Election Day 2024 is here. It's been a contentious national election season, and locally, New Mexico could see some big changes. UNM Political Science Professor and KRQE Political Analyst, Gabe Sanchez, joins Chris and Gabby to break down the races to watch in this election. Will a visit from Donald Trump impact voters or local candidates? How much…

New Mexicans aren’t alone in experiencing more extreme weather events lately. Meanwhile, those responsible for reporting accurate information during a life-threatening disaster are also facing more extreme examples of weather misinformation, or weather 'skeptics.' This week we clear the fog on some common misconceptions and discuss emerging topics …

The authenticity and trust in local elections has become a growing topic of discourse, and in some cases, led to disagreements in the United States. In an effort to ensure voters can trust the process, New Mexicans will see nonpartisan ‘Election Monitors’ at polling locations across the state on November 5th. Observe New Mexico Elections Co-Lead, C…

Between gun trafficking, targeting the fentanyl supply chain, and investigating human smuggling operations, there's an agency operating in the shadows to crack down on illegal activity spilling across New Mexico's border. Special Agent In Charge of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Division, J.T. Stevens, joins Chris and Gabby this week to d…

Albuquerque police detectives are using genealogy to solve decades-old cold case crimes. In this latest example, APD and the FBI identified the victims from two cold case homicides using genealogy and DNA research. Despite signs of foul play when their skeletal remains were discovered years ago, the women were only known as 'Jane Doe' until now. Ky…

While state leaders have celebrated New Mexico's "billion dollar" cannabis industry, more than two years into recreational sales, there's growing concern about the regulatory apparatus tasked with monitoring thousands of licensed cannabis facilities. A recent Larry Barker investigation exposed how New Mexico's Cannabis Control Division has only ins…

In the run-up to the November election, one of two New Mexico Senate seats is on the ballot. Democratic incumbent Senator Martin Heinrich is seeking another term, facing Republican challenger, Nella Domenici, daughter of the late Pete Domenici. Listeners will hear both candidates share their ideas about policy and changes they'd like to work on for…

It's a case that rattled New Mexico's Muslim community after three men were shot and killed seemingly at random in the summer of 2022. Investigators at the time wouldn’t call it a ‘hate crime’ before a suspect was identified. Today, with Muhammad Syed behind bars for the murders, the motive remains a mystery. Syed was convicted earlier this year in…

Chief Troy Weisler is more than a year in on the job of leading the New Mexico State Police. The NMSP employs around 700 sworn officers across 12 different districts in New Mexico. As a 22-year veteran of one of the state's largest police departments, Chief Weisler shares his perspective with Chris and Gabby on the state's crime problem, and how hi…

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller recently delivered his ‘State of the City’ address, calling it ‘A Future Worth Fighting For.’ What does he mean by that, exactly? This week, Mayor Keller joins Gabby and Chris for an in-depth discussion about crime, homelessness, the economy, and more. Keller says the metro’s biggest problem leads back to Fentanyl. He a…

It's a new era that American cities, counties, and states are now facing in how they can address homelessness in law and ordinance. A June ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Grants Pass vs. Johnson cleared the way for cities nationwide to enforce bans on people sleeping outside in public places. The ruling generally gives local gover…

New Mexico’s Chile farmers are reporting a ‘bumper crop’ year for the state’s beloved crop as the aroma of green Chile roasting season fills the air. Ben Etcheverry, President of the New Mexico Chile Association, joins Chris and Gabby to discuss how nature played a vital part in this year’s harvest. He also addresses industry concerns like inflatio…

New Mexico Health authorities shared some alarming results from surprise visits to several long-term care facilities. Elderly residents shared concerns through a survey about staff shortages, unappetizing food, hygiene issues, and lack of physical activities. In one case, staff at a senior care facility lost track of an elderly resident during a su…

In New Mexico, an estimated one out of seven children experience the death of a parent or sibling before graduating high school. National rankings also list the state high in violent crime and low in education. So how is grief impacting young students and families? This week on the podcast, Mickey Kivitz, the new Director of Education for the Grief…

Just three days into his criminal trial, Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter case for the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was dismissed by a Santa Fe judge citing the 'state's discovery violation,' also known as a 'Brady violation.' The rule isn't new, but it's shining a spotlight on the issue of withholding evidence in the cr…

Ruidoso has been through a brutal cycle of wildfires, flooding, recovery, and repeat. As the village recoups from the devastating wildfires and monsoon flooding, they're also welcoming back tourists - a vital component to the mountain town's economy. This week, longtime resident and village spokesperson Kerry Gladden joins Gabby to discuss how the …

In 2023, internet crime victims reported $12.5 billion in losses, according to the FBI. There's also been an uptick in complaints filed by elderly victims. From cryptocurrency scams, and call center schemes, to falsely claiming to buy your timeshare property - scammers are getting increasingly savvy in their targeting efforts. A longtime IRS crimin…

New Mexico’s largest school district has a new leader in Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Gabriella Blakey. This week on the podcast, Gabby and guest cohost, Jessica Garate talk with Blakey about how her experience within APS is informing her decisions as a leader for the district. Blakey addresses school safety, guns on campuses, an …

It has become one crisis after another for the Village of Ruidoso lately. Within hours of the South Fork and Salt Fires sparking, the entire village was under evacuation as the fire quickly spread to homes and businesses. At least two people were killed in the wildfire, around 1,400 structures were burned, and the feds are now offering a $10,000 re…

It's a gem of the southwestern United States and southwest New Mexico. One hundred years later, the Gila Wilderness is celebrating its formal dedication as the very first federally designated wilderness area in the U.S. Early conservation leader Aldo Leopold proposed the idea, realizing the need to preserve the land's natural state. This week on th…

Was it aliens? Or something else? From the famous Roswell incident, or flying saucers reported in Farmington, to an inexplicable case about a boy in Hobbs reportedly burned by a UFO in 1964. This week Chris and Gabby discuss the popular and lesser-known reported UFO events in New Mexico with a man who's made it his mission to curate the largest col…

New Mexico’s largest hospital, and the only hospital in the state with a level-one trauma center has been under construction for more than a year. Chris and Gabby discuss the changes the new ‘Critical Care Tower’ promises to bring to UNMH, and how upgrades are aimed to transform medical care for thousands of patients. How will the new space serve p…

The first chapter of the 2024 election is here with New Mexicans taking part in the primary election on Tuesday, June 4. This time around, while Republicans are looking a few intraparty contests, there are far more contested races inside the Democratic party. This week on the New Mexico News Podcast, UNM Political Science Professor and KRQE’s Polit…

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is investing in a big new technology package, hoping to help deputies with crime-fighting around the county. Alongside newer TASERs, body cameras, license plate reading cameras and gunshot detectors, the county is also investing in a new cloud-based service called ‘FUSUS.' The company behind it describes the t…

It's been almost 12 years since the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would start investigating Albuquerque Police. Today, the APD says it has "met all requirements in the Court-Approved Settlement Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice," and the reform process will come to an end. APD Chief Harold Medina joins Chris & Gabby to discuss…

An Albuquerque grandmother was dancing in her living room to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour movie when she came face-to-face with a home intruder. KRQE Anchor-Reporter Jessica Garate first reported the story and obtained the emotional 911 call the woman made as she was trying to coax the man back outside. Jessica joins Chris & Gabby in a behind-the-sce…

Two years into recreational cannabis becoming legal in New Mexico, local cannabis distributors are finding themselves in a legal conundrum. Border Patrol Agents have seized more than $300,000 worth of local cannabis products at checkpoints, according to the New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce. Matt Chadwick, owner of Top Crop Cannabis, says the…

The U.S. Supreme Court is taking up a case that could impact how states and local agencies deal with homeless encampments. UNM School of Law Professor Joshua Kastenberg joins Gabby to discuss Albuquerque's current policies on encampments, and the local implications of the case known as Grants Pass v. Johnson. Are there similarities between this cas…

Victims are still struggling two years later to recover from the state’s largest, most destructive wildfire in New Mexico’s history. The government-sparked Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Wildfire burned through more than 341,000 acres, destroyed hundreds of homes, and displaced families across northern New Mexico. Pam Abreu shares her story with Gabby ab…

Hundreds of New Mexicans are waiting for a life-saving organ donation from someone they may never meet. According to Donor Services, Kidneys are the most needed organ in New Mexico due to the increased risk of diabetes and kidney failure. This week, Victoria Yocum shares her journey as a young woman with a rare liver disease, the obstacles she navi…

More than 200 pending criminal cases - mostly DWIs - were dropped in Bernalillo County due to Albuquerque Police officers’ credibility being compromised. The now-former DWI officers are targets of a federal investigation that involves accusations officers were accepting money to get DWI cases dismissed. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregm…

Families in an Albuquerque neighborhood learned their plans to build a playground were quashed with the help of a former politician who lives near the park. KRQE News 13's Jessica Garate exposed the 'playground politics' where former Lt. Governor Diane Denish (2003-Jan. 1, 2011) is accused of using her political connections to get Gov. Michelle Luj…

Fear of retaliation is one of the main reasons people hesitate to report knowledge of a crime. But in Albuquerque and across the country, tipsters can remain completely anonymous to Crime Stoppers, and receive reward money in return for helping law enforcement solve a crime. The origin story of Crime Stoppers starts in Albuquerque in 1976 with the …

