New Mexico News Insiders

New Mexico voters are making decisions that could shape the state's political future for years to come. What's at stake in the 2026 midterm election? Chris and Gabby host KRQE Political Analyst and professional pollster Gabe Sanchez to break down the biggest races on the ballot. Gabe shares insight on the high-stakes governor's race between Deb Haaland and Gregg Hull, and the state's competitive c...

New Mexico's next governor will help shape the state's future. What would New Mexico's future look like under each candidate? Chris and Gabby host Democratic candidate Deb Haaland, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Joe Biden, and Republican candidate Gregg Hull, longtime mayor of Rio Rancho. We ask both candidates tough, specific questions about their experience, priorities, an...

New Mexico is home to an estimated 9,000 black bears. This year, more of them are crossing paths with people. By early August, the New Mexico Department of Wildlife had received 230 bear reports, up from 159 in 2025. So what's driving the increase? A dry winter and unusually dry, hot summer have made it harder for bears to find natural food, pushing them closer to neighborhoods. In August, a 67-ye...

The Rio Grande ran dry in parts of New Mexico once again this year, and water managers warn this could be a glimpse of more challenges ahead. Despite recent rains, New Mexico is facing an increasingly limited water supply while demand continues to grow. So who gets the water when there isn't enough to go around? Chris and Gabby host Jason Casuga, Chief Engineer and CEO of the Middle Rio Grande Con...

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller won an unprecedented third consecutive term. But after eight years in office, what's different this time around? In this episode of New Mexico News Insiders, Mayor Keller joins Chris and Gabby to talk about some of the continued challenges facing Albuquerque. Keller discusses tackling crime under APD's new leadership, homelessness, behavioral health, city finances, eco...

The 1945 Trinity nuclear test was conducted in southern New Mexico, but advocates argue its effects lingered long after the bomb detonated. For decades, residents in communities surrounding the test site have pushed the federal government to recognize the health impacts New Mexicans endured in the years that followed. Tina Cordova, a seventh-generation New Mexican from Tularosa, joins Chris and Ga...

As the Rio Grande runs dry each year and concerns grow about how much water we're drawing from underground, how secure is Albuquerque's drinking water supply? Chris and Gabby host Mark Kelly, Water Resource Division Manager for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA), to explain how Albuquerque's unique water system works and what it will take to keep the taps flowing fo...

For years, the McKinley County District Attorney's Office was plagued by allegations of misconduct, dropped criminal cases, and a growing backlog that raised serious questions about the county's justice system. Earlier this year, elected District Attorney Bernadine Martin resigned rather than face an unprecedented misconduct trial before the New Mexico Supreme Court. Now, a new DA appointed by the...

For more than two decades, Sheryl Williams Stapleton was a powerful force in New Mexico politics. She was the first African American woman elected to the state Legislature, served as Democratic House Majority Floor Leader, and sponsored hundreds of pieces of legislation, many focused on education. But in 2021, her political career came crashing down. Federal investigators accused Stapleton of usin...

There's no question that fentanyl is killing New Mexicans. But how is it getting onto our streets, and what can law enforcement do to stop it? Chris and Gabby talk with Albuquerque Public Safety Director and former FBI Special Agent in Charge, Raul Bujanda, about the city's fight against fentanyl and the role of the border in drug trafficking. Bujanda shares his perspective on what law enforcement...

Crypto or Bitcoin ATMs are everywhere, including laundromats and grocery stores across New Mexico. But as scammers increasingly use cryptocurrency to steal money from victims, cities and states are taking a closer look at the machines. New Mexicans reported millions in cryptocurrency fraud losses last year, and Albuquerque City Councilors are now considering an ordinance to remove crypto ATMs from...

A southeast New Mexico newspaper in operation for more than 120 years announced its sudden closure in July. But within days, a local publishing company stepped in to save it from extinction. The Roswell Daily Record's new ownership argues that local news isn't dead, but the business model of legacy newspapers is in crisis. Pat Davis, a former longtime Albuquerque City Councilor turned news junkie,...

