Articles by Dan Schwartz
Editorial: A Congressman Who Calls Police on a Student Reporter Has Forgotten Who Owns a Press Conference
This is an editorial. It represents the view of The Daily Letter’s editorial board, which is separate from our news reporting. A press conference exists so that what an elected official says can be reported, recorded and checked. That is its entire purpose. On Oct. 13, after a debate in Cambridge, Md., Rep. Andy Harris turned that purpose upside down.
“Take Her Camera”: Rep. Andy Harris Threatens a University of Maryland Student Reporter With Prosecution and Calls for Police After a Debate — Citing a Recording Law That Covers Private Conversations
The Daily Letter subscription Continue reading with a subscription. Get full access to The Daily Letter's reporting, investigations, analysis, and exclusive coverage from Washington.
Commentary: Trump's fraudulent war on fraud
From top left, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, and White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud Executive Director Scott Brady, appear during a roundtable discussion in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Campus on May 26, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/TNS) For 15 years, I worked in financial regulation and consumer...
Rail safety, hazardous materials, chemical spills
RAIL SAFETYThe True Dangers of Long Trains Published 6 January 2024 Trains are getting longer. Rail companies had recently adopted a moneymaking strategy to move cargo faster than ever, with fewer workers, on trains that are consistently longer than at any time in history. Railroads are getting richer, but these “monster trains” are jumping off of tracks across America and regulators are doing little to curb the risk.
Rail safety, hazardous materials, chemical spills
RAIL SAFETYThe True Dangers of Long Trains Published 5 January 2024 Trains are getting longer. Rail companies had recently adopted a moneymaking strategy to move cargo faster than ever, with fewer workers, on trains that are consistently longer than at any time in history. Railroads are getting richer, but these “monster trains” are jumping off of tracks across America and regulators are doing little to curb the risk.
When railroad workers get hurt on the job, some supervisors go to extremes to keep it quiet
ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. When questioned by federal officials or faced with an accident, the nation’s powerful freight railroad companies say they are among the safest employers in America and tout their injury records to prove it.
When Railroad Workers Get Hurt on the Job, Some Supervisors Go to Extremes to Keep It Quiet
As powerful railroad companies race to maximize profits through efficiency, safety is left behind. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. When questioned by federal officials or faced with an accident, the nation’s powerful freight railroad companies say they are among the safest employers in America and tout their injury records to prove it. Spring Member Drive: Protect journalism that gets results.
“Do Your Job.” How the Railroad Industry Intimidates Employees Into Putting Speed Before Safety
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Bradley Haynes and his colleagues were the last chance Union Pacific had to stop an unsafe train from leaving one of its rail yards. Skilled in spotting hidden dangers, the inspectors in Kansas City, Missouri, wrote up so-called “bad orders” to pull defective cars out of assembled trains and send them for repairs. But on Sept.
Blocked Crossings Force Kids to Crawl Under Trains to Get to School
As powerful railroad companies race to maximize profits through efficiency, safety is left behind. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Jeremiah Johnson couldn’t convince his mother to let him wear a suit, so he insisted on wearing his striped tie and matching pocket square. It was picture day and the third grader wanted to get to school on time.
The True Dangers of Long Trains
As powerful railroad companies race to maximize profits through efficiency, safety is left behind. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Just before 5 a.m., Harry Shaffer’s wife called to him from across the living room, where he’d fallen asleep on the couch, exhausted from installing an aboveground pool. Did he hear that sound, that metallic screeching from up the valley?
Guest opinion: Get involved in supporting conservation and CPW
The time has come for the sportsmen and women of Colorado to get engaged and voice their support for conservation. For generations, Coloradans have relied on the North American model of conservation to manage the fish and wildlife of the state. This model has proven time and time again to be the most responsible, feasible and scientifically sound means of managing wildlife on public lands.
Schwartz: Claim your child’s Kick Start account now eligible for $200 incentive
Calling all parents of this year’s kindergartners – saving for your child’s future just got easier. Your young scholar just completed the first half of their year in kindergarten. They’ve gained new friends, some new skills, and have even started saving for college! That’s right. The Nevada College Kick Start Program establishes college savings account with an initial deposit of $50 for all Nevada kindergartners.
Ultra-marathon poised to elevate Santa Fe’s image beyond food, arts - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
Runners this fall will compete in Santa Fe’s first, large-scale ultra-marathon with a 50-mile course through the mountains. The race also will serve as a reminder to residents and tourists alike that Santa Fe is home to more than arts and good eating, outdoor advocates say. “Hopefully, with Ultra Santa Fe, we’ll put our trails and our mountains on the running map,” said Peter Olson, race director and an avid runner. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.
