Latest news with #NewMexicoUnited
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Officer's family speaks out, National Guard in Albuquerque, Less precipitation, Tariff lawsuit, Los Alamos labs math partnership
$70K in funding for global Festival Flamenco event cut by federal government Man convicted of sexually abusing 11 year old in Bernalillo County VIDEO: Man throws small dog at Albuquerque officer during arrest Student accused of bringing gun to Albuquerque school will not be held New Mexico United to host ALS night, jersey sales to benefit charity WATCH: Law enforcement questions NMSP officer accused of DWI Black smoke: No decision after Cardinals hold morning votes on new pope [1] Family of APD officer killed in hit and run months ago still searching for answers – The family of an Albuquerque police officer killed in a hit and run is continuing to plead for anyone with information about her death to come forward. Officer Bianca Quintana was leaving a family member's house after an argument. She was walking near Coors and Chapulin just after midnight when police say she was hit and killed by a driver. Nine months later, Quintana's family is still looking for answers. They are pleading for anyone who knows anything to come forward. [2] Police outline National Guard's role in east Central operation – New Mexico's National Guard will soon be working with Albuquerque police. Guard members are training for what's being called 'Operation Zia Shield.' APD says the guard will do work similar to what Police Service Aid's do, like helping secure crime scenes and direct traffic. They will also use drones and help tag evidence. Full deployment is expected by the end of the month. APD Chief Harold Medina says the department is hoping the operation will lead to a drop in crime by October. [3] Less rain/snow, warmer temperatures and breezier weather – Slightly-less daytime thunderstorms will form today, but locally some heavy rainfall is possible with some lightning strikes, small hail, and erratic wind gusts. Temperatures will be once again higher today, reaching the upper 40s to the 60s for most northern areas, closer to normal for this time of the year, while it will range from the 60s to the low 80s elsewhere, slightly below normal. [4] NM Attorney General and ten other states file preliminary injunction to halt tariffs – New Mexico's Attorney General and ten other state AG's are taking new action to block the Trump Administration's tariffs. A lawsuit filed by the 11 states in April argues that congress alone has the authority to implement tariffs and that emergency powers used by the President to implement tariffs were used incorrectly. Wednesday, they filed preliminary injunction seeking a court order to pause the tariffs immediately while litigation continues. [5] Los Alamos National Lab and NM schools work to make math fun for students – A unique partnership between Los Alamos National Laboratory and northern New Mexico elementary schools is turning the subject of math into something fun. Through the Math Teacher Leader Network partnership, Blanco Elementary School said they have seen a remarkable shift in how math is taught and how students feel about the subject. The lab's Math Science Academy team works directly with the schools, their teachers, and leaders to help teachers better teach math. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Documents: New Mexico spent $3.6 million on anti-littering campaign
With New Mexicans' penchant for littering on roadways and other public places, breaking the bad habit is no easy feat. Whether it's a cigarette butt or a fast food wrapper, litter is an ongoing — and ugly — problem across the state. But the administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says it is seeing "encouraging engagement metrics" as a result of what has grown into a $3.6 million anti-littering campaign featuring Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston, whose portrayal of chemistry teacher-turned-drug-kingpin Walter White earned him accolades and a loyal fan base in New Mexico, where the award-winning TV series was set. MLG and Cranston (copy) Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Bryan Cranston discuss a new anti-littering campaign starring the Breaking Bad actor at the governor's mansion in October. Dubbed "Breaking Bad Habits," the campaign is part of a larger effort by the governor to clean up what is arguably one of the most scenic states in the Southwest. Lujan Grisham, who picks up trash from public places even when no one is looking, has made beautifying New Mexico one of her priorities in her second and final term in office. "New Mexico is beautiful, and on our watch, we're going to make sure that it stays that way," Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, said when she unveiled the campaign during a screening at Santa Fe's Jean Cocteau Cinema in October. More than $2.4 million in media buys, from bus wraps and billboards to commercials on TV and various social media platforms, accounts for the bulk of the highly visible campaign. The