Home Care In Salem, NM

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said that erstwhile Oregon Health Authority director Patrick Allen will begin his new duties Jan. 3.

Credit: AP

SANTA FE, N.M. — Oregon's top health official will be taking the reins of New Mexico's Health Department as the state builds a new veterans home and grapples with the enduring hardships of COVID-19 and the toll of alcoholism, drug-overdose deaths and gun violence.

The appointment of Patrick M. Allen was announced Friday in a news release from Gov. Michelle Lujan's office.

“Patrick is a regulator and public health professional with a proven record in improving health care systems, and I have full confidence he will do the same here in New Mexico,” Lujan Grisham said. “He shares my vision of a New Mexico that fosters better health outcomes for every resident of our beautiful state.”

Allen will oversee an agency of more than 2,000 employees at the forefront of efforts to blunt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic while attending to longstanding public health issues aggravated by poverty and limited access to medical care in remote areas.

At the same time, lawmakers are funding or considering initiatives that expand the agency’s mission to address gun violence and possibly climate change as a matter of public health.

The governor's office said Allen has spent more than 30 years in public service, most recently serving as the director of the Oregon Health Authority under outgoing Gov. Kate Brown. He also worked with Oregon's Department of Consumer and Business Services.

Lujan Grisham is starting a second, four-year term on Jan. 1 amid a series of departures and new appointments of leaders at crucial state agencies.

The governor has relied on Human Services Secretary David Scrase to oversee the Health Department for the past 18 months since the departure of Tracie Collins, a dean at the University of New Mexico College of Population Health who led the agency on temporary basis in early months of the pandemic until July 2021.

Scrase will continue in his role as head of the Human Services Department.

Recent performance evaluations by the Legislature's budget and accountability office give the Health Department mixed marks for programs aimed at combating drug overdose deaths in the midst of a nationwide fentanyl crisis. Statewide drug overdoses and alcohol-related deaths reached an all-time high in 2020, amid increased spending on treatment and prevention programs.

The agency's scientific laboratory has been praised for its efficiency in monitoring drinking water for contaminants including lead and so-called forever chemicals — and short processing times for blood alcohol samples for law enforcement as they combat drunken driving.

The Health Department operates on a budget of nearly $350 million annually in state general funds, which acts as a conduit for federal public health spending.

The agency operates seven residential treatment centers that have been flagged in recent evaluations by state and federal authorities for inadequate oversight, inefficiencies, staffing shortages, poor facility conditions and serious deficiencies in care for patients.

A recent evaluation of state-operated hospitals for veterans, the mentally ill and older adults in September described inadequate oversight that threatens the ability to provide quality care, including harmful conditions at the State Veterans’ Home.

In July, the state began construction of new residences at the State Veterans' Home — a health care facility for military veterans in the town of Truth or Consequences that had been criticized for substandard conditions by state and federal evaluators.

The Satanic Temple will soon launch its first reproductive health clinic in New Mexico, which will provide free "religious medication abortion care," and said it hopes to expand operations in other states in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

The Salem, Massachusetts-based group, which doesn’t believe in a literal Satan and describes itself as a "non-theistic religious organization," said the new health clinic will provide telehealth screenings and appointments, as well as prescribe abortion pills for its patients.

It will be operated by licensed medical staff and will make its services available to New Mexico residents who are at least 17 years old, up to 11 weeks pregnant, and are medically eligible for an abortion.

The new facility, which will be operated by The Satanic Temple’s new medical services arm TST Health, is called "The Samuel Alito’s Mom’s Satanic Abortion Clinic." Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito authored the final opinion that Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 decision that reaffirmed the right to abortion, were wrong had and to be overturned.

"In 1950, Samuel Alito’s mother did not have options, and look what happened," Malcolm Jarry, the cofounder of The Satanic Temple. "Prior to 1973, doctors who performed abortions could lose their licenses and go to jail. The clinic’s name serves to remind people just how important it is to have the right to control one’s body and the potential ramifications of losing that right."

The Satanic Temple, based in Salam, Massachusetts, is separate from the Church of Satan — which was founded in the 1960s. Founded in 2013, the Satanic Temple advocates for secularism and says its mission is to encourage benevolence and empathy," "reject tyrannical authority," "advocate practical common sense," and "oppose injustice."

It considers Satan a literary figure who serves as a metaphor for defending personal sovereignty against religious authority. The Satanic Temple’s religious tenets include beliefs that people should have control over their own bodies, that the freedoms of others should be respected, and that scientific facts shouldn’t be distorted to fit personal beliefs.

