Staying on top of your health is important, but for a lot of people access to the right resources, or just knowing where to start, is a challenge.

Reps met with ABQ leaders and advocates at roundtable

Multiple law enforcement agencies and agents with the Region IV Narcotics Task Force raided a home in the 700 block of Taos Street on April 4 while serving a search warrant in an investigation into the distribution of crack cocaine. Police arrested 74-year-old Ruby M. Aragon on April 9 and charged her with trafficking crack cocaine. An additional felony charge was added during her arrest after corrections officers alleged Aragon had crack hidden in her underwear. During a search of the home, law enforcement officers located evidence that large pieces of crack cocaine had been cut into smaller pieces on a dinner plate that had been packaged in aluminum foil for possible sale, according to an arrest affidavit filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court. In total, investigators recovered 14 grams of crack cocaine from inside the house. Investigators also located paraphernalia commonly associated with the use of crack, including pipes, butane torches and steel wool scouring pads, but according to the affidavit, Aragon’s fingertips were not “burned or discolored,” which is common for those who use crack. Because of that, investigators stated they believed that the crack found inside the home was not for personal use by Aragon but instead was intended to be sold. Aragon was booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center April 9 on one felony charge of trafficking controlled substances. As she was changing into jail-issued clothing, sheriff’s deputies located five one-gram crack cocaine rocks hidden in her underwear, according to a separate affidavit filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court. Each rock was wrapped individually in foil. Prosecutors charged Aragon with an additional felony count of possession of a controlled substance. In 2003, Aragon pleaded no contest to one count of possession of a controlled substance. In 2008, she pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Aragon also faced a similar charge in 2020, but the case was later dismissed by prosecutors. She remained in custody at SMCDC as of this writing. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

More than a year later, FBI is investigating the same officers

TAOS COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – A Georgia man is facing five felony charges and one misdemeanor after he stole a Taos County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) vehicle. Shay Anthony Hawes, 39, was arrested and booked into the Taos County Adult Detention Center after New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officers conducted a PIT maneuver and crashed into the stolen TCSO vehicle to stop Hawes from fleeing. According to the criminal complaint, at around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 28, a Taos County Sheriff’s vehicle was reported as stolen from the Taos County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy from the sheriff’s office spotted the stolen vehicle heading southbound on Paseo Del Pueblo Sur near Albright Street. Using lights and sirens, deputies from TCSO tried to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver fled in the vehicle. Eventually, the suspect turned right on Paseo Del Canon, and NMSP intervened, conducting a PIT maneuver that disabled both the NMSP unit and the stolen TCSO vehicle. According to the complaint, both vehicles were totaled in the crash. Story continues below News: ABQ man found with victim’s vehicle, 13 credit cards after February murder Entertainment: Splash pad at Civic Plaza reopens ahead of summer Crime: New Mexico man complicit in deadly 2012 7-Eleven shooting violates probation New Mexico: New video shows derailed train explosion near AZ-NM border Deputies identified Hawes as the driver of the vehicle and noted in the criminal complaint that “Hawes has repeatedly been told to stay out of the Taos County Sheriff’s Office property over the last week.” Hawes was arrested and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital for a head injury from the crash. Hawes was medically cleared and was booked into the Taos County Adult Detention Center. Officials learned that Hawes is a felon based on a search using the suspect’s Georgia driver’s license. Because the stolen vehicle had a department-issued firearm in it, Hawes is accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm. try { var event = new CustomEvent("nsDfpSlotRendered", { detail: { id: "acm-ad-tag-mr1_ab-mr1_ab" } }); console.log("HTL.nsDfpSlotRendered", event); window.dispatchEvent(event); } catch (err) {} Hawes is facing the following charges as well: assault with intent to commit a violent felony, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, out-of-state fugitive, and criminal trespass.

New Mexico State Police on Sunday responded to a drowning in the Pecos River north of the village of Pecos.

“This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.” In 2016, Tony Spaniola received a notice informing him that his family shouldn’t drink water drawn from the well at his lake home in Oscoda, Michigan. Over the course of several decades, the Air Force had showered thousands of gallons of […]

Temperatures are warming up to summer-like conditions which means the splash pad in Albuquerque Civic Plaza is now open.

From left, Alta Vista Regional Hospital Chief Executive Officer Robert Nelson, Java Medical Group Chief Executive Officer Bappa Mukherji,Java Medical Group Chief Operations Officer Martha Henley and Dava Health, Inc., Board of Directors Secretary Brett Henley visit Luna Community College on Feb. 27. The hospital's top-level executives toured the campus, met some of its nursing students and learned more about the college's nursing program. From left, Alta Vista Regional Hospital Chief Executive Officer Robert Nelson, Java Medical Group Chief Executive Officer Bappa Mukherji,Java Medical Group Chief Operations Officer Martha Henley and Dava Health, Inc., Board of Directors Secretary Brett Henley visit Luna Community College on Feb. 27. The hospital's top-level executives toured the campus, met some of its nursing students and learned more about the college's nursing program. Alta Vista Regional Hospital’s new owners visited key educational institutions in Las Vegas in a good faith effort to learn more about the community and strengthen ties with the schools. Alta Vista Chief Executive Officer Robert Nelson and Jennifer Dominguez, the hospital’s director of marketing and public relations, met with The Optic to discuss this visit as well as strides the hospital has been making to improve patient satisfaction. Executives for Java Medical Group, the company that manages the hospital, as well as for Dava Health, Inc., the company that now owns Alta Vista, toured New Mexico Highlands University, Luna Community College and the United World College on Feb. 27. Along with Nelson, visiting officials included Dava Board Member Brett Henley, Java Chief Executive Officer Bappa Mukherji and Java Chief Operating Officer Martha Henley. This was the second time that Java Medical Group administration has visited Las Vegas, said Nelson. The first time they visited was back in January, when they hosted a reception at The Castañeda to introduce themselves as the hospital’s new operators. Officials with Dava Health, Inc., were also present during the reception. While at Highlands, Nelson said, the team learned more about the university’s new doctorate in nursing program as well as its bachelor’s of science in nursing degree. Nelson noted that, along with the registered nurse program at LCC, someone could potentially earn college degrees in nursing all the way to a doctorate without leaving Las Vegas. “That’s rare for a small community,” Nelson noted, adding that typically those types of educational experiences are found in larger cities. Nelson said that Java and Dava officials spoke to educators at NMHU about how Alta Vista Regional Hospital can support them. They were also told that if their nursing students – especially those pursuing the DNP – need clinical space, Alta Vista will work with them to provide it. The team of executives also discussed ways the hospital could support the nursing students during their visit to LCC. Many of the community college’s nursing students already take advantage of Alta Vista to complete clinical days. “They had 12 full clinical days here last semester,” Nelson said of LCC’s nursing students. “They’re scheduled for more this semester.” Although not an institution of higher learning, hospital executives still toured UWC and met with students and staff in order to mend the relationship between UWC and the hospital. Nelson said that UWC had issues in the past with the hospital’s billing. “We visited them to make sure that they knew, if their students have any healthcare needs, we can (help) them,” Nelson said. “If there were issues in the past …we worked to resolve them.” He said that Alta Vista staff – especially Dominguez – helped resolve the billing issue. Dominguez said she was able to help with the issue because she has experience in billing. “I know that a community concern is billing,” Dominguez said of the situation with UWC. “It’s helpful that my background is in that so that I can guide them accurately with what they need to do … to get that resolved.” Many issues that were of concern with Alta Vista Regional Hospital have been tackled by its new administration with positive results, as evidenced by patient feedback received via surveys, Nelson said. He said great strides have been made to the hospital’s Emergency Department, which previously had a patient experience score in the first percentile. Nelson explained that, the way the survey is tabulated, being in the first percentile is a bad score. He called it being No. 1 in the wrong way. Since hiring new ED Director Leah Joslin in August, patient satisfaction with the hospital’s emergency services is now in the 49th percentile. “For us to get out of the basement … where we’ve been stuck for years (and) for (Joslin) to make that big of a difference. … I think she’s been a super star for us,” Nelson said. “We’ve been able to turn around the (emergency room) experience, which historically has not been good. … It’s a giant step forward and it’s a continued work in progress.” When it comes to inpatient care, patient satisfaction surveys have been at the 99th percentile for three straight months, Nelson said, the highest score that can be achieved. Nelson said another big reception like the one that took place in January might be in the future. He said that a part of his role, as well as the goal of Alta Vista’s new owners, is to make connections with the community. “My position as CEO now is to … go back and try to reestablish all of the connections that we have with the community that may have been lost or damaged so we can reestablish the trust,” Nelson said. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. 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{{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. March 21 • The Invisible Yellow Line with Jean Block: In nonprofits, there are different roles for board or staff. Roles change as organizations change. Join author, Jean Block to learn more. Audience: Although anyone is welcome to join, this session is best suited for board members and executive directors. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-invisible-yellow-linetm-with-jean-block-tickets-558329668067 March 24 • Racial Healing and Renewal with Robert Nelson and Kendra Toth: This will be a small cohort of 8-10 people who are interested in beginning their healing journeys in a collective setting and safe space. The cohort will meet 4 times over zoom, for 2 hours each time. Applications due March 24. Meeting dates: April 12, 2023 1:00pm-3:00pm May 3, 2023 1:00pm-3:00pm May 24, 2023 1:00pm-3:00pm June 14, 2023 1:00pm-3:00pm Audience: Designed for nonprofit leaders, this program is based on building the capacity for trusting relationships by analyzing our individual identities within the context of the history of oppression. https://forms.monday.com/forms/43fc5d84721f4a74e133175a3c0383b4?r=use1 March 25 and April 1 • Querencia in Action Post-fire Workshop: Survivable Space, Ensuring your Property and Land has the Best Chance of Surviving the Next Wildfire. The workshops are for volunteer firefighters, community members, and anyone who is open to learning and living in fire-resilient communities. Hank Blackwell is an experienced instructor in community wildfire resilience. He served as the Strike Team Leader and Division Supervisor during the Cerro Grande fire and was the fire marshal and deputy fire chief in Santa Fe County. He is a current ambassador for the NFPA Fire Adapted Communities Program, and co-developed and taught courses on “The Home Ignition Zone” and “Assessing Structural Ignition Potential.” Time frame for workshop: 9 AM – 1 PM, Meet at local fire station and review principles in survivable space, videos and discussions; travel to a nearby location to assess risks, apply survivable space principles and practice developing fire-resilient actions. What will cover - activities, etc.: Morning informal classroom session with videos and discussions, field site visit to put knowledge into practice. **These workshops are in March and April, so please dress warmly and comfortably to be both indoors and outdoors** Dates/Locations: 3/25 – CHET Volunteer Fire Station in Cleveland, 4/1 - Sapello Volunteer Fire Station March 30 • The Gift of Employee Feedback with Linda Strauss: An overview of how to frame feedback as a gift to be received for managers, supervisors, and HR staff. March 30 at 9 a.m. Audience: Although anyone is welcome to join, this session is best suited for managers, supervisors, and HR staff. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-gift-of-employee-feedback-with-linda-strauss-registration-558359898487 April 13 • Engaging Indigenous Communities with Respect: Learning Through Humility with Marisa Page: This session will unpack harmful practices toward Native American people and communities and offer tips for more respectful relationships. April 13 at 9 a.m. Audience: Although this is open to the full sector, it will be particularly helpful for board members, executive directors, development staff, and program officers. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/engaging-indigenous-communities-with-respect-learning-through-humility-registration-541260804637 April 15 • In 1935, La Sociedad Folklórica was founded to preserve and protect traditions and customs of New Mexico. For more than 80 years, the Baile de Cascarones (Dance of the Eggshells) has been held on the weekend after the Lenten season. The Cascarones, from which the dance derives its name, are egg-shells filled with confetti. This tradition calls for people to crack a confetti filled egg over the head of the person with which they wish to dance. Some of the eggshells are so elaborate; people keep them as collectors’ items This year’s family-friendly dance takes place from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 15, 2023, at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. The dance primarily serves to promote and teach the traditional music and folk dances of New Mexico such as La Varsoviana, El Baile de los Compadres, El Baile de los Paños, El Valse, Polkas, El Baile de a Escoba, etc., as well as give guests, including children and teens, an opportunity to dance to favorite Spanish, Western, and Rock music to be provided by the local popular band, Reflections. If you have any questions, please call Gloria at 505-983-7839. This year’s family-friendly dance takes place from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 15, 2023, at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. The dance primarily serves to promote and teach the traditional music and folk dances of New Mexico such as La Varsoviana, El Baile de los Compadres, El Baile de los Paños, El Valse, Polkas, El Baile de a Escoba, etc., as well as give guests, including children and teens, an opportunity to dance to favorite Spanish, Western, and Rock music to be provided by the local popular band, Reflections. If you have any questions, please call Gloria at 505-983-7839. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Ret. Col. Jay Mitchell The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office initiative has a new director of operations. In a press release issued on April 17, FEMA announced that Ret. Col. Jay Mitchell has been hired to lead not only the Claims Office, but also the Stafford Act wildfire disaster recovery operations based in Santa Fe. Ret. Col. Jay Mitchell The announcement comes exactly three months to the day from when Angela Gladwell, former Claims Office director, stepped down from the role. According to the press release, Mitchell is expected to begin in May. The press release from FEMA states that Mitchell is a former director of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “(Mitchell) brings over 30 years of military and civilian experience where he has overseen teams in support of emergency management operations,” states the press release from FEMA.” He joins the Claims Office which has been actively engaged in operational improvements for the last several months that have significantly increased the speed of payments.” Communication from Deborah Martinez, media relations specialist for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office, adds that Mitchell’s experience includes 25 years as a specialist and leader within the U.S. and International Intelligence Community. “(Mitchell) was previously (a) Navy Director of Training in Florida and led the Navy’s preparation and response efforts for hurricanes Dorian and Isaias in 2019 and 2020,” Martinez states via an email. The press release from FEMA notes that, at the end of 2023, the Claims Office had paid 472 claims totaling $253 million. As of April 17, the press release states, 2,439 claims had been paid, totaling more than $500 million. “We have implemented significant process improvements since January of this year and those are producing results for the people of New Mexico,” said Ben Krakauer, senior advisor to the FEMA administrator in the press release. “While we are proud to reach half a billion dollars in payments, we know it is still not fast enough and the entire FEMA team will not rest until everyone receives the compensation they are owed.” Krakauer goes on to state that Mitchell “will continue to build upon these improvements to meet the needs of those impacted and ensure all eligible claims are paid.” Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, far right, presented a $750,000 check to Help New Mexico, Inc. Tuesday morning in Cleveland. Others in the photograph are Joseph Griego, president of Help New Mexico, Inc.; Annaliza Gourneau, vice president of Strategy and Community Engagement for Help New Mexico, Inc.; Irene Panlilio, acting vice president; Maryah Griego-Montoya, community support director and Elain Felix, Help New Mexico’s executive secretary. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, far right, presented a $750,000 check to Help New Mexico, Inc. Tuesday morning in Cleveland. Others in the photograph are Joseph Griego, president of Help New Mexico, Inc.; Annaliza Gourneau, vice president of Strategy and Community Engagement for Help New Mexico, Inc.; Irene Panlilio, acting vice president; Maryah Griego-Montoya, community support director and Elain Felix, Help New Mexico’s executive secretary. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández made several pitstops throughout Mora County on Tuesday as part of an effort to mark the two-year anniversary of when the Hermits Peak Fire and the Calf Canyon Fire merged into one and became the largest wildfire in New Mexico history. It was on April 22, 2022, that the Hermits Peak Fire, which began as a prescribed burn set by the U.S. Forest Service, and the Calf Canyon Fire, also started by the Forest Service as a pile burn operation that was not extinguished properly, became one massive fire. Leger Fernández made several visits throughout Mora County on Tuesday, including to the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office. There, Leger Fernández spoke of the looming Nov. 14 deadline for claimants to file a notice of loss, as well as the need for greater communication regarding the claims process. “There is a lot of communication that needs to get out,” Leger Fernández told a group of claims office staff during her visit. She reassured the group that she receives many positive comments about the Claims Office, including statements from children of elderly adults who say that the Claims Office staff treated their parents with kindness. Leger Fernández also spoke of hearing about instances when Claims Office staff helped claimants think of more damages to list on their claim. When it comes to the Nov. 14 deadline to file a notice of loss with the Claims Office, Leger Fernández said she is working to get an extension, but cautioned Claims Office staff that they “need to (work) as if the November deadline is real.” Deborah Martinez, media relations specialist for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office, said that $531 million has been paid to claimants so far. She said this includes actual payments as well as payments that have been approved and will be paid soon. Martinez said there are 168 people working across the three Claims Office sites in Santa Fe, Mora and Las Vegas. Martinez encouraged people to come into the Claims Office; even if they sought help soon after the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and did not receive compensation, they can visit the Claims Office again and see what can be done for their claim. “If they want to explore what they can get compensated for, it costs them nothing,” Martinez said of visiting a Claims Office. Leger Fernández began her set of scheduled visits Tuesday in Cleveland, where she presented a $750,000 check to Help New Mexico, Inc. The funds are meant to support the nonprofit’s effort to transform what was once the Cleveland Alcohol Treatment Center into the new Mora County Hub for Community-Based Services. According to a press release, Leger Fernández secured the $750,000 via appropriations “to provide services for substance misuse and behavioral health.” Leger Fernández then visited Mora’s John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center, where she toured the facility’s greenhouse and planted a seedling. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. 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As wildfires require New Mexicans to evacuate their homes, the Taxation and Revenue Department has approved a three-month extension for payment of 2021 property taxes in San Miguel County. Payment of the second half of 2021 property taxes would normally be due April 10, 2022, although taxpayers had until May 10 before being considered delinquent.  Under the extension approved Friday, the second half payments will be due on July 11, 2022, but taxpayers would have until August 11, 2022, before the tax would be deemed delinquent under the Property Tax Code. The extension was requested by San Miguel County officials due to the wildfire emergency. A similar extension was approved for taxpayers in neighboring Mora County on May 6. “We know how difficult and stressful things are right now for everyone affected by the fires. If this helps ease their minds and allows them to concentrate on more immediate needs, we are happy to do it,” said Secretary of Taxation and Revenue Stephanie Schardin Clarke. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

The Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation is seeking nominations for this year’s Bob Mishler Community Impact Award. The award is named for Bob Mishler, the first chair of the Foundation board, who was a Highlands professor and active in many community organizations. “The award recognizes a member of our community who exemplifies the legacy of our founding board chairman Bob Mishler,” said current Foundation Board Chair Carla Romero. Mishler, a passionate advocate for the Las Vegas community, was also a prominent figure in the development of several other community organizations. Individuals or nonprofit organizations can nominate an individual who has supported our area well through service in the Foundation’s areas of interest: •Arts and culture, •Community development, •Education, •Agriculture and environmental sustainability, •Health and wellness, and •Historic preservation, Nominations, whether by mail to the foundation at PO Box 1002, Las Vegas, NM 87701 or by email to admin@lvnmcf.org.  must be postmarked or time/dated by email on or before April 18, 2024. Nominations should emphasize the nominee’s contributions, above and beyond their paid employment and detail the nominee’s activities and service, length and degree of service and also cite evidence detailing the impact on the community. The award will include a grant of $1,000 to the awardee’s non-profit of choice in San Miguel or Mora Counties. Detailed information on the award criteria and nomination letter requirements is available by email from admin@lvnmcf.org. The first Bob Mishler Community Impact Award, presented just before our area’s disastrous wildfire in 2022, went to retired educator Rosalie Lopez. In addition, the award committee created a “Spirit of Philanthropy” award to honor “a person young enough that it couldn’t be said that his or her entire life has yet been devoted to service,” according to then board chair Elmo Baca.  That award went to Olivia Silva, owner of Olivia’s Café.  There was no award program in 2023. This year’s award will be presented at a celebration dinner planned for May 2, at the Highlands University Student Center Ballroom. Donations to the Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation to benefit the Mishler award program, community grants or the Foundation’s endowment can be made at https://www.lvnmcf.com/help-las-vegas-nm-thrive Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

An unauthorized flare at Ameredev’s Nandina facility in Lea County; photo taken at noon on Dec. 31, 2019 by AQB inspectors. Courtesy/NMED NMED News: SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) announced today that oil and gas company Ameredev II, LLC (Ameredev) has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle alleged violations of state air regulations. This is the largest settlement NMED has ever reached for a civil oil and gas violation. Under state law, $24.1 million of the penalty will be deposited into New Mexico’s General Read More

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Nothing puts a bow on a great weekend like a visit to your favorite brunch spot. Yelp has recently released its Top 100 Brunch Spots 2024 list and an Albuquerque restaurant has made the list. The Farmacy at 3718 Central Ave SE came in at #95. It currently has a 4.5-star rating on Yelp based on 692 reviews. “My husband had the pork belly over grits and he practically licked the bowl clean! We will definitely return,” wrote Debi J.l from Atlanta, GA. Albuquerque spot makes Yelp’s Top 100 Ice Cream Shops 2023 Multiple reviewers also raved about the coffee. Also, more than a few reviewers mentioned going on the weekend and having to wait close to an hour to be seated, however, most said the food was worth it. At the top of the list was Toasted Gastrobrunch in Las Vegas, NV. Immigrant Son Caffe in Ventura, CA, and Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club in Chicago, IL rounded out the top three.

On Tuesday, the ABQ BioPark released its Facility Plan, which lists projects planned through the end of the funding cycle in 2031.

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are reuniting with running back Ezekiel Elliott after agreeing to terms on a contract with the former two-time rushing champion, a person with knowledge of the deal said Monday.

Measure would reorganize Bernalillo County’s efforts

Explora will host the inaugural Trades Day this weekend to offer students hands-on experience with trades careers.

Rev Joe Marshall is newly appointed to serve as the Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Las Vegas. The church is part of the New Mexico Annual Conference and Albuquerque District. Joe and his wife Anna live in Albuquerque and their three adult children and four grandchildren are scattered in different states which makes vacation planning easier and sometimes challenging to see them all. Born and raised in NE Ohio, they moved to New Mexico in 2018. We enjoy being outside and hiking the trails and exploring this great state. Some of my hobbies are being involved in Community Theater. Anna & I have been a part of many shows in Ohio and I have been on stage recently here in Albuquerque. I am also a licensed Realtor and Anna is on staff at the Conference Office. I am excited to be serving in Las Vegas and look forward to getting to know the wonderful people. Please join us for a meet and greet and refreshments on July 8th 2 – 4 p.m. with a special program at 3 p.m. 1st United Methodist Church, 715 National Ave. Las Vegas, NM Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

The Texas-based company will pay $24.5 million for unlawfully venting and flaring about 3.2 billion metric tons of natural gas.

93 killed in 87 fatal vehicle crashes in 2022

Multiple firefighters from around the region Monday afternoon were on the scene of a fire at the peanut processing plant north of Portales' Walmart just off U.S. 70.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, far right, presented a $750,000 check to Help New Mexico, Inc. Tuesday morning in Cleveland. Others in the photograph are Joseph Griego, president of Help New Mexico, Inc.; Annaliza Gourneau, vice president of Strategy and Community Engagement for Help New Mexico, Inc.; Irene Panlilio, acting vice president; Maryah Griego-Montoya, community support director and Elain Felix, Help New Mexico’s executive secretary. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, far right, presented a $750,000 check to Help New Mexico, Inc. Tuesday morning in Cleveland. Others in the photograph are Joseph Griego, president of Help New Mexico, Inc.; Annaliza Gourneau, vice president of Strategy and Community Engagement for Help New Mexico, Inc.; Irene Panlilio, acting vice president; Maryah Griego-Montoya, community support director and Elain Felix, Help New Mexico’s executive secretary. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández made several pitstops throughout Mora County on Tuesday as part of an effort to mark the two-year anniversary of when the Hermits Peak Fire and the Calf Canyon Fire merged into one and became the largest wildfire in New Mexico history. It was on April 22, 2022, that the Hermits Peak Fire, which began as a prescribed burn set by the U.S. Forest Service, and the Calf Canyon Fire, also started by the Forest Service as a pile burn operation that was not extinguished properly, became one massive fire. Leger Fernández made several visits throughout Mora County on Tuesday, including to the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office. There, Leger Fernández spoke of the looming Nov. 14 deadline for claimants to file a notice of loss, as well as the need for greater communication regarding the claims process. “There is a lot of communication that needs to get out,” Leger Fernández told a group of claims office staff during her visit. She reassured the group that she receives many positive comments about the Claims Office, including statements from children of elderly adults who say that the Claims Office staff treated their parents with kindness. Leger Fernández also spoke of hearing about instances when Claims Office staff helped claimants think of more damages to list on their claim. When it comes to the Nov. 14 deadline to file a notice of loss with the Claims Office, Leger Fernández said she is working to get an extension, but cautioned Claims Office staff that they “need to (work) as if the November deadline is real.” Deborah Martinez, media relations specialist for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office, said that $531 million has been paid to claimants so far. She said this includes actual payments as well as payments that have been approved and will be paid soon. Martinez said there are 168 people working across the three Claims Office sites in Santa Fe, Mora and Las Vegas. Martinez encouraged people to come into the Claims Office; even if they sought help soon after the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and did not receive compensation, they can visit the Claims Office again and see what can be done for their claim. “If they want to explore what they can get compensated for, it costs them nothing,” Martinez said of visiting a Claims Office. Leger Fernández began her set of scheduled visits Tuesday in Cleveland, where she presented a $750,000 check to Help New Mexico, Inc. The funds are meant to support the nonprofit’s effort to transform what was once the Cleveland Alcohol Treatment Center into the new Mora County Hub for Community-Based Services. According to a press release, Leger Fernández secured the $750,000 via appropriations “to provide services for substance misuse and behavioral health.” Leger Fernández then visited Mora’s John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center, where she toured the facility’s greenhouse and planted a seedling. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

People in Rio Rancho will be seeing a lot more orange cones on their commute starting Monday.

One man has been arrested after stealing a Taos County Sheriff's Office vehicle and leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a chase. According to court documents, Shay Anthony Hawes stole a marked sheriff's office vehicle on Sunday morning. Shortly after the car was stolen, Taos County Sheriff's deputies began a pursuit through Taos County, trying to get the vehicle to stop. Advertisement Documents say New Mexico State Police joined Taos County in the pursuit. State police then found the stolen sheriff's office unit and stopped the car by using a pursuit intervention technique maneuver. The car came to a stop and deputies took Hawes out of the car. Court documents also say Hawes was previously told to stay out of the premises of the Taos County Sheriff's Office. Hawes is facing charges of assault with intent to commit a violent felony, possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and aggravated fleeing. Hawes has been booked into the Taos County Detention Center.

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Los Alamos Medical Center News: May is National Stroke Awareness Month. We recognize this month each year because for many people, stroke awareness can be truly life-saving – someone in the US suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and for these patients, timely treatment can mean the difference between successful recovery and long-term disability. The most common type of stroke is an ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of nutrients to the brain, causing brain cells to die rapidly. The good news is that with knowledge and preparation, your chances of a deadly stroke become Read More

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has released the names of five more people who were indicted by a grand jury for the part they played in Arizona’s 2020 fake elector scheme to keep former President Donald Trump in the White House.

One of the suspects involved in an attack on former New Mexico State basketball player Mike Peake in November 2022 has pleaded guilty.

*Editor’s Note: This story has been corrected to note that allegations against Ameredev related to flaring natural gas. SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – After getting notice of a fine for over $40 million, a Texas-based oil and gas company has reached a $24.5 million settlement with the New Mexico Environment Department. The environment department claimed the company, Ameredev, “exploited public health for profit” and “willfully ignored” New Mexico’s oil and gas rules. For the alleged, violations, the state issued a $40 million fine to Ameredev. Polk Middle School gets federal award for sustainability Now, the company has agreed to pay to settle the matter. At $24.1 million, the New Mexico Environment Department says the settlement agreement is the largest civil oil and gas settlement the state has ever received. The money will go into New Mexico’s general-use fund. “This settlement makes one thing crystal clear – companies that pollute our air will pay for circumventing New Mexico’s rules,” Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a press release. “Today’s settlement is about penalizing the bad actors in an effort to protect communities from breathing harmful pollution.” New Mexico has relatively high hallucinogen use, report says After the state told Ameredev that five of their facilities improperly flared over three billion cubic feet of natural gas, the company hired third-party contractors to help with compliance issues. Now, the state’s environment department says they do not know of any further issues at Ameredev facilities. try { var event = new CustomEvent("nsDfpSlotRendered", { detail: { id: "acm-ad-tag-mr1_ab-mr1_ab" } }); console.log("HTL.nsDfpSlotRendered", event); window.dispatchEvent(event); } catch (err) {} With the settlement, in addition to giving the state millions of dollars, Ameredev agreed to perform compliance audits of all their New Mexico facilities, report monthly emission rates from each facility, implement advanced leak detection technology, and remove some equipment until they submit the correct permit application. “This is an issue we take very seriously. Over the last four years, Ameredev has not experienced any flaring-related excess emissions events thanks to our significant – and ongoing – investments in various advanced technologies and operational enhancements,” Ameredev said in a statement. “We are pleased to resolve this legacy issue, and look forward to continuing to responsibly work with the State of New Mexico and regional stakeholders to support the state’s economic development as well as American energy security.”

“To see people come out here on the second day it was open, to see kids just tearing it up, it was great,” said San Juan College VP Ed DesPlas. “It made me wish I was 40 years younger.”

On Tuesday, the ABQ BioPark released its Facility Plan, which lists projects planned through the end of the funding cycle in 2031. Read moreMexican gray wolf refuge, entrance renovations part of ABQ BioPark plan

Fifth officer resigns while under internal investigation

Here's a look at how weekly unemployment claims changed in New Mexico last week compared with the week prior.

Here's a look at how weekly regional gas prices changed in Gulf Coast region last week compared with the week prior.

Ret. Col. Jay Mitchell The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office initiative has a new director of operations. In a press release issued on April 17, FEMA announced that Ret. Col. Jay Mitchell has been hired to lead not only the Claims Office, but also the Stafford Act wildfire disaster recovery operations based in Santa Fe. Ret. Col. Jay Mitchell The announcement comes exactly three months to the day from when Angela Gladwell, former Claims Office director, stepped down from the role. According to the press release, Mitchell is expected to begin in May. The press release from FEMA states that Mitchell is a former director of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “(Mitchell) brings over 30 years of military and civilian experience where he has overseen teams in support of emergency management operations,” states the press release from FEMA.” He joins the Claims Office which has been actively engaged in operational improvements for the last several months that have significantly increased the speed of payments.” Communication from Deborah Martinez, media relations specialist for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office, adds that Mitchell’s experience includes 25 years as a specialist and leader within the U.S. and International Intelligence Community. “(Mitchell) was previously (a) Navy Director of Training in Florida and led the Navy’s preparation and response efforts for hurricanes Dorian and Isaias in 2019 and 2020,” Martinez states via an email. The press release from FEMA notes that, at the end of 2023, the Claims Office had paid 472 claims totaling $253 million. As of April 17, the press release states, 2,439 claims had been paid, totaling more than $500 million. “We have implemented significant process improvements since January of this year and those are producing results for the people of New Mexico,” said Ben Krakauer, senior advisor to the FEMA administrator in the press release. “While we are proud to reach half a billion dollars in payments, we know it is still not fast enough and the entire FEMA team will not rest until everyone receives the compensation they are owed.” Krakauer goes on to state that Mitchell “will continue to build upon these improvements to meet the needs of those impacted and ensure all eligible claims are paid.” Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

The Albuquerque Police Department’s Chaplain Unit is experiencing significant growth and expansion, offering crucial support and guidance to both department employees and community members in crisis. Chief Harold Medina highlighted the importance of the unit, stating, “Our Chaplains are there when people are experiencing some of the worst moments in their life.”Since its establishment in 1969 with eight volunteers, the Chaplain Unit has now expanded to 17 members, thanks to a successful recruitment drive in the fall of 2023. Unlike other units across the country, APD’s...

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez From the Office of U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez: ALBUQUERQUE –  After celebrating Earth Day at Zuni Pueblo, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) announced the unveiling of a Tribal Task Force made up of Tribal leadership from Tribes and Pueblos across the state. The Task Force is designed for Vasquez to better listen and represent the voices of Indian Country in Washington. It will seek guidance from each of the seven federally recognized Tribes and Pueblos in the district as well as those in the state to identify the most pressing issues facing Tribal communities and find solutions. Read More

The new rule will go into effect Aug. 1

Republican congressional candidate Yvette Herrell is under fire for her previous statement on abortion

A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder of a New Mexico State Police officer. The proceedings are scheduled to commence with jury selection on June 10th, 2024, at the Pete V. Domenici United States Courthouse in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This trial not only addresses the grievous incident involving the officer but also encompasses charges related to the death of a Florence County, South Carolina paramedic. The case against Smith stems from the events of March 15, when New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare was fatally shot. Officer Hare was responding to a situation along I-40 near Tucumcari, where he had stopped to assist Smith, who appeared to have a flat tire. The circumstances turned tragic when Officer Hare was killed during the encounter. Smith’s apprehension occurred two days later, on March 17, after he was involved in a deputy-related shooting incident in Southwest Albuquerque. His capture was facilitated by a tip from a convenience store worker who recognized him as the suspect wanted in connection with Officer Hare’s shooting. In a disturbing revelation, the investigation linked Smith to another violent crime—the murder of Phonesia Machado-Fore, a paramedic from Florence County. Her body was discovered near an abandoned home in Dillon County on the same day Officer Hare was killed. Machado-Fore had been missing since March 12, last seen at her residence in Marion. An autopsy confirmed that she died from a gunshot wound to the head, and her death was ruled a homicide by the Dillon County Coroner. The dual tragedies have drawn intense scrutiny, connecting the deaths of both a law enforcement officer and a paramedic to Smith, who now faces nearly 20 charges. These charges include murder, kidnapping, and carjacking, reflecting the severe nature of the crimes involved. As the community and families of the victims await justice, the upcoming trial in June will likely be a focal point for both local and national attention, underscoring the profound impact of the events on the respective communities. The trial promises to be a significant undertaking, given the gravity of the accusations and the multiple charges spanning different jurisdictions. This animal of a man deserves the death penalty. Absolutely!! Criminals this heinous deserve an immediate public hanging. Grand standing for the district attorney, this guy is pushed to the front of the line due to huge public interest. What about those who have been waiting for years for a trial date? Must be election time coming up… Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. Edgewood leaders on April 23 prepared for a training retreat, approved the purchase of a new car and worked toward installing the town’s new baby box. At the Edgewood Commission’s regular meeting, Town Clerk Rachel Martinez said the town is moving ahead with the installation of a baby box, but it is not clear when it will be up and […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A trial is beginning for Matthew Chavez, who was convicted of killing army veteran Tyler Lackey eight years ago. In 2016 Chavez shot and killed Lackey at an ATM near Gibson and Yale during an attempted robbery. A jury found Chavez guilty of second degree murder and other charges and Chavez was sentenced to the maximum 23 and a half years in prison. Related Coverage: Jury finds man guilty of shooting Army veteran at ATM Family of man killed at Albuquerque ATM speaks out Suspect’s passenger testifies in trial over Army veteran’s murder Murder trial begins for accused 2016 ATM shooter The attorneys for Chavez appealed, claiming the jury was not instructed on the option of voluntary manslaughter, which would have taken into account possible self defense. At the original trial, the defense argued that Lackey had a gun and was trying to stop the robbery. Jury selection begins Monday, April 29 and opening statements are expected to begin later in the day.

