New Mexico News Podcast: Recent Episodes
KRQE News 13
The New Mexico News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Gabrielle Burkhart and Chris McKee of KRQE News 13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We‘re extending the conversation about news headlines around the state and bringing listeners unique stories from the Land of Enchantment.
For years, New Mexico has been the backdrop for thousands of movies and TV shows, attracting filmmakers while generating millions for the state's economy. But this summer, many local crew members are feeling a slowdown as productions have become harder to find. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, KRQE's own film buff, Anchor-Reporter Chad Brummett joins Chris and Gabby to unpack what's happening behind the scenes of New Mexico's film industry. From the rise of streaming and independent filmmaking, to fierce competition from production incentives in Canada and Saudi Arabia, the conversation explores current challenges in New Mexico's film industry.
What does a slowdown in summer production mean for the crews, businesses, and communities that rely on TV and film? Has Netflix Studios made the intended economic impact in New Mexico? Stick around to the end as your hosts share some of their favorite movies and TV shows filmed right here in the Land of Enchantment.
- Click here to watch Gabby's referenced interview with Jesse Eisenberg
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
When New Mexico became the first state in the nation to offer free childcare for families regardless of income, it made national headlines and sparked a major question: How will this work? Since the program's launch on November 1, 2025, thousands of families have enrolled, but the rollout hasn't been without its challenges. ECECD Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the state of New Mexico's universal childcare program, including provider shortages, access gaps in rural communities, recent legislation aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability, and the biggest successes so far. How many childcare providers does New Mexico still need? Where will the money come from long-term? Are other states planning to follow New Mexico's lead? We take a closer look at whether the nation's first universal childcare program is delivering on its promise.
Curious about eligibility and how to apply? Click here.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Chef Marie Yniguez has become one of New Mexico's most recognizable chefs, earning national attention through appearances on Chopped, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and recognition as a James Beard Award semifinalist. But behind the success is a reality local restaurant owners know all too well.
Chef Marie joins Chris and Gabby for a heart-to-heart about her decision to close her downtown Albuquerque restaurant, My Moms, on July 31st. She shares the challenges of running a small business amid rising food costs, increasing expenses, and a changing restaurant industry. A New Mexico native, Chef Marie also reflects on how she fell in love with cooking in her mom's kitchen, the inspiration behind her authentic New Mexican comfort food, and what makes our state's cuisine so special. She also explains why this chapter isn't the end of her story. It's a candid conversation about passion, perseverance, community, and what's next for one of New Mexico's most celebrated chefs. After July 31, you can catch Chef Marie running her SRB Sangwich food truck at Marble Brewery in Albuquerque.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and on our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
High school is changing in Albuquerque. New Mexico's biggest school district, Albuquerque Public Schools, is expanding its Academies of Albuquerque initiative, which blends traditional academics with hands-on learning and career pathways in fields like STEM, health science, culinary arts, and skilled trades. As public schools face declining enrollment and growing competition from charter and private schools, districts are looking for new ways to keep students engaged and prepare them for life after graduation. Kenneth Salazar, Associate Superintendent of High Schools at APS, joins Chris and Gabby to explain how the program works, what's changing in year two, and why APS believes this is the future of high school education. Is career-focused learning giving students a head start, or asking them to choose a path too soon? How is industry connecting with New Mexico students at a younger age?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
What were officers saying when they thought no one was listening? Newly unsealed federal search warrants offer one of the clearest looks yet into the DWI corruption scheme that has shaken public trust in law enforcement across New Mexico. Former FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda joins Chris and Gabby to break down what investigators heard in wiretapped phone calls, how federal agents used various pieces of evidence to build their case, and what the conversations revealed about the culture inside the DWI unit. From casual discussions about criminal activity to excuses for missing court appearances, the wiretaps provide a rare behind-the-scenes view of a corruption investigation that's led to 13 guilty pleas so far. How did the case come together? What will it take to restore public confidence in law enforcement moving forward?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico's 2026 Midterm Election is taking shape, and the race for Governor is only part of the story. KRQE Political Analyst & UNM Political Science Professor Gabe Sanchez joins Chris McKee to break down the June primary results and what they reveal about the battles ahead in November. From voter turnout and record-breaking campaign spending, to the key statewide races that could reshape New Mexico politics, Gabe offers an in-depth look at the candidates, challenges they face, and the trends that could decide Election Day. How will Deb Haaland and Gregg Hull approach the general election? Can Republicans break through in statewide races? And what should voters watch in the contests for U.S. Senate and New Mexico's congressional seats?
**Editor's Note: at 33 minutes in to this audio podcast, Sanchez misspoke, using the word "proponent," when he intended to say "opponent" in respects to Congressional District 2 candidate Gabe Vasquez's views on President Trump and the administration's stance on issues like immigration.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
The New World screwworm (NWS) was eradicated from the United States 60 years ago. So how did this flesh-eating parasite return? In early June, New Mexico confirmed its first case of NWS in a dog in the southeastern part of the state, raising concerns for ranchers, veterinarians, pet owners, and health officials. While experts stress there's no reason to panic, USDA officials say awareness and early detection are critical to preventing the pest from spreading and potentially devastating livestock. Chris and Gabby sit down with two experts to discuss how the state prepared for the threat, what symptoms animal owners should watch for, and why the livestock industry is paying close attention. Learn more about the science behind eradication efforts that once eliminated screwworm from the U.S.
How could the screwworm impact the ag industry? What should you watch for? We break down what New Mexicans need to know.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
For years, Raul Bujanda led some of New Mexico's highest-profile federal investigations as the FBI's top official in Albuquerque. Now, he's stepping into a newly revived role at City Hall, responsible for overseeing the city's public safety system. Chris and Gabby sit down with Albuquerque's new Executive Director of Public Safety to discuss why he made the move, what he learned from a career in federal law enforcement, and how he plans to coordinate Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Albuquerque Community Safety, and the Albuquerque Police Department -- an agency that was the subject of a major FBI corruption investigation during his tenure. Bujanda shares his perspective on tackling crime, addressing youth access to firearms, and balancing accountability with reform. What's his vision for the future of public safety in Albuquerque?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Albuquerque has a new police chief hired from within the ranks. Chief Cecily Barker is the first woman to lead the department in APD's history, and has been a member of the department for 22 years. Chris and Gabby sit down with Chief Barker for an in-depth conversation about her approach to leadership, the future of policing in Albuquerque, and what people can expect under her command. She reflects on APD's decade under federal DOJ reform, evolving use-of-force policies, officer accountability, and the ongoing challenge of rebuilding public trust after the DWI corruption scandal that shook the department. As APD enters a new chapter, Chief Barker offers a candid look at the pressures and priorities of leading New Mexico's largest police force. What makes her stand out from prior leadership at APD?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
What does it take to run New Mexico's prison system? Chris and Gabby sit down with New Mexico Corrections Department Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero to discuss the realities of overseeing the state's eight prison facilities. Tafoya Lucero offers an inside look at the challenges facing corrections today, including staff shortages, contraband smuggling, inmate healthcare, and reflects on what it was like to navigate prison operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also shares why rehabilitation and reentry have become major priorities for the department, including expanded educational, vocational, and workforce programs designed to prepare inmates for life after release. With roughly 96% of people in New Mexico's prisons eventually returning to their communities, she explains why she believes successful reentry is critical to public safety and reducing recidivism.
The conversation provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the people, policies, and decisions shaping New Mexico's correctional system.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
After eight years leading the University of New Mexico, outgoing UNM President Garnett Stokes sits down with Chris and Gabby for an in-depth exit interview reflecting on the highs, lows, and defining moments of her tenure. The 23rd President and first woman in UNM history to hold the position, Stokes discusses the challenges of leading the Lobos through periods of change, the accomplishments she's most proud of, and what she believes should be the top priorities for the university's next leader. From student success and campus safety to athletics, funding, and the future of higher education in New Mexico, the conversation offers a candid look at the legacy she leaves behind.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico's race for governor is taking shape, and this election could look very different from past primaries. In this special primary election episode, Chris and Gabby sit down with the three Republican candidates running to become New Mexico's next governor: former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, small-business owner Doug Turner, and CEO of the cannabis company Ultra Health, Duke Rodriguez. Each candidate is given equal time to answer questions about healthcare, the economy, education, crime, CYFD, and their vision for the state's future as they compete for a spot on the November ballot. With more than half of voters in a KRQE-Emerson poll stating they are undecided in this race, what makes the candidates stand out?
This is the first primary election in New Mexico history where registered independents and 'decline to state' voters can cast a ballot in the June 2nd primary election, adding a new dynamic to one of the state's most closely watched races. How will this impact voter turnout?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
As Route 66 approaches its centennial, Albuquerque is investing heavily in art, culture, and the future of Central Avenue. Chris and Gabby sit down with Shelle Sanchez, Arts & Culture Director for the City of Albuquerque, to talk about the city's vision for the Route 66 celebration. Sanchez also shares what the city learned from a recent creative economy impact study, and the millions of dollars in investments designed to reshape how locals and visitors experience Albuquerque.
Also discussed: the city's role in preserving and operating the historic KiMo Theatre; major investments at the ABQ BioPark; challenges and successes with the new International District Library; and how public art fits into Albuquerque's long-term identity and growth.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico's race for governor is heating up. Two Democrats and three Republicans are vying for their parties' nomination to earn a spot on the November ballot. In this special primary election episode, Democratic candidates Deb Haaland and Sam Bregman sit down for in-depth conversations about the issues shaping the campaign. Haaland, the former Congresswoman and U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and Bregman, the Bernalillo County District Attorney, outline their visions for the state and how they would tackle some of New Mexico's biggest challenges, including crime, healthcare, education, the economy, and the future of CYFD.
Chris and Gabby press both candidates on their priorities and policy differences ahead of the primaries. This is the first time in New Mexico where independent voters can cast a ballot in a primary race.
Primary Election Day is June 2, and early voting is already underway. Tune in for our live Q&A on Fox 505 with each candidate at 6 p.m. on May 12, followed by live analysis from Chris and Gabby on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast - livestreamed on YouTube. Interviews with the Republican candidates for governor will air in a later episode of this podcast.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
A New Mexico jury has delivered a landmark verdict against Meta, finding the company knowingly put children and teens at risk, while misleading users about the safety of its platforms. Chris and Gabby break down the trial with on-the-ground reporting from KRQE's Bela Olague, explaining what jurors heard during the six-week trial and why it mattered. Then, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez joins the conversation to unpack the broader impact: what this decision means for families navigating social media, what comes next in the state's ongoing legal fight against Meta, and whether this case could reshape how a generation of parents thinks about their kids' online lives. Is this a turning point for Big Tech accountability? Will it change how any of us engage online?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
A year-long investigation into New Mexico's child welfare system is raising serious concerns about the agency tasked with protecting children. Why is the state’s Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) in crisis? Attorney General for New Mexico, Raúl Torrez, joins Chris and Gabby to unpack the findings of a sweeping report, revealing systemic failures and often deadly consequences for vulnerable children across the state. Where is the system breaking down? What needs to change? And what should be a top priority for New Mexico's next governor?
- Read the report published by the New Mexico Department of Justice: 'Systemic Failures: How CYFD Endangers the Children It's Meant to Protect
- Read CYFD's response to the NMDOJ report
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Gas prices are climbing past $4 a gallon in parts of New Mexico. Even in one of the nation's top oil-producing states, locals are feeling the squeeze. Chris and Gabby sit down with Reilly White, Associate Dean of Teaching & Learning at the University of New Mexico, to break down how global conflict with Iran is driving local costs, and the long-term impact of an oil shock like this. Even if prices drop soon, White explains the economic ripple effects could last for months. What does that mean for families, businesses, and New Mexico's economy? White also shares practical tips to help you manage your budget during this stretch of higher prices.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
After a breakout year for Lobo football, Head Football Coach Jason Eck sits down with Chris and Gabby for a candid conversation about what comes next, and why fighting complacency might be his biggest challenge yet. He shares details about what sold him on staying at the University of New Mexico, moving his family of seven to Albuquerque, and working to build a program that can sustain winning. Eck also opens up about the mindset driving this new era of Lobos football, at a time when money talks in college football.
He also has a message for fans: showing up matters more than you think. It's an inside look at the coach bringing new energy and big expectations to New Mexico, and how the locals are responding.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico is taking on forever chemicals. Sandia National Laboratories scientists Ryan Davis and Nathan Bays join Chris and Gabby this week to explain their breakthrough that dramatically speeds up PFAS testing, helping detect contaminated water faster and cheaper than ever before. It’s a step that could ultimately help the public and regulators better understand whether harmful chemicals are in water systems. Also in this episode, New Mexico Environment Department Secretary James Kenney breaks down new state rules requiring products containing PFAS to be labeled in stores. What does this mean for consumers & manufacturers? What kinds of consumer products still have PFAS?
- Read more about rapid PFAS testing
- Read more about new PFAS label requirements
- KRQE News 13's Bela Olague reports on New Mexico's upcoming PFAS labeling requirements.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
What happened during New Mexico's most recent legislative session? The short answer is: a lot. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, Democratic House Speaker Javier Martinez joins Chris and Gabby to break down some of the biggest moments inside the Roundhouse you might have missed - from funding the state's universal childcare program, to medical malpractice reforms, the Immigrant Safety Act, and the ongoing debate over juvenile crime. Martinez also looks ahead, explaining what's next for lawmakers in a politically turbulent time, and shares what he hopes to see in New Mexico's next governor.
What laws were actually passed? And what should lawmakers focus on next?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico has had an unusually warm start to 2026, with far less snow than we typically see. What happened this winter? And what could it mean for the months ahead? KRQE Chief Meteorologist Grant Tosterud joins Chris and Gabby to break down the data, comparing how this winter stacked up against previous years, and how New Mexico ski resorts fared this season. Grant also shares what an early spring could mean for wildfire season, whether it's signaling a hotter summer ahead, and the records already broken so far this year.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
For months, complaints about the justice system in McKinley County painted a troubling picture. Criminal cases were falling through the cracks, prosecutors left the District Attorney's Office citing a hostile work environment, and crime victims were left in limbo. KRQE investigative reporter Ann Pierret joins Chris and Gabby to explain the dysfunction she uncovered inside the office of former McKinley County District Attorney Bernadine Martin. Martin resigned just days before a historic trial before the New Mexico Supreme Court, after State Attorney General Raúl Torrez petitioned to remove her from office. Ann shares what led to this breaking point, and what evidence the public may never see, now that the unprecedented case has come to an abrupt end. What’s next for McKinley County?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
The global race for hypersonic weapons is accelerating, and New Mexico is becoming part of it. Castelion, a private defense startup, is investing in a new missile manufacturing facility near Rio Rancho, with an unconventional philosophy: build fast, test often. In this episode, Gabby and Chris sit down with company leaders to talk about their mission to help the U.S. close the gap with global adversaries. Castelion leaders also discuss the hundreds of engineering and construction jobs promised to New Mexico, and the environmental concerns raised by nearby residents as the project moves forward. Will taking this risk ultimately help the U.S. Military? How big a role is New Mexico playing in global defense? Learn more about Project Ranger and the plans already underway.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
What's really in the Epstein files? In this in-depth conversation, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury joins Chris and Gabby to discuss her reaction to the Epstein file release, including what she says she saw in the unredacted documents. The Congresswoman explains why she supports creating a Truth Commission to investigate Epstein's ties to New Mexico and examine how state laws may have allowed him to operate under the radar.
Also discussed in the podcast:
- Her work with DOGE and federal oversight
- How immigration policies are impacting New Mexicans
- Federal funding Stansbury helped secure for local projects
- Is Washington too consumed by partisan battles to get meaningful work done?
- What could come from New Mexico's investigation into Zorro Ranch?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
She thought she was protecting her money. Instead, a New Mexico widow lost more than $50,000 to criminals who may never be held accountable. Chris and Gabby sit down with longtime investigative reporter Larry Barker, who takes listeners inside his latest report, ‘The Cruelest Con Game of All.’ A wire fraud victim shares how scammers convinced her to drain both her checking and savings accounts, and details how the scheme unraveled. Her story serves as a warning every family should hear.
- Watch Larry's story here
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Nearly four years after New Mexico's most destructive, government-sparked wildfire, many families are still waiting to be made whole from the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon wildfire. Chris and Gabby sit down with two lead attorneys representing victims to break down the ongoing delays in the FEMA claims process, the growing controversy surrounding the New Mexico Claims Office Director, and the calls from state leaders for him to step down.
Billions were set aside in 2022 to compensate victims. So why is the process still dragging on? Does who you know matter when it comes to getting paid? And who, if anyone, is being held accountable?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Two years into Albuquerque's DWI dismissal scandal, the fallout is still unfolding. Chris and Gabby sit down with KRQE Investigates reporter Ann Pierret to break down her latest reporting, revealing how many accused drunk drivers reoffended after getting a free pass due to their arresting officers losing credibility in court. The KRQE Investigates team also brings listeners up to speed on where the federal investigation stands now, including shocking new court admissions from a former APD Lieutenant who described targeting drunk drivers and exploiting them for cash. When will officers face prison time? How deep can this scheme go?
- They got a free pass due to the DWI scandal. Then, they got in trouble again.
- Watch: APD officer admits to setting up a drunk driver
- Comprehensive KRQE Investigates team coverage of the DWI dismissal scandal
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
What really happens after someone is arrested for a serious crime? Chris and Gabby sit down with Bernalillo County District Court Judge Cindy Leos for a rare, behind-the-bench look at what goes on inside Albuquerque courtrooms. Judge Leos breaks down how the justice system works, what accountability and rehabilitation can look like in practice, and challenges the idea that harsh punishment is stopping youth crime. She also explains how diversion programs like Young Adult Court can be life-changing for some. Who qualifies for the extra help? What's actually working to change criminal behavior?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Albuquerque's bus system is undergoing its biggest overhaul in decades. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, ABQ RIDE leaders break down what they're calling a 'once-in-a-generation plan to improve transit' in New Mexico's biggest city. The system-wide redesign is designed to enhance access, efficiency, and the overall ridership experience. Two leaders from ABQ RIDE, Deputy Director Bobby Sisneros and Principal Planner Andrew de Garmo, join Chris and Gabby to break down what's changing, which routes are being discontinued, and how the rollout will happen. How has the city responded to long-standing safety concerns? Did you know the buses are free?
- Read about the plans here
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Reporting sexual assault is challenging, and holding offenders accountable can take years. This week, Chris and Gabby sit down with Haley Murphy, a Deputy District Attorney in Santa Fe's Violent Crimes/Special Victims Unit, to discuss the realities of prosecuting sex crimes in New Mexico. From breakthroughs in forensic DNA technology that help solve cold cases, to crime lab staffing shortages and backlogs that create new obstacles, we cover the full scope of challenges. What happens when someone reports a sex crime? How are cases involving children handled?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
The University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) is reshaping healthcare across the state in a massive expansion effort underway. UNMH is establishing new clinics, a Critical Care Tower, and requesting state assistance to fund a brand-new, $600 million School of Medicine. UNM Health System CEO Dr. Michael Richards sits down with Chris and Gabby to discuss the new healthcare facilities in the works, the statewide impact, and the major investments being made to help reverse the state's provider shortage.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic expose gaps in care for New Mexicans? How much money is being invested in rebuilding a local healthcare workforce? And will this improve access to care across the state?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
AI-generated images, videos, and misinformation are everywhere. Whether you know how to spot it or not, fake images and videos are woven into social media feeds and even political campaigns. Chris and Gabby sit down with two University of New Mexico professors to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping education, the workforce, and society. UNM professors Melanie Moses and Sonia Gipson-Rankin bring their expertise in computer science and the law to the conversation, exploring how AI is being used in classrooms, courtrooms, and political messaging.