The organization also has something it calls a "Satanic abortion ritual," which includes the process of a person reminding themselves that their body is inviolate, undergoing the abortion, and then reciting a personal affirmation.

For its new facility, the temple said anyone in New Mexico seeking to perform its abortion ritual will be able to receive online medical services free of charge. Patients undergo a screening and virtual appointment before having their prescriptions sent to the clinic’s pharmacy partner, who will mail the medications in a discreet package, it said.

Patients must still pay fees at the pharmacy, which will cost around $90, the group said.

"TST Health’s licensed medical staff will be available for patient questions and concerns and will initiate follow-up communications with patients. In addition, the clinic has a dedicated patient hotline that is on call 24/7," the organization said in a press release.

Vasectomy: Spike in interest after Roe v. Wade

Following the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, there was a huge spike in interest in vasectomies both in online searches and doctor consultations.

The Satanic Temple said it hopes to expand operations into other states, including those that do not allow clinicians to perform abortions. The group, which was recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt church in 2019, has filed several lawsuits in various states claiming that its abortion ritual is exempt from restrictions and bans because the procedure is an essential part of religious practice.

"TST is proud to expand reproductive options for our members. This is just the beginning," Erin Helian, the temple’s executive director of campaigns, said in a statement. "We will remain steadfast as we continue the fight to uphold reproductive justice in the United States."

In New Mexico, computer science courses are not mandated by the state. Many schools in metropolitan areas offer these courses, but few rural school districts do. However, one rural school district has turned to New Mexico’s Supercomputing Challenge to offer computer science education.

The Village of Melrose may be small, but that hasn’t stopped the school district from competing in New Mexico’s Supercomputing Challenge.

For nearly a year, teams of students here in grades 6 through 12 have met after school to take part in a challenge, trying to solve problems using computational thinking.

After school on a Monday night, sisters Lily and Heidi Macfarlane, along with their 6th grade classmate Eojhan Knight, review comments from a recent presentation of their project that they say could help crop dusters improve safety and efficiency.

These students had to understand how to use a program to write code to solve problems which for some students like Lily Macfarlane took time.

“We had no idea what to do for the NetLogo and that was just the start of it,” she said. “We had to do the codes, and we had to make a model for it on the computer. I didn’t even know how to operate a computer and that was pretty weird cause I’m in this grade.”

Macfarlane says understanding how to code and learn computational thinking was just like getting to know people.

“You know how you make a new best friend, then you finally see what they’re thinking and what they might think,” she said. “It’s kind of like that with a computer.”

For over 16 years, the Melrose Municipal Schools have set aside funding and students have worked concessions to be able to pay for teams taking part in the challenge. Nearly a decade ago, a Melrose team even won the state competition. It was a big win for a school district that doesn’t offer computer science classes. This after-school activity is pretty much their only option, according to Superintendent Jaime Widner.

“We don’t have a computer science class per se, but our science teacher takes care of that, Alan Daugherty, and kids get an opportunity to code and program computers based on something that they see a need for, and it gives them the opportunity to see things that they wouldn’t get if he didn’t do that program,” Widner said.

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After a full day of teaching science classes to middle and high schoolers and driving bus routes, Daugherty, or “Mr. D” as he’s referred to, returns to school to help Melrose students in the Supercomputing Challenge. Daugherty says he took computer science courses while in college at New Mexico State University. But to help prepare students for the competition, he also completed Supercomputing Challenge training and took advantage of the University of New Mexico’s career development program “CS For All.”

“It’s given them the chance for our kids to get some entry-level computer science skills, and that’s something that we wouldn’t be able to offer here otherwise,” Daugherty said.

During the last 10 years, jobs in computer science have grown in the United States. A 2017 Department of Labor Statistics report showed that 3.9 million people were employed in the industry in 2015, up from 3.2 million in 2009.

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To help prepare students to fill these jobs, some states have unveiled more computer science learning opportunities in schools. However, New Mexico does not have an official state plan for K-12 computer science standards. It does not require high schools to offer CS courses or mandate that students can take CS courses for math or science credit. States nearby, like Colorado, are working to adopt computer science standards, and Texas requires that all high schools offer computer science classes.

So, does this Supercomputing Challenge help fill voids that exist in New Mexico when it comes to computer science education? Challenge Director David Kratzer says it can help fill that void, and also works to provide various outreach programs to a younger group of students to address the wide gender gap in computer science jobs.

“We realized that we need to get kids interested at 3rd, 4th, 5th grade level and then we won’t have this disparity in our gender gap,” Kratzer said.

Kratzer says over 11,000 students have participated in the challenge, and many of them have received scholarships to college and have gone on to successful careers. He said in 2003, he did an analysis at Los Alamos National Labs and found that 100 employees were Challenge alumni out of around 10,000.

