In brief

Report examines the uninsured

More Americans are uninsured, and more states are affected, according to a new report from Families USA that counts the uninsured differently than the U.S. Census does. The study looked at people under age 65 who lacked health insurance for one month or more at some point between 2006 and 2007.

In New Mexico, 44.3 percent of the nonelderly population was uninsured during that time period. That boils down to 86,000 more New Mexicans in this predicament compared to 1999-2000. Only Texas was worse off.

In New Mexico, 67 percent of the uninsured were without coverage for six or more months.

Nationally, the percentage of uninsured under age 65 increased from 30 percent in 1999-2000 to 35 percent in 2006-2007. And 80 percent of the uninsured were in working families; 71 percent with full time jobs.

It used to be that nine states had one-third of the under-65 population uninsured. Now 20 states and the District of Columbia do.

To read the report, go to www.familiesusa.org.

Alpaca fete this weekend

Visit alpacas at Santa Fe-area breeding farms during Saturday and Sunday's open ranch weekend hosted by the Alpaca Breeders Association of New Mexico.

The ranches are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Participating Santa Fe County farms are located south of the city off U.S. 285 near Eldorado. They include Sagebrush Alpacas at 54B Jacinto Road, AlpacaWorks at 54C Jacinto Road, Dando Luz Alpacas at 54 Camino Potrillo and Blue Mesa Alpacas at 10 Blue Mesa Road.

For more information, call Mary at Sagebrush Alpacas at 803-6361 .

NPR reporter to talk immigration

Mandalit del Barco, a reporter for National Public Radio, will talk about immigration at United World College-USA in Montezuma next month.

Del Barco is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. Oct. 26. The theme of her speech is "Bringing Immigration Home." The talk is free and open to the public.

Del Barco is a general assignment reporter based at NPR West. Her reporting has taken her to El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, China and Peru.

State helps with dump cleanup

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — An illegal dump in San Miguel County has been cleaned up under an order from the state environment secretary.

The county and San Geronimo Land Grant Association recently finished the cleanup, which involved removing 700 tons of solid waste, including tires, trash, land clearing debris and junk cars from an arroyo.

Environment Secretary Ron Curry approved $30,000 in grant money after the association asked for help with cleanup.

Curry ordered the work along a land grant arroyo last year. The department said it issued a compliance order and proposed a $76,800 penalty on the association after requests for voluntary compliance were unsuccessful.

However, department officials said Wednesday that an Oct. 3 public hearing may be unnecessary if the department decides the penalty is no longer necessary. The state agency could reduce or waive the penalty.



Staff and wire reports