and is serving a 25-year sentence in the United States, in exchange for Griner.
<div id="attachment_406850" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-406850" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-406850 size-large" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GettyImages-955082078-864x576.jpg" alt="Ex-New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is planning to travel to Moscow to try to negotiate the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/GettyImages-955082078-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/GettyImages-955082078-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/GettyImages-955082078-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/GettyImages-955082078-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/GettyImages-955082078-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/GettyImages-955082078-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/GettyImages-955082078-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will try to win the WNBA star&#8217;s release from a Russian prison. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)</div>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brittney-griners-wife-begs-biden-to-get-wnba-star-freed-from-russia">Griner</a> had flown to Russia to finish her season for UMMC Ekaterinburg when she was arrested. The team competes in the Russian Premier League and FIBA Europe’s EuroLeague. WNBA players can make far bigger salaries playing in Europe and Asia during the league’s off-season than they can earn in the United States, where interest in women’s basketball is limited.
Richardson in 2011 founded the Richardson Center, a foundation that works to negotiate the release of political prisoners globally. He most recently helped arrange a prisoner swap that brought home former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed after nearly two and a half years in captivity in Russia. He also worked to win the release of Otto Warmbier, who was held in North Korea until 2017, when he was sent back to the U.S. in a vegetative state.
In addition to representing the Griner family, Richardson is working on behalf of the family of Paul Whelan, another former Marine who has been held in Russia for more than three years.
Griner faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of large-scale transportation of drugs.
The White House National Security Council told ABC it was in contact with Richardson and “valued his efforts” but declined to say more.
Richardson was tied to the sex trafficking case of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a> in 2019, when his name surfaced in a civil suit Epstein victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre filed against Epstein crony Ghislaine Maxwell. Giuffre alleged she was trafficked to Richardson, among other high-profile men while she was underage. Richardson denied the claim.

Las Vegas Aces v Phoenix Mercury – Game Three

Ex Governor, Clinton Crony To Seek WNBA Superstar Brittney Griner’s Release

Ex Governor, Clinton Crony To Seek WNBA Superstar Brittney Griner's Release

Brittney Griner

New Mexico

Russia

Sports

WNBA

Two <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-mexico">New Mexico</a> wildfires now merged into the single biggest blaze in the state&#8217;s history were both started by a federal government agency, officials admitted Friday.
Both blazes were sparked by &#8220;pile burns,&#8221; fires set to get rid of wood and debris from thinning and reforestation projects, the <a href="https://www.abqjournal.com/2503225/officials-pile-burn-caused-calf-canyon-fire.html">Albuquerque Journal reported</a>. Although those fires are meant to be controlled burns, in both cases they have raged out of the control of the Santa Fe National Forest Service. The two wildfires, the Calf Canyon Fire and the the Hermits Peak Fire, have now merged. Between them, they have burned more than 312,00 acres and destroyed nearly 800 structures, including hundreds of homes.
“The Santa Fe National Forest is 100 percent focused on suppressing these fires with the support of the Type 1 incident management teams who are fully prepared to manage complex, all-risk situations,” SFNF supervisor Debbie Cress said. “Our commitment is to manage the public lands entrusted to us by improving the forest’s resilience to the many stressors they are facing, including larger, hotter wildfires, historic levels of drought, rising temperatures, and insects and disease.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Fire investigators have released the cause of the Calf Canyon Fire. The Calf Canyon Fire and Hermits Peak Fire combined to become the largest wildfire in New Mexico&#39;s history. <a href="https://t.co/BOvwYt4054">https://t.co/BOvwYt4054</a>
&mdash; KOAT.com (@koat7news) <a href="https://twitter.com/koat7news/status/1530242683154927616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
More than 3,000 personnel are battling the blaze in the state, which as of Friday morning was 47% contained.
The Calf Canyon Fire grew out of the Gallinas Canyon Wildland Urban Interface pile burn, which concluded January 29. Although officials though the fire had been extinguished, and it snowed in the region three times afterward, on April 9, crews responded to smoke in the vicinity. Crews monitored the fire until 10 days later, when it “reignited and escaped containment lines.” High winds caused “significant fire spread,” and the fire merged with the Hermits Peak Fire.
The Forest Service called the event a holdover fire, or sleeper fire – “a fire that remains dormant for a considerable time.”
The National Park Service reported 14 new fires were started as of May 20 in its southwest region, with nine fires burning more than 568,751 acres. Last week, U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore announced a pause of prescribed burns in all National Forest lands.
While officials expect to get the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire under control in the coming days, on the western side of New Mexico, wildfire dubbed the Black Fire is growing fast. It has consumed nearly 200,000 acres and is showing no signs of slowing down, according to <a href="https://meteorant.com/2022/05/27/57/hermits-peak-and-calf-canyon-fire-activity-winding-down-the-black-fire-grew-to-191459">Meteorant.com</a>.

