Much of the state is experiencing early May rain Email notifications are only sent once a day April showers bring May flowers — or so the saying goes much of the state is experiencing early May rain There's a flood watch in place from Roswell to Raton with the National Weather Service's Albuquerque office reporting "severe" thunderstorms bringing hail lightning and intense gusts of wind are likely to hit Eastern New Mexico tonight The heavy rainfall could bring the risk of flash flooding High-elevation regions of the state could see a layer of snow by Tuesday morning photos of Bobcat Pass in Taos showed the area was already blanketed white This story is developing and will be updated Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Receive a list of headlines from the latest edition of The New Mexican in your inbox every morning get a preview of The New Mexican's big Sunday stories and review highlights from the week Stay informed of the latest local news by receiving emails as soon as news is posted online Stay up to date with news from the Capitol during the legislative session and follow New Mexico politics throughout the year A guide to outdoors opportunities and profiles on peoples' connections with places Keep up with what's going on in the local business scene Receive the latest episode of "Conversations Different" in your inbox every Tuesday.  Taking the temperature of New Mexico's environmental issues local prep sports and more every Wednesday Contests and special offers from The Santa Fe New Mexican and advertising partners Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Market Steer chef and co-owner Kathleen Crook calls out orders in February 2024 as the restaurant's team starts to ramp up for the dinner rush Chef Kathleen Crook of Santa Fe's Market Steer Steakhouse has been named to the TasteTwenty list by the James Beard Foundation meaning she will take part in the prestigious Taste America series presented by the James Beard Foundation A Santa Fe chef has been chosen to represent the city in a national competition of rising restaurant industry stars Kathleen Crook of Market Steer Steakhouse has been included in the TasteTwenty list of chefs who will compete in the national Taste America series by the James Beard Foundation the organization announced Monday in a news release The chefs chosen to participate in the series are selected for their culinary talent as well as their contributions beyond the kitchen including their efforts to support sustainable agriculture and advocate for a resilient food system The Taste America series will begin July 29 in Los Angeles with an event featuring all 20 chefs on the TasteTwenty list in a walk-around event with multiple food and beverage stations The series will continue across the country through March 2026 That event will feature Crook and guest chef Allison Jenkins of Santa Fe’s Arroyo Vino “These chefs represent the future of American dining — combining culinary excellence with positive leadership that drives our industry forward,” Clare Reichenbach “Their dedication to craft and community inspires us and we're honored to showcase their talents on a national stage beginning with our exciting Los Angeles kickoff event." According to the Market Steer Steakhouse website Crook is an Artesia native who grew up helping her grandmother with her catering business Crook became a world champion roper on the rodeo circuit before turning her attention to a culinary career honing her skills at several highly regarded restaurants in Dallas and Aspen She returned to New Mexico in 2018 as the owner and executive chef of Market Steer More information about the Taste America series and the TasteTwenty chefs can be found at jamesbeard.org/tasteamerica was in the process of breaking into a vehicle when he was confronted by homeowners on Sunshine Way Santa Fe police arrested a man accused of armed burglary in the early hours of Saturday morning alleging the suspect had fought with homeowners He was in the process of breaking into a vehicle when he was confronted by homeowners in the 1100 block of Sunshine Way The suspect brandished a firearm from someplace — I guess in his pocket or his waistband or something," Trujillo said "The homeowner was able to disarm the suspect and then we got there and took him into custody" — but not without Barela's continued resistance to officers' attempts to arrest him also had a “significant amount of narcotics on his person when they searched him,” Trujillo alleged including five felonies: aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon; receipt transportation or possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon; receiving stolen property (a firearm); aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; trafficking of controlled substances; and resisting arrest He was previously arrested in 2023 on suspicion of carjacking a vehicle at gunpoint and crashing it at Youth Shelters and Family Services on Agua Fría Street 22 for a conviction on a count of aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer in the case Poet Natachee Momaday Gray will participate in a tribute to her grandfather at this year's Santa Fe International Literary Festival Bestselling author Michael Pollan is one of the headliners at this year's Santa Fe International Literary Festival Visitors to the 2024 Santa Fe International Literary Festival gather in the Santa Fe Community Convention Center courtyard A book signing event at the 2024 Santa Fe International Literary Festival Author and Santa Fe native Carmella Padilla is a founder of the Santa Fe International Literary Festival "Writing on the Rails," at this year's Santa Fe International Literary Festival Bestselling author Amy Tan is one of the headliners at this year’s Santa Fe International Literary Festival Critically acclaimed writer Gabrielle Zevin is one of the headliners at this year's Santa Fe International Literary Festival Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Jonathan Eig is one of the headliners at this year's Santa Fe International Literary Festival artist and filmmaker Miranda July is one of the headliners at this year's Santa Fe International Literary Festival winner of the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction is one of the headliners at this year's Santa Fe International Literary Festival Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen is one of the headliners at this year's Santa Fe International Literary Festival The Santa Fe International Literary Festival returns for its fourth year with one-on-one conversations readings and book signings by leading local and international authors “What is so unique to Santa Fe and northern New Mexico is the level of literary and political engagement we have here,” said Megan Mulry “Some of these authors are speaking to the largest audiences they’ve ever spoken to live while others have millions of followers on social media and are Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award winners.