Group gathers to discuss ways to prevent unnecessary animal killings - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
Permitting a marathon in the Valles Caldera National Preserve early this summer, after bears and their cubs had left their dens, was “irresponsible” and “insensitive,” Pamela Canyonrivers said. “It was just a setup for a very awful tragedy,” the Pecos resident told a crowd of more than 50 people who packed a small room in the Main Library downtown Tuesday to listen to the story of a runner who survived a black bear attack at the preserve during the June race.
LANL discovery could launch next generation of solar power - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
Scientists from two universities and Los Alamos National Laboratory have made a breakthrough that could launch a new generation of solar-energy production and make hydrogen fuel-cell technology a practical reality. The findings from the team of LANL scientists and researchers from Rice and Northwestern universities were published this month in the scientific journal Nature.
‘Pokémon Go’ brings gamers outdoors in Santa Fe - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
These are the signs: Phone out. Head down. One finger, often the index, swiping up. It might look like texting, but the players are using a new game app to catch little monsters, known as Pokémon, on their smartphones. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety. Choose an online service. Current print subscribers Need an account? Create one now. kAm|:==:@?D H6C6 F?=62D965 :? 2 G:CEF2= H@C=5 :?
Los Alamos lab closes employee trails amid increased bear sightings - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
Los Alamos National Laboratory has closed its expansive trail network for employees because of what an internal memo describes as a “significant increase in bear sightings and encounters,” a problem residents say also has lumbered into their neighborhoods. It’s not unusual in summer months for employees to spot wild animals around the lab’s property, which sits at the edge of Los Alamos along wooded, canyon-cut hills.
Zozobra planners hope new premium tickets will offset rising costs - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
Each year, the ritual burning of Zozobra becomes more expensive, leaving organizers to balance the cost of the spectacle against affordable ticket prices. This year, they have some new ideas on how to do that, including new premium tickets. In 2014, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe spent nearly $237,000 organizing and executing the burning of Old Man Gloom for 43,000 people. In 2015, it spent more than $276,000 on the event that drew 48,000 spectators.
Tourist-filled downtown is shadow of what some residents remember - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
On some mornings, 70-year-old Gregory Lovato brings a bag of memories with him to breakfast. The other old-timers circled around tables at the McDonald’s on St. Michael’s Drive tease him about the stacks of Polaroids in the shopping bag at his feet. Lovato likes having the photos close because they are proof of the past. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety. Choose an online service.
After decades of demographic shifts, tourist-filled downtown is shadow of what some residents remember - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
On some mornings, 70-year-old Gregory Lovato brings a bag of memories with him to breakfast. The other old-timers circled around tables at the McDonald’s on St. Michael’s Drive tease him about the stacks of Polaroids in the shopping bag at his feet. Lovato likes having the photos close because they are proof of the past. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety. Choose an online service.
Hantavirus deaths reach six this year - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
Hantavirus has killed a sixth person this year in New Mexico, the state Department of Health announced Thursday. A 20-year-old woman from Torrance County died from the infection. The department would not identify her or say when her death occurred. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety. Choose an online service. Current print subscribers Need an account? Create one now. kAms66C >:46 2C6 E96 >2:?
Woman who survived mauling wants to take on New Mexico regulation that required bear be killed
Karen Williams wants to change the regulation that forced the state of New Mexico to kill the bear that almost killed her. “I’m obligated to do something,” said Williams, a trauma nurse and triathlete from Los Alamos, who became internationally known when New Mexico wildlife officers tracked down and killed the black bear on June 19. A day before, the mother bear had attacked Williams during a marathon in the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
Woman who survived mauling will take on New Mexico law that required bear be killed - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
Karen Williams wants to change the law that forced the state of New Mexico to kill the bear that almost killed her. “I’m obligated to do something,” said Williams, a trauma nurse and triathlete from Los Alamos, who became internationally known when New Mexico wildlife officers tracked down and killed the black bear on June 19. A day before, the mother bear had attacked Williams during a marathon in the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
Woman who survived mauling will take on New Mexico law that required bear be killed - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
Karen Williams wants to change the law that forced the state of New Mexico to kill the bear that almost killed her. “I’m obligated to do something,” said Williams, a trauma nurse and triathlete from Los Alamos, who became internationally known when New Mexico wildlife officers tracked down and killed the black bear on June 19. A day before, the mother bear had attacked Williams during a marathon in the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
Controversial killing of bear that mauled runner mandated by state law - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
A wild animal that attacks a human in most parts of America often will be killed. In New Mexico, its death is mandated. On June 19, people around the country were reminded how upsetting this can be when New Mexico Department of Game and Fish officers tracked down and fatally shot a female black bear that had mauled a marathon runner the day before in the Valles Caldera National Preserve. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.
Marathon runner plays dead in Valles Caldera to survive mauling by bear - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
The black bear rushed at Karen Williams so quickly all she had time to think was, “God, that is a pretty bear” and “this is going to hurt.” Then she was on the ground, in a fight for her life. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety. Choose an online service. Current print subscribers Need an account? Create one now. kAm(:==:2>D[ db[ D4C62>65 :? A2:?
