Public Safety

FBI: Former Ohkay Owingeh Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Obstruction Of Justice

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A former Ohkay Owingeh Police Department officer has pleaded guilty to using his position to disclose sensitive information about a federal investigation.

According to court documents, Feb. 26, 2020, Justin Aguino, 31, a former police officer with the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department, placed a phone call to an individual and disclosed that a person that individual was in contact with was cooperating with federal authorities. Aguino made these statements to alert the individual to the person’s status as an informant, knowing that such disclosure could interfere Read More

Heinrich Meets With White Sands Missile Range Leadership

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, 3rd from left, meets with White Sands Missile Range leadership for update on the range’s critical role in strengthening New Mexico jobs and advancing national security, April 10, 2026. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

LAS CRUCES — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, met with White Sands Missile Range Senior Commander Colonel Andrew R. Morgan, Command Sergeant Major Hermes F. Acevedo, U.S. Navy Commander Patrick D. Smith, Chief of Staff Patrick Curran, and U.S. Navy Detachment Site Director Abran Parra to receive Read More

New Mexico Approves First Air Quality Fee Increase In Decades

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Environment Secretary James Kenney

NMED News:

“New Mexico has not raised any air quality permit fees since 2009, despite seeing an over 2,000 percent increase in oil and gas-related general construction permits and a 126 percent increase in total permitting actions since 2012.” –Environment Secretary James Kenney 

SANTA FE — New Mexico’s Environmental Improvement Board — the state’s independent board that reviews and approves environmental rules — on Monday approved a proposal brought by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) to increase air quality permitting fees for the first Read More

FBI: Vanderwagen Man Charged With Assault

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Vanderwagen man has been charged in connection with an alleged assault that reportedly left the victim with serious injuries.

According to court documents, March 10, 2026, Larry Wilbur Begay, 66, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly struck the victim multiple times with a metal workout bar inside a residence in Vanderwagen, New Mexico. The victim then fled to a nearby residence and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

As a result of the assault, the victim suffered serious injuries, including fractures to his right femur, left fibula, right Read More

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján To Introduce Resolution Highlighting National Public Health Week

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U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. SENATE News:

SANTA FE — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that he plans to introduce a resolution highlighting National Public Health Week, celebrated this year from April 6 through today.

This resolution is meant to raise awareness about the importance of public health amid continued attacks by the Trump administration and recognize how public health improves daily lives, safeguards families, and strengthens communities.

Sen. Luján’s resolution also recognizes the important work of public health workers and highlights the need to strengthen the Read More

New Mexico Environment Department Watch Alert: 153 Enforcement Actions Initiated; 69 Resolved In March 2026

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NMED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is highlighting the ongoing success of its Enforcement Watch initiative, a transparency-focused program that provides the public with consistent and timely information about the Department’s enforcement actions across environmental protection, public health, and worker safety programs.

By making enforcement data accessible, Enforcement Watch reinforces NMED’s commitment to New Mexico residents for accountability and regulatory compliance statewide.

Launched in May 2023, Enforcement Watch shares monthly Read More

FBI: Shiprock Man Pleads Guilty To Abusing Minor And Faces Life In Prison

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor over a four-year period.

According to court documents, Brian Begay, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse against Jane Doe between 2015 and 2019, beginning when the victim was 12 and continuing until she was 16.

Begay pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor and abusive sexual contact and faces up to life in prison at sentencing.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Read More

All Prescribed Fire Projects Declared Out; No Heat Detected

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Forest Service completed critical fall and winter fuels reduction work across the forest. Courtesy photo

SFNF News:

SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest has completed its fall 2025 and winter 2026 prescribed fire operations, calling out all prescribed fires after an infrared flight confirmed no remaining heat. Personnel will continue to patrol burn units as part of standard postfire procedures. 

To confirm that all prescribed fire units were out, fire managers ordered a fixed wing aircraft equipped with a military grade infrared camera capable of detecting heat sources as small as a dinner Read More