Front Page News

SILVER CITY. September 15, 2025- Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman Wheeler issued a statement on Giglio matters and law enforcement.

"It is essential that all law enforcement officers uphold the laws they have sworn to enforce and conduct themselves in a way that earns public trust and respect. The Sixth Judicial District Attorney's Office is committed to ensuring the fair administration of justice and with our constitutional and ethical obligations. I want to affirm that no law enforcement officers are being targeting for Giglio purposes.

Monday, September 15, 2025 I Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced today that Rafael A. Camacho was found guilty by a Deming jury for the Murder of Ashton Remondini on charges of Murder in the 1st Degree, (Willful and Deliberate), Conspiracy to commit First Degree Murder-resulting in death, (Willful and Deliberate), Tampering with Evidence- Third Degree-Felony, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, Larceny-Firearm, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny -Firearm.

Deputy District Attorney Gerald Byers and Deputy District Attorney David Arnone represented the state at the hearing in the Luna County District Courthouse, Deming, New Mexico. The Honorable District Court Judge Jarod K. Hofacket presided over the Jury Trial.

By Lynn Janes

The town of Bayard held a regular meeting August 20, 2025. Attendance included Mayor John L. Ojinaga, Mayor Pro Tem Eloy Medina and Councilors, Frances Gonzales (phone), Eloy Gonzales and Gilbert Ortiz. Martha Salas, city clerk, also attended.

The council approved the consent agenda that included minutes, accounts payable and department head reports. It also approved attendance of a police officer to attend the supervisor training being held in Rio Rancho, attendance of Salas to New Mexico Housing Summit, police department staff to attend a law enforcement academy for grant writing, both the clerk and deputy clerk to attend clerk's certification institute and a maintenance employee to attend the New Mexico water and wastewater central school. Frances Gonzales abstained due to a disagreement on one of the meeting minutes.

 By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a regular meeting on August 18, 2025. Board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, David Terrazas (online), Emmarie Heredia (online) and Angelina Hardin. Interim Superintendent Randal Piper also attended.

The board approved the agenda.

Public input none currently.

New business

Michael Gallegos and Christopher Wetzel joined the meeting online to provide an overview of the service they will be providing to assist in the hiring of a permanent superintendent. They represent Coaching Next Level, a leadership and development company.

Talamantes has been located. 

New Mexico State Police asks for the public's help in finding  Jose Talamantes, who was last seen at 9:20 on Sept. 12th, walking on E. Mobile Drive. 

For more information see the SPD below:

To download a PDF of the release, please visit the following link: Freeport Provides Update on PT Freeport Indonesia Operations

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Freeport (NYSE: FCX) announced today that expert teams continue to work around the clock to locate seven PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) team members whose access routes in the Grasberg Block Cave were blocked following the previously reported September 8 mud flow incident.

Extensive efforts are ongoing to clear access routes to the service level of the mine where the seven contractors were working at the time of the incident. The wet material entered the mine through drawpoints in one of five production blocks and traveled to multiple lower mine levels. Additional time is required to safely remove the significant amount of material in the service level, a non-mining area.

By Mary Alice Murphy

In a conversation among Silver City Police Department Chief Freddie Portillo, SCPD Captain Antonio Carrillo and this author, on Sept. 8, 2025, Portillo explained the federal grant program, Stonegarden, and how the department handles the participation with the county as a sub-recipient to Grant County's award of the funding.

Portillo said the grant began to be shared with Grant County at the county's invitation last year in 2024, through a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The county has used the funding for about 15 years as part of its drug interdiction, as well as addressing human trafficking and violent criminals. The contract period they are working in currently began Jan.1, 2025, and ends June 30, 2026.

To download a PDF of the release, please visit the following link: Freeport Reports on PT Freeport Indonesia Operations

 PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Freeport (NYSE: FCX) announced that on Monday, September 8 at approximately 10 p.m. local time in Central Papua, Indonesia, a large flow of wet material from a production drawpoint occurred at one of five production blocks in the Grasberg Block Cave underground mine. The incident blocked access to certain areas within the mine, restricting evacuation routes for seven team members.