AGP Executive Report

Teen Health & Tech Accountability: Meta agreed to pay up to $18B and tighten Facebook/Instagram rules for teens, including two-hour daily limits, overnight blocks without parental consent, and stronger age checks—part of a landmark settlement with most U.S. states over claims the platforms were designed to addict children. Public Health Misinformation: Anti-vaccine activists are seeking families of two measles deaths in Pennsylvania after RFK Jr. suggested the deaths may have been “fabricated,” raising concerns about how missing details fuel conspiracy theories. New Mexico Drug Safety: New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez sued the U.S. DOJ for records tied to allegations that DEA agents used “fentanyl walking” in the state, after whistleblowers claimed shipments were allowed to proceed during investigations. Caregiving Support: An initial evaluation of New MexiCare found it reduced stress and financial strain for family caregivers of older adults and may help delay costly long-term care. Food Safety: FDA issued a Class I recall for a pistachio nut butter sold at Walmart in multiple states, including New Mexico, due to Salmonella risk. Local Health & Safety: Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen moved to end Flock surveillance contracts amid privacy concerns.

Meta Teen Safety Settlement: Meta agreed to pay up to about $18 billion and tighten Facebook/Instagram protections for minors, including a daily two-hour limit that parents can disable, as states push broader youth-safety standards across social media. Fentanyl Accountability in NM: New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez sued the U.S. Department of Justice to force release of records tied to alleged “fentanyl walking,” seeking answers about why large shipments were reportedly allowed to reach communities. Medicaid Work Rules Update: NM Health Care Authority and Workforce Solutions will brief more than 200,000 Medicaid members on new federal work/activity requirements starting Jan. 1, 2027, plus exemptions and how to keep coverage. Public Health & Food Safety: Walmart’s Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter recall was upgraded to FDA Class I status over Salmonella risk; consumers should stop eating and return for a refund. Housing Stability: Lawyers told NM lawmakers some landlords use dishonest or possibly illegal tactics, as rent pressure and fast eviction timelines leave tenants with little room to recover. Reproductive Health Funding Fight: Multiple states, including New Mexico, sued over Title X conditions that could restrict contraception access and exclude transgender patients. Rural Care Funding: Southwest New Mexico providers are set to receive part of $50 million in state rural health stabilization money, including support for mental health and primary care.

Social Media & Youth Safety: Meta reached a landmark settlement with nearly all U.S. states, agreeing to pay up to $18 billion over a decade and make major changes to Facebook and Instagram for teens—default two-hour daily limits, nighttime blocking (midnight–6 a.m.), reduced school-hour notifications, hiding like counts, and tighter controls on makeup/cosmetic filters and autoplay. New Mexico Context: New Mexico was not part of the deal and is still pursuing its own case, after winning earlier child-safety rulings. Food Safety: The FDA issued a Class 1 highest-risk warning for a pistachio nut butter recall due to possible Salmonella contamination, with distribution including New Mexico. School Tech Privacy: Albuquerque Public Schools will keep using the AI reading tool Amira, but will scale back voice recording and increase data deletion after parent backlash. Public Health & Climate: A potentially record El Niño is strengthening, raising concerns about higher risks for illnesses like West Nile virus, hantavirus, and cyclospora. Wildfire Response: A San Carlos Apache firefighter died from a medical emergency while supporting New Mexico’s Frijoles Fire.

Teen Social Media Crackdown: Meta agreed to pay up to $17–$18 billion and overhaul Facebook and Instagram for minors, including stricter age checks, 2-hour daily limits, overnight blocks, and reduced notifications during school hours—settlement terms still need a judge’s approval. Public Health—Cyclospora Surge: Confirmed cyclosporiasis cases in the U.S. topped 17,000 (CDC), with New Mexico newly added; officials note the outbreak’s pace is slowing but warn the true number is likely higher while investigators track sources. Local Environment & Wildlife: Wildlife advocates protested an Albuquerque decontamination effort at an AMAFCA retention basin, saying pumping and burying animals could harm local ecosystems. Food & Community Resilience: A Las Vegas demonstration farm is expanding training and raised-bed rentals to help residents grow food and move toward more self-sustaining production.

