By Jesse Jones Burqueños looking for meaningful holiday gifts can turn to an unlikely source: City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. When she’s not working on housing policy or climate legislation, she and her partner, Paul Roybal, spend the season in their kitchen baking thousands of vegan cookies for people and dogs. The homemade treats support Kindred […]
Congress & Federal Gov.
Vasquez warns funding crisis endangers Bosque del Apache’s vital role in local economy
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., visited the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge on Dec. 6 to assess the impact of federal budget cuts and staffing shortages on the site. Vasquez met with Deputy Refuge Manager Bernard Lujan, refuge staff and leadership from the Friends of the Bosque to discuss operational challenges facing the 57,000-acre […]
East Mountain Toy Exchange opens Friday for holiday season
The East Mountain Toy Exchange will open its doors Friday for a three-day event offering free toys to families in need. The pop-up shop, located at 65 Rainbow Road, will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. All items are free, and organizers encourage visitors to give what they can and […]
Cedar Crest food drive collects more than 700 pounds for East Mountain Food Pantry
A community food drive Monday collected more than 700 pounds of food for the East Mountain Food Pantry, organizers said. The drive-through event at Flamez Fusion, 12118 N. Highway 14, ran from noon to 4 p.m. and drew donations from residents throughout the East Mountains region. 15 volunteers helped run the event. Flamez Fusion partnered […]
Where are all the government employees?
Triple Spaced Again Merilee Dannemann is a longtime New Mexico journalist. She has written freelance for many local newsrooms and served as the Taos correspondent for the Albuquerque Journal. Find her online at triplespacedagain.com DOGE, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, has been disbanded as of late November. What a relief. DOGE was supposed to […]
Sen. Heinrich continues to call for updates on expired ICE detention facility contract
By Lauren Lifke A detention facility in Estancia for Immigration and Customs Enforcement is still operating without a contract after its contract expired in October. Torrance County Manager Jordan Barela told The Independent that the county had an intergovernmental agreement with ICE that expired Oct. 31. The facility has since been operating without a new […]
Friends of Sandia Mountains to host 22nd annual Snowshoe Classic
The Friends of the Sandia Mountains announced it will host the 22nd annual Sandia Snowshoe Classic on Jan. 24, 2026, at Sandia Crest, offering winter outdoor enthusiasts a challenging 5K course through the Cibola National Forest. The event, which begins at 11 a.m. at the lower-level parking lot at Sandia Crest, is limited to 175 […]
Local businesses partner for food drive benefiting East Mountain Food Pantry
Several Cedar Crest businesses will host a food drive Monday to support the East Mountain Food Pantry, which has seen a 60% surge in demand this fall. The drive-through event will run from noon to 4 p.m. at Flamez Fusion, 12118 N. Highway 14, next to Cedar Crest Tire. Organizers are accepting non-perishable food donations. […]
Trump’s approval dips to 36%, just shy of all-time low
President Donald Trump’s job approval rating has hit its lowest level since he returned to the White House on Jan. 20, according to a Gallup poll released on Friday. The poll of 1,321 U.S. adults conducted from Nov. 3 to Nov. 25 showed Trump with a 36% approval rating, representing a five-point drop since October. […]
AI eyes on the East Mountains: BCFR ups fire prep with new tech
Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue is preparing for the 2026 fire season as fire risks increase with rising temperatures in the East Mountains. Updates, including new cameras and updated maps, are helping the BCFR prepare for the season. New cameras posted throughout the East Mountains help mitigate fires. The best way to fight fires is […]


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