Taylor Velazquez

The pandemic has hit everyone hard, especially New Mexico’s business community––and the New Mexico Finance Authority announced a new business recovery grant program to provide $200 million to help recover losses in the state.

Next week, Santa Fe Residents will be heading to the polls to cast their ballots for Mayor. 

The big-ticket issues on a lot of people’s minds? Policing and climate change. 

Reporter Taylor Velazquez sat down with incumbent Alan Webber and Republican Alexis Martinez Johnson for their insights and plans if elected to the seat.

*Candidate JoAnne Vigil Coppler did not respond to multiple interview requests from KSFR.  

As of next week, the way you dial your phone calls will change. 

The Federal Communications Commission has mandated a new three-digit number when dialing for its National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. To make this change, the state of New Mexico will make 10-digit dialing for all phone calls mandatory.

As of last month, there’s officially a challenger for the Second Congressional District of New Mexico.

Las Cruces City Councilor Gabe Vasquez has thrown his hat in the ring for the Democratic nomination, that primary election will be held in June of 2022.

Reporter Taylor Velazquez sat down with Vasquez to talk about climate change and immigration policy.

The recent disappearance and murder of Gabby Petito has outraged people all over the world. But, what about the victims closer to home? 

Indigenous women go missing and are murdered regularly here in New Mexico at disportionate rates.

Reporter Taylor Velazquez speaks with lawmakers, advocates, and survivors about how vulnerable the state is when it comes to perpetuating violence against women. 

This summer, the federal government announced that emergency pandemic SNAP benefits would be slashed at the end of September.

Now, the state of New Mexico has secured a small extension in these benefits for at least another month.

A new law went into effect last week in Texas, making almost all abortions functionally illegal in the state. Experts say this is the most restrictive abortion bill yet, leaving many people looking to places like New Mexico to seek care.

Earlier this month, a Border Patrol vehicle pursuit turned deadly.

Now, the ACLU of New Mexico and Texas are calling on Customs and Border Protection to conduct an independent investigation.

KSFR spoke with Rebecca Sheff, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU of New Mexico about the alarming pattern of Border Patrol crashes and the multiple lives lost. 

During the pandemic, many relied on government relief to make ends meet. But, new research shows New Mexico’s Asian/Pacific Islander and African immigrants and refugees were left behind. New Mexico Voices For Children talks about how we can create more inclusive systems as the pandemic rages on.

In KSFR's last installment of  conversations with the candidates for Santa Fe’s mayoral seat, reporter Taylor Velazquez sat down with incumbent Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber to talk about his plans for additional sustainability measures and rebuilding the city’s economy after last year’s COVID shutdowns.

Continuing with KSFR's ongoing conversations with Santa Fe mayoral candidates, reporter Taylor Velazquez sat down with candidate JoAnne Vigil Coopler to chat about potential policies on housing and her goals of fiscal responsibility.

Native Women Lead in partnership with New Mexico Community Capital recently won a $10 million award with the goal of advancing gender equality in a new project called "The Future is Indigenous Womxn." 

It’s an election year and the fight for the mayoral seat is gearing up. August 24th is the filing deadline for nomination petitions for privately funded candidates.  Alexis Martinez Johnson talks about getting on the ballot and what a conservative voice for Santa Fe would look like. 

New Mexico has the second highest student loan default rate in the country. And teacher shortages across the state were a major concern even before the pandemic. Now, the New Mexico Higher Education Department has a brand new program to help educators make a dent in student loans.

Food insecurity has been a persistent struggle that COVID-19 only worsened and shined a light on. Now, the pandemic seems to be in the rearview mirror for many, but the issues of hunger are still persisting for many New Mexicans.