Roadwork to begin on NM 509, Maloney Rd. Monday, 29 April 2024 10:43 gallupsun The New Mexico Department of Transportation District Six along with Albuquerque Asphalt, Inc. will begin mill and inlay work on New Mexico State Road 609 at the eastern portion of the corridor in Gallup on April 29. Work will begin on the centerline of roadway from mile marker 1.35-2.35 (from First Street to U.S. Highway...

{{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The following individuals were booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center between April 9 and April 22, 2024: Angelo Vigil, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Ruby M. Aragon, Trafficking Controlled Substances (Distribution) - Attempt (First Offense), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony). Jeannie Urioste, Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs (.08) (First Offense), Careless Driving (Full Time and Attention). Michael Martinez, Driving While Under the Influence of Drugs (Fifth Offense), Careless Driving (Full Time and Attention), APO Arrest Order. Michael J. Dowling, Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (Arrest), Disorderly Conduct, Unlawful Parking in Disabled Parking Space. Benjamin Gomez, APO Arrest Order. Jose F. Garcia, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Kayla D. Esquibel, Bench Warrant Failure to Comply. Steven Quintana, Concealing Identity, Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Revoked For DWI), Windshields Must be Unobstructed and Equipped With Wipers, No Driver’s License. Sarah Rita Barela DeJesus, APO Arrest Order. Angel Yara, Trafficking Controlled Substances (Distribution) - Attempt (First Offense), Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs (.08) (First Offense), Failure to Maintain Traffic Lane. Andres D. Vigil, Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs (.08) (First Offense). Donna Martinez, Aggravated First DWI (Refused to Submit to Chemical Testing). Gilbert Velario, Battery (Household Member). Doris Joel Gonzales, Escape From a Community Custody Release Program - Person With Felony Charge. Jose Sena, Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs (.08) (First Offense), Windshields Must be Unobstructed and Equipped with Wipers, Failure to Maintain Traffic Lane, No Proof of Insurance, Open Container Within Driver or Passenger’s Reach. Trudy P. Lucero, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Dante Mickey Aragon, Negligent Use of a Deadly Weapon (Intoxication), Possession of Alcoholic Beverage by a Minor. Kevin Anthony Pena-Mendoza, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor (Two Counts), Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs (.08) (First Offense), Negligent Use of a Deadly Weapon (Intoxication), Careless Driving (Full Time and Attention). Patrick C. Sisneros, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Pedro Montano, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony), Aggravated Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Any Drug (.16 or Above) (Fifth Offense), Open Container (Possession) (Second Offense), Evidence of Registration, No Proof of Insurance. Nathaniel N. Linker, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP (Two Counts). Angeline Arellano, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Jose A. Garcia Jr., Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Christopher M. Gallegos, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (First Offense), Speeding (Over 16-20), APO Arrest Order. Donald Anthony Barela, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP (Two Counts). Nicholas Nesto Casados, Battery (Household Member). Freddie M. Arellano, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Ruri Daniel Ramirez-Rivera, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Jerry Pritchett, Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon) - Solicitation, Possession of Stolen Vehicle, Larceny (Over $500 But Not More Than $2,500) (Two Counts), Aggravated Battery (Deadly Weapon) - Attempt, Tampering With Evidence. Julio Hurtado, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Davaria Cameron Howard, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Omar J. Ochoa, Possession of Firearm or Destructive Device by a Felon, Battery (Household Member), Interference With Communications, Criminal Damage to Property (Household Member) (Under $1,000). Steven Gallegos, Judgment and Sentence. Thomas Gutierrez, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Kimberly Margie Lucero, Criminal Trespass, APO Arrest Order, Littering. Andre G. Trujillo, Criminal Trespass. Jessica Meeley, Battery Upon a Peace Officer. David R. Vigil, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. James L. Encinias, Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon) - Solicitation, Criminal Damage to Property. Morgan Treasure, Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor (Impaired) (Fifth Offense), Illegible Plates. Amanda Valdez, Bench Warrant Failure to Comply, APO Arrest Order. Robert Bowie, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP (Three Counts). Nicholas Hayoz, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony) (Two Counts), Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Crystal Urioste, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (First Offense), Speeding (Over 11-15). Jose F. Garcia, Shoplifting ($250 or Less), Criminal Trespass, Bench Warrant Failure to Comply. Henry Aladar Zoernig, Unlawful Carrying of a Deadly Weapon. Andre G. Trujillo, Criminal Trespass (Unposted), Bench Warrant Failure to Comply. Mark L. Prichard, Unauthorized Graffiti (Over $1,000), Bench Warrant Failure to Comply. Fermin Lucero, Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Revoked For DWI), Failure to Register Vehicle, No Proof of Insurance, Failure to Have Operating Registration Plate Lamp, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Trudy P. Lucero, APO Arrest Order. John A. Trujillo, Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Not For DWI), Signals by Hand Arm or Signal Device. Julie A. Padilla, Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (Arrest), Bench Warrant FTA/FTP (Two Counts). Hamidi A. Ibrahim, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP (Two Counts). Leona Peres, Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Revoked For DWI), No Driver’s License, No Proof of Insurance, Failure to Register Vehicle. Kristen Barela, Escape From a Community Custody Release Program - Person With Felony Charge, Bench Warrant Failure to Comply (Two Counts). Jacob Ortiz, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP (Two Counts). Keanu Gibson, Sex Offender Failing to Comply With NM Procedures, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Andrea Carrillo, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP (Two Counts). Matthew H. Quintana, Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs (.08) (First Offense), Speeding (Over 16-20). Jeremiah Fresquez, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP (Four Counts). Angel Garcia, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP, APO Arrest Order. Apolinario Gonzales, APO Arrest Order, Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Revoked For DWI). Stephanie Zimmerly, Parole Violation (Adult). Joshua R. Corbin, Cruelty to Animals. Eleazar Gutierrez-Allen, Battery (Household Member). Javon Maestas, Driving Under the Influence of Liquor (.08) (First Offense), Failure to Maintain Traffic Lane, Open Container on Person in Motor Vehicle Upon Road. Adolph Lemos, Aggravated Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs (.16 or Above) (First Offense), Open Container on Person in Motor Vehicle Upon Road, No Driver’s License, Failure to Register Vehicle, No Insurance. Francisco Maestas, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (First Offense). Matilda Trujillo, Shoplifting ($250 or Less), Criminal Trespass (Public), Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (Arrest). Johnny Trujillo, Shoplifting ($250 or Less). Lanette M. Romero, Bench Warrant Failure to Comply. Melony Encinias, Criminal Damage to Property, Aggravated First DWI (Refused to Submit to Chemical Testing). Jose Gallegos, APO Arrest Order. Sean Conway, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Kenneth Rupert, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Source: San Miguel County Detention Center Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

The Las Vegas Jewish Community, a local, nonprofit organization, helped spearhead the fundraising effort to buy the building back. The effort involved many phone calls, Nancy Terr said, as well as a GoFundMe page. The fundraising began in mid-August 2022. The Las Vegas Jewish Community, a local, nonprofit organization, helped spearhead the fundraising effort to buy the building back. The effort involved many phone calls, Nancy Terr said, as well as a GoFundMe page. The fundraising began in mid-August 2022. An integral part of Las Vegas history has recently returned to its original ownership. Temple Montefiore – the first Jewish congregation in the New Mexico Territory – served in recent years as New Mexico Highlands University’s Newman Center. A Newman Center on a college campus is a place that generally provides ministerial services to the Catholic community. The structure was built by Las Vegas’ early Jewish settlers in 1886 on Douglas Avenue, four blocks away from where it’s currently located at 901 Eighth St., said Jim Terr, publicist for the fundraising project to buy the temple back. The building is, in fact, a relic of an era when Las Vegas was a bustling economic hub and its prominent Jewish community needed a place of worship. Descendants and extended family of those early Jewish settlers who built the temple recently helped raise the funds to buy it back from the Catholic church. A rededication celebration in December and a Founders Day event at the temple on May 6 marked this critical change in ownership. “Founders Day was conceived as a way to honor the descendants of the founders of the temple,” said the event’s co-organizer, Nancy Terr, who is also Jim Terr’s sister. “And to show our appreciation of the support of bringing the temple back.” Many of those who attended Founders Day could say they were descended from notable Las Vegas families, including the Ilfeld family, the Taicherts, the Vorenbergs, the Wertheims and the Nordhauses, Nancy Terr said. Terr said she co-organized the Founders Day event with Larry Ilfeld, a descendant of prominent businessman Charles Ilfeld. “(Larry Ilfeld) helped me get in touch with a wide circle of relatives,” Terr said. “He invited all the Ilfelds and Nordhauses to come.” The story of Charles Ilfeld and his importance to the city’s economy stands as an example of how intertwined Las Vegas history is with the history of Jewish settlers. Ilfeld’s story was detailed in a speech delivered by Albuquerque-based Rabbi John Feldman during the Founders Day event. Jim Terr filmed Feldman’s informative speech. Titled “Rabbi John Feldman: Early Jewish History of Las Vegas, New Mexico,” the video is on Jim Terr’s YouTube channel along with other videos related to the history of Las Vegas. Feldman began his speech by thanking members of the Terr family, stating that the crowd that had gathered at Temple Montefiore that day would not be there if it weren’t for the Terrs’ efforts. Then, he directed his attention to the crowd. “Some of you are connected to these historic families,” Feldman said. “Some of you are relative newcomers, having only been here 30, 40 years, but everyone has some reason to be here today.” Feldman relayed information on the importance of early Jewish settlers to the area. “I want to do something that feels to me almost impossible,” he continued. “Which is, to give you some feel for what I know of the Jewish community of Las Vegas and the environs, because it really was the epicenter of Jewish life in New Mexico, and Colorado, and the panhandle of Texas.” Feldman said Charles Ilfeld came to the area from Germany at the age of 18. Feldman noted that, despite not having much schooling, Ilfeld became a prominent figure in business. “In practically every village from Colorado south, there was some little store that was set up with stock from and with doing business with the Charles Ilfeld Company,” Feldman said. “(It) really was the mercantile centerpiece of New Mexico’s economy.” Feldman gave a snapshot of the New Mexico territory’s economy at the time, an economy that was leaving the feudal “patrón” system behind, replacing it with the “partido” system that allowed a chance for the poor to better themselves. “New Mexico was a practically feudal economy,” Feldman explained. “There were certain families that were known as ricos, the wealthy people who would own large swaths of land, and people would work for them.” “People would make their lives by growing and providing food and sustenance for themselves,” Feldman continued. “It was not a way in which people could build themselves individually. There was no capacity to do that under the patrón system.” “Under the partido system, things shifted, allowing people to get on credit the things that they needed to start a little store,” Feldman said. This allowed for a goods-based economy versus a cash-based economy. “That’s why it’s a mistake to think of Charles Ilfeld as … being involved in banking,” Feldman said. People were not going to Ilfeld to get a loan, he explained. Rather, they went to him when, for example, they needed materials to grow their crops. They would then give some of these crops to the Ilfeld company to be sold. Ilfeld’s ability to trade was not limited to crops, Feldman said. “Part of Charles Ilfeld’s genius was that he could commoditize anything in New Mexico.” Feldman said that, thanks to this way of doing business, people were able to flourish. “It was far beyond the notion of a bank,” Feldman said of Ilfeld’s business. “People could go to Charles Ilfeld Company for all kinds of purposes and it was a symbiotic relationship.” Like many others at the Founders Day event, Feldman descends from a Jewish family that gained prominence in the area: the Taicherts. Jim Terr said that Feldman’s great-uncle, Milton Taichert, was a Spanish- and Yiddish-speaking businessman. Nancy Terr said Taichert coordinated the sale of Temple Montefiore in 1957. It was then that the building ceased to be a synagogue and became property of a church, then property of the diocese of Santa Fe. Taichert was a record keeper, Nancy Terr said, and many of the documents and photographs he kept – artifacts related to Las Vegas’ early Jewish community – are now in the hands of Feldman. There is a desire to house these documents and photographs in the house next to Temple Montefiore. Jim Terr said there are hopes to create a safe place for the documents and artifacts in Feldman’s possession and display them to the public. “It could be first class,” he said. “It could become an attraction.” Nancy and Jim Terr both estimated that Temple Montefiore’s original congregation was at some point 40 families strong. Then, in the 1950s, the congregation began to dwindle as Las Vegas’ Jewish population declined, Jim Terr said. Even after its sale to the diocese of Santa Fe, the temple building could still be rented from the Catholic church to host a variety of events, Nancy Terr said, including Jewish services. She said her own son had his bar mitzvah at the building. The Las Vegas Jewish Community, a local, nonprofit organization, helped spearhead the fundraising effort to buy the building back. The effort involved many phone calls, Nancy Terr said, as well as a GoFundMe page. The fundraising began in mid-August 2022. Around that time, Nancy Terr said, a phone call was received from the lawyer of the Santa Fe diocese, stating that he knew the group wanted to buy the building back and that the right time had come to do so. The Las Vegas Jewish Community was able to raise enough money to purchase Temple Montefiore with donations that poured in from around the world. The group was able to close on the sale on Sept. 26. “It was bizarre, it was intense,” Nancy Terr said of the whirlwind fundraising campaign. On the date of the sale, she said, the building went back to being a synagogue. Nancy Terr said there was a rededication ceremony on Dec. 18 – the first day of Hanukkah. Hanukkah, which means dedication in Hebrew, is a holiday that marks the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C. Nancy Terr said the temple does not have a steady rabbi, but will have a visiting rabbi conduct needed services. She hopes to see life at Temple Montefiore again. “The Las Vegas Jewish Community looks forward to many events and services (at the temple),” she said. For more information about events, visit jewishnewmexico.com. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. Cadet Major Jason Shelton, Jr. from the Route 66 Composite Squadron, part of Civil Air Patrol’s  New Mexico Wing, has been nominated for the Cadet Officer of the Year award. As the Cadet Squadron Commander, Shelton led 15 cadets, winning two Mitchell Awards and a Wright Brothers Award for cadet promotions. He was instrumental in orchestrating successful fundraising events like […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

Chaplains now called out to homicides, crashes and are helping cadets early on

Victim had offered to help suspect needing home, job

More than 500 tribes attend the annual event

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has called a special session of the New Mexico legislature to address public safety protections for the state.

Connie Trujillo, a certified nurse midwife, closed her clinic in Las Vegas and now practices in Albuquerque. Connie Trujillo, a certified nurse midwife, closed her clinic in Las Vegas and now practices in Albuquerque. Christina spent much of 2023 traveling to Santa Fe for medical care during her pregnancy. She’d leave home about two hours before each doctor’s visit for the roughly 100-mile one way trip from her home in northern New Mexico’s rural Mora county, in case accidents or construction caused traffic slowdowns. Two years ago, she would have received her care 30 miles down the road at Alta Vista Hospital in Las Vegas. But the hospital closed its delivery care unit in June 2022. “People say it’s because they weren’t getting paid enough, I don’t really know why but they closed,” said Christina, who asked New Mexico In Depth not to use her last name to protect her and her newborn’s privacy. “So I have to go to Santa Fe.” Her high-risk pregnancy forced the trip to Santa Fe three times a week in her final months, with transportation costs running about $150 a week. The transportation was unhealthy too. “They tell you they don’t want you to sit that long, but what do you think I’m doing? Sitting,” she said. Once at Santa Fe Medical Center, Christina sometimes waited up to 30 minutes to see a specialist. Now, with the birth of a healthy baby in November, the cycle has started over – long drives to Santa Fe for infant and mother checkups for another year. Christina isn’t alone. Across the state, one in three New Mexico counties are “maternity care deserts,” according to a 2022 March of Dimes report on maternal care nationwide. Nearly 18% of women in New Mexico lack access to birthing hospitals within 30 minutes of where they live, compared to the national 9.7%, according to the report. In addition to Alta Vista, hospitals in Gallup and Artesia recently closed their birthing units, leaving 14 rural birthing hospitals across the state. Raton’s hospital is currently considering closing its delivery unit, according to a presentation by the New Mexico Hospital Association to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee in September. High costs not fully covered by Medicaid or other revenue sources are the chief challenge to sustaining rural hospitals and the specialized care needed for delivering babies, hospital administrators told lawmakers at the September hearing. Public officials agree. “We’ve had several hospitals close their obstetrics wings, as a result of needing to make some changes for their own operating costs,” said Lorelei Kellogg, acting Medicaid Director at the New Mexico Human Services Department. When hospitals close their delivery units, there are cascading effects. Not only must women travel long distances to deliver their babies at a hospital, but access to care over the nine months of pregnancy declines as well. That’s because Medicaid, the government run low-income health insurance program, pays much less for pre-delivery care than the actual birth of a baby. More than 40% of New Mexico’s population uses Medicaid. When rural providers can’t count on income from the delivery of a baby at a nearby hospital, it becomes difficult for them to offer important prenatal care over the prior nine months. A dwindling rural population lies at the root of hospital struggles to maintain birthing facilities. According to New Mexico State University, 20 counties experienced significant population decline from 2010 to 2018, a trend that continues today.  Rural counties have aging populations and fewer births, making it difficult for hospitals to sustain specialized maternity care units. In 2020, nine hospitals in rural New Mexico reported delivering fewer than 300 babies, said Troy Clark, the executive director at the New Mexico Hospital Association, which is considered low. But to keep their birthing units open, hospitals need to maintain certain staff on hand regardless of how many babies they deliver. “You don’t just need an obstetrics gynecologist to run a birthing center, you need anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners and family physicians to be available around the clock. And that cost adds up,” Clark said. In short, it’s expensive to maintain a hospital birthing unit. When hospitals face hard choices to keep their doors open, they are more prone to shut down the more expensive services to maintain others. Compounding growing financial stress, in 2020, rural hospitals began receiving less money from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency in charge of the government’s health insurance programs for seniors and low-income people. The agency instead began sending more money to high-volume hospitals as a response to the COVID-19 crisis. Generally, hospitals rely on these payments to sustain their operations, as payment for providing Medicaid services in New Mexico isn’t enough to keep a hospital running. The change placed a financial strain on rural hospitals, which typically serve fewer patients than urban hospitals. “Rural hospitals depended on a fixed payments system to survive. They are now in crisis,” said Christina Campos, the administrator at Guadalupe County Hospital. In 2023, state lawmakers increased the rate paid to providers for Medicaid services, but the amounts still aren’t enough to cover hospital costs. Finding money for rural hospitals To shore up facilities still operating birthing units, the hospital association and the New Mexico Human Services Department want to leverage a federal matching program that gives hospitals $4 for every $1 raised by the state. “We are roughly looking to raise somewhere between $300 million to $500  million in state funds for matching,” said Clark. Kellogg said the funding scheme would require them to keep their birthing units open. “That’s really the intention behind those supplemental payments,” she said, adding “The requirement, or the metric that’s tied to the supplemental OB payment is really that they cannot minimize their services.” Healthcare administrators say it’s also important to increase Medicaid rates for prenatal care. Right now, Medicaid pays for prenatal and delivery care together in one package. Clinics and hospitals that provide both services to the same patient receive full payment from Medicaid. Clinics that provide prenatal services sometimes shut down soon after delivery units close when they can no longer deliver babies at a nearby hospital. That was the case for Alumbra Women’s Health and Maternity Care center, a midwifery clinic based in Las Vegas, which shut down 15 months after Alta Vista Hospital first suspended their delivery care unit in 2016. Connie Trujilio, the clinic’s founder and a certified nurse midwife from Las Vegas, used to provide prenatal services at her clinic, and delivered babies at Alta Vista hospital. When the delivery unit at Alta Vista hospital unexpectedly shut down in 2016 because of lack of staff and a low demand for services, her patients had to travel to Santa Fe to deliver without Trujillo, who couldn’t sustain her practice from the low Medicaid payments for prenatal care. Alta Vista hospital eventually reopened their delivery unit again in 2017 for a few years before permanently closing again in 2022. But by 2018, Trujillo’s practice was already closed. “We took care of so many people in Las Vegas and it was just such a huge loss. I sometimes think of  patients I’ve had for years and wonder, where are they getting care?” said Trujilio. One solution may be using phones or the internet to offer prenatal care at home, called telehealth. The Rural Ob Access & Maternal Service, or ROAMS for short, is a collaborative project of hospitals and clinics in northeast New Mexico meant to increase access to prenatal care. It created a telehealth program in 2019 that uses computers or phones to connect health clinics and hospitals in Clayton, Raton, and Taos with women at home.  It also deploys community healthcare workers who help pregnant people navigate various tasks like accessing transportation for appointments, or ensuring they get the right nutrition. This is particularly important in rural New Mexico where communities grapple with higher poverty rates. According to Colleen Durocher, the executive director of ROAMS, the program significantly increased the number of women receiving prenatal care through the Raton hospital, through a combination of telehealth visits during the pandemic, public education, and services from community health workers. Now, with a federal grant that supported ROAMS just ended, ROAMS is looking for how to keep its momentum going. Because Medicaid payments for pregnancy and delivery are bundled together, health clinics that only provide prenatal care struggle to sustain their services. “We need to look at untangling the global rate of reimbursements so that prenatal services are reimbursed properly,” said Durocher ROAMS is currently exploring how to offer telehealth to women with high risk pregnancies. According to various studies, women in rural communities are prone to increased rates of high risk pregnancies, which require visits to specialized doctors who in New Mexico are largely in urban areas. “We see high risk patients who need to be seen by a maternal fetal specialist. However, these specialists are only in urban areas like Albuquerque,” said Jay Fluhman, a certified nurse practitioner with ROAMS. Telehealth is capable of serving those with high risk pregnancies, but it requires specialized equipment that rural communities usually don’t have. As a result, women with higher risk pregnancies, like Christina in Mora county, have to travel long distances for care. Christina said that had Alta Vista offered simply an ultrasound service it would have been a big help. “If that was closer, that would save you one trip right there,” she said. “One trip makes a difference, it costs money to go over there all the time.” This story was originally published by New Mexico In Depth Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Only one of the officers initially under investigation remains on the force

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says she is working with legislative leaders to develop a platform for a potential special session.

From left, Los Alamos Small Business Center Coordinator Sandy Jones, Los Alamos County Council Chair Denise Derkacs and Matthew Modine at Sunday morning’s ‘Mimosas with Matthew Modine’ at Fuller Lodge. This kick-off Welcome Brunch for the Los Alamos Film And Culture Festival, featured actor and filmmaker Matthew Modine, who stars in the film ‘The Martini Shot’ featured this year. Many will recognize Modine as Vannevar Bush in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’. Festivities continue for this inaugural international film festival, which runs through May 5, and includes 20 films at SALA Read More

From left, Robert Nelson, Alta Vista Regional Hospital chief executive officer; Alison Morris, chief administrative officer for Java Medical Group; Bappa Mukherji, chief executive officer for Java Medical Group; Martha Henley, chief operations officer for Java Medical Group; Brett Henley, Board of Directors secretary for Dava Health, Inc.; Shannon Hughes, chief financial officer for Java Medical Group and Ray Burns, chief compliance officer for Java Medical Group. From left, Robert Nelson, Alta Vista Regional Hospital chief executive officer; Alison Morris, chief administrative officer for Java Medical Group; Bappa Mukherji, chief executive officer for Java Medical Group; Martha Henley, chief operations officer for Java Medical Group; Brett Henley, Board of Directors secretary for Dava Health, Inc.; Shannon Hughes, chief financial officer for Java Medical Group and Ray Burns, chief compliance officer for Java Medical Group. More than 100 people packed The Castañeda on Tuesday evening to learn more about the future prospects of Alta Vista Regional Hospital, which, thanks to new ownership, has gone from being a for-profit hospital to a nonprofit. Top-level executives for Java Medical Group, the company that has contracted to manage the hospital through its new owners, Dava Health, Inc., touted the benefits of the hospital’s shift to a nonprofit status during a new ownership celebration on Tuesday. Meanwhile, several Las Vegans shared their hopes for the embattled hospital moving forward and expressed disappointment in the hospital’s track record thus far. Bappa Mukherji, chief executive officer for Java Medical Group, delivered a presentation about the company’s efforts to help financially struggling, rural hospitals; how Java Medical Group plans to help Alta Vista and how its new nonprofit status will aid in these efforts. Mukherji noted that Alta Vista lost a substantial amount of money the past few years. He said it lost more than $5 million last year. “That’s a lot of money for a small hospital to have to overcome,” Mukherji said. He said the Java Medical Group quickly got to work on a recovery plan for the hospital. He said the short-term goal for the hospital is sustainability. Mukherji defined sustainability as being able to pay all the hospital’s bills, such as paying its staff and its vendors. “That’s not enough,” Mukherji cautioned. “At least you create what the business world calls a ‘long runway’ … you’re not just bleeding cash every single week.” “The real goal … what we’ll call our medium-term goal, is to achieve what we call viability,” Mukherji continued. “Which means, we’re making enough money at the hospital that we can reinvest in capital equipment, in training, in recruiting more people, into adding more service lines.” Mukherji said that if a business does not achieve viability, it is “dying a slow death.” Once the hospital reaches viability, Mukherji said, long-term goals can be developed and actively pursued. Mukherji said Alta Vista has been converted to a Critical Access Hospital, a designation given by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to eligible rural hospitals. For Alta Vista, Mukherji said, this designation means it will get paid more for caring for Medicare patients. “That was a huge step in a positive direction for this hospital,” Mukherji said of the CAH designation. “It is not a $5 million pick-up, there’s still some work to do, but it is a pretty substantial pick-up.” Mukherji said that this is Java Medical Group’s specialty: Managing financially distressed, rural hospitals. “We’ve gotten hospitals that have been in bankruptcy,” Mukherji said. “We’ve reopened hospitals that have been closed for years.” He said Java Medical Group is regularly contacted by struggling hospitals; however, he noted that the company must turn down more hospitals than it can accept to help. “Some situations are fairly hopeless,” Mukherji said. “We try to be very selective about the opportunities that we take because we have a pretty hands-on approach. … We want to be at the facilities, we want to know the people that are working there, we want to understand the communities that we’re working with.” Mukherji also spoke about the benefits of Alta Vista Regional Hospital now being a nonprofit, one of them being that it will now be more community-driven. “Hospitals are for their communities,” Mukherji said, to positive exclamations from the audience. “We’re trying to make (Alta Vista) a resource for the community.” Mukherji said that, as a nonprofit, Alta Vista now is eligible to apply for grants and can accept donations. It can also partake in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which allows eligible hospitals to purchase outpatient drugs at a discount price. Pat Leahan, co-director of the Las Vegas Peace and Justice Center, was the first to stand up and speak after Mukherji made a call for questions or feedback from the audience. “There’s already so many things you’re doing right, and you need to hear it,” Leahan told Mukherji. “There’s a lot of distrust with CHS and Quorum, that is deeply entrenched in this community,” Leahan said, referencing Community Health Systems and Quorum Health Corporation, which used to oversee Alta Vista Regional Hospital. “You have come in, you have this (new ownership event), you invited people, you’re informing us of who you are and what you’re about, you’re asking how can we help, you’re getting us engaged with you.” “When CHS came in the door closed,” Leahan continued. “(Alta Vista) was not accessible to us, the regular folks.” Leahan commended Alta Vista Chief Executive Officer Robert Nelson for helping to defuse the trust issue the community has with the hospital. “He has a history of working well with the hospital workers’ union,” Leahan said, before also commending Alta Vista’s new ownership for keeping the relationship between the hospital and its union – District 1199NM of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees – intact. “That’s very important for this community,” Leahan said. Leahan said the Las Vegas Peace and Justice Center surveyed more than 200 residents of San Miguel and Mora counties. Their input reflected on their answer to the question: ‘How can the new owners of Alta Vista Regional Hospital regain the trust of the community?’ This input is listed in a letter that Leahan handed to Mukherji during Tuesday’s event. Actions Alta Vista can take to regain the trust of the community include screening patients for financial assistance they may qualify for before sending their medical bill to a collections’ agency. Leahan’s letter notes that, as a nonprofit, the hospital should be doing this anyway. Maintaining a patient-centered approach, provision of up-to-date technology, transparent pricing, support of New Mexico Medicaid expansion “which is known to help rural hospitals survive” are also listed in the letter as suggestions for the hospital’s new ownership. Increasing the diversity of the local board so that it includes a “wider range of representation from the community” as well as providing “visible engagement with the community” is also suggested in the letter. “All of this may seem like common sense and is likely already within the scope of your best practices,” Leahan states in the letter, “but our community was figuratively scarred by the previous owners, and trust definitely needs to be proactively re-built.” “This list is just a start,” Leahan goes on to state in the letter, “but a great start.” Java Medical Group, based in Nashville, Tennessee, now manages four hospitals, said Alison Morris, chief administrative officer with Java Medical Group. She said it’s the first hospital Java Medical Group will help manage in the state of New Mexico. The other hospitals that Java Medical Group manages are in Blue Ridge, Georgia; Russellville, Alabama and Manchester, Tennessee, Morris said. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. The hospital can only go upwards if these new guys can clear house there. The locals who work there don’t even take their families there for healthcare which says it all. I had a serious HIPPA violation where my medical information was posted on social media shortly after my visit. I alerted the hospital about the incident and who the culprit was and instead of resolving the issue and correctly citing that nurse they informed her immediately while I was still talking to the staff about the incident and allowed the nurse to get on her phone and delete those social media posts. I thought the hospital would want to know and address such violation but instead the covered it up. That nurse still works there without any repercussions or a single note on her record. Find out later this is common because to admit violations like that would mean paying fines so there’s incentive against properly documenting cases such as this. Sad- only lesson I learned is to take screenshots before reporting and get a lawyer first - report to the hospital second. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. The City of Moriarty Fire Department and Torrance County Fire Department have already had a busy 2024 fire season. Last week firefighters and EMS put out three structure fires in a seven-day period that left two people dead and several acres of land burned. Around 10:30 am on April 17, Moriarty and Torrance County fire departments responded to a wreck […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

Opponents say the rule imposes unfair costs on energy companies that will result in less drilling, fewer jobs

Smoke from the Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak fire picked up in the late afternoon on Tuesday, April 26. Smoke from the Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak fire picked up in the late afternoon on Tuesday, April 26. The Las Vegas NM Community Foundation has awarded its first emergency relief grants in the wake of the disastrous Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon wildfires, which have devastated large areas in San Miguel and Mora counties, according to Board Chair Elmo Baca. The Las Vegas NM Community Foundation has already awarded $10,000 each to the Mora County Water Alliance and Visiones Collaborativas of Mora. Funds will support purchasing of essential generators to power damaged pump systems and also provide badly needed meals and shelter services for those families and individuals in Mora County evacuated by the fires within the past two weeks. Additional $10,000 grants will be awarded to MainStreet de Las Vegas to fund micro grants of up to $250 to evacuees and families for essential services, and to the Food Depot of Santa Fe to support meal delivery to evacuees. HELPNM was also funded with a $10,000 grant to continue its direct relief services in the disaster area. “The Las Vegas Community Foundation established the Hermit’s Peak Wildfire Relief Fund on April 24 only two days after 70 mph gale force winds exploded the fire and nearly breached the Las Vegas city limits,” Baca noted. “We have had a great response to the emergency fund with hundreds of donations from generous individuals, businesses and foundations from all over the country wanting to help,” Baca added. Emergency funding is still available from the Las Vegas Community Foundation for local and regional nonprofits to apply for on a first come basis. Organizations must be able to provide direct support of water, food and shelter to evacuees, or other essential services such as transportation and health care. Grant funds must be expended within 30 days. Interested donors may contribute to the Hermit’s Peak Wildfire Relief Fund at https://www.lvnmcf.com/donate-now or by mail at LVNMCF, P.O. Box 1002, Las Vegas, NM 87701. Certified nonprofit organizations interested in emergency grant support from the Las Vegas NM Community Foundation may request a grant application form by contacting Linda Anderle at info@lvnmcf.com or call Linda Anderle at 505-652-0113. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

The train was transporting non-odorous propane and gasoline

The new pump track at the San Juan College Bike Park was paid for with bond money approved by voters in 2022.

Here's a look at how weekly regional gas prices changed in Gulf Coast region last week compared with the week prior.

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. A century ago this year, the “Carl” who named Carlito Springs captured the country’s attention by exposing the biggest political scandal of the era. He was Carl Magee, one of the more remarkable figures from New Mexico’s early statehood history.  Magee not only developed the Tijeras Canyon retreat and renamed it after his late son, Carl Jr. He also unearthed the […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

We will see clear conditions and nice temperatures Monday that will kick off a steady warming trend this week.

