Columns | Las Cruces Bulletin

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the … more

By Richard Coltharp | 6/29/23

Let next council pick police chief

The retirement of Las Cruces Police Chief Miguel Dominguez will not end the effort to create a civilian police review board. A petition drive seeking to force that issue has already been started; it … more

By Walt Rubel | 6/29/23

20 colorful ways to spend your money

Did you get your $500 rebate-refund-tax-kickback from the state of New Mexico? I’ll probably spend mine on something practical, a couple of needed home repairs. Five hundred dollars is a … more

By Richard Coltharp | 6/22/23

Election reforms will help NM voters

In last week’s column I explained why I think the secretary of state should not interfere in an effort to force a referendum on six bills passed this year by the state Legislature. This week … more

By Walt Rubel | 6/22/23

UTEP rivalry about to get more interesting

There has been a lot of discussion the past few months about the athletic rivalry between New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico. The discussion is warranted given the … more

By Richard Coltharp | 6/15/23

Lawmakers don’t want decrees challenged

I love democracy … the purer the better. And so, I‘ve always been a big fan of the referendum process, which allows citizens to circumvent the representative system and take their issue … more

By Walt Rubel | 6/15/23

Las Cruces generosity shines again

There are lots of reasons Life is Good in Las Cruces. The weather is great, for the most part. The food is great, especially when you add some local green chile. And the mountain views and … more

By Richard Coltharp | 6/7/23

Nuggets finally win with brown ball

I was working at a trendy Denver restaurant called the Colorado Mine Company in 1975 when the Denver Nuggets brought North Carolina State phenom David Thompson in for dinner during his recruiting … more

By Walt Rubel | 6/7/23

Reflecting on the supreme sacrifice

For safety reasons, they were battery-powered candles, placed into clear plastic cups. Physically, it was not the same as, say, a live candle in a crafted tin holder in St. Patrick’s … more

By Richard Coltharp | 6/1/23

Is civilian review board best solution?

The effort to create a civilian review board for the Police Department threatens to create a rift between the City Council and some progressive voters during a municipal election year when police and … more

By Walt Rubel | 6/1/23

Mail theft alert

A group of 3 identity theft thieves are stealing mail from mailboxes. They rent storage lockers around Las Cruces. Then the mail is opened and savings, checking, and retirement account numbers are … more

5/30/23

When the ordinary become extraordinary

Is war inevitable? So far, in human history, the answer is yes. Almost always, the people who die in war are not the ones who decided to go to war. While political leaders make their … more

By Richard Coltharp | 5/25/23

What’s the real state aroma?

Now that New Mexico has an official state aroma, I’m already having second thoughts about its accuracy. The state legislature passed the measure in its 2023 session naming the smell of … more

By Richard Coltharp | 5/19/23

State, feds to lock horns on waste site

The United States government has a nuclear waste storage problem, and sees its solution in southeast New Mexico. Earlier this month, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the application by … more

By Walt Rubel | 5/19/23

What was your best work trip?

Back in the 1990s, I was fortunate enough to be assigned not one, but two weeklong business trips to Hawaii. And another to Lake Tahoe. There was plenty of work to do, but time for activities … more

By Richard Coltharp | 5/11/23

Grads: Move slow and fix things

My unsolicited advice for this year’s graduates is simple: Move slow and fix things. In 2014, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg coined the phrase, “move fast and break things” … more

By Walt Rubel | 5/11/23

Fighting cancer one small step at a time

Cancer is hell. We’ve all lost loved ones to this dreaded disease. Making a small donation to organizations fighting cancer and its collateral damage can’t possibly help. Or can … more

By Richard Coltharp | 5/4/23

Governor can’t change human nature

I doubt there are many people over the age of 50 who grew up in this country and have not experienced some form of hazing, including the governor. I still remember sprinting home following the … more

By Walt Rubel | 5/4/23

Memory is a funny thing

Bulletin reporter Mike Cook has a small, intriguing story in the Business section this week about some collectible Hummel figurines for sale at the Emporium store downtown. The photo of some of … more

By Richard Coltharp | 4/27/23

Moccia leads Aggies to brighter future

The timing may seem odd, given the recent turmoil in the men’s basketball program, but New Mexico State University was wise to give Athletic Director Mario Moccia a five-year contract … more

By Walt Rubel | 4/27/23