Cathy Cook

Albuquerque

General assignment reporter @ABQJournal, also covering NM Congressional delegation and Bernalillo County. Former editor @EDChieftain, reporter at Picayune Item

Articles

Sen. Martin Heinrich focuses on veterans, education in community talks

1 week ago | abqjournal.com | Cathy Cook

As the Veterans Affairs Department considers larger staffing cuts, elected officials fear veteran medical care could be impeded. Back from D.C. as senators spend two weeks working in their home states, Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich was focused on proposed staffing cuts to Veterans Affairs and the Education Department with a pair of roundtables Wednesday.
Three takeaways from Sen. Ben Ray Luján's tariff roundtable

1 week ago | abqjournal.com | Cathy Cook

Uncertainty created by the pendulum swing of new tariffs from the Trump administration is inflating business expenses and encouraging companies to pause expansion plans, according to New Mexico business leaders. But the tariffs could encourage more manufacturing south of the U.S.-Mexico border and create an opportunity for new trade partnerships. Democratic Sen.
Sen. Martin Heinrich focuses on veterans, education in community talks

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Cathy Cook

Apr. 16—As the Veterans Affairs Department considers larger staffing cuts, elected officials fear veteran medical care could be impeded. Back from D.C. as senators spend two weeks working in their home states, Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich was focused on proposed staffing cuts to Veterans Affairs and the Education Department with a pair of roundtables Wednesday. "I think they impact every single aspect of VA services. That's reality," Heinrich said.
Third party cofounder and former New Jersey governor visits Corrales

1 week ago | abqjournal.com | Cathy Cook

CORRALES — A founding member of a growing third party visited Corrales on Tuesday, the inaugural event for Forward Party organizing efforts in New Mexico. The Forward Party was founded two years ago by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, former Republican New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and Michael Willner, a former Libertarian. The party is officially recognized as a minor party in five states, has 47 elected officials, and aims to be a major party nationally by 2028.
Third party cofounder and former New Jersey governor visits Corrales

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Cathy Cook

Apr. 15—CORRALES — A founding member of a growing third party visited Corrales on Tuesday, the inaugural event for Forward Party organizing efforts in New Mexico. The Forward Party was founded two years ago by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, former Republican New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and Michael Willner, a former Libertarian.
New Mexico Secretary of State opposed to Republican voter ID bill

1 week ago | abqjournal.com | Cathy Cook

The New Mexico Secretary of State is urging the Senate to reject a federal voter ID bill the House passed last week. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico’s chief elections official, believes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act threatens to disenfranchise eligible voters, especially for Native American communities, rural areas and women who have changed their names after marriage.
New Mexico GOP wants Trump tax cuts extended. Democratic congressman wants targeted tax relief

1 week ago | abqjournal.com | Cathy Cook

Tax Day is less than a week away, but members of Congress may be much further away from agreement on tax cuts. President Donald Trump is pushing for the 2017 tax cuts passed during his first term as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to be made permanent. Without an extension, those tax cuts will expire at the end of the year. kAmtIE6?5:?8 E96 4FED H@F=5 564C62D6 7656C2= E2I C6G6?F6 3J Sc]d EC:==:@?
New Mexico immigration rights group suing over IRS data-sharing agreement

2 weeks ago | abqjournal.com | Cathy Cook

A New Mexico immigrant and worker rights advocacy group is part of a lawsuit challenging an agreement the Internal Revenue Service has made to share some taxpayer data with the Department of Homeland Security. Since the 1990s, when undocumented immigrants pay taxes — as required by federal law — the IRS has generally not shared their personal information with other federal agencies or for immigration enforcement. There is a limited exemption for law enforcement investigations with court approval.
USDA will stop trying to ban mining on Upper Pecos Watershed

2 weeks ago | abqjournal.com | Cathy Cook

A two-year process to protect the Upper Pecos Watershed from mining started by former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in December will be halted without fanfare by the Trump administration. Pecos residents and conservation advocacy groups have been pushing to ban mining on federally held public land in the Upper Pecos Watershed after a mining company, Comexico LLC, acquired 20 mining leases on federal land in 2019.
Hantavirus found in over 30 small mammal species in New Mexico

2 weeks ago | abqjournal.com | Cathy Cook

Hantavirus isn’t just in deer mice, according to a new peer-reviewed study from the University of New Mexico, which found the virus in a quarter of more than 1,400 small mammals tested across the state. Hantavirus is a rare but often serious rodent-borne illness, which first reared its head in the United States in the Four Corners region in 1993.