Running a small business has its challenges. Running a small business along Central Avenue in Albuquerque's International District is particularly challenging these days. Some major stores have shut down. Other business owners are dealing with drug users, homelessness, and crime right outside their doorstep. This week, Chris & Gabby sit down with t…

It took a jury in Santa Fe two-and-a-half hours to convict Hannah Gutierrez of involuntary manslaughter after nearly 10 days of testimony and evidence. Gutierrez was the armorer on the film set of Rust in October 2021 when Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in an accidental shooting during a rehearsal scene with Alec Baldwin. Baldwin was ho…

It has been called possibly the biggest police corruption case in Albuquerque; an alleged scheme linking officers within the Albuquerque Police Department's DWI unit and a local defense attorney. News 13 has learned federal investigators are looking into accusations that officers were getting paid to get DWI cases dismissed. This week, members of t…

Law enforcement is using genealogy testing to solve crimes that have otherwise led investigators to dead ends years ago. This week Chris & Gabby sit down with New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez to discuss his announcement of the state’s first-of-its-kind Cold Case Unit. The unit will partner with smaller departments across the state to focus o…

There are six 'Safe Haven baby boxes' in New Mexico and more in the works, where mothers in crisis are promised anonymity, no questions asked if they surrender a newborn. But the Children Youth and Families Department Secretary cites state and federal law, claiming newborn surrenders need to be investigated to ensure the mother made the decision wi…

With just around 48-hours left on the clock in this year’s 30-day legislative session, what will New Mexico lawmakers leave on the table? One of KRQE News 13's legislative beat reporters, Curtis Segarra joins Chris & Gabby to in part discuss Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s public safety agenda, along with her environmental, and educational priori…

This spring marks two years since the Hermit's Peak Calf Canyon wildfire tore through northern New Mexico. Since that record-breaking wildfire, the federal government has appropriated nearly $4 billion to respond to the government-sparked disaster. How is the process of repaying wildfire victims in New Mexico going so far? Several lawsuits filed ag…

This week marks the final stretch to pick a new leader for New Mexico’s largest school district. As APS Board of Education President Danielle Gonzales believes, “Where APS goes, so goes the state.” Gonzales is calling for community input during Tuesday’s scheduled town halls for students, teachers, employees, and members of the public to ask questi…

The Albuquerque Police Department is nearing a decade of reform efforts under a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice. The DOJ released findings of its investigation into APD in 2014, the same year the department came under intense scrutiny for police use of force and officer-involved shootings. This week on the podcast, Chris & Gabby…

Researchers just announced a new Tyrannosaurus species based on a fossil found in New Mexico’s Elephant Butte Reservoir in 1983. What’s now known as the Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis is believed to be at least 5 million years older than his cousin, the T. Rex as we know it. The scientific discovery reshapes the historical understanding of the most famou…

There are a lot of questions surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s actions in New Mexico, and this week we’re getting more answers. From mysterious land deeds, & a state investigation, to a release of names in federal court documents, KRQE investigators Curtis Segarra & Gabrielle Burkhart share what they’ve learned over years of digging into details about …

Happy New Year from your favorite podcast hosts! In keeping with tradition, Chris & Gabby give a full wrap-up of the big stories to watch out for in New Mexico through 2024. A condensed, budged-focused legislative session is about to begin. What sort of crime or gun bills will lawmakers take up? Should New Mexicans expect another gas rebate check s…

Gabrielle Burkhart and Ann Pierret from the KRQE Investigates team peel back the curtain on some of the biggest investigations they published in 2023. Ann obtained police videos that reveal how law enforcement is discovering more stash houses in the metro. She also shares about her trip to the border to see first-hand how smugglers get migrants acr…

Get to know KRQE’s prime-time anchor team: Dean Staley & Jessica Garate. The duo joins Chris & Gabby to discuss how their roles have changed in newsrooms over the years, what brought them to New Mexico in the first place, and what they’re passionate about. How do they handle election coverage in a tense political climate? What keeps them going outs…

The City of Albuquerque is closer to getting a professional soccer stadium built, and seeing progress on big projects like the Rail Yards and Gateway Center. But there are still major challenges surrounding crime, homelessness, and the fentanyl epidemic. This week, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller joins Chris & Gabby for an in-depth discussion about th…

Cybersecurity can sound like an intangible threat, but a cyber or ransomware attack can have rippling effects. New Mexicans have seen some of those attacks play out over the last few months at some major facilities, most recently with Lovelace Healthcare and its parent company. This week, Chris & Gabby host Raphael Warren, a retired Brigadier Gener…

Substance abuse, trauma, and homelessness can contribute to a person's complicated journey through the criminal justice system. Especially when the system isn’t always leading a person to get help or treatment. So what happens when someone with apparent mental health issues commits a crime? This week, Chris and Gabby host KC Quirk, the Social Work …