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New Mexico students show tiny but hopeful gains on state tests—reading and math tick up slightly, while science dips—but the overall picture remains grim: the state still ranks last nationally. Literacy reforms like the “science of reading” are credited for reading progress, especially in grades 3 and 4, but experts warn these small wins may not close the persistent achievement gap, particularly f...

After six years of silence, Albuquerque detectives have cracked a cold case: two men, Angelo Cuellar-Salazar and Ryan Mathis, are now charged with the 2020 murder of Genoveva Paiz. The pair allegedly conspired to scam a $10K COVID-19 loan, dragging Paiz into their scheme—until she was shot dead at Mathis’s home, bound, wrapped, and hidden inside furniture. Though suspects since the start, they cou...

The Frijoles Fire, now at 15,956 acres, is showing signs of slowing thanks to incoming rain—though lightning and wind remain a concern. Containment sits steady at 79%, with crews down to just 49 after a major pullback from nearly 1,000 in August. The western perimeter is secured, no immediate threat to people or property, and forecasters are hopeful the moisture boost will curb spread. As summer e...

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s former COO, testified in a New Mexico trial about the Cambridge Analytica scandal, revealing how the platform’s massive developer ecosystem made thorough oversight impossible—often forcing Facebook to focus only on the biggest apps. With missing contact info for many developers, suspicious apps were sometimes shut down without recourse, exposing critical gaps in oversig...

A mama bear and her two cubs took a much-needed nap in a Northeast Heights backyard tree—peacefully, undisturbed—until homeowners spotted their scat. Wildlife officials advised leaving them be, as the bears are fleeing drought-stricken habitats for lower elevations, forcing more human-wildlife encounters. The homeowners, empathetic and cautious, respected the mama’s protective instincts while moni...

Gas prices are skyrocketing, especially in the Four Corners region, with regular gas jumping 13 cents in a week and diesel hitting record highs of five bucks a gallon nationwide. The surge is tied to a major Saudi pipeline knocked offline by drone attacks linked to Iranian-backed militants — repairs could take weeks. This pipeline has been carrying critical energy supplies amid slow traffic throug...

The New Mexico State Fair’s Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge crowned Fuego 505 as champion after a fierce five-minute cook-off, with judges tasting burgers blind and awarding top honors to the best blend of juicy patty and fiery local chile. La Villa Burgers & Boba and Fat Sats took second and third, while Badlands Burgers & Brews won the People’s Choice title—voted by over 100 fairgoers. This h...

New Mexico’s ballot access rules are under fire as the Attorney General joins a lawsuit challenging the Secretary of State’s strict signature requirements, which disqualified all eight minor party and independent candidates this year — while major parties need just 2,000 signatures. The Forward Party’s legal battle has sparked a high-stakes appeal, with the AG’s office arguing these barriers unfai...

Flash Flood Warning in Albuquerque | Santa Fe News

A wave of states and cities are suing the federal government over a new “public charge” rule that could deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits like food aid, healthcare, or housing — forcing families to choose between survival and legal status. Critics argue it’s an overreach, unfairly broadening the definition of “public charge,” and could chill access to essential services for al...

Veterans For Peace chapter 63 is making a bold statement with a digital billboard in Albuquerque, urging active-duty military, FBI, and ICE personnel to refuse unlawful or immoral orders — especially as they fear potential presidential overreach after the midterms and looming war with Iran. Funded by three veterans, the sign, visible near I-40 and Wyoming Blvd, runs through Election Day, forcing a...

A 32-year-old man from Las Cruces, Jacob Martinez, got three years in federal prison for robbing a Pioneer Bank branch—walking away with $3,513. Caught on security footage thanks to a unique tattoo, he bragged about the heist before surrendering. After pleading guilty, Judge Sarah Davenport sentenced him to 37 months with no early release, three years of supervised probation, and full restitution....

A heated county meeting turned tense when an Oracle exec was caught off guard by a surprise AI scanner proposal—something he said he never heard about. The sheriff’s office, not Oracle, claims responsibility for security, and firmly rejected the idea as “a bad look,” despite Oracle’s security team suggesting it to help detect concealed weapons. No formal offer was made, and with private security a...

