Story #500

A note from the editor on where we’ve been and where we’re headed

Damien Willis
Founder and Editor, Organ Mountain News

Since launching in late 2024, Organ Mountain News has published 500 stories. That number isn’t just a milestone — it’s a reminder of what’s possible when local journalism puts community first.

And we’ve done it all without paywalls, without clickbait — just journalism that listens first and follows the truth wherever it leads.

In that time, we’ve surfaced stories others missed — and helped move the conversation forward. We were first to report that NMSU lost $25 million in federal research funding due to decisions made by the Trump administration that paused or canceled key grants. We shed light on how that included an EPA-backed environmental justice award — supporting rural and Indigenous communities — which was swept up in the cuts.

We’ve covered critically important local issues, too, like deadly dust storms on I‑10, revealing how outdated mitigation efforts contribute to public safety risks. And we highlighted the ongoing challenge around international student visas at NMSU — tracking how sudden federal policy shifts left students in limbo.

We also broke the story of Ben Archer Health Center posting signs at all clinic locations announcing a new policy denying services to undocumented patients — a decision that quickly drew concern from patients, prompted letters from lawmakers and sparked an investigation by the New Mexico Department of Justice.

As we look ahead, we’re doubling down on that mission: more deep reporting, more community listening and new ways to reach rural, Spanish-speaking and underserved audiences. This work isn’t easy — but with your support, it’s sustainable.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for believing in what local news can be.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.