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Water hauling in Santa Fe County has skyrocketed—from 300,000 to 800,000 gallons monthly, peaking at 1.2 million in July 2023—revealing a desperate response to worsening drought and vanishing groundwater. This isn’t just a local crisis; it’s a Southwest-wide emergency, with rivers like the Rio Grande shrinking and private wells failing. Residents face mounting costs and time burdens as they queue...

St. Felix Pantry in Rio Rancho is facing a food crisis as demand surges and donations drop—hundreds of families rely on them weekly, but shelves are getting bare fast. To help, a local plumbing company donated a $25K HVAC system and turned it into a raffle: $40 tickets, all proceeds fund food for families. With over a million pounds of food already distributed this year, this fundraiser could be t...

Albuquerque just slapped a $14,100 fine on an RV park and motel for a laundry list of code violations — from plumbing and electrical nightmares to bed bugs and cockroaches — with a daily penalty of $3,500 looming if they don’t fix it in two weeks. Residents, many of whom have lived there for a decade, were terrified of eviction — but the city says they’re staying put for now, since the property di...

A frantic search is underway in New Mexico for missing 44-year-old Jeanette Salazar, who vanished after a violent confrontation involving a carjacking, a shooting, and a kidnapping. The chaos began when a man was shot in the arm during an argument over unpaid debts for a bracelet, escalating when the seller accused him of stealing a dirt bike and fired a warning shot. As tensions flared, another m...

A Bernalillo County detective, Paul Jessen Jr., was convicted on four felony counts for tipping off drug dealers under DEA surveillance — a betrayal that shattered his promising career and exposed deep flaws in local law enforcement. Once considered for an FBI task force, Jessen now faces sentencing after a jury found him guilty of obstructing justice, motivated by a misguided belief that federal...

A 40-year-old man, Juan Ortega, died days after being shot in a downtown confrontation with 41-year-old Stephen Griego—whose own death followed a police response to the initial gunfire. A bystander was also injured, and now the Multi-Agency Task Force is investigating the July third incident to uncover what led to this chain of tragic events. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: htt...

This Saturday, July 11th, the third annual Wreaths Across America Charity 8-Ball Tournament rolls into Slate Street Billiards in Rio Rancho — a festive “Christmas in July” showdown where pool players from Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Los Alamos gather to honor veterans and raise funds for wreaths placed on their graves. Born from a personal mission to help a friend fulfill wreath orders, the event...

Thora Walsh-Padilla, Mescalero Apache Tribe’s council president, was impeached by unanimous vote after a 90-day suspension for alleged nepotism — a twist since she claimed the hire wasn’t family. She thanked supporters, acknowledged the need for internal change, and signaled a pivotal moment for tribal governance as leadership reshapes itself. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: ht...

A sacred mountain in southern New Mexico, home to a 29-foot Jesus statue and a centuries-old pilgrimage site, is at the center of a heated debate over border wall construction. Church leaders, including Deacon Jim Winder, warn the project threatens the environment, religious freedom, and cultural traditions — calling the wall a symbol of division in contrast to the monument’s message of hope. Cong...

Alameda Open Space is getting a major upgrade with solar panel canopies that offer shade and power two free EV chargers—first come, first served. The project also includes wildlife-friendly landscaping, new picnic tables, and educational signage, all designed with years of community input. Phased rollout begins late July, wrapping by September, with temporary parking alternatives at Shining River...

Two inmates at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center are suing over religious rights violations, claiming they were forced to fast during Ramadan despite practicing Messianic Judaism and Black Israelite faiths — and denied kosher meals. They also allege correctional officers interfered with their legal communications, tampered with attorney correspondence, and retaliated for seeking...

New Mexico’s governor is sounding the alarm over a whistleblower’s explosive claim: DEA agents may have intentionally let nearly two million fentanyl pills slip through their fingers in the state — allegedly to focus on bigger targets. Lawmakers are furious, calling it a grave threat to public safety, and are demanding full transparency from the DEA, including records of every fentanyl case since...

A woman tried to pull off a brazen prison smuggling stunt by hiding 57 opioid strips inside a bag of chips for a visitor—only for the inmate to swallow them whole. Officers recovered the drugs, leading to serious charges for both the visitor and the inmate, exposing the constant cat-and-mouse game between inmates and prison security. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solip...

