A fallen aspen tree that downed a power line sparked New Mexico’s largest wildfire in state history in 2011, burning 156,000 acres in the Las Conchas Fire. Now, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández wants to give utilities better tools to prevent the next power line disaster. Leger Fernández and three other U.S. House members introduced […]
Author Archives: Kevin Hendricks
Kevin Hendricks is a local news editor with nm.news. He is a two-decade veteran of local news as a sportswriter and assistant editor with the ABQ Journal and Rio Rancho Observer.
Posted inSandoval County
New Mexico Supreme Court upholds warrantless vehicle searches during brief decriminalization era
New Mexico drivers stopped by police during the state’s brief marijuana decriminalization period could still have their vehicles searched without a warrant based on the smell of cannabis alone, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a unanimous decision that clarifies police powers during a unique period in the state’s drug policy history. The ruling […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County
Democrats say 112,000 New Mexicans could lose health insurance under Trump bill
Nearly 112,000 New Mexicans could lose health insurance under President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” according to a new Democratic Party analysis that warns the federal law will disproportionately impact the state’s rural communities and low-income families. The Democratic National Committee launched a website (https://democrats.org/trump-tax/) on Tuesday highlighting state-by-state impacts of Trump’s budget […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
ACS helps Albuquerque man in mental health crisis find treatment
When a desperate father couldn’t calm his adult son during a severe mental health crisis, Albuquerque’s alternative emergency response team stepped in where traditional police might have struggled, successfully connecting the man to voluntary treatment within an hour. Behavioral Health Responders from the Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) Department responded to the 911 call and found […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County
Sen. Heinrich secures $6.5M for New Mexico crime fighting
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich announced that nine New Mexico law enforcement agencies will receive federal funding totaling $6,521,000 for forensic equipment, crime scene processing tools and safety improvements through the bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee’s passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The funding comes as New Mexico grapples […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Albuquerque City Council to vote on stricter animal sales enforcement
Albuquerque residents who find animals being sold or given away on sidewalks, in parking lots or other public spaces could soon see stricter enforcement under a proposed ordinance update scheduled for a City Council vote in August. The proposed ordinance, O-25-84, would strengthen enforcement of the city’s 2006 Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County
Sen. Luján secures nearly $190 Million for New Mexico public safety, military infrastructure
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján secured nearly $190 million in federal funding for New Mexico communities through two major appropriations bills passed by Senate committees, with the bulk targeting major construction projects at military bases alongside public safety improvements across the state. The funding comes as New Mexico grapples with persistent crime challenges, with Albuquerque […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Sheriff’s Office, courts clash over security cuts at Bernalillo County courthouse
A disagreement over security cuts at the Bernalillo County courthouse has led to operational limitations for thousands of monthly court users as the dispute between the Sheriff’s Office and courts escalates over staffing and costs. The Administrative Office of the Courts announced on Sunday that it would limit access to the Bernalillo County Courthouse due […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County
Federal budget proposal could eliminate key Native American workforce programs
The Trump Administration’s proposed fiscal year 2026 federal budget has sparked fierce opposition from Native American advocacy groups, who warn that planned cuts could effectively eliminate critical workforce development programs serving Indigenous communities nationwide. At the center of the controversy is the proposed elimination of the Native American Employment and Training Program under the Workforce […]
Posted inGeneral Interest, Housing & Homelessness
Watershed project shields Tijeras from extreme flooding damage
A watershed restoration project behind Los Vecinos Community Center proved its worth July 12 when an extreme rainstorm – the kind that has only a 0.2% to 0.5% chance of occurring in any given year – sent floodwaters surging down Tijeras Creek with minimal damage to the community. The county’s Tijeras Creek Watershed Restoration Project, […]