How can people spot what's real in an increasingly synthetic online world? How are New Mexico politicians using AI? And what does this mean for the future of learning, jobs, and democracy?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
After nearly 30 years in uniform, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina sits down with Chris and Gabby for an unfiltered exit interview. He reflects on his decision to step aside for the next mayoral administration, the long road under the Department of Justice consent decree, and navigating one of APD's biggest scandals: a widespread DWI corruption scandal.
Medina opens up about the moments he says helped shape him, the regrets that still linger, and the victories he's most proud of in a candid, emotional conversation. How did he decide it was time to step back? What advice would he give the next leader of the city's biggest police department?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
As 2025 comes to a close, we're unwrapping some of the stories that brought joy to New Mexico and the reporters who helped tell them. KRQE anchor-reporters Annalisa Pardo and Madison Conner take us behind the scenes of their favorite 'good news' stories of the year, the people who inspired them, and why these feel-good reports stuck with them long after the camera stopped rolling. What advice does a 66-year-old piccoloist impart to her young bandmates? And what can others learn from a homeless man who was given a second chance?
- Watch Annalisa's inspiring story from March Madness here.
- Watch Madison's uplifting report about a Duke City Ambassador here.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to your hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Chances are at this point, you've probably heard about the Governor's idea to "reimagine" the New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque's International District. Now one year since that project kicked off, Chris and Gabby are sitting down with former Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez, who's serving as the "state-appointed advisor" on the project. Chavez is tasked with leading the charge on the effort that could overhaul EXPO New Mexico site. He shares why he believes the current statue quo isn't working, both financially and as a major tourist draw. He also lays out current plans, the millions of dollars in funding needed for the project, and addresses the controversial idea of moving the iconic New Mexico State Fair out of EXPO.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico's Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) was created to protect the state's most vulnerable kids. Instead, too many children have slipped through the cracks. In this episode of New Mexico News Insiders, our KRQE colleagues Ann Pierret and Jessica Garate take us inside their hour-long news special about the agency's origins, its intended mission, and why it keeps failing families generation after generation. For decades, both Democratic and Republican leadership have made promises, but there's a continued theme of the children getting hurt or dying under CYFD's radar. Should the state's Governor continue picking a CYFD Secretary? Is staff turnover to blame for failures in the system?
- Watch CYFD: A Generational Problem on the KRQE Now streaming app on your smart TV. Later available on the KRQE YouTube channel & KRQE.com
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
In one of their final appearances before Albuquerque's mayoral runoff Election Day, Chris and Gabby host incumbent Mayor Tim Keller and former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White. The two candidates answer questions about crime, their strategies for handling homeless encampments and city policing, and their sharply personal critiques of each other's records. Each candidate is given 20 minutes to discuss their plans, policy clashes, and what's at stake for the city on December 9th. Do voters believe the city is on the right track? Or will new leadership change the metro's trajectory?
Early voting in Albuquerque is December 1st-6th. Runoff Election Day is Tuesday, December 9th.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
A funding crisis is going on behind the scenes in federal courtrooms across the country. It's one that was intensified by the recent federal shutdown, and especially felt in New Mexico, where tribal clients make up a significant portion of indigent defendants in federal court. More than 50 attorneys who went without paychecks for months, announced in November that they can no longer take new cases, leaving violent crime prosecutions and immigration cases at risk of grinding to a halt. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, Chris and Gabby host CJA Counsel Representative Ryan Villa to break down what the CJA panel is, how the funding dried up, and what this means for the local justice system, criminal cases, and federal immigration priorities going forward.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Despite the federal government reopening, New Mexico will still feel the sting of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Federal dollars and government jobs keep much of the state running, so when Washington shuts down, the effects are often immediate and far-reaching. UNM finance professor Reilly White joins Chris and Gabby to walk through the trickle-down economics in New Mexico, whether the state stepping in to cover SNAP benefits avoided a crisis, and what the last 43 days reveal about the state's dependence on the federal government.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
When it comes to New Mexico weather, there's no such thing as ‘normal.’ While communities are still reeling from wildfire devastation, this year saw powerful monsoon storms that devastated the Village of Ruidoso, a record amount of dust storm warnings and tornadoes, as well as stretches where the Rio Grande ran dry. Chief Meteorologist Grant Tosterud joins Chris and Gabby to break down the biggest weather moments of 2025, what they mean for the state's climate future, and what we can expect heading into winter.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Can small-town newspapers make a comeback? In Albuquerque, hyper-local outlets like Downtown Albuquerque News and Nob Hill News are proving there's still an appetite for neighborhood reporting. As traditional news media adapt to changing habits of how people get their information, independent journalists are filling in some of the gaps in local "news deserts." Nob Hill News publisher Lindsay Wood joins Chris and Gabby to talk about the process behind the small-town theory of journalism, and why she believes reader-funded newsletters are key to community engagement.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Could you be exposed to toxic pollution, and does it trace back to the U.S. military? The New Mexico Environment Department is trying to find out. Newly released data shows nearly everyone tested who lives or works near Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, has elevated levels of toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" in their blood. New Mexico Environment Department Secretary James Kenney and Dr. Eric Chapman join Chris and Gabby to break down what this means for people living near the polluted area, and what the state is doing to help. Is the federal government doing enough to clean up the toxic mess? What health risks are people facing?
- PFAS exposure at Holloman Lake survey
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Six candidates are vying to lead Albuquerque for the next four years. Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller is seeking a third term, facing five challengers: small business owner Mayling Armijo, retired firefighter Eddie Varela, former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Alex Uballez, City Councilor Louie Sanchez, and former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White. Chris and Gabby sit down with each candidate, giving them equal time to answer the same questions on crime, homelessness, the economy, immigration, and the future of Albuquerque.
Election Day is November 4th, and early voting is underway. If no candidate earns more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will move to a December runoff. What issues matter most to voters? In this non-partisan election, how much are party lines shaping voters' decisions?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in northern New Mexico, citing a sharp rise in crime, the state's highest overdose death rate, and growing homelessness in Rio Arriba County. This week, Española Police Chief Mizel Garcia joins Chris and Gabby to explain why he's asking for help from the National Guard and the unique challenges his community faces. Garcia shares what role the Guard could play, staffing struggles within his department, and how local law enforcement is tackling the region's drug crisis. Why are overdose deaths so prevalent in this area? How will Española use $750,000 in emergency funds? Tune in for an inside look at what's really happening in northern New Mexico.
- Read the Governor's Executive Order
- Watch Partnership with National Guard Discussed
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
It's one of the toughest places to get to, but an Albuquerque Paleontologist has made a mission out of research in the ‘Last Frontier,’ linking dinosaurs from New Mexico all the way to Alaska. Executive Director of New Mexico's Museum of Natural History and Science, Dr. Anthony Fiorillo, joins Chris and Gabby to share stories from his latest expedition, including the discovery of new dinosaur tracks, and how he’s made the connection to New Mexico’s desert. Dr. Fiorillo explains how these findings are helping to reshape what we know about prehistoric life. So how are researchers still making discoveries millions of years later? And what could this mean for future research?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico is making history with a bold promise: free childcare for every family, regardless of income. The initiative launches on November 1st, and families will still need to apply for assistance. But, there's a supply and demand issue right out of the gate. With limited providers, can the state deliver on its pledge? Will every daycare in the state qualify for the program? Chris and Gabby sit down with Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky to unpack how the state plans to grow its childcare workforce, the funding behind the program, and whether this model is built to last. What's the catch, if there is one?
- Read Gov. Lujan Grisham's announcement here
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
For kids in foster care, having someone to advocate for them and truly get to know them, can make all the difference in a court case. In Bernalillo County alone, hundreds of children are navigating the system, yet only about one in 10 get matched with a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Jennifer Sunshine, Executive Director of NM Kids Matter, joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the urgent need for volunteers, how the CASA program works, and the impact it can have on children's lives.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico is investing big in higher education, covering tuition for roughly 55,000 students through programs like the Lottery and Opportunity Scholarships. But how do these programs actually work? Who benefits the most? And is this model sustainable for the future? Chris and Gabby get answers from two leaders at the state's Higher Education Department. HED Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez and Deputy Secretary Patricia Trujillo explain where funding comes from and why the state is making this investment.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
How is New Mexico attracting new business? From space to film, energy and manufacturing - the state's Economic Development Department Secretary, Rob Black, pulls back the curtain on some of the business dealings behind the scenes. Black shares what's happening at Spaceport America, the future of solar manufacturing in the state, and how EDD is tackling the challenge of 'brain drain.' Is job growth happening in New Mexico? What will it take to keep college graduates and attract new ones into the state?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico is well-known for the Balloon Fiesta and its State Fair, and this year it’ll be home to another major event: The National Championship Air Races. Organizers describe it as ‘NASCAR in the sky,’ and the historic event spent decades in Reno, Nevada, before development around the airport forced it to find a new home. Chris and Gabby sit down with Tony Logoteta, President & COO of the Reno Air Racing Association, to unpack how Roswell, New Mexico, was chosen from cities across the country, the potential economic boost for the state, and what aviation fans can expect from the high-speed spectacle. How many people will attend? What does this mean for New Mexico in the long term?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
As New Mexico students head into a new school year, families want to know: Are classrooms safe? Will student outcomes improve? And is the state moving up in national education rankings? Chris and Gabby host the leader of the state’s largest school district, Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Gabriella Blakey. More than a year into her role, Blakey shares about lessons learned over the last year, new safety measures, and academic goals for the state's largest district.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico continues to contend with heartbreaking cases of child abuse, and mounting criticism of the state agency meant to protect vulnerable kids. KRQE Anchor-Reporter Jessica Garate joins Chris and Gabby to unpack the challenges of reporting on child welfare and the role of the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). Jessica tackles the latest case of a 5-year-old girl in Silver City whose family believes she could have been saved, and addresses broader questions about state oversight. What happens when abuse or neglect is reported by a teacher, family member, or law enforcement? How is CYFD responding? And are family reunification goals sometimes putting children's safety at risk?
- Watch Jessica's story on 5-year-old Xaquie Bynum
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Follow your hosts on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico has long grappled with challenges in education, from teacher retention and recruitment in rural communities, to consistently low national rankings. Lt. Governor Howie Morales, a longtime advocate for education, joins Chris and Gabby to unpack major investments in early childhood, progress made so far, and the looming threat of losing critical federal funding. Are rural programs at risk? How are the state's investments translating to better outcomes for New Mexico students?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
The Rio Grande is running dry in the metro once again, for the second time in 40 years. With New Mexico already in a 'water debt' under the Rio Grande Compact, what does this mean for farmers, crops, and the local drinking water supply? Chris and Gabby wade through the complexities with Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District's Chief Engineer & CEO, Jason Casuga. He explains how New Mexico is managing its water, and restrictions around water storage. How does the Rio Grande Compact play a role in the state's supply? And what does this mean for future infrastructure and livelihoods?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Ruidoso, New Mexico, is reeling once again. After enduring destructive wildfires, the mountain community is facing an uphill battle of recovery after deadly flash flooding killed a man and two children. The Rio Ruidoso surged to a record-breaking 20 feet, five feet higher than last year's record, catching even prepared emergency crews off guard. Chris and Gabby speak with the Village Fire Chief Cade Hall, a lifelong Ruidoso resident, about what happened, and the heartbreak of not being able to save everyone. Chief Hall explains how the community is also bracing for more rain. With recovery setbacks, tourism threatened, and continued risks, will people rebuild? Is the village re-thinking its alert system?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico is home to the most highly polluted body of water in the world, according to University of New Mexico researchers. PFAS, a group of toxic 'forever chemicals' linked to health problems, is showing up in water, wildlife, and everyday products. Secretary James Kenney, of the New Mexico Environment Department, joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the scope of contamination in New Mexico, the federal government's response, and what people can do to mitigate risks. How do you know if you've been exposed? Which bodies of water are considered hazardous? Are big game hunters at risk of eating contaminated meat? And what sort of health problems do PFAS cause?
- Read the environmental report on PFAS in New Mexico
*Special note: We recorded this episode just days before the Holloman Air Force Base announced its choice to close public access to the area surrounding Holloman Lake, or what the Air Force calls the "Holloman Evaporation Pond." Due to concerns about PFAS contamination, the area is expected to close on August 14, 2025. You can read more about the decision on KRQE.com.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
What happens when there are zero prosecutors for a community of nearly 70,000 people? A breakdown is unfolding in Gallup, New Mexico, and the fallout has the community demanding change. This week, KRQE investigative reporter Ann Pierret joins Chris and Gabby to share her reporting on the dysfunction inside the McKinley County District Attorney's Office, including her attempts to get answers from the DA herself. She explains how a state senator's unprecedented move to defund the office is sparking political and legal turmoil, and why state officials are now stepping in. How did it get to this point? What happens next? Watch Ann's reporting on what's unfolding in Gallup at the linked stories below:
- State Senator defunds District Attorney
- McKinley County DA hangs onto control for now
- DA no-shows in court, multiple cases dismissed
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
The sky is not the limit in New Mexico, especially when it comes to the mission of the U.S. Space Force. This week, Chris and Gabby talk with two guests leading innovation, tech development, and national security efforts with the USSF in Albuquerque. Gabe Mounce, Director of the Tech Engagement Office with the Air Force Research Lab New Mexico, and Matthew Fetrow, Senior Scientist with the USSF, explain what the newest military branch is focused on. How are private companies teaming up with the government to launch the future of space defense? And could space tourism really take off in our lifetime? Listen to the full discussion to learn why New Mexico is becoming a key player in the space race.
- Watch Gabe's TED Talk mentioned in the episode
- Read more about how start-up companies are paired with USSF and DoD
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to your hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
We're only halfway through 2025, but it may already feel like a political lifetime for some. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, Chris and Gabby sit down with KRQE Political Analyst, UNM Professor, and Professional Pollster, Gabe Sanchez, to break down the state's biggest political storylines unfolding. From crime and immigration, to the Governor's race, and a crowded field for Albuquerque Mayor - how could these battles help shape New Mexico's future? Will a stacked Mayoral race ultimately help or hurt the incumbent? Listen in to get the inside scoop on the power plays unfolding across federal, state, and local politics.
We appreciate our listeners. If you’ve got an idea, send it to your hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
There are thousands of children in the state's custody, and not enough places for all of them to sleep. The problem often results in kids sleeping in government office buildings, requiring long shifts from workers with some of the most high-needs children. How did it come to this? What's being done to fix it? KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret joins Chris and Gabby to break down what her reporting uncovered about CYFD's growing crisis, the strain on staff, and efforts to add more foster care support.
- Watch Ann's recent investigation
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Monsoon season has arrived in New Mexico, and that means sudden, dangerous flash floods. Fast-moving water in arroyos and streets can trap people in seconds. So, how do firefighters prepare for these high-stakes rescues? And why do people keep getting caught in the same flood zones? Chris and Gabby talk with two Albuquerque firefighters about what it takes to pull off a swift water rescue, the intense training behind it, and what everyone should know to stay safe.
Check out the video version of this episode to see footage from some of the swift water rescues discussed in the episode.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Lawmakers agree the system isn't working, especially when it comes to how courts handle people with mental illness. A new law promises major reforms and millions in investment toward behavioral health in New Mexico. But what will actually change, and when? This week, Chris and Gabby talk with two insiders tasked with leading reform efforts about what this law means for judges, treatment access, and the long road ahead.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
The National Guard is deploying in Albuquerque, aiming to help tackle the city's crime problem by freeing up more police officers. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared an emergency through an Executive Order in April, after receiving a letter from Albuquerque's Police Chief, who requested additional resources to combat what he described as a crime problem that "continues to be an emergency" in the city. APD says integrating Guardsmen and women will allow officers to be more present in high-crime areas, particularly along Central Avenue. But how will this work? What will the National Guard be doing or not doing? Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar, the Adjutant General overseeing New Mexico's National Guard, joins Chris and Gabby to explain everything you need to know.
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
For years, New Mexicans have heard promises of "revitalization" and "redevelopment" in downtown Albuquerque—but is it actually happening? This week, Chris and Gabby sit down with Terry Brunner, Director of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency, to pull back the curtain on how government is working with the private sector to incentivize development. Brunner details housing plans, local business buy-in for increased security, and some long-game, multimillion-dollar projects like the 'Rail Trail.' What is it exactly? And when could people see the Rail Trail in real life?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
When someone is deemed 'incompetent' to stand trial, how does New Mexico's criminal justice system respond? It's the subject of a recent Larry Barker investigation that looked at cases involving hundreds of arrests, only for the offenders to be released back onto the streets. People who are mentally ill are committing crimes across the state, getting arrested, and their cases are dismissed without any repercussions or assistance. Barker, along with University of New Mexico Criminal Law Professor Joshua Kastenberg, join Chris and Gabby this week to discuss the complexities of cases like this, and why the justice system isn't set up to help the incompetent suspects or their victims.
- Watch Larry's recent report: Free rides on the New Mexico justice train
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
The leader of the federal agency that investigated the DWI corruption scandal has left his position as Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Albuquerque. Now, former SAC Raul Bujanda sat down with KRQE's Anchor, Dean Staley, for an exit interview that covered crime, guns, and the state's biggest police corruption scandal. Bujanda discusses his time with the FBI, youth violence, and speaks candidly about teens' access to guns. What does the former FBI leader believe is the main driver of crime in New Mexico? Will more cops be charged in the corruption scheme?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
Would higher taxes on alcohol reduce alcohol-related deaths in New Mexico? University of New Mexico researchers say yes. But the state hasn’t changed the way it taxes alcohol for decades. This week, Brady Horn, UNM Economics Professor and one of the researchers behind the study, along with Democratic Senator Antonio 'Moe' Maestas, join Chris and Gabby to explain the goal of the alcohol tax research, the state funding behind it, and why it's such a controversial issue in the legislature. What's the best way to tax alcohol in the first place? Could higher taxes impact the local economy in a good or bad way?
Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it over to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. On social media, you can find as at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. You can watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.
New Mexico's flagship university has gone through a lot of changes lately in the athletics department. This week, Fernando Lovo, the Lobo's new VP and Director of Athletics, joins Chris and Gabby to discuss some of the big decisions he's had to make out of the gate - including hiring both a new head football and men's basketball coach. Lovo also discusses how UNM is dealing with major shifts in NCAA policy, including student athletes' use of "name, image, and likeness" (NIL), and the transfer portal. Will the new coaches stick with the Lobos for the long haul? How is Lovo and the department navigating the new college athletics landscape?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque is the fifth largest base in the United States Air Force, and one of the 'crown jewels' of national security. This week, two guests from KAFB join Chris and Gabby to explain some of the critical missions happening on base, the economic impact the 52,000-acre base has in New Mexico, and the upcoming chance the public will have to get up close and personal to the aircraft. Kirtland AFB will host its first air show in six years in May. What should people expect to see? And what makes Albuquerque such a unique training environment for pilots?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
If you had $1.5 million to build something for your community, what would you spend it on? Voters in Albuquerque will decide just that with the ‘set aside’ fund from Council District 6, thanks to the idea of ‘Participatory Budgeting.’ What does that mean exactly? City Councilor Nichole Rogers is spearheading the movement in her district for the first time. She joins Chris and Gabby this week to explain why she’s doing it, how people are getting involved with plans, and the projects currently on the table. Could this set a trend?
