![budgeting illustration](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/budgeting-graphic-600x400.jpg)
Today's intelligence: an overview of the multibillion-dollar state budget passed by the New Mexico Senate yesterday
![Looking out over the wild lands of Kingston, New Mexico](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/Wild-lands-of-Kingston-600x450.jpg)
Imagine the place you feel most comfortable in, the place you call home. Imagine that place altered overnight. This is what our quaint mountain town of Kingston, New Mexico recently experienced.
![locked gate with a no trespassing sign across dirt road](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_6021-scaled-e1678029581832-600x555.jpg)
A gate with lock and no trespassing sign has recently been installed in Kingston, blocking access to Forest Road 40E. Historic images of Middle Percha Creek show what lies beyond this gate.
![The Republican Party of Sierra County's political ad posted on its Facebook page and in the Sierra County Sentinel](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/Jaramillo-ad-rep-pty-sc-mar-1-facebk-600x314.jpg)
The Republican Party of Sierra County is hoping that you will believe that protecting LGBTQ persons' rights and women's and girl's rights to seek or not to seek an abortion are somehow an impingement of parents' and conscientious-objectors' rights. It's confusing, which is the point.
![Person receiving COVID vaccination](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/COVID-vaccination-scaled-e1678118995594-523x600.jpg)
Today's intelligence: The end of free COVID vaccines, tests and treatments for New Mexicans is near.
![Senator John Arthur Smith](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/John-Arthur-Smith-legislature-archives.jpg)
I've been accused of lying by a hospital governing board member--that the point of forming a hospital district is not to bring in more tax revenue for Sierra Vista Hospital. Then Sen. John Arthur Smith and Hospital Association advisors to the two hospital boards lied too.
![](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/FRED-HARVEY-HOUSE-1-600x494.jpg)
A huge majority of the Truth or Consequences locals and visitors alike are unaware of what lies beyond the city limits.
![cow on grasslands](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/cow-on-grasslands-600x400.jpg)
Today's intelligence: If livestock's trampling of public land is undesirable, why do grazing fees for "authorized" (as opposed to feral) cattle remain so low?
![Virgin Galactic spacecraft on Spaceport America tarmac](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/VG-spacecraft-overhead-shot-600x337.jpg)
Today's intelligence: the latest promised timeline for Virgin Galatic commercial spaceflights at Spaceport America; and pros and cons of the U.S. Forest Service's recently concluded shoot down of feral cows in the Gila
![Picture of new wing of Sierra Vista Hospital](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/SVRHospital-1-e1606760261501-600x396.png)
Do not be duped by local government officials into signing the hospital-district petition. It will form a new taxing authority that can levy up to 4.25 mills and issue general obligation bonds that would also increase property taxes--taxes in addition to the taxes already being collected.
![roasted chiles](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/roasted-chiles-600x400.jpg)
Today's intelligence: And the winner of the New Mexico Senate's floor vote on naming an official state aroma is . . . .
![Cartoon showing three cowboy hatted men sitting behind a desk with Sierra county logo behind them](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/CommissionIcon-2.jpeg.001-2-600x338.jpeg)
Commissioners heard an audit presentation then signed contracts to start projects on the Arrey baseball field, county fairgrounds, and Monticello Bridge of Grace. They also put in requests for road funding and selected a board to purge voter rolls. A decision for transferring a liquor license in Winston was delayed.