campaign started with a total budget of $3 million, but an additional $640,000 was spent on more media buys. Invoices and other documents obtained under a public records request show a $20,000 contract "furnishing the services of Bryan Cranston." During a meet-and-greet with Cranston at the governor's mansion, also in October, Cranston said he volunteered to appear in the campaign but explained "must be paid through [his] union' whenever he's on camera. At the time, Cranston said he had donated the money to two "New Mexico-centric charities." The documents show Somos Unidos Foundation, a soccer and health-focused charity affiliated with the New Mexico United soccer team, and Albuquerque's Roadrunner Food Bank each received $10,000 in Cranston's honor. Breaking Bad Habits 3 (copy) A screenshot from "Breaking Bad Habits," a state anti-littering ad campaign featuring Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston in his old Walter White character. Jodi McGinnis Porter, a spokesperson for the governor, said the anti-littering message is resonating. "The Breaking Bad Habits campaign shows encouraging engagement metrics with over 100 cleanup events submitted to [the campaign's] online calendar in 2025," she said in a statement. "April alone saw 17 events resulting in 8,002 bags of trash collected by 429 volunteers across 1,212 volunteer hours, demonstrating positive momentum through widespread participation in cleanup efforts statewide." Cody Johnson, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Tourism Department, agreed the state has seen encouraging engagement with the campaign related directly to litter cleanup efforts. He expects to see more cleanup activity in warmer months. "A big part of this campaign is to inspire New Mexicans to feel a stronger sense of pride of place and change behavior so people would stop littering," Johnson wrote in an email. "This campaign launched in October so while it may take some time to see how that behavior changes for the better, we're hopeful that New Mexicans will be reminded of their role in helping us eliminate litter and we will see that change through action." Johnson echoed seeing "encouraging engagement" so far. "Cleanup events have been hosted in communities such as Deming, Pecos, Rio Rancho, Carlsbad, Silver City, Española, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Hobbs, Albuquerque, Roswell, Cerillos, Clovis, Raton, Taos, Bernalillo, Farmington, Questa and more," he wrote. "People are certainly taking notice of the campaign," Johnson added. "Just social media boosted posts of cleanup events have generated nearly 600,000 impressions and over 6,000 click-throughs to the Breaking Bad Habits website."
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NM Governor nixes new license plates, state bread, lobbying disclosure
We need a Legislature that rises to the occasion and focuses on the work that truly matters to the people of New Mexico.," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wrote in a message vetoing proposals for a state bread and new state license plates. So much for lowrider license plates and a new state bread. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, in veto messages Friday, made clear she wasn't in the mood for fun and games and rejected bills that would have created new license plates celebrating lowriders and New Mexico United, as well as one that would have designated tortillas the official state bread. Breadwinner: Committee advances proposal to make tortilla NM's 'state bread' 'I am vetoing this legislation to send a clear message,' she wrote, 'in a time of extraordinary challenges New Mexicans need discipline and urgency from their elected officials. What they received this session was far too often the opposite.' Hundreds of bills, the governor continued, 'never saw the light of day' due to time constraints or because lawmakers did not give the bills hearings. 'Some, like legislation to regulate synthetic cannabinoids and keep dangerous substances out of the hands of children, died while waiting for concurrence—a process that can take less than a minute.' Moreover, she noted, in the final hours of the session and in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Las Cruces 'that went unacknowledged by House leadership, the House found time to debate the merits of a state bread. And the Legislature found time to pass not one, not two, but three separate license plate bills—despite already having 40 specialty plates on the books.' The governor continued by saying that while she too enjoys 'celebrating our unique culture,' New Mexico already has a plethora of state symbols (cookies, songs, vegetables etc.) 