It’s not hard to find allegations of elder abuse and neglect in New Mexico. A simple statewide search for lawsuits filed against the larger nursing home companies yields hundreds of results.

Labor Day (Sept. 6) marks this summer’s official end—the day on which refined ladies put away their white jeans and men finally return those unfortunate bright-pink Bermuda shorts to the back of the closet and become men again.

On Aug. 3, the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce trumpeted a new program offering “aggressive discounts” to Chamber members who shop at Office Depot—free delivery on orders of more than $50, and “Special Discounts on Copy, Print and Promotional Items.”

On Aug. 11, Public Service Company of New Mexico, the state’s largest utility, issued a press release warning that pollution controls proposed by the New Mexico Environment Department would result in significant costs to PNM customers.

Institutional change is never easy. When it comes to the changes afoot for the state’s disabled population, insiders expect a “bloodletting.” SFR’s review of the emails, comments, questions and letters of protest pouring into the Department of Health shows the misinformation and general confusion surrounding the Medicaid-funded Developmental Disabilities Waiver.

“Hamstrung,” “underfunded,” “very hard to contact” and plagued by “ideological barriers”? Just another day in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program. With more than 2,000 total patients enrolled as of July 6, and only 11 certified medical marijuana producers (each limited to 95 plants), there remains a constant dearth of reliable medical pot.

The battle for White Peak, that craggy wilderness straddling Mora and Colfax counties, continues. Last week, news broke that Ed Olona, a sportsman accustomed to hunting in the area, had discovered an earth-mover doing roadwork.

Sometime on the night of Aug. 10, a burglary occurred at SFR. Around 6:30 the following morning, employees called the Santa Fe Police Department dispatch. Officer Corrine Jones arrived at 7:15 am; finding no one, she left without filing a report.

Under that law, the City of Santa Fe deducts 10 percent from a local company’s bid price to make it more competitive. But out-of-state contractors have been setting up temporary offices and receiving the local preference.

“I heard it on the radio—131,000 jobs lost,” Richard, a tall, blue-eyed man, tells SFR. He’s been unemployed for seven months—the first time in his life he hasn’t had a job.