Voting for the community-inspired projects is open through April 19th, 2025. Learn more about them and how to vote here.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
Two-time Oscar winner and prolific actor Gene Hackman spent his later years in New Mexico with his wife, Betsy Arakawa. And when news of their mysterious death surfaced, a media frenzy ensued. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, Chris and Gabby are joined by KRQE Anchor-Reporters Chad Brummett and Annalisa Pardo to discuss Hackman's legacy in the film industry, his time in New Mexico, and the investigation and reporting that followed. Our reporting takes you behind the scenes of the initial 911 call response, and reveals details about what Hackman's neighbors told law enforcement.
- Watch Annalisa's report on the body camera footage
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
Three-and-a-half years into service, Albuquerque's civilian emergency response team just marked its 100,000th call. Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) launched in 2021 as part of the city's effort to provide a more specialized approach to behavioral health, homelessness, and non-violent related 911 emergencies. Walter Adams was one of the first five responders, now serving as ACS's Deputy Director of Field Operations. He joins Chris and Gabby to explain how the department is measuring its success, and the rapid growth they've experienced. Is ACS making a dent in homelessness? Does having this third option help relieve police and fire crews?
- 2022 ride-along with ACS shortly after launch
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
Albuquerque Fire Rescue Chief Emily Jaramillo is the first woman to serve as Fire Chief in the department's 123-year history. As a former teacher, Jaramillo was compelled to switch careers when she had a recruiter come talk to her class. She joins Chris and Gabby this week to discuss the challenges and fulfilling parts of the job. She also discusses a contentious City Council meeting that had her in the hot seat defending a controversial staffing change she believes will improve response times in the city and ultimately help save lives in an emergency. Why did city councilors quash her staffing plan? Is Chief Jaramillo going against the so-called 'gold standard?' Those topics and more are explained in the full interview.
- March 3rd Albuquerque City Council Meeting
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
Researchers from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center found 'alarmingly high levels' of microplastics in human brains. The amount appears to be a higher concentration of plastic than found in other organs, and scientists say the accumulation is growing over time. So, how did plastic get there in the first place? And what, if anything, should people do about this issue? Dr. Marcus Garcia joins Chris and Gabby to explain the methods used in the study, what researchers learned, and the questions they're still working to answer. He also shares what scientists believe to be the catalyst for plastic entering our food chain.
- Nature Medicine Article
- UNM Health Sciences Center Research
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
A New Mexico refugee student trafficked by her sponsor family. Young women with no family support, taken advantage of on the streets of Albuquerque. It was personal stories like those and unforeseen encounters with human trafficking victims that led Shelley Repp to an unexpected calling - now leading the New Mexico Dream Center, a nonprofit in Albuquerque focused on outreach, services, and prevention for trafficking victims. Repp was recently recognized for Nexstar Media Group's 2025 'Remarkable Women' contest. She joins Chris and Gabby this week to discuss what led her to this work and how prevalent the issue of human trafficking in New Mexico is. She also offers insight into a part of society online that she claims parents need to know about.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
It has been a busy start to the year for New Mexico's Attorney General, Raúl Torrez. He's embroiled in a legal battle brewing at a New Mexico university, proposing changes in state law during the legislative session, and now tackling national politics in court. AG Torrez joins Chris and Gabby to explain legal actions he's filed to push back against some of the work efforted by President Donald Trump's Administration. Torrez also details what he believes lawmakers should prioritize this session. How do some of New Mexico's federally funded programs stand to change under DOGE and Trump? What are some of the main bills Torrez is backing this legislative session? Is a rehaul of CYFD in the state's future?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
President Donald Trump has made it no secret that he plans to shake up the status quo on how the United States operates when it comes to immigration, promising mass deportation efforts. So how are those efforts going so far in New Mexico? This week, Sophia Genovese, Asylum and Detention Managing Attorney with the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center joins Chris and Gabby to provide context and answer some of the main questions and concerns the NMILC is getting from the public. Genovese says their office has been flooded with phone calls under the new presidential administration. Have there been any confirmed ICE raids in New Mexico? What might that look like? And what should someone do if they're approached about their legal status in the country?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
It's one of the biggest public corruption scandals in New Mexico, involving money, a defense attorney's office, and drunk driving cases. We've now seen some of the key players in the 'DWI Enterprise' take federal plea deals, admitting the scheme to profit off of DWI dismissals goes back decades. This week, Linda Atkinson, Executive Director of the DWI Resource Center, joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the initial plea deals, and share why she's paid such close attention to DWI court cases over the years. How big of an issue is drunk driving in New Mexico? How does this corruption scandal impact faith in the state's judicial system?
- Click here for KRQE's continuing coverage of the DWI dismissal scandal
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
The City of Albuquerque is making a significant investment in the Gateway Center along Gibson, which aims to be a one-stop shop for services. One of the main resources inside the facility, known as 'Medical Respite' will provide primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care for people living on the streets. Rachel Biggs, Chief Strategy Officer for the program, and Kate Morton, Chief Clinical Officer, join Chris and Gabby to explain how the facility will work, who it will serve, and the overall promise to the community. How big of an impact will it make? Is medical staffing a struggle?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
The Fentanyl crisis has changed law enforcement's approach to tackling drugs and education. This week, Carlos Briano, Spokesperson for the Drug Enforcement Agency El Paso Division, which covers New Mexico, joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the DEA's mission on the streets, and in schools. What's behind the recent Fentanyl overdose death decline? How are kids learning about drugs in schools? Briano expands on a newly adopted school curriculum by Albuquerque Public Schools, created in collaboration with Discovery Education and the DEA. Plus, hear about the unique challenges New Mexico and Texas are facing when it comes to drug crimes.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
New Mexico's Top federal law enforcement officer peels back the curtain on what's historically been a pretty secretive job. The state's U.S. Attorney's Office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes ranging from murder, organized crime, and issues in Indian Country, to investigating and prosecuting public corruption. This week, New Mexico's U.S. Attorney, Alexander Uballez, shares some of his proudest moments serving in this role, cases that have made an impact, and the path he'd like the office to continue during President Trump's administration. He also responds to the latest charges in the DWI dismissal scandal. What’s next for that case?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
From an impressive turn-around to losing its head football coach, and now legal challenges amid the basketball team - there have been significant highs and lows for the University of New Mexico's Lobo Athletic Department over the last few months. This week Chris and Gabby sit down with KRQE Sports gurus Van Tate and Jared Chester to drill into the season of Lobo sports. How will the new Athletic Director, Fernando Lovo, fare under the circumstances? What's next for Lobo football under a new head coach? And what do the basketball team and its fans make of the lawsuit filed against its head coach?
Also discussed, are the impacts of the NIL on college athletics. Van and Jared also share their perspective of covering the Lobos, and how these dynamics have impacted the team turnarounds.
- Watch Gabby's investigative report and interview with Shane Douma-Sanchez
- Watch KRQE reporting on the lawsuit filed against UNM
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
What could become of the Expo New Mexico State Fairgrounds? Near the end of 2024, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a 'Request for Proposal,' or RFP, seeking ideas for a master plan to redevelop 236 acres of state-owned land in the central part of Albuquerque. This week, Chris & Gabby break down what this could mean for the area near the International District with freshman District 6 City Counselor, Nichole Rogers. The governor's announcement is coupled with half a million dollars in state funding and ideas for potential housing development, entertainment venues, and possibly moving the State Fair out of Expo. What do the neighbors want? And what are the next steps?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
From crime, homelessness, economic investments, and a new presidential administration - there are several potential changes in the pipeline for 2025. This week, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller joins Chris and Gabby to discuss some major events from 2024 and what's ahead for the new year. Keller is officially in the final year of his second term and will run for a third term. What's his thinking behind another mayoral term? And what should Albuquerque be focused on the most in 2025?
Tune into the full discussion to hear his response to the big news topics including the DWI-APD corruption scandal, an RFP for Expo New Mexico, and continued challenges in the International District.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
From historic wildfires and flooding, to one of the most watched criminal trials of the year, 2024 has been another big news year for New Mexico. This week on KRQE's News 13's New Mexico News Insiders, Chris and Gabby are taking a look back at some of the most impactful stories of 2024 with KRQE's evening anchors, Jessica Garate, and Dean Staley.
This year, we've put together a roundtable discussion, analyzing four big New Mexico news topics in 2024 and how they'll take shape in 2025. Dean Staley kicks off the discussion with how warming seasons and natural disasters have affected New Mexico. Las Vegas saw more than 30 inches of snow in November, Roswell experienced record flooding in an October storm, while areas near Willard were buried in rain and hail in June.
Gabby continues the conversation, leading discussion around the ongoing federal investigation into Albuquerque Police's DWI Unit scandal. Will officers face criminal charges for the alleged public corruption scheme?
We're also dalking about the ongoing struggles with the state's Children, Youth and Families Department. It's a topic Jessica Garate has highlighted through several stories in 2024, including a story about the state's child-parent reunification policy.
Chris wraps up the discussion with a brief look into New Mexico's development story and the major projects promising an economic "shot in the arm" that have or haven't taken shape in 2024. Will Maxeon's promised solar manufacturing plant, or Ebon Solar's project take shape in Mesa del Sol in 2025?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
Happy Holidays from New Mexico News Insiders! This week, we're back for another look at some of the best "good news" stories from 2024. KRQE Anchor-Reporters Jessica Garate and Annalisa Pardo join Chris and Gabby to talk about a few special stories they put together this year, which are airing in KRQE's annual "Good News" newscast special.
Annalisa takes us behind the scenes of a newer federal court program aimed to help people transition from incarceration to successful citizens. Jessica highlights a special wish come true for an 8-year-old girl whose family has kept the positivity flowing during hardship.
- Watch Annalisa's story about the "RIO" federal court program.
- Watch Jessica's story about Phoebe's wish coming true.
Got something to say? Send your feedback or podcast ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! For an abbreviated broadcast version of Insiders, tune into our show on Fox New Mexico every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST.
Ever wonder what New Mexico looked like before dinosaurs roamed the earth? Local paleontologists have been studying fossils and renovating a new space at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science to bring visitors a first-hand look at the prehistoric southwest. This week, the museum’s Curator of Paleontology, Dr. Spencer Lucas, joins Chris and Gabby to talk about their latest exhibit “Ancient Life,” painting a picture of some never-before-seen collections and creatures that’ll soon be on display.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
More than four-and-a-half years since the pandemic-related closure of the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, the Bureau of Land Management and Cochiti Pueblo announced the monument is now reopened to the public. The long-awaited reopening, however, comes with several new conditions, processes, and higher fees. Former UNM Professor and longtime geologist Dr. Gary Smith joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the monument's historical significance, some of the new conditions put in place, and how the two agencies are working together to preserve the unique, millions-of-years-old landscape.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
Plenty of industries are in need of staff, but did you know New Mexico has an accounting crisis? That’s according to State Auditor, Joseph Maestas. When local governments can’t hire a good accountant, the ripple effect on local economies can be damaging. Auditor Maestas shares what his industry is doing to try and recruit fresh talent, retain workforce in New Mexico, and improve how the state manages its money.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Do you prefer video with your podcasts? Check out the video version of the show on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
When it comes to overall child well-being in New Mexico, the state ranks 50th in the nation according to a 'Kids Count' report. But that ranking doesn't even include child abuse and neglect data. What sort of indicators are used to measure child welfare? And how can New Mexico move out of last place? Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Amy Dudewicz has had a long career in local law enforcement dealing with cases of child abuse. Lt. Dudewicz and KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret join Chris and Gabby to discuss the complexities of the state's system of holding child abusers accountable and some of the biggest challenges for law enforcement.
- Watch Ann's investigation: Inside the complex system of holding child abusers accountable
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
With an aging population and fewer children being born, New Mexico could head toward a concerning decline, according to UNM researchers. Geospatial & Population Studies (UNM-GPS) Senior Research Scientist Jacqueline Miller joins Chris & Gabby to discuss her projections based on 2020 Census numbers. While the numbers aren’t set in stone, Miller explains what this could mean for the state’s economic and political future. Will migration trends continue with young people leaving New Mexico? What’s the key to growth?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
Social media can help people stay connected from anywhere in the world. But it’s also a platform where predators can connect with children more easily than ever before. This week, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez joins Chris and Gabby to explain why he’s taking internet giants, Meta and Snapchat, to court over what he believes are dangerous platforms for children. Are Meta and Snapchat doing enough to keep adult strangers from accessing children? Are there enough safeguards in place already? Torrez shares why he considers these local court battles as a starting point for bringing about major changes to the worldwide platform.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
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 do political ads matter? Locally, it's also the first time both the House and Senate face new voting maps after redistricting, and all 112 seats in the state legislature are up for grabs. How could the new maps reshape the state's political landscape? Plus, could a declining population result in New Mexico losing a congressional seat?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
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 like 'cloud seeding,' climate science, and what it takes to give an accurate weather forecast each day. KRQE Chief Meteorologist Grant Tosterud, and KRQE alumni and Meteorologist, Kristen Currie from KXAN in Austin, Texas, each join Chris and Gabby to discuss how they navigate the storm of forecasting the weather while facing a new torrent of weather misinformation online.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
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, Carmen López, and Associate Director of Democracy, & Peace Programs at the Carter Center, Sarah Cooper, join Chris and Gabby this week to discuss election integrity, and the nonpartisan observation effort to increase transparency across the state’s 33 counties.
How can regular citizens get involved? Click here to learn more about becoming an election observer or county coordinator.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
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 discuss the complexities of HSI missions. SAC Stevens shares details about the uptick in human smuggling stash houses, transnational criminal operations in New Mexico, and what HSI is doing to stop criminals. How successful are their missions? Are there enough resources at the border?
Click here for more information on the Know2Protect campaign mentioned in the show.
Click here to learn more about Operation Chain Breaker
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Our show also airs on television! Tune into Fox New Mexico on Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST.
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. Kyle Hartsock, Commander of APD's Criminal Investigation Division, joins Chris and Gabby to discuss how law enforcement is leveraging this technology, a grassroots DNA database, and federal grant funds to solve crimes that have been unsolvable until now.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel.
We're also now broadcasting the podcast on television! Tune in to an abbreviated version of New Mexico News Insiders on Fox New Mexico every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m.
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 inspected roughly half of the state's more than 3,000 licensed facilities. Barker's investigation also revealed how some of those operations are openly violating the state's cannabis rules and regulations.
This week on New Mexico News Insiders, Investigative Reporter Larry Barker sits down with Chris McKee and Gabrielle Burkhart to discuss the results of his cannabis industry investigation. Leader of the largest licensed cannabis operator in the state, Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez also shares his perspective on the impact the lack of regulation is having on New Mexico and the state's cannabis industry.
Click here to watch Larry Barker's full investigation, titled, 'The New Mexico Cannabis Cowboys: Modern-day Desperados.'
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel.
We're also now broadcasting the podcast on TV! Tune in to an abbreviated version of New Mexico News Insiders on Fox New Mexico every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m.
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 New Mexico. Topics range from the economy, education challenges, and abortion policy, to drug and crime problems.
Click here to watch KRQE's Election Special featuring full interviews with Sen. Martin Heinrich and Nella Domenici
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel.
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 one of the murders, then recently took a plea deal in the remaining two killings. This week, Gabby and Chris break down the case that thrust Albuquerque into the national spotlight with KRQE News 13 reporter, Natalie Wadas, and prominent defense attorney, Ahmad Assed.
- Watch KRQE investigation about the two other murders Syed was investigated for.
- Link to KRQE report on Syed's recent plea deal.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel.
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 his department is uniquely positioned to help address it. The Chief also details his thoughts on the lack of traffic enforcement across the state and what he hopes to do with the department under his leadership.
How is the New Mexico State Police helping to address violent crime? Will there be more officers pulling speeders over on your morning commute?
Thanks for listening! We'd love to hear from you. Send your ideas to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video versions of the podcast on our YouTube channel.
We're also now broadcasting the podcast on air! Tune in to an abbreviated version of New Mexico News Insiders on Fox New Mexico every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m.
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 also admits the city’s housing voucher program isn’t working and needs an overhaul. Plus with construction timelines getting pushed back, will Keller be around for a third term? What should the city be focusing on the most?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel.
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 governments more latitude to address homeless encampments in public places. What does this mean for New Mexico? How are local leaders reacting to this Supreme Court decision?
This week on the podcast, Gabby and Chris are joined by returning guest, Professor Joshua Kastenberg of the UNM School of Law. Kastenberg provides an analysis of the SCOTUS decision and offers perspective on how larger cities are dealing with the issue.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel.
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 inflation, shrinking margins for local farmers, and the state’s legacy of Chile woven into New Mexico culture. Etcheverry also explains how technology is helping the agriculture industry.
Read the report we mentioned about dwindling acres harvested for Chile here.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel.
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 surprise visit from the state. So what’s being done about it? New Mexico's Department of Health Secretary, Patrick Allen, joins Gabby to discuss how the survey worked, and what the state is doing with the results.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel.
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 Center, joins Gabby to discuss new efforts to reach grieving families in rural New Mexico and offer resources. He shares tips for talking to children about tough subjects, and the importance of peer connection.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel.
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 criminal justice system. The 'Rust' movie armorer is now seeking a dismissal for her conviction. So how did the prosecution's case unravel so quickly? And what does this mean for other criminal cases? Jennifer Burrill, a longtime criminal defense attorney and President of the Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, provides analysis of Baldwin's trial and its aftermath.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast now on our YouTube channel.
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 village emergency response worked out, how the community is dealing with the aftermath, and what summers could look like going forward.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel.
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 criminal investigator joins Gabby this week to discuss his mission to inform people what to look out for. How can you and your circle of family and friends avoid falling victim? What are the five tell-tell signs of a financial scam?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel.
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 extended school year, teacher and family challenges, and her long-term goals for the district. What will it take to improve New Mexico education? How safe are kids in public schools?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out our YouTube channel.
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 reward for information leading to the arrest of person(s) responsible for the fires. This week, Chris and Gabby talk with a 74-year-old veteran who lost his home in the wildfire and stayed behind to help family and neighbors save theirs.
- Link mentioned in the episode: Don Spencer's GoFundMe
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel.
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 the podcast, Chris and Gabby discuss the origin story of the Gila, and the efforts to protect it today with Luke Koenig, a Gila Grassroots Organizer for New Mexico Wild.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out our YouTube channel.
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 collection of UFO materials ever assembled. David Marler, Executive Director of the National UFO Historical Records Center doesn't aim to make people believers, but rather, preserve facts that include sifting through recently declassified military records.
Read the KRQE article referenced in the podcast here.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out our YouTube channel.
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 patients and staff? When will the Critical Care Tower be up and running?
This week’s podcast guests:
- Doctor Steve McLaughlin, UNMH Chief Medical Officer
- Makenzie McNeill, Communications Manager of Campus Development for UNMH
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out our YouTube channel.
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 Political Analyst, Gabe Sanchez, joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the implications of this year’s primaries, and how they could reshape the dynamics of the state legislature. The state’s top two District Attorneys are also facing Democratic-party challengers in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. What does it mean for state politics if more 'progressive' Democrats win the primaries? And what will it take for Republicans to gain more ground in the legislature?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 tech as a “real-time intelligence ecosystem,” allowing business owners and citizens to give BCSO access to their surveillance cameras.
