By Pat Davis –– Two Estancia residents are facing serious felony charges after allegedly taking justice into their own hands and severely beating a homeless man last month. On the evening of March 25, 2026, an Estancia man, who is also a supervisor in the county fire department, allegedly attacked a male, who is described […]
Courts, Justice & Safety
Suspect in custody after shooting, manhunt shuts down Rail Runner, cancels Bernalillo school
A man is in custody after an early-morning shooting near U.S. Highway 550 in Bernalillo triggered a multi-agency manhunt Tuesday that shut down Rail Runner service and forced Bernalillo Public Schools to cancel classes for the day. Bernalillo police responded around 4:49 a.m. after a 911 caller reported someone firing at their vehicle on westbound […]
CYFD, governor dispute DOJ findings, say reforms already underway
New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pushed back on a damning state Department of Justice report, saying the failures it documents are problems of the past โ and that Acting Secretary Valerie Sandoval’s team had already taken action on each of the eight systemic issues the attorney general identified. […]
Edgewood losing county fire, EMS coverage after payment dispute ends 21-year agreement
Edgewood residents face a July 1 deadline for new fire and emergency medical services after the town and Santa Fe County agreed to terminate a joint services agreement โ and both sides are telling different stories about why. The two governments reached a walkaway settlement ending all claims with no financial payment by either party, […]
CYFD ‘in crisis:’ AG files lawsuit after 14 child deaths tied to agency failures
New Mexico’s child welfare agency has failed to protect children in its care for years โ and used state confidentiality laws to hide it, according to a new investigative report from the New Mexico Department of Justice. Attorney General Raรบl Torrez released the report Wednesday and filed a lawsuit in Santa Fe District Court seeking […]
Federal judge dismisses Rio Rancho lawsuit but plaintiff says the fight isn’t over
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing Rio Rancho of enacting ordinances without following its own procedural rules โ but the lead plaintiff argues the court never actually ruled that the city did anything right. U.S. District Judge Sarah M. Davenport granted the city’s motion to dismiss March 31, ruling the federal court lacked […]
Family sues Sandoval County, medical provider over 29-year-oldโs fentanyl overdose in jail
The family of a 29-year-old woman who died of a fentanyl overdose while in custody at the Sandoval County Detention Center has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county and its private medical provider, alleging staff ignored her severe mental health crisis and failed to prevent lethal drugs from circulating in the jail. The […]
APD investigating hate crime in Old Town after Muslim mom with kids spit on by man asking, โAre you Christian?โ
An Albuquerque mother taking photos of her children in Old Town says she was spit on and harassed all because she was wearing a hijab, and she caught it on video. Editor’s note: This story was updated Wed. afternoon after APD confirmed the name of the suspect they identified in this case. That update is […]
A.G. asks N.M. Supreme Court to invalidate Otero County ICE detention contract
Otero County’s on-again, off-again contract to hold ICE detainees is headed to the state’s Supreme Court where justices are being asked to decide if the county’s attempts to rush a new agreement into place before a new state law banning them violated state law. In February, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 9 which […]
Rio Rancho firefighters get $26K state grant for new gear
Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue will receive $26,112.50 in state equipment funding to outfit 11 new firefighter positions, part of a $1.6 million grant program the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration announced. The funds will cover personal protective equipment for new hires, including turnout coats, pants and helmets. Rio Rancho is one of […]