New Mexico Wildfires

Feds Admit Starting Two Fires Now Merged Into Largest In State’s History

Government Admits Starting Two New Mexico Fires Now Merged Into Largest Ever

environment

Fire

An Albuquerque, New Mexico, homeless shelter that was built by the team from ABC&#8217;s &#8220;Extreme Makeover: Home Edition&#8221; shuttered its doors after those who ran it were taken advantage of by the very individuals they intended to help, but as homelessness rises in The Duke City, a local media outlet recently shone a spotlight on that failed charity.
In 2008, &#8220;Extreme Makeover&#8221; transformed the lives of the Martinez family in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by building them a massive house, as well as a huge homeless shelter to help their mission started by the family&#8217;s patriarch, Gerald. Gerald died in 2012 from cancer, but his wife Liesa recently told local media that even before he became sick, he had thoughts about shutting down his charity&#8217;s doors due to the behavior of some of the homeless people.
&#8220;Some of the people that we helped the most were the ones that became the most vicious,” Liesa, whose last name is now Reece, <a href="https://www.wmtw.com/article/home-featured-on-extreme-home-makeover-14-years-ago-can-no-longer-serve-its-original-purpose/39999039">told</a> a local ABC affiliate in the city. &#8220;They became entitled that we owed them something.&#8221;
The family was nominated for the hit reality show by somebody from their community who knew of their charity.
&#8220;Someone from a church here in town nominated us; they found out some of the work we were doing,&#8221; Reece <a href="https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-city-council-addresses-homelessness/40015752">said</a>.
&#8220;Within a week, the show built the family a new home and a homeless shelter in the middle of one of the toughest blocks in the city,&#8221; the ABC affiliate explained.
&#8220;Before he died, even Gerald said this isn&#8217;t working,&#8221; Reece added. &#8220;We&#8217;re being taken advantage of. Where we&#8217;re enabling too much.&#8221;
She shut down the homeless shelter not long after her husband passed away, but now she said that the neighborhood where the home is located is &#8220;the worst it&#8217;s ever been.&#8221;
Reece, who uses her home for wedding venues, told the media outlet that she would still like to help solve the city&#8217;s vagrancy issue.
&#8220;Something needs to be done. And I want to be a part of this something. Whatever&#8217;s going on, it&#8217;s not working,” Reece explained.
On Monday, the city of Albuquerque passed scene amendments that increased the city&#8217;s budget for homelessness and emergency housing by more than 100%.
Part of the city&#8217;s solution will be the establishment of what are essentially tent cities on vacant dirt lots.
&#8220;The budget also addresses the increase of homeless camps on our streets,&#8221; KOAT 7 recently <a href="https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-city-council-addresses-homelessness/40015752">reported</a>. &#8220;Keller&#8217;s office asked for $750,000 of that money to allow encampments to be set up in empty dirt lots across the city, and that&#8217;s a total of more than $7 million.&#8221;
The city also plans to build housing for the homeless.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Homeless Shelter Built By ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ Shuts Down After Vagrants Take Advantage Of Charity: Report

Homeless Shelter Built By 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' Shuts Down After Vagrants Take Advantage Of Charity: Report

Homeless

Homelessness

Over 100,000 acres of land in four states has been burned by out of control wildfires, which are also connected to at least one death.
A total of 4,000 homes and 130,000 acres have been burned in fires that have spread through Nebraska, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. The number of fires in the region is “above normal” so far this year, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/24/us/wildfires-arizona-new-mexico.html">according</a> to National Weather Service Forecaster Corey Mead.
The lone death so far recorded was in Nebraska on Friday as winds again fueled fires <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/23/us/nebraska-wildfire-death.html">across</a> 12 state counties.
In response to ongoing fires, New Mexico Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency for several of the state&#8217;s counties on Friday. The affected counties were Colfax, Lincoln, San Miguel, and Valencia.
“These emergency declarations will deliver critical funding for communities battling and recovering from wildfires across New Mexico,” Grisham <a href="https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/04/22/governor-signs-emergency-declarations-for-colfax-lincoln-san-miguel-and-valencia-counties/">stated.</a> “The state is actively partnering with counties and municipalities to assist New Mexicans affected by wildfires every step of the way. I am keeping the firefighters working all across the state in my prayers, as well as the families affected by these fires.”
The executive orders from Grisham pulled in $2.25 million in disaster relief from the Department of Homeland Security to aid in reconstructing necessary infrastructure and other needs.
One of the fires in New Mexico came after winds took hold of a legally started fire and spread it around. Another of the fires, in the Calf Canyon area, burned down close to 54,000 acres and was still only 12% under control on Sunday.
“More than 3,400 homes in New Mexico were under mandatory evacuations and more than 3,000 homes were under voluntary evacuations because of the wildfires,” The New York Times reported. “Ms. Lujan Grisham said residents who were not under any evacuation orders should be prepared to leave because of the nature of the rapidly spreading fires.”
Winds also played a role in the fires raging across Arizona, which started late last week. Republican Governor Doug Ducey also <a href="https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2022/04/governor-ducey-declares-state-emergency-tunnel-fire-coconino-county">declared</a> an emergency for Coconino County.
Over 19,000 acres were burned and 260 firefighters called up to try to get the Tunnel Fire blaze under control.
“Our team is on the ground working with first responders to monitor the Tunnel Fire in Coconino County,” Ducey said. “As strong winds fuel fires across Arizona, we are doing everything we can to keep Arizonans safe. We pray for the safety of the responders and firefighters in Northern Arizona, and are thankful for their dedication to protecting the lives, pets and property of Arizonans.”
He added that his administration&#8217;s prayers were with those impacted by the fires, and noted that they would continue watching the fires and respond accordingly.