This week on the New Mexico News Podcast, Major Hollie Anderson joins Chris & Gabby to explain how she believes this will streamline criminal investigations and ultimately, help catch criminals quicker. Anderson explains how BCSO will have the ability to watch deputies' lapel cameras live when needed, and capture surveillance footage from a crime scene using the new system.
How can businesses opt-in? Is this an over-reach of privacy? Those questions and more are addressed in the full discussion above.
Let us know what you think. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. You can also find us on social media at ChrisMcKeeTV or gburkNM.
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 the key changes APD has adopted over the last decade. Are their new policies sustainable? How will APD police itself going forward?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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-scenes conversation about what led to the woman shooting the man when he broke into her home a second time. How would you handle a situation like that?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 checkpoint seizures seemingly started out of the blue in February. He joins Chris & Gabby to discuss how the unavoidable stops are impacting New Mexico businesses, and what he'd like to see from the federal government. How is the governor responding to this issue? What happens to local cannabis if Border Agents double down?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 case and New Mexico's homeless issues? What immediate impacts can states expect after this Supreme Court decision, if any?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 about challenges she’s faced since losing the family home her father built. Antonia Roybal-Mack, an attorney representing wildfire victims, also explains why dozens of New Mexicans are now suing FEMA. Are victims being repaid quickly enough? Where are families living now? How are generational homes being valued?
Those questions and more are discussed in this week's episode.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 navigated in the local healthcare system, and how she’s paying her gift forward today. Celina Espinoza, External Affairs Director with Donate Life New Mexico and New Mexico Donor Services explains some of the challenges locals face regarding organ donation.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 Bregman joins Chris & Gabby for an in-depth discussion about why he had to drop so many cases, and how his office is addressing public trust issues in the criminal justice system.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 Lujan Grisham to line-item veto capital outlay funding that would have been used in Denish's neighborhood for the playground. The story addresses questions about equal access to city and state government. Jessica joins Chris & Gabby for an extended discussion about how this story unfolded, and the feedback she's received since it aired.
Watch Jessica's story about Netherwood Park
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 murder of a gas station attendant and a detective putting up his own cash to try and generate leads from the public. It worked. Today, the program has evolved with technology and grown nationwide. How often do investigators rely on anonymous tips these days? How much reward money is getting paid out? Chris & Gabby host Alicia Hernandez of Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers to discuss those questions and more.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 the owner of Southwestern Minerals, who has had a family business in the area since the 1960s. The owner shares details about what he and his wife are up against, what’s kept them in business so long, and the changes he hopes to see from the city to keep Route 66 businesses like his - around.
See the visuals from Gabby's KRQE Investigates report with Southwestern Minerals here.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 holding a gun that was unknowingly loaded with real ammunition when it was supposed to be loaded with dummy rounds. This week Chris & Gabby detail highlights of the trial with longtime New Mexico criminal defense attorney, Jenn Burrill. Gutierrez faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine for the conviction. Baldwin is also charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case and is expected to go to trial in July. What does this conviction mean for Baldwin’s case? What was the jury’s main takeaway after hearing witness testimony? What could this mean for the film industry?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 the KRQE Investigates team break down what we’ve learned so far about this investigation, including how officers may have mishandled DWI cases.
How does money come into play? How are officers and the defense attorney linked? Ann Pierret shares what she and Curtis Segarra, KRQE’s Investigative Digital Data Reporter, have learned from the numbers. Gabby also shares more about the bombshell recording from her recent reporting that reveals how the alleged scheme may have worked.
- Watch Ann's story about Honorio Alba letting a drunk driver get a ride home
- Watch Gabby's story involving a recording about jewelry & an $8500 guarantee
- Read related KRQE investigative reports about the APD-DWI investigation
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 on solving old cases using genealogy databases and testing to follow leads. Can your Ancestry test help solve a crime? How does law enforcement use DNA databases? What kind of crimes are they focused on?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 willingly and the father is aware of it. If a Native baby is surrendered, federal law also requires the child's tribe to be notified. However, Safe Haven Baby Box founder Monica Kelley says the promise of anonymity often saves lives. And she hasn't slowed efforts to install baby boxes in more communities across the U.S.
What does the Safe Haven law promise parents? How does a baby box work? Listen to the full discussion to hear why baby boxes are a personal mission for Kelley.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 priorities. Will Democratic control help her pass controversial gun legislation? How are lawmakers addressing crime this year? What will the state’s budget look like, now that it's flush with cash again?
Click here for more coverage on this year’s shortened legislative session. For a look at Curtis' published news stories, click here. And here's a link to more reporting work from KRQE News 13's on-air legislative reporter, Natalie Wadas.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 against FEMA suggest that the claims process is moving too slowly.
FEMA spokesman John Mills, along with Ali Rye of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, join Chris & Gabby to discuss the status of claims filed in New Mexico and more. How much money has been paid out so far? And what are the Feds doing to try to streamline processes?
Links to resources mentioned in the episode:
- File a claim with FEMA
- Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Documents Checklist
- HPCC Program & Policy Guide
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 questions of the two finalists vying for the job of APS Superintendent. The new Superintendent will take the place of Scott Elder, who’s set to retire at the end of his contract in June. What will be the priority for the incoming Superintendent? How is your feedback considered when big decisions are made?
The following public forums are scheduled for January 30, 2024, at the Berna Facio Professional Development Complex:
- 9 a.m. – noon: Public Town Hall featuring a student panel and pre-submitted questions for the superintendent finalists.
- 5 - 5:45 p.m. APS Employee Forum, where finalists will be asked questions pre-submitted by teachers and staff.
- 6 -8 p.m.: General Public Forum, where finalists will introduce themselves and answer pre-submitted questions.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 discuss the years-long reform efforts with APD’s Chief, Harold Medina. Today, APD says it is very close to meeting its goals for a reformed police department by DOJ’s standards. What does the reform process look like behind the scenes? How has the department and culture overall changed in the last decade?
Here is a link to the full April 2014 news conference where the Department of Justice announced its findings in its investigation of APD. Here's a link to the full October 2014 news conference where APD and the DOJ announced a joint settlement agreement. To read the Department of Justice's full findings letter in its APD investigation, click here.
KRQE News 13 has extensive reporting of the DOJ's findings and settlement agreement on it's YouTube channel. Much of it can be found at this link.
**A special note: This episode of the New Mexico News Podcast was produced and recorded ahead of the department's recent announcement of several officers being placed on leave amid a new federal investigation aside from the department's reform efforts.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 famous dinosaur ever to walk the earth. Could the Tyrannosaurus have originated in New Mexico? How do paleontologists know this is a new species? And why did it take 40 years to make this announcement?
Spencer Lucas, a paleontologist, chief curator for the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, & co-author on the new study, discusses the research that went into the new Tyrannosaurus discovery.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 Epstein’s ‘Zorro Ranch' property & his dealings in New Mexico. What did the state’s attorney general’s office learn in its local investigation? What story does Epstein's flight logs to New Mexico tell, if any? Who owns the multimillion-dollar Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe today?
Links to local reporting mentioned in this episode:
- Mysterious deed linked to Zorro Ranch
- Man behind fake deed accused of hiring hitman
- Zorro Ranch sold in New Mexico
- New owners of Epstein ranch protest Santa Fe property value
- KRQE obtains documents from NM attorney general's Epstein investigation
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 since the state is once again flush with oil & gas money? Listeners also get a recap of the major stories from 2023 - were podcast predictions at the beginning of the year correct?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 across. Gabby sheds light on a traffic stop that resulted in a family being held at gunpoint, and an officer who's now in trouble. As a bonus, tune in through the end to hear which is better - water slides or roller coasters?
Chris ends our episodes with a surprise for Gabby and Ann: a random, rapid fire "get to know your investigative reporters" question and answer segment. The questions are truly random, including one question about news stories Gabby and Ann have covered in the past. Here's the link to the story Gabby mentioned, and here's a link to the one Ann mentioned.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 outside of work? And more importantly, what do they think New Mexico’s best ski resort is?
Stories mentioned in the episode:
- Jessica's coverage of 4-year-old James Dunklee
- Dean's series from Colorado on the legalization of recreational cannabis
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 the successes and challenges of 2023. Mayor Keller also shares what he believes will be the city's biggest battle in 2024, as well as the crime-focused priorities he'll take to legislators next year.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 General with more than 25 years of military and civilian information technology experience. How can you better protect your digital footprint? What is the motive for bad actors online? Warren offers tips for a safer digital experience.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
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 Unit Director at the Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD). Quirk highlights what she sees as a crucial ‘missed opportunity’ in the courts, and shares ways local agencies can improve.
As mentioned in the episode, here are the links to watch Gabby's recent investigative reports on mental health and crime, as well as related coverage of the 2014 killing of James Boyd:
- Competency in the Courts
- Inside New Mexico's Biggest Mental Health Hospital
- Federal investigation into 2014 killing of homeless camper, James Boyd
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
The Albuquerque Police Department has come a long way since 2014. That year, the U.S. Department of Justice announced findings of its investigation that claimed APD engaged in “A pattern or practice of use of excessive force, including deadly force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment.” This week, Chris & Gabby host Damon Martinez, New Mexico’s U.S. Attorney during that time. Martinez discusses his role in APD’s early reform efforts, what he’s been up to since then, and why he wants to take on a new role in the local criminal justice realm. How has policing changed in the last decade?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Millions of people travel through the Albuquerque International Sunport every year, and lately, there's been a lot of changes taking place at the 'Gateway' of New Mexico. Through a massive remodel, Sunport officials are working to keep its southwestern charm; from the chairs to the cultural décor in the ceiling. This week, Chris and Gabby host Leah Black, Outreach & Marketing Manager of the Sunport, and Fred DeGuio, a Commercial Aviation Historian who wrote a book about the Sunport - to talk about the past, present, and future of the airport. New restaurants and a 'reimagining' of the facility are on the horizon. Did you know there's a 'secret' tunnel? How will the security process change?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on (Twitter) X, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
How do you describe Albuquerque to a friend who's never been here? There are a lot of beautiful things about this place: the food, the landscape, the culture, the balloons...(we could go on), but there are also some not-so-nice realities New Mexicans face when it comes to crime, drugs, and gun violence. Prosecutors in Bernalillo County have extensive caseloads. When Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Sam Bregman to fill the vacated position of Bernalillo County's District Attorney, Bregman said his plan was to finish out the term and not run for re-election. He's since changed his mind, saying he's "never been a quitter." This week, Chris and Gabby host Bregman to discuss the area's crime problem, the changes he's implementing, and how the DA's office is measuring success.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
New Mexico's largest county jail in Albuquerque has been historically understaffed, overcrowded, and marred by inmate deaths during detox. In 1995, a federal lawsuit cited overcrowding as a factor in violating inmates' rights, while also accusing Bernalillo County of providing inadequate medical and mental health care at the the facility.
Today, the Metropolitan Detention Center is decades into navigating a settlement agreement in that lawsuit. Meanwhile, the pressure on the jail continues, as law enforcement officials have highlighted its importance in being the first opportunity to connect someone with a variety of substance and behavioral health treatments.
So how could a new healthcare provider at the Metropolitan Detention Center improve those issues and ultimately, impact crime?
Since the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) took over as the healthcare provider for inmates this summer, there have already been some major changes. This week, Chris and Gabby host Rodney McNease of UNMH for an extended conversation about what's at play.
As mentioned in the episode, here's a link to the "Last Week Tonight" segment from early October, covering the issue of health care in detention facilities. And here's a link to a dashboard featuring information about MDC's current inmate population.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
New Mexico has had a 900 lb. celebrity roaming around the northern part of the state for nearly a year now. ‘Marty’ the Bull Moose has garnered lots of local attention and a massive online fanbase. Social media feeds are filled with photos of the Moose wading in the river, and lately, hanging around near Española, despite a recent attempt from Game & Fish officers to relocate him back north. So what brought Marty to New Mexico in the first place; a place not known for its moose population? And will he stick around? Chris & Gabby host Darren Vaughan from the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish for an in-depth discussion on the Moose that's captured the state's attention.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback, story ideas, or Moose photos to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (formerly known as Twitter,) Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
New Mexicans seem to be grappling with how to choose to display or not to display parts of history. There have been two shootings in New Mexico a little over three years apart - at protests related to statues of the controversial Spanish Conquistador, Juan de Oñate. This week, Chris and Gabby host Moises Gonzales, Associate Professor of Urban Design at UNM, with a focus on Historic Preservation of the Southwest. Gonzales shares some of Oñate’s history in New Mexico, and what’s led up to more recent protests surrounding Oñate statues. What will be the fate of the two statues that still sit in storage? Will New Mexicans come to a place of agreement on what to do with them?
We made a mention of a Larry Barker investigation about the Oñate Center building in Alcalde. Here's a link to that 2016 story, detailing where the northern New Mexico statue was first installed.
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (formerly known as Twitter,) Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Albuquerque is closer than ever to getting its first pro-level soccer stadium. Plans were recently announced that New Mexico United will lease about seven acres from the City of Albuquerque to build a stadium on land at Balloon Fiesta Park, with promises not to interfere with ballooning in the area. Team owner Peter Trevisani, and Director of Communications and Fan Experience, David Weise Carl, join Chris and Gabby to discuss the 30-year lease agreement, its potential impact on the area and economy, as well as stadium build plans so far. What can fans and neighbors expect? How big will the stadium be? See renderings of the stadium and read the current lease agreement here.
We appreciate our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Managing water from New Mexico’s rivers is a big task and it’s a job that takes a lot of engineering and planning. This week, Chris and Gabby host returning podcast guest, Jason Casuga, from the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. Casuga shares some of the history of the Rio Grande, concerns from farmers with looming threats of the river running dry, and plans for the future. Existing infrastructure is nearing 100 years old, and the time and money for projects is extensive. What happens if the river dries?
We appreciate our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Albuquerque Police have identified 17 murder suspects this year who are ages 19 and under. Nine of them are considered ‘juveniles,’ meaning age 17 and under.
This week, Chris and Gabby discuss the topic of youth involved in violent crime with Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina. How much do drugs and social media play a factor? What are the driving forces behind gun violence among teens? And what are the solutions?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (formerly known as Twitter,) Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
There are thousands of homeless students enrolled in the state’s largest school district. Some are awaiting foster care placement, others are living in motels, shelters, or vehicles. APS’ McKinney Vento Program aims to identify those students, assist their families, and ultimately, help those students succeed. Chris & Gabby host Program Director, Cristal Wilson, who shares the challenges & successes of their ambitious efforts. How does the program work? Who keeps track of students who may be constantly having to move? How can you help? If you know of a student in need of assistance, here's a referral link.
KRQE Cares partners with APS Title 1 schools to help provide shoes, food, and books for kids, with help from the community.
We appreciate our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham recently declared gun violence a public health emergency, and issued a Public Health Order temporarily banning open and concealed carry of firearms in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The executive order sparked backlash, questions about enforcement, and federal lawsuits challenging whether it is unconstitutional. KRQE Political Analyst & UNM Political Science Professor Gabe Sanchez joins Chris & Gabby to unpack the ramifications of this move.
What are the political consequences? Will the order stand up in court? Is there a better way to address gun violence in Albuquerque?
We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
It's been a "summer of Oppenheimer" in New Mexico. With the recent release of Christopher Nolan's bio-pic, interest in the historical figure has surged in the Land of Enchantment and lead to a renewed discussion about the "Father of the Atomic Bomb."
This week, Chris and Gabby discuss the dynamic legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer with guests from Los Alamos National Laboratory. The lab’s lead historian offers an in-depth perspective on Christopher Nolan’s film, as well as why LANL created its own new documentary about the Lab's first director. Listen to the full discussion to learn more about the pressure to create nuclear weapons during a deadly war, and how the conversation is still relevant today. How do his successors reflect on the ‘Father of the Atomic Bomb?’ What kind of mission are scientists at Los Alamos focused on today?
This week's guests include:
Brye Steeves - Director of the National Security Research Center, located at LANL.
Alan Carr - Los Alamos National Lab's Lead Historian
Dave Tietmeyer - Producer of the NSRC Oppenheimer documentary, "Oppenheimer: Science, Mission, Legacy."
Click here to watch the full trailer for LANL's National Security Research Center documentary about Oppenheimer, and read more about the lab's founding director. The full documentary should be available on the NSRC's website soon.
We appreciate our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (formerly known as Twitter,) Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
On August 8th, an out-of-control wildfire in Maui became one of the deadliest in our country’s history in a century. More than 100 people were killed, hundreds are still unaccounted for, and thousands of homes burned in the fire. Chris and Gabby host Jess Orr, an Albuquerque woman who lived in Lahaina for three years during the pandemic. She shares personal stories of friends who lost everything, and how she’s trying to help them. In the second half of the episode, hear from the Red Cross Regional Disaster Manager for New Mexico and Arizona, Laura King, who is spending the month in Maui to aid in relief efforts. Will survivors of the Hawaiian wildfire find a way to stay on the island that's already facing a housing crisis? How can people help?
To donate to the Red Cross Maui Relief efforts, click here. We like to hear from our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled: people have a constitutional right to be on public water flowing over privately owned land. But just because the high court says so, doesn’t mean every landowner is removing fences and ‘no trespass’ signs. Why is this topic seemingly so divisive? Will there be more lawsuits filed over river access? Chris and Gabby host Jesse Deubel, Executive Director for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, who brings listeners up to speed about how we got here.
Listen to the legislative hearing mentioned in the episode from August 7th. The Public Stream Access and Ruling discussion begins at 02:44:32 in the webcast. Read more about the stream access issue from our online coverage here.
We appreciate our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Opioids and Fentanyl are impacting people in ways like we’ve never seen before. In a new initiative to stop overdoses “upon first contact with the criminal justice system,” Bernalillo County’s Metropolitan Court just announced the Overdose Prevention Treatment and Intervention - or “OPT-in” court. Chris and Gabby host Judge Claire McDaniel and Behavioral Health Division Director, Stacey Boone, who say this is a community problem that we all have a stake in.
How will the program work? Who is eligible? When may we see the impacts of it? Listen to our previous episode on the Fentanyl crisis with the DEA for a primer on the subject.
We appreciate our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
This year’s back-to-school looks a lot different for many New Mexico families. Some of this school year’s changes include free meals for all due to new state law, a new bell schedule for Albuquerque Public Schools, an extended school year calendar, and more time in the classroom. Chris and Gabby sit down with APS Superintendent Scott Elder to break down some of the key changes and how the state’s biggest district is handling them. In the second half of the episode, hear from a local parent and school bus driver, Julie Sprunk, about her experience and perspective on the upcoming school year.
What's the biggest challenge? How will the free meal program work? Why are bus drivers crucial to start times?
We like to hear from our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
There’s a new Sheriff in New Mexico’s biggest county. Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen won the election with 54% of the vote. Halfway into his first year, the Democratic Sheriff gets candid with Chris and Gabby about what it’s been like “leading the ship” so far.
It’s a role he says he doesn’t take lightly, given the crime and drug problems plaguing the area. And he's already making changes to the department, including pausing BCSO’s role in a reality television series, creating a Behavioral Health Unit, and revamping the helicopter program after a devastating crash that killed four first responders. Are his efforts paying off so far? What is BCSO’s biggest challenge?
We appreciate our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Lots of people quit their day jobs to go all in with New Mexico’s recreational cannabis industry. More than a year into legalization, cannabis shops already outnumber liquor stores in Albuquerque. Is the grass greener for all these new businesses?