Social Media & Youth Mental Health: Meta agreed to a maximum $16.68 billion settlement with 29 states over claims Facebook and Instagram were designed to be addictive to children, with nationwide teen changes including daily use limits and nighttime blocks plus stronger age checks and parent tools. Wildfire Safety & Health: A 62-year-old Arizona wildland firefighter, Randy Lupe of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, died after a medical emergency while working the Frijoles Fire in northern New Mexico. Early Childhood Development: The Therapy Academy expanded free early intervention speech, physical, and occupational therapy services across Cibola County, aiming to reduce long travel barriers for families with kids ages birth to 3. Food Security: U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján visited the Grants Community Pantry as SNAP changes raise concerns for rural families and child poverty. Courts & Health Care: The New Mexico Supreme Court’s new term starts in September with 45 cases, including disputes touching competency treatment, medical malpractice fund payments, and utility regulation that can affect public health. Water Access: Pojoaque Terraces Mobile Home Park residents reported 11 days without water after a well collapse, with ongoing worries about water quality.

Water Access Crisis: Pojoaque mobile home park residents say they’ve been without water for 11 days after a well collapsed, with worries about water quality and repeated past outages. Addiction Treatment Expansion: New state-run substance abuse treatment center opens in Las Vegas, adding 28 inpatient beds (detox plus up to 28 days of care) for northern New Mexico. Wildfire Health & Safety: An Arizona wildland firefighter, Randy Lupe (62), died after a medical emergency while supporting the Frijoles Fire; officials say details are limited out of respect for his family. Health Care Affordability: New Mexico’s Health Care Affordability Fund may run short as ACA premium help expires and costs rise, with projections pointing to major gaps by 2028 and beyond. Public Health & Equity: Lovelace Westside Hospital was named a Blue Distinction Center+ for bariatric surgery, highlighting weight-loss surgery support and follow-up. Child Safety Online: In a major Meta/Instagram teen-safety fight, Adam Mosseri testified about a “Take a Break” feature and its limited teen uptake.

West Nile watch: New Mexico is expanding statewide mosquito monitoring with a $2 million, two-year program that tests mosquitoes for West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis and adds more traps across Albuquerque and beyond, aiming to flag rising risk before human cases surge. Caregiver support: An independent evaluation of New MexiCare, a state-funded program for unpaid family caregivers of older adults outside Medicaid, found participants reported less financial, emotional and physical strain after six months, with a lower chance of emergency room visits for older adults. Water protection from wildfire: The San Juan-Chama restoration effort is highlighted as a border-region project to reduce wildfire damage and protect watershed health, with work to thin and clear overgrown areas to prevent catastrophic fires that can disrupt water supplies. Measles reminder: Pennsylvania reported two measles deaths tied to an outbreak, underscoring that unvaccinated people face severe risk and that MMR remains the best protection. Food safety pressure: A multistate Salmonella Javiana investigation linked to recalled jalapeños has sickened hundreds, including cases in New Mexico, keeping attention on outbreak tracking and recalls. Public health and policy: A new FDA leadership nomination with Four Corners roots is in the news, alongside broader national debates that can affect health access and safety.

Food Safety: A multistate Salmonella outbreak tied to recalled fresh jalapeños has sickened 431 people across 32 states, including New Mexico, with 57 hospitalizations and no reported deaths—another reminder that “counting recalls” can miss how one contamination event triggers many alerts. Mosquito Control: Albuquerque is weighing a $130,000 boost for expanded mosquito surveillance as New Mexico health officials warn the season could run longer, raising West Nile risk. Wildfire Health & Access: The Frijoles Fire near Santa Fe is holding around 15,200 acres with 45% containment, after a support crew member died in a medical incident; smoke and road impacts continue. Animal Health & Food Prices: The U.S. resumed Mexican cattle imports after a New World screwworm pause, with controlled screening at Arizona ports—moves aimed at beef prices but likely limited for shoppers. Public Health Costing: New research estimates it costs about $244,480 to launch a measles response before a second case is counted, with per-case costs dropping as outbreaks grow. Care Access Policy: New Mexico is set to continue funding gender-affirming care for minors after federal Medicaid cuts.