Anti-nuclear activists map areas where plutonium has contaminated the ground near Los Alamos

Del Norte Credit Union (DNCU) has announced a series of measures designed to provide financial assistance and relief to communities impacted by fires in New Mexico. “For some members and employees of DNCU, these fires have hit home, literally” explained Chuck Valenti, CEO/President of DNCU. “When fires interrupt our lives in this way, we understand that financial assistance is a critical tool for relief from one of the many burdens that affected communities carry.” DNCU’s programs include the following: •Special Emergency Loans for those impacted by Hermits Peak, Calf Canyon or Cerro Pelado fires •Payment extensions on existing DNCU mortgage and other loans •Waiver of fees on new manufactured and modular construction loans •$3,000 worth of supplies, including employee donations, alongside the city of Española’s contributions to the needs of Mora County •$3000 donation to The Food Depot Fire Relief Effort and inclusion of Food Depot donation barrels at all DNCU locations Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. A portion of a year prior I was in a circumstance when I really wanted cash direly. I didn't get my health care coverage in time and as it for the most part happens precisely at that point I got sick. I needed to sort out some way to cover the hospital expense and I found Pay Day Say site connect with a decent article. It assisted me with managing this obligation. After that I read practically every one of the articles on fit cash and they assisted me with working on my funds. So I prescribe you to look at this site as well. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. Preserving history not only preserves memories, it protects them. For the East Mountain Historical Society (EMHS), preserving history means conserving artifacts that tell the story of “la cultura de las montañas” — the culture of the mountains.  To continue its mission to preserve and document history in the East Mountains, the historical society has plans to restore a historic property […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

Collegiate protests across the county continue

An item in Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 would raise building permit fees. Read moreIncreased building permit fees included in proposed city budget

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, far right, presented a $750,000 check to Help New Mexico, Inc. Tuesday morning in Cleveland. Others in the photograph are Joseph Griego, president of Help New Mexico, Inc.; Annaliza Gourneau, vice president of Strategy and Community Engagement for Help New Mexico, Inc.; Irene Panlilio, acting vice president; Maryah Griego-Montoya, community support director and Elain Felix, Help New Mexico’s executive secretary. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, far right, presented a $750,000 check to Help New Mexico, Inc. Tuesday morning in Cleveland. Others in the photograph are Joseph Griego, president of Help New Mexico, Inc.; Annaliza Gourneau, vice president of Strategy and Community Engagement for Help New Mexico, Inc.; Irene Panlilio, acting vice president; Maryah Griego-Montoya, community support director and Elain Felix, Help New Mexico’s executive secretary. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández made several pitstops throughout Mora County on Tuesday as part of an effort to mark the two-year anniversary of when the Hermits Peak Fire and the Calf Canyon Fire merged into one and became the largest wildfire in New Mexico history. It was on April 22, 2022, that the Hermits Peak Fire, which began as a prescribed burn set by the U.S. Forest Service, and the Calf Canyon Fire, also started by the Forest Service as a pile burn operation that was not extinguished properly, became one massive fire. Leger Fernández made several visits throughout Mora County on Tuesday, including to the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office. There, Leger Fernández spoke of the looming Nov. 14 deadline for claimants to file a notice of loss, as well as the need for greater communication regarding the claims process. “There is a lot of communication that needs to get out,” Leger Fernández told a group of claims office staff during her visit. She reassured the group that she receives many positive comments about the Claims Office, including statements from children of elderly adults who say that the Claims Office staff treated their parents with kindness. Leger Fernández also spoke of hearing about instances when Claims Office staff helped claimants think of more damages to list on their claim. When it comes to the Nov. 14 deadline to file a notice of loss with the Claims Office, Leger Fernández said she is working to get an extension, but cautioned Claims Office staff that they “need to (work) as if the November deadline is real.” Deborah Martinez, media relations specialist for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office, said that $531 million has been paid to claimants so far. She said this includes actual payments as well as payments that have been approved and will be paid soon. Martinez said there are 168 people working across the three Claims Office sites in Santa Fe, Mora and Las Vegas. Martinez encouraged people to come into the Claims Office; even if they sought help soon after the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and did not receive compensation, they can visit the Claims Office again and see what can be done for their claim. “If they want to explore what they can get compensated for, it costs them nothing,” Martinez said of visiting a Claims Office. Leger Fernández began her set of scheduled visits Tuesday in Cleveland, where she presented a $750,000 check to Help New Mexico, Inc. The funds are meant to support the nonprofit’s effort to transform what was once the Cleveland Alcohol Treatment Center into the new Mora County Hub for Community-Based Services. According to a press release, Leger Fernández secured the $750,000 via appropriations “to provide services for substance misuse and behavioral health.” Leger Fernández then visited Mora’s John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center, where she toured the facility’s greenhouse and planted a seedling. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Plaintiffs argue U.S. failed to recognize the cultural significance of the area before approving the project

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The legislature is looking for full-time interns to work from July through December. Applications are now open for undergraduate students and those who have recently graduated from college. “We’re the nonpartisan, confidential drafting and research agency for the legislature,” says Jeret Fleetwood, project coordinator for Legislative Council Services. “So, one of the first things we’re looking for is nonpartisan folks.” Texas-based oil company to pay New Mexico $24.5 million over pollution allegations Interns help with day-to-day staff work and are paid $17 per hour. Interns can get experience working for the Legislative Council Service or with committees. Interns will help with scheduling meetings, analyzing political issues, speechwriting, and tracking bills, the legislature says. “For the most part, it’s 40 hours a week in the office or traveling with interim committees,” Fleetwood explains. “We’ve got 20-something interim committees on everything from taxes, to health, to criminal justice, to military and veterans affairs.” New video shows derailed train explosion near AZ-NM border To apply, students and recently graduated individuals should send a resume, letter of interest, and unofficial transcript to internship@nmlegis.gov. The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on May 17. The internship also offers a potential pathway to full employment at the legislature. “If an intern likes working here, and we like the work they’re doing, we tend to bring them on to work for us during the legislative session,” Fleetwood says. “And if we really like the work they’re doing after that, it’s been the pathway to permanent employment here.”

Look for solar panels to blossom atop low-income homes in Indian Country over the next five years. Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced $500 million for tribes as part of $7 billion in grants for residential solar energy. Some $5.5 billion will go to states, and $1 billion to multi-state awards. The $7 billion […]

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Monday she appointed Melanie Kenderdine as the state's energy secretary.

Here's a look at how weekly unemployment claims changed in New Mexico last week compared with the week prior.

HIV spread through reuse of disposable equipment contaminated with blood

County officials are planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the bridge’s renovation at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 30.

Resolution would bring back nationally-heralded program

FDA is still committed to banning menthol cigarettes

After nearly five months serving as acting chief of police for the Las Vegas Police Department, in March, Mayor David Romero and the Las Vegas City Council appointed Caleb Marquez to the spot permanently. Marquez beat out three other finalists for the role, Mayor Romero said, in a process designed to give qualified candidates a chance at the role, and to give the mayor and the council a chance to choose the next chief. “What was important was that the whole governing body had input into the decision. It wasn’t just the mayor coming in and saying, ‘This is who I want’ and kind of forcing it on the governing body,” Romero said. “We wanted to make sure that we got this right, and that it was a joint, united effort.” Marquez assumed the role of chief on Oct. 17, after Antonio Salazar was placed on paid administrative leave following a domestic disturbance call at his home. Salazar resigned from LVPD on Nov. 16 after being charged with one count of misdemeanor battery on a household member. Prosecutors dropped the criminal charge against Salazar on April 19 because he completed an anger management program, according to documents filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court. However, that is not the end of Salazar’s court proceedings because, on March 28, the city filed a lawsuit against him alleging breach of contract. The lawsuit is related to a $4,500 retention bonus. According to a complaint filed in Las Vegas District Court, Salazar received the payment in May of 2023 and, under the terms of his employment agreement, he was required to repay the money if he quit or was fired before May 2024. The city also alleges that it offered Salazar an opportunity to enter a reimbursement plan, but he refused. The complaint stated that the city is seeking repayment of the $4,500, along with interest and attorney’s fees. Mayor Romero said he was aware of the lawsuit but could not comment on pending litigation. Salazar’s departure came just two days after Louie Trujillo resigned as mayor, citing consideration of his “physical, mental and spiritual well being” in his letter of resignation. Romero, who had been the Ward 4 city councilor and mayor pro tem, was named acting mayor upon Trujillo’s departure. He was sworn in as mayor in December. These shake ups were the latest in years of turmoil within city hall and the police department. Trujillo replaced Tonita Gurule-Giron as mayor after she resigned in January 2020 after being criminally charged in an illegal kickback scheme in which she was ultimately convicted of two felony charges and sentenced to 18 months probation. Filling the role of chief of police has been a tumultuous endeavor for the city as well. Salazar’s resignation came just two months after city councilors approved a raise for him. Salazar was appointed to the role in the summer of 2021 to replace Adrian Crespin following his resignation after about a year. Crespin replaced David Bibb, who’d served just 19 months. Bibb had been appointed by Gurule-Giron in November 2017 to replace Jerry Delgado who resigned less than two weeks after accepting the job. Despite past turbulence within the department, Romero said he’s confident that Marquez is the right choice, and the city council have specific expectations for him as chief of police. “Moving forward — as a governing body — we’ll make sure that we’ll hold Caleb Marquez accountable. We are looking at those specific goals, and we want to make sure there’s progress within the department,” Romero said. “We’re not just happy with the status quo.” Both Romero and Marquez seem to be focusing on the future and not the past. Marquez said he wants to focus on building relationships between the department and the community, and to take care of the men and women who work for LVPD. “There’s a lot of good people that work here,” he said. “And we want to make sure we provide the best service to the community.” Marquez plans to hold events centered around National Night Out, an annual effort aimed at improving relationships between law enforcement and members of the communities they serve. During the nationwide event, which takes place in August each year, Marquez would like community members to hold block parties, and he plans to have the police department hold one near the police station near the Plaza. He also hopes to have officers host a bike ride through town, and to have officers visit other block parties throughout the city. The idea is part of a broader vision for the future of the department that focuses on community policing initiatives. Marquez also hopes to increase the number of the department’s school-based partnerships, like offering drug prevention and anti-bullying programs. Another key focus will be crime, specifically arresting people who bring fentanyl into the area and those who sell it, a growing nationwide problem that both Marquez and Romero want to address in Vegas. “I know that the chief is working with the DA’s office and the sheriff’s office, trying to see if we can target those that are bringing in and those that are distributing the fentanyl,” Romero said. “It’s taking a toll on a lot of our young population. We’ve got to make sure we protect them as much as we can.” Marquez said that addiction drives much of the crime in Vegas and that he’d like to see more help provided to those struggling with substance use disorder, like opening an outpatient drug treatment center in town. But he also shares Romero’s vision of going after anyone who brings narcotics into town and those who sell them. Marquez, who was born in Las Vegas and has lived in town his entire life, joined LVPD about nine years ago. Prior to his law enforcement career, he worked as a firefighter for the Las Vegas Fire Department. After nearly five years with the fire department, Marquez said he made the move to the police department as another way to serve a community he loves. “It’s a very tightknit community and I think it’s a very unique city. Anybody who comes here can see how caring people are to one another, and I think it’s a great place to raise your kids,” he said. “I truly do care. I love this department, and I love this community.” Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. "...Marquez would like community members to hold block parties, and he plans to have the police department hold one near the police station near the Plaza. He also hopes to have officers host a bike ride through town, and to have officers visit other block parties throughout the city. The idea is part of a broader vision for the future of the department that focuses on community policing initiatives." Yes, yes and yes! There needs to be trust and understanding built between the police and the public and for each to abide by human and municipal basic needs. The police should be our friends and protectors, not someone to fear, a perception that both need to adjust. Both sides should be on one side to cultivate a unified front to make Las Vegas a safe and growing haven. We can only achieve this through honest communication - talking and listening. Thanks. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Second baseman Brandon Walker narrowly misses the tag for the out. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com Maddox Martines throws in a strike for the Toppers. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com SPORTS News: The Los Alamos High School Hilltoppers hosted the Moriarty Pintos at home Saturday for a critical district matchup doubleheader. The Toppers started off slow in the first game but their sticks heated up, crossing home plate 11 times to the Pintos 2. In the second game, it was all green and gold with a commanding 14-0 victory. Come out and support the Hilltoppers for Senior Night Wednesday Read More

Progressive legislative candidates are striking back against the new kid on block--the self-described anti-progressive PAC The NM Project--that seeks to elect conservative and moderate legislative Democrats and that is headed up by businessman and Dem politico Jeff Apodaca. He announced here last week that the group has raised "close to" $1 million to battle the left of his party but donors remain anonymous and that amount can't be confirmed. Our sources say the group may not be all that close to the $1 million but the coffers are ample and could pose a threat to progressives on the June 4 primary ballot. But the PAC is also presenting opportunity to progressives to rally their troops and raise more money of their own. In District 30, comprised of four counties, Acoma Pueblo resident and progressive Dem Angel Charley, faces the NM Project endorsed Clemente Sanchez, a former conservative Dem senator. He was ousted in the '20 Dem primary and is now trying to get back to the Roundhouse. Charley aims to slow his stride with this fund-raising message:  Dear Neighbors, There’s a new corporate PAC. . .and our opponent is one of their top candidates. We’re really going to need your help to push back against this special interest PA. . . This is exactly what happened four years ago when Chevron formed a PAC to help then-Senator Clemente Sanchez keep his seat. Now, some of those same interests are yet again working to get him back to the Senate. And why are the oil and gas industry, Big Pharma, payday loan companies, and insurance companies so invested in Clemente Sanchez winning? For them, they like his record. As a state Senator, Clemente Sanchez voted against increasing oil and gas royalty rates, and he voted for keeping payday loan interest rates high for people in dire financial straits. O'NEILL VS. O'MALLEY In the ABQ metro former BernCo Commissioner Debbie O'Malley is glad to have The NM Project as her money-raising foil. She is taking on District 13 incumbent Dem Senator Bill' ONeill in the primary who was endorsed by group. O'Malley came with this: Dear Neighbors, . . .I have made the list of candidates that a corporate PAC led by failed gubernatorial Democratic candidate Jeff Apodaca has targeted for defeat. The PAC. . .laughably says they are defending Hispanic traditional values… and for that reason, they are somehow backing my opponent, Bill O’Neill.  We don’t exactly know who the donors to this new PAC are. . . After the election, we will undoubtedly come to find out this new PAC is being funded by the oil and gas industry, insurance companies, NAIOP, and the realtors. That’s no surprise. Let's be clear: this new PAC targeting me is not about race or defending Hispanic values, but about corporate special interests not liking my record. If this were about race, why would they target me, a Hispanic, native New Mexican, over an Anglo candidate originally from Ohio? I am a committed progressive Democrat who sides with families and neighborhoods over corporate special interests. Please give. . . whatever you can to help me fight back against this dark money PAC.  But hold on. Sen. O'Neill--"The Fighting Irishman"--not known for being either a conservative or a Hispanic--is firmly rejecting the Apodaca group's endorsement as he battles to survive. He says of The NM Project endorsement:I just want  say no thank you. . . I am proud of my progressive track record. I'm proud to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Conservation Voters and Equality New Mexico. O'Neill's problem isn't that he's not progressive enough. It's that his district has radically changed in redistricting and no longer includes many of the enclaves he could count on. Large new portions are near downtown ABQ and surrounding areas that favor O'Malley because she has represented them on the commission and ABQ City Council. O'Malley says after the election donors to The NM Project will become known. Perhaps. But contributions to such 501(c)4 groups are not required do disclose them. However, the assumption that oil and gas is a large donor is not without reason. MORE ETHNIC DIVIDENow down to Las Cruces and House District 53 where ethnic politics is also flaring. Anglo Dem state Rep. Joanne Ferrary turned away from fellow Dem Rep. Willie Madrid and endorsed his primary opponent, Jon Hill, and held a fund-raiser for him over the weekend. She says:  I look forward to working with Jon on so many shared visions for a better New Mexico! His experiences and Doctorate as an educator and Superintendent in rural schools is invaluable! I appreciate his great concerns for the environment and his dedication to protect women’s right to choose!So what's the deal with Madrid and abortion? There's an implication in Ferrary's letter that he is on the wrong side of the choice question. But Madrid secured the '22 endorsement of Planned Parenthood and voted to repeal an outdated abortion law that was the chief worry of abortion proponents.   But the anti-progressive The NM Project found Madrid to their liking and have endorsed him which denotes his conservative approach to business legislation. Ferrary's backing of Hill over Madrid drew a scalding response from ABQ Dem Rep. Miguel Garcia, first elected in 1996, and now the senior Democratic member of the House: Willie Madrid is one of our most dedicated and hardest working legislators. . .Willie is a loyal Democrat and unlike some conservative Democrats in the House, he has never engaged in coalition politics with the Republicans. House District 53 is the most vulnerable of all swing seats. Willie’s past victories over Republican candidates were in the single digits. Willie Madrid is currently under attack by Chairperson Joanne Ferrary (chair of Consumer and Public Affairs and two interim committees). Representative Ferrary is blatantly supporting Willie’s primary opponent. Being a Chair of a committee is an honorable position. It denotes leadership in our Caucus. Blatantly supporting the primary opponent of Representative Madrid is malfeasance at its worst. I urge Speaker Martinez to put a tourniquet on the unethical breach by Representative Joanne Ferrary and strip her of her three chair positions. Garcia is a progressive but he also happens to be a leader of the native Hispanic community. Hispanic men of all political stripes are feeling left out of the Democratic tent and resentful of primary challenges to their candidates. This resentment is seen in the polling in the presidential race and now a point of contention in the NM June primary. Rep. MadridHill can use Ferrary's help. His latest campaign report showed just $4,500 in cash and he has loaned himself over $5,000. Madrid had a cash balance of $39,000.Madrid is seeking a fourth House term. As Rep. Garcia noted, the  Dem primary isn't the only obstacle he has to overcome. He won in '22 in a close 51-49 race in this swing district. The GOP will be back again against the Dem primary winner with Elizabeth Lee Winterowd who opposed Madrid in that nail-biter.  District 37 Rep. Ferrary used to run tight races in her own District 37 but broke away as the area became more progressive and is now seeking her fourth term. She has no primary challenge but faces Republican Ronnie Sisneros in November. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.   E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.comInterested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.  (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2024 Posted by: Joe Monahan / Monday, April 29, 2024

Megan Bucklin CHAMBER News: The Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce has announced the hiring of, Megan Bucklin as Member Services Manager. She will serve as the liaison to Chamber members and provide support and information to prospective members. As a native of Los Alamos, Bucklin brings her experience working with various businesses throughout the community, as well as her knowledge of inter-business coordination to Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce. She has experience with member management and coordination from her time working with United Way of Northern New Mexico and adventure companies Read More

Gonzales now says he will run for State Senate from the Westside

Ret. Col. Jay Mitchell The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office initiative has a new director of operations. In a press release issued on April 17, FEMA announced that Ret. Col. Jay Mitchell has been hired to lead not only the Claims Office, but also the Stafford Act wildfire disaster recovery operations based in Santa Fe. Ret. Col. Jay Mitchell The announcement comes exactly three months to the day from when Angela Gladwell, former Claims Office director, stepped down from the role. According to the press release, Mitchell is expected to begin in May. The press release from FEMA states that Mitchell is a former director of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “(Mitchell) brings over 30 years of military and civilian experience where he has overseen teams in support of emergency management operations,” states the press release from FEMA.” He joins the Claims Office which has been actively engaged in operational improvements for the last several months that have significantly increased the speed of payments.” Communication from Deborah Martinez, media relations specialist for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office, adds that Mitchell’s experience includes 25 years as a specialist and leader within the U.S. and International Intelligence Community. “(Mitchell) was previously (a) Navy Director of Training in Florida and led the Navy’s preparation and response efforts for hurricanes Dorian and Isaias in 2019 and 2020,” Martinez states via an email. The press release from FEMA notes that, at the end of 2023, the Claims Office had paid 472 claims totaling $253 million. As of April 17, the press release states, 2,439 claims had been paid, totaling more than $500 million. “We have implemented significant process improvements since January of this year and those are producing results for the people of New Mexico,” said Ben Krakauer, senior advisor to the FEMA administrator in the press release. “While we are proud to reach half a billion dollars in payments, we know it is still not fast enough and the entire FEMA team will not rest until everyone receives the compensation they are owed.” Krakauer goes on to state that Mitchell “will continue to build upon these improvements to meet the needs of those impacted and ensure all eligible claims are paid.” Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – As warm weather is making its way back to Albuquerque, the city has decided to open the splash pad on Civic Plaza. Drier and warmer conditions into the workweek The splash pad is now open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., every day through Labor Day weekend. After Labor Day weekend, the pad will be spraying on weekends through mid-October.

The Rio Grande Compact Commission meeting on Friday had a small portion dedicated to describing future meetings with six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos to get tribal perspective on governing the state’s largest river. The three-member commission met for its annual meeting Friday, hearing from legal advisors and New Mexico State Engineer Mike Hamman on the […]

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. Authorities are doing some spring cleaning at the Santa Fe District Courthouse.  The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Law Offices of the Public Defender are teaming up with the courts later this month to give people with outstanding warrants a chance to see a judge, meet with a public defender and receive favorable consideration for their case. First […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

Solid Waste providing free green waste collection at residents’ homes starting Monday

Daily Postcard: A wisteria vine blooms Friday at a residence in the Pinon Trails neighborhood in White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

City of Carlsbad officials said a private party has reached out for a possible land purchase for a replacement for the North Mesa Senior Center.

Tesuque Casino News: Tesuque Casino is open 7 days a week: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday at 7 Tesuque Road, five minutes north of Santa Fe / US HWY 84/285, Exit 171. Tesuque Casino offers three unique choices for dining. The acclaimed Cottonwood Kitchen Dining Room, the popular Grab & Go and the comfortable and spacious Cottonwood Bar & Lounge. For more information, call 800.462.2635 or email info@tesuquecasino.com. Tesuque Casino entertainment schedule for May 2024: Council’s Ballroom:

PICTURE PERFECT: Steve asks if it’s acceptable to keep a photo of his license, registration and/or insurance proof on a cellphone rather than carry a physical copy.

The New Mexico Court of Appeals rejected a challenge by the employer before a final settlement was reached

Resident students taking a full load of 15 credit hours a semester would see their tuition go up from $840 to $915.

Students will play role in helping to solve cold cases

Editor’s note: This story is the second in a series about a group of people from Wisconsin trying to come up with policies to address abortion and its root causes that could be applied nationwide. Their larger goal is to find common ground on one of the most divisive issues in America. MADISON, Wis. — […]

{{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The following individuals were booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center between April 2 and April 8, 2024: Dale Marvin Benavidez, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony), Disorderly Conduct. Britten Mount, Probation Violation (Adult). Stanley Hicks, bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Matthew Herrera, Shoplifting ($250 or Less). Nichole Renee Ortiz, Driving While Under the Influence of Drugs (5th Offense), No Driver’s License, Illegible Plates, Replace Registration Plate - Obliterated, Damaged, Illegible, Failure to Register Vehicle, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Brianna Lujan, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Samuel Pacheco, Bench Warrant Failure to Comply. Juan Clayton Cuellar, Battery (Household Member), Criminal Damage to Property (Household Member) (Under $1,000). Antonio Goke-Martinez, Disorderly Conduct, APO Arrest Order, Confinement Order. David J. Patron, Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Revoked For DWI). Samuel Pacheco, Bench Warrant Failure to Comply. April Trujillo, Battery Upon a Peace Officer, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony) (Two Counts), Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (Arrest), Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Jamison R. Gonzales, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP (Two Counts). James Gonzales, Transport Order For Court. Devon Rogers, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony), Tampering With Evidence, Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle (First Offense). Juan Antonio Rodriguez-Rivera, Battery (Household Member). Kristen Barela, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony) (Two Counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor), Trafficking Controlled Substances With Intent) (Narcotic or Meth) (First Offense), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony). Alejandro Vigil, Bench Warrant Failure to Comply, Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (Arrest), Bench Warrant Failure to Comply, Parole Violation (Adult). Brent Martinez, Abuse of a Child (No Death or Great Bodily Harm) (First Offense), Assault (Attempted Battery) (Household Member). Jennifer E. Parkinson, Aggravated Stalking (Violation of Protection Order, Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Wilfred A. Sanchez, Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Revoked For DWI). Dion Maes, Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs (.08 or Above) (Fourth Offense), Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Revoked For DWI), No Driver’s License, No Seat Belt, Evidence of Registration, No Proof of Insurance. Lucas G. Sena, Battery (Household Member). Douglas Anthony Viltz, Aggravated Battery (Deadly Weapon) (Household Member), Aggravated Battery (Great Bodily Harm) - Attempt, Negligent Use of a Deadly Weapon (Intoxication). Johnny Sanchez, Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (Arrest), Bench Warrant FTA/FTP. Source: San Miguel County Detention Center Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Pueblos say they’re exploring tribal consultation process on Colorado River for NM model

Complaints allege some commissioners violated open meeting rules

Democrats always planned to quickly dismiss the GOP-led charges in what both sides called a historic impeachment.

And how much did they get paid while on administrative leave?

Volunteers at the 2024 Kite Festival string 41 kites together for an epic flight! Photo by Alan Madsen Read More

This Week In Sports: April 24-27, 2024 Los Alamos High School Hilltopper games are covered by the Los Alamos Daily Post sports team of John McHale and Nate Limback. This Week’s Hilltopper Sports Schedule: April 29 Monday May 1 Wednesday May 2 Thursday May 3 Friday May 4 Saturday

PICTURE PERFECT: Steve asks if it’s acceptable to keep a photo of his license, registration and/or insurance proof on a cellphone rather than carry a physical copy. Read moreRoad warrior: Say cheese! Can you carry a photo instead of your license, registration and insurance documents?

From left, Alta Vista Regional Hospital Chief Executive Officer Robert Nelson, Java Medical Group Chief Executive Officer Bappa Mukherji,Java Medical Group Chief Operations Officer Martha Henley and Dava Health, Inc., Board of Directors Secretary Brett Henley visit Luna Community College on Feb. 27. The hospital's top-level executives toured the campus, met some of its nursing students and learned more about the college's nursing program. From left, Alta Vista Regional Hospital Chief Executive Officer Robert Nelson, Java Medical Group Chief Executive Officer Bappa Mukherji,Java Medical Group Chief Operations Officer Martha Henley and Dava Health, Inc., Board of Directors Secretary Brett Henley visit Luna Community College on Feb. 27. The hospital's top-level executives toured the campus, met some of its nursing students and learned more about the college's nursing program. Alta Vista Regional Hospital’s new owners visited key educational institutions in Las Vegas in a good faith effort to learn more about the community and strengthen ties with the schools. Alta Vista Chief Executive Officer Robert Nelson and Jennifer Dominguez, the hospital’s director of marketing and public relations, met with The Optic to discuss this visit as well as strides the hospital has been making to improve patient satisfaction. Executives for Java Medical Group, the company that manages the hospital, as well as for Dava Health, Inc., the company that now owns Alta Vista, toured New Mexico Highlands University, Luna Community College and the United World College on Feb. 27. Along with Nelson, visiting officials included Dava Board Member Brett Henley, Java Chief Executive Officer Bappa Mukherji and Java Chief Operating Officer Martha Henley. This was the second time that Java Medical Group administration has visited Las Vegas, said Nelson. The first time they visited was back in January, when they hosted a reception at The Castañeda to introduce themselves as the hospital’s new operators. Officials with Dava Health, Inc., were also present during the reception. While at Highlands, Nelson said, the team learned more about the university’s new doctorate in nursing program as well as its bachelor’s of science in nursing degree. Nelson noted that, along with the registered nurse program at LCC, someone could potentially earn college degrees in nursing all the way to a doctorate without leaving Las Vegas. “That’s rare for a small community,” Nelson noted, adding that typically those types of educational experiences are found in larger cities. Nelson said that Java and Dava officials spoke to educators at NMHU about how Alta Vista Regional Hospital can support them. They were also told that if their nursing students – especially those pursuing the DNP – need clinical space, Alta Vista will work with them to provide it. The team of executives also discussed ways the hospital could support the nursing students during their visit to LCC. Many of the community college’s nursing students already take advantage of Alta Vista to complete clinical days. “They had 12 full clinical days here last semester,” Nelson said of LCC’s nursing students. “They’re scheduled for more this semester.” Although not an institution of higher learning, hospital executives still toured UWC and met with students and staff in order to mend the relationship between UWC and the hospital. Nelson said that UWC had issues in the past with the hospital’s billing. “We visited them to make sure that they knew, if their students have any healthcare needs, we can (help) them,” Nelson said. “If there were issues in the past …we worked to resolve them.” He said that Alta Vista staff – especially Dominguez – helped resolve the billing issue. Dominguez said she was able to help with the issue because she has experience in billing. “I know that a community concern is billing,” Dominguez said of the situation with UWC. “It’s helpful that my background is in that so that I can guide them accurately with what they need to do … to get that resolved.” Many issues that were of concern with Alta Vista Regional Hospital have been tackled by its new administration with positive results, as evidenced by patient feedback received via surveys, Nelson said. He said great strides have been made to the hospital’s Emergency Department, which previously had a patient experience score in the first percentile. Nelson explained that, the way the survey is tabulated, being in the first percentile is a bad score. He called it being No. 1 in the wrong way. Since hiring new ED Director Leah Joslin in August, patient satisfaction with the hospital’s emergency services is now in the 49th percentile. “For us to get out of the basement … where we’ve been stuck for years (and) for (Joslin) to make that big of a difference. … I think she’s been a super star for us,” Nelson said. “We’ve been able to turn around the (emergency room) experience, which historically has not been good. … It’s a giant step forward and it’s a continued work in progress.” When it comes to inpatient care, patient satisfaction surveys have been at the 99th percentile for three straight months, Nelson said, the highest score that can be achieved. Nelson said another big reception like the one that took place in January might be in the future. He said that a part of his role, as well as the goal of Alta Vista’s new owners, is to make connections with the community. “My position as CEO now is to … go back and try to reestablish all of the connections that we have with the community that may have been lost or damaged so we can reestablish the trust,” Nelson said. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Seedlings grow inside a greenhouse at the John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center on April 16. Seedlings grow inside a greenhouse at the John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center on April 16. United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small toured the John T. Harrington Reforestation Center in Mora for the first time Tuesday, April 16, before discussing the center’s future role in helping the area heal from the effects of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was also slated to tour the John T. Harrington Reforestation Center and meet with local leaders; however, she was not able to attend and a reason for her absence was not given. While the event on April 16 was meant to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the devastating wildfire caused by agents of the federal government, it was also an opportunity for officials to discuss $11 million in funding aimed at creating a New Mexico Reforestation Center. This facility will be an expansion to the current John T. Harrington Reforestation Center. Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Deputy Cabinet Secretary Dylan Fuge spoke at length before Torres Small approached the podium. He noted that the $11 million includes $10 million from the USDA and about $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending, which was secured through the efforts of Sen. Martin Heinrich. “We’re here to commemorate the profound loss and hardship (the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire) represented and the slow recovery that is still very much ongoing,” Fuge told the crowd of about 70 people who gathered at the John T. Harrington Reforestation Center. “But we’re also here to celebrate renewal and regrowth, thanks in part to the USDA and commitments from our state legislature to build a reforestation center here in Mora that will help both rehabilitate the land and the local economy.” Fuge acknowledged the 341,000 acres that were burned during the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. He said 2022 was the worst fire season in New Mexico history, one that destroyed one million forest acres across the state. “For those of you who lost homes I recognize the trauma is still fresh and recovery is slower than we hoped,” Fuge said. However, he said, those who did not lose a home but who live downhill from the burn scar also face challenges. These include flooding and debris flows for years to come, a situation that now exists due to the lack of forestation. Fuge said it is estimated there are between 1 million and 2.6 million acres in New Mexico that need reforestation. To plant that, he said, between 150 million-300 million seedlings are needed. “This center, in its current configuration, can only produce 300,000 (seedlings) per year,” Fuge said. “We can’t rely on natural processes, we need to take affirmative steps to address it.” The goal of the reforestation center in Mora is to produce 5 million seedlings annually. This would help not only the immediate area, but the entire Southwest, Torres Small said. “The center’s ambitious goal to produce 5 million seedlings annually will not just benefit New Mexico, it will benefit all lands of the greater Southwest area,” Torres Small said. “It’s a testament to our shared commitment to forest health and resilience.” Years before the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the John T. Harrington Reforestation Center was already in existence, said Joshua Sloan, associate vice president of academic affairs for the Forestry and Reforestation Center at New Mexico Highlands University. Sloan said the center’s initial goal was to serve as a research facility for New Mexico State University. “This was never designed or intended to be an operational reforestation facility,” Sloan noted. Over time, however, the center started meeting reforestation needs. “That’s really why we need that new facility,” Sloan said. “We’re basically using a research facility as a stopgap to try to meet that operational reforestation need, but it wasn’t designed for it, and didn’t have the capacity for it.” Sloan said funding will go towards the infrastructure of the New Mexico Reforestation Center, an all-new construction set to be located at the current center. Sloan noted that the whole property of the John T. Harrington Reforestation Center is 120 acres, and half of that is buildable. “We have plenty of room, the new facility is going to be a little under 10 acres,” Sloan said. NMSU, NMHU and the University of New Mexico have all combined efforts at the reforestation center in Mora. Fuge noted these combined efforts, stating that a group from NMHU collected 250 bushels of cones and is building a seed processing and storage facility. A group from NMSU is developing research-based nursery practices to grow seedlings with enhanced survival rates in burn scars. UNM has developed a climate model that allows land managers and landowners to pick places to plant seedlings for their best chance of survival, Fuge said. Thanks to these efforts, the John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center is already a hub for activity and research, one that houses the largest seed bank in the Southwest. Owen Burney, director of the John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center, welcomed visitors to take a peek at the seed bank on April 16. Located inside a walk-in refrigerator, the seed bank contains about 7 million seeds. That number equals about 20,000 acres of reforestation, or, 20-30 percent of the fire footprint of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, Burney said. However, Burney cautioned, the number of trees to be planted per acre will be highly variable. “We don’t plant 300 trees per acre everywhere,” Burney explained. “In some cases, we’ll plant a lot less; in other cases, we’ll plant a lot more.” “We want to create that variability on purpose because we want to emulate natural regeneration,” Burney continued. “We’re not here to necessarily put it on the same trajectory as where it was before. … We don’t want it thick, we don’t want it everywhere. We could easily put ourselves back into the same fire risk we were before.” Both Burney and Sloan noted that whereas natural reforestation could take centuries, through the work being done at the center, reforestation could be done within a human’s lifespan. Burney acknowledged that amount of time may still mean that most people alive today would not see the effects of the reforestation efforts. However, he said, many would still be able to witness the beginning of the process that will eventually lead to recovery. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

By MERILEE DANNEMANN Triple Spaced Again © 2024 New Mexico News Services New Mexico’s primary election is a few weeks away, on June 4. As attentive voters know, in New Mexico the primary election is at least as important as the general. Depending on your district, you might have a little work to do researching your choices, and it’s time to get started. As usual, many counties are dominated by one party or the other and the primary is the decisive race for local positions like county commissioners and county clerk. Chavez and Lea counties, for example, have only Republicans running for county commission. Read More

Bird conservationist Dylan Osterhaus said it's important to know how human activity can impact migratory bird patterns and threaten their survival.

