Gallup Sun

There’s a supervolcano under Yellowstone National Park called the Yellowstone Caldera that last erupted in a big way approximately 640,000 years ago. The next time it erupts, it could potentially result in a large swath of North America getting covered in ash, creating a sustained volcanic winter that kills roughly half the world’s population. Before we get ahead of ourselves, scientists at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory warn against overreacting to reports that this supervolcano is overdue for another full-scale eruption. In fact, they reassure us that “recurrence intervals of these events are neither regular nor predictable.”

Oh, good. The dormant supervolcano is...

Exploring the parallels between crop insurance, fixed index annuities

Imagine you are a farmer. You have been working the land for years, cultivating crops, and raising livestock. You have grown accustomed to the rhythms of the seasons, the unpredictable weather patterns, and the vagaries of the market. You have learned to adapt to the changing circumstances and to make the most of what you have.

But as you approach retirement age, you realize you need a new strategy. You need a way to protect your assets and ensure a steady income stream for the rest of your life. That’s where fixed-indexed annuities come in.

Fixed-indexed annuities can be considered the equivalent of crop...

Heinrich, Luján among senators introducing Farm Bill

WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., joined U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and 13 bipartisan Senate colleagues, to call on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry leaders to address long-term drought in the upcoming Farm Bill in a press release published Jan. 12.

“Agriculture is the economic backbone for rural communities in our states. However, severe,  long-term drought is devastating these rural areas. During periods of droughts, our farmers and ranchers face diminishing crop and livestock outputs. These negative...

Dear Editor,

On Jan. 16, the 30-day Legislative began in Santa Fe and the clock is already ticking down until Feb. 15 when the session will adjourn.

The first week of the session is fairly slow with committees organizing and legislation receiving committee assignments. In fact, many legislators will travel back to their districts on the first weekend to inform their constituents about important bills and issues that may be addressed.

Like we’ve done in the past, AFT NM will send out updates several times a week to keep you informed during the session. Members across the state regularly report back that periodic updates help them to feel like they are part of the action in the...