Poverty and Public Health

Sundance Film Fellows Travel To Mescalero Apache Reservation

Tristan Ahtone — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:35:20 +0000

The Sundance Film Institute says four Native American filmmakers will be on the Mescalero Apache reservation in Southern New Mexico this week. The visit is the first stage of development for Native writers and directors hoping to release independent films in the coming years.

NM Officials To Help Victims Of Unlicensed Dentist

The Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:49:48 +0000

New Mexico Department of Health officials want to help any victims of an unlicensed tooth doctor who was operating as a "mobile dentist" out of a sedan around Santa Fe.

State health officials are offering counseling and testing services for any victims of a man known as "El Dentista."

The services include no-cost confidential blood tests and referrals for additional services if needed.

Navajo Nation Opens Flagship Casino In Arizona

The Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:45:57 +0000

New sets of twin arrows are beckoning travelers on Interstate 40 in northern Arizona.

A grand opening for the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort is set for Friday. It's the Navajo Nation's first casino in Arizona, about 20 miles east of Flagstaff.

The 267,000 square-foot building sits across the interstate from an old trading post and rest stop known for the giant twin arrows that point toward the ground.

Thousands Seek Work Even As NM Jobless Rate Drops

The Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:10:52 +0000

Thousands of people in New Mexico are still looking for work or at least better jobs even as the state's unemployment rate is down.

The Department of Workforce Solutions reports that New Mexico's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in April, down from 6.9 percent in March and 7 percent in April 2012.

The department says New Mexico gained about 7,900 jobs during the past 12 months, for a 1 percent growth rate.

New Mexico Will Get Hybrid Health Exchange

Deborah Martinez — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:40:01 +0000

UPDATE: Exchange board chairman J.R Damron said Monday that New Mexico will focus on having a state-run insurance exchange ready for small businesses this fall and will use a federally operated exchange to offer insurance coverage to individuals for the next year.

Navajo Nation Explores Future Of Coal

Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:01:12 +0000

The Navajo Nation says the only financially viable future for its coal supply may be in clean coal technologies, and overseas exports.

KUNM's Tristan Ahtone reports the Nation is taking preliminary steps to find a future for its coal resources in light of tough, domestic regulations.

Report: Economic Recovery Especially Slow For Hispanics In New Mexico

Elaine Baumgartel — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:08:53 +0000

The unemployment rate for Hispanics in New Mexico is double the rate for non-Hispanic whites, according to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute.

In the last quarter of 2012, the unemployment rate for Hispanics here was 8.2 percent, compared to 4.7 percent for whites.

Mescalero Apache Explore Rare Earth Element Mining

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:38:23 +0000

The Mescalero Apache tribe of New Mexico says it is looking to expand it's economy by mining rare earth elements. The elements are highly sought after for their applications in high-tech and green industries.

West Nile Virus Cases Up Across Southwest

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:32:45 +0000

West Nile virus cases in the Southwest are up from previous years, according to new 2012 statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control.
First discovered in New York around 1999, the West Nile virus traveled west, carried by birds and mosquitoes, eventually hitting the Southwest.

New Mexico Health Exchange Still In Question

Tristan Ahtone — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:25:03 +0000

States aiming to run their own health insurance exchanges, will be in need of federal grants to get those exchanges launched, and are facing a deadline today. New Mexico's application is in, but there's still a question of whether or not the exchange will be run by the state, federal government, or both.

New Mexico's federal grant request totals about $20-million dollars, and will be used for marketing, public relations, and outreach. With much of the states population living in rural areas, that outreach will be critical to the exchanges survival.

Report: Jobs Package Will Do What Cutting Taxes Can't

Deborah Martinez — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:08:29 +0000

New Mexico continues to be sluggish in its recovery from the recession and according to a new report, the state lacks over 100,000 jobs.

Long-Term Housing Project Expands With Historic Santa Fe Inn

Deborah Martinez — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:59:04 +0000

Moving into a new home is an exciting event, but for people who have experienced homelessness, the joy is especially poignant. In Santa Fe, the renovated Stage Coach Motor Inn is preserving its classic nicho and viga architecture and working to preserve a sense of permanency for some new tenants.

KUNM's Poverty and Public Health reporter Deborah Martinez has the story.

Navajo Nation Funds Water Projects

Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:08:12 +0000

With drought affecting much of the southwest, the Navajo Nation is working to bring water to it's citizens with the tribal government recently approving over $8-million dollars for water infrastructure projects.
The Navajo Nation is roughly the size of West Virginia, has a population of around 170,000 people, and much of the Nations citizens are in need of water.

Pueblo Of Zuni Breaks Ground On New Housing

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:00:00 +0000

In what's thought to be the first housing program of it's kind brought to a tribal community, the Pueblo of Zuni in western New Mexico has broken ground on a series of homes financed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The "Self-help housing" program works like this: the USDA gives your community a grant to finance housing, delivers supplies to build a home, provides blue prints, then - with the help of technical volunteers - oversees community members build their own homes.

Insurance Exchanges Could Open Indian Health Service To Non-Indians

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:47:47 +0000

Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Health Care Act is expected to bring in much needed dollars to the chronically underfunded Indian Health Service or IHS. But tribal health experts say the main game changer in Indian country will be new health insurance exchanges. For the first time ever, the IHS, a system traditionally open only to Native Americans, will be competing for non-Indian patients in order to survive. KUNM’s Tristan Ahtone reports.