Firefighters Battle Biggest Ever Arizona Blaze

One Dead, 130,000 Acres Burned After Fires Blaze Through Four States

Arizona

Doug Ducey

Michelle Lujan Grisham

Nebraska

Texas

Washington state and New Mexico are <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/594831-new-mexico-washington-joins-states-lifting-indoor-mask-mandates">lifting</a> their indoor mask mandates as other states and local governments across the country relax COVID-19 rules and regulations. 
The Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-washington-jay-inslee-a3e80ff2b74c56ab974eb98c0005ee47">reported</a> that Washington’s indoor mask mandate throughout the state will lift in most areas on March 21st, as well as at schools and child care centers.
Washington Democratic Governor Jay Inslee made the announcement on Thursday. The policy is one of the few remaining mandates in the nation. 
Beginning on March 1st, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will also no longer be needed to attend large events. 
“Masks will still be required in health care settings, like hospitals and doctor’s offices, and at long-term care facilities, prisons and jails. They will also still be required on public transit, taxis, ride-hail vehicles and school buses,” the AP reported. “Private businesses and local governments that want to require masks for employees, customers or residents will still able to do so.”
Inslee reportedly noted that the reason the mandate will be ending later in March is due to hospital admission projections. At a press conference on Thursday, he noted that COVID-19 hospitalizations are around 20 per 100,000 people. His stated goal is to get that amount even lower — down to 5 — which is the point at which he stated that hospitals will be able to go back to more of a regular working protocol. 
“To those who think maybe it should end earlier, all I can tell you is we lost 1,000 people in January to this disease,” he said. “And when we make decisions, it seems to me we ought to have a recognition of how dangerous and deadly this disease still is after this period of time.”
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) also made an announcement on Thursday, noting that the state’s mask mandate for indoor public areas would be ending. The declaration was not expected and the state’s leading health authority reportedly “had said just last week that masks were effective and that New Mexico was still in &#8216;hot water,’” per the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-new-mexico-michelle-lujan-grisham-e2e4fdad48cfd0368d972f9fbbf0ecf1">AP</a>.
New Mexico and Hawaii were the remaining states that had not determined a date to end their mandates before the governor’s announcement, as Inslee made the announcement for Washington on Thursday, as well.
“Lujan Grisham cited reduced COVID-19 risks and removed her mask at an indoor news conference alongside Democratic legislators and top officials from her administration,” the AP reported. 
“It’s not a political decision,” Lujan Grisham said. “It’s the right time for us. We are conquering COVID and we’ll keep doing that.”
However, she stressed that masks are still an effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep vulnerable people safe.
“I may never visit my mother without a mask on,” Lujan Grisham said.
The majority of the Democratic political figures and state authorities also removed their masks after the announcement, as well as Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase.
&#8220;Scrase said later that masks would still be required at hospitals and congregate care settings such as nursing homes,&#8221; the AP noted.
Lots of states have announced plans to get rid of rules regarding indoor masking, per <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/594831-new-mexico-washington-joins-states-lifting-indoor-mask-mandates">The Hill</a>. Many are now looking to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for its guidance on mask-wearing.
As CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/cdc-wants-to-give-people-a-break-from-wearing-masks-as-pandemic-improves-director-says.html">reported</a> on Wednesday, the CDC &#8220;is reviewing its mask guidance, shifting its focus to Covid hospitalizations as a key measure of the severity of the outbreak and future guide for determining whether health safety protocols need to be tightened, according to the agency’s director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky.&#8221;
“We must consider hospital capacity as an additional important barometer,” Walensky <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/cdc-wants-to-give-people-a-break-from-wearing-masks-as-pandemic-improves-director-says.html">said</a> at a White House Covid update on Wednesday. “We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen,” she said.
“We’re moving toward a time when Covid isn’t a crisis, but it’s something we can protect against and treat,” White House Covid Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said at the briefing. “The president and our Covid team are actively planning for the future.”
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Discarded surgical mask