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. The April 24 meeting of the Torrance County Commissioners focused on the renewal of the county’s contract with ICE and CoreCivic for the Torrance County Detention Facility (TCDF). It introduced statements from Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative (CNMEC) CEO Alena Brandenberger regarding a broadband grant it was seeking. The meeting also addressed grant applications related to election security and the […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

Previous warden had resigned while under investigation in December

After nearly five months serving as acting chief of police for the Las Vegas Police Department, in March, Mayor David Romero and the Las Vegas City Council appointed Caleb Marquez to the spot permanently. Marquez beat out three other finalists for the role, Mayor Romero said, in a process designed to give qualified candidates a chance at the role, and to give the mayor and the council a chance to choose the next chief. “What was important was that the whole governing body had input into the decision. It wasn’t just the mayor coming in and saying, ‘This is who I want’ and kind of forcing it on the governing body,” Romero said. “We wanted to make sure that we got this right, and that it was a joint, united effort.” Marquez assumed the role of chief on Oct. 17, after Antonio Salazar was placed on paid administrative leave following a domestic disturbance call at his home. Salazar resigned from LVPD on Nov. 16 after being charged with one count of misdemeanor battery on a household member. Prosecutors dropped the criminal charge against Salazar on April 19 because he completed an anger management program, according to documents filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court. However, that is not the end of Salazar’s court proceedings because, on March 28, the city filed a lawsuit against him alleging breach of contract. The lawsuit is related to a $4,500 retention bonus. According to a complaint filed in Las Vegas District Court, Salazar received the payment in May of 2023 and, under the terms of his employment agreement, he was required to repay the money if he quit or was fired before May 2024. The city also alleges that it offered Salazar an opportunity to enter a reimbursement plan, but he refused. The complaint stated that the city is seeking repayment of the $4,500, along with interest and attorney’s fees. Mayor Romero said he was aware of the lawsuit but could not comment on pending litigation. Salazar’s departure came just two days after Louie Trujillo resigned as mayor, citing consideration of his “physical, mental and spiritual well being” in his letter of resignation. Romero, who had been the Ward 4 city councilor and mayor pro tem, was named acting mayor upon Trujillo’s departure. He was sworn in as mayor in December. These shake ups were the latest in years of turmoil within city hall and the police department. Trujillo replaced Tonita Gurule-Giron as mayor after she resigned in January 2020 after being criminally charged in an illegal kickback scheme in which she was ultimately convicted of two felony charges and sentenced to 18 months probation. Filling the role of chief of police has been a tumultuous endeavor for the city as well. Salazar’s resignation came just two months after city councilors approved a raise for him. Salazar was appointed to the role in the summer of 2021 to replace Adrian Crespin following his resignation after about a year. Crespin replaced David Bibb, who’d served just 19 months. Bibb had been appointed by Gurule-Giron in November 2017 to replace Jerry Delgado who resigned less than two weeks after accepting the job. Despite past turbulence within the department, Romero said he’s confident that Marquez is the right choice, and the city council have specific expectations for him as chief of police. “Moving forward — as a governing body — we’ll make sure that we’ll hold Caleb Marquez accountable. We are looking at those specific goals, and we want to make sure there’s progress within the department,” Romero said. “We’re not just happy with the status quo.” Both Romero and Marquez seem to be focusing on the future and not the past. Marquez said he wants to focus on building relationships between the department and the community, and to take care of the men and women who work for LVPD. “There’s a lot of good people that work here,” he said. “And we want to make sure we provide the best service to the community.” Marquez plans to hold events centered around National Night Out, an annual effort aimed at improving relationships between law enforcement and members of the communities they serve. During the nationwide event, which takes place in August each year, Marquez would like community members to hold block parties, and he plans to have the police department hold one near the police station near the Plaza. He also hopes to have officers host a bike ride through town, and to have officers visit other block parties throughout the city. The idea is part of a broader vision for the future of the department that focuses on community policing initiatives. Marquez also hopes to increase the number of the department’s school-based partnerships, like offering drug prevention and anti-bullying programs. Another key focus will be crime, specifically arresting people who bring fentanyl into the area and those who sell it, a growing nationwide problem that both Marquez and Romero want to address in Vegas. “I know that the chief is working with the DA’s office and the sheriff’s office, trying to see if we can target those that are bringing in and those that are distributing the fentanyl,” Romero said. “It’s taking a toll on a lot of our young population. We’ve got to make sure we protect them as much as we can.” Marquez said that addiction drives much of the crime in Vegas and that he’d like to see more help provided to those struggling with substance use disorder, like opening an outpatient drug treatment center in town. But he also shares Romero’s vision of going after anyone who brings narcotics into town and those who sell them. Marquez, who was born in Las Vegas and has lived in town his entire life, joined LVPD about nine years ago. Prior to his law enforcement career, he worked as a firefighter for the Las Vegas Fire Department. After nearly five years with the fire department, Marquez said he made the move to the police department as another way to serve a community he loves. “It’s a very tightknit community and I think it’s a very unique city. Anybody who comes here can see how caring people are to one another, and I think it’s a great place to raise your kids,” he said. “I truly do care. I love this department, and I love this community.” Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. "...Marquez would like community members to hold block parties, and he plans to have the police department hold one near the police station near the Plaza. He also hopes to have officers host a bike ride through town, and to have officers visit other block parties throughout the city. The idea is part of a broader vision for the future of the department that focuses on community policing initiatives." Yes, yes and yes! There needs to be trust and understanding built between the police and the public and for each to abide by human and municipal basic needs. The police should be our friends and protectors, not someone to fear, a perception that both need to adjust. Both sides should be on one side to cultivate a unified front to make Las Vegas a safe and growing haven. We can only achieve this through honest communication - talking and listening. Thanks. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Manuel Pineda Montoya admitted to bringing fentanyl and meth into Carlsbad from Albuquerque.

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. Whether they were rescued from a slaughterhouse, abandoned or abused, the animals at Santuario de Karuna and Roots Animal Sanctuary have grown accustomed to the core values of these sanctuaries: compassion and love.  Santuario de Karuna, established in 2015, and Roots Animal Sanctuary, established in 2022, are nonprofits in Tijeras that offer a forever home to pigs, dogs, turkeys, donkeys […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

Last week LARSO graduated its fourth ‘Matter of Balance’ class at the White Rock Senior Center. The Evidence-based fall prevention program began last May, offering free classes to community members 60 and up who are members of the local senior centers. Master Trainers Kate Cleveland, bottom left, and Bernadette Lauritzen, bottom right, are two of three instructors who guide seniors through eight sessions of easy to implement lifestyle changes. Courtesy/LARSO Glenn Banks of Christus St. Vincent Sports Medicine is all in for fall prevention. The program includes a visit from a guest Read More

El Charro serves a variety of Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine for guests from throughout Carlsbad.

LAYSL News: The Los Alamos Youth Soccer League (LAYSL) will hold its Annual General Meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, May 6, at the Los Alamos Mesa Public Library. All are welcome. LAYSL is seeking new board members for several open positions and  encourages anyone interested in helping Youth Soccer in Los Alamos to attend the meeting to learn more about LAYSL and volunteer opportunities (coaches are always needed, too!). There will also be the opportunity to learn about the many girls and boys teams that LAYSL is fielding this season at the recreational, pre-competitive and competitive levels. In Read More

Pilgrims starting from three different locations – North Costilla, Estancia and Bernal – will take part in the Pilgrimages for Vocations to Chimayo event. The three groups will converge at the Santuario de Chimayo on June 10. Pilgrims starting from three different locations – North Costilla, Estancia and Bernal – will take part in the Pilgrimages for Vocations to Chimayo event. The three groups will converge at the Santuario de Chimayo on June 10. On Sunday, more than 200 faithful across Northern New Mexico will begin a pilgrimage event to Chimayo. Pilgrims starting from three different locations – North Costilla, Estancia and Bernal – will take part in the Pilgrimages for Vocations to Chimayo event. The three groups will converge at the Santuario de Chimayo on June 10. The walkers for this pilgrimage underwent an application process that ended in December; however, there are still ways one can participate in the event. “You don’t have to walk to be part of the pilgrimage,” said the event’s spiritual director, Father Adrian Sisneros. He is also the leader of Estancia Valley Catholic Parish in Estancia. Perhaps the simplest way to become involved is to submit a prayer request. These can be submitted online, or shared with pilgrims during their walk. One can also attend an encuentro event. Spanish for “encounter,” various encuentros will take place for members of the community to have fellowship with the pilgrims. This includes praying together, singing hymns and sometimes a tour of the capilla – or chapel – where the encuentro is taking place. On Monday, there will be an encuentro event at 7:15 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows in Tecolote; at 9 a.m. at Santo Niño in La Manga and at 12:45 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows in Las Vegas. On Tuesday, encuentro events will take place at 6:15 a.m. at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Sapello; 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Sapello and at 2 p.m. at San Jose in Ledoux. On Wednesday the encuentros will take place at 5 a.m. at San Antonio de Padua in Cleveland and at 6:15 a.m. at San Isidro Morada in Holman. Two Hope & Healing Pilgrimage Masses also offer a chance to become involved in the event. Sisneros said he will celebrate the Hope & Healing Pilgrimage Masses as well as the closing Mass on June 10. He will also lead a Mass at Taos Pueblo and Santa Cruz. Hope and healing, Sisneros said, is this year’s theme. These Masses will take place on Monday at 5:15 p.m. at Immaculate Conception and Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at St. Gertrude in Mora. All are welcome to the closing Mass, scheduled for June 10 at 10 a.m. at the Santuario de Chimayo. Sisneros said the theme of hope and healing is powerful as the area has experienced several recent losses. This includes the passing of Father George Salazar, who led the congregation at Immaculate Conception for three decades, just last month. Sisneros also mentioned the wildfires that have devastated the area. Sisneros said that in 2021, Father Graham Golden, who was serving as the event’s spiritual director, passed away suddenly. At the time, the pilgrimage was already on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These are also losses that this year’s pilgrimage is aimed to bring hope and healing to, Sisneros said. Hope and healing was originally the theme for the 2020 pilgrimage that was canceled. “We took on the same theme for the 2020 pilgrimage that never came to be,” Sisneros said. Because the pilgrimage is coming back from a three-year pause, Sisneros decided to try to keep this year’s event smaller than previous years. However, the event attracted as many applicants as in previous years, with more than 200 people interested in walking to Chimayo and submitting their application by the Dec. 12 deadline. Although the June pilgrimage typically involves pilgrims walking on four separate routes, Sisneros chose to only plan for two routes this year. When he realized that more than 200 people wanted to walk, he expanded the event to three routes. Peregrinos, or male pilgrims, will start from either Estancia or Bernal, while Guadalupanas, or female pilgrims, will begin in North Costilla. Estancia was chosen as a starting point because it is the pilgrimage’s original route, Sisneros said. Bernal was chosen because of all the loss the area has experienced recently due to wildfires. “It just made so much sense for us to walk through that community,” Sisneros said of the Bernal route. “We can bring hope and healing to the communities that we walk through.” The main goal of the pilgrimage, Sisneros said, is to pray for vocations. For example, those of the priestly vocation will be prayed for, as well as people whose divine path might be to choose the vocation of marriage, of religious life, or the holy single life, Sisneros said. Sisneros said his goal is to participate in each of the routes. He will begin in Estancia, he said, but then be driven to each of the other routes to spend at least one day with them before returning to the Estancia route on Thursday. Sisneros said the pilgrimage is “unique to us as New Mexicans, (to) our culture, our terrain, our faith. … (During) difficult trials and struggles we can unite. Our faith in Christ leads us to unite.” For more information about the Pilgrimages for Vocations event, visit asfp4v.org. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Justice David K. Thomson serves on the New Mexico Supreme Court

With almost $4 billion in the bank and thousands of claims to be processed, FEMA has the opportunity to reset the process – a restart in the spirit of the Easter season – which, so far, has been too bureaucratic and delivered too little money

AGC New Mexico has announced that The University of New Mexico (UNM) has been recognized with the Outstanding Public Owner Industry Choice Award in the esteemed 2024 Best Buildings Awards. In a statement, AGC New Mexico congratulated UNM for this achievement, highlighting the university's dedication to excellence in various facets of its operations.The award specifically acknowledges UNM's exceptional performance as a public owner and commends the institution for its commitment to best practices in business operations, stakeholder interactions, and the delivery of...

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Israel must still do more to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip. He said he would use his current Middle East trip, his seventh to the region since the Israel-Hamas w…

The NMHU Jazz Ensemble during a rehearsal. Dr. Jessie Wenchieh Lo Kathleen Wilson Dr. André García-Nuthmann The Linda Vista Community Chorus during a rehearsal. Friday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m., NMHU Music Presents “Una Serenata de Canciones.” We are delighted to welcome three gifted musicians: Dr. Kathleen Wilson, soprano; Dr. André García-Nuthmann, tenor; and Dr. Jessie Wenchieh Lo, pianist.  They will perform a selection of vocal solos and duets as well as piano solos. Kathleen Wilson Kathleen Wilson holds B.M in Music Education and an M.M. in Musicology from the University of Arizona and an Ed.M. and Ed.D. in Vocal Pedagogy/Music Education from Teachers College Columbia University. She performs solo repertoire and presents workshops and master classes on vocal pedagogy and Latin American song throughout the world, most recently in Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Australia and Sweden. Awards include two grants from NEA, The Voice Foundation’s Van L. Lawrence Fellowship for “Demonstrated excellence in teaching of singing and active interest in voice science and pedagogy,” and a Teaching Excellence award from the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Wilson currently teaches private voice and serves as the Vice President for Education of the Santa Fe Opera Guild. Dr. Jessie Wenchieh Lo Dr. Jessie Wenchieh Lo is a performing and recording artist, music educator and music director. A classical pianist, organist, clarinetist and singer, she has performed throughout the world. Dr. Lo earned her Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Piano Performance at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria and received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from Boston University. Currently Dr. Lo is Music Director for National Dance Institute New Mexico in Santa Fe as well as Pianist for Eden United  Church in Bay Area California, and Pianist for United Church of Santa Fe New Mexico, where her weekly performances can be heard in person and online. Dr. Lo’s piano studio offers in person and online classes with  students of all ages and from around the world. For more information, visit jessiewenchiehlo.com Dr. André García-Nuthmann Although many of us know Dr. André García-Nuthmann, Tenor, as our beloved music professor and conductor of NMHU Community and Madrigal Choirs, André is well-known as a tenor soloist. In the summer of 2009, André sang the tenor solo in a performance of Joseph Haydn’s “Die sieben letzten Worte” in Eisenstadt, Austria. This concert was part of the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Haydn’s death. Besides oratorio, André has been featured in several operatic roles including “Don Giovanni,” “Die Zauberflöte,” “The Prima Donna,” “The Bartered Bride,” “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” and “Bastien and Bastienne.” His most recent role was that of the “Mad Woman” in Britten’s “Curlew River.” Currently, André is the Chair of Visual and Performing Arts at New Mexico Highlands University. The NMHU Jazz Ensemble during a rehearsal. Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, at 6 p.m. in Ilfeld Auditorium, the NMHU Jazz Ensemble presents a varied program. MUSICIANS Jamie Garcia (trumpet), Steve Leger (trumpet), Samantha Dennett (baritone sax), Mark Gillingham (tenor sax), Maggie (tenor sax), Mighty Williams (tenor sax), Bruce Holmes (alto sax), Jordan Jones (alto sax), Anika (alto sax), Dominic (Guitar) Jonathon (guitar), Andrew (guitar), Jaden Lopez (guitar), Edward Harrington (bass), Marisol (drums), Justin (percussion), Ralph Marquez (percussion), Kevin Zoernig  (keyboards) SONGS And Another Thing by Tom Garling (solos: Kevin, Doc), Days and Nights Waiting by Keith Jarrett (featuring Anika, Maggie, Steve, Mark), I Mean You by Thelonious Monk/Coleman Hawkins (solos: Jordan, Jamie, Sam), Day Waves by Chick Corea/Neville Potter (Featuring Anika, Mark; solos: Steve, Mighty, Jamie, Jonathan), Oliloqui Valley by Herbie Hancock (Featuring Samantha, Doc; solos: Bruce, Jordan), Kansas City by Lieber & Stoller/Parker (Vocal: Jamie; solos: Jaden, Kevin, Dominic), Mission: Impossible Theme by Schifrin/Homes (solos: Samantha, Mighty, Andrew, Jamie), Freddie Freeloader by Miles Davis (Solos: Guitars), Gemini by Jimmie Heath (Featuring Jordan, solos: Bruce, Steve), My Favorite Things by Rodgers (Vocal: Jaden), Para Los Rumberos by Tito Puente (Featuring: Ralph), 502 Blues by Rowles (Featuring: Bruce; Solos: Jordan, Mark), My Funny Valentine by Rodgers & Hart/Holman (Featuring: Jordan, Steve, Kevin), I Can’t Stop Loving You by Gibson (Solos: Steve, Mark), I Just Can’t Stop Loving You by Michael Jackson , My One and Only Love by Wood & Wellin/Lussier (Vocal: Chantal Mullen; Solo: Mark), Children of Sanchez, by Mangione/Wolpe (Solo: Jamie) The Linda Vista Community Chorus during a rehearsal. Sunday. November 20, 2022 at 2 pm at the Methodist Church (corner of National and 8th), The Linda Vista Community Chorus will present their late fall concert. The accompanying pic shows only part of the group. Under the direction of Amy Hufnal, they will perform a potpourri of melodies including “And All That Jazz,” “Thanksgiving Prayer,” “On Broadway,” and “Gonna Build a Mountain.” Coming up Wednesday,  Dec. 7, 2022 at 7 p.m., mark your calendar now! Piano Recital featuring Kevin Zoernig and Ronald Maltais. The program will feature original works by Zoernig and Maltais including the premiere of Tears in Time of War in collaboration with the MoveWest Dance Ensemble. Ilfeld Auditorium at New Mexico Highlands University. Sponsored by the Meadow City Academy of Music an the Gillingham Musicians Fund. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! 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UNM’s Speech & Hearing Sciences department is gearing up to host free screenings in honor of Better Speech & Hearing Month. The event, scheduled for Monday, May 6, will provide various screenings for individuals aged five and up, as well as preschoolers aged three to five years old.“This is an opportunity for New Mexicans to seek reassurance if, for example, they have concerns about their grandparents' hearing or their child’s speech or language development. ”It’s just another way that UNM makes New Mexico better,” shared Speech & Hearing Department Chair and Associate...

Hundreds of people came out to South Valley Pride Day to have some good food, listen to music, and celebrate where they live. 

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. Estancia and Mountainair officials are protesting a billion-dollar wind farm project’s water usage request they say will strip away the towns’ water.  SunZia Wind and Transmission — developed by Pattern Energy — is a new renewable energy infrastructure project that installs wind farms in Arizona and New Mexico, harnessing more than 3,500 megawatts of new wind energy. The SunZia Transmission […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

The Las Vegas Arts Council will be having a silent auction benefit fundraiser on Saturday, March 30 from Noon to 7pm at Cafe Colibri, 1814 Plaza, with live music by local performer Ed Breedlove who will be introducing his new cd. The Arts Council is taking art donations that can be any art form: 2D and 3D art, and art books that people want to pass on that need a new home. “Since the COVID pandemic and the wildfires, the Arts Council has been suffering from low membership and few sponsorships. “We are seriously short of cash, and the board has decided that we may have to go to an all-volunteer business model as soon as March 27,” said Council Board Member Carrie Williams. The funds raised will be used immediately for administrative expenses such as Internet, Web, software for community events calendar, accounting, insurances, and even to rehire a part time office coordinator.  Later, funds will be used as reserves to launch this summer’s People’s Faire and to bring back the Missoula Children’s Theater experience. “We weren’t able to reserve a time for the Missoula group to come to Las Vegas this year, due to lack of money,” Council Board President Richard Lindeborg said. The arts council uses its Gallery at 140 Bridge St. to host a weekly watercolor meet up, themed group shows, high school art shows and other events. Tentatively called “Other People’s Art,” the benefit will feature art by local artists donated by the artists or by local art collectors.  Williams and current Council Office Coordinator Aneata O’Brien are organizing the event. “Since the COVID pandemic and the wildfires, the Arts Council has been suffering from low membership and few sponsorships,” said Williams. Artists or others who wish to donate art works to this event can deliver them to Gallery 140 at140 Bridge Street on the following dates: Thursday March 21 2-4 pm; Friday March 22 1-7 pm; Saturday March 23 1-4 pm; Thursday March 28  2-4 pm or Friday March 29 1-4pm. Also you can email at lasvegasartscouncil.org@gmail.com to arrange drop off. “The Arts Council has given so many artists a chance to exhibit and sell their works over the years, it is a shame to see the organization suffering,” said O’Brien. Café Colibri (formerly Traveler’s Café) is managed by Kitty Ballard. She has generously donated her space for the silent auction. Everyone can help by buying or bidding on the art at the event or donate by sending a check directly to the Las Vegas Arts Council, PO Box 2603, Las Vegas, NM 87701. The council can be reached by email at lasvegasartscouncil.org@gmail.com or (505) 451-4388. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Contrafact Esther Moses Andre Garcia Nuthmann Franz Vote Contrafact Forgive me if you find my title cheeky or even confusing, but I couldn’t resist. The last time I wrote about music, I entitled my column “Bach is Back.”  Today you’ll learn about two new musical events happening  “back to back” on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023.  And you can easily attend both of them. Let’s start with What: The Vocal Music of Richard Strauss and Robert Schumann When: Sunday, January 22, 2023 at 4 pm Where: Kennedy Lounge, 905 University Ave, Las Vegas Tickets: $10 at the door. Students free. Masks are required at this event. Performing will be three world-class musicians. Esther Moses, mezzo/soprano; André García-Nuthmann, tenor; and Franz Vote, pianist and artistic director. Esther Moses Esther Moses, Mezzo/Soprano, returned to her home state of New Mexico after a decade performing in the Pacific Northwest, including as a soloist with the Portland Opera. Esther has performed extensively with the New Mexico Performing Arts Society in works of Bach, Mozart, and operatic performances. Other performances include Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater” with the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque and Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass” with the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Operatic roles include the title role in Puccini’s “Suor Angelica,” Beggar Woman in “Sweeney Todd,” Arsena in “Gypsy Baron,” Fatima in “Abu Hassan,” Laetitia in Menotti’s “Old Maid and the Thief,” and Tullia in Vivaldi’s “Ottone in Villa” at the Cincinnati Conservatory. She has been a featured soloist with the Albuquerque Philharmonic and the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra as well as at the Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy. As a Regents Scholar, Esther holds performance & music education degrees from the University of New Mexico and received her Master of Music from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Esther enjoys raising her children, gardening, and beekeeping. She is a music educator in the local schools. Andre Garcia Nuthmann Although many of us know André García-Nuthmann, Tenor, as our beloved music professor and conductor of NMHU Community and Madrigal Choirs, he is also well-known as a tenor soloist. Most recently, you heard André on Aug. 28, 2022 in a recital featuring Bach. Besides oratorio, André has been featured in several operatic roles including “Don Giovanni,” “Die Zauberflöte,” “The Prima Donna,” “The Bartered Bride,” “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” and “Bastien and Bastienne.” He performed as Mad Woman in Britten’s “Curlew River.” Currently, André is the Chair of Visual and Performing Arts at New Mexico Highlands University. Franz Vote Franz Vote, Music Director & Conductor, has been called a “singer’s conductor” because of his rapport with musicians, both on stage and in the orchestra pit. Regarding his premiere of  “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” at the Metropolitan Opera, one reviewer noted, “during the curtain call, a very unusual thing happened. Usually half of the musicians have left the orchestra pit by the time the conductor gets to take his curtain call. Not last night. Most of the musicians stayed in their spots, and what’s more, they stood up and avidly applauded Franz Vote.” Franz currently lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he is Music Director and Conductor of the New Mexico Bach Society and Vice-President of the New Mexico Performing Arts Society. He also guest conducts at various opera houses around the country. Now let’s back up. Earlier on Sunday, you are cordially invited to a birthday party at Stella’s Cafe. Hopefully you’ve already visited Stella’s at 148 Bridge Street. Yes, Jan and Frank Beurskens have added a delightful new venue to the Las Vegas scene. In addition to its warm and friendly ambiance, Stella’s offers delicious breakfasts and lunches with homemade pastries and a stellar selection of coffees and teas. Don’t forget their scrumptious ice cream. For months now Stella’s has featured local musicians every Sunday from 2-4 pm, but this Sunday will be special. First it’s going to be a birthday party! Contrafact Jazz Band is booked to celebrate at least three birthdays, specifically trumpet/flutist Steve Leger (Jan 20), clarinet/sax Mark Gillingham (Jan 29), and drummer Brandon Gallegos (Feb 4). Please note the timing: the party begins at 1:30 pm which gives everyone a chance to enjoy some jazz and birthday cake before walking over to Kennedy Lounge. Remember at 4 pm, to quote André García-Nuthmann, “you will hear some of the most profound and beautiful Romantic German music ever composed. The songs truly represent the pathos of the Romantic period.” Yes, we are a small community, and we don’t always sing in harmony, but please support live music which warms the heart and feeds the soul as it brings us together. In this case, on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Beth Urech is a contributing writer, traveler, and artist of the spoken word, performing both nationally and internationally. She lives in Las Vegas, N.M., with her husband, Mark, and dog, Java. Follow Beth at bethurech.wordpress.com. She may be reached by email at beth@bethurech.com Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — One of two suspects in a murder and robbery is in custody, and there is a warrant for the arrest of a second suspect, an Albuquerque Police Department news release said.The body of 48-year-old Christopher Fallen was found Feb. 6 at his home on Calle del Ranchero NE, where he had been asphyxiated by duct tape and a belt, the release said. Advertisement Following an investigation, Daniel Hadders and Andre Chavez have been charged with murder, kidnapping, burglary, car theft, fraudulent credit card use, and tampering with evidence, among other charges, the release said.Hadders was arrested Friday night and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. Police are searching for Chavez, who was staying at Fallen's residence shortly before he was killed, the release said.APD is asking anyone who can help locate Chavez to call 505-242-COPS (2677)KOAT will update this developing story when more information becomes available.

A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph Rivera, during what began as a peaceful movie night at home. The incident occurred shortly after Tinnin and her 4-year-old granddaughter had settled in to watch the Taylor Swift Eras Tour film, celebrating with popcorn and M&M’s. The tranquility of their evening was shattered when Rivera, who was fleeing from police after driving a stolen vehicle, crashed nearby and entered Tinnin’s home. The police pursuit had escalated after officers used spike strips to stop the stolen vehicle, which Rivera continued to drive until it was inoperable. He then fled on foot, eventually forcing his way into Tinnin’s residence. Faced with the intruder, Tinnin took decisive action to protect her grandchild and herself. “Get back. Get back. I have a gun. Get back. Get back,” she warned Rivera, as reported by KRQE. Despite her warnings, Rivera advanced, prompting Tinnin to shoot him as he forced his way through the locked front door. After she fired, Rivera, wounded, questioned why she shot him, to which Tinnin responded assertively, “Because you’re in my f–king house!” Tinnin then called 911 and took measures to ensure her granddaughter’s safety by hiding her in a bedroom. Even after the altercation, she demonstrated compassion by offering to help Rivera with his injury, cautioning him against any further threats. Police arrived shortly after and apprehended Rivera. This incident highlighted Tinnin’s bravery and raised concerns about community safety and the effectiveness of local law enforcement strategies, as she expressed frustration over the city’s handling of crime. Rivera, who had multiple prior felony convictions and was wanted on another charge, faced new charges including burglary and auto theft. The episode underscores the challenges and dangers that ordinary citizens can face and demonstrates the lengths to which individuals might go to protect their loved ones by utilizing their Second Amendment rights. Tinnin credited divine intervention for their safety during this harrowing ordeal, telling KRQE, “I do believe we had a guardian angel here with us, and I do firmly believe that God was watching over us.” Alissa Tinnin is a hero. Amen!!!!🙏 Bravo! Thank you Lord for your protective mercies! What might have happened had she not had that gun? You know the one that MLG and her cohorts want to take away from the everyday law abiding citizens. s Just another case that proves law abiding citizens are not the problem. Criminals are the problem. Keep the criminals locked up instead of releasing them and gun and drug crimes will decrease drastically. Enforce border control and gun and drug crimes will decrease at an even larger rate. In other words enforce the laws that are already on the books. Guns are not the problem. Politicians are the real criminals. Well said!! There is nothing more important than protecting your self and your loved ones from a criminal. I salute you Mam job well done. Excellent comments Marcello! Thank you Ms Tinnin for saving taxpayers from the cost to jail and prosecute Rivera. I would have done the same thing. She’s a smart and loving grandma. Love the brilliant mind to have a weapon to protect her Granddaughter. The adrenaline kicks in when one of your family is being harmed. That’s what happened to Grandma Tinnin. This should be a goal for everyone. Take a course in gun safety, practice,practice and more practice. She’s my hero. The minions in Santa Fe will not like this success story. Bravo to grandma Tinnin , she showed precisely why the second amendment is so important for us citizens. She exercised 1/2 of the reason why this is such an important part of our culture and constitution. The other half is to protect our selfs and our posterity from the communist vultures in Santa Fe and Washington. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

Implementation was in part delayed by concerns over FCC certifications. Read moreAPS has finally installed new crisis alert systems in most of its schools, after the process was delayed partly by concerns about the devices.

Federal officials say three women who were diagnosed with HIV after getting “vampire facial” procedures at an unlicensed N.M.  spa could be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles.

Both the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office and a new state Cold Case Unit confirmed they are considering a new review into the death of Samuel Henry Goodrum.

Newly crowned Miss Indian World Kassie John says she represents her Diné Nation and tribal communities across the world. Read more'Proud of who I am': Navajo woman Kassie John wins Miss Indian World

"We all supported each other because this is a lot," said Charon Otero of Na' Neelzhiin in Sandoval County, the winner of this year's Miss Congeniality award.

Israel is among the countries U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit as he returns to the Middle East on Monday.

Local authorities say Interstate 40 has reopened in both directions as fire crews continue watch over a controlled burn of remaining fuel from a freight train derailment by the Arizona-New Mexico state line. Earlier evacuation orders have bee…

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GOP lawmakers call on Democrats to join the push against the policy, which is supported by the Governor's Office.

The City Different has seen its share of live bands and legendary performers over the years.

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Although homosexuality is taboo in the largely conservative Iraqi society, Iraq did not previously have a law that explicitly criminalized it.

SFPS superintendent goes to Washington for summit

The Liberal Democratic Party’s loss is considered a voter punishment for its links to a yearslong corruption scandal.

On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky parties. She wrote, “So much fun meeting @RealLyndaCarter and showing her my #WonderWoman ring [at] @haddadmedia’s fabulous garden party today!” The party, hosted by Tammy Haddad, a former NBC News producer, owner of Haddad Media, and founder of Washington AI Network, apparently featured other prominent leftists. The party was reportedly a “garden brunch” featuring other leftist media personalities from CNN and MSNBC, among others. .@EricaLoewe46 and WH Advisor for Public Engagement Sydney Harvey with @haddadmedia at today's #GardenBrunch!#WHCD pic.twitter.com/4vj73HjOz3 Lujan Grisham added to the post, “Next — off to the White House Correspondent’s Dinner with @POTUS tonight!” So much fun meeting @RealLyndaCarter and showing her my #WonderWoman ring @haddadmedia’s fabulous garden party today! Next — off to the White House Correspondent’s Dinner with @POTUS tonight! pic.twitter.com/ExS8PwzMTN Later, during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, she wrote on X, “Watch the White House Correspondent’s Dinner on C-SPAN. Proud to be here supporting freedom of the press with [Joe] Biden.” Watch the White House Correspondent’s Dinner on C-SPAN. Proud to be here supporting freedom of the press with President Biden. https://t.co/16P8bI8ryh The news of Lujan Grisham’s D.C. adventures comes days after her office admitted the authenticity of a leaked recording of the governor’s call with DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas’ chief of staff, Jonathan Davidso, that she “held off the press” on a story about the Biden administration refusing to “look the other way” on marijuana shipped out of the state. Lujan Grisham’s D.C. wanderings also come as New Mexicans continue to struggle to afford basic needs, such as food. According to analyses of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the state is the sixth most expensive nation for groceries. New Mexico also remains the poorest state in the union. It is likely, but immediately unclear if the taxpayers are forced to foot the bill for the governor’s extravagant trip. HOPE HER PLANE CRASHES I’ll pray for the same thing! Lynda Carter looks less than impressed. My thought, she can just stay there and not come back. I feel certain that NM taxpayers paid for her junket to DC. I wonder if she flew on a state-owned aircraft or flew first class on a commercial carrier? And, you can bet a couple of “security” detail tagged along for the ride … all at taxpayers’ expense. Bet her daughter went so MLG got her makeup done an her daughter got payed. How in the world can New Mexicans vote for such piles of trash? Stunning that so many vote blue no matter who. Just beyond belief. Behind that elitist smirk (yes, she KNOWS that she is smarter and much more important than you are) is an evil soul. I’m sure that she thinks of herself as a Wonder Woman … while drugs and guns pour across our border, viable children are torn apart in the womb, the homeless line our streets, and children go to bed hungry each night. Take a good look, this is what progress(ive) in New Mexico looks like! Just remember who associates with her and you know what kind of people they are. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

Departments saw an exodus of officers after the pandemic and George Floyd's death in 2020 at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Melanie Majors is the executive director of the Foundation for Open Government. She believes county leaders have some questions to answer."The attorney general's office says based on the evidence they were able to gather that they believed there was a violation of the Open Meetings Act by three members of the Bernalillo County Commission," Majors said. Advertisement Commissioners Barbara Baca, Adriann Barboa, and Eric Olivas are being questioned in violating the Open Meetings Act and whether or not they made decisions without the public knowing. Commissioner Adriann Barboa agreeing to speak with KOAT and says, she has nothing to hide."I welcome all investigative processes that are fair and inquiries into holding our government accountable and transparent. Period." Barboa said.Barboa says commissioners have yet to receive a formal complaint based on these violations. In the meantime, she says she wants to stay focused and play fairly."I've had to make sure that I know the processes, I know the game, and that I play it well. So I'm here for our communities, and no, I have not violated any processes," Barboa said. Majors says if the attorney general is looking into this — and does find something, it affects New Mexicans in Bernalillo. "It's taxpayer's money," Majors said. "Taxpayers have paid for everything. They ought to know how their money is being spent."

Body camera video shows the moments when Albuquerque police officers removed a man from a Target self-checkout in 2022. 

Navajo Nation Council’s Naabik’íyáti’ Committee voices support to reform workplace sexual misconduct laws, policies Sunday, 28 April 2024 08:30 gallupsun WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley placed the topic of sexual harassment prevention, awareness, and response on the Naabik’íyáti’ Committee’s agenda on April 25 to provide an overview of current Navajo Nation workplace policies provided by the Navajo Nation Division of Human Resources.The Naabik’íyáti’ Committee voiced overwhelming support to initiate legislation aimed at reforming and creating new measures within Navajo Nation policy to prevent and appropriately respond to allegations of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and assault, and to provide more resources to victims and hold perpetrators accountable.“The 25th...

