From the PublisherOur summer-long series of reporting on fiscal mismanagement in the City of Moriarty underscores why we have worked so hard to restore independent, local journalism in news deserts like Moriarty which has been without a local newspaper since the original Independent News closed in 2022. With the help from Press Forward and the […]
Route 66 Independent
New Mexico woman’s gun show protest triggers constitutional case after arrest
A 70-year-old woman filed a civil rights lawsuit Monday against the City of Moriarty and Torrance County after being arrested and detained for three days while peacefully protesting outside a gun show in February. Jill Gatwood, an Albuquerque resident represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, alleges in the lawsuit that she […]
No Water, no answers: Melody Ranch residents forced into survival mode
Developing a strategy wasn’t on Fox Morgan’s to-do list, but planning every detail of her life has been her best course of action for the past few months, as she’s resorted to drastic measures to get by and adapted despite it all. She jokingly states that her former experience as a Girl Scout and a […]
Community gathering to rally support against East Mountains development
A grassroots group fighting large-scale development in the East Mountains is bringing the community together Wednesday night for food, music and a show of solidarity. The East Mountains Protection Action Coalition (EMPAC) will host a community gathering at 6:30 p.m. on July 9 at Lantern Ridge Farm, 12540 NM-14 in Sandia Park. The all-volunteer nonprofit […]
Busy week of town meetings kicks off with budget and safety policy on Edgewood’s agenda
The Edgewood Town Commission will hold its next regular meeting on July 8, with major decisions on public safety, finances and community events on the agenda. A key item will be final approval of the town’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Resolution 2025-031 would formally adopt the FY2025–2026 budget, following weeks of review and […]
From park to barn: Petting zoo pops up at Venus Park summer reading event
Edgewood families will have the chance to get up close and personal with a friendly mix of fuzzy, feathered and four-legged animals when the Milligan Ranch Petting Zoo comes to Venus Park on July 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hosted by the Edgewood Community Library as part of its Color Our World summer […]
Fireworks resolution moves forward: Edgewood limits use during drought
With worsening drought conditions and increased fire danger, the Edgewood Town Commission has enacted a temporary ban on certain fireworks just days ahead of the Fourth of July. During its most recent meeting, the commission approved Resolution 2025-029 (pages 73 & 74), declaring extreme or severe drought within the town and restricting the sale and […]
Trash, water and fireworks on the Edgewood agenda
By Andrea Vasquez The Edgewood Town Commission will hold its next regular meeting on June 24, with key decisions on town services and public safety on the agenda. Commissioners are expected to hold discussions on the proposed Solid Waste and Water Utility ordinances. The Solid Waste Ordinance aims to establish clear guidelines for trash service, […]
Want to serve in the municipal government or school board? Here’s how to file your candidacy paperwork
The 2025 local elections are just around the corner and people who want to run for office should be getting ready to file their candidacy paperwork. The 2025 elections are nonpartisan races that include municipal government, school boards and soil and water conservation districts. Candidates for most local elections will need to file their paperwork […]