'The question should not be how many more symbols we can collect—but whether we are meeting the moment with the gravity it demands. We are living in perilous and unprecedented times. The stakes for our State have never been higher. We need a Legislature that rises to the occasion and focuses on the work that truly matters to the people of New Mexico.' In total, the governor vetoed the following 16 bills: House Bill 143: Lobbying Activity Reports This bill would have required lobbyists to file reports explaining what bills they had been retained to work on and what positions they hold on said bills. For instance, as Source previously reported, it remains unclear to this day why the Texas-based Cicero Institute and its advocacy arm Cicero Action decided to have a lobbying presence in the state during this last session. In her veto message, the governor wrote that she supported the bill's intent, but it needed work. For instance, she continued: 'It imposes an onerous requirement that lobbyists or their employers file these reports within forty–eight hours of commencing the lobbying activity— including any time their 'position on legislation has changed'— irrespective of weekends and holidays. It is also unclear how this requirement applies to lobbying activity that commences on legislation after the adjournment of a legislative session since another subsection of HB 143 simply provides that these reports merely need to be filed 'prior to the end of the time period in which the governor may act on legislation.' Moreover, she wrote, the bill does not make it clear what constitutes a 'change in position' for lobbyists. Lastly, she added, 'I think it is important that elected officials with a donor base such as legislators (and governors) also be required to disclose their changes in position. I look forward to working with the Legislature in the next session on a bill that really adds transparency and accountability.' 60 days later, Cicero Institute's reason for NM lobbying still hidden from public House Bill 14: Earned Income Tax Credit (Tax Package) Legislative watchers may recall a fair amount of last-minute wrangling over the tax package, which ultimately included a slight tax on alcohol sales, among tax credit expansions in fiscal year 2027 paid out of state reserves. The governor vetoed the entire package, writing 'New Mexicans deserve thoughtful, forward-looking policy-not last-minute dealmaking that delays relief, ignores economic opportunity, and undermines fiscal responsibility.' House Bill 36: Board of Optometry Powers and Duties, The bill would have allowed optometrists to perform several procedures that currently can only be performed by ophthalmologists. 'I am vetoing this bill because it sets a dangerous precedent for allowing non-surgeons to perform surgical procedures,' the governor wrote. Eye doctors see problems with bill expanding optometry in NM House Bill 77: Annual Federal SNAP State Outreach Plans The bill would have required the Health Care Authority to develop annual outreach plans to promote the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which the governor wrote is 'unnecessary because the HCA already does extensive outreach promoting SNAP.' House Bill 120: Accessibility of State Agencies This legislation would have required state agencies to develop their websites to meet federal disability standards, and created a state office to enforce the digital standards. Lujan Grisham said in her veto message the bill duplicates an effort her office started and, 'enacting it into law will only disrupt the process that my Administration has already established to ensure accessibility.' House Bill 181: State Trust Program Accountability Plan The bill would have amended the Accountability in Government Act. The governor said she vetoed the bill because 'it does not achieve its stated goal of increasing transparency and accountability in the use of GRO Trust funds.' House Bill 191: Wildfire Suppression & Preparedness Funds This legislation would have created two wildfire-related permanent funds administered by the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD): the post wildfire fund and the wildfire suppression fund, with a $12 million appropriation attached to the first fund. 'The wildfire suppression fund is a good idea on its face,' the governor wrote in her veto message.. 'However, the Legislature did not provide any money for it, instead requiring all federal reimbursements for wildfire suppression costs or out–of–state assignments for state crews to be deposited into the fund. Given the snail's pace of federal reimbursements–which have only gotten slower in recent months–relying on that funding stream does not set this program up for success. I will, however, require the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department's Forestry Division and the State Fire Marshal's Office to collaborate on outreach to the public to educate homeowners on effective means to minimize the risk to private property from wildfires.' As for the $12 million appropriation, she wrote, 'put simply, that is not nearly enough money to even put a dent in post fire recovery operations.' House Bill 219: Slot Canyon Riverlands State Park This bill would have created a new state park in Southern New Mexico. The governor said she vetoed the bill due to existing state parks already being understaffed and undermaintained. 