State museums slash free Sunday admission for residents - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
One of the long-held perks of living in New Mexico has been free admission to eight state-run museums every Sunday. Now that popular policy is being curtailed by the state Department of Cultural Affairs — a case of a government cutback hitting state residents in the wallet. Starting July 1, residents will be able to visit the museums at no charge only on the first Sunday of each month. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.
State museums sharply curtail free Sunday admission for residents - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
One of the long-held perks of living in New Mexico has been free admission to eight state-run museums every Sunday. Now that popular policy is being curtailed by the state Department of Cultural Affairs — a case of a government cutback hitting state residents in the wallet. Starting July 1, residents will be able to visit the museums at no charge only on the first Sunday of each month. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.
Marathon runner plays dead in Valles Caldera to survive mauling by bear - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
The black bear rushed at Karen Williams so quickly all she had time to think was, “God, that is a pretty bear” and “this is going to hurt.” Then she was on the ground, in a fight for her life. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety. Choose an online service. Current print subscribers Need an account? Create one now. kAm(:==:2>D[ db[ D4C62>65 :? A2:?
UNM speeds up response to sex assault complaints - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
The University of New Mexico’s administration plans to investigate reports of sexual assault faster now, following a scathing report by the U.S. Department of Justice that said students lacked confidence in school investigators. UNM’s new policy, which the school said became effective this week, makes changes to correct the deficiencies in the Office of Equal Opportunity, said Heather Cowan, the university’s Title IX coordinator.
Dog Head Fire expands sixfold Thursday, moving northeast - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
A fire that burned through 2,000 acres of dry forest land Tuesday outside a village southwest of Albuquerque flared to six times its size Thursday morning, forcing evacuations, destroying buildings and closing a 30-mile stretch of state highway.
Pilot makes emergency landing on N.M. 599 - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
A pilot made an emergency landing Wednesday night on N.M. 599, marking the third unusual landing this year on roads or in parking lots in Santa Fe County. Deputies responded at about 9:30 p.m. to reports that a plane had plowed into a dirt median alongside the highway, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s spokesman Juan Ríos said Thursday. He said that while the pilot was trying to land, he struck a roadside caution sign with one wing, tilted the aircraft and struck the median.
Budget cuts curb free bus rides to Music on the Hill - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
Santa Fe has canceled its free bus service to Music on the Hill, a six-concert summer music series that opened Wednesday evening at St. John’s College. Spokesman Matt Ross said the City Council decided earlier this year to save money by cutting the free shuttle service for concertgoers between Museum Hill and St. John’s athletic field west of the campus. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.
Budget cuts end free bus rides to Music on Hill - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
Santa Fe has canceled its free bus service to Music on the Hill, a six-concert summer music series that opened Wednesday evening at St. John’s College. Spokesman Matt Ross said the City Council decided earlier this year to save money by cutting the free shuttle service for concertgoers between Museum Hill and St. John’s athletic field west of the campus. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.
New Mexico primaries see record voter turnout - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
More competition and an energized Democratic voter base helped push voter turnout in Tuesday’s primary elections in New Mexico to an all-time record. In 2008, more than 160,000 people voted in the primary election. Another 149,000 voted for president earlier that year in a caucus hosted by the state Democratic Party. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety. Choose an online service.
Police cancel Amber Alert for two boys - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
Clinton Johnson Clinton Johnson. Gray brothers From left, Lyric and Kerwin Gray. Posted: Sunday, June 5, 2016 7:00 am | Updated: 12:55 pm, Sun Jun 5, 2016. Police cancel Amber Alert for two boys By Dan SchwartzThe New Mexican The Santa Fe New Mexican Police have canceled an amber alert issued Sunday morning as part of their search for two young boys abducted from their home on the Navajo Nation, allegedly by the boyfriend of their mother.
Pajarito ski area welcomes summer with beer, bikes - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
A festival to kick off summer, featuring local brews, mountain bike riding and live music, is scheduled Saturday at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area. SummerFest is part of the New Mexico Craft Brewfest, which features more than a dozen brewers, including Marble, Bathtub Row and Santa Fe. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety. Choose an online service. Current print subscribers Need an account? Create one now.
Last year's rains bring out more snakes - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
The snake, dark brown and sometimes burgundy, kills with its tail. It rises up into a hoop, its tail in its mouth, and spins forward after its prey. When it strikes, the spike at the end of its tail juts like a lance, the venom within so deadly that if it misses its prey and strikes a tree, the bark will swell, burst and peel. Some of the earliest accounts of the American hoop snake are from 1688, according to a 1925 report in Natural History Magazine.
Snakes are back in Santa Fe, and they’re bigger than usual - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
The snake, dark brown and sometimes burgundy, kills with its tail. It rises up into a hoop, its tail in its mouth, and spins forward after its prey. When it strikes, the spike at the end of its tail juts like a lance, the venom within so deadly that if it misses its prey and strikes a tree, the bark will swell, burst and peel. Some of the earliest accounts of the American hoop snake are from 1688, according to a 1925 report in Natural History Magazine.
The City Different embraces mountain-town identity - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
Many Santa Fe visitors say they come for the arts, food and architecture. In describing the City Different, internet sites such as TripAdvisor use phrases like “rustic sophistication,” “Spanish Colonial charm” and “feels a lot like Europe.” But ask people who live here, and many will tell you that Santa Fe is becoming known for other things — like mountain biking — and public and private agencies are seizing on a swell of interest in outdoor recreation to draw more visitors.
Video shows off SFPD’s dance moves - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
The officers receive the news with solemn faces: There’s dancing and loud music coming from Capital High School. They need to investigate. “And from what I understand,” the officer briefing them says, “there may be a few runners.” An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety. Choose an online service. Current print subscribers Need an account? Create one now. kAmqFE E96 =FC6 @7 E96 362E H96?
Ex-Santa Fe resident biking across U.S. to raise funds for poor Guatemalans - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
Katie Donnell remembers the children on the streets in Guatemala hawking merchandise instead of learning in school. As soon as the 30-year-old stepped out of the airport shuttle, she saw poverty and wealth and the stark line between the two. In some ways, what she witnessed mirrored something she saw growing up in Santa Fe: people too poor to climb out of poverty. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.
Schwartz: A beginner’s guide to college savings programs in Nevada
The cost of a college education continues to rise every year. But without a degree in higher education, your children will most likely relegate themselves to the lower rungs of the socioeconomic ladder for life. At the Treasurer’s Office, we offer two types of college savings plan programs to help parents and grandparents in Nevada to begin saving for their loved one’s education. It’s never too late or too early to start.
Six local high school students earn National Merit Scholarships - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
Six local students have won National Merit Scholarships to attend college next year for their exceptional academic performance. They are Michael Mallett, Devon McCleskey, Katherine Wang (all from Los Alamos High School), Harsh Bhundiya, Alan Rohrbach (both from Santa Fe Preparatory School) and Ella Rappaport from The Masters Program). An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety. Choose an online service.
In honor of actor Dennis Hopper, Motorcyclists taking easy ride to Taos festival - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
Visualize them on their choppers. Their names were Billy and Wyatt, two easy riders rolling through Taos with their long hair blown back and their eyes behind shades. They traveled through the high desert, as did two similarly named rebels, Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp. Billy, played by Dennis Hopper, and Wyatt, portrayed by Peter Fonda, were the lead characters in the 1969 movie Easy Rider.
Ski season numbers good, but not great - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
Though hopes for a monster snow season in New Mexico didn’t come true, above-average snowfall helped lure more skiers to the mountains than during the previous winter sports season. While the estimated economic impact was above average, a top ski-industry official said Tuesday, even more visitors likely would have come if the snow had continued to fall after a strong start to the season. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.
Beginner’s guide to college savings in Nevada
The cost of a college education continues to rise every year. But without a degree in higher education, your children will most likely relegate themselves to the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder for life. At the Treasurer’s Office, we offer two types of college savings plan programs to help parents and grandparents in Nevada to begin saving for their loved one’s education. It’s never too late or too early to start.
Cost Plus World Market debuts at Santa Fe Place - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
Cost Plus World Market has completed its move from the Railyard neighborhood to Santa Fe’s south side, where the retailer’s shiny new digs on Thursday greeted visitors to Santa Fe Place mall. The move required construction of a new entryway for the 57-acre shopping center at Rodeo and Cerrillos roads. Both Cost Plus and its parent company, Bed Bath & Beyond, have taken over space once occupied by the old Regal movie theaters on the mall’s north side.
Cost Plus debuts at Santa Fe Place - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Features
Cost Plus World Market has completed its move from the Railyard neighborhood to Santa Fe’s south side, where the retailer’s shiny new digs on Thursday greeted visitors to Santa Fe Place mall. The move required construction of a new entryway for the 57-acre shopping center at Rodeo and Cerrillos roads. Both Cost Plus and its parent company, Bed Bath & Beyond, have taken over space once occupied by the old Regal movie theaters on the mall’s north side.
Santa Fe slips to B grade in national air quality rankings - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News
There can be no bragging that Santa Fe has America’s cleanest air. Not this year. On Wednesday, the American Lung Association released a report that gave Santa Fe County a B rating — down from an A — because there was one day between 2012 and 2014 in which ozone levels here just barely exceeded Environmental Protection Agency standards. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety. Choose an online service.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Dan
Contact Dan, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack