Despite turmoil, plenty of levity to be found

The noise may be more pronounced elsewhere, but here in New Mexico, we’ve got plenty of hot topics of our own.

Hottest at the moment, I suppose, is the lawsuit that’s been filed challenging the Public Education Department’s new rule requiring 180 days of classroom instruction per year per school district, which effectively nixes the four-day schedule that dozens of school district have been operating under.

There are two questions before the 9th Judicial District Court in Curry County: Whether to order an injunction that would prevent the PED rule from taking effect until the larger issue, whether PED has the authority to impose such a rule, is decided. As it stands now, districts must plan their 2024-25 school calendars for five-day weeks — a big change for districts operating on four-day schedules right now — but if the judge orders an injunction, it’ll give them another year at least on their four-day schedule.

We should see fairly quickly if the rule goes into effect in 2024-25. Then, who knows how long before the matter is fully litigated and the issue decided.

Meanwhile, the spring winds are blowing and most of the state is dry as a bone, so buckle up for another hot-to-the-touch fire season. We’ve already had a couple of high-profile structure fires — a peanut plant in Roosevelt County and a warehouse at the Roswell Air Center — which may or may not have been fueled by weather conditions. But they do serve as omens for what could be a terrible fire season.

Thanks to rising temperatures worldwide, we can expect a hot, hot summer. Hopefully, a decent monsoon season will show up this year, but after last year’s early-then-gone rains, what we’ll get remains an open question.

Speaking of heat, the governor has called a special session in July to address public safety. Already, the Republicans are trying to steer the session toward border security action, but the Democrats seem more intent on Albuquerque’s crime rate, gun controls and mental illness. Stay tuned to see if any common ground is found.

Nevertheless, all this doesn’t mean New Mexico is lost in turmoil. There’s still plenty of levity to enjoy.

Just the other day, the Savannah Bananas came to the University of New Mexico to show off their own, unique and silly way of playing “Banana Ball.” I’m new to all this, but by their looks on YouTube, Savannah might just be the Harlem Globetrotters of the baseball diamond.

And speaking of athletics, powerlifting is on the rise in New Mexico. The sport even got its first state tournament this year, thanks for the New Mexico Activities Association.

And as a less formal sport, the relatively new game of cornhole seems to be catching on around this state. Santa Rosa, for example, now has a team traveling the area to compete in the cornhole tournaments that are sprouting up, wearing with pride what I’d say is the coolest cornhole team name out there — the Dirt Baggers. Their name may not win them any tournaments, but it sure wears well with the fun they’re having.

Life isn’t all about lawsuits, firefighting and special sessions, you know. Sometimes we’re better off just having fun. Banana Ball, anyone?

Tom McDonald is editor of the New Mexico Community News Exchange. Contact him at:

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