'Adding another state park will only spread stretched resources even further,' she wrote. Proposal to designate a Southern NM hidden hiking gem into a state park heads to the Senate floor House Bill 269: Health Care Authority Visit Verification The governor wrote this bill is unnecessary as the HCA is already working on creating the type of system prescribed in the legislation, and with completing anticipated in October. House Bill 433: Study Career & Tech Education Also unnecessary, the governor said in her veto House Bill 494: Tax Exemptions for Veterans This bill 'purported to enable veterans to claim a property tax exemption,' the governor wrote in her veto. 'However, HB 494 actually makes it harder for veterans to obtain this important benefit by changing the current one–year window to apply to a mere 30 days. At bottom, this bill benefits county assessors more than veterans.' Senate Bill 142: Grid Modernization Roadmap Lujan Grisham said this bill duplicated efforts already in motion at the Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department. Senate Bill 220: Publication Of Legal Settlement Terms The bill would have required the state's insurance arm the Risk Management Division and the public school insurance authority to post settlement data from alleged misconduct to the state's Sunshine Portal. Risk Management Division has been voluntarily posting the information since 2019, but SB220 would have added an additional layer of review in cases resulting in deaths, serious injury or losses over $250,000, and required reports to the legislature. Lujan Grisham wrote the bill was unclear in the standards for the review, and that the Legislature 'failed to appropriate any funds support this significant workload increase, nor did the Legislature account for the resources needed to ensure a fair, thorough, and timely process.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
KRQE Newsfeed: Windy with rain and snow, Violent crash, Homelessness initiative, Chicks in demand, United partnership
BCSO: One person struck in deputy-involved shooting in northeast Albuquerque PNM: Power outages, shutoffs possible during upcoming storm in New Mexico Lawmakers push bill to help control high rent prices in New Mexico Plans to add lighting on deadly stretch of road near MDC Teen detained following crash after shots fired near Del Norte High School Taos County man accused of attempted murder and arson Baja Midnight, Quesocrisp Taco, and more: What's coming to Taco Bell in 2025 [1] Windy & high fire threat then more rain/snow in New Mexico – Widespread dust is expected later this morning into the afternoon with potentially damaging winds and low visibility. More widespread precipitation will cool things down overnight through tomorrow and into early Saturday with snow accumulations in parts of the west mountains, potentially around the Rio Grande Valley, the central mountains, and through east New Mexico. Heavier snow will fall in the north mountains. [2] VIDEO: Police investigate January crash that injured 6 people in Albuquerque – New video shows the moments first responders arrived on scene after a rollover crash in northeast Albuquerque. In January, APD was sent to San Mateo near Comanche after a truck slammed into a light pole, ejecting six people from the truck. At the hospital, police interviewed the driver who admitted to taking at least four shots of alcohol while driving. KRQE News 13 reached out to APD for an update on how the crash victims are doing. We have not heard back. [3] Homeless initiative in Albuquerque faces criticism from residents – Albuquerque residents are expressing their frustrations with Mayor Keller's recent efforts to combat homelessness. Wednesday, the Mayor hosted a public meeting about his Metro Homeless Initiative. The Mayor's Office says the program has led to the creation of more housing, mental health and substance abuse services. Residents say those efforts are falling short. Some say that the homeless are just moving from place to place with no working solution. The next public meeting is scheduled for April 2. [4] New Mexicans scramble for solutions to combat rising egg prices – Some New Mexicans are now turning to buying backyard chickens to avoid high egg prices at grocery stores. The Tractor Supply store in Bosque Farms is seeing an uptick in calls and foot traffic. People are in search of chicks. The store received over 300 chicks on Wednesday morning and people were lined up for hours. Staff say backyard flocks are an investment and require a lot of attention, especially in their first few weeks of life. [5] KRQE becomes home for New Mexico United matches – KRQE Media Group has become the official English-language broadcast partner of New Mexico United. All matches will be broadcast live on New Mexico 50 and streamed online at NM United and KRQE will also be starting 'The Black & Yellow Report' a weekly show which features analysis, previews, and exclusive interviews with players and coaches. The first match that will be streamed is Saturday, March 8 as NM United takes on Sacramento Republic FC. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
