ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Conservation efforts to restore the Mexican gray wolf, the rarest subspecies of the gray wolf in North America, continue to make progress. According to the latest annual survey by federal and state wildlife officials, at least 286 wolves now roam the wilds of New Mexico and Arizona — an 11% increase from the previous year.
This marks the ninth consecutive year of growth for the endangered species. The survey also documented 26 breeding pairs in the wild, with just under half of the 160-plus pups born in 2024 surviving through the end of the year.
Each winter, wildlife biologists conduct a comprehensive count using a combination of tracking methods — including helicopter surveys, radio collars, scat analysis, and remote cameras. Captured wolves undergo routine health checks, including blood sampling, vaccinations, and collar maintenance, as part of a long-running recovery initiative aimed at reintroducing the species to its native habitats in the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico.
Listed as endangered in 1976, Mexican gray wolves have been protected through a binational captive breeding and reintroduction program. Despite years of legal disputes — with environmental advocates pushing for increased releases and ranchers concerned about livestock losses — the recovery effort remains ongoing.
The latest recovery plan, updated in 2022, outlines a 25-year strategy estimated to cost $203 million. However, conservationists worry that federal budget cuts and staff reductions could jeopardize this hard-won momentum.
SANTA FE, N.M. — A new bill passed by the New Mexico Legislature will raise royalty rates on oil and gas production on some of the state’s most valuable public lands, potentially bringing in more revenue for public services.
The bill increases the top royalty rate from 20% to 25% for new oil and gas leases on state trust lands — a move with significant implications for the Permian Basin, which spans southeastern New Mexico and parts of Texas and accounts for nearly half of the nation’s oil output.
Revenue from these leases is directed into a trust fund that supports New Mexico’s public education system, higher education institutions, and healthcare facilities.
Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, who co-sponsored the legislation, emphasized the importance of maximizing the value of the state’s natural resources. Public Lands Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard has long advocated for this change, noting that Texas already charges up to 25% on comparable leases.
Supporters argue that New Mexico is simply aligning itself with neighboring states, while critics claim that increasing royalties could discourage drilling, negatively impacting both producers and the beneficiaries of oil revenues. Detractors also point to the industry’s vulnerability to fluctuating oil prices and the already substantial taxes on production.
Also Read – Trump Fires 4-Star General Leading NSA, Cyber Command—No Successor Yet
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A controversial new law requiring proof of U.S. citizenship and 30-day residency to register to vote in Wyoming will go into effect on July 1, despite Gov. Mark Gordon choosing not to sign it.
Sponsored by Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, the measure — House Bill 156 — mandates that individuals show both citizenship documentation and proof of living in the state for 30 days before registering to vote. Secretary of State Chuck Gray called the bill a legislative priority for 2025.
With this law, Wyoming becomes the first state in the U.S. to implement a universal proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration in all elections.
Gov. Gordon, while expressing support for restricting voting rights to citizens, raised concerns about the 30-day residency requirement, citing potential conflicts with federal voting protections. He warned that the provision could face legal scrutiny in court but ultimately chose to allow the bill to become law without his signature.
BOZEMAN, Mont. — A Montana judge has upheld key parts of a suite of pro-housing laws passed in 2023, while striking down certain provisions that limited public involvement in zoning and development decisions.
District Court Judge Mike Salvagni rejected most claims brought by Montanans Against Irresponsible Densification (MAID), a Bozeman-based homeowners group that sued to block the reforms. However, he ruled that elements of one law violated the state’s constitutional guarantee of public participation in local government decisions.
The upheld laws include mandates requiring cities with at least 5,000 residents to allow duplexes on all residential lots, cities with at least 7,000 residents to permit apartment complexes in commercial zones, and all cities to allow accessory dwelling units.
Gov. Greg Gianforte and advocates of market-driven housing reforms celebrated the decision, highlighting the urgent need to address Montana’s housing affordability crisis. MAID, meanwhile, welcomed the judge’s ruling on public input, arguing that the laws encourage unchecked development and erode neighborhood character.
Although the court’s decision preserves the core of the housing reform package, the debate over balancing growth with community input is far from over.