A "New Hope" For The Navajo Nation: Star Wars Gets A Redub

Christine Trudeau — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:31:28 +0000

The Star Wars films have been translated into at least 50 languages, but this will be the first time a major

Indian Health Service Could See Budget Increase

Christine Trudeau — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 23:39:12 +0000

Obama’s proposed budget for Indian Health Services is up from FY 2012 by $124 million.. The White House’s focus on increased funding to IHS programs, it’s now up to congress to make a decision on the President’s budget.

Medicaid Expansion Brings Finances And Competition To Indian Health Service

Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Around 25-thousand Native Americans in New Mexico will become eligible for Medicaid when the Affordable Care Act goes into effect next year. The change translates to more money for the Indian Health Service. But as KUNM’s Poverty and Public Health Reporter Tristan Ahtone explains: in Albuquerque, Medicaid expansion will also force Native health providers to deal with something they’ve never faced before: competition from non-tribal health programs.

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Human Trafficking Bill Signed

Deborah Martinez — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:07:21 +0000

Data Suggests Narcan Program Saving Lives

Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:58:16 +0000

The New Mexico Department of Health reports that the distribution of Narcan is yielding promising results.

Often distributed through syringe exchange programs, Narcan works by causing the body to begin immediate withdrawal from heroin or prescription opioids, essentially reversing an overdose.

Brad Wharton, a drug epidemiologist with the New Mexico Department of Health, says in 2010 and 2011, with Narcan, Santa Fe County saw 12 overdose reversals and 19 heroin deaths; Bernalillo County, 96 overdose reversals and 77 heroin deaths; while in Rio Arriba County:

Drought Expected To Continue To August

Maria Abrosimova — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:23:17 +0000

A dry winter, strong winds, and above average temperatures have caused the U.S. Department of Agriculture to declared much of the state to be in a drought emergency.
Jeff Witte with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture says that farmers with the ability to pump groundwater will be able to plant some crops this year. However, Witte says he's optimistic that farmers and ranchers in New Mexico will be able to continue providing viable crops to the state

New Mexico Ranks 10th Worst In The Nation For Gun Deaths

Tristan Ahtone — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:10:02 +0000

A report released Wednesday from the Center for American Progress, ranks New Mexico the 10th worst state in the nation for gun deaths.

The report, called "America Under The Gun," puts New Mexico's gun-death rate, 40% higher than the national average, and looked at 10 key indicators like homicide, firearm violence against women, as well violence against law enforcement officials.

They Creep, They Crawl, They Suck Your Blood!

Rita Daniels and Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:23:32 +0000

This week, the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department convened a Bed Bug Conference to educate the public on bed bug basics: how to identify an infestation, how to treat it, and most importantly, how to prevent an infestation in the first place.
KUNM's Poverty and Public Health reporter Tristan Ahtone went with Rita Daniels to learn about the bugs, and spread the message.

Two Native Food Systems Programs In New Mexico Awarded Grants

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:08:01 +0000

Nambe Pueblo and Taos County Economic Development Corporation are two of ten organizations nationally that have received funding for Native food-systems projects. The projects could bolster economic development while combating food insecurity, health and nutrition disparities in tribal communities.

Navajo Nation Takes Final Steps To Broadband Access

Tristan Ahtone — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 23:26:44 +0000

The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority says it's in the final phases of unveiling high-speed broadband and wireless services for the majority of the Navajo Nation. The project would bring telecommunications services to the nations largest reservation straddling Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.

A few companies have offered broadband accessibility to parts of the Navajo Nation in the past, however, historically, the Nation has dealt with little to no telecommunications access.

Centennial Care Tribal Opt-Out Future Uncertain

Tristan Ahtone — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:36:56 +0000

Tribal health advocates say the clock is running out for legislation that would prohibit the state from forcing Native American Medicaid enrollees into mandatory managed care.

House Bill 376 aims to provide New Mexico's Medicaid-eligible tribal population the ability to opt-in to the states mandatory Medicaid managed care program, Centennial Care.

Childhood Obesity Levels High In New Mexico, Higher In Native American And Hispanic Children

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:07:19 +0000

According to the 2012 Childhood Obesity Update, nearly 15% of kindergarten students and 22% of third graders are obese.

It's the third year data has been collected, and New Mexico's numbers appear to be leveling off, which is consistent with national trends. However, access to healthy food and adopting healthy behaviors, remain a significant problem for the state, especially in rural and frontier areas.

Federal Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan Runs Out Of Money

Tristan Ahtone — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:27:39 +0000

A lack of funding for the Federal Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) has caused New Mexico and other states to suspend enrollment in the plan for the rest of Fiscal Year 2013. Nationally, the PCIP program was budgeted at about 5-billion dollars for 2013, but has now run over budget resulting in the suspension of new applicants.

Approximately 2,000 New Mexicans are currently enrolled in PCIP, which serves people with pre-existing conditions that prevent them from obtaining health insurance through standard outlets.

Tribal Health Advocates Watch Centennial Care Opt-Out Bill Advance

Tristan Ahtone — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:32:27 +0000

A bill that would remove the mandatory requirement that Native American Medicaid recipients enroll in a state run managed care program is now heading to the Senate.

Centennial Care, New Mexico’s planned Medicaid program, would require all Medicaid users to enroll with one of four managed care organizations (MCO) contracted with the state.

Under the program, the Indian Health Service, as well as Tribal and urban clinics, would have to bill those same MCO’s for services provided, instead of going directly to the state for reimbursement.

NM Program Targets Teen Mental Health

Sara Montoya — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 02:33:28 +0000

Mental Health professionals at UNM hospital have introduced a new mental illness program. The Early Assessment and Resource Linkage for Youth, or EARLY is focused on early intervention. It's part of a national, ongoing study looking to curb psychosis, which they say is a threat to young adults and their communities.