Step into a profound meditation on life and death through “Particle and the Wave,” an art exhibition that transforms everyday moments—be it a bug’s crawl or a quiet act of grace—into sacred symbols. Rooted in Osage heritage and contemporary American experience, the artist weaves numbers, beads, and color into deliberate, mystical patterns that invite viewers to see the unseen magic in ordinary thi...

Fuego 505 from Rio Rancho just crushed it at the 2026 New Mexico State Fair’s Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge, winning top honors in a blind-judge showdown that drew crowds and even Mayor Tim Keller. With eight fierce contenders, including La Villa Burgers & Boba (2nd) and Fat Sats (3rd), Fuego 505 proved why they’re the reigning champs — and Badlands Burgers & Brews stole the People’s Choice c...

Fuego 505 crushed it at the New Mexico State Fair’s Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge, winning top honors in blind judging — a serious stamp of approval from expert taste buds. Meanwhile, Badlands Burgers and Brew wowed the crowd to claim People’s Choice, proving local flavor knows no bounds. La Villa Burgers and Boba and Fat Sats rounded out the podium, showcasing just how fierce the statewide c...

Get ready to make Albuquerque shine before the Balloon Fiesta! Join the Fiesta Fanatics cleanup on Saturday, September 26th, from 9 AM to noon—whether you show up at Balloon Fiesta Park or rally your neighborhood crew. Volunteers get gear, and neighborhood leaders get free trash pickup. Sign up by Sept 18th to organize your own crew, or just show up and help out—your city needs your pride and effo...

Flash flood warning hits Gallup and McKinley County—thunderstorms have already caused dangerous flooding across creeks, streams, streets, and underpasses. High-risk zones include Church Rock, Red Rock State Park, Allison, Gamerco, Mentmore, and Red Rock—with Interstate 40 between mile markers 13 and 30 also affected. Local police urge everyone to avoid flooded areas, especially intersections like...

Albuquerque just banned crypto ATMs in a bold move to stop scams—especially targeting seniors—with city council voting 6-3 to shut down these machines and any in-person crypto transactions. Councilor Stephanie Telles led the charge, noting high fees (up to 35%) and that these ATMs are often in struggling neighborhoods ripe for illicit activity. Forty-seven machines will have 45 days to leave town...

Transformer fire near St. Theresa Catholic School in Grants forced an early evacuation—students safely relocated while crews worked to contain the blaze and restore power, with no injuries reported and safety protocols swiftly executed. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news...

A runaway horse steals the show in Santa Fe—breaking free before the big Fiesta parade, galloping wild through city streets as cops and cowboys chase it down. Cornered safely on Canyon Road with no injuries, the spirited steed didn’t just survive the chaos… it went on to march in the parade. Pure, hoof-powered Hollywood. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/dis...

Trump’s taking a defiant stance on AI, dismissing safety concerns as a hoax and claiming he alone can control the technology—while tech leaders warn of runaway risks and call for global regulation. He argues that government oversight stifles innovation and lets China gain ground, pointing to his past moves against companies like Anthropic. Meanwhile, experts sound alarms about autonomous AI system...

Trump declares himself the ultimate guardian against rogue AI, slamming tech leaders like Sam Altman and Elon Musk for pushing government regulation—calling their calls a “sick conspiracy.” He boasts his administration already halted Anthropic from doing anything “bad,” citing Pentagon security concerns and a temporary ban on one of their systems. While others—including Anthropic’s Dario Amodei an...

Midterm elections are heating up as Republicans experiment with new tactics while Democrats stick to their proven strategy. Pete Buttigieg stops in southern New Mexico to back local Dems Gabe Vasquez and Deb Haaland, revealing voters now prioritize economy over social issues. Early voting starts October 3rd in New Mexico, absentee requests due by October 20th — and a second federal judge has pause...

Day five of the New Mexico State Fair is a wild mix of healthy living and greasy indulgence—Healthy Living Day features the epic Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge with eight restaurants battling for supremacy at 11:30 AM. Meanwhile, Senior Day and online ticket deals ($5 admission) make it an easy, cheap entry. Don’t miss pig races, duck races, and The Ukuladies—because in New Mexico, you get hea...