Gender-Affirming Care Funding: New Mexico will keep covering gender-affirming care for minors with state funds after a federal Medicaid/CHIP rule ends support, with the change set to take effect Oct. 13. Cannabis Supply Disruption: The state’s seed-to-sale inventory system transition will trigger a six-day blackout starting Aug. 25, pausing product movement and raising concerns for retailers and licensees. Food Safety Watch: New Mexico is among states affected by recent salmonella and other recalls; the state reports multiple salmonella cases tied to recalled eggs and jalapeño-linked outbreaks, with risk updates varying by product. Recovery & Community Health: Albuquerque launched a Recovery Softball League with more than 50 players from local recovery programs, aiming to support sobriety and mental health through community activities. Health Care Access & Costs: Nationally, researchers warn that abortion policy changes could increase late-term abortions in states removing limits, while New Mexico’s own health coverage shifts highlight how federal rules can quickly reshape access. Wildfire Water Protection: A San Juan-Chama restoration effort is working to reduce wildfire risk to protect water supplies for more than 1 million people.

Addiction recovery, community support: More than 50 people from Albuquerque recovery programs launched a Recovery Softball League at Grant Middle School, with local health and housing leadership backing the idea that sober social activities can help people rebuild routines and mental health. Child safety in entertainment: Melissa Gilbert and other former child actors renewed calls for stronger protections for young performers after the deaths of Hayden Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase, arguing Hollywood still fails to prioritize welfare and privacy. Elder care oversight: Doña Ana County deputies responded to an altercation involving an 83-year-old client and his court-appointed guardian, with charges pending as the case highlights tensions in guardianship and elder care. Jail healthcare planning: Bernalillo County is preparing options for a new healthcare service model for the Metropolitan Detention Center after UNM Hospital’s contract ends, with commissioners set to decide ahead of a 2027 transition. Food safety watch: A nationwide egg recall investigation remains open even as the sell-by guidance has expired, leaving households with a “know the symptoms” reminder rather than a simple check-the-carton task.

Food Safety: The Midwest Poultry Services egg recall may be “expired” for shoppers (sell-by dates passed Aug. 17), but the FDA’s Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak investigation is still listed as ongoing, leaving an open question about what else may be contributing to illnesses across 17 states. Public Health & Care Access: A KFF-backed look at New Mexico’s senior care system argues skilled nursing is failing quietly due to understaffing and low wages, with profit-driven ownership blamed for siphoning resources away from frontline care. Health Policy: New Mexico is continuing funding gender-affirming care for minors as Medicaid coverage ends, highlighting how state policy is stepping in where federal coverage shifts. Infectious Disease Watch: CDC reports cyclospora cases are still high nationwide (15,716 confirmed across 47 states), though the pace appears to be slowing—prompting renewed questions about when it’s safe to eat fresh produce. Animal Health & Human Risk: The U.S. is set to resume Mexican cattle imports under tight screwworm controls, with New Mexico and Texas already dealing with cases that can affect livestock and potentially people. Local Health Systems: Bernalillo County is preparing options for a jail healthcare switch after UNM Hospital’s contract ends, with a new consultant hired as the timeline tightens.

Correctional Health Overhaul: Bernalillo County is hiring a consultant to map options for replacing UNMH’s jail healthcare contract, with service model choices set for October and a July 2027 transition deadline. Medicaid Coverage Shift: New Mexico says it will keep funding gender-affirming care for minors with state dollars after a final federal rule bars Medicaid federal funds for those services. Public Health & Food Safety: CDC reports cyclospora cases are still high but trending down, with confirmed infections now topping 15,700 across 47 states; officials continue to track outbreaks and advise caution with produce. Health Privacy: A federal judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from accessing sensitive data for more than 17 million commercial drivers, pausing a Homeland Security subpoena while litigation proceeds. Infectious Disease Watch: New World screwworm remains a low-risk concern for people and animals, but authorities are urging vigilance as the parasite is detected in the U.S. Community Health Access: The state is accepting applications for a Rural Health Advisory Committee, aiming to shape support for underserved areas.