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Students from rural communities have used the Challenge to find success. Marisol Gamboa is the oldest child of immigrants from Salem, N.M. She’s a computer scientist and division leader at a National Lab in California. She has over 17 years of experience in her field. While attending Hatch Valley Public Schools in the early 1990s, Gamboa was encouraged by a teacher to take part in the Challenge. Her school didn’t even own a computer then, she said, and had to log in from a “Dummy terminal” to a supercomputer at Los Alamos to work on their project.

“I absolutely would not have had any exposure to computers until I would have been in college,” Gamboa said.

Gamboa said her successful participation with the Challenge helped her land multiple scholarships to the University of New Mexico. She says her scholarship funding was large enough to even cover her younger sister’s tuition for a couple of years. She was also able to help her parents buy a larger home with the starting salary she was making at IBM a couple of years after graduation. Many of her siblings went on to higher education and careers.

However, Gamboa said the Challenge is not a panacea for the lack of computer science opportunities in rural areas due to the high poverty rate across New Mexico.

“Extracurricular programs like New Mexico Supercomputer (Challenge) cannot fill the gap due to most students not participating in those programs because they are out helping support their families,” she said.

In Melrose, scholarship help has kept students attracted to the program. Daugherty said every senior who completes the supercomputing challenge has received a college scholarship.

“Essentially all of my seniors that have gone through the program have got some scholarship help, ranging from $500 to $1,000 up to several thousands of dollars each,” he said.

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As long as students want to take part in the challenge, Daugherty said he’s willing to take the time to do what he can to help.

“In the little schools it always seems there’s a whole lot to do and not a whole lot of people to do it,” he said. “So everyone has to chip in and do what they can.”

With the help of the program and “Mr. D,” these kids in this small village of just over 700 people will see if their projects find success in the Supercomputing Challenge — an experience that may lead to college and building a career in the field.

STATION SALES

Kansas – White Communications has filed a $285,000 deal to buy talk “The Patriot 107.9” KZRS, Great Bend, KS from Rocking M Media. The sale is part of the bankruptcy reorganization of Rocking M Media. Barbara White already owns hot AC KRSL-FM (95.9) and classic country “Russell Radio 990AM” KRSL in nearby Russell, KS as well as hot AC “Nick 94.9” KNCK-FM and oldies “Concordia Radio 1390 AM” KNCK in Concordia, KS. Broker: Greg Guy, Patrick Communications

Minnesota – Mike Oberg and George Manus’ Zoe Communications has filed a $130,000 deal to buy adult alternative WELY-FM (94.5) and WELY in Ely, MN from the Bois Forte Tribal Council. Zoe Communications already owns seven FM and four AM stations in Northwest Wisconsin.

Kansas – Ad Astra Per Aspera Broadcasting has filed an $112,000 deal to buy rock “95.5 The Rock” KVOB, Lindsborg, KS from Rocking M Media in the Salina-Manhattan, KS market. And for another $40,000 it buys classic country KSOB (96.7) and talk KNNS (1510) in Larned, KS in the Great Bend-Hays, KS region. The sale is part of the bankruptcy reorganization of Rocking M Media. Ad Astra Per Aspera Broadcasting already owns three stations in the Salina-Manhattan, KS market, including “Kicks Country 106.1” KXKU, “Classic Hits 96.7” KMPK, and “Talk Radio 1540” KMCP. Broker Greg Guy, Patrick Communications

TRANSLATOR SALES

Kansas – Radio Vida Kansas has filed a $95,000 deal to buy the Saint Joseph, MO-licensed translator K205FX at 88.9 FM from Bott Broadcasting. The filing will relay Spanish religious KZGC, Garden City, KS (91.9). Broker: Guest Technologies

New Mexico – Don Davis’ Vanguard Media has filed a $20,000 deal to buy the Albuquerque, NM-licensed translator K229CL at 93.7 FM from TeleBeeper of New Mexico. Vanguard Media will use the translator to simulcast classic hip-hop “The Hustle 101.3” KYLZ.

CLOSINGS

Miami – Salem Media Group has a closed a $5 million deal to reenter the market with a deal to buy sports “990 AM Sports Radio: WMYM from Adib Eden’s Actualidad Media Group. The deal also includes the Kendall-licensed FM translator W254DT at 98.7 FM. This marks a reentry to Miami for Salem which sold off the last of its previous cluster in 2020. Actualidad Radio Group acquired the former “Radio Disney” affiliate WMYM from the Walt Disney Co. in 2015 for $2.1 million. Actualidad Radio continue so own and operate four other signals in South Florida including Spanish News/Talk “Actualidad 1040” WURN, which simulcasts on the Miami-licensed translator W280FV at 103.9 and on WLVJ West Palm Beach (1020); and Spanish CHR “Exitos 107.1” WURN-FM Miami.