APD detectives charged Daniel Hadders and Andre Chavez with murder. The two are accused of killing Christopher Fallen back in February. 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — "These dollars are coming off the backs of people who have died off of their family and loved ones," Commissioner Adriann Barboa said.She adds there is no time to waste fighting the opioid epidemic in Bernalillo County. Advertisement "People lost jobs, people lost families and the ones that were able to crawl out it are still impacted to this day," Barboa said.Nearly $150 million is coming from a settlement with pharmaceutical companies that made and marketed opioids. Now, Barboa says it's time to take action and use it."We have the bulk of resources around behavioral health and as county and city with these fundings," Barboa said. "We can really look into what is the prevention, intervention, treatment and supportive housing needs, that our community can utilize this."Bernalillo County and the city of Albuquerque will receive the money over the next 10 to 12 years. Barboa says the county, the city of Albuquerque, and Albuquerque Public Schools are all discussing ways to help kids stay away from opioids and help people experiencing homelessness beat their addictions. This investment into the county is something Barboa believes can tackle the opioid epidemic head-on. "With this kind of money, say, 'Hey, we got 12 years of funding that we know is coming in,'" Barboa said. "We can build the infrastructure, the programming, innovative ideas, expand our prevention, community, and school services."

Some business owners in Sandoval County were taken by surprise this spring when they found out their property values went way up.

The Los Alamos representatives at the Key Club convention, front row from left, Ethan Singell, Akshay Swaminarayan, Rebecca Li, Uxue Sansinena, Praveen Swaminarayan and Advisor Morrie Pongratz. Back row from left, Kiwanis District Administrator for Key Club, Karin Church, Deborah Brug, Jonathon Chen, Jinheon Kim, Ewan Arnold and Betsy Hemphill. Key Club Faculty Advisor Shelley Clark not pictured. Courtesy photo LAHS Key Club News: Early this April, accompanied by four chaperones, nine members of the Los Alamos High School (LAHS) Key Club traveled to Tempe, Ariz. to attend the Southwest Read More

Animal Control staff and volunteers along with Police Chief Dino Sgambellone and Council Chair Denise Derkacs hold up the proclamation for Animal Control Professional and Shelter Volunteer Appreciation Week. Shown from left, shelter volunteer Theresa Gustafson, Sgambellone, Derkacs and Animal Control’s Theresa Phelan and Fanny Capolungo. Courtesy/LAC COUNTY News: Los Alamos County Council presented April 22 a proclamation to Los Alamos Animal Control staff and volunteers, recognizing April 14-20 as Animal Control Professional and Shelter Volunteer Appreciation Week. Council Read More

New Mexico Consortium Executive Director and CEO John Engen, standing at center, welcomes attendees to the reception hosted Friday evening at Vanessie Restaurant & Piano Bar in Santa Fe by the New Mexico Consortium ahead its weekend event, ‘Cosmic Frontiers: Stephen Hawking & The Universe’ at SALA in Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Temporary farmworkers are getting more legal protections against employer retaliation, unsafe working conditions, illegal recruitment and other abuses. The rule announ…

LAPS News: Members of the Los Alamos School Board may attend the US Army/LAHS  Senior Signing & Swearing-in Ceremony at noon Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Los Alamos High School. A Quorum may be present; however, no action will be taken. Read More

Members of the Roswell Legal Committee decided on Thursday to postpone a decision about the request for funding from the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce until they…

A new rule announced Friday by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will require official ear tags f…

April 26

Passover matzah. Courtesy image By Rabbi Jack Shlachter Los Alamos Jews around the world are winding down the last few days of Passover. Passover, which always starts on a full moon in the spring, began this year on the evening of Monday, April 22, and continues through Tuesday night, April 30. On Monday, April 29 at noon, members of the Los Alamos Jewish Center will gather for a half-hour service to remember deceased loved ones as part of the closing out of the holiday. Passover is the most widely observed holiday on the Jewish calendar. The evening home- or community-based talk-feast ceremonies Read More

While many of the sons and daughters of Roswell have left for greener pastures, Chris Lethgo, who was selected as lead pastor of the First Baptist Church of Roswell in…

Officials with the Roswell Fire Department (RFD) are trying to determine what sparked a massive fire Thursday night at the Roswell Air Center.

A new report says nearly 282 million people in 59 countries suffered from acute hunger in 2023, with war-torn Gaza hosting the largest number of people facing famine. …

LAPS News: Members of the Los Alamos School Board may attend the Native American Senior Sash Ceremony at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Cottonwood on the Greens. A Quorum may be present; however, no action will be taken. Read More

So far in fiscal year 2024, there have been 22 productions in the state. These range from feature films to TV productions, as well as shorts and video games.

Two men allegedly robbed and killed a man who was found bound and bloodied in early February at his home in Northeast Albuquerque.

Neon Nativez deconstructs old songs to create something new.

Crews plan to extinguish a fire on Saturday night from a freight train derailment near the Arizona-New Mexico state line that forced the closure of a stretch of Interstate 40.

Elvira Francis followed the sound of the drums, as she had for the past five decades. The 75-year-old from Window Rock has been going to powwows longer than she could remember.

According to a press release by the U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday, four existing national wildlife refuges will expand, “…

Formal Native traditional attire is crafted with care, typically with strong traditions and occasionally with a new spin.

Advocates say the agency's new push to balance resource extraction with conservation is a watershed moment.

Esperanza Shelter has been housing people in hotels and apartments since the pandemic.

The festival is the largest of its kind in Northern New Mexico and draws enthusiasts from around the Southwest.

Residents began sifting through the rubble after a tornado plowed through suburban Omaha, Nebraska, demolishing homes and businesses as it moved for miles through farmland and into subdivisions.

Santa Fe libraries are moving from being one-stop book lenders to multifaceted community centers.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — On Wednesday, KOAT spoke with drag queen artist Dylan Payan, also known as Mythica Sahreen, in an on-camera interview and parents of students at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School. KOAT spoke with Albuquerque Pride Organization on Thursday, April 25. This is Payan's first time speaking publicly on the controversy surrounding his performance. E-mails and texts obtained by KOAT shows exchanges between school administration and Payan in agreeance to perform at this year's prom. Payan told KOAT he is a member of the school's gay-straight alliance (GSA). According to Payan, he works with the school on a volunteer basis. Advertisement "Multiple staff members saw me and what I was wearing and knew what I was doing. If something was wrong, they would have told me. Everything that I wore was talked about on the phone in detail," Payan told KOAT. "It was not an issue when I performed at the school many times before, years ago, with the exact same dance moves. Drag, to me, is love. Drag, to me, is freedom and self-expression. And it's home." Payan performed in drag at Atrisco Heritage's prom on Saturday, April 20. The video of the performance has garnered thousands of views and comments through social media platforms. Since its circulation, it has driven a wedge among the community.Who is responsible? Was it appropriate? Some in disagreement, while others say otherwise. "I have performed at Atrisco Heritage numerous times in the past. Even before COVID, and there was never any parental uproar, so to speak. I was like, 'OK. Why was it not an issue in the past? It was a bit odd to me," Payan told KOAT. "There was no parental or authoritative uproar in terms of what is going on and what are children seeing. There was no backlash at all. I only ever received positive feedback and commentary, love and support from it. " UPDATE: Albuquerque Public Schools have confirmed employees have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. KOAT obtained a letter sent to parents on Thursday, April 25, via e-mail from the chief of schools, Channell Segura and Mark Garcia, Associate Superintendent of Leadership Learning and Equity, citing: "Dear Atrisco Heritage Academy Community,I want to inform you that Anthony Lovato has been appointed as the acting principal of Atrisco Heritage Academy. Please join us in welcoming Mr. Lovato to the Atrisco Heritage Academy Community."Letter from Acting Principal, Anthony Lovato on Friday, April 26"Dear Atrisco Heritage Community,I would like to formally introduce myself. My name is Anthony Lovato and I have been named acting principal at Atrisco Heritage.I am a graduate of Rio Grande HS and grew up 6 miles from Atrisco Heritage Campus. I have served Albuquerque Public Schools in various administrative roles, such as Dean of Students, Assistant HS Principal (Valley HS), Mountain View Elementary Principal and Taft Middle School Principal. I am also no stranger to Atrisco Heritage as I helped open the school in 2008-2009 as a Health/PE Teacher and Head Baseball Coach for 5 years. My current goal is to make sure we focus on our students and move the school forward for the remainder of the year. Please be on the lookout for important updates regarding graduation and end of year activities.I want to express my appreciation for the warm welcome I have received from the community thus far! Note: Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) did not specify the reasoning for the replacement. APS told KOAT they cannot comment on personnel matters. However, the case is still under investigation. "I was given the full clearance from administration, from the student body, from the prom officers, from the activities coordinator, everything was a go. I do understand there should have been more parenting knowledge, "Payan told KOAT. Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines from KOAT Action 7 News"More in terms of letting the parents know, like, 'Hey, just so you know, there is going to be a drag queen that is going to be performing at prom.' I'll agree with that. That's out of respect for the parents and the kids for the fact that these kids, yeah, they're still living at home. They are still their parents.""I'm getting death threats. I've already had to report this to the sheriff's department. It's okay to have your opinion. It's okay to express it, but there's an appropriate way to do that. The fact that I'm being belittled, harassed and targeted — that my life for the past 36 hours has quite literally been destroyed, and I don't know where this end is going to be right now. It's hard, and I'm scared," Payan said. "The commentary that I have, the death threats and the uproar in my life, it's been very confusing and frustrating, and it's been extremely mentally, physically, verbally and emotionally taxing."According to Payan, he hasn't heard from school officials since the controversy. "I feel like I'm having to fight this alone in the dark. Once I saw the severity of this and everything that was going on, I tried reaching out to the activities coordinator. I tried reaching out to the principal. All I get is ringing and a voicemail," Payan told KOAT. "I do still hold in very high regard what the school has done for me and what they've allowed me to do for these kids. I was able to singlehandedly work with their GSA and anti-bullying and their teacher sponsors and give them that visibility and give them the voice that they wanted.""At the same time, though, it's confusing and it makes me wonder where I stand in their eyes because there's been no reciprocation of communication or anything that's going on. I understand from one aspect of it — they are a school. This is a rather large fire, so to speak, that they need to put down on their end and make sure that it doesn't filter into other layers of the school or whatever it may be, if that makes sense," Payan told KOAT. "I understand there's an element of communication and problem-solving that they need to do on their end before reaching out to me, but some sort of communication would have been appreciated because I feel like I'm having to fight this alone in the dark." Parents of Atrisco Heritage Academy High School students weigh inValentin Trujillo is a parent of two students at Atrisco Heritage. He told KOAT his son made him aware of the performance shortly after."I got a text, and they asked me, 'Have you talked to your son about prom? And I was like, No.' So, I asked him about it. He told me that when he walked in, he seen him standing there and didn't think nothing of it. And once they finished the coordination of the students, he said that they cleared the dance floor and that guy came out and started doing flips and dancing, very provocative in front of the kids," Trujillo told KOAT."It was just very inappropriate for the kids to see that. I think that's something that belongs in a club — in a nightclub. That's not something for children to see," Trujillo said. "My daughter hasn't been exposed to things like this. She was traumatized by it to the point that she left prom early. We have to fill out permission slips for these kids to do anything, why weren't we notified of this?" another parent told KOAT. "I'm still very shocked. It's appalling to me. Whoever is responsible should be held accountable for it. They should refund these kids. At least their ticket charges back."Albuquerque Pride's Missy Venture Faraday weighs in"There should have been a communication. I'm a performer myself. Whenever you walk into a venue, you know exactly what you're walking into. You know what to expect. All of the different types of marketing and all of the different types of posters, anything that people have been talking about, you know what you're walking into," Miss New Mexico's Pride 2024, Missy Venture Faraday, told KOAT."I don't feel it was appropriate because it was not communicated. People didn't know it was going to be happening. If everyone was aware, if everyone knew that 'Hey, we're going to have a live performance. We're going to have drag. People have that opportunity to decide whether or not they want to participate, if they want to see it. They didn't get that opportunity to choose and that's a big deal for all of us, is that we need to have the opportunity to choose every portion of our life, including what kind of entertainment we take in," Faraday said.Albuquerque Pride StatementWe would like to make it clear that this particular performer does not represent the Albuquerque Pride Organization in any function. With that said, we would like everyone to know that while we do support drag performances at welcoming all ages events, at no time do we support sexually suggestive or explicit material at these functions. All ages events provide the opportunity for people to see the art of drag. Drag performance is only a small fraction of our community. Albuquerque Pride is an entire organization built on the principle of inclusion and acceptance. This, however, does not extend to anything that would cause harm to another person. Having this particular situation in mind, with only 10 seconds of video to see, we were able to ascertain that the performance did show an element of suggestiveness. It is up to the performers themselves to be cognizant of their actions and their audience to perform appropriately. Albuquerque Pride will never condone sexually explicit content at any event with minors present — Albuquerque PrideKOAT reached out to school officials at Atrisco Heritage via phone and in-person on Wednesday, April 24. Security referred us to APS headquarters. Calls were not returned from Atrisco Heritage. This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.Stay updated on the latest news updates with the KOAT app. You can download it here.

A state official recommends people who lose homeowners insurance hire an independent agent to shop around.

Sydney Scherr says one student's disruptive behavior in her jewelry design class forced her into an abrupt retirement.

The Santa Fe Ethics and Campaign Review Board voted unanimously last week to continue an investigation into the pseudonymous critic's identity.

A magistrate judge said Aldin Saladin Hamdy, 29, was charged based on the content of his speech, not for his wearing of an officer's uniform.

Police say Manuia Perrier, 30, was suspected of driving a stolen Ford Escape that struck a minivan.

The monthly sessions began in January as part of what Mayor Alan Webber described as a push to increase transparency at City Hall.

The site will house new government and community buildings for the pueblo.

Victor Higgins' "Aspens" and Joseph Henry Sharp's "Indian Boy in Full Dress," stolen from the Taos museum, were hung inside the couple's home until 2017.

Interstate 40 in both directions near the New Mexico-Arizona state line remained closed Saturday following a freight train derailment and fire that forced evacuations in the surrounding area, authorities said.

Court documents say Alfred Gonzales got into a dispute with his partner after scolding her son for purposely dropping eggs on the ground.

Earth Day is every day. That was the takeaway at a sustainability celebration by Goodwill Industries of New Mexico.

The way a dish looks has been important to the dining experience since forever, but perhaps never more than now. Relaxed and homey. Or vibrant and celebratory. And per…

When people think of Habitat for Humanity building houses, they likely visualize earnest volunteers wearing hardhats and safety glasses hoisting freshly framed walls i…

According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries. HelpAdvisor’s study has uncovered a stark reality: the average American’s weekly grocery bill is $270.21, significantly lower than New Mexico’s average of $ 286.39. “While U.S. inflation slowed in 2023, grocery store cash registers continued running hot. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumer price index for food at home was up 1.7% year-over-year in November,” HelpAdvisor noted. The only states beating New Mexico’s $286.39 average weekly grocery cost were Florida at $287.27, Washington at $287.67, Mississippi at $290.64, Nevada at $294.76, and California at $297.72. The lowest weekly grocery bill states were Nebraska at $235.12, Iowa at $227.32, and Wisconsin at $221.46. “Miami, FL, reported the highest average weekly grocery spending of any major metro area at $327.89, or about 14% higher than Florida’s statewide average. Houston, TX, ($302.65) and Riverside, CA, ($300.50) also topped $300 per week in grocery spending,” wrote the outlet regarding the largest metro areas’ costs. Mental Floss’ analysis of the BLS data showed the following regarding the highest price hikes per category: NM is the poorest state and its residents cannot afford its high grocery bills. NM believes keep people dependent and they keep voting for liberals. 51% of our state on benefits it is the democratic way. Maybe now New Mexicans will be tired enough of Bidenomics that they’ll vote for Trump. Not if they aren’t informed. Most of them aren’t educated well enough to read the piñon post. Plus they are brain washed by the media they watch or listen to. true And then there is the tradition of voting Democrat just because they family has done that since statehood. They absolutely believe the lie that Republicans want slavery, want to get rid of Medicare, hate poor people, etc. And then there are all the government workers that believe voting republican is a sin. And they think our crime problems are because of Republicans. You can’t make this stuff up! Paul, I so hope you are right! As one of my wifes best friends would say, “You gotta vote your party”!! I didn’t read in the article who was buying the groceries, single adults, couples or a family with children or other family members? What kind of food is being purchased? Where do the people shop, urban or rural stores? Curious. I don’t suppose the war on fossil fuels has anything to do with these prices. Transportation costs weigh heavy on a state that has to ship in a lot of the food it needs. If you continue to vote democrat and expect things to improve you are an idiot, they only get worse, worst schools in the nation, one of the highest drop out rates, 3rd worst in government spending, close to highest in groceries, maybe New Mexicans can take the time to see what is going on, it is time they pay attention. Most NMs I talk to are conservatives, it is time they vote that way. Let the world know what is happening. Post a link to the the articles in your favorite social media site. I believe Viejo Ray is correct. A factor in food prices certainly includes transportation costs. The assault on the oil and gas industry by the communists in power certainly take its toll on NMs and all Americans , manifested by higher costs for everything. Since the communist coup in 2020 our economy continues to decline, visible for all to see if your eyes are open. Unfortunately through our “(s)elected “ officials in NM it will only get worse since 3/4 of them are marxists and 1/4 just dupes. Time for a change! Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

Brandon Gibson remembers how he felt every time he’d get the opportunity to visit the Rio Grande Zoo as he grew up in Albuquerque. Little did he know that the impact it had on him would lead him to a career in conservation and project managem…

The coincidence of presidential elections in the U.S. and Mexico every 12 years provides a valuable way to compare the two countries.

Donald Trump’s criminal trial began in earnest with opening statements and testimony.

The Cleveland Storm boy’s baseball team joined Lauren Green in studio for New Mexico Gameday Friday night.

Dozens of dentists and hygienists — among about 1,000 volunteers — will provide between $1.5 million and $2 million in free dentistry.

A shooting survivor wants to bring back a city ordinance that allowed for the seizure and potential forfeiture of cars used in the commission of violent crimes.

The third annual car show of Santa Fe Community College’s Broken Parts Club drew owners of over 30 rare cars Friday.

The battle over New Mexico United getting a new stadium in Albuquerque is going into overtime.

KOB 4 got an exclusive look inside a new wind turbine factory in Belen Friday. “And this company is a great example, we’re now poised to be the leader in the wind industry but a few years ago, they were laying off workers because we weren’t investing in them,” President Joe Biden said while visiting […]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan, joined Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on a trip to New Mexico, touring the state's growing sustainable energy industry."I mean, it's been amazing. To see how big we have grown and coming to where we are at now," Roman Romero said. Advertisement Two companies are catching their eyes. Action 7 News was at solar manufacturing company, Array Technologies, breaking ground on a $50 million expansion. Mayor Tim Keller says it's expanding to create more than 300 new jobs — partly using tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act."The Inflation Reduction Act has all sorts of programs that are allowing this industry to expand right here in New Mexico," Keller said.Array talked about what type of work people are getting done here at the facility. It's a piece of New Mexico Heinrich believes can only get bigger over time."They are able to expand this facility again, actually create a brand new facility, with twice as many workers and way more output," Heinrich said. Array is not the only place looking to add clean energy jobs in the state. The Inflation Reduction Act has allowed companies like Arcosa to develop wind towers like in Belen. Eventually, once they are fully assembled, they will be installed across the entire state of New Mexico. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says this is all part of a goal to add clean energy jobs around the U.S. She and others say New Mexico is quickly growing to become an epicenter for this industry."Part of that is due to this expansion of manufacturing across the country as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Chips & Science Act," Granholm said.

A Zuni man appeared in federal court for the murder of a Navajo Nation member. Labar Tsethlikai, 51, faces a second-degree murder charge for a murder that happened on Thursday, Jan. 18. The victim was found near Highway 602 on the Zuni Reservation. Advertisement He is also a prime suspect in a series of violent crimes targeting Native American men. Those crimes are alleged to have happened in Gallup, Zuni and Albuquerque.Your neighborhood: Local news from KOAT Action 7 NewsThose crimes include murders, kidnappings, robberies, sexual abuse and assaults. Those happened in Indian Country and in the Albuquerque Metro, according to the U.S. Attorney District of New Mexico.Tsethlikai is suspected of committing those other crimes between May 2023 and April 2024. The federal investigation found there are ten other possible victims, where one victim was taken from Indian Country to Albuquerque. Three other crimes were found to be committed in Albuquerque, with seven other crimes in Indian Country also being potentially linked to Tsethlikai. One victim is believed to have died after being kidnapped. Cellphone tracking, DNA, video surveillance, and victim statements were used by investigators to tie Tsethlikai to the string of crimes. If convicted of the murder, Tsethlikai could face life in prison followed by five years of supervised release.The announcement was made by FBI Special Agent Raul Bujanda and federal attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez on Friday, April 26. The FBI is continuing to investigate his involvement in the alleged crimes against other victims. The Gallup agency of the FBI's Albuquerque Field Office investigated the murder with help from the sex crimes and air support units from Albuquerque police.Tsethlikai will remain in custody after making his initial appearance. A detention hearing and arraignment is set to happen on Wednesday, May 1. Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for free

The Dry Gulch Wildfire, as it has been named, is located south of Dalton Canyon and west of N.M. 63.

The governor threatened to write a letter accusing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security of failing to work with her on immigration.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm was joined by U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján as they celebrated Array Technologies' expansion to Albuquerque's West Side.

The University of New Mexico is mourning the passing of a Lobo basketball legend Reuben Douglas.

The TikTok comedian who posed as a New Mexico State Police officer – in uniform – in a series of videos won't be facing punishment for now.

A record-breaking 167 films — created by middle and high schoolers from across 84 schools and 21 counties — were entered this year.

Legal experts say the retrial in New York of Harvey Weinstein won't be coming to a courtroom anytime soon, if ever.

According to police, the BNSF Railway train derailed south of I-40 several miles east of the state line in New Mexico and caught on fire.

Some New Mexicans have stood against PNM's proposals, with concerns over possible risks associated with technology like "smart meters."

People were able to pick up their own drought resistant trees to take home.

Drone video obtained by KOAT shows the aftermath of a train derailment near the New Mexico and Arizona border. Drone video shows flames and smoke rising into the air from train cars that overturned in the derailment. Advertisement New Mexico State Police say the train was carrying non-odor gasoline and propane. >>> Read more: Train derails and catches fire west of GallupCrews are investigating the cause of the derailment.

Rooting for Donald Trump to fail has rarely been this profitable. Just ask a hardy band of mostly amateur investors who have collectively made tens of millions over the past month by betting that the stock price of his social media business – Truth Social – will keep dropping.

Antonio Layton most recently served as executive director of human resources at a school district in Edinburg, Texas.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A recent Target 7 investigation found that homicides in Albuquerque and across the nation, have gone down. A reason given by Albuquerque police Chief Harold Medina is that more people are being held in jail. Advertisement “By increasing the average jail population, we're capturing a portion of those individuals by keeping them in custody,” Medina said. “So, it makes sense that we're starting to see crime go down.” Last week, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a special session focused on crime. Following that announcement, she sat down with Target 7’s John Cardinale. Cardinale and Lujan Grisham talked about crime in Albuquerque. “Albuquerque, I think, is still really struggling, including with growing risks on our streets and communities,” Lujan-Grisham said. “But I think I have seen more progress in the last several months than I have seen in the entire time I've been governor.” “What is that progress that you've noticed,” Cardinale asked. “We are booking people in the jails,” Lujan Grisham replied. But has the jail population gone up? According to data from the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center, in May last year, there were 1,483 inmates.On Thursday there were 1,575, that's about a 6% increase. Looking back 10 years ago, the data obtained shows the average jail population at MDC was 2,400.

Buckingham Palace says King Charles III will resume his public duties next week following treatment for cancer.

An investigation led by The Associated Press has found that the practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the nation over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts.

Maureen Ford has already been accepted to nine colleges and universities as she waits to graduate from Navajo Preparatory School on May 20. She wants to be the first generation in her family to graduate from college. But first she needs to get her federal financial aid fixed as the clock ticks toward a May […]

On Earth Day, Monday (April 22), community members gathered to to commemorate the 30th annual Santa Fe to Taos Global Peace Walk and plant a c…

Carlsbad area residents gathered for a townhall meeting April 24 at the Eddy County Courthouse regarding a proposed move south of Carlsbad.

Freeman Gayle Lusk, 76, came into this world December 31, 1947, through the high mountains of West Virginia. He passed away on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Freeman is proceeded in death by his parents, Nathan Lusk, and Lola Squires. He is survived by his wife, Marianne Lusk of Grants, New…

An Albuquerque native and Olympic skateboarder will appear at a skate and food truck event Saturday in the South Valley.

A former Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department deputy pleaded guilty this week to federal charges of violating the civil rights of a woman he arrested.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The 41st Annual Gathering of Nations Powwow begins Friday at Expo New Mexico.Established in 1983, the Gathering of Nations has grown into North America's largest powwow, attracting over 3,000 Indigenous, Native American and Indian dancers and singers representing more than 500 tribes from Canada and the United States each year. This family-friendly event offers attendees the opportunity to experience Native American Pow Wow dancing, traditional songs, and a vibrant atmosphere of cultural celebration.In addition to the performances, attendees can explore the Indian Trader’s Market, indulge in native cuisine, and witness the spectacle of a horse and rider parade. Stage 49 will feature some of the finest Native American music performances and entertainment."There's opportunity to support indigenous businesses that are buying from Native people directly,” said Nikki Santos, an announcer at the Gathering of Nations. “The benefits to be able to come to a powwow, a social gathering, there's concerts and more. Additionally, some of the economic impacts is that the Gathering of Nations employs nearly 300 people.”With a projected attendance of between 60,000 and 100,000 visitors, the Gathering of Nations is expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy, injecting over $20 million according to the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce.Highlights of the event include the grand entry of dancers on April 26 and 27, a horse and rider parade, and performances by over a dozen acts on Stage 49. Tickets are $25 for a single day pass or $45 for a two-day wristband. Parking at Expo New Mexico is $20. Advertisement The Gathering of Nations runs through Saturday.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Police are investigating after several people were shot in the northeast.Albuquerque police officers are responding to the fatal shooting near the 4500 block of Alexander Boulevard NE, just south of Montano Road NE. Advertisement Two people were found shot in the area. One victim was found dead, and another was transported to a hospital.The second victim is listed in critical condition, according to Albuquerque police. Workers are currently working to block roads and traffic in the area.The shooting happened Thursday afternoon, April 25. Albuquerque homicide detectives are now investigating the shooting.This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay updated on the latest news updates with the KOAT app. You can download it here.

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series about a group of Wisconsin residents trying to come up with policies to address abortion and its root causes that could be applied nationwide. MADISON, Wis. — Thomas Lang, 61, is white, deeply Catholic and opposes abortion. “Each one of us has a beginning, and that […]

Science experiments — and inventions — can sometimes go awry. Usually, the experimenters make a note about what happened and try again.

April 25

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. Estancia and Mountainair officials are protesting a billion-dollar wind farm project’s water usage request they say will strip away the towns’ water.  SunZia Wind and Transmission — developed by Pattern Energy — is a new renewable energy infrastructure project that installs wind farms in Arizona and New Mexico, harnessing more than 3,500 megawatts of new wind energy. The SunZia Transmission […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

Update: (7:30 a.m) Roswell Independent School Independent District Superintendent Brian Luck said that Mountain View Middle School, Sunset Elementary School and Univer…

A confrontation between homeless men turned deadly on the doorsteps of Hopeworks. One man thinks he can force the city to make some changes with a lawsuit.

ROSWELL, N.M. — Crews responded to the Roswell Air Center to fight a large fire on Thursday night. According to the Roswell Fire Department, the fire was reported Thursday afternoon on a building that was leased by a business on the east side of the Roswell Air Center near a city water tower. Advertisement Fire officials say the fire was "burning itself out" after it burned through chemicals in the building. There is no word on what chemicals were on fire. One building was evacuated due to the fire, but said no other evacuations were necessary. Power was turned off in the area of the fire, including the airport terminal. Power has since been restored. There is no word on what caused the fire.

Freeman Gayle Lusk, 76, came into this world December 31, 1947, through the high mountains of West Virginia. He passed away on Sunday, April 21, 2024. …

Charles-Newton champions Navajo sovereignty at TriSec 2024 Friday, 26 April 2024 09:11 gallupsun LAS VEGAS, N.V. — In a gathering of tribal leaders and organizations at the TriSec 2024 Conference during the week of April 22 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Navajo Nation Council Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton delivered a powerful keynote address, where she discussed pressing issues such as public safety and the interplay of traditional governance in modern Navajo society. The conference, organized by the Falmouth Institute, provided a platform for discussing and addressing key issues that affect Native American tribes.Charles-Newton, who chairs the 25th Navajo Nation Council’s Law and Order Committee, highlighted the deep-seated narratives that have shaped the Navajo Nation, including...

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. The April 24 meeting of the Torrance County Commissioners focused on the renewal of the county’s contract with ICE and CoreCivic for the Torrance County Detention Facility (TCDF). It introduced statements from Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative (CNMEC) CEO Alena Brandenberger regarding a broadband grant it was seeking. The meeting also addressed grant applications related to election security and the […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

The CDC announced that a string of HIV infections in Albuquerque are unique: They are the first-ever such infections to come from cosmetic injections.

Republican candidates for sheriff and state house answered questions from Carlsbad residents ahead of the June primary during a forum on April 25.

A search is underway for a Santa Fe man after his vehicle was found at a national recreation area in northern Arizona.The National Park Service issued a missing person search for Thomas Robison, 58, of Santa Fe. His vehicle was found abandoned at Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Advertisement His vehicle was found on Sunday, April 21.NPS said it is believed Robison may have tried to go down the Colorado Rover with his dog on a self-made raft. Below is a photo provided by NPS of the rafts belonging to Robison. National Park Service His dog is a Welsh Corgi breed. Anyone with any information regarding his disappearance is being asked to contact the Grand Canyon Dispatch Center at 928-638-7805. This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay updated on the latest news updates with the KOAT app. You can download it here.

APS confirmed the school has a new acting principal and multiple employees have been placed on administrative leave as the district investigates what happened.

The first system is gone and now we await the next one that will bring us increasing cloud cover Friday and storms Saturday.

U.S. House lawmakers will no longer be able to request earmarked funding for some nonprofits under a change in eligibility made by the Republican chairman of the Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. New Mexico will receive millions in federal money to increase access to solar power. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced recipients of the $7 billion Solar for All competition awards on Monday. The state will receive $156 million through the program, which is enough to increase solar access for more than 21,000 households. The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday released a sweeping set of rules aimed at cutting air, water and land pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants. Environmental and clean energy groups celebrated the announcement as long overdue, particularly for coal-burning power plants, which have saddled hundreds of communities across the country with dirty air and […]

GIMC to close water sevices on May 3 Friday, 26 April 2024 09:30 gallupsun Gallup Indian Medical Center will be completing important repairs to their water system in the main hospital building effective May 3 after 4:30 pm. The hospital will not have water services for the duration of the repairs. All Inpatient Services will be closed and current patients will be transferred out to neighboring hospitals to allow for continuation of care. In a press release published April 25, hospital officials said the repairs would only take about 24 hours, and that services will be restored as soon as possible.

A new audio recording posted on X by the account “Chaos Coordinator” shows New Mexico Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham talking with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas’ chief of staff, Jonathan Davidson, regarding the border. “I’m going to put extra border patrol and uh for the love of God, put them at the border in Sunland Park, where I don’t have a single border patrol agent, not one, and people pour over. And so, I’m cranky with the Secretary,” the recording begins. “He knew that was coming, [and] did not say a word to me. Politico wants to write an article. Every single major press group in the state is asking repeatedly, basically accusing me of being feckless. Huffington Post, I mean, they’re all going to run with it.” “They’re saying that they’re worried about fentanyl, so they’re taking all of our cannabis. And they tried to, and they’re detaining people. Never have done that. We just use discretion. Looked the other way,” referring to DHS enforcing federal laws that ban the transport of contraband (marijuana), which federally is a Schedule 1 substance. “But the press also knows that Border Patrol is taking a hard stance, and the only way … is either we have to adjust it, or I have to send you a letter saying you’re persecuting the state, you are not using your discretion, you’re not working with me on immigration. And I don’t want to send out a letter, but I’m, I’m boxed in.” “And here’s what also the Secretary (Mayorkas) said to me, just so you know: ‘Well, who cares? They make a lot of money.’ Well, first of all, it’s patience,” the governor said in an annoyed tone. “So, I was really offended by it. Shame on them. And then, secondly, we’re the only state that lets baby producers in. If they lose a load, their business goes belly-up.” It is unclear what the governor is referring to as “baby producers,” but losing a load of diapers or formula surely wouldn’t bankrupt the company. “Yeah, I thought that was really inappropriate. I mean, whatever you want to do with that, but it was really inappropriate. Yeah, if you can, I mean, I’ve held off the press, and so that’s, uh, uh, I’ll send it to you. You know, I got a nasty ‘The governor’s feckless and is gonna let Biden walk all over.’ I can’t have that,” she concluded in the leaked call with Davidson. EXCLUSIVE AUDIO pic.twitter.com/WrRqlc6MQc So far, Lujan Grisham is the only border-state governor to have done literally nothing to aid Border Patrol with the border crisis. Even far-left Democrat Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and Katie Hobbs of Arizona are doing something to address the crisis. Hobbs sent the National Guard to aid border communities, while Newsom’s California National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force, used to help alleviate the crossing of deadly drugs, helped seize over 1.1 million fentanyl pills last week. Lujan Grisham pulled all National Guard personnel from the border as one of her first acts as governor and has refused any help to the federal government to deal with mass illegal immigration. How much has MLG’s wealth grown since becoming Governor? That will tell you everything you want to know about why MLG does NOTHING good and everything evil. So…the only word that had any impact on her persona is “Freckless”? Freckless pi**ed her off? Really? The word salad bonaza propagator and Queen of the tolite seat in Santa Fe… didnt bother her? Huh… JB, I think you gotta try harder. I thought NM was a sanctuary state. I welcome all the illegals in and hope they bankrupt every fricken city or town in New Mexico. You get what you vote for, maybe this marxist crap will wake up NMs which are really conservative but do not know it. Maybe it has to do with NM have the worst schools in the nation even worse than corrupt Porto Rico. Our governor is a POS, there is not worse governor in the nation and her leadership skills are worse than most lower level cartel members. Wow now we know it’s not people with pot in their car it’s pot shops transporting weed around the state that was getting confiscated. Probably some of her major donors. That’s why she’s up in arms. I am almost persuaded to get an X account so I can post ‘feckless feckless feckless feckless feckless feckless feckless…’ I mean, now that we know what really triggers the tiny tyrant we need to run with it. Lol…right. Hey just an afterthought…but have you noticed the stretch marks on the mouthy on old santa fe queen toilte seater freckless appear to be getting bigger and more deeper this year? Maybe…perhaps Im just noticing this… What in the world would cause such a drastic stretching like that? Is that somehow related to political party affiliationship? Curious… MLG just doesn’t mention “patience” but there is a second word mentioned that is being clobbered by someone talking over her voice, however, you can just make out “m-a-s-o-?-y”. So is it “Patience Masonry” as some kind of code word for this mystery group. A group which she belongs and thus is offended that she indirectly is being accused of being only interested in money by Majorkas Chief of Staff. No way does she say “Patience Medicine” as reported in the Santa Fe New Mexican. At least the Pinon post isn’t fabricating meaning where there is none. Still creeped out by the statement “baby producers”. Someone should ask her what that means! To me, maybe she losing loads of adrenochrome on the aborted baby industry and because they are running low on unaccompanied Mexican children if they actually shut down the border? Creeee Pyyyy! Feckless!? No way, I’m badass. MLG The Feckless Emperor has no clothes. ‘Baby producers’…small time MJ growers? Moms seeking abortions? And who the hell reads/watches Huffington Post? And will somebody ask her what she means by: ‘Secretary (Mayorkas) said to me, just so you know: ‘Well, who cares? They make a lot of money.’ …are they loving the Cartels. By the way, she is worth 200 MILLION$…how much of that is from the 51 MILLIONS spent on Dominion systems? IMPEACH HER NOW! Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

Farmington officials are seeking ideas for a public-private partnership for development of land along the Animas River.

