Latest news with #KRQE
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16 hours ago
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New Mexico State Police investigating shooting in Ranchos De Taos
TAOS COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico State Police asked people in Ranchos De Taos to shelter in place on Wednesday because of a shooting on Espinosa Road that injured two people. The extent of the victims' injuries is not known. Police are still searching for the suspect. Cloudcroft woman accused of killing husband arrested in Texas This is a developing story; KRQE News 13 will provide updates as they become available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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a day ago
- Politics
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McKinley County District Attorney told to give up control of office's finances
MCKINLEY COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – A New Mexico district attorney has lost her fight to keep control of her office's budget. It's been an issue KRQE News 13 first told you about in a KRQE Investigation this week. This move comes after years of concerns and complaints from the community and police about criminals not being held accountable — and the McKinley County DA creating a hostile work environment. Related Coverage: Defunded DA hangs onto control of office for now 'It's on her': Senator defunds DA citing attitude, staff shortage Lawmakers gave Bernadine Martin's budget to the neighboring DA in San Juan County. Jack Fortner took control of it Tuesday when the fiscal year began. But when he showed up at her office, she requested he hold off for two more weeks, citing her pending request to the New Mexico Supreme Court to weigh in on the budget move. The justices' decision on Wednesday means Martin must let Fortner take over. If she doesn't, she could be removed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
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a day ago
- Business
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Funding for farming internship program at APS in jeopardy
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A group of Albuqeurque Public Schools' students has been spending their summer on a farm as part of an internship that helps them and the community. But funding for the program could be in jeopardy. Story continues below News: New Mexico Supreme Court throws out embezzlement charges against former official Trending: A 'professional courtesy': How an officer crossed the line Community: Funding for farming internship program at APS in jeopardy KRQE Investigates: Embattled McKinley County DA asks for emergency funding to keep her office running This is the third summer, Rio Grande High School students have been helping local farms through the Agriculture and Nutrition Internship Program. The students receive an elective credit, and the school district even pays them in exchange for their work at farm-to-table businesses around Albuquerque, like Old Town Farms and Chispas Farm. Domonic Taylor, an APS educational assistant, said it's a great way for students to put their phones down and to get outside. Old Town Farms said they love the help. An APS senior director sent an email to Rio Grande High School's principal in May stating that the school would need to find funding for the program after this summer, because district funds may not be available in the future. The popular program has even expanded to include Valley and Sandia High School students. Leaders of the agriculture internship program said that students taking part in career and technical programs have higher graduation rates. An APS spokesperson sent this statement: In prior fiscal years, it was funded by our Career Connected Learning department's operational budget. This year, that funding was allocated directly to schools. Moving forward, Rio Grande High School can continue to fund the program through the additional operational funds for Career Connected Learning classes and the additional Title I school-based funding it's now receiving. It's up to the school's leadership and Instructional Council to determine whether that program should continue to be funded or whether the money is better spent elsewhere. Martin Salazar Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
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a day ago
- Politics
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Embattled McKinley County DA asks for emergency funding to keep her office running
MCKINLEY COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – She's out of money and out of time, so McKinley County District Attorney Bernadine Martin made a last-ditch push to get emergency funding for her office. In front of the New Mexico Board of Finance, Martin requested $3.8 million, which is the office's entire budget for this fiscal year. 'We have no gas cards. We have no POS for postage. We have no POS for internet…We'd probably see dismissals,' said Martin. Previous Coverage: Defunded McKinley County DA no-show for court, multiple cases dismissed McKinley County District Attorney told to give up control of office's finances Defunded DA hangs onto control of office for now 'It's on her': Senator defunds DA citing attitude, staff shortage She said that for the last two weeks, she's kept her office operating with her own salary because, as of July 1, her funding has been in the hands of the neighboring district attorney in San Juan County. It's a decision from lawmakers signed into law by the governor earlier this year. 'Excuse me. The glare doesn't help my eyes, but I'm getting emotional….Our office needs to continue working. We're the poorest county in the state. The highest Native American population in this state,' said Martin. But as previously shared in a KRQE Investigation, lawmakers claim the decision to defund Martin's office comes after years of public safety concerns from the community and police because Martin has zero assistant prosecutors to keep cases moving through the courts. 'Gallup just has an issue with professionals; we're short on doctors and nurses,' Martin told the board members. 'I think the issue is just not my office. It's generally professionals.' Multiple reports claim that she's created a hostile work environment, too. Of her staff, Martin said, 'We work for the public, I tell them that often. This isn't me. It's us. And working for the folks out in the county.' But as Martin continues to fight, court dockets show criminal cases are continued or dismissed. This request to the board comes after the New Mexico Supreme Court refused to hear her petition to block the legislature's decision. She's now filed a lawsuit. The board questioned Martin for more than an hour but came to the conclusion that if they granted her request, it would open the door for any elected official to call on them over a disagreement with lawmakers. 'It just seems to me we as a board should not be involved in this type of issue,' said Michael Sanchez, New Mexico Board of Finance. They told Martin she has 15 days to meet with San Juan County DA Jack Fortner on her own or with a mediator to figure out how to move forward. 'The precedent is the issue here, but Madame district attorney, we're behind you. If we need to convene special session if that mediation doesn't work, come back, and I for one will show up whenever we need to do that. All of us will do that,' said Paul Cassidy, New Mexico Board of Finance. Martin could be removed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez before the funding situation is settled. At the governor's request, his office opened an investigation last month into whether Martin's conduct amounts to 'gross incompetence.' 'I'm being investigated based on hearsay, innuendo, and false statements, and now I welcome it. Bring it on. Look at our numbers. Look at the work we've done,' said Martin. KRQE Investigates has previously reported that DA Fortner started trying to meet with Martin when lawmakers made the funding move in March. Fortner said she spent months declining his offer, and then twice she suggested he sign an agreement giving her the money back. Fortner has said he has to follow the budget lawmakers passed, which leaves him in control of the money. KRQE News 13 tried to once again to ask Martin our own questions, but she declined and requested security. The New Mexico Law Office of the Public Defender sent this statement: The level of dysfunction in this DA's Office has made it significantly harder for us to do our jobs and stay fully staffed. When a DA's Office is chaotic and unnecessarily combative, like it is here, it hurts not just attorneys but also our clients, alleged victims and others waiting for some resolution. It's not like this in other parts of the state and it doesn't have to be like this here. That environment has been a major factor in the loss of several staff attorneys and private contractors. It's also important to remember that prosecuting people isn't the end-all for public safety. There are other ways we can structure how a community addresses crime and public safety, including diversion programs and treatment. Ben Baur, Chief Public Defender, New Mexico Law Office of the Public Defender Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
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3 days ago
- Business
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Albuquerque City Councilors approve tax abatements for two redevelopments sites
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque City Councilors approved tax abatements to redevelop two vacant sites for housing and commercial purposes. One is for Sycamore Plaza, a long-abandoned office building near the Central Ave. and University Blvd., that will be turned into 20 residential units and a commercial space. The other is a vacant lot on Menaul Blvd. near I-25, that will become an office and warehouse space. Albuquerque City Council approves tax incentive for Sawmill development The tax abatement approved by council freezes property taxes for seven years, saving each project around $200,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