New Mexico, Washington Announce Plans To Lift Indoor Mask Mandates

Mask Mandate

Washington

New Mexico Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham registered to become a substitute teacher to address COVID-19 staffing shortages at schools in her state.
Grisham hopes to serve as a substitute in a Santa Fe area elementary school as early as this week.
The governor&#8217;s action joined 50 state employees as part of an initiative to support teachers that was announced last week in the state.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Our schools are a critical source of stability for kids – we know they learn better in the classroom and thrive among their peers.
Today we announced our Supporting Teachers and Families initiative, supporting school &amp; child care staffing staffing and keeping school doors open. <a href="https://t.co/fE6XLfCigo">pic.twitter.com/fE6XLfCigo</a>
&mdash; Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovMLG/status/1483920456428273667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Our schools are a critical source of stability for our kids – we know they learn better in the classroom and thrive among their peers,” Grisham said in a press release.
“Our kids, our teachers and our parents deserve as much stability as we can provide during this time of uncertainty, and the state stands ready to help keep kids in the classroom, parents able to go to work and teachers able to fully focus on the critical work they do every single day in educating the next generation,” she added.
Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez expressed his appreciation to Grisham.
“Santa Fe Public Schools greatly appreciates the STAF initiative by Governor Lujan Grisham, as this will be instrumental in helping us return and continue in-person learning by covering staff vacancies and reducing the stress on our remaining staff who have taken on additional duties,” Chavez said in the press release.
The initiative hopes to fill the gap as schools and child care centers deal with staffing shortages due to COVID-19.
Since winter break, around 60 school districts and charter schools shifted to remote learning. Since the beginning of the year, 75 child care centers have partially or completely closed due to staffing shortages, according to the press release.
In addition to personally registering to serve as a substitute teacher, Grisham has encouraged state employees and National Guard members to apply. The initiative also waves fees for substitute teacher applications until March.
&#8220;Over 900 substitute teachers are needed in school districts throughout the state. New Mexico leaders said Santa Fe Public Schools needs approximately 85 substitutes,&#8221; <a href="https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-substitutes-schools-state-workers-covid/38818718#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KOAT-7 TV</a> reported.
The news comes as, &#8220;New Mexico&#8217;s health department reported 6,198 new COVID-19 cases and a seven-day positivity rate of 29 percent as the state as seen a surge in infections fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant,&#8221; <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/590994-new-mexico-governor-becomes-substitute-teachers-amid-school-staffing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a> reported.
Despite the governor&#8217;s emphasis on education, Grisham was criticized by many parents last April over her school mask mandate. One school district made headlines for unanimously rejecting the mandate, as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nm-school-board-votes-5-0-to-buck-governors-masking-mandate-despite-threats-of-removal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported:
<blockquote>The school board of Floyd Municipal Schools in New Mexico voted unanimously Monday evening to reject Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s COVID-19 mandates for the next school year.
Grisham’s administration had previously threatened the Floyd school board that refusing to follow state requirements for schools would result in the termination of each board member. The Floyd board believes that the governor lacks the legal authority to make good on her threat.
“I believe this is a victory for the state of New Mexico,” board president Leon Nall said after the 5-0 vote, according to <a href="https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/story/2021/08/01/news/floyd-continues-to-defy-state-on-mask-mandates/169408.html?fbclid=IwAR1mf-hcYt-r28rCZiY63FZ90dY1DiQmEVgNHCtxLuukAU33vM-5Lfy4KVA">The Eastern New Mexico News</a>.</blockquote>