April 22

The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. The City of Moriarty Fire Department and Torrance County Fire Department have already had a busy 2024 fire season. Last week firefighters and EMS put out three structure fires in a seven-day period that left two people dead and several acres of land burned. Around 10:30 am on April 17, Moriarty and Torrance County fire departments responded to a wreck […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical Thursday of former President Donald Trump’s argument he is immune from criminal charges that he tried to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. But conservatives who dominate the court appeared open to returning key questions to a trial court, possibly delaying Trump’s prosecution beyond the November […]

Here's a look at how weekly unemployment claims changed in New Mexico last week compared with the week prior.

GOP leaders slammed Democratic efforts to increase firearms restrictions, calling for border laws during the upcoming "public safety" session.

The Riverfest events that were held at Boyd Park last year will move back to their traditional home in Animas Park this year.

The project was needed to improve "mining efficiency," officials said, and will take about three months.

Increases in penalties for selling fentanyl and a prohibition on so-called “sanctuary cities" are among the measures Republican lawmakers say they want to see taken up…

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputy was challenged to a street race last weekend.A driver revved his engine and then took off next to a marked patrol car. BCSO says they are cracking down on street racing in the metro by patrolling problem streets like Montgomery and Paseo del Norte both from the […]

Albuquerque police are responding to reports of a shooting in the area of 4500 Alexander Boulevard NE, south of Montano.

Fury erupted from concerned citizens and parents after a video was posted showing a drag queen stripper “entertaining” minors at Atrisco Heritage Academy’s prom in Albuquerque. The shockwaves immediately began, with many contacting the school’s principal, Irene Cisneros, with rage. In response to the uproar following the video, Albuquerque Public Schools issued a statement on Wednesday, informing parents that an investigation into the incident is underway to determine how it was allowed to happen and the impact on students. The statement clarified that this issue is considered a personnel matter, and no further details were available at the time. Now, according to a social media-shared email, Cisneros is no longer the principal. Albuquerque’s Chief of Schools, Channell Segura, wrote, “I want to inform you that Anthony Lovato has been appointed as the acting principal of Atrisco Heritage Academy.” The email further read, “Please join us in welcoming Mr. Lovato to the Atrisco Heritage Academy Community.” Some good news from @ABQschools. They replaced the principal at Atrisco Heritage where the drag performance at prom occurred. pic.twitter.com/llaM5ukOY5 One X commenter wrote, “That was surprisingly fast. Good!” “Nice! I’m shocked it happened, much less so quickly,” added another. Other videos shared on social media reveal that the male stripper in drag not only danced but told the kids, “We’re grown,” while touching the kids, shaking his fake breasts, then pulling out the breast pads to wipe his face. NEW VIDEO: Adult Drag Queen Stripper Touches Students in Lewd Performance at @ABQschools High School Prom. This is unacceptable! Principal Irene Cisneros must be FIRED. Contact APS Board – demand Atrisco Heritage Academy Principal Cisneros be fired NOW: https://t.co/mzJWbLAWZm pic.twitter.com/mNbX3jSt1N More videos reportedly are circulating, as the Piñon Post has learned. It is still unclear who the people responsible for the drag show performance are, however, with the school’s principal no longer in that role, the school’s chief could be implicated. Has she been fired and her retirement forfeited? There also should be some others involved and possible criminal charges. At least, and I am surprised, that APS acted so quickly to this. I think and stand by the principal and others who did this should be on the sexual offenders for life. this was 10000 percent evil. yes, no retirement Charges need to be filed against the performer and the adults in the room for sponsoring and standing by allowing sexual and lewd acts in the presence of minors. Removing the principle is a good start. Now, finish the job so this does not occur again in the future. I agree with you, Mario. I absolutely agree with you. Steve and Todd, can you imagine how many charges that would be? How many minors were in the room (X) how many adults in the room = A Grip of counts/charges. This will be the only way these sick and demented “educators” will learn to leave the kids alone. Teach them, do not indoctrinate them!!! I agree with an additional comment every single person needs to place on sexual offender list for life. The firing needs to go to the top level of the Department of Education. That would be the one who for some reason has not instituted proper instructions to the lower level heads as to what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. I’m not so sure that it is a firing or a demotion. Haven’t heard on the news. Given APS’s propensity to never take anyone’s retirement away, this would surprise me, indeed. Last year the Legislature and Governor passed many laws, without NMvoters. They had to do with NO Parental Consent for info, services and meds etc. in public schools involving minors with transgender and abortion . This is part of that process and seems like grooming. Many registered voters did not sign or know about the referendum against those laws brought by a grassroots group of people with little support and money. It is past time to open your eyes and see what is happening and get involved. Concerned parents need to be involved in their public schools because a lot is happening there. Apparently four other employees besides the principal are on leave from Artrisco – a “clean sweep”? Are adult chaperones present at proms nowadays? If so, they apparently did nothing but enjoy the show? Every adult in that room should be charged as there were minors in the room. Join me in calling the District Attorney’s office calling for charges to be filed. This must stop! The stripper and all adults at the prom and school officials need to be charged. How is this not exposing to, and grooming minors for further sexual exploitation? No doubt, the school needs to not be funded by the State Land Office anymore, pretty close to approving more Pedophilia, right? Those affected, or their parents could complain under the civil protection act title nine. But as with all sexual assaults there is a very short window to file suit and it will be really hard for the victims to realize even that they were violated because of the shock and disbelief that happens afterwards as a form of self protection after a trauma. Great start holding the principal responsible! Now, time to dig deeper and hold all those behind this plot accountable. Teachers are not exempt! These ideas had to come through a committee, make no mistake. They need to ALL be fired and not be allowed to serve in other schools. There needs to be severe consequences for their actions, or this will continue. Parents fight for justice on your schools! Who invited he/she and who approved it? I guess we can assume the principal did, but what’s ‘the rest of the story’? I know half the public is unaware this crap is happening nationwide, as evidenced by some of the discussions on social media. Even my neighbors on Nextdoor don’t know what the issue is, never heard of ‘drag queen shows’ in classrooms, libraries, bars – with minors in attendance. They don’t know the issue of ‘gender affirming care’ for kids…. I agree with the responses on this platform site. It made headlines in this morning paper and it was on the evening news. I’m grateful for the quick response on firing of the principal, but I assure you she was not the only one involved. More heads need to roll. Any adult present at the prom should be held responsible as well. 1. What you permit you promote. 2. What you allow you encourage. 3. What you condone you own. 4. What you tolerate you deserve. APS is usually so afraid of lawsuits… the parents need to sue for emotional damages, the school and the individuals involved. Didn’t queen mlg remove protections for police? Shouldn’t that set the precedent to remove her protections? Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

On a gorgeous New Mexico morning, participants in the Roswell Chamber of Commerce’s annual Teen Leadership Institute (TLI) enthusiastically cheered on their teammates …

Those who visit or simply pass by the Roswell Adult and Recreation Center, located near the intersection of West Eighth Street and North Missouri Avenue, might have no…

A crane hoists workers above Lyssy & Eckel Feeds, commonly known as the "White Mill," at 905 White Mill Road on Tuesday. The crane is at the mill as part of the co…

The Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners announced Stephen Lopez will serve as the interim county manager while the county gears up its search to replace Fernando Macias.

The staff at the Belen Public Library is excited to show visitors some innovative new updates at their open house next week.   Read More

A group of local school district superintendents last week filed a lawsuit against the New Mexico Public Education Department and Secretary Arsenio Romero over a new rule that requires public and charter schools to have at least 180 instructional days each school year. The lawsuit, filed April 18 by The New Mexico School Superintendents Association […]

Here's a look at how weekly regional gas prices changed in Gulf Coast region last week compared with the week prior.

Eddy County commissioners agreed to start a $1M construction project a year early on one of the busiest intersection south of Carlsbad.

Graduation dates and times are set for May for Carlsbad Municipal Schools and Southeast New Mexico College.

Maddox awards Lovington $350,000 for youth center Christina Holt/News-Sun LOVINGTON — The City of Lovington’s Youth Center has been closed since the onset of COVID restrictions in 2020, but will soon be able to reopen with a funding grant from the J.F. Maddox Foundation. The J.F. Maddox Foundation conducted social services need assessment last year which included interviews with community …

A deal is likely to be forged between the City of Socorro and Socorro Electric Co-op (SEC) next...

A video circulating across the internet shows a drag queen stripper performing a sexually lude dance at Atrisco Heritage Academy’s prom last Saturday at the Kiva Auditorium Convention Center. Concerned parents expressed shock and dismay upon discovering that a provocatively dressed dancer was part of the evening’s entertainment, sparking a widespread backlash as footage of the event circulated online. Speaking to KRQE News 13, one mother described the performance as highly inappropriate, noting the dancer’s revealing attire and suggestive dance moves. “You can see the video of the inappropriate dance moves and how this exotic dancer performed in front of hundreds of kids,” she said, adding that the incident was shocking and distasteful. Parents criticized the school’s decision to include such an act in a school-related function, questioning the judgment of those who approved the performance. Many felt that more oversight was necessary, as school staff and chaperones present at the event did not intervene. The lack of prior warning to parents about the nature of the entertainment also came under fire. “Why were the parents not warned that this was going to be happening at a school function? It’s still a school function, parents should still be made aware of the situation whether it’s a dance at school, sports, parents should be made aware of what is happening,” said Morgan, another concerned parent. Conservative activist Elisa Martinez wrote on X, “Lovely. Instead of allowing students to enjoy prom,… Atrisco Heritage Academy had a drag queen stripper perform. AT PROM. WHY? Imagine if this was an adult female stripper performing for kids at prom.” She then urged concerned citizens to contact the school’s principal, Irene Cisneros. Lovely. Instead of allowing students to enjoy prom, @ABQschools Atrisco Heritage Academy had a drag queen stripper perform. AT PROM.WHY? Imagine if this was an adult female stripper performing for kids at prom. Contact: Principal Irene Cisneros below info or here:… pic.twitter.com/p3Td1rXYTs The controversy has left many parents feeling let down by the school, with Morgan articulating a broader sentiment of disappointment: “I’ve had multiple kids at this school, and I’ve never had to deal with this issue until this year. And this year it just seems like they’re failing, they’re failing the students, they’re failing the parents, to me it’s a fail all around.” In response to the uproar, Albuquerque Public Schools issued a statement on Wednesday, informing parents that an investigation into the incident is underway to determine how it was allowed to happen and the impact on students. The statement clarified that this issue is considered a personnel matter, and no further details were available at the time. Amid calls for accountability and transparency, one parent has even requested a refund for her child’s prom ticket, highlighting the depth of frustration and dissatisfaction within the parent community over this incident. Nice – bring in a gender confused (needs to check his plumbing) sex worker to perform at a school function. The school needs sanctioned. Let me guess: this was paid for with property taxes. My Post on Social Media: This should never be allowed in schools! Albuquerque, let’s have a chat… I am glad this has hit the media for the entire nation to see just how extreme educators have become. Many want to think that teachers and schools are safe places in which youth can learn and prepare for adult responsibilities. What responsibilities you may question? Work, money management, Constitutional Rights, following laws, rules and boundaries. Now let’s get to the point! This “performer” was: 1. Invited by an adult. 2. Is an adult who made a conscious decision to perform disgusting, lewd and sexual moves in front of minor children. Normally, this is child abuse and many have been convicted of the same acts in public spaces. 3. This person is a member of a group who advocates for this “lifestyle” choice in public schools. Folks, this is what our tax dollars are paying for. Teachers who are demented minded, inviting this gross behavior in the purview of MINORS. These clubs and classes are funded by tax dollars and private donations. Parents, this is just a glimpse of the future for your children. This can’t be allowed, otherwise the decline of our local community and society as a whole is going to suffer more than you can imagine. This performer has a depraved mind. To think it is fine to behave like this in front of Minor Children is just ok, is pure evil. Do not turn your head away on this one. This does not belong in schools, ever! District Attorney Sam Bregman, why isn’t this being investigated for lewd and lascivious acts in front of children? I am sure parents have not signed a waiver to allow this trash before their minor children. Can you just imagine how many counts that would be!! OMG #APS #ChurchofAlbuquerque #ChristiansSpeakOut! #JustSayNo! #BernCoDistrictAttorney Peace, Rev. Rico I believe you pretty much covered this dance. Well done! Perfect reply. Agree 100%! Yes, this is pure evil. We need to keep praying for NM. Parents and children will get what they allow. 💯 This is exactly why we left NM. The insane, depraved actions in our schools. I hope New Mexicans fight this, unfortunately, up to this point no one seemed to care and we were in the minority, so we left. That’s the way to fight these horrible events…. cut and run. Anyone promoting this disgusting practice has serious mental disease. Long past time to pull kids out of public schools. And yet… no one is in jail. No one is facing any punishment… Ahhh…but I regress, Americans are programed to expect instant results. It just so happens that the Political Party that controls New Mexico since 1912, Democrat’s in case you missed that, don’t want you to have instant gratification. I identified this problem…decades ago. Now you might see what I saw. My example was: Janitor in school rapes his 11 year old niece, a week goes by, Mom finally approaches me at the police station, reports the sexual abuse. The principal knew the day it happened, so did 2 teachers, they did not report to the police and never did until I called them in, mirandized them, including the school superintendent, and I gathered statements and RECORDED THEIR MIRANDA WARNING. Why wait a week to report to police? Because the principle was still investigating as per school policy. I charge the teachers and principal for fail to report sexual abuse of a child, The Democrat elected District Attorney dismisses the charges, who later gets appointed to a vacant 6th Judicial District Court Judgeship by the Democrat elected Governor. True story. It’s way too hard to make this sh*t up ya’ll. The liberal press just makes crap up and will lie to your face why this crap was permitted at a high school prom. You see, given enough time, the school will use obstruction tactics to confuse what happened aka “A Personnel Matter”, then make a statement up to fit that absolves them from wrongdoing… case…. closed. I’d say, demand better…but until the school system relinquishes their tactics of “INDOCTRINATION” and gets back to “INSTRUCTING” and let the big boys handle criminal cases and just report them to the police… this case isn’t going anywhere…move along. Immediate action is always pertinent in catching a predator. I’ve called out the DA, Sam Bregman. Let’s wait and see if he becomes the next judge or perhaps Governor. Gasp…. You totally nailed it… We live in an evil world and here in NM people just don’t stand up for their rights. They just keep voting in their oppressors. So shame on them. I pray for the little ones who are in public schools because their parents cannot afford private school. Thank you Reverend Rico… I agree with you 100%. Disgusting, disturbing, diabolical, and completely out of line. Who ever allowed this to happen without consent of the parents should be fired and fined. Why is it that the majority of the public disputes this kind of behavior but the 10% gets to have their way in all that is taking place in social media. Come on 90% of you we have to stand strong in our moral integrity or we will fall to the 10% whose only goal is to destroy the fabric of this Country. When is enough…….enough. Enough is now, in my opinion. I agree, the adults involved should all be held legally accountable for exposure of smut to minors. This is actually illegal activity and all citizens and law enforcement should take action. Immediate action. Our society is in free fall, well stated Rev. Rico. I’m old school, why aren’t the school officials being arrested? Why aren’t the Dad’s protecting their families from this vile nonsense? I am beyond disgusted with what we have become. Fantastic Questions Angus! Over half of my property taxes go to pay for APS. I pay for kids to be EDUCATED, not indoctrinated with the trendy “trans/rainbow” agenda. If everyone in the city suspended paying their property taxes, the city and this administration would have no choice but to listen. What can they do…foreclose on is all? This is also what happens when you continually support progressive Democrats. Progress ain’t progress if it’s driving us all into the ground. And they are brazen with this because…no one stands up! Silence = consent. 100 percent correct. Disgusting! Shame on all involved in making this happen! Is this what ABQ and Santa Fe voted for, traumatizing minors?! I called the Atrisco school and was hung up on when communicating my thoughts on this horrid decision to hire/invite an adult stripper. I will contact APS on this. I am a taxpayer and deserve to be heard. This is your democrat party who controls this state of evil. Evil thrives in the democrat party which are the actual baby killers not the viet nam veterans. Time to take a stand and not just talk about it. Time to bring law suits against this school. Parents, you have the power, find good Lawyers to come in defend your children. Doesn’t this make our efforts to referendum HB-7 obviously crucial. But our Supreme Court decides that Maggie (SoS) has the right to determine that providing Gender Affirming Healthcare is a matter of Public Health and Safety and not eligible for the Referendum process! These academic professionals are determined to help our children through these tough decisions because parents might disagree with the child’s free will decision. I just don’t understand the lackadaisical support from the leaders of the Republican Party . What do you expect with our Country being ran by a bunch of deviates who are so far left that they can’t turn back. Their party is being lead by an old pervert that likes little girls and enjoys sniffing women’s hair. Hopefully they will be voted out and we can get some people in that are willing to do talk with each other and restore this Great Country. This school should lose funding and this drag thing should be charged with child abuse. Just my opinion This has to be the sickest event APS has ever done. Parents need to stand up and speak out to these educational bullies’ or else this will continue. Shame on the teachers and faculty being present at AHA’s prom as chaperones and NOT putting a stop to this EVIL. You should be held accountable! The Leftist Democrats will call those of us who openly oppose this situation homophobes and racists. Not that it has anything to do with Race, it’s just their favorite insult. What happened here wasn’t criminal, just poor judgment and wrong for a school setting. Republicans and conservatives have a history of over-reacting to incidents like this by calling for criminal charges, etc. and then lose credibility as a result. Extremism is not the way to bring back conservative values in our society. Young people will rebel and do the opposite. And no doubt, the funds derive by the State Land Office for schools; pull the plug on APS. They’re grooming them for pedophiles. This IS criminal behavior. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

Time for another timely and always highly anticipated edition of Reader Vox Populi. We start with that hot as a pistol race for state Senate District 15 in ABQ's NE Heights where Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto faces a primary challenge from progressive Heather Berghmans.Reader Barbara Gay writes: I have worked within the Legislature for many years and had always respected Sen. Ortiz y Pino’s demeanor during the sessions. However, I was disappointed to read his post on your April 4 blog, particularly his accusations that potential donors are resorting to fabrication in trying to defeat Daniel Ivey-Soto. While it is true that Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto has not been found guilty of the credible claims of sexual harassment, bullying and ethics violations, he also was not found innocent and the independent investigator found probable cause to move forward. Ivey-Soto’s behaviors are the worst-kept secret in the legislature. I witnessed his bullying events in the halls of the Capitol when I was working in another legislator's office, the most offensive of which was when he was striding down the hall toward his office yelling at another legislative staffer. I also remember that during a floor session in March of 2021 he was berating and yelling at Sen. Mimi Stewart to the point that the Speaker at the time had to stop the proceedings and he walked out on the debate. I always considered Sen. Ortiz y Pino a staunch supporter of women, but by taking this stance and not supporting these women, he has now made it more difficult for women who have been attacked to come forward. I was deeply disappointed to see his comment. Reader Paul Stokes sees it another way: I have worked with Daniel for over fifteen years on election issues. Daniel is without peer when it comes to legislation that he introduces or needs to vote on. The legislation that he introduces is very well thought out, and from what I have seen, it addresses important issues that only Daniel has recognized and thought important enough to merit legislation. Daniel also considers legislation that has been introduced by others and that he needs to vote on to be similarly investigated and sometimes discussed in hearings. I can see how Daniel irritates his colleagues, because he not only researches and knows the issues and facts addressing them better than most, he also tends to spend more time than my be necessary on the relevant details, and that can sound know-it-all-ish. I know of no one more credible than Jerry Ortiz y Pino regarding Daniel’s tenure in the Legislature. SPACEPORT BLUES Our blogging this week on the dire financial straits of Virgin Galactic and the impact that could soon have on the NM Spaceport brought in the email.  Reader Brent Eastwood in DC writes: I just went on the Spaceport web site and there hasn't been a news release since February. The next event, a student rocketeering competition, is not until June. That leaves all of May a blank slate. Could someone explain exactly what people at Spaceport do all day? Because it appears there is nothing going on. There needs to be some form of accountability for all the taxpayer money that has been spent on this boondoggle. The people of New Mexico have been ripped off and it's really sad. I have been talking about this abysmal failure for 12 years now and nobody wants to fix it. They have told me to be patient. Well we are all sick of being patient. All the politicians pretend Spaceport is not a problem. Well it is a problem and the people should demand action and solutions because the current situation is unacceptable. Reader Alan Schwartz writes: Remember when the Spaceport was to be this fantastic tourist attraction? You can file that one with the 400 flights per year from multiple Spaceports world wide. At this point the only real expectation is that they will introduce designer going out of business flight suits. Dan Warren near the Spaceport in T or C comes with this: Factors affecting their continued existence include recently being sued by Boeing for $25 million for money Virgin Galactic failed to pay them. Virgin Galactic responded by counter-suing Boeing, claiming Boeing's work for them was shoddy. To make things more difficult, as Virgin Galactic plans their last flight in New Mexico during the second quarter they are under a grounding order from the FAA. This happened after their January flight when an alignment pin broke off and fell to the ground. Most reports about the broken alignment pin never mentioned that the result was being grounded. Virgin Galactic will need to redesign (?) and repair the broken part and get FAA approval before they can fly the last flight of the Unity Spaceship, which is supposed to fly in the next 75 days and they said it would.  Also, I recently learned that the Spaceport is going to spend over $1 million to fix the Spaceport roof which has skylights leaking. The Reception Center is on track to be built at the Spaceport for a cost of $60 million dollars -- taxpayer dollars, not Virgin Galactic dollars.  ANTI-PROGRESSIVE MOVEThe formation of the anti-progressive group, The NM Project, by ABQ businessman Jeff Apodaca had Arcy Baca writing: Joe, The moderate Democrats the group is supporting voted against family medical leave! How is that helping the working poor and middle class? Yet they voted to give themselves a 50 % raise on their pensions. They were all at the trough for that bill, Democrats, Republicans, moderates, liberal and right wingers! During elections you hear the terms progressive, moderates, right wingers but once they get to the legislature they all take care themselves! A CHANGING DISTRICT Rep. RehmMichael Corwin writes of the GOP House District 31 June 4 primary in ABQ's far NE Heights. Rep. Bill Rehm is retiring and three Republicans are running in the GOP primary in what is the only House District in ABQ that has a GOP state rep: Hey Joe, In 2004, when I ran in that district as a Democrat in a spirited campaign against my now friend and then-Republican Greg Payne, the Democratic voting performance was only 31%. I still managed to garner 42% of the vote. And I did that despite Greg out raising and outspending me 5-1. The demographics have changed significantly since I ran. The registered Dems have closed the gap quite a bit with the GOP and the independent numbers have exploded. Democrats can win that district. But they have to put in the hard work of door to door canvassing. My campaign focused on GOP crossover votes and meeting them in person helped me to get a fair amount of them. I didn’t run again after 2004, but no Democratic candidate for the district since then ever knocked on my, or my neighbors’ doors. I would urge the Democrats to not just run someone, but run to win, Get the candidate the resources necessary to make the contacts with the voters. In that GOP primary the candidates are Nicole Chavez, Sarah Jane Allen and Patrick Huested. The lone Democrat running in the primary is Vicky Estrada-Bustillo. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.   E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.comInterested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.  (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2024 Posted by: Joe Monahan / Thursday, April 25, 2024

The American Lung Association found the worst air pollution was in New Mexico's biggest cities and rural oilfield towns.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández made several pitstops throughout Mora County on Tuesday as part of an effort to mark the two-year anniversary of when the Hermits Peak Fire and the Calf Canyon Fire merged into one and became the largest wildfire in New Mexico history.

The pending deadline of the franchise agreement between the City of Socorro and Socorro Electric...

After nearly five months serving as acting chief of police for the Las Vegas Police Department, in March, Mayor David Romero and the Las Vegas City Council appointed Caleb Marquez to the spot permanently.

Updated April 25 at 3:50 p.m.

The grand jury's decision could levy criminal consequences for a plot intended to subvert the will of Arizona voters.

A federal report proposed maintaining oil and gas leases from 2021 that were challenged in a lawsuit filed last year by a local environmental group.

SANTA FE — April is National Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and understanding of alcohol abuse. However, awareness about the danger of alcohol abus…

The American Lung Association found the worst air pollution was in New Mexico's biggest cities and rural oilfield towns.

The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office initiative has a new director of operations.

Visitors to Las Vegas from Ramsgate, Kent, England, Frances Steel and her son Oliver, are shown visiting Calvary Cemetery to pay homage to Leonore Lucero, their recent-discovered ancestor. Frances had no idea who her ancestors were until taking a DNA test a few months ago, and has discovered a number of Lucero ancestors here through her father, Albert Wright, Jr., who was in London during World War Two.  They remarked on how "incredibly warm and friendly" they found Las Vegas to be. Also pictured is Frances' recently discovered first cousin, Richard Troncoso, a 1970 WLVHS graduate and a "semi-retired" Oracle consultant now living in Denver. They also visited the Montefiore Synagogue and Montefiore Cemetery, having some Jewish ancestors here as well. Coincidentally, the Steels' home town of Ramsgate is where Sir Moses Montefiore, sponsor of those and many other Montefiore cemeteries and synagogues in the US and elsewhere, is buried. He died in July of 1885. Another member of this family, Antonio J. Lucero, was New Mexico's first Secretary of State when NM achieved statehood in 1912. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Visitors to Las Vegas from Ramsgate, Kent, England, Frances Steel and her son Oliver, are shown visiting Calvary Cemetery to pay homage to Leonore Lucero, their recent-discovered ancestor. Frances had no idea who her ancestors were until taking a DNA test a few months ago, and has discovered a number of Lucero ancestors here through her father, Albert Wright, Jr., who was in London during World War Two.  They remarked on how "incredibly warm and friendly" they found Las Vegas to be. Also pictured is Frances' recently discovered first cousin, Richard Troncoso, a 1970 WLVHS graduate and a "semi-retired" Oracle consultant now living in Denver. They also visited the Montefiore Synagogue and Montefiore Cemetery, having some Jewish ancestors here as well. Coincidentally, the Steels' home town of Ramsgate is where Sir Moses Montefiore, sponsor of those and many other Montefiore cemeteries and synagogues in the US and elsewhere, is buried. He died in July of 1885. Another member of this family, Antonio J. Lucero, was New Mexico's first Secretary of State when NM achieved statehood in 1912. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

At the April 17 meeting, the commissioners voted 4-0 to petition the 13th Judicial District Court to allow for the formation of the Valencia County Arroyo Flood District.   Read More

The American Lung Association found the worst air pollution was in New Mexico's biggest cities and rural oilfield towns.

Roswell Air Center (RAC) will resume offering a third daily flight to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on May 6.

In May, Gallery 140 will display art created by students in the University of New Mexico’s Environmental Art & Regenerative Ecology course as part of their semester-long study involving the Las Vegas area.

The National Park Service recommended hikers research the trail, leave a plan behind and bring enough gear to stay safe.

Here's a look at how weekly regional gas prices changed in Gulf Coast region last week compared with the week prior.

Come see what the Jaguar Nation has to offer at the second annual Fiesta de Valencia!  Read More

The suspect entered the bank, demanded money from the teller. The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of money to the suspect.   Read More

One hundred fourteen Chihuahuas were relinquished to animal rescues last Thursday from a residence...

Torrance County’s elected officials unanimously voted to extend the contract that allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to incarcerate asylum seekers at the Torrance County Detention Facility in Estancia. Commissioners Ryan Schwebach, Kevin McCall and Samuel Schropp on Wednesday morning voted in favor of allowing County Manager Janice Barela to sign an amendment extending the […]

Prosecutors have filed a motion to hold a convicted sex offender in pretrial detention after he was recently arrested in an undercover operation this week.

The American Lung Association found the worst air pollution was in New Mexico's biggest cities and rural oilfield towns.

United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small toured the John T. Harrington Reforestation Center in Mora for the first time Tuesday, April 16, before discussing the center’s future role in helping the area heal from the effects of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.

City of Las Vegas Fire Department has been working closely with technology partner First Due to release Community Connect, an application focused on protecting residents and their property in the most effective way possible during an incident or major disaster. Community Connect is a secure,…

The Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation has announced presentation of this year’s Bob Mishler Community Impact Award.

Last Saturday, Leadership Roswell 2024 did its class project in form of a community cleanup. They chose to clean up Spring River Trail. The class also planted a tree f…

The grand jury's decision could levy criminal consequences for a plot intended to subvert the will of Arizona voters.

New Mexico Highlands University’s Madrigal Choir invites the community to ‘celebrate’ with music during a free concert Sunday at 3 p.m. at Ilfeld Auditorium.

The National Park Service recommended hikers research the trail, leave a plan behind and bring enough gear to stay safe.

The Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce won’t be holding a Cinco de Mayo festival next month, citing the inability to find enough volunteers to host an event comparabl…

Here's a look at how weekly regional gas prices changed in Gulf Coast region last week compared with the week prior.

Los Lunas Police Department experienced a surge in calls for service in 2023 compared to the last few years.  Read More

The following individuals were booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center between April 9 and April 22, 2024:

The National Park Service recommended hikers research the trail, leave a plan behind and bring enough gear to stay safe.

The deadline for protesting the value of property in Socorro County is fast approaching, with...

Criminals are growing bolder on New Mexico back roads, but in Catron County this past weekend...

According to officials, 23-year-old Austin Dawhan was speeding when he ran a red light and killed 73-year-old Susan Narveson.

Here's a look at how weekly regional gas prices changed in Gulf Coast region last week compared with the week prior.

The National Park Service recommended hikers research the trail, leave a plan behind and bring enough gear to stay safe.

After nearly two decades of lawsuits, arguing, attempted and failed contracts and hard lessons learned, the Valencia County commission approved a trio of agreements that will hopefully see the long-awaited project started and completed. Read More

The grand jury's decision could levy criminal consequences for a plot intended to subvert the will of Arizona voters.

“All the activities are intended to be performed in enclosed spaces with minimum impact to areas outside the property. Any projects that come in will have to go through a separate site design review with (Rio Communities Planning and Zoning Commission).”  Read More

The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) have released additional details regarding the fatal wreck that occurred Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of 26th Street and Compress Road.

The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) have released additional details regarding the fatal wreck that occurred Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of 26th Street and Compress Road.

The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) have released additional details regarding the fatal wreck that occurred Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of 26th Street and Compress Road.

The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) have released additional details regarding the fatal wreck that occurred Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of 26th Street and Compress Road.

The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) have released additional details regarding the fatal wreck that occurred Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of 26th Street and Compress Road.

In a technologically advancing world, where environmental issues are becoming of ever-greater concern, April 22 — Earth Day — hold a special s…

Late Tuesday (April 23) the Taos Municipal Schools Board of Education announced Dr. Antonio Layton of Texas as the new superintendent of the s…

What happened to two Taos Society of Artists paintings after they were stolen from the Harwood Museum of Art 39 years ago? Stayed tuned: Last …

Heavy machinery worked in the distance as tribal officials and community members offered blessings and gratitude on Tuesday (April 23) before …

New Mexico’s insurance superintendent confirmed in a press release Friday (April 19) that insurance carriers in the state will cover Opill,  …

A Ranchos couple has lost their bid to have their residential property annexed into the Town of Taos. Had it been approved, it would have repr…

The county will hold one meeting in Carlsbad and one in Artesia this week to hear the public's input on its proposed new complex.

The county will hold one meeting in Carlsbad and one in Artesia this week to hear the public's input on its proposed new complex.

The county will hold one meeting in Carlsbad and one in Artesia this week to hear the public's input on its proposed new complex.

The county will hold one meeting in Carlsbad and one in Artesia this week to hear the public's input on its proposed new complex.

A tentative trial date has been set for April 8-11, 2025  to resolve a dispute over access to a critical piece of the Outward Link Trail. The …

The following is a summary of activity at Stray Hearts Animal Shelter from April 15-21. Outcomes Adoption: 1 dog, 7 cats Return to owner: 0 Tr…

Peñasco Independent School District took more than a year to cook up their culinary program, but now they have all the necessary ingredients: …

Fifteen northern Taos County acequias are talking about forming a regional ditch association, but one source of startup funds — oil and gas gi…

Just before her one-year anniversary this May, Alyson Hyder decided to close her eatery, Aly’s A La Cart, to give the restaurant a face lift. …

The managers of Hotel La Fonda on Taos Plaza recently welcomed a new occupant to their restaurant space: La Luna, which has been providing a n…

The following is a condensed list of reports made to Taos Central Dispatch within the town of Taos from April 17-21. April 17 8:20 a.m. Crimin…

Photographer Raul Velderrain spent two months planning the perfect shot: Two hours climbing to a spot in the Rio Grande Gorge and then 20 seco…

There's the Fourth of July Parade, Seco Live concerts, gallery openings and pop-up music venues, which come and go as out-of-towners fall in, …

The Town of Taos Council voted unanimously Tuesday night (April 23) to continue its relationship with JSX, the airline that has been providing…

Charming wants to be your prince, and he deserves to live in a castle: he was one of the 98 chihuahuas rescued from a hoarding case near Socorro. Española Humane opened their doors to as many as they could, and after vetting, major dental work, surgeries, and big love, the chis are now avail…

Dispatchers Celebrated During National Telecommunicators Week

The police blotter is published to give readers an abridged look at criminal activity in their community and neighborhood. It is simply an illustration of what local law enforcement, funded by taxpayers, must deal with daily throughout the Española Valley.

Police are searching for Jesus Roybal, 32, of Santa Fe, after a man was shot on April 19 near the Española Hospital.

The year is not even half over yet and so far, there have been at least two deaths at the Rio Arriba County Detention Center in which drugs appear to be a contributing factor.

