Op-Ed | Desert Exposure

A Big Sandwich

My father just got over a cold that almost left us with an empty bedroom that would have converted nicely into an office for me. Still, the rest of us are not without our own issues. Just the … more

by Jim and Henry Duchene | 8/22/24

I remember reading about it in the newspaper

I remember when growing up in my small hometown, there was a daily newspaper that had everything I wanted to know about what was happening both at home and far away. There is no daily newspaper … more

By Abe Villarreal | 8/22/24

Talking Horses

As I near the end of my long journey with horses, I often reflect on the one question I’ve heard more than any other. That is, why have I always felt a natural approach to teaching horses is … more

By Scott Thomson | 7/24/24

Everyday Observations

In our new world of automation, I’m asking myself who will be changing my kitty litter each day. Doesn’t my cat want me to do it? Doesn’t it say something about our relationship? … more

By Abe Villarreal | 7/24/24

RaisingDad: Persnickety

I’d like to thank all my readers who wished me well in the aftermath of my full knee replacement surgery. I call it that to make the experience sound more dramatic than it actually was, but … more

by Jim and Henry Duchene | 7/24/24

Tiny Gestures

It seemed like a tiny gesture, my wife, Sherry’s insistence on taking these Walmart 4 X 6-inch photos of women patients at the mental asylum, Vision in Action in Juárez and putting them … more

By Morgan Smith | 6/14/24

RaisingDad: Guilty Me

My eight-year-old granddaughter and I were on the west side of town picking up her new glasses. We live on the far east side of town. Why we had to drive all this way, you'll have to ask … more

By Jim and Henry Duchene | 5/24/24

Everyday Observations: Finding our own rhythm and sticking to it

We all know people who describe something in a way that means not to offend. Such as when a realtor says that the house is charming or an older person is defined as being in their advanced years. We … more

By Abe Villarreal | 5/24/24

Journalism is not a crime

On May 15, New Mexico State Police and campus officers at the University of New Mexico tore down an encampment that had been established by protesters calling for a cease-fire in Israel’s … more

Algernon D'Ammassa
Las Cruces Bulletin | 5/23/24

AG affirms public’s right to know

The Open Meetings Act is an easy law to break, which means promoting its importance and calling out violations is a responsibility of citizens, journalists, organizations like the New Mexico … more

By Algernon D'Ammassa | 4/4/24

How the founders linked happiness to virtue

If Benjamin Franklin was right when he said virtue and a trade are a child’s best portion, succeeding generations of Americans have neglected at least part of that birthright. Mass … more

By Algernon D'Ammassa | 4/2/24

A life seen through offices

In my first career, my only “office” was a dressing room, usually shared with several other actors. At other occupations, I’ve worked on factory floors, in warehouses, cubicles, … more

By Algernon D'Ammassa | 3/26/24

Celebrating a tax win for New Mexico’s kids and families

As mamas, we know that having kids changes how you see the world. Figuring out how to keep your little ones safe and healthy, so they can grow up to thrive, is a worry that doesn’t go away. more

Angela Garcia and State Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena | 3/13/24

A whiff of a rolling quorum

Las Cruces has periodically learned expensive lessons about New Mexico’s Open Meetings Act. Except for certain carefully designed exceptions, governing bodies are required to meet and … more

By Algernon D'Ammassa | 3/8/24

Maybe that is who we are, after all

“That’s not who we are” is the pleading cry we so often hear in the wake of extremist political violence in the U.S. The gallows brought to the steps of the U.S. Capitol on … more

By Algernon D'Ammassa | 3/7/24

What’s missing from the presidential age debate

The two presumptive nominees for president are 81 and 77 years old. They would be the oldest major party nominees for the office in history, just as they were in 2020. It is reasonable to consider … more

By Algernon D'Ammassa | 2/19/24

Driving off the cliff

I am by nature an optimist, however, my optimism is being tested. Bill Maher, when being interviewed and asked about climate change recently, made the comment that we are like Thelma and Louise, … more

Dan Lere | 1/25/24

Remembering DeSantis in New Mexico

Remembering Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during 2022, at one of the weirder political events of my news career. more

Algernon D'Ammassa | 1/24/24

Commission will deliver for Southern New Mexico

Southern New Mexico is home to vibrant and resilient communities with proud histories, striving to build even stronger futures. For years, I have fought to deliver federal investments to support … more

By U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich | 12/29/23

The Value of Opinion Pages

My childhood was unusual in that I spent a great deal of time around a diverse crew of adults, many of whom were argumentative. My parents entertained large gatherings of friends at least twice … more

Desert Sage | 12/29/23