Chris and Gabby sit down with Pat Davis, Co-Founder of Weeds Cannabis Consulting firm and Albuquerque City Councilor for District 6. Davis explains some of the challenges the industry is facing, how businesses are getting creative, as well as the state’s limited resources to provide checks and balances on the budding industry. Will the market sustain all these new businesses? Who will survive, and who is benefitting?
KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret recently reported on the potential 'over-saturation' of the market - watch her full report here.
Also, find more of KRQE's coverage on the cannabis industry here.
We like to hear from our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
We are close to breaking a record for the longest-running heatwave in New Mexico. Depending on where you live in the state, there have been some dangerously hot conditions to keep an eye on. This week, Chris and Gabby host an expert from the National Weather Service to discuss the significance of this summer’s temperatures, and when people can expect some relief.
Should people re-think swamp coolers for their homes next summer? Which areas are considered at 'high risk' for long heatwaves?
We appreciate our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
New Mexico State University’s men’s basketball team is coming off of what some would call a tragic season. Between the end of 2022 and early 2023, two different stories garnered national attention. First, a deadly November shooting in Albuquerque that left one teammate injured and a University of New Mexico student dead. Then in February, allegations of hazing and sexual assault lead to the suspension of the team's season. More recently, the school reached a multimillion-dollar lawsuit settlement related to the allegations.
This week, Chris and Gabby sit down with a fellow journalist in the southwest region. Sports Director at KTSM in El Paso, Texas, Colin Deaver joins the conversation. Deaver shares his perspective covering the stories that have thrust the Aggie men's basketball team into the national spotlight. A veteran of Aggie sports coverage, Deaver has extensively covered the school's various teams for the last five years.
Just how unique is this situation in college athletics? Deaver helps recap the narrative behind what happened and the results of allegations levied against NMSU. What will a complete reboot of the team look like going forward? Those questions and more answered in this week's episode.
Let us know what you think about this podcast and other episodes. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
It's been nearly four years since voters approved a $14-million bond for Albuquerque's long-promised "Gateway Center" homeless shelter, a project with the goal of creating a facility offering comprehensive, wrap-around services for the homeless.
By late 2020, the city entered into negotiations to purchase the former Lovelace Hospital on Gibson Boulevard. At the time, Mayor Tim Keller envisioned the building as possibly being operational "in months, not years."
But the build-up to the Gateway Center has taken longer than expected. This week, Chris and Gabby are checking in with a couple of top Albuquerque city officials on the status of the project. Family and Community Services Department Director Carol Pierce and Deputy Director Gilbert Ramirez join the conversation for an extended discussion of how the Gateway Center is shaping up.
What services are open at the Gateway Center right now? How many people can the facility house overnight? What's the goal? Will it be the silver bullet to eliminate or alleviate issues surrounding homelessness in Albuquerque? Those questions and much more are tackled in this week's episode, which includes a breakdown of some of the key services that the Gateway Center is expected to offer.
We mentioned our prior interview with Mayor Tim Keller about homelessness at the top of the episode. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, you still can on KRQE.com
Got something to share? Let us know. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Remember 2022’s historic wildfire season in New Mexico? Concern can quickly shift from wildfire to flooding, depending on where you live in New Mexico. This week, Chris and Gabby host experts from the U.S. Forest Service to talk about what the changing weather pattern this year has meant for fresh burn scars, and the summer efforts crews are making to protect people and properties.
How are controlled burn operations working? Who’s at the highest risk for flooding? This week's guests are Rich Naden, the U.S. Forest Service Predictive Services Meteorologist, along with Micah Kiesow, a Soil and Watershed Program Manager for the Santa Fe National Forest and Burned Area Emergency Response Coordinator - also known as (BAER).
We love hearing from you! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
A little more than two decades ago, most people didn't know what "Tent Rocks" were in New Mexico. But after the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument was put on the map in 2001, the site became one of the most popular hiking and outdoor recreation spots in the state - a major tourism draw.
Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic started, the Tent Rocks monument still remains closed. The BLM has in part cited continuing concerns related to resource protection, staffing, and visitation levels.
This week, we're getting into the historical significance, and the recent problems with over-visitation in an extended conversation with someone who helped document the significance of the monument. Geologist and UNM Professor Dr. Gary Smith joins the conversation, recounting his first trips to study the area and the eventual designation of the National Monument. When might it reopen? How problematic has over-visitation been at the site?
Let us know what you think about this podcast and other episodes. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
This time last year, New Mexico's Hermits Peak Calf Canyon wildfire was dominating local headlines. The wildfire eventually became the state's largest in recorded history, sparked by two different government operations that eventually merged.
One year after the fire charred more than 342-thousand acres, the federal government is attempting to make good on its promise to help New Mexicans recover from massive losses. $3.95 billion has been earmarked to pay for a wide range of costs, all of which being handled by a specific new FEMA office: The Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon Claims Office.
How is that money being spent? How can someone make a claim for FEMA assistance?
This week, Chris and Gabby and joined by the Director of the HPCC Claims Office, Angela Gladwell. She breaks down how the unique effort is working. The office is already processing hundreds of claims and expects to deal with thousands more. How long will people have to wait to receive reimbursement for losses? Those questions and more are answered in this week's episode.
We want to hear from our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
"I'm tired of living with my lie.” Fourteen years after a New Mexico man went missing, Tony Ray Peralta said he was tired of living with guilt. Peralta borrowed someone’s cell phone at a Roswell Allsup's gas station, then called 911 to confess to the murder of his landlord. Peralta eventually led local police officers to the home where he said he’d buried William Blodgett's body in 2008. Now, he's charged with murder.
This week - KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the unexpected cold case confession. Why did Peralta confess now? Is he telling the truth about what happened?
Check out Ann's full story on KRQE.com, titled: "‘He was a good man’: Guilt-ridden Roswell man confesses to killing landlord in 2008."
We want to hear from our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Two weeks ago, Farmington in northwest New Mexico faced a mass shooting. Three people were killed and six others were wounded before police shot and killed the shooter, an 18-year-old high school student.
Chris and Gabby sit down with Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe in an extended conversation about the loss within the community, how officers responded to the active shooter, and how people are dealing with the aftermath. Investigators say the shooter was firing at random. Were there any red flags before the teen gunman started a rampage? How are officers feeling about what happened? Chief Hebbe also discusses his thoughts on any possible "lessons learned" from the event.
Farmington Police held a series of news conferences in the days after the shooting. We've compiled links here to each of those news conferences, where investigators detailed what happened, the evidence they've collected, and published video from surveillance and body cameras telling the story of how officers responded to an active shooter. Here is a closer look at the victims who were killed.
Your feedback and ideas are welcome in our messages. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Pete Kassetas has a decades-long career in law enforcement, but for a little more than five years, he was one of the most visible people in New Mexico criminal justice. The former Chief led New Mexico State Police from 2013 to 2018 and along the way, he had a voice in some of the state's biggest news stories.
In a rare and candid sit-down with Chris and Gabby, Kassetas shares stories behind his ups and downs in law enforcement, and what it was like to be the face of New Mexico’s largest police agency. He also shares what he's up to now as part of the ownership team behind Downshift Brewing Company, an Old Town Albuquerque brewery taphouse that's become a central part of revitalization efforts in the area. Now on the other side of dealing with crime, the former lawman also offers his perspective on what it’s like owning a business in Albuquerque.
Why did he shift from being a cop to a brew boss? Has his view on handling crime changed? Those topics and many more are discussed in this week's extended episode. Here are a few of the biggest news stories Kassetas spoke of, or was a part of over the years, as mentioned in this week's episode:
- November 2013 - Taos minivan shooting
- December 2013 - Taos protestors meet Chief Kassetas
- January 2014 - Roswell school shooting investigation
- June 2016 - State Police Chief responds to officers ignoring DWI investigation of DA
- June 2017 - State Police Chief asks Forrest Fenn to call off treasure hunt
- June 2017 - Reaction to Forrest Fenn treasure hunt comments
- December 2017 - Aztec High School shooting news conference
- May 2019 - $1.7 million paid in confidential state settlements
Give us a shout! Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
"ChatGPT" is a big deal on the internet today. Released in November, the publicly available, AI-driven chatbot is trained to understand and answer text-based questions in an unprecedented way. Its answers can be so convincing that you may feel like you're talking to a real person, not a computer. If you haven't tried it yet, here's a link.
There's a lot of excitement about how people might use these advanced chatbots. But ChatGPT and generative AI is also raising questions about how people can misuse the technology, particularly in the world of education where students are expected to research, write, and publish their own original material.
How is generative AI impacting education? What does this say about our future workforce?
This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby welcome a top New Mexico educator, University of New Mexico Professor and Dean, Leo S. Lo for an extended conversation about ChatGPT. Lo is the Dean of UNM's College of University Libraries & Learning Sciences. He's also written about the need to train students on how to use AI language models effectively. Hear more about why Lo thinks ChatGPT shouldn't be ignored or banned in academia, also, the benefits and the drawbacks he sees with groundbreaking technology.
We like hearing from our viewers, whether it's feedback or ideas. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Gone are the days of officers dropping off hand-written documents and police reports into a bin for prosecutors to sort through. New Mexico’s biggest city is adopting the use of a new homegrown database software called ‘Case Catcher.’ The program is aimed at helping investigators build better cases and stay organized.
How organized an investigation is - matters a lot, especially in a high-stakes case like a murder trial, for instance. And for years, metro-area criminal justice professionals have shared stories about cases being dismissed or impacted by problems with evidence, or what's called discovery in the court system. This week, Chris and Gabby host return guest and Albuquerque Police Deputy Commander, Kyle Hartsock to talk about how Case Catcher aims to keep problems from happening.
How does Case Catcher work? Why did it take so long to get online? And who took the lead in this project? The answer might surprise you.
You can always let us know what you think, we'd love to hear it. Send your feedback or story ideas us via email - chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
New Mexico prosecutors recently dropped an involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin in relation to the fatal 2021 "Rust" movie set shooting near Santa Fe. Attorneys cited 'new facts' that demand further investigation in their case dismissal.
While prosecutors can still refile charges, the sudden shift comes after months of reports about procedural challenges to the prosecution. The Santa Fe District Attorney's Office has faced issues, including the timing of charges and changes to who is going to prosecute the case.
This week on the podcast, a longtime criminal defense attorney and legal expert, Ahmad Assed, returns to the show. Assed helps us break down the complications of the case and what thinks is next.
How did this case get so messy? Will prosecutors re-file charges against Alec Baldwin? If you missed our initial episode on the Rust case, you can catch it here on KRQE.com/podcasts, or scroll down to the episode titled, "Will Alec Baldwin Face A Trial In New Mexico?"
Got some thoughts about the show or people you'd like to hear from? Send feedback or story ideas to your hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
In 2023, student safety is among the biggest concerns that school administrators have about their campuses. Each school year, we continue to hear stories about students bringing guns and other weapons on to school campuses. Not every incident leads to someone getting hurt, but regardless, the issue always raises concerns about what more can be done to stop violent situations from unfolding.
At least one New Mexico school district is now making an investment to try to help address campus safety through technology. In southeast New Mexico, Clovis Municipal Schools is investing in artificial intelligence (AI) technology that's designed to help identify guns seen on campus through existing surveillance cameras.
This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby welcome two guests to discuss the technology. First, the Director of Operations for Clovis Schools, Loren Hill joins the conversation to talk about the district’s decision to add AI to its toolbox. In the second half of the show, hear from Tim Sulzer, chief technology officer and co-founder of ZeroEyes, the company that makes the technology. Sulzer shares more about how the tech works and what it can do for first responders in an emergency.
We appreciate hearing from our listeners. Send feedback or story ideas to your hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
It’s been a burning question since 2021 when voters turned down a $50 million bond to build a soccer stadium near downtown Albuquerque. Where else might New Mexico United build a venue for their young and popular team? In recent weeks, United's owner Peter Trevisani leaked a big hint: the stadium could go in a place that rhymes with ‘Lagoon Siesta Park.’
So how should we take this news? Will the franchise build a stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park? What more needs to be done before the steel and rebar start going up? This week, Chris and Gabby get the low-down from the team’s owner and president/CEO, Peter Trevisani. He shares his vision for what a stadium would look like, why Balloon Fiesta Park, how it'll get paid for, and his idea on what the possible venue could mean for the city and state.
We also dig into the past with Trevisani, regarding the 2021 bond. Why does he think voters turned down the bond question? What has he learned from the experience? Those questions and more are all on this week's extended interview.
Do you have thoughts about the show or people you'd like to hear from? Send feedback or story ideas to your hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
We're now about one month removed from the end of the latest New Mexico legislative session. Despite it being 60 days long (double the length of last year's session), it seems like this was a "fast and furious" legislative session (see what we did there?)
This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby host KRQE.com's Digital Data Investigative Reporter Curtis Segarra for a deeper break down of the big bills that passed, and the ones that didn’t make it through. Curtis penned well over 100 stories about happens inside the New Mexico Roundhouse this session, all of which are available for view now on KRQE.com.
Was this a big session for crime? What happened with all of those tax rebates that the Governor talked about? Listen in for an extended conversation about the big topics and some of the other bills affecting the environment, voting rights, school lunches and more.
Finally, here's a write up on some of the big bills the Governor vetoed this session.
Like the show? Let us know. Send feedback or story ideas to your hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Perhaps you've filed your taxes already? Or maybe you're waiting until the last minute? Regardless of your choice, the fact remains that you probably have to file something with the government. This week on the podcast, we're taking a closer look at the process behind tax law enforcement with the IRS. A special agent and public information officer for the IRS' Criminal Investigation Division, Brian Watson joins the podcast.
What are some of the most common tax scams and problems hitting filers in 2023? Are there any new questions from the IRS that you should you watch out for? (Hint: They want to know about your crypto.) Should you be worried about getting audited, or if the federal government will come after you if you make a mistake? Who really took down Al Capone? These questions and more are discussed in this week's extended interview.
We love hearing from listeners! Send feedback or story ideas to your hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Every year, New Mexicans may see a different sight of the Rio Grande River, depending on how much rain or snow the state gets. And every year, water shortages, restrictions, and conservation efforts occur in the background.
Will the river run dry? How much water does New Mexico owe to Texas under the Rio Grande Compact? How have the state's water woes impacted farmers and ranchers?
Whether you're in the ag industry, you like plants, or enjoy walks along the Bosque - you won't want to miss this week's conversation with Jason Casuga, CEO of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) about efforts to keep the valley green.
We love hearing from listeners! Send feedback or story ideas to your hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
The teacher shortage is a perennial topic when it comes to education in New Mexico. Over the years, lawmakers and other officials have put stock in loads of different efforts aimed at addressing the shortage, from increasing pay to starting new recruiting programs.
But what makes a good teacher? And why do some teachers leave the profession so quickly? Can something be done differently to fix that? A recent NMSU report indicated the state's teacher vacancies were down by 34% in New Mexico from the year prior, but the state still has a lot of work to do. This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby are joined by Alan Mather, President of the Golden Apple Foundation in New Mexico. Mather discusses the organization's boots-on-the-ground "Scholars Program," which is aimed at recruiting and retaining teachers to work in the New Mexico communities they're from.
The Scholars Program is now open for applicants. If you know an aspiring teacher who's in high school, university, or community college, you can also refer candidates to the program. For more information, visit the program's website at this link.
Send us a note, a line, or an idea. Reach us via email at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
New Mexico has a new Attorney General. In November, voters picked Democrat Raúl Torrez to lead the state's top prosecutorial office. Now in his third month on the job, Torrez recently sat down with Chris and Gabby to talk about how he plans to reshape the New Mexico AG’s office. His plans include adding staff and new divisions, including a Civil Rights Division for the state. Torrez explains what that division could do, including holding New Mexico's beleaguered Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) accountable.
We also discuss the recent legislative session and whether or not Torrez thinks lawmakers have passed any meaningful crime bills in 2023. What's the AG's main goal this year? Will he continue the prior AG's work addressing Organized Retail Crime?
Send us a note, a line or an idea. Reach us via email at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
More than one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, the war continues to impact New Mexicans. From evacuating her mother from a war-torn country and making several trips back to help, this week Chris and Gabby check in with Diana Horak. She’s a Ukrainian-born, Albuquerque mother of two who’s been involved with helping her home country since day one. And one year since her elderly mother was evacuated, Horak describes the tough decision to return her mom home to Kyiv.
Listen through the end to hear Diana’s message to her Albuquerque neighbors, and head to KRQE.com/podcasts to see the video of her mother’s return to Ukraine and the love of her life.
We welcome your episode ideas and feedback. Holler at us via email at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
The state’s top doctor who helped guide New Mexico through the COVID-19 pandemic - is officially retiring at the end of February. Referred to as New Mexico’s own ‘Dr. Fauci,’ Dr. David Scrase eventually led two departments, serving as the Secretary of the Human Services Department and Acting Secretary of the Department of Health. Ahead of his departure from state government, Dr. Scrase sits down with Gabby and Chris one more time to reflect on his role over the last few years.
How does he feel about the state’s pandemic response? Is there anything he regrets or would have done differently? What made him want to retire? Stick around for those questions and a lot more on this week's episode.
We welcome your episode ideas and feedback. Contact us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Guns, fentanyl, and violent crime are some of New Mexico’s biggest problems that federal agents are tackling right alongside local law enforcement. This week, Chris and Gabby have a candid conversation with Raul Bujanda, the Special Agent in Charge of Albuquerque’s FBI field office, about what the feds have accomplished and what they’re focused on this year.
What’s happened since the FBI made its largest fentanyl bust in bureau history? How do the feds address the idea of 'whack-a-mole' when it comes to arresting the bad guys? Also, stick around for the end when the SAC shares about the musical easter eggs he’s been dropping during some press conferences.
We talked about a few news stories in this episode. The FBI's Albuquerque office had a record fentanyl bust in September, followed up by a second connected bust in early February. We also mentioned KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret's 2022 investigation into Albuquerque bank robberies. And finally, here's more on the recent crash that New Mexico State Police first responded to, which lead to a major fentanyl seizure.
Got a question, comment, or story idea? Contact us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We welcome your ideas and feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
A $30 million dollar proposal could reshape school meals in New Mexico. State lawmakers are considering a bill that would pick up the breakfast and lunch tab for all K-12 public and charter schools. If it passes, the bill would give every student the option to get free food at school twice a day, regardless of their family's income.
This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby discuss the state proposal with three guests, including an expert on the new bill and two people who could be affected by it. The Food and Hunger Coordinator for the Office of the Governor, Kendal Chavez, joins the podcast alongside a parent and school worker, Luis Ramos, and a New Mexico high school junior named Fernando.
How would the bill work? Why is it a priority for some? And how could this benefit schools without their own kitchens? Those questions and more are part of this week's discussion. If you want to take a closer look at the bill, here's a link to the text of Senate Bill 4. And here's a link to a KRQE News 13 story on the proposal.
Got a question, comment, or story idea? Contact us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We welcome your episode ideas and feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
More than a year after the fatal shooting on the film set of ‘Rust’ near Santa Fe, actor-producer Alec Baldwin and film armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed face criminal charges in a New Mexico court. Each is facing one count of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting that led to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ death. This week, Gabby and Chris outline the details of what investigators claim went wrong. Will this case go to trial? What does this mean for Baldwin? Longtime New Mexico criminal defense attorney Ahmad Assed offers his legal perspective on what this case means for the industry, and what’s to come.
