Virgin Galactic Achieves NM Space Launch

COVID-19 by the numbers

New Mexico health officials on Friday reported 175 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total so far to 201,868. The health department has designated 187,238 of those cases as recovered. Bernalillo County had 43 new cases, followed by San Juan County with 37 and Santa Fe County with 18, seven of which were in the 87507 ZIP code, which ranked third in the state for the most new cases.

The state also announced five additional deaths; there have now been 4,131 fatalities. As of Friday, 144 people were hospitalized with COVID-19. The health department will provide a three-day update on COVID-19 cases this afternoon.

The health department on Friday also announced it will add approximately 100 additional deaths to its baseline of COVID-19 related deaths today following completion of an audit of public health records that reconciled delayed information. Doing so may impact individual counties’ total death counts on the DOH data dashboard.

Currently, 63.8% of New Mexicans have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 53.4% are fully vaccinated. In Santa Fe County, 72.2% have had at least one dose and 60.6% are fully inoculated.

You can read all of SFR’s COVID-19 coverage here. If you’ve had experiences with COVID-19, we would like to hear from you.

Virgin Galactic launches humans into space from NM

On Saturday, Virgin Galactic completed its third spaceflight and the first ever spaceflight from Spaceport America, making New Mexico the third US state to launch humans into space. According to a Virgin Galactic news release, VSS Unity achieved a speed of Mach 3 after being released from the mothership, VMS Eve, and reached space at an altitude of 55.45 miles before gliding smoothly to a runway landing at Spaceport America. “Today’s flight showcased the inherent elegance and safety of our spaceflight system, while marking a major step forward for both Virgin Galactic and human spaceflight in New Mexico,” Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier said in a statement. With permission from Zia Pueblo, the zia sun symbol of New Mexico’s state flag was placed on the exterior of the spaceship, and the crew flew green chile seeds as well. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham attended the launch and acknowledged both former Gov. Bill Richardson and Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson in a statement. “Our state’s scientific legacy has been honored by this important achievement, one that took guts and faith and an unwavering belief in what New Mexico can achieve—and indeed is destined to achieve,” Lujan Grisham said. “I can’t wait to see what comes next.”

Navajo Nation becomes largest tribal nation in US

The Navajo Nation became the most populous tribal nation in the US during the pandemic, the New York Times writes, increasing its official enrollment from from 306,268 last year to 399,494, according to the Navajo Office of Vital Records and Identification, outpacing the Cherokee Nation, which has an enrollment of approximately 392,000. “The tribe’s growth, which came while it was enduring some of the nation’s most harrowing virus outbreaks, could affect the disbursement of future federal aid as well as political representation in the Southwest,” the Times writes. The increase came as many Diné sought to either update their registration or enroll for the first time to ensure receipt of federal pandemic relief funds. Even the increased numbers may be an undercount, according to some. For example, University of New Mexico Assistant Professor of Native American Studies Wendy Greyeyes says most Diné live off the reservation and not near the offices maintaining enrollment figures, and also may not qualify under the Navajo Nation’s citizenship requirements. “Living in Albuquerque, I’ve met so many members who don’t qualify for the minimum enrollment, or they may be enrolled in another tribe and cannot double enroll,” she said.

NM unemployment rate third highest in US

New Mexico’s unemployment rate in April, 8.2%, tied with New York for the third highest in the country, according to new figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hawaii had the highest rate: 8.5%, followed by California at 8.3%. Overall, unemployment rates were lower in April in 12 states and the District of Columbia, and stable in 38 states. The national unemployment rate, 6.1%, didn’t change much over the month, but was 8.7% points lower than in April 2020. University of New Mexico researchers tell the Albuquerque Journal New Mexico typically recovers more slowly from economic downswings: “It’s not uncommon, at least in recent history, for this state to have a relatively high unemployment rate,” Michael O’Donnell, acting director of UNM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, said. The state’s workforce composition, along with its reliance on public sector jobs, may play roles in that slower recovery rate, O’Donnell said, though he also acknowledged that expanded unemployment rates also may be a factor. New Mexico recently reinstated work requirements for people receiving unemployment benefits.

Listen up

The most recent episode of KUNM’s University Showcase spotlights University of New Mexico American Studies Department Professor Jennifer Nez Denetdale, the first Diné person to earn a history PhD, recently recognized by UNM with its distinguished Community Engaged Research Lecture award. Denetdale discusses her lecture: “Dikos Ntsaaígíí—Building the Perfect Human to Invade: A Diné Feminist Analysis of the Pandemic and the Navajo Nation.”

City seeks transportation feedback

The City of Santa Fe has launched a survey to gather feedback on its Multi-Modal Transition Plan, described in a news release as a plan to “holistically consider strategies to improve walking, bicycling, transit and parking management.” According to the city’s multi-modal transition web page, areas of focus include the downtown/Railyard area; Midtown and Rufina Street; and Airport Road. You can read the full scope of the project’s goals here, along with reports on the current condition of transit and an assessment of the parking situation. Spoiler alert: The downtown/Railyard area presents the most parking challenges of the three focus areas. “Multi-modal strategies will focus on how to accommodate the needs of visitors, tourists, government employees and legislators and residents in a manner that is balanced, including during special events,” the report says. You can take the survey here; anyone who does will be entered into a raffle for $50 gift cards to Albertsons.

Pride on the Plaza returns

The Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance is bringing back Pride on the Plaza this year, set for 11:30 am to 3 pm on Saturday June 26 (currently set to adhere to social distancing limits, but will expand if the state’s public health law changes beforehand). This year’s Pride week (June 20-27) will also include a Pride Drive in lieu of the parade, also on Saturday, from noon to 1:30 pm, with a $25 entry fee for individuals and businesses (entry comes with two magnetic signs and a Pride flag for the vehicle). The week-long celebration also includes a kick-off dance; a karaoke and movie night; beach-party bingo; and a closing night dance. HRA says it will also launch “Mannequins on Parade—Eccentric, Electric and Eclectic,” with 11 local artists decorating and embellishing 11 mannequins that will be placed in various locations around the city. The show will launch the first week of June, run through Pride, and be auctioned to raise money for outreach programs.

The calm after the storm

As of now, today’s forecast appears calm and lacking in golf-ball-sized hail or mini-tornadoes. Instead, expect sunny skies with a high near 78 degrees and north wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Thanks for reading! The Word awoke dreaming of halloumi.