North Carolina – Clarence Barinowski-led Good News Network has closed a $540,000 deal to buy religious WJSG, Hamlet, NC (104.3) from Sherrell Jackson’s Jackson Broadcasting Company. Good News Network already owns 22 religious stations in the Southeast.

Elmira-Corning, NY – Tower Broadcasting has closed a deal to swap WLVY (94.3) to Family Life Ministries in exchange for the Bath, NY-licensed translator W293CE at 106.5 FM. Family Life will also pay $450,000 to Tower Broadcasting. The total will include a $170,000 charitable donation from Tower to Family Life, with the remaining $280,000 in cash. Tower Broadcasting still owns five stations in the Elmira-Corning market, including classic hits “V-98.3” WVIN, country WOKN (99.5), classic rock “The Pirate” WELM (1410), adult standards “1600 Favorites” WEHH, and “Big Country” WABH (1380), as well as several FM translators. For Family Life, WLVY becomes the fourth full-power signal for its contemporary Christian format in the Elmira-Corning market.

Pueblo, CO – Dave Moore’s Kix Broadcasting has closed a $159,000 deal to buy country “My Kix” KAVA (1480) from Zee Ferrufino’s Latino Communications. The deal also includes the Pueblo, CO-licensed translator K298CG at 107.5 FM. Kix Broadcasting does not own any other stations.

Tyler-Longview, TX – Richard Witkovski’s North Texas Radio Group has closed a $125,000 deal to buy KEBE (95.1) and KTLU, Rusk, TX (1580) from William Wachter’s Chisholm Trail Communications. Both stations are currently off the air. The deal also includes two FM translators including the Rusk, TX-licensed K280CL at 103.9 FM and the Jacksonville, TX-licensed K284CT at 104.7 FM. The filing says $11,000 will be subtracted from the final payment to cover the cost of an FM transmitter bought by Coates bringing the total consideration to $114,000.

Odessa-Midland, TX – Bruce Campbell’s The Campbell Craft Company has closed a $25,000 deal to buy classic country “Kickin Country 94.7” KTXO from West Texas Broadcasting. Campbell does not own any other radio stations. West Texas Broadcasting still owns “Kickin` Country” KCKM, Monahans TX (1330).

On February 2, The Satanic Temple announced via Twitter that it will be opening an online abortion clinic in New Mexico in an effort to aide those living in the area who seek to end their pregnancies.

The clinic, which saw its grand opening on Valentine's Day, is named "The Samuel Alito's Mom's Satanic Abortion Clinic," a pointed reference to Alito's writing the majority opinion that overturned rights established by Roe v. Wade in 1973.

"TST Health is proud to announce the launch of Samuel Alito's Mom's Satanic Abortion Clinic in New Mexico," the Temple tweeted early this month. "TST Health believes in honoring those, like the clinic's namesake, who couldn't choose legal abortion, no matter how much they may have wanted to."

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TST Health, which is funded through the support of donors, has also launched a variety of merchandise to go along with the new clinic opening, including teddy bears, t-shirts and magnets.

Information found on the official website for the clinic describes it as "an online clinic that provides religious medication abortion care" issuing "abortion medication via mail to those in New Mexico who wish to perform The Satanic Temple's Religious Abortion Ritual."

The criteria for services stipulate that patients must be at least 17 years old, be in New Mexico at the time of their online screening, have a New Mexico mailing address, and be up to 11 weeks pregnant. The cost of the health services are free, but they estimate the abortion ritual medications as being deliverable at the cost of $90.

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"The Satanic Temple, on behalf of its members, objects to government interference with abortion access and contests that laws that impede our faith in bodily autonomy and our ability to perform our Religious Abortion Ritual violate the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act," the TST said in a statement.

In a quote pulled from Charisma News, the TST describes the use of the word "ritual" in relation to their abortion services as meaning a "spiritual experience designed to instill confidence and self-worth in accordance to TST's religious beliefs."

"In 1950, Samuel Alito's mother did not have options, and look what happened," said Malcolm Jarry, a co-founder of The Satanic Temple. "Prior to 1973, doctors who performed abortions could lose their licenses and go to jail. The clinic's name serves to remind people just how important it is to have the right to control one's body and the potential ramifications of losing that right."

The clinic staffs five registered nurses and a nurse practitioner to prescribe medications.

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