Visit Albuquerque Awards 2025 Tourism Grants
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Visit Albuquerque, the city’s official destination marketing organization (DMO), has announced the recipients of its 2025 Tourism Grant Program. Now in its third year, the program aims to spark innovative ideas that enhance Albuquerque’s vibrancy, create engaging experiences for visitors along with residents, promote tourism, and strengthen the community.
This year, Visit Albuquerque received 85 grant applications requesting a total of $2.75 million in funding. Among a pool of exceptional applications, 32 applications were selected to receive grants, Read More
Baumannia Hits New Mexico Museum Of Art And New Mexico History Museum
NMDCA News:
SANTA FE — “The Southwest has many surprises in store for the artist in search of inspirational material. If you can visualize this section of the map as a magician pulling rabbits out of a hat, it will produce almost any kind of subject matter you might ask for,” artist Gustave Baumann said at a talk given for the American Association of University Women in Santa Fe, in January of 1954.
In honor of the life and legacy of Baumann, the New Mexico Museum of Art and New Mexico History Museum co-present “Baumannia,” a series of programs and special events inspired Read More
New Mexico Senate Republicans Praise Lesser Prairie Chicken District Court Ruling
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Wednesday, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas vacated the listing of the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
The Court granted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s voluntary motion to vacate the listing decision and remand the case, while denying untimely motions from environmental litigation groups seeking to intervene.
This decision, finalized on Aug. 11, 2025, marks a significant win for New Mexico’s agricultural and oil and gas industries, reinforcing a return to commonsense policy. Read More
Governor Declares A State Of Emergency In Rio Arriba County, Española, And Area Pueblos Due To Crime
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Today, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Rio Arriba County, the city of Española, and area Pueblos at the request of those governments in response to a significant surge in violent crime, drug trafficking, and public safety threats that have overwhelmed local resources.
The emergency declaration comes as police calls in Española and surrounding areas have more than doubled in the past two years. Police dispatches to businesses in the area have quadrupled in the same period. Rio Arriba County currently has the Read More
Heinrich Tours AV Manufacturing Facility, Receives BADGER Satellite Communications System Demonstration
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) speaking at the AV space operations manufacturing facility, Aug. 8, 2025. Courtesy photo
U.S. SENATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, toured AV’s space operations manufacturing facility and received a demonstration of their next generation BADGER satellite communications system, which will expand and modernize the nation’s satellite operations capability, strengthen national security, and further solidify New Mexico’s role as a global hub for defense and space innovation. Read More
FBI: Las Cruces Man Sentenced To Over 10 Years For Role In Fentanyl Trafficking Operation
FBI News:
ALBUQUERQUE — A Las Cruces man was sentenced to 123 months in prison following an investigation into a fentanyl trafficking operation in southern New Mexico.
According to court records, since early 2024, the FBI’s Southern New Mexico Safe Streets Gang Task Force, together with Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics and the Las Cruces Police Department, have been investigating a drug trafficking organization distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in and around Las Cruces, New Mexico. The investigation identified Orangie Lee Fisher, 37, as a key participant in the operation. Read More
FBI: Dulce Man Pleads Guilty To Assault
FBI News:
ALBUQUERQUE — A Dulce man pleaded guilty to assaulting a man and causing severe injuries.
According to court records, Feb. 2, 2025, James William Julian, 25, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Tribe, assaulted John Doe by repeatedly punching him the face. As a result of the assault, John Doe suffered serious bodily injury.
Julian pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Julian will remain in custody pending sentencing. At sentencing, Julian faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Julian will be subject to three years of supervised Read More
Spaceport America And New Mexico State University Arrowhead Center Release Six-Year Economic Impact Study
Courtesy photo
SPACEPORT AMERICA News:
LAS CRUCES — The New Mexico State University (NMSU) Arrowhead Center and the Center for Border Economic Development (C-BED) have published a study on Spaceport America’s economic impact on New Mexico from 2019 to 2024. The analysis looked at Spaceport America’s operations not funded by the state and focused on tenant activities and out-of-state visitor spending related to the spaceport.
“Our impact study of Spaceport America utilized a standard methodology for economic impact analysis and is based on existing operations and activities Read More
Registration Is Open For NM Conference On Aging
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — Registration for the 47th Annual New Mexico Conference on Aging is now open through Aug. 29.
This year’s event will take place at the Glorieta Conference Center from Sept. 23–25 and is presented by the Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) and the Anchorum Health Foundation.
This year’s conference theme, “EngAGE as you Age,” will focus on healthy aging and vibrant living. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in informative sessions, recreational activities, and get connected with important resources.
“Whether you are a caregiver, Read More
FBI: Arizona Man Gets 30 Years For $24 Million Ponzi Scheme With Many Victims In Northern New Mexico
The bullion seized in November 2021. Courtesy/FBI
FBI News:
ALBUQUERQUE — An Arizona man was sentenced to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay $24,065,636.20 in forfeiture following his conviction for orchestrating a Ponzi-style investment fraud scheme that defrauded more than 100 victims, many of whom were Northern New Mexican residents, out of millions of dollars. A restitution order remains pending.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial and sentencing, from 2014 to 2022, John Lopez, 74, solicited investments through his Read More
