Over the past year, our paper has gone through many changes, some good and some difficult. Overall, our goal is to connect communities, ensuring our coverage represents the people which it serves. This will require us to step out of our comfort zone and recommend stories for coverage. The most frequent thing I hear when I approach people, asking if we can tell their stories is “no, I am too shy” or “no, I am not that important.”

Time and time again, our paper has shown that the communities in northern Taos County are important, unique, and our stories are important to tell. I want to encourage you to reach out to pitch your stories to our team. You can request to know what questions we will ask of you before we do the interview, you can request edits on your story before it’s published, and you can provide feedback on stories to help us improve for next time. Our paper operates as the voice of the people, but the voice of the people requires a very important component to continue to operate, and that component is you.

2024 is going to be a busy year as our country will, once again, have the opportunity to decide who will lead our country for the next four years. Difficult conversations based on morals, principles, ethics, and beliefs will likely ensue. In 2020 during the last general election, our country grew divided, causing households to fight amongst themselves, cousins to be at war with one another, and numerous wars to take place on social media, all in the name of who we believe to be the best politician would be for our country’s future.

At the end of the day, the only meaningful way you can make your voice heard is by voting in the election. Not registered to vote? No problem. Visit sos.state.nm.us to register. You will also be able to learn about polling locations, voter faqs, how the Secretary of State secures elections, and see election results on this page.

Regardless of your political affiliation or beliefs, one thing will remain true at the end of the election year, and that is we are one community of norteños. We carry shared burdens, encounter similar trials, and experience comparable hardships. A fact is that we are stronger, together, one nation, under God.
I wish that 2024 brings you peace, love, gratitude, blessings, health, hope, peace, and goodness and I pray that we can remain united as we navigate the upcoming election year.