![ranch fence ruined by Black Fire](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/fence-600x400.jpg)
Must-read reporting and commentary from around the state and the country. Today's intelligence: a partial assessment of the Black Fire's damage to southern New Mexico ranchlands and notification of a agriculture-related wildfire recovery effort meeting.
![pro-choice marchers](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/womensmarch.com_-600x600.jpg)
Must-read reporting and commentary from around the state and the country. Today's intelligence: dissecting the meaning of yesterday's reproductive freedom vote in Kansas.
![City of Merced's oganizational chart with "people" at the top.](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/City-of-Merced-organization-chart-600x358.png)
The city commission's "public" representatives on a committee that will weigh whether to dissolve the court are the city manager and an ex-city commissioner.
![oil derrick](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/oil-derrick-600x463.jpg)
Must-read reporting and commentary from around the state and the country. Today's intelligence: the influence of high oil and gas prices and the industry's political contributions in New Mexico's 2022 election.
![A silhouette of a hand dropping a ballot in a ballot box is pictured.](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/Final-budget-ballot-in-box-600x400.jpg)
The biggest budget the city has ever passed, a final budget massively different from the draft budget, and yet no questions and no discussion from city commissioners.
![Alcohol aisle in grocery store](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/alcohol-sales-600x400.jpeg)
Must-read reporting and commentary from around the state and the country. Today's intelligence: the high cost of and possible remedies for New Mexicans' record rates of alcohol abuse.
![close up of a cicada.](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/Cicada-450x600.jpeg)
Learning a bit about them makes them more interesting, much more interesting than "a whole lot of noisy bugs."
![Yvette Herrell](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/herrell.jpg)
Must-read reporting and commentary from around the state and the country. Today's intelligence: U.S. Representative Yvette Herrell's influential new appointment; the Rio Grande's dessication; and New Mexico's new mental health hotline.
![](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/DETAIL-jpeg-1-588x600.jpg)
When it comes to government ethics violations we need look no further than within the borders of Sierra County and our own state representative Rebecca Dow.
![Vote? graphic](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/vote-graphic-jpged.jpg)
Must-read reporting and commentary from around the state and the nation. Today's intelligence: Sandoval County seeks state approval for voter-regulation measures and a death pronouncement for American democracy.
The commission heard more anti-voting machine comments, discussed post-Black fire issues, appointed Renfro-Williams and Bartoo to the hospital board and prioritized capital improvement projects placing the Arrey baseball field complex at the number one position.
![Rebecca Dow on horseback](https://sierracountycitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/screenshot-from-Dows-campaign-launch-video-600x316.jpg)
Must-read reporting and commentary from around the state and the country. Today's intelligence: ethics complaint againt Rebecca Dow close to resolution.