For years, New Mexico has been the backdrop for thousands of movies and TV shows, attracting filmmakers while generating millions for the state's economy. But this summer, many local crew members are feeling a slowdown as productions have become harder to find. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, KRQE's own film buff, Anchor-Reporter Chad Brummett joins Chris and Gabby to unpack wha...

When New Mexico became the first state in the nation to offer free childcare for families regardless of income, it made national headlines and sparked a major question: How will this work? Since the program's launch on November 1, 2025, thousands of families have enrolled, but the rollout hasn't been without its challenges. ECECD Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the s...

Chef Marie Yniguez has become one of New Mexico's most recognizable chefs, earning national attention through appearances on Chopped, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and recognition as a James Beard Award semifinalist. But behind the success is a reality local restaurant owners know all too well. Chef Marie joins Chris and Gabby for a heart-to-heart about her decision to close her downtown Albuquerqu...

High school is changing in Albuquerque. New Mexico's biggest school district, Albuquerque Public Schools, is expanding its Academies of Albuquerque initiative, which blends traditional academics with hands-on learning and career pathways in fields like STEM, health science, culinary arts, and skilled trades. As public schools face declining enrollment and growing competition from charter and priva...

What were officers saying when they thought no one was listening? Newly unsealed federal search warrants offer one of the clearest looks yet into the DWI corruption scheme that has shaken public trust in law enforcement across New Mexico. Former FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda joins Chris and Gabby to break down what investigators heard in wiretapped phone calls, how federal agents used v...

New Mexico's 2026 Midterm Election is taking shape, and the race for Governor is only part of the story. KRQE Political Analyst & UNM Political Science Professor Gabe Sanchez joins Chris McKee to break down the June primary results and what they reveal about the battles ahead in November. From voter turnout and record-breaking campaign spending, to the key statewide races that could reshape Ne...

The New World screwworm (NWS) was eradicated from the United States 60 years ago. So how did this flesh-eating parasite return? In early June, New Mexico confirmed its first case of NWS in a dog in the southeastern part of the state, raising concerns for ranchers, veterinarians, pet owners, and health officials. While experts stress there's no reason to panic, USDA officials say awareness and earl...

For years, Raul Bujanda led some of New Mexico's highest-profile federal investigations as the FBI's top official in Albuquerque. Now, he's stepping into a newly revived role at City Hall, responsible for overseeing the city's public safety system. Chris and Gabby sit down with Albuquerque's new Executive Director of Public Safety to discuss why he made the move, what he learned from a career in f...

Albuquerque has a new police chief hired from within the ranks. Chief Cecily Barker is the first woman to lead the department in APD's history, and has been a member of the department for 22 years. Chris and Gabby sit down with Chief Barker for an in-depth conversation about her approach to leadership, the future of policing in Albuquerque, and what people can expect under her command. She reflect...

What does it take to run New Mexico's prison system? Chris and Gabby sit down with New Mexico Corrections Department Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero to discuss the realities of overseeing the state's eight prison facilities. Tafoya Lucero offers an inside look at the challenges facing corrections today, including staff shortages, contraband smuggling, inmate healthcare, and reflects on what it was...

After eight years leading the University of New Mexico, outgoing UNM President Garnett Stokes sits down with Chris and Gabby for an in-depth exit interview reflecting on the highs, lows, and defining moments of her tenure. The 23rd President and first woman in UNM history to hold the position, Stokes discusses the challenges of leading the Lobos through periods of change, the accomplishments she's...

New Mexico's race for governor is taking shape, and this election could look very different from past primaries. In this special primary election episode, Chris and Gabby sit down with the three Republican candidates running to become New Mexico's next governor: former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, small-business owner Doug Turner, and CEO of the cannabis company Ultra Health, Duke Rodriguez. Each...

As Route 66 approaches its centennial, Albuquerque is investing heavily in art, culture, and the future of Central Avenue. Chris and Gabby sit down with Shelle Sanchez, Arts & Culture Director for the City of Albuquerque, to talk about the city's vision for the Route 66 celebration. Sanchez also shares what the city learned from a recent creative economy impact study, and the millions of dolla...