US Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-NM, is six months into his first term representing the 3rd Congressional District, of which Santa Fe is a major portion. On Aug. 19, he joined SFR for a group interview (with a cameo from Truffles, SFR’s office pig) to talk about everything from life in Washington, DC to health care reform to what he learned visiting war zones.

The generally older, Anglo and polite crowd at the town hall meeting at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe on the night of Aug. 17 produced none of the sound bites of anti-government rage that have dominated national news coverage of the health care debate.

A shadow over solar power and a paper trail attached to CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center.

SFR wanted more than one man’s (or even one mayor's) opinion, so we asked around via phone, email and in in-person interviews: What’s the state of the city?

With additional answers only available online!

GLBT travel budgets blow straight people out of the water according to a recent study. And Santa Fe is an epicenter for open-minded travel: "A progressive, gay-friendly magnet for creative spirits and outdoorsy types."

A review of felony domestic violence cases, along with recent police reports and protection orders, reveals a troubling pattern: The state often fails to protect women who have been threatened, beaten or worse by men they live with, share children with or once upon a time dated. And even when police, prosecutors and social workers know offenders’ names and addresses, they can stay beyond the reach of the law.

Tough times are not letting up in Santa Fe malls.

This month, the Santa Fe City Council agreed to steer $65,000 worth of federal economic stimulus money toward funding the YouthWorks energy crew’s efforts through the summer, enough to install free energy-efficiency upgrades on 200 homes. The Sierra Club funded a 100-home pilot project earlier this year.

A crucial state job-creation program on average awarded Bernalillo County $39 per person in aid, versus $8 per person for Santa Fe County, according to the most recent report on the program. That report is five years old, but the basic ratio still holds true today. The program helps companies defray the cost of training new employees. Only expanding businesses are eligible. Had layoffs? You’re outta luck.

Domestic relations hearing officer ousted and the perils of accepting financial advice.