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Logan Royce Beitmen is an arts writer for the Albuquerque Journal. He covers music, visual arts, books and more. You can reach him at lbeitmen@abqjournal.com WHERE: Santa Fe Community Convention Center HOW MUCH: $27.50-$969, plus fees, at sfinternationallitfest.org; complimentary tickets available for qualified individuals Get the latest on local happenings delivered straight to your inbox it provides narrative coverage of local trends going beyond the headlines to keep you informed Stay informed with the latest top headlines from your trusted local source the Albuquerque Journal—delivered to your inbox every day Stay in the loop with the top stories of the week delivered straight to your inbox every Saturday Sign up to see what’s trending and get the latest on the stories that matter most to our readers Get breaking news and important alerts sent straight to your inbox as they happen Stay up-to-date with the latest sports headlines and highlights from the Albuquerque Journal Diana MacArthur receives the Tamgha-i-Khidmat from Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh on Tuesday in Washington a Santa Fe businesswoman and philanthropist was honored last week with a prestigious Pakistani medal of service for her work developing a school Pakistani Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh noted during the award ceremony Tuesday the relationships Diana MacArthur has fostered has created a positive impact reaching far beyond the walls of the school she helped develop received a prestigious Pakistani medal of service during a ceremony last week at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington WASHINGTON — Thanks to a Santa Fe woman’s tenacity children in the remote Karakoram mountains of northern Pakistan are learning to read a prominent local businesswoman and philanthropist who helped develop a school The Tamgha-i-Khidmat — bestowed on her by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and presented Tuesday by Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh — was the most recent development in a very personal project that started more than a decade and a half ago attributes its successful outcome to teamwork The project — building a modern school with globally recognized educational standards — is a testament to what can be accomplished when people of different cultures religions and nationalities come together with a common goal MacArthur acknowledged many individuals and organizations central to the school this team of individual Pakistanis and organizations that I put together were a team and we got the job done together,” she said Anchoring MacArthur’s team is the community of MurtazaAbad located next to the Hunza River in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan MacArthur ensured the local community was included throughout the process of building the state-of-the-art campus In an interview last week a day before the award ceremony she said empowering community members with the skills knowledge and confidence to improve their town as well as share what they learned with others across the country emphasized the importance of MacArthur’s community-first approach: “She understood that real lasting change comes not from imposing solutions but from investing in local communities — working with them learning from them and truly believing in their potential,” he said “Eighty percent of the school was built with local labor MacArthur brought her project management and financial oversight expertise to the table as well as other legal and technical experts creating international relationships between her home state and Pakistan “It’s also a source of pride for me that Diana chose to have New Mexican architects engineers and experts to lend technical assistance to these efforts bringing our families closer together,” Luján said highlighting the collaboration that included Albuquerque architect Lila DeWindt MacArthur said the Aga Khan School in MurtazaAbad also known as the Center for Educational Excellence The building is earthquake resistant and includes many green building practices such as modern insulation — a first in the region; south-facing skylights; energy-recovery fresh air ventilators; and LED lighting with an 18,000-gallon tank providing treated water to the building’s occupants With her attention to detail and commitment to quality MacArthur also played a pivotal role in the construction of the wider community water and sewage treatment system The school is well positioned to grow with the future It is ready for broadband internet when it becomes available The building is also carefully designed to accommodate the addition of a secondary school The project is more than a physical building teacher education and early childhood learning the Al-Murtaza Educational and Social Welfare Organization made an effort to ensure all members of the community had an opportunity to participate as decision makers The majority Ismaili community also contains Shia and even a few Sunni families She proudly noted the local organization recently elected a highly qualified young Shia teacher as president of the executive committee the community transferred its ownership to the Aga Khan Foundation of Pakistan to leverage the larger organization’s resources and expertise in running and expanding the school the foundation has a presence in