New Mexico’s got four confirmed cyclosporiasis cases — not a spike, just seasonal — and officials say they’re not linked to national outbreaks. Some cases trace back to travel to tropical regions where the parasite’s more common. Caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, it spreads via contaminated food or water, often fresh produce. While numbers are stable, health officials urge everyone to wash produc...

Wally Funk, the fearless aviator who defied limits and soared beyond Earth’s atmosphere at 82, passed away at 87 — leaving behind a legacy of grit, innovation, and unyielding determination. From mastering jets and blimps to pioneering as the first female FAA inspector and flight instructor, she was denied a spot in NASA’s space program in 1961 — yet never gave up. Decades later, she blasted into s...

New Mexico’s public defender system is on the brink, struggling to handle over 86,000 cases last year with a crippling 15% attorney vacancy rate—and some counties like Gallup are over 70% empty. Lawyers are traveling long distances, even deputies are taking cases in person, as the system risks turning away clients or delaying critical legal services. The chief public defender blames underfunding a...

Cyclosporiasis is surging nationwide, sickening nearly 3,000 people—with over 80 hospitalized—and New Mexico reports 9 confirmed cases. This parasite spreads through contaminated produce, and while washing fruits and veggies helps, only cooking kills it. The CDC warns that proper kitchen hygiene, like cleaning counters and cutting boards, is key to stopping cross-contamination. Health officials ar...

New Mexico probation officers allegedly leaked private immigration data to ICE, triggering deportations of four individuals — sparking a lawsuit against Corrections Secretary Alisha Lucero under state law protecting sensitive personal information. Court docs reveal direct ICE requests for probationer details and coordinated arrests, as a Santa Fe judge weighs the evidence in this escalating ethics...

Scam alert at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta—fake reps are flooding vendors with bogus emails, contracts, and invoices to steal money and info. Only official channels—Balloon Fiesta or Kawa Management—are legitimate. If you get a suspicious offer, ignore it and call 505-821-1000 to verify. Stay sharp: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Listen in comfort: Get a discount...

Albuquerque officials hit a notorious RV park with a $14,100 fine after a full inspection revealed life-threatening violations—no septic systems, broken plumbing, electrical hazards, missing fire safety gear, and rampant mold and pests. Operating illegally since 2020, the property’s owners are facing serious consequences for putting tenants and the community at risk. Listen in comfort: Get a disco...

Deputy Jeffry Bartram has been fired after being placed on leave in March 2025, marking the end of his tenure with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. He’s the third deputy tied to the DWI deception scandal, following resignations by Undersheriff Johann Jareno and Deputy Jeff Hammerel. The Sheriff’s Office emphasized accountability, stating Sheriff Allen expects strict adherence to agency stan...

A deadly confrontation in Albuquerque turned tragic when Juan Ortega, shot during a scuffle near Central Avenue, later died from an overdose — not the gunshot wound. The man who fired the shots, Stephen Griego, was killed by police in the aftermath. Footage shows Ortega pushing Griego before the gunfire, and drugs were found near Ortega’s body. A volatile situation spiraled into multiple deaths, h...

Demolition has begun at the burned-out former Saint Catherine’s Indian School in Santa Fe as crews work to clear the fire-damaged structure—critical for investigators to safely access the site and determine the blaze’s origin. One suspect, Anthony Allen Dault, has been taken into custody, though the cause remains under investigation. The unstable walls and safety hazards have prompted a large poli...

A father sentenced to 38 years for his role in the death of his 6-month-old daughter from meth exposure — a tragedy that unfolded in a motel room last July, where drugs and paraphernalia were found, and his twin sister survived. The baby’s mother, Gloria Tesillo, also convicted, received an 18-year sentence. This heartbreaking case underscores the crushing toll of addiction on families and the jus...

Scammers are flooding the Balloon Fiesta scene with fake vendor emails, contracts, and even tickets—don’t fall for it. Always verify info directly with the Balloon Fiesta or Kawa Management. This isn’t new—fake tickets were already being sold in May. Stay vigilant and buy only from the official source to avoid getting ripped off. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillo...