Non-Local News Releases

SANTA FE – New Mexico's highest court ruled today an investigative report for Albuquerque Public Schools about a former superintendent must be publicly disclosed under state law although some information in the document potentially may remain confidential.

The Supreme Court directed the district court in Albuquerque to privately review the report and determine whether any information in it was protected from disclosure by an exception in the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) for "matters of opinion" in personnel files. That IPRA exception "does not preclude inspection of the purely factual, nonopinion portions" of the report, the Court held in its unanimous opinion written by Justice Briana H. Zamora.

On May 26, 2026, a lead was sent by the United States Marshals Service Western District of Missouri to the District of New Mexico to help locate the two abducted children, and to apprehend the alleged abductor, Ralph Jones Jr., who is wanted by the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri for kidnapping.

Jones was believed to be traveling through New Mexico with three children, two of them having been abducted. The U.S. Marshals Service District of New Mexico Southwest Investigative Fugitive Team, along with the New Mexico State Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit, and the Otero County Sheriff’s Office began a collaborative effort to locate and recover the two abducted minors, and to apprehend Jones.

Law Enforcement caught up to Jones on the 700 block of Luna Dr in Chaparral, New Mexico. The two abducted children, along with the third child, were safely recovered. All three minors were turned over to the custody of the Child, Youth, and Family Department where they will remain until arrangements can be made with authorities in Missouri.

RUIDOSO – The New Mexico Department of Wildlife has scheduled a public meeting with the Public Land User (Habitat) Stamp Citizen Advisory Committee on June 9 at Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso.

The Citizen Advisory Committee will review and prioritize project opportunities at this meeting. Members of the public are invited to attend this hybrid public meeting. An agenda, as well as information about how to attend virtually, will be posted on the Public Land User (Habitat) Stamp website prior to the meeting.

Record expansion part of strategy to add health providers in NM 

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today announced a major expansion of New Mexico's Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, the latest in a series of administration actions to address a physician shortage that has left 32 of the state's 33 counties with critical gaps in care. 

Under the expanded Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, licensed physicians — including part-time physicians — will receive $75,000 per year for student debt relief over a four-year service commitment, for a total of up to $300,000. That makes New Mexico's program the most generous state-funded physician loan repayment offer in the nation — more than double Georgia's $37,500 per year, nearly triple Ohio's offering, and three times Rhode Island's annual award. 

Department urges public to leave young wildlife alone

Animals may appear abandoned, but mothers are usually nearby foraging for food

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is reminding the public to leave young wildlife undisturbed as spring transitions into summer.

New Mexico offers a unique opportunity to observe a wide variety of wildlife and this time of year marks the birth of many species across the state. As temperatures rise, fawns, elk calves, bear cubs and other young animals are born daily. While these encounters can be exciting, the Department urges residents and visitors to respect wildlife by keeping their distance.

SANTA FE, N.M.– The Bureau of Land Management today opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on 53 oil and gas parcels totaling 13,453 acres that may be included in a November 2026 lease sale in Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The scoping period ends June 22, 2026.

Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal oil and gas resources. Before development operations can begin, an operator must submit an application for permit to drill detailing development plans. The BLM reviews applications for permits to drill, posts them for public review, conducts an environmental analysis and coordinates with state partners and stakeholders.

Requirements designed to prevent the introduction of invasive species in New Mexico

SANTA FE — Clean, drain and dry: these three words represent requirements for boating in New Mexico and preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species.

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife, along with New Mexico State Parks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and other stakeholders are asking boaters to CLEAN, DRAIN and DRY their boats to stop the spread of harmful invasive mussels. Boaters should be prepared for mandatory inspections throughout the state designed to help ensure that New Mexico's waters remain mussel-free.

Firefighters respond to the Canon Del Terrero Fire

Mountainair, NM – 25, 2026 — Firefighters are actively responding to suppress the Canon Del Terrero Wildfire
Reported start date / time: May 25, 2026
Cause: Undetermined/Under Investigation
Size: Approximately 1 Acre
Location: Off of USFR-321 – New Mexico on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. Northwest of Tajique, New Mexico
Resources on scene: 3 USFS Type 6 Engines, 1 Torrance County Engine and 1 Torrance County Water Tender.

Fire Behavior and Strategy: Firefighters are using a Direct Extinguishment Strategy. The Canon Del Terrero Fire is exhibiting low to moderate fire behavior. The fire is burning in timber within an area that has previously been treated.