Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.

East Mountain High School earns national award, $10,000 Grant at Building Hope IMPACT Summit

By Kevin Hendricks East Mountain High School, a charter school in Sandia Park, was awarded a $10,000 grant at the fourth annual Building Hope IMPACT Summit in Miami. The summit, hosted by the non-profit Building Hope, recognized outstanding charter school contributions nationwide. EMHS, one of the first charter schools in New Mexico, earned national recognition […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.

‘Here’s Your Sign’ to decide Sandia Park’s new welcome

By Kevin Hendricks Voting opens Tuesday for a new project that would create a sign that welcomes visitors and residents to Sandia Park. The “Here’s Your Sign” project invites the East Mountain community to contribute to the region’s history by designing the sign for Sandia Park. The project’s name references comedian Bill Engvall’s well-known joke, […]

Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Statewide News

Former Rio Arriba Sheriff’s died from ‘toxic effects of fentanyl and alcohol’

By Kevin Hendricks The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator released a report Thursday that attributes the Easter death of Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield to an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and alcohol. The 50-year-old Merrifield was found dead in his patrol vehicle near his home on Easter Sunday. The initial investigation by […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety

New Marble co-owner sued by Santa Fe Brewing for breach of contract. Babincsak is “getting back to making great beer”

By Kevin Hendricks It turns out there are problems that can’t be solved by beer. A legal dispute has erupted in New Mexico’s craft beer industry as Santa Fe Brewing Co. has filed a lawsuit against a former SFBC vice president and current co-owner of Marble Brewery, alleging breach of contract and fraud. The lawsuit, […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness

Department of Health issues measles exposure warning in Cedar Crest

By Kevin Hendricks The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has confirmed the first measles cases in Sandoval County, involving an adult with unknown vaccination status and an unvaccinated child under the age of four. Potential public exposures have been identified at several locations in Rio Rancho, Albuquerque and Cedar Crest. According to the NMDOH, […]

Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Westside Albuquerque

Sandoval County reports first measles cases

By Kevin Hendricks The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has confirmed the first measles cases in Sandoval County, involving an adult with unknown vaccination status and an unvaccinated child under the age of four. Potential public exposures have been identified at several locations in Rio Rancho, Albuquerque and Cedar Crest. According the NMDOH, the […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Statewide News

 Senator Heinrich demands answers on land transfer to Army in southern New Mexico

By Kevin Hendricks Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is pressing the Department of Defense for answers regarding the recent transfer of more than 100,000 acres of public land in three New Mexico counties to the U.S. Army. In April, over 109,651 acres of federal land along […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.

Haaland meets with land grant communities in East Mountains to discuss the protection of resources

By Kevin Hendricks  Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and current New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland recently met with Land Grant communities in the East Mountains to discuss the protection of land rights, water and cultural traditions.  During the meeting, Haaland stressed her commitment to safeguarding vital funding for rural infrastructure, wildfire resources, and […]

Posted inHousing & Homelessness, New Mexico Statewide News

Vaccinations double as measles cases surge in New Mexico

Staff report New Mexico is experiencing a significant increase in measles cases in 2025, with 71 cases reported across five counties: Chaves, Curry, Doña Ana, Eddy, and Lea. In response, residents are getting vaccinated in record numbers. From the start of  February through May 12, 27,123 New Mexicans received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) […]