Michelle Grisham

New Mexico Governor Becoming Substitute Teacher To Address Staffing Shortage

Education

On Wednesday, the New Mexico state Public Education Department suspended a rural school board of a district with roughly 225 students after it countered Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s mask mandate for requiring children to wear masks in school.
“The five-member Floyd school board voted last week to make masks and social distancing optional and reaffirmed its decision in another vote Monday despite warnings from state officials that they could face suspension or other enforcement actions,” <a href="https://www.abqjournal.com/2416691/floyd-school-board-suspended-over-mask-vote.html">The Albuquerque Journal</a> reported, adding, “The district’s superintendent has been ordered to report directly to outgoing state Education Secretary Ryan Stewart.”
&#8220;The Floyd board voted July 26 at a special meeting to make masks and social distancing optional and to disregard state guidelines on indoor air quality, transportation, surveillance testing, and other COVID Safe Practices. Stewart sent board members a memo the next day, advising that their actions were inconsistent with state requirements,&#8221; the <a href="https://ladailypost.com/floyd-school-board-suspended-for-refusing-to-follow-health-orders-superintendent-reinstated-and-will-report-directly-to-public-education-secretary/">Los Alamos Daily Post</a> reported.
In late July, the New Mexico Public Education Department released new guidance on masks and protocols for schools. “All individuals in elementary schools regardless of vaccination status are required to wear a mask while: in a school building, on school transportation or at an indoor school-sponsored event,” <a href="https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/nmped-releases-guidance-on-masks-for-the-upcoming-school-year/6184034/">KOB</a> reported, adding, “Schools must identify the process for ensuring compliance with mask requirements, including posting signage in school facilities, announcing mask requirements at events and other necessary means for enforcement.”
Grisham stated, “In-person learning for New Mexico children is my top priority. And with safety guidelines and unobtrusive health requirements in place, it can happen safely – and for the well-being and growth of our children, it must happen. Until vaccinations are available to children of every age, it will be incumbent on each of us, in school environments, to do everything we can to minimize risk – and that includes face-coverings.&#8221;
Stewart sent the memo to the board members in which he threatened, “We cannot put students, staff and their families at unnecessary risk as we continue the fight against the Delta variant. By ignoring these basic safety measures, the board impairs the ability of the district to offer safe and uninterrupted in-person learning opportunities.”
Steve Pearce, the chair of the Republican Party in New Mexico responded to the suspension by defending the school district: “The Republican Party stands shoulder to shoulder with the Floyd School Board and all other boards that refuse to accept these statewide orders from Santa Fe.” House Republican Leader Jim Townsend of Artesia echoed, “Instead of politicizing and headline-grabbing, I sure wish that the governor and PED would have implemented a serious plan to address the learning gap and the myriad of other issues that have been exacerbated during COVID.”
Republican Sen. David Gallegos of Eunice said of the Floyd board, “They represented the best interests of the children in their district. This gross violation of local authority is disrespectful to the students and families of Floyd and may even be a violation of New Mexico law.”

School Board Suspended By New Mexico After Defying Dem Gov’s Mask Mandate For Kids

Albuquerque

Children

masks

The school board of Floyd Municipal Schools in New Mexico voted unanimously Monday evening to reject Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s COVID-19 mandates for the next school year.
Grisham’s administration had previously threatened the Floyd school board that refusing to follow state requirements for schools would result in the termination of each board member. The Floyd board believes that the governor lacks the legal authority to make good on her threat.
“I believe this is a victory for the state of New Mexico,” board president Leon Nall said after the 5-0 vote, according to <a href="https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/story/2021/08/01/news/floyd-continues-to-defy-state-on-mask-mandates/169408.html?fbclid=IwAR1mf-hcYt-r28rCZiY63FZ90dY1DiQmEVgNHCtxLuukAU33vM-5Lfy4KVA">The Eastern New Mexico News</a>.
Floyd, a rural town of approximately 100 people, educates roughly 225 students from kindergarten through high school each year in its school system each year. Approximately 100 people showed up to Monday’s school board meeting, and a dozen spoke urging the board to continue battling the governor’s masking requirements and other COVID-19 mandates for school students.
The school board also voted unanimously to place school Superintendent Damon Terry on paid administrative leave. While Nall declined to give an exact reason for the decision, the board president said that it was for Terry’s protection and not because of any disagreement with the administrator.
Prior to the meeting, the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) sent a letter to Floyd’s school board warning that unless the school enforces the state’s health mandates, the school board could be removed and the state could take over administration of the Floyd Municipal Schools. The <a href="https://www.therooseveltreview.com/floyd-school-board-action-taken/">letter</a> said in part:
<blockquote>Dear Members of the Board of the Floyd Municipal School District:
It has come to the attention of the Public Education Department that on Monday, July 26, 2021, the Floyd School board held a special meeting and approved the actions listed below:
<ol>
<li>Masks are optional</li>
<li>Social Distancing is optional, a teacher’s choice</li>
<li>No MERV 13 filtering</li>
<li>Transportation will return to normal</li>
<li>No temperature checks</li>
<li>Surveillance testing is optional for staff, if a staff member wants to be tested, ok, not mandated.</li>
<li>Athletic Teams follow the rules of the teams they visit</li>
<li>Allow parents to pick up and drop off students to the classroom</li>
<li>Resume all classroom activities/parent involvement</li>
</ol>
As you are aware, the actions above are inconsistent with the requirements put forward by the Public Education Department, in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and/or guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, to protect the health and safety of staff and students, and to ensure continued access to in-person learning that is not disrupted by the spread of the COVID-19 virus. …
By noon on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, the board must take official action at a public meeting to rescind the actions listed above and/or to adopt a course of action that conforms to the published health and safety requirements. …
A failure by the board to provide written confirmation of a vote rescinding the offending course of action and/or adopting a course of action that conforms to the published health and safety requirements by noon on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, or any further violations of COVID-Safe Practices, could result in adverse licensure actions against licensed individuals, suspension of school board governance, and other applicable enforcement actions. Any punitive actions by the board against the Superintendent, other administrators, or school or district staff for following COVID-Safe Practices may result in immediate suspension of school board governance. Furthermore, the District will be subject to ongoing monitoring and site visits to ensure compliance with health protocols.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-mexico-threatens-to-remove-board-take-over-school-rejecting-governors-masking-mandates">New Mexico Threatens To Remove Board, Take Over School Rejecting Governor’s Masking Mandates</a>

NM School Board Votes 5-0 To Buck Governor’s Masking Mandate Despite Threats Of Removal

COVID

Schools

Democratic New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is threatening to remove the board of a small, rural school for going against state health mandates and refusing to require masks in schools in the upcoming school year.
The board of Floyd Municipal Schools voted July 26 against requiring masking, leaving the choice up to the individual student and his parents. The school board also decided to leave social distancing rules up to the discretion of the teachers and to end temperature checks for students and staff.
School board member Leon Nall told The Daily Wire that school administrators and boards across New Mexico are fed up with Lujan Grisham’s health mandates. “Every school I’ve talked to supports me,” Nall said, adding that other schools just are not yet willing to “put their name on the chopping block like Floyd schools.”
Floyd is a small, rural town of approximately 100 people located in eastern New Mexico. The school system itself serves about double that number as the school pulls students from the area&#8217;s farmers, ranchers, and others living outside the town’s limits. The school educates roughly 225 students from kindergarten through high school each year.
The state Public Education Department (PED) sent Floyd school board a letter on July 27, the day after the board approved its health policies, threatening to strip each board member of his position unless the policies were brought in line with PED requirements for the upcoming school year.
“As you are aware, the actions above are inconsistent with the requirements put forward by the Public Education Department, in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and/or guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, to protect the health and safety of staff and students, and to ensure continued access to in-person learning that is not disrupted by the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” the memo said, according to a copy obtained by The Daily Wire.
&#8220;By noon on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, the board must take official action at a public meeting to rescind the actions listed above and/or to adopt a course of action that conforms to the published health and safety requirements,&#8221; it continued.
“A failure by the board to provide written confirmation of a vote rescinding the offending course of action and/or adopting a course of action that conforms to the published health and safety requirements by noon on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, or any further violations of COVID-Safe Practices, could result in adverse licensure actions against licensed individuals, suspension of school board governance, and other applicable enforcement actions,” the memo concluded. “Any punitive actions by the board against the Superintendent, other administrators, or school or district staff for following COVID-Safe Practices may result in immediate suspension of school board governance. Furthermore, the District will be subject to ongoing monitoring and site visits to ensure compliance with health protocols.”
The Floyd school board is scheduled to have another meeting on Monday evening over the threats from the New Mexico PED. The board will vote to either scrap its health policies in favor of the states or stand firm and risk being removed from office and school administration potentially turned over by the state government.
“It’s the most important board meeting of Floyd Schools,” Nall told The Daily Wire.

New Mexico Threatens To Remove Board, Take Over School Rejecting Governor’s Masking Mandates

A spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, defended its bishop&#8217;s recent decision to deny Communion to a pro-abortion Democratic state senator and rebuked him for politicizing the issue by complaining about it on Twitter.
Democratic New Mexico state Sen. Joe Cervantes alleged on Saturday that Las Cruces Bishop Peter Baldacchino discriminated against him because of his political office when he refused him the sacrament. “I was denied communion last night by the Catholic bishop here in Las Cruces and based on my political office,&#8221; he tweeted. &#8220;My new parish priest has indicated he will do the same after the last was run off. Please pray for church authorities as Catholicism transitions under Pope Francis.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I was denied communion last night by the Catholic bishop here in Las Cruces and based on my political office. My new parish priest has indicated he will do the same after the last was run off. Please pray for church authorities as Catholicism transitions under Pope Francis.
&mdash; Sen. Joe Cervantes (@SenJoeCervantes) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJoeCervantes/status/1416429018790785025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Christopher Velasquez, who is the director of communications for the Diocese of Las Cruces, <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248420/diocese-responds-after-state-senator-says-he-was-denied-communion?fbclid=IwAR3XR75Q6-WbKTxXfEX3LBdTYtdw9XWmqUnZQNB21ZhPBjcQHOMzAffaD8o" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told</a> the Catholic News Agency (CNA) on Monday that it was &#8220;unfortunate that a pastoral issue with a member of the local church be publicized,&#8221; but clarified that Baldacchino withheld Communion from Cervantes because of his public support for a pro-abortion bill in the State Senate.
The spokesman further explained that the disciplinary action had been taken against Cervantes only after both his pastor and his bishop had <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A15-20&amp;version=ESV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">privately and repeatedly admonished</a> him to refrain from the sacrament if he intended to vote in favor of Senate Bill 10, which repealed a 1969 state law criminalizing abortions. Supporters of the bill, which Cervantes cosponsored and Democratic New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law earlier this year, argued that the legislation would be a precaution against any future repeal of Roe v. Wade.
“It did not happen on the spur of the moment,” Velasquez said of the bishop&#8217;s action.
“In terms of the diocese, we regret the decision of Senator Cervantes to politicize this issue,” Velasquez further told CNA.
“Bishop Baldacchino did not receive a response from the senator,” Velasquez said of the bishop&#8217;s attempts to rebuke him privately. “He [Cervantes] was contacted multiple times prior, letting him know that if he voted for Senate Bill 10, he should not present himself for communion.”
Refusing Communion to Cervantes, Velasquez added, &#8220;has nothing to do with his office or politics, it has to do with Senate Bill 10&#8230;with this particular bill, because of what it entails.&#8221;
Church authorities denying Communion to pro-abortion Catholic politicians has become a flashpoint issue since President Joe Biden was inaugurated. In June, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted overwhelmingly in favor of drafting a document that could lead to a rebuke of publicly pro-abortion Catholic politicians.
The <a href="https://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib4-cann879-958_en.html#Art._2." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Code of Canon Law</a> stipulates that those who are &#8220;obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.&#8221; According to the <a href="https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P82.HTM#:~:text=2322%20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Catechism of the Catholic Church</a>, &#8220;Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a &#8216;criminal&#8217; practice, gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for this crime against human life.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unconscionable-gop-colleagues-sound-off-on-rep-huffman-for-threatening-tax-exempt-status-of-catholic-church" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Unconscionable’: GOP Colleagues Sound Off On House Democrat For Threatening Tax-Exempt Status Of Catholic Church</a>

Catholic church. Celebration of Sunday Mass after the Covid-19 epidemic. Holy communion. Sallanches. France.

Diocese Fires Back After Pro-Abortion Democrat Complains On Twitter About Being Denied Communion

Abortion

Catholicism

Christianity

Religion

A Democratic New Mexico state senator who supports abortion claimed his Catholic bishop refused to give him the Eucharist over the weekend because of his political office.
&#8220;I was denied communion last night by the Catholic bishop here in Las Cruces and based on my political office,&#8221; Democratic state Sen. Joe Cervantes tweeted Saturday. &#8220;My new parish priest has indicated he will do the same after the last was run off. Please pray for church authorities as Catholicism transitions under Pope Francis.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I was denied communion last night by the Catholic bishop here in Las Cruces and based on my political office. My new parish priest has indicated he will do the same after the last was run off. Please pray for church authorities as Catholicism transitions under Pope Francis.
&mdash; Sen. Joe Cervantes (@SenJoeCervantes) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJoeCervantes/status/1416429018790785025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2021/07/18/new-mexico-democrat-denied-communion-abortion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">noted</a> that Cervantes was apparently referring to Las Cruces Bishop Peter Baldacchino, who did not respond to the outlet&#8217;s request for comment.
&#8220;The state senator did not specify why the bishop reportedly denied him communion, but his announcement comes amid discussion of whether bishops will deny President Joe Biden communion over his pro-abortion policies,&#8221; DCNF noted, adding, &#8220;Cervantes himself is pro-abortion and has said that he &#8216;fully&#8217; supports &#8216;choice.'&#8221;
“There should be no laws which outlaw the private decisions regarding pregnancy,” Cervantes told the <a href="https://www.abqjournal.com/1500521/qampa-senate-district-31-candidate-joseph-cervantes.html">Albuquerque Journal</a>.
Bishops and priests disciplining pro-abortion Catholic politicians by denying them the sacrament of Communion has become a flashpoint issue since President Joe Biden was inaugurated. In June, the USCCB voted overwhelmingly in favor of drafting a document that could lead to a rebuke of publicly pro-abortion Catholic politicians. According to the <a href="https://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib4-cann879-958_en.html#Art._2." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Code of Canon Law,</a> those who are “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.”
In response, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) accused the USCCB of politically weaponizing religion and floated the idea of punitively taxing the Catholic Church. “If they’re going to politically weaponize religion by ‘rebuking’ Democrats who support women’s reproductive choice, then a ‘rebuke’ of their tax-exempt status may be in order,” Huffman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-democrat-suggests-stripping-catholic-church-of-tax-exempt-status-if-biden-denied-communion" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tweeted</a>.
Huffman&#8217;s threat prompted rebuke from some of his congressional colleagues. As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unconscionable-gop-colleagues-sound-off-on-rep-huffman-for-threatening-tax-exempt-status-of-catholic-church" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>:
<blockquote>Sens. Ben Sasse (R-NE) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) joined Reps. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Doug Lamborn (R-CO) by criticizing Huffman in exclusive statements to The Daily Wire.
“Who is Jared Huffman and — more importantly — who does he think he is?” Sasse told The Daily Wire. “In America, the federal government gets to say squat about how Jews celebrate Passover, how Muslims celebrate Ramadan, or how Christians celebrate Communion. Power-hungry politicians can’t weaponize tax-exempt status to enforce theology. This is none of the government’s business.”
“It’s up to President Biden to reconcile his political beliefs with his faith as a Catholic,” Blackburn said. “That is between him and the Catholic Church. But it is beyond inappropriate for members of Congress to use their position in government to punish the Church for a sincere belief in the sanctity of life.”</blockquote>
Related:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-democrat-suggests-stripping-catholic-church-of-tax-exempt-status-if-biden-denied-communion" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">House Democrat Suggests Stripping Catholic Church Of Tax-Exempt Status If Biden Denied Communion</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unconscionable-gop-colleagues-sound-off-on-rep-huffman-for-threatening-tax-exempt-status-of-catholic-church" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Unconscionable’: GOP Colleagues Sound Off On House Democrat For Threatening Tax-Exempt Status Of Catholic Church</a></li>
</ul>

Midsection Of Priest In Church

New Mexico Bishop Reportedly Denies Communion To Pro-Abortion Democrat State Senator

A story that won’t receive as much media attention as one involving a male Republican governor, the female Democratic governor of New Mexico’s 2018 campaign recently reached a settlement with a former male aide who accused her of sexual misconduct.
The Albuquerque Journal <a href="https://www.abqjournal.com/2379452/gov-s-campaign-settles-with-ex-spokesman.html">reported</a> that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM)’s campaign reached a settlement with James Hallinan, who worked as a spokesperson for her 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
Hallinan claimed in late 2019 &#8212; a year after leaving the campaign &#8212; that during the campaign, Lujan Grisham had poured a bottle of water on his crotch and then grabbed his crotch through his clothing while laughing. Hallinan claimed other staffers witnessed this event.
The Journal reported that Hallinan claimed he “was talked out of reporting the incident by Lujan Grisham campaign manager Dominic Gabello, who is now a senior adviser in the Governor’s Office.”
Hallinan made the allegation in a tweet on December 25, 2019, adding that he would provide more information when he returned to the U.S.
“A governor … is not above the law for her sexual and physical abuse of employees including (me!!!) I’ll talk more when I return to the country,” he wrote.
Following the tweet, a spokeswoman for Lujan Grisham said the allegations were odd and false, adding that the staffers who allegedly witnessed the water bottle incident said it didn’t happen.
Lujan Grisham’s campaign spokesman Jared Leopold said in a statement Monday that the payment to Hallinan &#8212; which amounts to at least $62,500 paid out over five months &#8212; was part of a settlement that resolved “numerous dubious and disputed potential claims made by Mr. Hallinan arising from his employment in 2018 with the campaign organization and his subsequent search for employment.”
Leopold added that the settlement was agreed to in order to avoid an ongoing distraction, adding that the governor, Gabello, and the campaign “strenuously deny that there is any merit or truth to Mr. Hallinan’s claims, including his claims about difficulty finding or keeping work after the campaign.”
“They reached a settlement in order to avoid the continuing distraction and significant expense of possible litigation and allow them to concentrate on working for the people of New Mexico during this pandemic,” Leopold added.
More from the Journal:
<blockquote>Settlement payments were made to the Buckley Beal law firm in Atlanta, where Rachel Berlin Benjamin, an attorney for Hallinan, is senior partner.
She said Monday that the governor and Hallinan “have resolved any differences or issues to their satisfaction.”
“I am not able to provide any further information,” she said.</blockquote>
A settlement usually carries the impression of guilt, though it is not always the case. The way the media treats different cases, however, is far different. The allegations against Lujan Grisham are couched with wording meant to sow doubt on the accusations. This is not the case when a Republican is accused, nor would the story be covered as little as this one has been, with each outlet publishing just one article about it and moving on, with little to no TV coverage and no opinion articles about what this says about the Party or one particular gender.

New Mexico’s Democratic Governor Just Settled A Sexual Misconduct Case With A Former Aide

Sexual Misconduct

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