Organ Donation Safeguards: A BMJ report highlights a Kentucky case where organ retrieval was paused after staff noticed movement, raising questions about how “death” is determined and how safeguards work. Gender-Affirming Care Funding: New Mexico says it will keep covering gender-affirming care for minors with state funds after a federal Medicaid rule bars federal dollars for those services. Colorado River Water Cuts: Federal guidelines finalize 2027-2028 reductions, with lower-basin states facing cuts while upper-basin states avoid conservation mandates—renewing pressure in the Southwest as Lake Powell and Lake Mead hit record lows. Public Health Policy & Vaccines: A New Mexico column criticizes recent federal childhood vaccine changes, including splitting MMR into separate shots and expanding “shared decision-making.” Food Safety: The FDA upgraded a nationwide egg recall to the highest risk level over salmonella, with distribution including New Mexico. Healthy Aging Tech: UNM and the state health authority launched a free “Vive Bien/Live Well” app for seniors to track cognition, mobility, nutrition, and more. Screwworm Response: The U.S. resumes livestock imports from Mexico under tight controls as New World screwworm risk remains a concern for Texas and New Mexico. Privacy in Driver Data: A judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from accessing sensitive personal data for 17 million commercial drivers. Local Health Access: A Santa Fe father’s ICE detention is being challenged after charges cited by the agency were dismissed. Wildfire Support: Frijoles Fire containment rose with rain helping crews, and the New Mexico National Guard remains on standby.

FDA Egg Recall Escalation: The FDA upgraded a Midwest Poultry Services egg recall to the highest-risk “Class I” level over salmonella concerns, with about 1.5 million dozen eggs tied to illnesses in 17 states including New Mexico. Wildfire & Smoke Readiness: As the Frijoles Fire grows past 15,000 acres, containment rose to about 38% with rain helping; the New Mexico National Guard is on standby for traffic control and medical evacuation support. Immigration Enforcement Scrutiny in Santa Fe: Attorneys and local leaders are questioning ICE arrests tied to medical settings, including a Santa Fe father detained outside La Familia Medical Center; court records cited by reporters say some charges referenced by DHS were dismissed. Healthy Aging Tech in NM: UNM and ScienceSoft launched a statewide WHO Healthy Aging initiative, including a Vive Bien/Live Well app for older adults to track cognition, mobility, nutrition, and more. Public Health Research: A New Mexico-linked study found bisphosphonate use after hormone receptor-positive breast cancer diagnosis was tied to lower mortality, while results differed for triple-negative cases. Food Safety Alerts: Separate recall coverage continues as health officials warn consumers to check for recently recalled foods and follow discard guidance.

Meta Youth Trial Watch: A teen plaintiff in New Jersey dropped remaining claims against Meta, Google, and Snap ahead of October bellwether trials, after earlier settlements involving TikTok—another sign the fight over social media addiction and youth harm is still evolving. State Health & Safety: New Mexico health officials warn a longer mosquito season could extend West Nile risk into fall, especially for people with weakened immune systems. LGBTQ Health Policy: CMS says federal Medicaid and CHIP funds can’t cover gender-affirming care for most minors, while counseling remains allowed—part of a broader Trump-Vance push affecting LGBTQ healthcare. Immigration & Care Access: Families in Santa Fe describe ICE arrests tied to medical visits, raising concerns about enforcement tactics near clinics. Rural Health Planning: New Mexico is seeking applicants for a Rural Health Transformation stakeholder advisory committee to guide a five-year push on access, workforce, and rural health data. Food Safety: FDA-linked Salmonella egg recalls continue, with shoppers urged to check carton codes.

Food Safety Alert: A jalapeño-linked Salmonella outbreak has spread to 32 states, with 431 reported illnesses and 57 hospitalizations; officials urge people to check recalls and avoid affected products. Mosquito Season Watch: New Mexico health officials warn mosquito season could run longer than usual due to above-average rain and heat, raising West Nile virus risk—especially for people with weakened immune systems. Local Health Access & Immigration: Two relatives of people arrested by ICE in Santa Fe spoke out, describing detentions tied to medical appointments at La Familia; elected officials criticized ICE tactics. Cannabis Compliance Transition: New Mexico’s seed-to-sale tracking system is switching next week, and some cannabis businesses say the rollout is too rushed ahead of peak harvest profits. Public Health Leadership Politics: Deb Haaland skipped a New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils roundtable, while candidates debated how to protect Medicaid amid potential federal funding cuts. Wildlife & Human Health: Wildlife officials report euthanizing 129 black bears after depredation complaints, aiming to prevent habituation to people.