more than 30 countries focused on community-driven development ranging from early childhood education to infrastructure Even as MacArthur’s project has gained the attention of international organizations and top government leaders “My experience with Pakistan is very personal.” was trekking through northern Pakistan after earning a doctorate in microbiology Tschursin stopped at a small primary school where she volunteered teaching science And she was very happy,” MacArthur recalled You could tell that from her writings and pictures and whatnot Tschursin died by suicide in 1994 after her return MacArthur’s first trip to the region was in 2007 with her son Alex Tschursin as part of a small group tour through the western autonomous region of China and northern Pakistan The tour took MacArthur through Murtazaabad She retraced her daughter’s steps and found the same school where Tschursin had taught 14 years earlier “I brought with me pictures of everybody and what addresses I had,” she said She recalled asking if there was anything she could do in honor of her daughter We would like our own building.’ And that’s how it got started.” MacArthur returned the following year as the project evolved from preliminary architectural plans to a true understanding of what it would take to make a successful school construction was underway on the new campus MacArthur was able to keep a close eye on the project ensuring funds were well spent and work was done to the correct specifications “Your quality assurance is in the soul of the person you hire,” she said with a smile recalling a lesson learned from one of her Pakistani partners MacArthur stressed that even a single individual can make a positive impact especially by bringing the right people together “I came in love,” she said in the interview last week She noted the importance of this approach to community development especially today with the ever increasing uncertainty in government aid “Diana’s story of personal loss transformed into an extraordinary act of compassion one that we should all aspire to achieve,” Luján said at the award ceremony She built a bridge between two communities.” she boarded a plane to Pakistan for a three-week trip Her packed itinerary includes a reception at the U.S Embassy in Islamabad and additional meetings in Lahore and culminates in a visit to the school in MurtazaAbad she will be connecting with the many individuals donors and organizations that played an important role in her project Her work of building and strengthening relationships is ongoing evident by her continued relationship with Samina Baig who is accompanying her on part of the trip Baig was the first Pakistani woman and first Muslim woman to summit the tallest mountain on each continent and has worked with MacArthur in making the sport more accessible to locals throughout Pakistan Ambassador Sheikh noted during the award ceremony the relationships MacArthur has fostered has created a positive impact reaching far beyond the walls of the school “The strength of our partnership lies in the strong people-to-people ties and the shared commitment to building a peaceful and prosperous world,” Sheikh said and Liza Suzanne cross Tesuque Creek in June “There are other facilities that are permitted using this exact statutory framework so this isn’t just a Bishop’s Lodge-Tesuque issue,” said Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth of the petition to the Supreme Court to halt a wastewater permit for the nearby Bishop’s Lodge resort it’s going to have impacts throughout the state.” and Eileen Berry ride their mountain bikes over Tesuque Creek in June The new leach field at Bishop's Lodge can treat wastewater to a “much better” quality than the facility's aging plant according to a document prepared by the Environment Department Treated water will be used for irrigation on the property during parts of the year The petition asks the Environment Department to apply the state’s liquid waste regulations rather than the ground and surface water protections which could upend previous legal precedent An organization fighting Bishop Lodge’s wastewater plans is petitioning the New Mexico Supreme Court to halt a permit for the luxury resort posing a legal question that could have implications for other groundwater discharge permits in the state It is unclear what action the court will take on Protect Tesuque’s petition but Wednesday it issued an order giving the state Environment Department and Bishop’s Lodge until May 19 to file a response A public hearing on the lodge’s draft permit requested by members of the Tesuque community Bishop’s Lodge has built an on-site leach field and new treatment plant on its property to discharge treated wastewater But the plan has drawn sustained pushback from residents concerned about the proximity of the new leach field to Little Tesuque Creek leading the neighborhood group to challenge the lodge’s permit application which seeks to increase its discharge limits on the property filed recently after a hearing officer rejected Protect Tesuque’s challenge to the permit asks the Environment Department to apply the state’s liquid waste regulations rather than the ground and surface water protections arguing the latter are less rigorous than the former there is an ongoing dispute over the statutory construction and the way the Environment Department has interpreted the statute for many years,” said state Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth “I’m encouraged that Protect Tesuque has gone straight to the state Supreme Court and I’m hopeful the court will take the case and provide some direction.” Wirth has an interest in water issues: This year he sponsored Senate Bill 21 which allows for the state to take over administration of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits from the federal Environmental Protection Agency and creates a $50 million fund to clean up sites where contamination is threatening groundwater so this isn’t just a Bishop’s Lodge-Tesuque issue,” Wirth said a spokesperson for the state Environment Department wrote in an email Cabinet Secretary James Kenney was unable to discuss the matter in an interview as it is under litigation “The New Mexico Environment Department remains confident in its legal position that Bishop Lodge’s wastewater treatment system is subject to state ground and surface water quality regulations,” Estrada wrote “NMED has consistently found that the facility meets or exceeds all applicable state water quality standards we are unable to comment further at this time.” All liquid waste discharges are regulated by the state discharge of 5,000 gallons or less is regulated under the liquid waste program But for high-volume dischargers like Bishop’s Lodge which anticipates receiving and treating up to 30,000 gallons of wastewater per day ground and surface water protection regulations apply instead The legal argument from Protect Tesuque involves the testing of Bishop’s Lodge’s discharge for contaminants: The group’s attorney argues the Environment Department is applying the 1967 New Mexico Water Quality Act to discharges greater than 5,000 gallons a day rather than the 1971 Environmental Improvement Act “The argument is that the liquid waste regulations deal with the concept of liquid waste in the waste stream by imposing engineering controls whereas the Water Quality Act does not do that It just tells you to test for constituents One of the most powerful figures in state politics did not pick a side when asked who he supports in the case “I’m waiting to see what the court says,” Wirth said the state is a party to this matter so I’ve always been hesitant as a legislator and as a lawyer who practices virtually attended a recent community town hall held by Protect Tesuque while Santa Fe County Commissioner Justin Greene attended in person at Tesuque Elementary School what we could do long term to help with the various efforts for you all to feel safe number one concern is ensuring that we have these solutions available,” Romero said at the meeting Greene spoke about the county beginning to study the possibility of a water system project in the region saying wastewater is an issue across portions of the county lying north of the city Tesuque area residents are currently on septic systems we’ve initiated a preliminary engineering report to start studying all of this and allow all of us to abandon our leach fields that are in the valley and do a collective regional wastewater system,” Greene said This would take years and years and years to do.” Bureau of Reclamation continues to oversee the construction of the Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System which will provide water to communities stretching from Española to Santa Fe It is the final step in resolving the nearly six-decade-old Aamodt water rights litigation The case roiled residents north of Santa Fe for decades An old wastewater treatment plant at Bishop’s Lodge leading the owners to pump wastewater into trucks and haul it to the city’s treatment plant — a method that has been described as inefficient and costly The new plant can treat wastewater to a “much better” quality Staff writer Alaina Mencinger contributed to this report Protect Tesuque motioned to deny the permit before the planned hearing on the application A public hearing on Bishop's Lodge's draft permit Protect Tesuque's lawyer has filed a pre-hearing motion aiming to defeat Bishop Lodge's wastewater permit application Tesuque residents are raising concerns about regulation and oversight amid speculation around Bishop Lodge's new leach field Fearing their domestic water wells will be impacted Tesuque residents continue to organization opposition to Bishop Lodge's wastewater plans  Public hearings on Bishop’s Lodge’s groundwater discharge permit will run from May 19-23 on WebEx and in person at the State Capitol The WebEx link for the first day of the hearing is tinyurl.com/3mjrs8xp The failures of Donald Trump in the first months of his second term are staggering says the Trump years are the worst of times Economic chaos and decline because of ping-ponging tariffs relentless bullying of Canada and Greenland A president whose reality is so warped he claims Ukraine started the war with Russia President Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal seems tame compared to the crimes of Donald Trump Remember the tape-recorded phone call in which Trump tried to browbeat Georgia executives into switching thousands of votes in his favor even if an overview is limited to a few events of the last 100 years Other notable episodes weren't as destructive as Trump's first 100 days in 2025 Columns beginning with Trump usually circle back to him and his minions lied early and often about how Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election attorney and former mayor of New York City One was either 8,021 or 30,000 dead people voted in Philadelphia His costliest whoppers involved mother-daughter election workers he accused of ballot fraud in Georgia They sued for defamation and won a $146 million jury verdict Giuliani reached an unspecified settlement with the women this year He and Santa Fe-based attorney John Eastman unlawful plan in hopes of overturning Biden's victory still has the best quote for this era: "We learn from history that we learn nothing from history."  Ringside Seat is an opinion column about people, politics and news. Contact Milan Simonich at msimonich@sfnewmexican.com or 505-986-3080 could be razed for an expanded three-story complex in the South Capitol neighborhood to house seasonal Santa Fe Opera employees The request to rezone the 2.5-acre property was postponed due to concerns about whether a past Planning Commission vote had a quorum The Santa Fe Opera’s request to rezone property it owns in the South Capitol neighborhood to pave the way for a larger complex to house seasonal employees hit a snag during a late-night public hearing this week The proposed project has faced opposition from neighbors in the community — some who say the larger buildings wouldn’t fit with the South Capitol’s character others who complain it won’t help address an affordable housing crisis for year-round residents and a few who describe it as a short-term rental venture But what delayed a City Council decision on the zoning change was concern about whether the Santa Fe Planning Commission had a quorum when it voted for approval of the opera’s request in December City councilors decided just after midnight Thursday — following an hourslong meeting Wednesday — to postpone their vote until May 14 Councilor Michael Garcia had reviewed minutes of the Planning Commission’s December meeting and noted only three members had voted on the zoning change but city staff could not immediately answer the question After a discussion and a review of a recording of the Planning Commission meeting Councilor Carol Romero-Wirth noted the council was not going to get the answer it needed to move forward as the Wednesday night meeting stretched into Thursday morning “We don’t have the information we need tonight and I don’t think we’re going to get it at 12:05,” she said The vote to continue the hearing later this month was unanimous the property at 214 Camino de los Marquez was built in 1982 and acquired by the Santa Fe Opera in 2001 for employee housing The proposal to rezone the 2.5-acre property from R-21 to R-29 — or 29 units per acre — would allow the opera to raze five buildings that currently make up the complex and build two new three-story complexes in their place increasing the number of units to 83 from 50 Axton Apartments now houses all of the opera’s technical apprentices; the expansion would allow it to also house all of its singing apprentices Santa Fe Opera General Director Robert Meya said in the off-season the property would be available for rent to traveling nurses and others in need of temporary housing in the city “We believe that this is the best solution not only for the Santa Fe Opera but also for the community of Santa Fe,” he said said finding housing for the opera’s seasonal apprentices has become increasingly challenging since the COVID-19 pandemic as rents in Santa Fe continue to rise She described the opera’s ability to house all of its apprentices as a net benefit to the city: “That means the Santa Fe Opera is not in the market competing for housing with local members of our community,” she said which does not have air conditioning and does not meet any green building code standards is not in good enough shape to justify an expansion instead of a complete rebuild She described the property as a “poster child” for infill development due to its location and condition Much of the discussion by members of the public and city councilors centered on the opera’s plan to rebuild on the property — though city staff noted the proposal under consideration was only the zoning change Such plans are typically approved by the Planning Commission city senior planner Dan Esquibel noted the council could ask to consider the future development plan as well About a dozen people spoke about the proposal late Wednesday night including several past and current members of the opera board who asked the council to approve the project said they were opposed to the expanded complex because they don’t believe it is appropriate in the South Capitol neighborhood Others raised objections to the fact that the property would be leased at six-month intervals to opera apprentices and would not add housing to the market for more permanent residents Several people said they were unhappy the opera plans to use the “fee-in-lieu” option — paying a fee into the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund instead of building affordable units at the complex every multifamily development has opted to pay into the trust fund instead of building affordable units The rezoning request ran up against frustration among some residents due to the preponderance of short-term rental housing in the city While “we all love the opera,” South Capitol resident Deb Goldstein said the nature of the rental terms would not fit with the character of the surrounding area She also said she wasn’t happy with the absence of affordable units Land Use Director Heather Lamboy clarified that the complex’s six-month rental terms do not fall under the city ordinance regulating short-term rentals and would instead be considered “intermediate” housing Resident Hope Reed said the high density of the proposed project which she described as “like a hotel,” belonged on Cerrillos Road “I’m opposed to the upzoning because this is a neighborhood This is not for transient residential,” she said Public Service Company of New Mexico said 4,200 customers were without power for an hour Friday morning The outage Friday morning affected about 4,200 customers and lasted about an hour caused by 'equipment issues,' according to PNM officials About 4,200 electric utility customers were without power in northern Santa Fe and north of the city for about an hour Friday morning according to officials from Public Service Company of New Mexico was caused by "equipment issues" and was reported at 9:44 a.m PNM spokesperson Kelly-Renee Huber said shortly before 11 a.m power had been restored for all of the customers affected by the outage The utility was still investigating the exact cause of the outage Friday morning The company's linemen checked the power line that caused the incident and didn't find anything that might have blown into it but she said it was likely an issue with equipment potentially caused by debris or a tree limb blowing onto the line The utility saw a steep increase in power outages in 2024 following a steady increase in disruptions in recent years according to reliability data released by regulators earlier this year The summer months last year saw an increase in outages the utility attributed to more extreme weather events Recent reliability reporting shows "equipment failures" have been the top cause of increased outages on the six-mile burro race through the scenic and historic landscape of Cerrillos Hills State Park on Saturday Burro racers sprint down Main Street in Cerrillos to the finish line during the annual burro races in Cerrillos on Saturday after completing the annual burro races in Cerrillos on Saturday along the trails of the scenic and historic landscape of Cerrillos Hills State Park in the annual burro race in Cerrillos on Saturday after competing in the annual burro races in Cerrillos on Saturday Over 70 pack burros took to historic streets of Cerrillos on