内容摘要：Fewer people crossed state lines to obtain abortions in 2024 than a year earlier, a new survey has found.

Fewer people crossed state lines to obtain abortions in 2024 than a year earlier, a new survey has found.

into the western U.S., Catron County commissioners heard nearly three hours of testimony Thursday from frustrated ranchers and concerned rural residents — some of whom traveled from Arizona to attend the packed meeting. Dozens more joined online, including environmentalists and state and federal officials.“For us, for the people in this room, wolves are not some romanticized concept. ... For those of us on the ground, they’re a very real daily threat,” said Tom Paterson, a rancher and president-elect of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association. He’s worried about his grandson playing on the deck, just 100 yards (90 meters) from where wolves killed a steer in February.

County commissioners issued a warning to residents last week to be aware of their surroundings when outdoors and maintain constant supervision of children and pets.The concerns stretch beyond New Mexico, as officials in parts of Oregon and Northern California say gray wolves — the larger, more common cousins of Mexican gray wolves — seem brazen and are killing more livestock. Two California counties declared emergencies in recent weeks and the sheriff in another requested help from state wildlife officials.Ranchers in New Mexico and Arizona have been at odds with the reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves since the first release in the late 1990s. Despite limited programs for reimbursing certain losses, ranchers say wolves pose a threat to their way of life, which is already challenged by prolonged drought and rising prices.

Environmentalists argue that Mexican wolves should have a place in the Southwest, often criticizing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for not releasing more captive wolves to ensure genetic diversity among the wild population. They contend there’s no incident in recorded history of a Mexican wolf attacking or injuring a person.While fatal attacks are rare in North America, Catron County Sheriff Keith Hughes said there’s danger in not removing Mexican wolves that frequent developed areas. He said one was spotted Wednesday in the community of Reserve.

There are at least 286 Mexican wolves in Arizona and New Mexico, but federal officials acknowledged Thursday that they don’t know how many actually are on the landscape. They also say livestock kills are decreasing, with 100 confirmed in 2024. Ranchers argue that for every confirmed kill, there are likely five more where investigators don’t have enough evidence left to add them to the list or the animals are never found.

Wildlife managers conducted 290 successful hazing operations last year to scare wolves away from rural homes and livestock, and the Fish and Wildlife Service reiterated its commitment Thursday to minimizing conflicts and reducing the economic effects on ranchers.To be eligible for Medicaid, there would be new “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours per month of work, education or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. People would also have to verify their eligibility to be in the program twice a year, rather than just once. The bill also adds a more rigorous income verification for those who enroll in the Affordable Care Act’s health care coverage.

This is likely to lead to more churn in the program and present hurdles for people to stay covered, especially if they have to drive far to a local benefits office to verify their income in person. But Republicans say it’ll ensure that the program is administered to those who qualify for it.Some Medicaid recipients who make more than 100% of the federal poverty level — about $32,000 a year for a family of four — would be required to pay out-of-pocket costs, too, for some services. Those fees, which would not apply to emergency room visits, prenatal care, pediatric visits or primary care check-ups, would be limited to $35 per visit.

And applicants could not qualify for Medicaid if they have a home that is valued at more than $1 million.The proposed bill also targets any immigrants who are living in the country illegally or without documentation. It reduces by 10% the share the federal government pays to states — such as New York or California — that allow those immigrants to sign up for Medicaid. To qualify for the ACA coverage, enrollees would have to prove they are “lawfully present.”