Española firefighters spent several hours Monday morning trying to extinguish a house fire on South Riverside Drive that began in the early morning hours.

Brenda Martinez, director of the Rio Arriba Adult Literacy Program, offers a frank assessment of where the small nonprofit was following the pandemic.

Rio Arriba County Manager and former Española School Board president Jeremy Maestas is accused of violating the Open Meetings Act and now the New Mexico Department of Justice intends to investigate the claims.

Peggy Sue Martinez Once Again Named Mayor Pro Tem

Fringe Hamas-supporting radicals on college campuses are continuing their crusade against Jews, with their anti-Israel campaign of hate sweeping across the country at institutions of higher learning. On campuses, such as at New York University, anti-Israel protesters formed a human chain, which led to the intervention of the NYPD. During the protest, chants like “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” were heard, a bigoted chant wishing for Israel to be wiped off the face of the earth. A terror leader who is taking charge of these college campus protests even admitted support for Hamas, saying, “There is nothing wrong with being a fighter in Hamas.” According to the pro-Hamas newsletter, “Prada,” New Mexico’s own University of New Mexico made the list, along with other institutions of places where so-called “Freedom Flotilla” protests are happening, being organized by radicals such as “Code Pink.” Other institutions, including Columbia University/Barnard College, the University of Rochester, Harvard University, Swarthmore College, Yale University, Rutgers University, Vanderbilt University, and Virginia Tech, among many others, totaling at least 40, “as of 6.32pm, Monday, April 22,” per the pro-Hamas blog. Among protests are encampments being created by the anti-Israel cadre on campuses such as the University of Minnesota, the University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, and the University of New Mexico. “By Tuesday afternoon, a few dozen students, alumni and community members were gathered at UNM’s Duck Pond under two tents with tables, signs and camp chairs,” reported KUNM. According to organizers of the UNM protest, protesters are demanding the “ the university to look into and address any investments it has that benefit Israel or Israeli companies.” “A UNM spokesperson said UNM PD will continue to monitor the situation and manage it in the same way,” the outlet reported. UNM is my alma mater but until they end this insanity, I won’t set foot there, donate anything, and will denounce it every opportunity I get. I have a degree from UNM and worked there for 25 years. Unless I go there to tear it down I will never set foot on that disgraceful school again. It is as corrupt and delusional as any of the marxist schools in the USA. It should be de-funded. The students at UNM are taught by a bunch of communists and protest every left wing cause, this should not surprise anyone. If they continue to disrupt the educational opportunities of other students and defy direct orders to cease and desist, they need to loose their scholarships and be expelled from the campus permanently, after being arrested and jailed to face charges!!! Yes! I so agree, but be aware that these radical traitors bus people in to protest and give them passes (forged) to come on campuses…. I would not be surprised if that nazi Sorros has his dirty hands in this. And MLG will turn a blind eye. What you say is very true. Enemies of the USA wind up co-opting these sorts of things. They have done so for over a century now. It is unfortunate that we cannot take one step further back and examine to see if perhaps US foreign policies have created the fertile soil in which these sorts of co-opted agendas take over like weeds in the midst of legitimate self-protective movements. unm sells body parts from Aborted Babies. unm is a Steaming Pile of Cockroach Crap Austin Lloyd said that there are NO GENOCIDE!!! THAT IS THE FACT. That would be “is no genocide”. Would “Austin Lloyd” be Lloyd Austin? Now there is a credible source. If what Israelis have done to Palestinians over all these decades is not genocide, then genocide has become a word without objective meaning. The palestinians are the most disgusting, ignorant and violent POSs to inhabit the Earth. No one wants them and the “Two State Solution” should be repealed. For 75 years they have used terror to attack Israel. Genocide is too good for them. And there you have it. Anyone who thought racism was dead in the USA need only read the above. I have heard brutally stupid things in the past, and this ranks among the winners. Since you support terrorism, it applies to you also. Try taking your Hamas terrorist supporters to a “small town”. We will see what happens. By the way Benjamin: Your Dead. Again, a wonderful learning opportunity for those with eyes to discern. Here we have a textbook example of the straw-man argument, one of the most basic and juvenile forms of logical fallacy. Search what I have written for any indication that I have written that I support either Hamas or terrorism. In fact, I oppose terrorism, whether that terrorism originate with Hamas, the IDF, or the USA. Huh? Are you OK? Are you hallucinating? I was referring to “By the way Benjamin: you’re dead. What the heck is up with that? Check out Baruch Goldstein. Be aware of what goes on. The usual Commie Orgs: Answer coalition, Code Pink, Communist party USA etc etc… recruiting new young ignoramuses and fools, brain-washed by these anti-American goons. And most of these simpletons have no idea what they are protesting. Do they know ‘Hamas and Palestine’ are ISLAMIC TERRORISTS? Do they know what would happen to ‘queers, lgbtq etc’ in ‘Palestine’ or any Islamic country? Then we have the ‘jews’ supporting these stone-age cultists – suicidal. It really is a shame that these arguments get tangled up in one another. It does not have to be so. I attribute it to the fact that most Americans are simply not interested in or prepared to study elementary history. It would be interesting to hear how Palestine, a geographic area, is a terrorist. I’m not sure how that works. Can someone give us the short version of how, why and by whom Hamas was founded in the first place? That authentic Jews (eliminating the scare quotes) can be possessed of integrity and speak out against atrocities carried out by secular Jews who may or may not believe in Judaism seems to me to be the opposite of suicidal. Do we consider the Germans who opposed the National Socialists to be suicidal or heroic? Do you believe Israel has a right to exist? JUST LIKE THE NATIVE AMERICANS WERE GENOCIDED FOR THEIR LAND ISRAEL IS GENOCIDING THE PALISTINIANS FOR THEIR LAND RICH IN OIL AND GAS AND BEACH FRONT PROPERTY . IT’S A HOLOCAUST FOR JARED CUSHIONER’S DEVELOPMENT AND DICK CHANEY TYPE OIL COs . WHATS NOT TO LIKE ? Hi Pat. You are likely to get some nasty pushback from some of the people who contribute to this blog. You can know that these are people who are either ignorant of, or worse, deny the historical record. The story of the conflict in Palestine is a story normally half-told. Few are those who interest themselves in looking more deeply into it than what they see on Fox News or hear from their equally unlearned evangelical preacher. It quickly becomes like arguing with your nine-year-old about international monetary policy. Neo-conservatives have been quite successful at a number of things. Among those is tricking the low-information crowd into thinking they are conservatives. They are anything but. This is a neo-conservative blog with a refreshing smattering of authentic conservatives. Their poverty of intellectual capability is readily evidenced by their immediate application of the label “anti-semite” to anyone who deplores the zionist agenda. You and Pat Whoever are marxist idiots who have no idea what you are talking about. Just because you spout the word history does not mean you know it or even understand it. Every country in the Middle East was created by British and French Colonialists after WWI. There was the failed British Mandate and the UN’s creation of Israel after WWII. There are no such people as “palestinians”. Jordon was created for them. More Jews than muslims were dislocated after both wars. But you two biased fools don’t want real History. You are just anti-semetic and pro-terrorist. This is hilarious! This guy accuses others of not knowing history. Check it out. When you have no argument – call the other person a name, in this case “marxist” or “anti-semite”. I think this guy does not know that Palestinian Arabs are Semites. I think he does not even know what the word means. Hey, Paul…why did the British mandate fail, huh? Why did the Brits throw in the towel? And Paul, exactly where and when did the UN “create” Israel? A recommendation to partition an area does not equate to “creation”. When did the modern state of Israel come into existence? Who declared it so? How did that happen? Hey Paul…where is Jordon? Is that a country? Help me find that on a map. More Jews that Muslims were dislocated after both wars. Which wars are we talking about Paul? Displaced from where? Help us to understand the significance you find in this. What in the world are you even talking about? Heaven help us all. There are people who somehow think this sort of garbage represents history. Show your ignorance some more. The Russians failed to show up one time and the US pushed through the creation of Israel. Progressives lie all the time and you just proved it. And you, I guess, have never misspelled anything. What a joke. The reply is actually to Paul. Let’s not belabor it. Let’s recognize that a recommendation is not “creation” (1947). Let’s also recognize that a recognition is not “creation” (1949). Paul, we are going to admit that you are correct as soon as you give us a link to the UN document that CREATED Israel. We will wait. Replying to Paul just below. I wonder how he has determined that Carlos is a “progressive”. I don’t read anything in Mr. Del Valle’s post that suggests that he is a “progressive”. Is there now defined criteria for that label? It seems to me that when someone resorts to name-calling they are revealing some intellectual poverty. UN; May 11,1949; Actually the “State of Israel” has existed since 600BC. Tell me. Where were the muslims then. If you send your kid to a woke school like UNM you get what you pay for. I have a nephew that is going to school in Socorro, the school is braining him to be a marxist. I say cut the head, fire the dean and all the marxist professors. They can get a job working for Biden. It’s funny how so many are quick to judge Israel and not the terrorists that have been trying to kill and destroy Israel. So let’s put this into perceptive: God gave the Jewish people much land that is now called the :Middle East” and since the beginning of time, the Jewish people have been persecuted and murdered for thousands of years. ie: WWII and Stalin murdered millions of Jewish people. After many wars, the Middle East was taken over by the Muslims… On May 14, 1948 the state of Israel was founded. Since then they have rockets constantly being shot into the cities, suicide bombs etc. Israel has a right to protect its citizens and doing a much better job than America I might add considering the invasion of thousand of people entering through our borders. Further, anyone who is protesting and saying “death to America” and supporting Hamas and the likes, needs to be arrested for terrorists acts against our country. And arrested, jailed and prosecuted to the extent of the law. I am willing to wager that I have known intimately more survivors of the Shoah than most people have, especially on this blog. The internment of Jews, Catholics, Gypsies and other “undesirables” into concentration camps by the National Socialist agenda was a terrible crime. It was no more or less of a crime than the herding of Palestinians into walled areas and then bombing those areas. Zionists have their own “undesirables”. Their constant refrain of invoking Jewish suffering in the Shoah as an excuse for doing the same thing is an insulting and degrading co-opting of that same suffering for political reasons. The Jews that were brought into Palestine from the last half of the nineteenth century and increasingly into the twentieth were overwhelmingly from eastern and central Europe. For some there was legitimately purchased property to inhabit. For the greater number, room needed to be made somehow. Contrary to some opinion today, Palestine was not uninhabited. Someone owned that property. Someone lived in those homes and villages. What happened to those owners? Who were they? Where are they now? We hear much about “The Holocaust” – are we willing to study the “Nakba”? An allusion to the current invasion of our own country is very apt. We now know how the inhabitants of Palestine must have felt. When the day comes that we are forced to relinquish our properties and be herded into walled compounds will we go quietly? It is best to avoid theological arguments when it comes to the question of Palestine and especially the “God as real-estate broker” argument. It is not the “slam-dunk” that many would prefer. Since any person today feels competent to interpret Holy Scripture according to their own predilections these sorts of arguments have no end. You nailed it Baruch! I find it puzzling why most people on this site don’t believe the state media( almost all of it owned by the aggressors in Palestine) when they lie about Biden or all other events, but believe them wholly when it comes to Palestine. If people weren’t too lazy to research they would find your words true. The United Nations mandated a TWO STATE solution to Palestine! One the Israelis have never honored. I would venture the following answer and I think you largely explain it in your words here. It is because most people get their information about the history of Palestine from either state media or their “pastors”. What this means is that Fox News is just as much “state media” as is CNN with the same ownership you refer to. “State media” on the one hand (MSNBC) tries to indoctrinate people into the LGBTQ ideology while Fox (also state media) indoctrinates them into what is largely a myth regarding the history of Palestine. It is only on this field (MSNBC vs. Fox) that we are allowed to play. If you go too far to one side or the other you are out of bounds – or so it seems to the others who cannot venture off that particular field. Nunca Hamas! Cute Jamas el zionismo. Read the Bible. It says it all. If the Bible is self-explanatory why is it there are over 30,000 protestant sects, each with their own interpretation? You can all say and believe whatever it is you want to believe. There is no place in this country for the type of behavior that is going on at the so called institutions of higher learning. It is time for the President of the Unites States of America to act and call out the National Guard to all these universities and places these demonstrators do things like blocking traffic and the such and stop this type of terrorism. And of course you are correct, Tom. The history of the land called “Palestine” is an entirely different subject from a discussion of if and where free speech ends and the right to assemble. “Useful Idiots” Marxist Brilliant response, Chuck. Don’t forget “anti-semite” and “pro-terrorist”. You and Paul could form a tag team. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

The leader of the New Mexico Restaurant Association says some eateries are in a tough spot when it comes to determining what a true service animal is.

Posted inNews Weak in Review: April 24 by The Paper staff April 24, 2024April 22, 2024 The National Weather Service predicts New Mexico will see hotter and drier than normal conditions this summer. Seems like a perfect time for the feds to do their fail-proof controlled burns.  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says she plans to call a special legislative session in July to address public safety.  Let’s hope the air conditioning […]

The leader of the New Mexico Restaurant Association says some eateries are in a tough spot when it comes to determining what a true service animal is.

A fatal car accident left a main road in Artesia closed Wednesday afternoon as New Mexico State Police investigated the incident.

New Mexico United to host Liga MX’s FC Juarez on 6/19 at Isotopes Park Albuquerque, NM - New Mexico United is thrilled to announce that the club will host…

New Mexico United to host Liga MX’s FC Juarez on 6/19 at Isotopes Park Albuquerque, NM - New Mexico United is thrilled to announce that the club will host Mexican stars FC Juarez in an incredible international friendly on June 19th at 7:00 PM Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park. The…

GRANTS, NM – The New Mexico Supreme Court has taken the uncommon step of intervening in the case against John Karl O'Brien, who faces serious charges including…

TUCUMCARI — Jack Huffman of Michigan is walking across the country to raise awareness and money for disabled veterans, but his second takeaway from the journey is the …

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – At his court hearing on April 18, Gerrick Mariano, a 26-year-old member of the Navajo Nation from Thoreau, pled guilty to a felony charge of…

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Higher Education Department announced Thursday that it has awarded a total of $1 million to eight New Mexico colleges and universities to fund innovative projects that address food insecurity among students, faculty, and staff.Part of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Food…

High school graduations in Lincoln County are scheduled through the month of May.

The Grants Pirates golf team has won 2 of 4 tournaments this spring season and is currently 2nd in the District 5 4-AAAA class. Grants has 2 more normal season…

April 24 Bingo - Cibola County Senior CenterCareer Fair - NMSU Grants Wednesday April 24th, 2024. Join us for an exciting day of career opportunities, networking, and job growth as we connect you to top employers in the state! FIDEL GYM, 505-- 287-.6678. grants.nmsu.eduApril 26 April Astronomy…

High school students interested in spending a day with the FBI in Albuquerque are encouraged to apply for the agency’s 2024 Teen Academy, which will be held…

GRANTS, NM—If you have been attending the Young People’s Concerts broadcast every Friday at the Cibola Arts Council, you would already have seen one of the three alumni presented in this week’s performance, Cellist, Stephen Kates. All three American performers, Kates, Soprano, Veronica Tyler, and…

The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the June primary election is Tuesday, May 21.   Read More

SANTA FE — Today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued Executive Order 2024-011 (EO 2024011), reinforcing New Mexico’s defenses against cybersecurity threats with stringent measures to safeguard sensitive state agency information.“Cybersecurity is not just a technological issue; it’s a matter of…

The leader of the New Mexico Restaurant Association says some eateries are in a tough spot when it comes to determining what a true service animal is.

There’s always one game that’s closer than expected, the Valencia Jaguars rolled into Grants last Friday, April 19, played the Grants High School baseball team…

The city of Roswell could be required to pay fines of more than $637,000 in connection to the October death of a city employee working at the site of a water main break.

The leader of the New Mexico Restaurant Association says some eateries are in a tough spot when it comes to determining what a true service animal is.

The New Mexico Southwest Regional Education Cooperative (SWREC) and the Public Education Department are awarding grants designed to support students across the state who are struggling academically.Four vendors were selected to provide “High Impact Tutoring” services to New Mexico’s students…

The Grants Pirates golf team has won 2 of 4 tournaments this spring season and is currently 2nd in the District 5 4-AAAA class. Grants has 2 more normal season tournaments to play in before the big district tournament which is held at Santana Golf Club on May 5th. Grants is looking to qualify as a…

The community garden at Animas Elementary School features lettuce, kale, beans, cabbage, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli and a small orchard.

Bandit loves everyone. Meeting new people is always a hit for this friendly little pup. He gets along with other dogs plus he loves treats and toys.GrantsAnimal Care Center 722 Sakelares Boulevard

A man faces three criminal counts for reportedly threatening to shoot fast-food restaurant employees if they did not give him a free milkshake.

Catalina Anita Tafoya-MartinezMarch 3, 1933 — April 15, 2024 Grants, New MexicoCatalina “Katie” Martinez age 91 passed away peacefully at home surrounded by…

The Department of Energy proposed using 9,000 acres on the property of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant nuclear waste repository for "clean energy."

Herbert Lewis Welsch Jr. passed away on April 15th, 2024, after a long illness. He is survived by his wife, Janice Welsch; daughter, Shawna Garcia and spouse,…

April 27 3rd Annual Golf Tournament - Western New Mexico Correctional Facility 2 Man Scramble, $200 per team, Shotgun begins at 9:00am. Door prizes 50/50 raffle. Lunch included price. To Sign Up: Please call/text: Mike De-LaTorre 505.400.1719. Eric Martinez 505.290.0315. Coyote Del Malpais Golf…

Jeff ApodacaAn advocacy group called The New Mexico Project is unleashing vigorous attacks against the state's progressive Democrats and advocating for a field of conservative candidates in the June 4 primary. Their message is that the dominant progressives have failed to improve the state despite having the reins of power in Santa Fe and elsewhere and in the process have sidelined Hispanic voices. The group is the brainchild of businessman Jeff Apodaca, son of former Gov. Jerry Apodaca who served one term ('75-'79). Jeff Apodaca, a moderate Democrat like his father, unsuccessfully sought the 2018 Dem gubernatorial nomination. In an interview he unloaded the frustration that conservative and moderate Dem Hispanics (or Latinos) have expressed among themselves. However, Apodaca says his group is nonpartisan and represents not only Hispanic Dems but also frustrated Republicans and independents: Progressives have been attacking Latinos and electing candidates in the last three elections that do not reflect our communities. I give them credit for getting their vote out but their policies have caused more crime, fewer job opportunities and a failure to deliver on healthcare. They are attacking our Latino candidacies, culture and legacy and it's time for us to respond by getting our vote out not just in presidential elections but all elections.  The NM Project is organized as a federal 501(c)(4) which limits how much political activity they can conduct but the regulations for that have been interpreted loosely. Apodaca says the group has already raised "close to $1 million," all from within the state. That can't be fact-checked because money flowing to the group is not required to be reported to the state or FEC as is the case for the many dark money progressive groups operating here. Says Apodaca:The vast majority of the progressive money attacking our Latino candidates is coming from out of state and it appears the various groups--including Better Future for NM) run by consultant Amanda Cooper--will raise $2 million or more for the primary.ON THE AIR The NM Project is already up with 60 second radio ads narrated by Apodaca. A sample: Our political landscape in New Mexico has been increasingly divided by the far-left progressives and the ultra-right pulling us in opposing directions. But there's a powerful force waiting to be unleashed--the moderate Latino voter. We are the majority. We make up 53 percent of the voters when we vote. Whether you identify yourself as moderate Democrat, Republican or independent, it's a must we come together to support candidates that reflect our shared values--like pro-healthcare, business, education and public safety.The ultra-liberal progressive agenda pushed by outsiders has neglected the needs of the Latino community. The far-right rhetoric has brought further division, threatening our heritage. But we, the Latino voter, have the power to shape the future of our state by voting in the upcoming primaries. We can elect leaders in New Mexico who will bridge the political divide.Apodaca says recent polling reveals that healthcare--and specifically the lack of doctors--is the top issue among Hispanic voters with crime, job opportunities and education next. He says the Project's legislative agenda includes increased Medicaid payments for doctors, a revamp of the gross receipts tax to aid small business and support of a pre-trial detention bill that has stalled out in Santa Fe and that he says would cut crimeHe adds that the group is also supportive of the oil and gas industry, noting that "forty-four percent of the workers in that industry are Latino." THE SLATE Posted is the slate of candidates that the Project will be working to advance in the June 4 primary. (Click to enlarge).They include Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto who is locked in a heated battle with progressive Heather Berghmans in ABQ and Rep. Ambrose Castellano from the Las Vegas area who is being challenged by progressive Anita Gonzales. Rep. Patty Lundstrom, the de facto leader of the House conservatives, is also getting aid from the group for her primary challenge. Apodaca sees local elections as the key to reversing progressive dominance by having an influx of moderate Latino voters. He singled out Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber because, he says, Webber has been attentive to the needs of the Anglo, wealthy and progressive Eastside but not the city's Hispanic majority. Apodaca says MLG and the Legislature have given the cities plenty of money to figure out the crime problem but progressive policies have thwarted any success, There are mayoral elections in Santa Fe and ABQ next year. Webber is term limited but ABQ Mayor Keller is running for a third term. Apdoaca says his group hopes to be involved in both elections. Progressives rose to the peak of their power following the 2020 primary elections where they ousted several longtime conservative Democratic senators including John Arthur Smith. Since then the Senate has drifted more liberal but nothing like the House where progressives took a commanding lead.  The defeat of a family medical leave bill in the House his past session gave rise to conservative Dem hopes that the progressive era has peaked and there will be a swing back toward the middle. The NM Project has the money and the message to push such a change. Whether the voters are ready is the question. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.    E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.comInterested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.  (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2024 Posted by: Joe Monahan / Wednesday, April 24, 2024

There’s always one game that’s closer than expected, the Valencia Jaguars rolled into Grants last Friday, April 19, played the Grants High School baseball team for eight innings in one of the Pirates toughest challenges at home.The Pirates, who were on a 10-game winning streak, were up 3-1 after…

Most people would struggle to write their life story in a single word, but CJ Stroud has no such trouble: Perseverance.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, has been confirmed in a poultry facility in Roosevelt County, according to a press release from t…

Most people would struggle to write their life story in a single word, but CJ Stroud has no such trouble: Perseverance.

Twenty years after the creation and dedication of the three bronze sculptures that make up what locals call The Derrick Floor, the grassy knoll at Sixth and Main streets is transforming from a simple, historic landmark into a lively and interactive playground and picnic area.

Most people would struggle to write their life story in a single word, but CJ Stroud has no such trouble: Perseverance.

Most people would struggle to write their life story in a single word, but CJ Stroud has no such trouble: Perseverance.

A local man accused of defrauding a friend out of more than $60,000 when he posed as a licensed contractor pleaded not guilty Monday to a criminal charge brought again…

Twenty years after the creation and dedication of the three bronze sculptures that make up what locals call The Derrick Floor, the grassy knoll at Sixth and Main streets is transforming from a simple, historic landmark into a lively and interactive playground and picnic area.

One man was shot in what is being described as an isolated incident around 10 a.m. Friday near the Española Hospital.

Twenty years after the creation and dedication of the three bronze sculptures that make up what locals call The Derrick Floor, the grassy knoll at Sixth and Main streets is transforming from a simple, historic landmark into a lively and interactive playground and picnic area.

Twenty years after the creation and dedication of the three bronze sculptures that make up what locals call The Derrick Floor, the grassy knoll at Sixth and Main streets is transforming from a simple, historic landmark into a lively and interactive playground and picnic area.

Taos could soon see year-round passenger air service to Denver.

Posted inWeird News Costco’s Most Purchased Product in New Mexico Isn’t What You Think by The Paper staff April 23, 2024April 23, 2024

LOR is a private foundation that funds projects designed and led by Questa and Taos locals like you. We invest in community solutions focused …

For decades, the Holy Cross Hospital Auxiliary has been a steadfast pillar in the local healthcare community, embodying the spirit of service and compassion. Founded on principles of altruism and

The Animas Elementary School Community Garden Party took place Monday, April 22 with dancing, live music and food.

Attendees at the meeting wanted to know how the federal government financially justified the changes.

LNG permit ban absurd Paul Guessing/Rio Grande Foundaiton What if I told you that one federal government policy could do the following: 1) Undermine Russia’s war against Ukraine (without the US spending a dime); 2) Strengthen economic ties between the US and Asian and European nations; 3) Reduce CO2 emissions; 4) Increase US tax revenues and American jobs (including in …

Hatch Public Schools Superintendent Michael Chavez noticed that students had needs that extended beyond the classroom. Food insecurity quickly popped up on the radar.

Believe it or not, the end of the 2024 school season is fast approaching. Here is your graduation guide to schools in the Otero County area.

Alamogordo Public Schools issued a shelter-in-place at several schools Tuesday morning due to "law enforcement presence," according to APS officials.

Hatch Public Schools Superintendent Michael Chavez noticed that students had needs that extended beyond the classroom. Food insecurity quickly popped up on the radar.

Gallup couple finally recoups unpaid wages plus damages Tuesday, 23 April 2024 07:38 gallupsun Two Gallup residents who sought for years to receive unpaid wages owed by a local business owner finally received their paychecks during the week of April 8 under the terms of a settlement agreement facilitated by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a non-profit organization that promotes worker and social justice.“Persistence is the key word. We didn’t give up. We just stuck with it,” Jose "Pancho" Olivas said. Jose, along with his wife, Sandra Olivas, worked for more than six months for Morgan Newsom, a Gallup business owner, at his Farmington restaurant in 2014 and 2015 and were not paid for all their hours, including overtime...

This year, approximately 1,000 seedlings will be up for grabs with a limit of one per household — twice as many as were available last year.

Six months ago, Santa Fe resident Bob Clark invested significant time and money, over 15 hours and $400, to obtain his license to carry a concealed weapon in New Mexico. However, a recent audit by the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) revealed that the credentials of his instructors and others were expired, leading to the suspension of over 730 licenses. The DPS has found that 27 concealed carry instructors had failed to renew their credentials, prompting an immediate suspension of their permits. As a result, those taught by these instructors, including Clark, have been instructed to retake their training courses. While the courses will be offered without tuition costs, participants will still need to cover ammunition and range fees. Expressing his frustration, Clark argued that the responsibility unfairly falls on the students who complied with all requirements. “The only people who didn’t screw up were us, the students who paid the money,” Clark told the Journal. “We’re the only ones who didn’t do something wrong, yet they’re putting the burden on us to correct it.” DPS has issued a 90-day deadline for affected licensees to complete a new training course and submit a new certificate of completion to maintain their licenses. Failure to meet this requirement will lead to the suspension of their licenses, although they will have the opportunity to reapply later. DPS spokesman Herman Lovato explained that the oversight was discovered during a routine audit. {DPS cannot advise students to carry concealed weapons without meeting the requirements established in law,” Lovato stated, addressing the legality of the previously issued licenses. This issue has also prompted Clark to question the reliability of DPS’s system for verifying instructor compliance, which he believes should ensure that instructors listed as certified on the DPS website are actually qualified. His concerns were underscored by the fact that he had initially verified his instructor’s credentials through the state website. Additionally, Lovato noted that the audit was triggered when an employee noticed that an instructor had not renewed their license. DPS is now implementing a new protocol to notify instructors 30 days before their permits expire to prevent similar issues in the future. Clark has voiced his dissatisfaction with the need to repeat the training, emphasizing the inconvenience and additional costs imposed on students due to the department’s oversight. His experience has led him to call for an investigation to ensure such errors are not repeated, highlighting the potential implications for public safety and civil rights. My question is why do we need to take a class for concealed carry? Heck the police in NM do not fully understand the laws. I have met some of the NM CHL instructors they seam to think they are all knowing and fail to understand many of us have carried weapons most of our own careers. The CHL requirements should be for people to do a background check, the state issues a CHL law book/pamphlet and give the citizen a license. The state is forcing us to take training we do not need, and paying large sums of money to folks that many really do not know what they are doing. Our constitutions state or federal do not require us to take a class. So why are we? You just pointed out how the State of NM has exceeded Federal requirements… What that means is: The State of New Mexico can exceed Federal authority and “wha lah dee dah” no one cares to do anything to upend the power grab by the State of New Mexico. So… The State of NM will successfully argue in the STATE of NM COURTS, (If you bring a suit to them) what rights the Feds didn’t point out are up to the STATES to derive (Deprive- laws always Deprive a person…not add to a right…but to deprive that right) and the State chose to expand on what the Feds did not. NM is a poor State, poor resources, the citizens do not have the time and money to overrule the State because the State has unlimited resources and attorneys to bury you in the court system and if you do get a ruling it will be 5 years from now and then you’ll have to go to the 10th Circuit in Denver, and then the USSC to get that ruling overturned and that is IF IF IF the USSC will agree to hear your case. $2.3 million dollars later… your broke, the USSC refuses to hear your case… and that is it. Most of the time. You have to be a victim. You have to show harm, done to you, specifically in order to further a case against the gooberment of NM. Nothing is simple anymore. Designed and engineered to be obstructive without immediate results…intentionally frustrating for the common person… So the quiet majority sits quiet hoping the gooberment misses them in the mix and leaves them alone. What does that mean? You have to be jailed and deprived of a right. You gotta get shot by the police (aka gooberment or a person acting on behalf of the gooberment) carrying a concealed fireman while doing nothing other than carrying a concealed firearm. You got to prove gross negligence or malicious prosecution that HARMED YOU. I don’t desire to get shot or shot at anymore. I do not desire to be jailed with all the maggots I put there for 20 to life either. We will not be great bed partners, because then I’ll be doing life without parole after our little nighttime encounter when they commit suicide in a double cell 8 x 10 room with only 2 occupants. My point? Laws change when citizens have had enough and vote the far left liberal unicorn rainbow Democrat political party out of NM. It takes days to enact a new law… It takes YEARS to get rid of bad laws. I agree. Why do we need to take a class? Most of us are responsible. Yep… I can think of one issue. Vicarious Liability. Say… if you take a class, by a so called expert… and you end up having to shoot a maggot trying to steal or harm you… You get to blame the expert in court. That’s how it works in the far left liberal unicorn rainbow democratic political party controlled State we reside in. All citizens ARE RESPONSIBLE in my opinion…until the far left liberal unicorn rainbow democrat political party court ruled system turns the citizen into a criminal. I think the USMC was enough training to qualify me for carrying any weapon. Constitutional Carry is the only way to go. Paul, Me too, Semper Fi. To tell you the truth, the gun handling skills of some in my CCW class was a little scary. Need to stress the personal responsibility to train, if needed. Semper Fi to you and Dustin. When the SHTF we best all be ready to take back our Republic. By the way, I offer to train friends who have never had a weapon. Simper Fi Oorah not everyone in New Mexico has the time and money to take a CCW class and some instructors for those classes charge too much and I don’t want to travel far just to take a class They make it costly and difficult because they do not want certain people to be able to carry concealed or for that matter to have a gun at all. what do the States and mostly cities that have the toughest gun restrictions have in common? I am surprised that MLG and her progressive cabal have not introduced legislation to do away with concealed carry. She did… in Albuquerque public areas…Just this year…Where you been? Murdock v. Pennsylvania :: 319 U.S. 105 (1943) As a former police officer in NM, albeit only for 30 of 38 years… and up to the position of a NM Chief of Police, I strongly object to a citizen having to pay any fee whatsoever to carry openly or concealed a firearm. Period. In all those years not one time did I fear an armed citizen. Period. I refuse to apply for a concealed carry permit. Why? It is free for me… NOT FOR THEE. I don’t give a rats a** if I’ve have decades of firearms training… a CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND NO FEE SHOULD BE ASSESSED TO UPHOLD OR DEMONSTRATE YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. Period. When citizens continue to bow and pay fees in order to comply with a CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT… they submit to the fear the gooberment has imposed upon them. Ignorance begets ignorance. I like what you said Clare ! And Thank You for your service!! Agree 100%. Never go anywhere unarmed; Screw the unconstitutional permitting. You are exactly right. Thank you for your service and regard for the Constitution. Constitution Carry would resolve this…… burden should NOT fall on the citizens Exactly. Land of Enchant…Infringement This all started in the swamp under obama. Please read EMILY GETS HER GUN by Emily Miller. This is all spelled out in 2013. It sounds to me that a civil case is appropriate when someone misrepresents themselves as an instructor, takes your money and is unable to deliver. As far as the concealed carry laws in NM are concerned its as if a 3rd grader were allowed input. For example, if you qualify with a 9mm and then purchase a 40cal you have to retest. If you purchased a revolver you could not conceal carry the weapon unless you retest. Additionally there is a 2yr refresher requirement that is absolutely unnecessary. This is a lot of additional cost and unnecessary oversight that could be mitigated with “any handheld weapon larger than 22 cal up and including 45cal.” And the final example, you cannot carry two weapons for which i do not do but am perplexed as to why this is needs to be controlled. It would seem to me that its in NM best interest to make LEGAL concealed carry as practical and cost effective for both the applicant and the state. Not sure about that unless I was told differently The gun owners who took the courses shouldn’t be stripped of their RIGHT as they willfully took and paid for a course! This sounds more like another sneaky attack by the Loserjan regime! As a current New Mexico/California peace officer with 50 years combined service, I am in total support of Constitutional Carry. As an open carry state (with no “permission” required) I fail to see how putting a shirt over your weapon or carrying one in a purse suddenly makes these requirements necessary. I testified in committee in 2017 the first time that ConCarry, at my request by one of our Senators, was introduced. It was promptly slapped down by the Democrats and my fidelity to my Oath was even questioned by members of Everytown for Gun Safety. 28 states have enacted ConCarry and life has been made much easier for the good folks in those states. Let us introduce it in the Legislature every year until it passes under, hopefully, a sane Governor. We usually don’t have concealed carry classes within 100 miles of where we live. Lots of ranches, etc out here, not a lot of super big towns. So we would have the additional expenses of getting a hotel room for the duration of a 3 day class. Stupid if you ask me. Having gone to the police academy back on the East Coast should be an automatic qualification. Wake Up New Mexico Vote Red ! Or expect more of the same, Stop the Insanity. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

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Chronically absent HMS, other districts struggle to get kids to school to learn Andy Brosig/News-Sun Making sure students are in the classroom where they can learn is an ongoing battle parents and school officials fight every day. And, in some cases, it’s an uphill battle, local school officials say. In Hobbs, for example, students miss an average of 17 days …

New Mexico's 20 year waiting game with Virgin Galactic and Spaceport America may be about to end in a crash landing. The stock of billionaire Richard Branson's company dived below a dollar a share Monday, an all-time low. If the stock stays under a buck for 30 days it risks being delisted from the NASDAQ which would dramatically impact its ability to raise desperately needed funding.  Facing this stark scenario, what does VG do? It tries emergency life support to keep the stock above a buck:Virgin Galactic will ask shareholders to approve a reverse stock split intended to boost the falling share price of the suborbital spaceflight company. . .One proposal will ask shareholders to perform a reverse stock split of between 1-for-2 and 1-for-20. That would convert anywhere from 2 to 20 existing shares of Virgin Galactic stock into one new share. The reverse split would have the effect of increasing the share price.  A reverse stock split is the opposite of an ordinary stock split. Instead of giving you more shares, it leaves you with fewer. Investors are upset at this prospect -- even though it won't affect the actual value of an investment in Virgin Galactic. Whether you own 1,000 shares of stock worth $1 each or 50 shares of stock worth $20 each, you own $1,000 worth of stock. Another sign that the death rattle may be near for VG and its space tourism flights from Spaceport America near T or C is Branson's declaration that he is through dumping cash into the struggling venture: Branson said that his business empire will not be putting more money into Virgin Galactic, which recently fleshed out its near-term growth strategy. “We don’t have the deepest pockets after COVID, and Virgin Galactic has got $1bn, or nearly. It should, I believe, have sufficient funds to do its job on its own,” he said. NM SpaceportBut does VG really have "sufficient funds?" At the end of last year it listed $982 million in cash and marketable securities after losing $502 million in the same year and $500 million in '22. Most of the cash is from well-off potential space tourists who have ponied up as much as $400,000 a pop to secure their dream of being launched into suborbital space. Investors continue to run for the hills, crashing the stock Monday nearly 13 percent leaving it at a meager seventy-five cents a share. That price values the company at about $300 million, a whole lot less than VG says it has in cash. Investors are clearly saying (and warning) that they believe VG is going to burn through the cash they have before they can restart regular space launches that are in abeyance while the company builds a new spacecraft. Before halting flights the company had launched 19 customers. VG's slogan is turning the "impossible into the inevitable." Sadly the inevitable appears to be a going out of business sign. Sure, the company's demise has been prematurely forecast before but never has Branson acted like a pallbearer as he is now.The honchos at Spaceport America seem to see what's coming. They've been leaning on the Legislature for a couple of million a year in subsides to keep the taxpayer-built Spaceport going. In their new ten year plan they say they will seek many more tenants as they try to diversify away from the dependence on VG.Meantime, the political powers that be here continue to play ostrich, seeing and speaking little on the subject. Soon there will be something to open their eyes as VG comes in for a landing on a wing and a prayer--and maybe only a prayer.  MORE VG COVERAGEReader Dan Warren in Sierrra county has been on the VG watch:Hi Joe, Factors affecting their continued existence include recently being sued by Boeing for $25 million for money Virgin Galactic failed to pay them. Virgin Galactic responded by counter-suing Boeing, claiming Boeing's work for them was shoddy. To make things more difficult in coming months as Virgin Galactic plans for their last flight in New Mexico during the second quarter is a grounding order by the FAA. This happened after their January flight when an alignment pin broke off and fell to the ground somewhere. Most stories about the broken alignment pin never mentioned that the result was being grounded. Virgin Galactic will need to redesign (?) and repair the broken part and get FAA approval before they can fly the last flight of the Unity Spaceship, which is supposed to fly in the next 75 days and they said they would.  KUDOS TO HAALANDChavez and HaalandAn interesting email from former ABQ Mayor Martin Chavez in reaction to the Monday blog wherein Sec. of Interior Deb Haaland was mentioned as a possible '26 Dem Guv candidate as well as Sen. Martin Heinrich. Is the former three term Mayor taking sides in the early going? You be the judge:Joe, Kudos to Secretary Haaland and Senator Heinrich for their good work regarding Placitas and gravel mining. Lost somewhere in the news, however, is the truly historic Final Public Lands Rule announced last week by the Department of Interior which elevates clean energy and conservation to at least equal status with fossil fuel extraction on public lands. Assuming it overcomes the legal challenges which are sure to ensue, New Mexico's Deb Haaland will go down as one of the most impactful Secretaries of Interior of all time. We all knew that hers was an historic appointment but this new rule will forever change how public lands are managed. And all by our own Deb Haaland! Haaland's base in the state Dem party is progressive but former Mayor Marty is a keeper of the flame for moderate Dems and Hispanics. As we said, interesting. CLOSING INThe June 4 primary is closing in. The SOS comes with this: Registered voters in New Mexico can now request an absentee ballot for the 2024 Primary Election at NMVOTE.ORG. This year, voters can also voluntarily opt-in to be part of the permanent absentee list when requesting their absentee ballot. When a voter chooses this option they will receive an absentee ballot in the mail for every subsequent election. Voters can remove themselves from the permanent absentee list at any time.  The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the Primary Election is Tuesday, May 21, 2024. If mailing back an absentee ballot, voters should allow 7-10 days for their ballot to be delivered back to their County Clerk’s office. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.    E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.comInterested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.  (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2024 Posted by: Joe Monahan / Tuesday, April 23, 2024

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As clean energy advocates celebrated Earth Day on a warm spring Monday, they also applauded a new federal award the state got to make solar power more accessible.