Saturday — though some took the race more seriously than others a 7-year-old donkey with a salt-and-pepper coat appeared resistant to his attempt to establish rapport — much less run a six-mile race by his side Saturday morning wasn’t Gelfuso’s first time racing with Cochise in the Turquoise Trail Pack Burro Race He’s raced all four times the competition has been held in the small south of Santa Fe — which has grown more popular each year The local race is one of 14 across the Southwestern U.S sanctioned by the Western Pack Burro Association — beginning as a way to honor the heritage of mining towns like Cerrillos and to recognize the contributions of the most humble equine is an over 20-mile trek between two Colorado towns through a grueling mountain pass it offers six-mile and three-mile loops around the village But that doesn’t mean Cochise felt like racing Saturday — even with Gelfuso leaning down to whisper words of encouragement “ I was letting him know why he’s here and what we’re doing,” Gelfuso explained with less than an hour until the race’s start time which he learned about after he’d discovered burro racing on his own specifically for the donkey’s “strong will.” and so I take ’em on walks,” he said of his New York donkeys It was a common refrain heard from burro enjoyers who likened the pack animals’ nature closer to domestic house pets than horses And they’re super sweet and affectionate,” said Josh Messinger a volunteer with New Mexico Pack Burros and a burro racer with rescue donkey Cher “You pressure a horse to do what you want it to,” he said but also the history of a quiet town deeply linked with the pack animal “Some of the mining towns up in Colorado and Arizona and New Mexico — it’s gotten kind of quiet,” said Peter Lipscomb park manager of Cerrillos Hills State Park He had seen other mining towns’ burro races and “tested the temperature” of the idea by starting burro hikes — a quick hit with the community From 2018 to 2022 he worked with New Mexico Pack Burros to lay the groundwork for the event The race has a “multilayered appeal,” Lipscomb said — attracting cultural interest families looking for a weekend outing and even those who just “think burros are cute,” he said has been an event ever increasing in popularity with over 70 this year from around 20 for the inaugural race in 2022 is that visitors get to learn about the animals that “did the heavy lifting here during the mining time.” people who settled out here … quickly learned that burros and goats are the heartier choices for this type of environment like we have here in New Mexico,” he said noting the area’s hilly terrain is better suited for the “hearty little creatures.” It also brings life to towns like Cerrillos The race is locally organized by the New Mexico Pack Burros and the state park’s support group which hosted an “art in the park” market the same day to capitalize on Cerrillos’ big day This is this is most we get as far as crowds,” said Sachiko Umi whose gallery was located on the race’s first bend — a little art market of her own paintings just beyond the garden wall It was a good vantage point to watch the spectrum of racing burros standard and mammoth-sized — ranging in size from a large dog to a small horse though some were more carefree about the event than others After the torrent of initial burro runners — laser-focused and in lockstep with their humans as they whipped around the bend — came a cohort of more easygoing racers like a mini burro saddled with a wreath of sunflowers that paraded gingerly to cheers from roadside fans There were also burros who seemed entirely uninterested in participating to the finish line — offering words of rallying that had little effect “She oughta get extra points for that!” one onlooker yelled out at the scene finished in the top 10 of the three-mile race owing the last-minute lack of cooperation to a dog that left Dixie It’s a competitive result for a competitive racer Knight has also participated in the definitive pack burro race: a grueling mountain pass race in Colorado that she likened to the “Stanley Cup of burro racing.” She noted there are “not a ton of people who are she didn’t know she’d become an elite burro racer ‘What are you gonna do with them?’ ” she said regional and national water professionals will convene at the Roundhouse to address water issues facing the Colorado River Basin June 5-6 Santa Fe has long been recognized as a model for drought-prone cities nationwide Proactive urban planning coupled with an engaged community ready for action has resulted in Santa Fe leading the way for low gallons per capita per day usage This makes the city a natural host for the forward-thinking water conservation conference This proactive approach also contributed to significant recovery of local groundwater levels After the completion of the Buckman Direct Diversion Project in 2011 a considerable portion of the water supply was transferred to surface water from the Rio Grande This method transfers reliance during wetter periods to surface water which allows natural aquifers time to replenish Since the adoption of this conjunctive use management approach Enhanced science-backed monitoring tools help to track the ongoing health and resilience of aquifers and inform water management supply decisions Santa Fe’s success in driving residential water usage down is also due to the actions of community members Policy has long been driven by citizen feedback and input forms the basis for water conservation goals developed by the Water Conservation Committee Santa Fe residents are asked to score water conservation efforts across four categories—Education Those convening in Santa Fe for the summit include Deb Haaland, former secretary of the Interior, who will give a keynote address on June 5. Mary Ann Dickinson, director of Land and Water Policy at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, will paint a picture of what she envisions for the water industry in a keynote on June 6. The full agenda can be found on the Summit’s website: www.nextgenerationwatersummit.com free virtual access for all residents of the city of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County is offered at the Next Generation Water Summit additional activities are planned to engage both professionals and water-conscious residents A training on Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS)® for verifiers and water auditors will take place June 3-4 The summit will conclude with community workshops and tours on June 7 that include meet-and-greets with the city of Santa Fe’s Water Conservation Office and a workshop on selecting the correct trees for our changing climate visits San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church in Golden last week with her Seattle friends The church — one of the few structures still standing in the ghost town — was built in the 1830s to serve the booming gold rush site as a house of worship but the town steadily emptied out over the next 100 years after the mines dried up Soda jerk Kayden Bright works at Jezebel’s Soda Fountain and Gallery in Madrid last week Madrid was considered a ghost town in the 1960s and ’70s before it repopulated The Henderson Store in Golden on Wednesday About 17 people still live in “ghost town” Golden ‘Will any of these towns come back?’ ” said John Mulhouse but Madrid is an example of a town that actually did come back from being essentially a ghost town.” Mining ruins share the hillside with a modern residence in Golden “With the right kind of machinery placed on the .. Golden could produce several millions in gold and copper every year,” The New Mexican reported in 1902 The owners of the McKinley mine have great confidence that their property will be among the leading gold producers of the country.” It didn’t turn out that way "First there was myth; it sustained those who could not be filled by what they saw or touched These were the dreamers," reads an article published in The New Mexican in 1973 describing the laborers who lived in mining boomtowns like Golden "They built the towns which are now playthings of the wind." Cars fill parking spots in Madrid on Wednesday The New Mexican ran an article titled "Ghost Town Trail" with a graphic of a haunting-looking wagon and lists of curiosities shops and things to do in the Turqouise Trail corridor Mining ruins litter the hillside between Golden and Madrid on N.M its name recalling the days of prospectors and mines is considered the first gold rush boomtown west of the Mississippi After the gilded metal was discovered on the southwest side of the Ortiz Mountains in the late 1820s Golden was a place of fevered searching as equipment churned and prominent companies poured money into gold mines The striking San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church was built in the 1830s so the booming gold rush town — its name announcing its reason for being — would have a house of worship But the gold rush would only last for so long until around 1930 when it became a ghost town — a spot in western Santa Fe County between Madrid and Sandia Park on N.M once home to a host of rowdy saloons and a stock exchange but now lost to the wind New Mexico is known for its deserted towns nestled along boundless highways that have become attractions in the scenic state the Land of Enchantment boasts more than 400 ghost towns — many made up of little more than aging foundations and the equipment of abandoned mines But each one has a tale to tell when it comes to its specific demise a unique range of misfortune that brought it to its knees From Golden’s heyday in the late 19th and early 20th centuries little more than the church and the ghosts of roving prospectors remain in a town that once held 3,000 people at the turn of the century Once the site of the first gold mine west of the Mississippi River Golden is now home to about 17 people — a blink and you’ll miss it stop along the Turquoise Trail that connects Santa Fe and Albuquerque through the old mining towns The New Mexican has played a role in whetting the public’s appetite when it comes to promoting and framing ghost towns as alluring destinations particularly in the Turquoise Trail corridor It has also chronicled the rise and fall of some of these towns while penning articles about how the communities now offer cautionary tales about the state’s turbulent history A ghost town is broadly defined as a deserted city often containing substantial visible remaining buildings and infrastructure from when commerce and industry were vital part of this definition is the industry that led to the founding of the towns has moved on and with it most of the people who once lived there there are four key dynamics responsible for population loss and the dying off of industry in many of the communities within New Mexico that have become ghost towns these towns were where people mined turquoise “They all have very interesting stories to tell,” Mulhouse said and they loved visiting them and are sad to see them slipping away through socioeconomic forces Shifts in technology took a toll as well: Some of the now-abandoned towns are situated along railroads and were water stops back when steam engines needed water to run But with the advent of diesel in the 1950s with commerce suffering as the railroad workers fled One relatively nearby example of this type of ghost town — albeit one that still has a handful of residents — would be Duran Other towns were hopping when the storied Route 66 and other highways ceased to be relevant with the construction of the interstate system Then there were places that were settled under the Homestead Act of 1862 which granted 160 acres of public land to any adult citizen who paid a small filing fee prompting some people to venture out and farm in places like Taiban — now a ghost town in remote and rural De Baca County — out on the state’s eastern plains drove many homesteaders out of that region People’s thirst for these places is enduring as the curious take tours of the ruins and snap photographs which means a longing for a time that never existed encapsulating feelings of nostalgia and loss “I think we tend to romanticize the ruins,” Mulhouse said “I do think people are attracted to the aesthetics of abandonment and the idea that there is something resonant about loss and here is something that used to be thriving and now it’s gone.” too: I