Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative

07/18/2025

Ruidoso residents and business owners are left with more questions than answers in the aftermath of severe flooding that hit the community July 8 after an intense storm.

Reporter Jonny Coker spoke with residents and village officials about what's next in the wake of the disaster. Check out his video report below!

Catastrophic flooding struck the mountaintop village of Ruidoso on July 8, 2025, after a downpour on burn scars left in the wake of two wildfires a year earl...

06/18/2025

It's been one year since the devastating fires ignited that burned a swath of Ruidoso and killed two people. The fires were followed almost immediately by severe flooding.

Find out more about where the recovery stands in this story by journalist Elva K. Österreich: (Link to story is in the comments!)

Village sees signs of rebound after devastation of summer 2024

06/04/2025

Damien Willis, founder of our partner newsroom, Organ Mountain News, talked with experts about why the Lordsburg Playa near the Arizona-New Mexico state line is so deadly.

More than 40 people have been killed in dust-related crashes over the past six decades. About half of those deaths have occurred since 2012.

Read the full story below:

Wind, dust, climate change and traffic brew a perfect storm near the Arizona border

06/04/2025

Many thanks to Janie Malley for sharing her heartbreaking, true story with us.

💨⚠️⚠️Until significant mitigation happens, I-10 near the Arizona-New Mexico state line will remain a major public safety hazard due to its location on a huge field of dust known as the Lordsburg Playa and due to the growing risk for dust storms.

He left home in a purple pickup. She warned him about the wind. What happened next is part of a growing crisis on this lonely stretch of highway in southwest New Mexico.

03/17/2025

DOGE-led firings could affect national parks and facilities across new Mexico, including the Gila National Forest, Carlsbad Caverns and veterans services.

Check out the story below:

From national parks to the VA, residents count the costs By Elva K. Österreich & Diana Alba Soular Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO – Across Southern New Mexico and the country individuals were terminated from their federal jobs in recent weeks by the

02/04/2025

A public meeting is set for Feb. 4 in Animas after last week's arrest of a student who allegedly took a gun to the high school campus. Story by Damien Willis. More info⤵️

SouthNMnews.org

(Sorry, Facebook kept removing the link to this post automatically, likely because it discusses a sensitive subject.)

If you go What : Community meeting about gun taken to campus When : 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 Where : Animas Public Schools Auditorium, 1 Panther Drive, in Animas

12/28/2024

School-based health centers offer a lot of potential to connect kids to mental health care during an ongoing nationwide crisis.

But some say the model is falling flat in Las Cruces due to a lack of staffing at the facilities, as well as other challenges.

Story by Juan Corral and Diana Alba Soular

Editor’s note: This article is one in a series by the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative examining possible solutions to an ongoing mental health crisis among youth. This project is supported by a grant from the nonprofit Solutions Journalism Network. School-based health centers lack sta

12/28/2024

You may have heard about the 988 mental health and crisis hotline. But did you know kids (or anyone, really) can use it by texting? Help is also available in Spanish!

Find out all about it in this story by Brook Stockberger and Diana Alba Soular!

Editor’s note: This article is the fourth in a series by the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative examining possible solutions to an ongoing mental health crisis among youth. This work is supported by a grant from the nonprofit Solutions Journalism Network. Crisis hotline offers support 24

12/28/2024

Did you know there are classes to help adults support kids with mental health?

They are free to attend and happen regularly in Las Cruces!

Brook Stockberger writes about what you can expect if you attend:

Editor’s note: This article is the third in a series by the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative examining possible solutions to an ongoing mental health crisis among youth. This project is supported by a grant from the nonprofit Solutions Journalism Network. Doña Ana County offers free t...

12/28/2024

One concern we heard in our reporting is about kids being afraid of violence like a school shooting. Another concern expressed by kids was va**ng in their schools. School officials across New Mexico are grappling with both challenges.

Are clear backpacks an answer? Learn more below in this story by Damien Willis!

Editor’s note: This article is the second in a series by the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative examining possible solutions to an ongoing mental health crisis among youth. Funding for this project was made possible by the nonprofit Solutions Journalism Network. Are clear backpacks the a

06/27/2024

Residents and business owners from Ruidoso are facing the difficult process of recovering from devastating fires. ... Here are some financial resources that can help. Story by Brook Stockberger

https://www.surnmnoticias.org/ruidoso-fire-updates

06/25/2024

KRWG Public Media reporting on Ruidoso's recovery and the status of two fires near that community:

https://www.krwg.org/krwg-news/2024-06-24/authorities-assess-ruidosos-damaged-infrastructure

First responders are continuing their efforts to clean up and contain the South Fork and Salt Wildfires as Ruidoso residents trickle back into the town.