Students of the UNM-Taos Massage Therapy Program embark on a profound journey of self-discovery and healing.

Enter now for a chance to win $100K, a virtual design consultation with HGTV’s Jenny & Dave Marrs, a STIHL prize package & much more!

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As Brandon Glenn hiked through a light, open area of the Santa Fe National Forest northeast of the city Thursday morning, he paused and bent over a circle of burned

Portales, NM – April 22, 2024 – In conjunction with several local music venues, Eastern New Mexico... Read More

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Sec. Haaland (Bush, Journal)It's true. Your blog is at the head of the parade when it comes to monitoring a possible 2026 Guv run by Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland. We're not shying away from that beat either as top state Democrats have been quietly chattering for months over Haaland's intentions. That includes a longtime Dem consultant with ties to Haaland who sends along this photo of a smiling Haaland in ABQ signing a public land order putting 4,200 acres of federal land near Placitas off limits to mining. They captioned the pic: "Looking Like A Governor."Public speculation thus far has centered on Sen. Martin Heinrich who has made it clear that a Guv run could be in the cards, if he is re-elected to a third Senate term this November.But Heinrich now has his hands full--unexpectedly so--with a name and monied opponent in Nella Domenici who is already attacking him for entertaining thoughts of becoming Governor which would mean not finishing any next termA solid run by Domenici could spoil Heinrich's daydream. More than that, Haaland, if she does run, could be a lock for the Democratic nomination because of her appeal to Dem progressives and her identity as the first Native woman who would be elected to the governorship. Senior Alligators (trusted sources) and top Dems don't foresee a Heinrich-Haaland primary, believing that only one of them will be standing at the end of the day.Soon after the fall election the fog surrounding the '26 Dem Guv chase will begin to break. That's when to expect Haaland to figure prominently. As the late great Ernie Mills would opine: "Don't say we didn't tell you."JAVIER AND MIMI Sen. StewartHouse Speaker Javier Martinez is supporting all House Dems in their re-election bids as he puts aside any disagreements the progressive leader has with his conservative colleagues. But that doesn't apply to the state Senate. Martinez's personal campaign account gave $5,500 to Dem Senate candidate and progressive Heather Berghmans who is challenging moderate Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto in the June primary. Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart appears to be staying out of that testy contest--at least financially. We spot no donations to Berghmans from Stewart's personal campaign or her leadership PAC in the latest campaign reports. In 2022 Ivey-Soto, under pressure from Stewart, resigned his rules committee chairmanship amid sex harassment charges dating from 2015 leveled against him by progressive lobbyist Marianna Anaya. However, another prominent Dem Senator, ABQ's Katy Duhigg who has also tangled with Ivey-Soto, isn't shy about the race. Her campaign donated $5,500 to Berghmans. In another Dem senate primary featuring a progressive versus a moderate, the name of famed retired newsman Sam Donaldson pops up. He gave $5,500 to Heather Balas, the centrist Democrat facing progressive Cindy Nava in the Rio Rancho/Corrales District 9 race. (Senate Prez Stewart gave $2,500 to Nava.) Donaldson is a longtime middle of the roader, hanging with moderate Dems like Jeff Apodaca since returning to the state. The broadcaster who aced the White House beat for ABC news lives in ABQ and is now 90. ANOTHER SAM Another well-known Sam--Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman--continues to fight off a primary challenge from fellow Dem and former US Attorney Damon Martinez. The gloves are coming off fast as Martinez tries to put into play the APD-DWI scandal. He gets some help from J.R. Davis, a retired Supervisory Agent with the Department of Homeland Security: A recent comment by former US Attorney David Iglesias indicates that DA Bregman should have recused himself from the dismissed DWI cases because, when he was a defense attorney, he himself had DWI cases dismissed involving one of the main APD officers currently under investigation. Iglesias did not list these cases. I can. On March 22nd, APD Officer Joshua Montano resigned from APD. He is one of the main APD police officers being investigated by the FBI regarding the DWI case dismissals. The US Attorney informed DA Bregman about Officer Montano’s ethical issues on January 2nd. There exist three DWI cases where: 1) Bregman was the defense attorney at the time; 2) all three cases were dismissed; and 3) they all involved APD Officer Joshua Montano. In other words, 100% of the DWI cases that then defense attorney Bregman had with APD Officer Montano were dismissed. The DA’s Office has jurisdiction over investigating APD public corruption. Consequently, the DA’s Office should investigate the DWI scandal in partnership with the FBI and US Attorney’s Office when it is determined that there are issues better left to state investigation. However, the dismissed DWI cases and the entire matter now has a cloud over it because of DA Bregman’s direct involvement and that he failed to immediately mention his involvement with APD Officer Montano . The DA’s Office should have a grand jury investigation looking into all DWI cases involving Officer Montano that were dismissed. In this situation, however, DA Bregman’s three prior DWI cases will come up. Therefore, Assistant DAs can’t investigate their own boss who is the DA. This is the actual conflict situation that DA Bregman has now shamefully placed our community in by not recusing himself.Bregman has yet to comment on the alleged conflict. If and when he does, you'll see it here. MEDINA REACT APD Chief MedinaSome reader reaction to APD Chief Medina's defense of his record on the Thursday blog as well as the announcement that he will leave the job at the end of 2025. Ron Nelson writes:APD and Medina say “Crime continues to go down, following national trends.” Hint: when you don’t answer calls or apprehend criminals, of course crime goes down. Seriously, anyone in this town who owns a ring camera or video surveillance will dispute this claim. Reader Doug Petersen writes: Joe, PIO Gilbert Gallegos and Chief Medina Harold taking a slap at Coronado Mall only makes more businesses hate them. FYI, a friend told me that APD was not invited to the media townhall on crime last week at the request of the other people who were invited. They were sick of Medina spinning everything and not taking responsibility for anything.Reader Kelley writes: It might be a lot of people’s “perception”but Medina sucks. I was happy he’s announced his departure, but the end of 2025, really?! Wow, I don’t get the huge defense by all for him, makes no sense to me. This city sure doesn’t feel safe or better with him or the mayor. Great reporting (always).This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.   E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.comInterested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.  (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2024 Posted by: Joe Monahan / Monday, April 22, 2024

Last month, over 137,000 illegal immigrants were intercepted trying to cross into the U.S. at non-designated entry points along the border near El Paso, Texas. Doña Ana County District Attorney Gerald Byers has entered into a cooperative agreement with U.S. Border Patrol to address this issue. The purpose of the agreement is to enhance the safety and security of border communities by increasing prosecutorial actions. This collaboration comes in response to growing safety concerns for both residents and Border Patrol agents in the area. The move also comes after open-borders Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pulled all New Mexico National Guard personnel from the border early in her first term and said, “I reject the federal contention that there exists an overwhelming national security crisis at the Southern border.” She also dubbed the crisis as a “charade of border fear-mongering.” Mount Cristo Rey, a key landmark and cherished monument, has become one of the primary locations affected by the scourge of illegal immigration. Border Patrol agents were caught telling a Fox News reporter the sacred mountain was “theirs” now, referring to the Cartel. Despite the crisis, Lujan Grisham will not work with federal authorities to alleviate the effects of the invasion, not even during the special session she has called for July 18, which is supposed to deal with public safety. “Mount Cristo Rey has a history here. It was built by El Pasoans, so a lot of people have made their pilgrimages,” explained Ruben Escandon, Jr., a representative of the Mount Cristo Rey Restoration Committee. Escandon also noted the monument’s recent challenges with migration, recalling times when the area saw significant crossings. “Even years ago, when we had smaller groups that would go, we would escort a church group of maybe 60 to 70 people, and there would be 90 to 100 people come down,” he stated. Crime has escalated in the area, making it riskier for individuals visiting alone. “When people are isolated up there, there [were] a lot of robberies going on, a lot of events that would happen,” added Escandon, who now advises visitors to participate in organized group events for safety. The new pact with Border Patrol was initiated by the agency itself, which expressed concerns about the local community’s safety in southern Doña Ana County, as well as that of its agents. Byers emphasized that the agreement is geared towards enforcing state laws against criminal activities detected by border officials, focusing on public safety rather than immigration issues. “If the message is brought to those folks who would attempt to cross illegally, that Doña Ana County is not the place to do that because of safety hazards to themselves and prosecution because it violates public safety, then that is more incentive for people to go through the port of entry,” Byers stated. Moreover, Byers highlighted that border towns such as Sunland Park, Santa Teresa, and Anapra have been particularly affected by heavy trafficking and illegal immigrant crossings. The focus of legal scrutiny under this agreement will include crimes such as breaking and entering, harboring a felon, extortion, human trafficking, and other severe violent offenses. MLG is derelict in her duty to secure the safety and security of the borderland. She needs to be held accountable. Yes, but who is going to hold her accountable???? Everyone who is charged with the accountability is in her hip pocket….Who do you tell???? There is no one to tell. She could be executing people in the streets and who would we tell?? The Legislature? No! The State Supreme Court? No! The State Police? No! They are all in her hip pocket. It’s like Nazi Germany. Try telling anyone in power what Hitler is doing….go ahead and try. They are in it with her! oh my, you sure did nail it for sure… Sadly true and well said Vote them all out. MLG, Biden, and Mayorkas all want open borders. Good luck if we think congress or our state government will put an end to this treason. Too much cheap labor for their corporate masters and new voters for them. Action at the local level, particularly counties may be the way to save ourselves. This is good to hear. Little by little we will take back our country. MLG, Heinrich, Stansbury and Leger Fernandez have all been rubber stamps for Biden, Pelosi and Obama from Day One…they demonstrate their Marxist ideology every time they open their mouths and then vote. Seen them in action in Congressional hearings? Embarrassing and outrageous. But state voters, in their ignorance and Democrat ‘tradition’ keep voting them into office. Killer combination of the free sh*t posse and buy-the-world-coke voters. Writers forgot to add all the repulsive rinos and also rino speaker of the house Mike Johnson who have betrayed the American people once again. While sending billions to Ukraine and Israel not a penny was allocated for border security. Maybe their really on the same team as MLG and Biden and we’re just dupes who argue incessantly about “left” “right” like fools. Maybe it’s the rinos and the democommies against the American people! The sooner we remove Loserjan from squatting in the roundhouse the better off New Mexico will be!! Let the people who have busted their asses to keep America safe do their job– and let the citizens be protected.. Loserjan and Hiney-lick have done nothing but try to destroy and cripple the people of New Mexico!! Public hanging of treasonistic politicians is suggested!! New Mexicans need to arm themselves and be on the ready or the corrupt politicians will hand our land and rights away whilst taking kickbacks! Nothing will change until we drag that 5 foot troll out of office. But is anyone doing anything??? NOPE. Months after she tried taking our guns literally DEFYING THE CONSTITUTION. MLG is nothing but a traitor and no one’s doing anything!!! Her husband has ties with Mexico/drugs and is a crook so she loves that the border is wide open. Yes the oppressed will keep voting for their oppressors. And those who are blind too the truth. As well as all the liberal leftist we’ve attracted to NM. Very sad. I moved to Las Cruces in 1988 and already then we were advised not to climb Mount Cristo Rey by ourselves, but only in a large group, preferably with some security. This has been a problem for over 35 years, and I didn’t see King, Johnson, or Martinez deal with it either. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

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The U.S. Border Patrol continues to use its authority over marijuana shipments, including state-licensed cannabis, including in New Mexico, where it is legal. Despite the state’s legal market exceeding $1 billion in sales, many cannabis transporters report being detained and their products seized at Border Patrol checkpoints, according to the Associated Press. These checkpoints are typically situated about 60 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, primarily to screen for illegal immigrants and illicit drugs. This issue has escalated to the point where far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham discussed the matter with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. “Secretary Mayorkas assured the governor that federal policies with respect to legalized cannabis have not changed,” stated Michael Coleman, a spokesperson for the governor. Moreover, the situation has prompted marijuana business managers to seek intervention from New Mexico’s fully Democrat congressional delegation, hoping to secure safe passage for their shipments and address financial losses due to federal seizures. “We request that operators who have had product federally seized should be allowed to either get their product returned or be monetarily compensated for the losses they’ve sustained,” the group wrote in a letter. Leftist Democrat Sen. Martin Heinrich criticized the Department of Homeland Security’s priorities, suggesting that they should focus more on stopping illicit drugs like fentanyl rather than targeting state-compliant cannabis suppliers. “Stopping the flow of illicit fentanyl into our country should be the Department of Homeland Security’s focus at these checkpoints, not seizing cannabis that’s being transported in compliance with state law,” he stated. Heinrich, however, does not appear to care about the flow of fentanyl across the border, though, as he opposes measures to secure the wide-open border where the killer drug is seeping through. The U.S. Border Patrol reaffirmed that despite the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in many states, under federal law, which classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance, its sale and distribution remain illegal. Welp! No wonder the drug cartels are taking over NM. THAT EXPLAINS ALOT! MLG NEEDS TO BE IMPEACH. SHE IS A CORRUPTION!!!! Impeach the demonrat witch! Worst governor on history ! Never vote blue again ! Red all the way ! Trump 2024 Pot, up to birth abortions, trashed the US Constitution over COVID, election fraud, etc. She isn’t “far left” she is a treasonous tyrant, pure and simple. The Department of Homeland Security has determined that fentanyl is their drug of choice as it is the most deadly and destructive, and doesn’t want competition from a bunch of herb freaks. What you say makes sense… So the power drunk Democrats are have a power struggle amongst themselves… Demonrats destroy everything they touch. Worst of the heathen. Impeach the wicked ungodly MLG, we all know that needs to happen but it’s kinda hard when all her comrades have control of the round house. Vote them out of office all who is up for re-election in November. She has totally destroyed NM and now all the illegals and the Mexico cartels are coming into NM more than ever since she has not protected our border. Our border cities are at risk, and the further they come north, so are we…. Praying for Gods mercy. Vote Right New Mexico. Save the State. Democrats Are Destroying America. I guess it’s time to avoid Border Patrol checkpoints like the smugglers do. Shouldn’t be much of a problem. MLG could solve this issue by distributing maps to enable safe passage for legally transported products. I thought Marijuana sold in NM has to be a product of NM? Did a local dispensary just get fined to selling Marijuana from California? Border check will bust anyone who transports cannabis through the boarder check points. If one legally buys cannabis in Las Cruces and arrives at border check, even if it’s medical cannabis and you remain in the state, you are busted. Boarder check is federal land. Got to know the laws mlg. Both Loserjan and Hiney-lick need removed from public office and banned from seeking ANY Gov’t position!!! “Stopping the flow of illicit fentanyl into our country should be the Department of Homeland Security’s focus at these checkpoints, not seizing cannabis that’s being transported in compliance with state law,” he stated. Heinrich, however, does not appear to care about the flow of fentanyl across the border, though, as he opposes measures to secure the wide-open border where the killer drug is seeping through. Two points here- number one Heinrich is completely against the border wall but wants to protect New Mexico cannabis. Typical juvenile thinking. Number two he wants cannabis that was in compliance to be returned to the owner. Now switch out the items of cannabis with people who are in compliance with their guns and they get their guns taken. Heinrich fights for cannabis but he will not fight for people’s guns. Both are private property. It just depends on what’s important to him. Just saying. People who have had their guns taken away due to red flag laws even though they had the proper credentials end up paying up to tens of thousands of dollars to get them back. Double standard for everything according to Democrats. Just Dims buying votes. They only have ONE standard there. Potards vote Dino, shooters don’t. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

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Real issues or political strategy? Legislators react to governor’s special session Levi Hill/News-Sun Will bills that actually improve public safety make the cut or is the governor simply looking to prop up some candidates she hopes to see elected? That’s the question many Lea County legislators are asking after it was announced Wednesday Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has called for …

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One Artesia man has been arrested on burglary charges and another remains at large following a break-in early Friday morning at a local vape shop.

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The Independent News The hometown news source for the East Mountains, Edgewood and Estancia valley. Authorities are doing some spring cleaning at the Santa Fe District Courthouse.  The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Law Offices of the Public Defender are teaming up with the courts later this month to give people with outstanding warrants a chance to see a judge, meet with a public defender and receive favorable consideration for their case. First […] This article (and all of our content) is available to read for FREE. To access it, just LOGIN if you've been here before. Or sign up for a free or paid subscription now. Subscribe or learn more here The Independent News.- Advertise- News Tip- Meet our team A member of the Ctrl+P Publishing group. Proudly local, independent and New Mexico-owned.- More at newmexico.news

Socorro County Commissioners have a special meeting on Monday morning with an executive session to...

On Wednesday, far-left, ant-gun Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico announced a special legislative session to address growing public safety issues in the state while refusing to add the border issue to the docket. During an interview with Action 7 News reporter John Cardinale, the governor detailed her observations and the motivations behind her decision. Lujan Grisham shared her personal experiences that underscored the urgency of the situation, saying, “I’m continuing to see an escalation of risk in our communities. I go to the grocery store, and I go to the pharmacy. I don’t think I’ve been once in a year and a half where a theft is not in progress. It’s outrageous.” In response to these concerns, the governor outlined key legislative goals for the upcoming session. One of her primary objectives is to implement tougher penalties for felons found in possession of firearms. “If you just got out and now you are possessing a firearm illegally, you are not rehabilitated. You are a risk and a threat to my public safety,” she stated. “If I can hold you in there for five more years, maybe you don’t get rehabilitated. But I’m safer for those five years.” Additionally, Lujan Grisham advocated for changes to pre-trial detention policies, suggesting the adoption of a “rebuttable presumption” model. This would require defendants to demonstrate that they do not pose a danger to the community before being released. “It works in the federal system. It mitigates risk in the community. I don’t know why we’re not replicating it here,” she explained. When Cardinale asked if “crime was the worst she had seen it in New Mexico,” she replied, “This is a hard thing to answer because I don’t want viewers to think that I’m trying to sidestep your very pointed, productive question. It’s more visible than I’ve ever seen it, and it feels to me a little more brazen,” she said. Lujan Grisham elaborated on the adaptive nature of criminal organizations, stating, “What I see is that the really bad organized actors find a gap and move into it. Then we deal with that gap, and then they move into another one. I want them to stop being able to go anywhere. I want bad actors in jail where they belong.” The word salad answer shows just how out-of-touch Lujan Grisham has become on the issue of crime. The special session is scheduled to commence on July 18, when lawmakers will convene to discuss and potentially enact these new public safety measures. It is unclear what, if any, anti-gun bills Lujan Grisham will attempt to ram through. How can MLG expect to not have crime running rampant in our state? She won’t close the border! She doesn’t want a bail system in our jails. Our education system is the lowest in the nation. She needs to attend to the real problems. Leave our guns alone! The left did this intentionally so they could come to the rescue.lol. Epstein and Richardsons buddy is a joke You are so right Lisa. That is the truth I’m Carlsbad it is now El walemarte and El macadonalds we have been invaded by illegal aliens it is ridiculous Ya gee what’s wrong with fellons having guns ? Absolutely take their guns . “OUR GUNS” . Are you a felon ? MLG is guilty of committing crimes herself. Right Typical communist double speak. Her democommie “progressives “ made NM a no or low bail state and created the revolving door justice system that she now wants to “fix”. Her and her ilk approved removing police authority and defunding and are OK with coddling criminals while caring nothing about the victims of crime. Now they seem surprised at the results! It’s not like they’re gonna suddenly care , this unnecessary session May just be a Trojan horse for gun grabbing, making the crime situation worse. A fix would be to pass tough legislation to keep criminals in jail and “castle laws “ so citizens can protect their own property! Criminal MLG is guarding the jail house. Word salad? Must be taking pointers from veep! I would be very surprised if MLG went to a grocery store or a pharmacy. I am sure she has someone do those chores for her. Going to either would be below her dignity. Exactly. She is such a #Liar I agree. Back in the day, though, even though you may not like them, I would see Jill and Tom Udall at the grocery stores. I shop in Santa Fe all the time because I live up here. I have heard of theft in some stores at some times of the day. I have never seen one. I wonder where she shops that she’s seen it every time she goes for the past year and a half. What a joke! She gets softball questions. I don’t see how this puts her in a bad light at all. She gets away with her rhetoric. She want’s people in prison to “learn” and “prove” their brainwashing worked while incarcerated. She is wanting to jail citizens for exercising a constitutional right. Judges let the criminals out, pending trial to cause more crimes. Word salad is much to kind a term for MLG. She is a deliberate liar! Main stream news never ever asks the left hard questions. He could have asked her about all the good crime relief bills that came up that her ilk voted down. We know she agreed with them or she would have made it public. Not to mention that our court judges are hands tied by her ilk. Plus many of our judges being emerge trained could have been brought up.. MLG isn’t bright enough to realize much of the increase in crime is due to thousands more illegals crossing the border into NM … or she just doesn’t want to admit it. I usually don’t watch when she is talking and now I know why, she looks too much like Hilary Clinton. She is a disgrace and embarrassment to the people of New Mexico. Everyone needs to realize that there is no rehabilitation in prison. They are all put together nonviolent in with violent offenders. The ones who are separated are sex crimes against children. This demented governor is trying to do as much damage to New Mexico as possible. Impeach her ass! Definitely a hidden agenda in her special session! We need to find out what it is. She is very sneaky. This won’t be the time it happens, but it is happening. MLG along with the Sierra Club are in the process of making you pay taxes to support others buying electric vehicles, which is a non-solution to environmental problems. The legislature has already passed the laws. She intends to have evs mandated by 2030 at the latest. 80% of all vehicles coming into NM are to be evs. Different subject, but I want to spread the word. Ha! Last I remembered that she went to the jewelry store during COVID and bought our tax money for an expensive necklace. I don’t think she ever went any other stores . Had she been to sanctuary stores? I doubt it. She knows that there are high crimes but won’t admit it. She’s a joke. IMPEACH MLG!!! Verbal diarrhea When us minions can’t afford the EVs that this dictator has demanded how will the elites deal with the horse poop? Because that will be how us little guys get around. It’s the affordable transportation for us hard working class. Close our border. Stop with the double talk. Use tax payer money wisely. Stop killing babies in our state. Quit trying to force the people of NM to follow her ridiculous climate change agenda. She put us into the federal governments cloud seeding climate change scheme. She needs to be impeached. She also needs to respect and understand our 2nd amendment. It is “We the People”, not “Me the governor”! She started the M seen and you know the other. So what are the NM’s into now. Not the majority ! We need prayers and get the word out. Change NM to the good and PRAY! On You Tube is a page just for NM. “New Mexico Body cam” at the end of every event is the deposition of the criminal, NOTE everyone of them has mutable arrest then release, possession of firearms, attacks on police, fleeing etc.etc.etc.etc. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay Updated A dramatic confrontation unfolded when Anissa Tinnin, an Albuquerque grandmother, protected herself and her granddaughter from a fugitive intruder, Joseph... A trial date has been established for Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old man from Marion, who faces charges including the murder... On Saturday, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham boasted on X about her excursion to Washington, D.C., to attend swanky... According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.... Stay Updated We will NEVER charge you for our news!

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A local political group is offering the community a chance to learn more about the Democratic candidates set to appear on the June 4 primary election ballot. The San Miguel County Federation of Democratic Women will present a Democratic Primary Candidate Forum on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Café Colibri, formerly Travelers Café, at 1814 Plaza St. Wendy Leavens, who serves as the group’s treasurer, said she could not confirm which candidates will be at the forum. She said every effort has been made to reach them all. Candidates are running for New Mexico state senate, New Mexico state representative, San Miguel County commissioner, county clerk and county treasurer. “Our group is not allowed to endorse any candidate,” Leavens said. Members of the San Miguel County Federation of Democratic Women will create a list of questions for the candidates to answer. Candidates will have a set amount of time to give their answers. Furthermore, the public will be allowed to ask questions, so that they may form their own opinion about each candidate. Leavens said she hopes the event will decrease voter apathy by helping the public truly get to know each candidate. “People have a tendency to vote (for) someone based on their surname,” Leavens said. “They don’t really know what (the candidates) do … what they stand for, or what they want to accomplish.” “We want to educate the voters.” Primary election is June 4, with early voting starting May 7, Leavens noted. “It’s sneaking up on us,” she said. Part of the New Mexico Federation of Democratic Women, the San Miguel County group has about 35 dues-paying members, Leavens said. About 10 people regularly attend the group’s meetings, which take place every third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at The Spot, 310 Socorro St. Anyone can join the group regardless of gender, Leavens said. The only requisite to join is that one pays the $20 annual membership fee. For more information about the San Miguel County Federation of Democratic Women, call Wendy Leavens at 505-407-7075. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Luna Community College is excited to announce the launch of the Padres Y Madres Academy, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering parents and guardians with essential skills to support their students’ educational journey. The Parents’ Academy offers a comprehensive curriculum covering critical topics such as Digital Literacy, Financial Literacy, Financial Aid (including FAFSA and Scholarships), and Luna Career Pathways. With the ever-evolving landscape of education and technology, Luna Community College recognizes the importance of equipping parents with the knowledge and tools necessary to actively engage in their students’ academic and financial success. Luna Community College is thrilled to introduce the Padres Y Madres Academy as part of their ongoing commitment to fostering student success and community engagement. Parents play a pivotal role in supporting their students’ educational journey, and this academy aims to provide them with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate important aspects of the college experience effectively. The Padres Y Madres Academy curriculum covers the following key topics: 1. Digital Literacy: Helping parents navigate technology and online resources to support their students’ learning in today’s digital age. 2.  Financial Literacy: Equipping parents with essential financial management skills to support their students’ college expenses and plan for the future. 3.  Financial Aid: Providing guidance on navigating the complex process of applying for financial aid, including completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and seeking scholarships. 4.  Luna Pathways: Offering insights into Luna Community College’s various pathways, programs, and resources available to students to help them achieve their academic and career goals. The Padres Y Madres Academy will offer a series of workshops, seminars, and resources designed to accommodate the diverse needs and schedules of parents and guardians. Through interactive sessions led by knowledgeable instructors and guest speakers, participants will gain practical skills, insights, and strategies to effectively support their students’ educational journey. For more information about the Padres Y Madres Academy and upcoming workshops, please contact Sherry Goodyear at parentsacademy@luna.edu, or via phone at 505-587-3827. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

The FEMA Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office is hosting two hiring fairs at the end of April and beginning of May for full-time Claims Office staff. The hiring fairs will help fill full-time positions to support the important mission of processing claims and compensating those impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. Interested individuals are encouraged to attend the hiring fairs to learn more about these opportunities to serve their communities. When: April 29; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. May 1; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Where: Santa Fe Higher Education Center, Second Floor (1950 Siringo Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87505) Those interested in attending are also encouraged to attend two upcoming free federal resume writing workshops on April 18 and April 25 at 5:30 p.m. MT to prepare for the hiring fairs. To attend the workshops, individuals can register at the following link: https://fema.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_oILjXrmoQsqYxEcNSZxXBA #/registration Claims Office staff will be on site to receive resumes and conduct on-the-spot interviews. Open positions for our Santa Fe Claims Office l include Claims Navigators, Program and Data Analysts, Public Affairs Specialists, Supervisory Program Analysts and Attorney Advisors. The Office is looking for individuals who can represent the Claims Office with compassion, fairness, integrity and respect. Ideal candidates will have customer service experience; strong analytical, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills; and experience completing high-quality products within assigned time frames. “We are looking for individuals who are passionate about helping others and making a meaningful impact in their communities,” said Jennifer Carbajal, Deputy Director of the FEMA Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office. “This is an opportunity to play a vital role in getting much-needed compensation into the hands of those affected by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.” FEMA employee benefits include eligibility for public service student loan forgiveness; federal retirement plans; paid annual leave; mental health resources; health, dental, and vision insurance; annual federal pay raises, and career growth opportunities. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office is committed to meeting the needs of people impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and subsequent flooding by providing full compensation available under the law as expeditiously as possible. Anyone impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and subsequent flooding is encouraged to visit any one of our three Claims Offices. Visit fema.gov/disaster /current/hermits-peak/contact-us for locations and hours. For information and updates regarding the Claims Office, please visit the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office website at fema.gov/hermits-peak. For information in Spanish, visit fema.gov/es/hermits-peak. You can also follow our Facebook page and turn notifications on to stay up to date about the claims process, upcoming deadlines and other program announcements at facebook.com/HermitsPeakCalfCanyonClaimsOffice. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

The 2024 high school baseball season has been a high-hanging curveball for Magdalena, but the...

New Mexico Highlands University has been ranked No. 28 nationally among the 100 Most Affordable Online Colleges for 2024 by College Consensus. NMHU is the only public college or university in New Mexico to be ranked for Online Affordability. NMHU is also ranked No. 86 by College Consensus in the 100 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the nation. This ranking makes NMHU the only higher education institution in the state to be ranked in both the 100 Most Affordable Online Colleges and the 100 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities for 2024. NMHU is home to several prestigious academic programs, including The Center for Excellence in Social Work, The Native American Social Work Studies Institute, The Institute for Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Learning and Teaching, and New Mexico’s only accredited Forestry program that plays a major role in the state’s reforestation efforts. Recently, two of NMHU’s top scientists received national media attention for discovering a new anaconda species. “This ranking highlights the value of a New Mexico Highlands University education,” President Sam Minner said. “But NMHU equally represents a quality education because of our outstanding academic programs, a vast array of student support services we provide to help shepherd our students from their first day on campus to completing their degree, and an engaged administration, faculty, and staff. At New Mexico Highlands University, value and quality converge to give our graduates an exceptional education that transforms lives and communities.” To be considered for the College Consensus online ranking, colleges must be accredited and recognized by the National Center for Education Statistics while offering at least three bachelor’s degree programs that can be completed completely or primarily online. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned: • Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here. • Don’t spam us. • Don’t attack our journalists. Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful. Email questions to pscherer@orourkemediagroup.com. Join the conversation Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Have the latest local news delivered so you don't miss out on updates. Currently in Las Vegas We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: