Opinion | Las Cruces Bulletin

Earlier this summer, an alert reader contacted me inquiring about the Bulletin’s golf columnist, Dr. Charlie Blanchard. “In recent months,” the reader wrote, “I found … more

By Richard Coltharp | 7/20/23

It’s too hot to focus on anything else

Boy, it sure is hot lately. How hot is it? It’s so hot I bought a loaf of bread and by the time I got home it was toast. It’s so hot my grandfather’s chicken laid an … more

By Walt Rubel | 7/18/23

Congressional district in hands of judge

District Judge Fred Van Soelen of Clovis has until Oct. 1 to decide if the redistricting map that allowed Democrats to wrest control of the Second Congressional District will still be in place for … more

By Walt Rubel | 7/14/23

Waiting on the rains

As I write this, on Monday, July 10, the accumulated rainfall total for the calendar-year 2023 is 1.4 inches. I don’t have to tell you that’s not a lot of rain. We live in the … more

By Richard Coltharp | 7/13/23

Now is the time to speak on OMDP plan

More than nine years after its designation as a national monument, the federal government has started the process to develop a resource management plan for the Organ Mountains/Desert Peaks National … more

By Walt Rubel | 7/6/23

Quality of Life at the End of Life

In June 2021, the Elizabeth Whitefield End-of-Life Options Act went into effect authorizing medical aid in dying (MAID) in New Mexico. On this second anniversary it seems timely to provide a brief … more

Barak Wolff, Chair, End of Life Options New Mexico | 7/6/23

Successful flight should boost spaceport

If you wonder if everyday people can make a difference in New Mexico, think of the Virgin Galactic spaceflight of June 29, the first commercial manned spaceflight out of New Mexico. I know what … more

By Richard Coltharp | 7/6/23

Holiday Hell for Animals

I slept all day today. The entire past week was spent keeping our sanctuary horses safe from the fireworks that culminated in last night’s Fourth of July “Celebration.” It felt like … more

Katharine Chrisley-Schreiber, CEO, Dharmahorse Equine Sanctuary | 7/6/23

America at a crossroads

"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

Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally

For many years, the Mesilla Valley enjoyed one of the largest hot air balloon events in New Mexico. For many of those years, the Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally was second in numbers of balloons only to … more

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

Amador Hotel something for Las Cruces to be proud of

Since joining the State Historic Preservation Office as Director in 2012, there’s been a handful of projects in New Mexico that continue to shine for their impact and value to a community. The … more

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