Non-Local News Releases

The Chaves County Sheriff's Office, Roswell Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are seeking information from the public concerning the recent homicides of the following individuals:

Kent Hoffmann: White Male born in 1969, White hair, brown eyes, 5ft 2in tall, approximately 145 pounds. His body was found in the Hondo River Channel on June 14, 2026.

Andrew Lujan-Huerta: Hispanic Male born in 1979. Black hair, brown eyes, 5ft 8in tall, approximately 175 pounds. His body was found in the Hondo River Channel on July 14, 2026.

Karl Affsprung: White male born in 1967. Brown hair, brown eyes, 5ft 7in tall, approximately 155 pounds. His body was found 10 miles east of Roswell on July 29, 2026.

See poster below

Don't miss your chance! Aug. 12 is the deadline to apply for Sandhill crane and pheasant draw permits.

The information from the NM Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department lays out the steps that communities can use to safely get rid of cut down dead trees, debris from branches cut off to keep a home Firewise and how to benefit yourself and your neighbors. 

Please see PDF below

New Fire Start on Mount Taylor Ranger District
Four Mile Fire in Zuni Mountains

 Albuquerque, NM – August 10, 2026 — Fire resources are actively engaged in suppression efforts on the Four Mile Fire on the Mount Taylor Ranger District within the Cibola National Forest.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should avoid the fire areas.

Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that "If you fly, we can't!" 

Mount Taylor Ranger District- Zuni Mountains: Four Mile Fire

Reported Date / Time: August 9, 2026 / 1528           Cause: Undetermined.         Size: 6 acres.

State Wildlife Action Plan website now available

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Wildlife has released the website for the 2025 State Wildlife Action Planafter the plan received approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ensuring New Mexico remains eligible for millions of dollars in funding to conserve the state's most vulnerable wildlife and habitats.

Santa Fe, NM — Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer (R-Farmington) is raising serious concerns following last week's organized release of the interim report from the "Survivors' Truth Commission." After a $750,000 legal services contract, 20 subpoenas, and access to more than 100,000 records, the committee's own report acknowledges that it offers "no final findings."

The taxpayer-funded "Truth" Commission's report was filed five days after its statutory deadline of July 31 and much of its content restates information already available to the public through FBI records, court filings, media reporting, and the federal Epstein Files Transparency Act. 

New Report and Update on Wildfires

Sandia Ranger District - Coyote Fire
Mountainair Ranger District - Sand Springs Fire 

Albuquerque, NM – August 9, 2026 — Fire resources continue to actively engage in suppression efforts on wildfires within the Cibola National Forest that resulted from lightning strikes.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should avoid the fire areas.

Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that "If you fly, we can't!" 

Sandia Ranger District – Cedro Area: Coyote Fire (New Report)

Fsis Issues Public Health Alert for Various Meat and Poultry Products Containing Fda-regulated Jalapeños That Have Been Recalled Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for meat and poultry products containing FDA-regulated jalapeños that may be contaminated with Salmonella. FSIS expects additional downstream products will be identified as this ingredient recall progresses. As more information becomes available, FSIS will update this public health alert. Consumers should check back frequently.

The list of products subject to the public health alert is available here, including information such as the product names, establishment numbers, states where the products were distributed, and contact information for media and consumers.

The problem was discovered when FDA notified FSIS that multiple FSIS-regulated establishments received an FDA-regulated ingredient that had been recalled. More information on the FDA recall and outbreak investigation is available on FDA's website.