The planet should collectively thank BP for the Deepwater Horizon accident. With public opinion regarding oil and gas at an all-time nadir, and 63 percent of Americans willing to pay more for clean and independent energy, the impetus to finally jump on renewables is here.

As much as Santa Feans love their “buy local” mantra, international trade is crucial to New Mexico’s economy. Foreign-owned companies employ one in 50 New Mexico workers, according to the most recent available figures from the US Department of Commerce.

After more than a month of voicing her complaints, Deborah DeMack says she hasn’t heard much from County Assessor Domingo Martinez’ office on her home valuation.

Serious business is afoot in the halls of government in Santa Fe. The city that once proposed leash laws for cats is now angling to license panhandlers and toughen up laws against nudity.

A coup in Española shifted control of a large private army that has won more than $3.5 billion in government contracts, ownership of a trans-Atlantic natural foods empire and, not least, the fate of an influential decades-old religious sect called Sikh Dharma.

Community College is on a campaign to secure a cool $35 million in bond funding. In a state beleaguered by budget problems. In a recession.

The debate about how Santa Fe Public Schools should close its $6.9 million budget deficit presents a good opportunity to start thinking differently about how we deliver education in our public schools.

On July 16, the US Senate passed a financial reform bill. Two days earlier, and with less fanfare, the SEC published a new rule banning “pay to play” by investment advisors to public entities. Critics complain the reform bill doesn’t really shake up Wall Street and, as a result, may fail to stop the next crisis.

A top New Mexico lobbyist who is old friends with Gov. Bill Richardson has been accused of benefiting from money stolen from a tribal-owned business. The allegations, which have not been previously reported, are laid out in criminal and civil court records, as well as federal documents.

“It’s the end of the world as we know it,” REM’s Michael Stipe sings in the eponymous song, “and I feel fine.” It’s an old song, but it’s also a kind of philosophy problem.