This is the second time we've covered the "Rust" shooting on the podcast. You can listen to the first episode on this podcast's feed. Look for the episode titled: "‘Rust‘ Shooting Fallout & The Use of Guns On Movie Sets."
Got a question, comment, or story idea? Contact us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We welcome your episode ideas and feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Since 2019, the City of Albuquerque has leaned hard into some alternative efforts toward addressing the complexities behind two major issues plaguing the city: violent crime and mental/behavioral health. In November 2019, city leaders announced the launch of the "Violence Intervention Program," or VIP for short. The program connects streetwise social workers to victims of gun violence in an effort to stop the cycle of retaliation.
About six months later, in June 2020, Albuquerque announced the launch of the "Albuquerque Community Safety Department," or ACS. The agency uses unarmed social workers to respond to mental health crises and other non-emergency calls where police and firefighters aren't needed, or could be seen as possibly escalating the situation.
While each program started independent of each other, they now work in tandem to broadly address trauma and hardship outside of the law enforcement mechanism. The VIP program has also since moved under the umbrella of ACS.
This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabrielle are asking if Albuquerque's intervention efforts are working. Two city workers, Walter Adams and Angel Garcia join the podcast this week to discuss the programs efforts. Adams is a Behavioral Health Responder Supervisor with ACS, while Garcia is a Social Services Manager with Albuquerque's VIP effort.
How many people are being helped by ACS and VIP? Are these programs preventing violence or saving lives? What's ahead in 2023? And how do these programs work? These questions and more get answered in this week's episode.
As mentioned early in the episode, Gabby interviewed Walter Adams in 2022 about ACS. Here's a link to her investigative story.
Please leave us a rating or a review on whatever podcast app you use to listen to the NMNP. We'd also love to hear from you! Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. You can also find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
It is a remarkable story in New Mexico politics and something that made national headlines multiple times over the last few weeks. A former Republican candidate in the New Mexico House is accused of plotting shootings at the homes of four Democratic lawmakers in Albuquerque. Solomon Peña, who was arrested on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, now faces fifteen counts for allegedly being a "mastermind" in the case.
How did Albuquerque Police connect the dots and make an arrest? Chris and Gabby host KRQE News 13 Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret in the first part of this week's episode. Ann discusses how the criminal case unfolded, what we know about Peña's history and details behind the motive of the case.
In the second part of the episode, KRQE News 13 Political Analyst and UNM Political Science Professor Gabe Sanchez weighs in on what Peña's case says about the state of politics today. Sanchez also discusses how he thinks this case will impact New Mexico moving forward.
Here are a link to KRQE.com's comprehensive coverage of the Solomon Peña case.
Tell us what you think about this week's episode. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts and contact us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We welcome your episode ideas and feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Starting today (Jan. 17, 2023) - New Mexico's elected representatives are back in the Capitol for another legislative session. This time they're in for 60 days of lawmaking at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, and once again, the agenda seems packed.
This week, Chris and Gabby are diving into the 2023 session. The state's continued record oil revenues are expected to fuel a lot of debate on what could be a spending spree for the state. Could it pay for another round of potential tax rebates? New crime fighting initiatives? Raises for state employee and educators? Those topics and more are on the docket on this year.
KRQE News 13's Digital Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra returns to the podcast this week with a breakdown of four topics. We'll highlight how much money the state has, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's spending ideas, Albuquerque city officials spending wish list and a slew of pre-filed bills lawmakers are considering.
You can follow along this session on KRQE.com/legislature. Also, look for links to Curtis’ daily "Roundhouse Roundup" politics posts on his KRQE.com bio page. We also mentioned more coverage of one specific story in this episode. Here's a link to Curtis' piece on the longstanding proposal of paying New Mexico lawmakers a salary.
**A special note: On Monday night, Albuquerque Police arrested a lead suspect in the case of shootings at the homes of several Albuquerque elected officials. A former House candidate, Solomon Peña was arrested at a condominium complex in downtown Albuquerque. Here is a link to the story with more details on KRQE.com. We talked about the case in this week's episode before we knew of Peña's arrest, so some of the details we discussed midway through the show have since changed.
We want to hear from you! Contact us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website, KRQE.com/podcasts.
For the Lobos, you could say "its been a minute." It's been roughly eight seasons since the Lobo men's basketball team has made waves for their play on the court. Now on their fourth coach in the last decade, the team has opened its 2022-23 season with some remarkable success. Starting with 14 straight wins, the team remained undefeated until a close loss at Fresno State on January 3.
Despite the loss, the team has proved its hungry to win under second-year coach Richard Pitino. And with that, fans have responded by packing The Pit, one of the country's most revered (and loud) basketball arenas. This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby sit down with KRQE Sports' Van Tate and Jared Chester to talk about the "return of Lobo fever" and what this season might mean for the Lobos, Albuquerque and New Mexico.
(Note: We recorded this episode before the Lobos played on Jan. 7 against UNLV and Jan. 9 against Oral Roberts.)
Who would you want to hear interviewed on the New Mexico News Podcast in 2023? Let us know. Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Happy New Year from the New Mexico News Podcast! And with that, we can't think of a better way to ring in 2023 than by bringing back the proverbial "Magic 8 Ball" of news.
This week on the podcast, Chris & Gabby are back with their predictions as to what will be the biggest news stories to watch out for in 2023. This year's list includes a handful of high-profile criminal trials; a deeper look at the "state political shuffle" taking place after the 2022 election; and a breakdown of some of the bigger events ahead in the world of sports and entertainment among other topics.
By the end of the episode, we're going to revisit our 2022 projections. Did our guesses about 2022's big news stories pan out? We've also brought back our "share your New Year's resolutions" segment with the KRQE News 13 staff, including Grant Tosterud, Jessica Garate, Dean Staley and several reporters.
We're patiently waiting for your feedback! Who would you like us to interview on the podcast this year? Let us know. Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Investigative journalism is a core piece of the work inside the KRQE News 13 newsroom. Across 2022, our KRQE Investigates team, including Gabrielle Burkhart and Ann Pierret, published more than 30 investigations for broadcast. Some of their most impactful work is featured this month in an hour-long, year-end KRQE Investigates news special.
This week on the podcast, Ann and Gabby offer a closer look inside a few of the stories featured in the special. Ann discusses a deputy who contracted COVID on the job and the fight his family's had to receive line-of-duty related benefits. Gabby discusses her two-part, deep-dive into the confessions of Paul Apodaca, a man who has confessed to committing three Albuquerque murders decades ago.
Here are links to each story:
- "Insurance: New Mexico deputy’s COVID-19 death not line of duty"
- Video: Suspected serial killer’s chilling confession (Part 1)
- Accused killer reveals he was questioned by officers (Part 2)
- And, here's a link to watch the entire "Best of KRQE Investigates 2022" news special on KRQE.com
Stick around for the end of the episode for an extended conversation about why Gabby and Ann decided to become investigative reporters and more. Also, to check out all of Gabby and Ann's work, visit the KRQE Investigates landing page on krqe.com/investigations.
The Best of KRQE Investigates 2022 news special also airs on TV across the KRQE Media Group family of station multiple times through the end of 2022. Here are some of the air times for the show:
- KRQE CBS 13: Thursday, Dec. 29 @ 4 p.m.
- FOX New Mexico: Friday, Dec. 23 @ 6 p.m.; Dec. 30 @ 3 a.m & 9 p.m.; Jan 1 @ 9 p.m.
- New Mexico's CW: Friday, Dec. 23 @ 7 a.m.; Thursday, Dec. 29 @ 4 p.m.
- My50TV: Dec. 30 @ 3 a.m. & 9 p.m.; Jan. 1 @ 3 a.m. & 9 p.m.
Who would you like to hear interviewed on the New Mexico News Podcast? Let us know. Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
To close out 2022, KRQE News 13 is back recounting some of the most feel good stories of the year. 18 different stories are featured in this year's hour-long "Best Good News of 2022" news special, which begins airing on the KRQE Media Group family of stations this week.
With a closer look at the work behind those stories, this week, Chris and Gabby sit down with News 13 anchor/reporters Brittany Bade and Annalisa Pardo to discuss their contributions toward covering "good news" in 2022.
Here’s a link to Brittany’s story about the housing donation for wildland firefighters.
And here’s a link to Annalisa’s story about the heartwarming surprise for Albuquerque's own "Mr. Christmas".
Stick around for the end of the episode for a special "rapid-fire" question/answer segment with Brittany and Annalisa. Also, as promised, here's a list of several of the air times for KRQE's Best Good News of 2022 news special:
- KRQE CBS 13: Sunday, Dec. 25 @ 9 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 26 @ 4 p.m.
- FOX New Mexico: Friday, Dec. 30 @ 6 p.m.
- New Mexico's CW: Monday, Dec. 26 @ 4 p.m. - Dec. 23 & 30 @ 8 a.m.
- My50TV: Dec. 23 & 25 @ 3 a.m. & 9 p.m. - Jan. 1 @ 1 p.m.
Who would you like to hear interviewed on the New Mexico News Podcast? Let us know. Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Just like 2021, 2022 has been another record-setting year for homicides in Albuquerque. As of December 9, 115 people have been killed across 108 different homicide cases. But that's just part of the story. Albuquerque Police detectives are also solving more murders in 2022 than they have in several recent years. As 2022 wraps up, APD says its homicide clearance rate is above 90%.
How is that possible? And is there any relief in sight to violent crime in the city? This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby sit down with one of the leaders spearheading efforts to improve investigations within the state's largest police force: Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock. Leading the department's Criminal Investigations Division, Hartsock explains some new strategies the department is using to solve violent crimes.
As mentioned in the show, this is the second time Hartsock has been a guest on the New Mexico News Podcast. In July, he details the creation of the department's new "Digital Intelligence Team," or DIT. You can find that episode published on July 12 at this link to the specific episode on KRQE.com/podcasts, or, just scroll back in your feed.
There's a brief mention of gun ownership in this episode. Last December, KRQE's Curtis Segarra explored the question of how many guns are in New Mexico with a deeper look into the data. In May, Curtis also reported on the surge in gun sales that began with the pandemic.
Who would you like to hear from interviewed on the New Mexico News Podcast? Let us know. Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Whether you ski or snowboard, or don’t hit the slopes at all – the ski season is important to New Mexico. The industry brings in tens of thousands of out-of-state visitors each year who help boost the economy in many communities across New Mexico. But as several resorts open up for the season, many are still facing challenges, including staffing.
This week on the podcast, Gabby and Chris speak with George Brooks, Executive Director of Ski New Mexico (a trade organization working to promote the state's ski industry inside and out of the state.) Brooks shares more on his forecast for New Mexico's resorts, including the challenges and excitement ahead this season.
Tell us what you think about the podcast! You can also email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
As our episode title suggests, there's a mystery at the center of the Santa Fe Plaza. 155 years ago, a box of relics containing elements of New Mexico's past was buried underneath what later became a controversial monument. Today, while the monument or obelisk has been toppled, the relics underneath it have yet to be unearthed.
KRQE News 13 Investigative Reporter Larry Barker joins Chris and Gabby this week to discuss his months-long investigation into a hidden box of historical treasures buried underneath the Santa Fe "Soliders Monument." Larry walks through the research process he took to confirm the existence of the time capsule, and the items inside of it. Stick around for the end of the podcast for a broader conversation with Larry. A 45-year news veteran, Larry shares his thoughts on reporting and what he thinks young journalists should know about the field today.
We also mentioned a photo gallery Larry posted online alongside the time capsule story. Here's a link to that photo gallery. Also, there's a brief mention of Forest Fenn's buried treasure now being up for auction. Here's a link to a news story about that auction.
It is one of our many holiday wishes to hear directly from you, please. Leave us a review on whatever platform you're listening on. You can also email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Got a sick kid? You're not alone. Childhood illnesses are on the rise in New Mexico, and kids needing care are facing long waits. Doctors are facing a surge of patients with respiratory viruses at a time when staffing and hospital capacity are limited. Not to mention, parents might have some heightened anxieties about their kids getting sick on the heels of a pandemic.
Why is this happening? When might we see some relief? What signs should you be watching for to know when to take your child to a doctor? This week, Chris and Gabby host one of the leading pediatricians in the metro to discuss how people can protect themselves and their families.
State health leaders have held a few news conferences on this topic this week, which may be of interest to you. Each of these news conferences contains the entire video version of the presentation. The first was an announcement from UNMH on November 14 that it would activate its "emergency operations center." The second was on November 17, featuring more discussion from NMDOH about the impact of the viral "triple-threat."
We'd love to hear from you! Leave us a review on whatever platform you're listening on. You can also email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
The midterm election is over and as expected, there were some close races. A few contests for seats in the New Mexico House Representatives will go to automatic recounts. But not every one of them will.
How are recounts handled? When does the state ask for one, and what happens when a candidate requests one? Who counts your ballot? This week, Chris and Gabby take listeners behind the scenes with New Mexico’s Secretary of State, Democrat Maggie Toulouse Oliver. A former Bernalillo County Clerk, Toulouse Oliver explains what measures are put in place to keep elections safe, secure, and accurate across the state. She also busts a few myths about voting machines and how ballots are counted.
Stick around to the end of the episode for a breakdown of the election outcomes for several other statewide offices and the New Mexico House of Representatives.
We mentioned some related news coverage in this episode. Here's a link to our recent "exit interview" with Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales, who leaves office at the end of the year. For a full slate of election related stories on KRQE.com, visit and scroll down on our Local Elections landing page.
Leave us a review on whatever platform you're listening on. You can also email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
The 2022 midterm election is finally here. Finally. We know.
A couple of weeks ago, we covered some of the big races to watch for in New Mexico. This week on the podcast, we're taking a closer look at the dynamics of this election. Will voter turnout this midterm match President Trump's 2018 midterm election? What happened during President Joe Biden's recent visit to New Mexico? What's your take on all of the political ads, and are they doing anything to influence voters?
KRQE News 13 Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra joins us on this week's podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on election dynamics. He also discusses the results of a recent KRQE News 13, Emerson College poll which looked at the top issues among voters and the governor's race.
Stick with KRQE.com on Tuesday for election results throughout the evening. Chris will be livestreaming results alongside Curtis after the polls close. The livestream is expected to start around 7:30 p.m.
Got something to say? Let us know! Leave us a review on whatever platform you're listening on. You can also email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
We also mentioned Curtis' election fact-check pieces in this episode. Here are links to all of Curtis' write-ups:
- Fact Check: Did the Governor early release a convicted criminal twice before a murder?
- Fact Check: Ad claims Ronchetti would cut funding to police, healthcare, and education
- Fact Check: Ronchetti cites Governor’s misconduct allegations
- Fact Check: Lujan Grisham’s record on public safety funding
- Fact Check: Ronchetti touts education plan, does Lujan Grisham have one?
- Fact Check: Businesses claim help from Lujan Grisham
- Fact Check: Mark Ronchetti’s ad on fentanyl and released prisoners
- Fact Check: Lujan Grisham’s ad on Ronchetti crime ads, kids & education
- Fact Check: Ronchetti’s ‘let voters decide’ abortion ad
- Fact Check: Did Lujan Grisham save thousands of lives?
- Fact Check: Ronchetti’s personal crime ad
Inflation rates are at the highest they’ve been in decades, and wages have not been able to keep up with rising costs in New Mexico. Between gas, food, and housing, there are still a lot of people struggling. So with midterm elections just one week away, which gubernatorial candidate has a better financial plan for the state? How do politics play a role in fuel prices? What’s the biggest strain on your pocketbook right now? University of New Mexico economics professor Janie Chermak joins the podcast this week to share her insight about where the state’s economy could be headed.
Stick with KRQE.com on election night! Chris will be livestreaming election results throughout the evening online.
We love to hear from you, our listeners! Leave us a review, and email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
New Mexico's midterm election is just two weeks away. Ahead of the results, Chris and Gabby welcome back KRQE's Political Analyst Gabe Sanchez to the podcast this week. In an extended conversation, Gabe helps drill down into the biggest races to watch for on election night. Here's a list of the races we're talking about in this week's episode, in order:
--Governor - Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) vs. Mark Ronchetti (R) --Attorney General - Raul Torrez (D) vs. Jeremy Gay (R) --Congressional District 2 (Southern NM) - Yvette Herrell (R) vs. Gabe Vasquez (D) --Congressional District 3 (Northern NM) - Teresa Ledger Fernandez (D) vs. Alexis Martinez Johnson (R) --Congressional District 1 (Albuquerque Metro) - Melanie Stansbury (D) vs. Michelle Garcia Holmes (R) --New Mexico's House of Representatives
This week, we mentioned a few news stories in the episode. Here's a link to a story about the "bad for New Mexico" memes, written by KRQE News 13's Curtis Segarra. And here's Curtis' story about how much the gubernatorial campaigns are spending this election.
Stick with KRQE.com on election night! Chris will be livestreaming election results throughout the evening online.
We want to hear from you, our listeners! Leave us a review, and email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Anyone who’s tried to buy a home or even lock down an affordable rental these days knows how tough the market has gotten. This week, Chris and Gabby are diving into New Mexico’s affordable housing dilemmas. Donnie Quintana, the Director of the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, or ERAP, shares details about the state’s Home Fund program, and the millions of dollars available to help people pay the bills.
How long will these pandemic-era programs continue? Who qualifies for assistance? How can someone apply? Quintana explains how the money is being spent and safeguards in place to try and prevent fraud.
We want to hear from you, our listeners! Leave us a review, and email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
"Intelligence" gathering isn't just for the government anymore. Increasingly, retailers are joining in on the trend of keeping a database of pictures, videos and information tied to alleged crimes inside their private stores. That investment is now happening in New Mexico.
In late August, the New Mexico Attorney General's Office announced a new partnership between law enforcement, retail stores and the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce. Paid for by the Chamber, retailers are now using a database run by a company called Auror, which tracks incidents of retail crime. The idea is help public law enforcement agencies better investigate and prosecute cases of retail crime.
The New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas (D) says retail criminals are now making more money by ripping off stores compared to running drugs and stealing cars. This week on the podcast, we're talking to Balderas about how this new database works.
Who has access to information about suspected criminals? How is the data being used? In a candid conversation, Balderas also gives his perspectives on the legislative changes he’s pushing for at the top.
Here's a link to KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret's original story about the AG's retail crime operation. Here's a link for more information on how businesses can sign up to take part in the new database.
We love listener feedback! Leave us a review, and email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Two major milestones are on the podcast this week – the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta celebrates its 50th anniversary, while Chris and Gabby celebrate one year since the launch of the New Mexico News Podcast. To help mark the occasion, returning guest Tom Garrity joins the discussion to highlight what new things people should expect from this year’s fiesta. A longtime spokesperson for the Balloon Fiesta, Garrity explains everything from world record-setting attempts, a return of international travelers, to fiesta’s impact on the state’s economy.
What’s new this year? Will there be a pre-pandemic level return in attendance? Where are the best cinnamon rolls in New Mexico? (Chris really wants to know.)
We mentioned a few elements in the show that we wanted to link to:
- Here's a link to the story KRQE Investigates' Ann Pierret did last year about balloon landing sites in Albuquerque.
- A look at the new "sky box" feature at Fiesta.
- A link to the event schedule for the Fiesta.
- And a video replay via Balloon Fiesta's YouTube account of the new aerial drone show.
We need your words, too. Leave us a review on whatever podcast player you listen to us from! Also, you can email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
When law enforcement talks about crime these days, there’s often one drug that’s mentioned over and over again. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that’s been used to treat patients with severe pain, but it’s also illegally manufactured, sold, and trafficked into the U.S. on a massive scale. The drug is highly addictive and deadly, as highlighted by federal drug enforcement's recent and ongoing "one pill can kill" campaign.
The FBI recently made the largest Fentanyl bust in the bureau’s history in Albuquerque. But just how bad is the drug? Why is it so concerning? And what exactly do parents need to know about this drug?
Chris and Gabby talk to Carlos Briano with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) El Paso division about the problem and more. What are agents seeing at the border? How should parents talk to their kids about fentanyl?
Please leave us a review on whatever podcast player you listen to us from! Also, you can email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
It is one of the biggest issues facing New Mexico's largest city. Thousands of people are living on the streets and depending on where you live, you might have a widely different view on how to deal with it.
This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby take a deep dive into Albuquerque's problem with homelessness, speaking with the man guiding policy and plans: Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.
In a 40 minute conversation, Keller shares his thoughts on the so-called "Safe Outdoor Spaces" or city-sanctioned homeless camps; the massive new Gateway Center homeless shelter; and what's the deal with the numerous encampments that still exist throughout the city.
What would be pivotal in changing the city's situation for the better? When will the Gateway Center open? And how many people will it serve? These questions and more are answered in this week's episode.
We feel that listener feedback is fundamental. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. You can also catch us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
New Mexico chile is part of the fabric of the state, a source of pride and joy. However, local chile farmers have been dealt a tough hand in recent years. Between the pandemic, labor shortages, drought, and shifting economics, some growers are changing the way they do business. Is the state’s chile industry in jeopardy? KRQE News 13's Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra visited some multigenerational chile farmers across the state to find answers. He joins Chris and Gabby this week to discuss the perseverance behind the scenes to keep the state’s favorite fiery food on your plate.
Curtis published his findings in a recent article on KRQE.com: Is chile a dying industry in New Mexico?
Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. You can also catch us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
First the pandemic, then massive wildfires, dangerous flooding – and now a dwindling water supply. Residents in northern New Mexico haven’t had much time between crises to recover. Ranchers have cut down on herds due to fire damage and water shortages, while homeowners and local businesses are doing what they can to conserve. Adding salt to the wound, the area is seeing one of the best monsoon seasons in years, but the city can’t use most of the water due to contamination from a government-sparked wildfire.
What happens when an entire community’s water supply is threatened? Is the federal government delivering on its promise to do whatever it takes to help?
This week, Chris and Gabby talk to Las Vegas Mayor Louie Trujillo about what it’s been like leading a community through continued crisis, and what’s still ahead.
Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. You can also catch us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
You may have heard about the City of Albuquerque’s unarmed civilian response team. Albuquerque Community Safety, or ACS, has a team of behavioral health responders who respond to mental health crises, homelessness calls, and wellness checks across the city. Nearly a year into the program now, is ACS making a difference? Chris and Gabby talk to ACS Executive Director, Mariela Ruiz Angel about the department’s challenges and its progress.
How is this data tracked? Will ACS have an impact on homelessness in the city, and police use-of-force incidents?
KRQE Investigates rode along with ACS responders back in May - check out that story here. ACS also keeps all of its data online, and it's usually updated monthly. For a closer look, visit the ACS Transparency page on CABQ.gov
Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. You can also catch us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
After making a promise in late July, Albuquerque city officials finally closed arguably the most infamous city park. Right next to Third Street in the shadow of I-40, Coronado Park used to be a typical city park with a dog park and a skate park, too. But in recent years, the park turned into a homeless camp and an increasingly violent place, where drugs were rampant and as many as five homicides took place.
So what’s next for Coronado Park? Where will the people who’ve refused services go? We're tackling those questions this week with special guest Peter Rice, founder, owner and editor of the Downtown Albuquerque News. Rice helps dig deeper into the park's history and the potential impact of the park's closure on the greater issue of "how to tackle homelessness."
We know you like to listen, but maybe you also like to write? Got a question, comment or suggestion? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. You can also catch us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Albuquerque was thrust into the national spotlight nearly two weeks ago when police officials announced a suspected connection in the murders of three Muslim men. A little more than 24 hours after that announcement, a fourth Muslim man was shot to death.
By August 9, a suspect was in custody. Muhammed Syed has been charged with the July 26 murder of Aftab Hussein, 41 and the August 1 murder of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27. Syed is also considered the suspect in the November 2021 murder of Mohammad Zahir Ahmadi and the August 5 murder of Naeem Hussain.
A leader in Albuquerque's Muslim community, Ahmad Assad joins the podcast this week. President of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, Assed played a central role in coordinating between the community and investigators while the search for a suspect played out. Assed talks more about the victims, his initial theory on what he thought was behind the killings, and the community's response after the suspect's arrest.
We'd love to hear your feedback. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Tweet at us or send us a DM on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
After three weeks of testimony and just a few hours of deliberation, a jury found Fabian Gonzales, 37, guilty of all nine counts in the only trial tied to the 2016 murder of 10-year-old Victoria Martens. Gonzales, who barely knew Victoria and her mom Michelle now faces decades in prison for one of New Mexico's most notorious murder cases.
To be clear: Gonzales was not on trial for murder. He was convicted of reckless child abuse resulting in death, seven evidence tampering charges, and one count of conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence.
While the verdict may offer some answers, there's are still a lot of questions in the case at large and a lot to unpack about how prosecutors earned a conviction. This week, we're taking an extended look at some of the key testimony in the case and summarizing the arguments jurors heard. What’s next for Gonzales? And what's ahead for the two other defendants charged in the crime?
We appreciate you listening and honestly want to hear your feedback. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Tweet at us or send us a DM on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.a
We spent months across spring and summer talking about the impact of wildfires in New Mexico. After record breaking blazes, many of the state's rural communities are now dealing with what they've feared: massive flooding in areas with burn scars. New Mexico's largest fire on record, the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire has left many people wondering where flood damage will emerge. In late July, we got an answer to that ominous question when a flash flood ripped through an area west of Las Vegas, NM. In its wake, three people were killed after a home was swept off its foundation.
This week on the podcast, Gabby and Chris talk more about the flood with Travis Martinez, a spokesman for the New Mexico Department of Transportation in northern New Mexico. Martinez offers his perspective on how first responders handled the deadly flash flood in San Miguel County and how the community is continuing to respond to the problem.
Still reading? Email us your feedback at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Tweet at us or send us a DM on Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
You've probably already noticed a "dip" at the pump, as gas prices have been coming down in New Mexico over the last few weeks. But still, with fuel hovering around $4 a gallon, higher food costs, shifting interest rates, and more, just about everything seems to be costing more these days.
When might we see a change for the better? Is this the time to re-think your commute, or ask for a raise from your employer? This week on the podcast, Gabby and Chris talk about the state of the New Mexico economy and where things might be headed. University of New Mexico Professor Janie Chermak offers her take on the situation. She’s been on the faculty since 1995, and currently serves as the Department of Economics Chair, with research focusing on Natural Resources and Energy Economics.
As mentioned in the pod, here are some links to Chris' recent "breakdown" articles about the New Mexico tax rebates and economic relief payments:
July 6: Check your bank account: New Mexico now sending out July tax rebates June 2: Haven’t gotten your first New Mexico cash rebate? Here’s why April 6: New Mexico tax rebates: How much will you get? (Via KRQE's Curtis Segarra)
Send us your feedback. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Tweet at us or send us a DM on Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
**Content warning: This week's episode contains discussion of a graphic crime that may be unsuitable for certain ages or hard to listen to. Listener discretion is advised.
It’s been six years since one of the most heinous crimes in Albuquerque. But finally now in 2022, a jury is hearing arguments in the case against the only person to go to trial for the death of 10-year-old Victoria Martens.
This week on the podcast, we're taking a deeper look at the first week of Fabian Gonzales’ trial. Gonzales is accused of placing Victoria Martens in a situation so dangerous that it led to her death. He faces nine counts, including reckless abuse of a child resulting in death, and several evidence tampering-related charges.
Chris and Gabby detail their respective experiences covering the case when it happened in August 2016. They also take listeners through a detailed history in the case, including the massive shift in charges in 2018. And finally, a recap of the testimony from the first week. What led to the young girl’s death on her 10th birthday? What do we know about the ‘unknown man’ who’s said to have entered her apartment that day Victoria was killed?
Some history: Police initially arrested three people in Victoria's murder. Victoria’s mom, Michelle Martens; her boyfriend, Fabian Gonzales; and his cousin, Jessica Kelley. Both Martens and Kelley took plea deals and agreed to testify against Gonzales at his trial. To date, no one is charged with Victoria’s murder.
We want to hear from you! Got an idea? Question? Comment? Suggestion? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Tweet us at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
It's no secret that communication has moved online. So too has crime. But perhaps to your surprise, it has taken the police a long time to figure out how best to address that connection. Within the last year, Albuquerque Police launched a new digital investigative unit, formally called the Digital Intelligence Team. With just three full-time, civilian investigators (as opposed to sworn police officers), the team is making significant strides in helping solve the city's continually high homicide rate. This week, Gabby and Chris have an extensive conversation with one of the people who helped create APD's new DIT: Kyle Hartsock. Deputy Commander for the Criminal Investigations Division, Hartsock describes how investigators are solving violent crimes using social media and suspects’ digital footprints.
Stay tuned until the end of this episode as Hartsock shares how he handles his own children’s use of social media and devices.
Here's a link to the recent news conference APD held, introducing the DIT to the public. Check out this link as well to a shorter story from KRQE News 13's Ariana Kraft.
We want to hear from you! Got an idea? Question? Comment? Suggestion? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Tweet us at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade, states across the country have responded in different ways. Abortion remains legal in New Mexico, but the Supreme Court decision may have opened the door to a lot of new legal challenges in the state. Are employers protected if they help women travel for an abortion? How might this impact health care access in New Mexico? Could states start suing each other over this issue? This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby talk to an Albuquerque local labor attorney, Deena Buchanan, about where she believes the next court room battle lines will be drawn over abortion.
Here's a link to the piece Chris recently wrote about the recent background of abortion access in New Mexico. Here's a link to the full news conference from the Governor regarding her abortion executive order.
We want to hear from you! Got an idea? Question? Comment? Suggestion? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Tweet us at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Nearly three months after the flames sparked, the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon wildfire is still burning. A recent federal report outlined how the prescribed burn, started by the U.S. Forest Service, became New Mexico’s largest wildfire. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has promised that homeowners who lost everything will be compensated fully by the federal government for what they've lost.
So what happens from here? Will the government actually follow through in paying for their losses? What needs to happen to ensure that promise? This week, Gabby is solo hosting the New Mexico News Podcast, interviewing a New Mexico Congresswoman whose district covers the burn area. A Las Vegas, NM native, U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-Santa Fe) joins the conversation to discuss her feelings on the findings of the federal wildfire report. She also discusses what needs to happen in the government’s next steps responding to the fire, and how she feels about President Biden's promise to New Mexico.
Need help addressing a loss or question related to the Hermits Peak - Calf Canyon Fire? Rep. Ledger Fernandez says people can visit her website at https://fernandez.house.gov. You can also call her office at these two phone numbers: 505-570-7558 or 505-428-4680.
We want to hear from you! Got an idea? Question? Comment? Suggestion? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Tweet us at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Downtown Albuquerque is the subject of a lot of hot takes. We're pretty sure every NMNP listener has one. Whether you love cruisin' Central or avoid it altogether, the government and private developers see downtown as an important part of Albuquerque. And with that in mind, plenty of groups are spending big money on projects there.
What are some of those projects, you ask? Glad you did, because this week's episode is all about what's going up in downtown and the greater downtown area. An expert on the subject matter, founder, writer, and editor of the Downtown Albuquerque News, Peter Rice joins the podcast this week for a frank discussion about the state of downtown ABQ. What's next for a possible soccer stadium? What's Space Valley all about? Could a new bike and pedestrian trail take shape soon? More apartments? A new hotel? And what would YOU do with 10 billion dollars for Albuquerque's downtown? We're talking about it all this week in what one could call a "Downtown Albuquerque nerdcast."
Check out the Downtown Albuquerque News at www.downtownalbuquerquenews.com and reach out to Peter at downtownabqnews@gmail.com
What's on your mind? Like something we did? Got an idea for an episode? Let us know. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Voters just picked their candidates for the upcoming midterm election... but don't expect any kind of respite from elections. The latest round of political advertising has already begun on TV and radio, so it's a good time to brush up on the campaigns ahead. This week, Chris and Gabby are talking about the November races that are already shaping up, including the race for the offices of the New Mexico Governor and Attorney General. We're also look at both the state and federal House. What can we expect for politics inside the Roundhouse? Will the state’s federal delegation change again? UNM Professor and Political Science Analyst, Gabe Sanchez, provides analysis and perspective about the simmering and soon to boil November election.
What's on your mind? Like something we did? Got an idea for an episode? Let us know. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Tuesday, June 7th is Primary Election Day in New Mexico, and voters are heading to the polls to choose which candidates they want to represent their political party. Some big decisions could shake things up in the state, particularly in the race for Governor and the state’s Attorney General’s Office. Who will win supremacy within their party? Why has there been so much in-party sniping on the campaign trail? This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby break down some of the key races to keep an eye on, with analysis from UNM Political Science Professor, Tim Krebs.
KRQE.com will have a full slate on live election coverage. Once results start rolling in after poll close at 7 p.m. Chris will be live streaming with Curtis Segarra to talk about the election outcomes. Gabby will be out in the field among other KRQE reports. Results will also play out on KRQE News 13 at 6 and 9 on Fox New Mexico and 10 p.m. on KRQE News 13 CBS. Looking for even more background on the big races? KRQE also previously aired a GOP primary candidates special and an Attorney General Democratic Primary debate.
What's on your mind? Like something we did? Got an idea for an episode? Let us know. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
If you've shopped in the Albuquerque-metro area anytime in the last few years, you've probably noticed at least a few security changes at most big box stores. Whether its more security guards, police officers or even camera trailers with flashing blue and red lights, a lot of New Mexico's supermarkets, pharmacies and other stores have increasingly been targets for brazen shoplifting. In the summer of 2021, the New Mexico Attorney General's Office announced it would target this issue, calling it "organized retail crime," while dispelling the idea that the suspects are "just petty thieves."
So is that new approach making shopping safer? Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret joins Gabby and Chris on the podcast to discuss her recent KRQE News 13 Investigation, featuring a ride-along with agents from the AG’s Office and the Albuquerque Police Department.
What's on your mind? Like something we did? Got an idea for an episode? Let us know. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
The Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire is officially the largest in New Mexico’s history, burning more than 300,000 acres and destroying hundreds of homes. Among those forced to evacuate were some of the state’s ranching community. How did they get horses and livestock to safety? What does this fire mean for the state’s agricultural industry? This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby hear from a fourth-generation rancher in northern New Mexico who witnessed the prescribed burn-turned wildfire spark at Hermits Peak. A Las Vegas-area rancher, Lydia Kyle describes hauling her horses, husband, and three young children out of harm's way in the dark as they witnessed 300-foot flames.
What's on your mind? Like something we did? Got an idea? Let us know. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Diana Horak is determined. Born and raised in Ukraine and now living in Albuquerque, Diana helped evacuate her 82-year-old mother from the war-torn country in March. During that trip to Ukraine, she also took suitcases full of supplies to help other refugees and front-line soldiers. After sharing her story with KRQE's Jessica Garate, Diana started getting support from New Mexicans all over. That support has led to yet another supply run for the people of Ukraine. In the coming weeks, Diana is planning to travel with a team of people (including her daughter) to help shuttle around 900 pounds of much-needed gear in a mission she calls "Bras, Boots, and Babies." This week on the podcast, hear about the mission from Diana herself.
What's on your mind? Like something we did? Got an idea? Let us know. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Hundreds of New Mexicans are dealing with the reality of losing their home to wildfire this season. Dry air, high temperatures, and continued winds through April and the start of May have already led to the destruction of more than 360 homes in communities all over the state. Families in Ruidoso and communities including Las Vegas, Jemez Springs, and Ocate are feeling the impacts, to name a few. What happens after you lose your home and everything inside it? Where do you go? Can families afford to rebuild?
This week, Gabby and Chris speak with Karen Roach, whose family home burned to the ground on the first day of the McBride Fire in mid-April. Before her interview, hear from Kerry Gladden, a longtime spokeswoman for the Village of Ruidoso who was a core part of getting the word out about the emergency response to the wildfire. Gladden helps shed light on the broader response the village still faces in the wake of the McBride wildfire.
We want to hear from our listeners! Like something we did? Feel like there's something we missed? Got an idea? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
When a wildfire sparks, our news station usually gives people a birds-eye view of what’s happening in the community via our Sky News 13 helicopter. But what's it like for the men and women who are facing the fire on the ground, chopping down trees and working to stop the flames from spreading? It takes a lot to be a wildland firefighter. This week, Chris and Gabby hear from a longtime Santa Fe Hotshot, a highly skilled and specially trained firefighter, who’s already spent weeks working one of the biggest wildfires of the season.
What's on your mind? Like something we did? Got an idea? Let us know. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Perhaps it sounds too good to be true: "free college for New Mexico." But the fact is, a freshly expanded state program is ensuring just that. What started in 2020, the state's "Opportunity Scholarship" is now bigger than ever. If you didn't finish college and are seeking your first degree or training in a high-need trade, the state is willing to pick up the cost of your higher education. So how does it work? And why are so many lawmakers willing to support it? Chris and Gabby explore the state's free college offer this week. Hear from New Mexico's Department of Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez in the first half of the episode. Later on, a discussion with a Republican lawmaker: Senator Cliff Pirtle (R-Roswell) talks about why he supports what some may argue is a major government spending program.
Need a further breakdown of how the Opportunity Scholarship works? Check out Curtis Segarra's news resource or FAQ-style article titled: "Understanding New Mexico's 'free college' offer."
What's on your mind? Like something we did? Got an idea? Let us know. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Plenty of people will argue "there's no end to wildfire season these days in New Mexico." But historically, April is not a typically busy wildfire month for the state. Usually, it's another month before New Mexico's wildfire season peaks. So far in April 2022, destructive wildfires have made their mark near Las Vegas, Belen and Ruidoso. At least two people have died in the wind-whipped McBride Fire in Ruidoso amid 60-90 mph wind gusts. More than 200 homes were also destroyed there before a 700 to 1000 person "type one" incident team arrived. This week on the podcast, a state forestry expert joins Chris and Gabby to talk about how New Mexico responds to wildfires. What determines the response each fire gets? Why does it take so long to determine a fire's cause, even if everyone else is saying they think they know what it was? How hard is it to get the word out about fires? How can you protect yourself? Those questions and more are discussed this week.
Got a line for the show? Let us know. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
New Mexico is dry. No kidding, right? But have you ever asked yourself how dry is too dry? Or why that actually matters? This week, we're hearing from two people who keep a close watch on the water and the weather in New Mexico. John Fleck is a professor at the University of New Mexico and the Director of Water Resources in the university's Economics Department. John breaks down why it matters when New Mexico gets less rain and snowpack, and shares his concerns over the future of the state's water resources. First-time guest and long-time NMNP listener, KRQE's Chief Meteorologist Grant Tosterud, joins Chris and Gabby with an update on where we stand today. Grant offers background on what the last winter was like (in terms of moisture) and what's ahead for the rest of spring and summer.
Stick around to the end of the episode for a recap of what happened in the New Mexico Legislature's one-day special session last week.
As mentioned in the episode, here's a link to Curtis Segarra's article titled, "New Mexico tax rebates: How much will you get?" For more information on John Fleck's work, click here to visit his blog on New Mexico water issues. And finally, Grant's forecast and more from KRQE's weather team can be found here on KRQE.com/weather.
Got a story idea? A comment? Did you really like an episode we did? Let us know. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
It is back to Santa Fe, again, for New Mexico's lawmakers. Another special session has been called by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. This time it's all about money. Lawmakers are considering sending checks to most New Mexicans to help pay for rising costs brought about by high gas prices and inflation across the U.S. This week on the podcast, Gabby and Chris talk to two prominent lawmakers, one from each side of the aisle. How much money could these proposed cash payouts bring about for every New Mexican? Also, what's behind the "do-over" on a major spending bill that the Governor vetoed? Fun fact: this is the fifth special session called by Governor Lujan Grisham in her first term as governor.
If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior work, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
Recreational cannabis sales go live in New Mexico on April 1, 2022, a little more than a year since the state passed the law that your parents maybe never thought had a prayer of passing decades ago. Times have changed. So, what can people across the state expect on day one? How many stores will open up and where will they be concentrated? Are any tiny towns getting in on the action? What are some of the rules you maybe hadn't considered? This week, friend of the podcast and frequent guest, KRQE's Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra is back to help break it down. Curtis also helps bust some of the "myths" about the state's new cannabis industry. Is drive-thru cannabis allowed? Could someone use an EBT card at a cannabis store? What are police looking for in terms of intoxication? Stick around for the answers.
Here are some links to the items mentioned in this week's episode. Curtis' full article on cannabis mythbusting is on KRQE.com. The Cannabis Control Division has its online database of cannabis license applicants and approvals here. New Mexico's Drug Recognition Expert program is active on social media, and here's a link to their main webpage. Finally, here's a link to the city of Albuquerque's map showing all of the approved and denied retail store locations.
If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior work, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
The quote in the title of this week's episode comes from a New Mexico doctor who dropped everything in recent weeks to head to Ukraine and offer help. Dr. Matthew Wilks is the Chief Medical Officer at UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, and part of a disaster relief medical volunteer group called Team Rubicon. Wilks shares why he traveled across the globe to help, what he's seen, and also describes the growing humanitarian crisis at the border, where Ukrainian families are at times waiting for days in the cold to cross the border into Poland.
If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior work, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
As a humanitarian crisis unfolds with Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine, here at home, New Mexico is feeling some effects of the continued conflict. The rising cost of gas is easily one of the most noticeable changes, but where else might some of the economic effects of the war emerge? Could New Mexico's military industry feel an impact in the negative or positive? How bad could the economic hits get and for how long, and what might this mean for families trying to rebound from a pandemic? UNM Economics Professor Reilly White joins the podcast this week, helping spell out some of the biggest impacts this conflict will have on the U.S and New Mexico.
If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior work, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
This week, we're continuing our two-part series on Albuquerque's notorious West Mesa murders. It's now been 13 years since the remains of 11 missing women and an unborn child were discovered on an undeveloped plot of land in the southwest part of the city. Since then, police have never formally named a suspect in the case and the search for answers continues. In the second and final episode of the series, Chris and Gabby speak with a woman who's made it her life's work to make sure another case like the West Mesa murders never happens again. Co-founder and Executive Director of Street Safe New Mexico, Christine Barber, speaks in part about her thoughts on the continued "unsolved" status of the case, what she thinks investigators should be focused on, and her message to people who may have prejudice about the lifestyle of people involved in sex work. Christine also offers her own theory on who she believes is involved in the West Mesa murders and why.
If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior work, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
It’s one of the largest crime scenes ever found in the United States, on the west mesa of Albuquerque. 13 years ago, the first bodies were found in the the West Mesa Murder case, kicking off an investigation into the deaths of 11 missing women, one of whom was pregnant. Today, the case remains unsolved. Is the serial killer or killers already dead? Will new technology help crack the cold case? In part one of our series, hear from the contract investigator working with Albuquerque Police to try and solve the case, and why investigators are still asking for the public’s help after dozens of public pleas for information.
Stay tuned for part two of our series on the West Mesa Murders. We expect to release that episode next week - on March 8, 2022. Listen in to the end of the episode for a preview on who we're speaking with. If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior work, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
New Mexicans got the surprise green light from the Governor last Thursday that it's OK to shed your face mask if you're indoors. It's a major shift in the state's policy, one that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced without warning during a news conference at the end of the legislative session last Thursday. Just a week earlier, the state's top doctor and Acting Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase said, "When things cool down in the hospital, we’re planning on rescinding the mask order.” So, what went into the final decision? Do politics play a role in lifting the mandate now? What does this mean for your child's school? Chris and Gabby took those questions to the state's health secretary shortly after the governor's announcement. Also - stick around for a wrap-up of the New Mexico legislative session, including a recap of what happened to the big proposed New Mexico Voting Rights Act.
We want to hear from you! If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior work, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
It could be a major shift in the rules surrounding who and how people can vote in New Mexico. Just days away from the end of the legislative session in Santa Fe, lawmakers are weighing the future of the New Mexico Voting Rights Act. The bill could carry some monumental changes surrounding things like absentee voting, felons' voting rights and more. But some opponents are worried about a handful of changes. Does the bill benefit one party over another? This week, Chris and Gabby break down the bill and chat with KRQE’s political analyst & UNM Science Professor, Gabe Sanchez, about the big national debate over election security and how voting is being handled at the state level.
We want to hear from you! If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior work, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
At best, COVID made for a tough 2020-21 school year for nearly all New Mexico kids. By summer 2021, state and school leaders were adamant: kids needed to be back in the classroom. While that message continues into 2022, keeping schools open has been a major challenge. High case counts have helped expose major issues in New Mexico schools with having enough teachers and support staff to keep the buildings running. This week, Chris and Gabby speak with the superintendent and COVID response-czar of one of the state's most prominent school districts in Rio Rancho. The district is just one of many that were recently forced to go fully virtual for a week due to testing delays and staff shortages. Is COVID solely to blame for the staffing shortage? Are there solutions the state should be implementing to keep kids in the classroom? Are we almost "out of the tunnel," or can we expect staffing shortfalls to continue?
We want to hear from you! If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior work, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
By now, there’s a good chance you’ve either seen or felt the impact COVID-19 has had on businesses, schools and government just to name a few. But for anyone wrapped up in legal issues, the pandemic has been monumentally disruptive. From criminal trials to civil cases, defendants have seen their court hearings suddenly postponed or seemingly delayed indefinitely. This week on the podcast, Chris & Gabby talk to some of the people working through what they’re calling a ‘crisis-level’ backlog of cases in New Mexico's courts. Two criminal defense attorneys with the New Mexico Law Office of the Public Defender join the conversation along with a New Mexico civil attorney. On the criminal side, some attorneys are juggling way more cases than they're used to and prepping for trials that are getting pushed back for half a year. On the civil side, some decisions are taking up to 10 months to be heard, all while their clients hang in the balance. Is this sustainable? What needs to change?
We want to hear from you! If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior work, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.
They're back at it again. New Mexico's 112-person volunteer legislature has returned to Santa Fe for another legislative session. This time, it's just a short 30 days to address lots of issues that have clearly been on the minds of most New Mexicans. Crime, education, taxes, health care investments, environmental issues and more. What have lawmakers accomplished so far? What's the outlook? And how will the Governor steer the legislative process over the next month? Chris and Gabby tackle these questions and more on this week's episode with help from KRQE's 2022 legislative guru and Investigative Data Reporter, Curtis Segarra. We've named this week's episode after the daily "Roundhouse Roundup" legislative summary reports that Curtis publishes every weekday on KRQE.com. This week, we're primarily looking at some of the key points inside Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's State of the State address - her last before facing possible re-election in November. She has proposed a host of crime bills to the Democratic-controlled Roundhouse, along with a number of spending increases.
We want to hear from you! If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and related coverage, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.
If one thing’s constant in this pandemic, it’s that things are constantly changing. It’s hard to keep up with quarantine requirements, school schedules, work-life, and public health updates. Now, with the omicron variant, COVID-19 is spreading like never before. This week on the podcast, New Mexico’s top doctor once again joins Chris and Gabby to answer questions about the state of the pandemic. Department of Health Secretary, Dr. David Scrase discusses how this variant impacts the body, COVID-19 testing shortages, and new help that's on the way. Noted in the discussion this week is a segment from CBS News about the differences in PCR and antigen testing. Here's a link to that segment: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-test-pcr-antigen-results/
We want to hear from you! If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and related coverage, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.
**Content warning: This week's episode contains discussion of a graphic crime that may be unsuitable for certain ages or hard to listen to. Listener discretion is advised.
On August 24, 2016, 10-year old Victoria Martens was murdered in her Albuquerque apartment. That night, three people were arrested in connection with the crime, including the girl's mother Michelle Martens, a woman named Jessica Kelley, and a man named Fabian Gonzales. Of those three, Gonzales is the only suspect who's case remains open and awaiting trial. However, nearly six years later, Gonzales is still waiting for his day in court as a jury trial has been delayed once again. What's taken so long? Can we expect a trial later this year? What are the complications that surround a trial for a crime that happened nearly six-years ago? How is the COVID-19 pandemic complicating the justice system? This week, Gabby and Chris are joined by attorney Jennifer Burrill to talk about the case. Burrill is the President-Elect of the New Mexico Criminal Lawyers Association and has worked as both a prosecutor and defense attorney in New Mexico.
We want to hear from you! If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and related coverage of the Victoria Martens case, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.
Happy New Year! So...what's ahead for 2022? This week, Chris & Gabby are forecasting what they expect will be a few of the biggest news stories over the next year. Recreational cannabis is months away from public sales. Tim Keller is sticking around as Albuquerque's mayor, but he faces a new council that could have a different say in the city's agenda. The Midterm Election is also coming in hot, but even that will be preceded by what could be a wild primary for a few races. Stay tuned for those topics and more this week! Also, who could forget about the classic New Year's resolutions? At the end of the episode, Chris reveals one of the "most anticipated events of the year" (that's an opinion) and hear from several others on the KRQE news team about their personal goals in 2022. As always, questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome. Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode and the ghosts of episodes past, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.
For most of 2020 and on into the first half of 2021, it was a quiet time for most of New Mexico's music scene. Amid the pre-vaccine era of the pandemic, public health orders kept mass gatherings and live shows from happening. The state went more than a year without live music in all major venues and most small venues. That put a massive strain on not just local businesses, but also musicians who make a living playing to crowds. But as the restrictions on gatherings have faded away, New Mexico's seen a resurgence in live music. Longtime New Mexico musician Donny Tesso joins Gabby and Chris on the podcast, and opens up about his experience as a full-time professional musician who plays alongside his two daughters in a band called Sorela. What will it take to keep that alive as the pandemic continues? Donny offers his perspective to that question and more.
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions - let us know. Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.
The song featured in this episode is called Baila, Bailame / Pirolino," as performed live by Sorela in a 2007 tribute to the late New Mexico music legend Al Hurricane. A special thanks to Atlantis CDS for allowing us to share the song on this week's episode.
We could all use some good news stories, and as 2021 comes to a close, that’s what we’re focusing on in this week's episode of the New Mexico News Podcast. Two of KRQE News 13's veteran reporters, Brittany Bade and Jami Seymore join Chris and Gabby to talk about some of the most memorable and positive moments they got to cover this year and the people involved in those stories. Their stories feature good Samaritans who stepped in to help save injured Albuquerque police officers, and a local business owner who's partnered with a program that helps children get access to an expensive, life-saving surgery. Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.
Check out Brittany's story on the life-saving heart surgery for children here.
Check out Jami's story on the good Samaritans who helped injured APD officers here.
2021 has been a year unlike any other for homicides in Albuquerque. In August, the city broke the record for the most homicides logged in a single year, which used to be 81. By December 1st, 104 people have died of homicide in Albuquerque in 2021. What's fueling this year's surge in violent crime? Are criminals being held accountable? This week, Gabby and Chris have an extended conservation with Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina, and Bernalillo County District Attorney Raúl Torrez. The two local law enforcement leaders break down what's behind the "perfect storm" on the heels of the pandemic, their views on the challenges to their respective departments are facing, and their ideas on how to fix it. Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.
We're wrapping up our four-part series on New Mexico's new recreational cannabis law with a discussion on enforcement this week. New Mexico Sheriff's Association board member and San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari joins the discussion, sharing his questions and concerns about recreational cannabis. How will officers and deputies tell the difference between what’s legal and what’s not allowed? Sheriff Ferrari also shares his prediction about how this new industry may impact local communities, and his department. Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, and links to the three other cannabis-focused episodes of the podcast, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.
Over the last month, at least six New Mexico hospitals have declared "crisis standards of care" (CSC) for their facilities amid a continued high number of COVID-19 cases and sick patients more than a year into the pandemic. New Mexico reported 9,892 COVID cases between 11-16 and 11-22, and an additional 4,991 cases over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. CSC is a rare and serious designation, allowing for hospitals, in part, to pick and choose who they provide medical care for and cancel or delay "non-medically necessary procedures." So far, New Mexico facilities say they're not rationing or "deallocating care," but what would it take to get there? What does Crisis Standards of Care actually mean for our local facilities? This week, Chris and Gabby interview Dr. Jason Mitchell, Chief Medical Officer for the state's largest healthcare provider, Presbyterian Healthcare Services. Mitchell explains how Presbyterian is using the CSC designation, if he foresees a time when the hospitals have to ration medical care, and provides a detailed picture of the grim reality inside New Mexico's hospitals. Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.
More than 2,000 people have already started the process of trying to become recreational cannabis producers in New Mexico. What does it take to become a cannabis producer? Who are the people applying for licenses? What motivates some of them? Chris and Gabby breakdown the numbers and demographics behind who's applying with the help of KRQE's Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra. Also, hear from a young father who left his job as a truck driver to dive head-first into the state’s budding new industry. This is the third episode in a four part series on the podcast, looking into the state’s unfolding recreational cannabis industry set to launch sales by April 1, 2022. For more on this episode and links to news stories mentioned in this podcast, visit our website at KRQE.com/podcasts. Got an idea, comment, or a suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.
With recreational cannabis legalization in New Mexico and retail sales on the horizon, KRQE News 13 recently looked to our neighbors in Colorado for perspective on some of the challenges that state has dealt with since its legalization effort. Anchor/reporter Dean Staley traveled to Colorado to interview a prosecutor, sheriff, and educator - and shares what they've seen in their communities in the nearly nine years since cannabis became legal. Gabby, Chris, and Dean dive into some of the cautionary tales from Colorado, and some of the challenges that could make their way to New Mexico. Got an idea for the podcast or some feedback? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We've posted links to all of Dean's Colorado cannabis stories in the post tied to this episode on KRQE.com/podcasts.
The tragic shooting on the film set of ‘Rust’ in Santa Fe sparked lots of discussion about the use of real weapons in movie productions. Investigators say actor Alec Baldwin fired a long colt revolver while rehearsing a scene at Bonanza Creek Ranch, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, and injuring the film’s director, Joel Souza. How did a real bullet get on set and go unnoticed? Should film productions stick with visual effects from now on instead of using real functioning firearms? What is the role of an armorer on a film set? Gabby and Chris tackle these topics and more with a New Mexico military veteran who’s spent part of his career working with weapons on film sets as an armorer. Cory Wilde shares first-hand knowledge about using guns on movie sets, and why he believes education is key to keeping people safe. For more on this and other episodes, visit our website at krqe.com/podcasts. Got a question, comment or suggestion? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.
It's Election Day in New Mexico and the November ballot is stacked with issues that could alter the direction of the state's biggest city. Chris and Gabby dive into the heated mayoral race in Albuquerque, a $50 million soccer stadium bond, and city council races. Plus, no incumbents are running to keep their seat on APS' Board of Education (the school board) after the pandemic fueled contentious debates with parents over COVID-related issues. Do voters know who their school board candidates are? Will a soccer stadium revitalize the state's metropolis, or could it cause problems for historic neighborhoods? KRQE Political Analyst and UNM Political Science Professor, Gabe Sanchez, weighs in on these issues and more in this week's episode.
Don't forget to join us for election night coverage on KRQE.com, and KRQE News 13 at 4, 5:30 and 10 on CBS and 6pm and 9pm on FOX New Mexico. Chris will also be livestreaming election results on KRQE.com starting around 7:30 p.m. alongside special guests including Gabe Sanchez and News 13 Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra.
Got an idea? Let us know at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Check out more on this episode and past episodes at our website, krqe.com/podcasts.
New Mexico state leaders first started talking about decriminalizing marijuana in 1999. Then-Republican Governor Gary Johnson suggested the "war on drugs" was a failure, and that lawmakers should have a conversation about the penalties surrounding drug possession. More than two decades later, the state is now poised to open a recreational cannabis marketplace by April 2022. How does New Mexico's recreational cannabis law work? What's legal right now? And what's still left to be decided with the new marketplace? Chris and Gabby talk with KRQE News 13 Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra about the ins and outs of the new law. Plus, a conversation with one of the longtime cannabis legalization stalwarts of the New Mexico Legislature, Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque,) provides historical context for how we got here. For more on this week's episode, visit KRQE.com/podcasts. Got an idea, comment, or feedback? Send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.
He's been New Mexico's guiding voice in dealing with the pandemic for 19 months. Dr. David Scrase joins the New Mexico News Podcast this week to talk about a wide range of COVID topics, including how the state is doing with booster shots, and the impending push to vaccinate younger kids ages 5 to 11. Dr. Scrase gets candid about how he talks to vaccine-hesitant patients, and his own family about vaccinating grandkids. Are the right people getting booster shots? Will the state pivot toward more rapid testing as the pandemic marches on? And why are continued COVID infections so problematic for the thousands working in New Mexico's health care system? Those questions and more are answered in this week's episode. If you have an idea, let us know at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Check out our webpage for more on each episode at krqe.com/podcasts.
New Mexico's voting boundaries are going through a revamp. For the first time ever, an independent group is tinkering with the state's "political map," hashing out where they think the state should redraw the borders for U.S. Congressional districts, state Senate, and House districts. The process could result in a major shift in which lawmakers represent different areas of New Mexico. What is a political map revamp? How does it work? Who's involved? Why should you care? Chris and Gabby tackle those topics this week on the New Mexico News Podcast with special guests UNM Political Science Professor and KRQE Political Analyst, Gabe Sanchez, and KRQE Investigative Data Reporter, Curtis Segarra. For more on the New Mexico News Podcast, visit our website at krqe.com/podcasts.
Can you believe it's been two years since Balloon Fiesta took to Albuquerque's skies? After the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown most events in New Mexico through 2020, The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is back from an unprecedented "postponement." Chris and Gabby chat with two titans in the Albuquerque balloon scene. Longtime Fiesta spokesman Tom Garrity and well-known balloon pilot, Scott Appelman of Rainbow Ryders talk about what people can expect from this year's event, and how the hiatus impacted the state of New Mexico. For more on the New Mexico News Podcast, visit our website at krqe.com/podcasts
The New Mexico News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Gabrielle Burkhart and Chris McKee of KRQE News 13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Look out for episodes publishing every Tuesday, starting October 5, 2021. If you have an idea of something you'd like to hear us cover, email us at gabrielle.burkhart (at) KRQE.com or chris.mckee (at) KRQE.com. More online at KRQE.com/podcasts