think I’m living in this place forever “Are my friends going to be my friends forever that’s kind of the lesson people get from ghost towns.” who penned more than 10 books on ghost towns in different regions and states including New Mexico’s Best Ghost Towns: A Practical Guide He taught popular courses at the University of Arizona on ghost towns and fashioned a career in writing out of his fascination with the subject Varney noted his books always had a “dos and don’ts” section in order to encourage his readers to respect the places they visit “People who live in ghost towns are very leery of people who come in with a spade “One of the simplest things to do is to read about something they are kind of flattered that you know so much about a place because you care about it Varney knows well the range of sights and sounds present across the varied ghost towns in New Mexico Thousands once lived in the Colfax County town its tidy and sprawling cemetery still a testament to this A minor league baseball team briefly played here But Dawson is a potent example of industry gone wrong: The town experienced two dramatic mining disasters the first in 1913 killing 250 men who arrived to work in the Stag Canyon mine that morning The Turquoise Trail is home to a couple of ghost towns that have seen revitalization and are viewed as interesting places to live not far from the population center of Santa Fe The New Mexican ran an article titled “Ghost Town Trail” with a graphic of a haunting-looking wagon and lists of curiosities “Some have kind of gone and come back again Madrid’s an example of a place that was almost a total ghost town at one point in the late ’60s and early ’70s The pictures are incredible where they show these mining houses that are all abandoned,” Mulhouse said ‘Will any of these towns come back?’ ” Mulhouse said 2 near Golden had a contract to sink the mine shaft 25 feet deeper in courting deeper gold reserves Golden could produce several millions in gold and copper every year,” The New Mexican reported then The owners of the McKinley mine have great confidence that their property will be among the leading gold producers of the country.” the newspaper wrote the Black Prince group of mines perched on the south slope of the Ortiz Mountains unearthing a “large amount” of “high grade ore” there “Experts claim that there is an unlimited amount of high grade ore to be found in these mountains,” The New Mexican reported Business leaders were keen on Golden and sounded off in the pages of this newspaper on this belief in its fortunes An 1886 story commences: “Golden’s boom continues to spread.” A 1917 headline blared: “Placer Fields of New Mexico better than California.” “First there was myth; it sustained those who could not be filled by what they saw or touched These were the dreamers,” reads an article published in The New Mexican in 1973 “They built the towns which are now playthings of the wind.” Family members listen to speeches at a Missing Murdered Indigenous People awareness rally in Santa Fe on Sunday Native Americans march to raise awareness about Missing Murdered Indigenous People on Sunday a member of the Navajo Nation who survived sex trafficking and became an advocate for other victims The FBI says it has about 4,300 open cases involving missing people deaths and abuse that disproportionately affects Indian Country Indigenous people across North America are calling this week for sustained responses to the violence in their communities they are pushing for better cooperation among law enforcement agencies to find missing people and solve homicides that are among about 4,300 open FBI cases this year Some parents say they will use Monday's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day to make sure children understand what's at stake Many young women are covering their mouths with bright red handprints vowing to speak for those who have been silenced Indigenous women are more than twice as likely to be victims of homicide than the national average carries this message when she rides her motorcycle from Wisconsin to rallies out West She plans to give her two granddaughters “the talk” as they grow older about what they statistically might encounter in their lives She will warn them that her father was killed and another relative was a victim of sex trafficking “I don’t want it to happen to anyone else.” Christina Castro of Taos Pueblo has a 12-year-old daughter Navajo Nation citizen Joylana Begay-Kroupa has a 10-year-old son They also have shared anguished reality checks hoping to protect their children and foster change “Indigenous people don’t have the luxury about not talking to our daughters about violence against girls. I’ve had to talk with my daughter since birth about bodily autonomy,” said Castro, who co-founded the advocacy organization 3 Sisters Collective in Santa Fe about the 2015 unresolved death of Dione Thomas And self-defense classes will be held soon at the collective and at the Phoenix Indian Center a social services hub for Indigenous people in Arizona's capital You automatically want to protect your nieces and your nephews and your children," said Begay-Kroupa we’ve seen this type of suffering occur over and over again.” She said she doesn't hold back information when speaking with her young son and we just don’t know where they’re at,” Begay-Kroupa said where’d they go and what happened to them.” a 15-year-old from the Gila River Indian Community who wore the red handprint Saturday said Native Americans need to speak up every day It's a message she understood when she too got “the talk.” “People need to be aware at a young age because it could happen to them," Ortega said " ‘The talk’ is an acknowledgment of how Native American women and children have often been targeted Indigenous men aren’t immune who joined an awareness walk Friday in Scottsdale was found dead months after going missing in Winslow “My passion now is to help those that can’t find their loved ones,” Paddock said Some tribes have invited federal teams to lead simulation exercises showing what to do if someone goes missing Fully implementing Indigenous Alerts as part of state Amber Alert systems will require more resources and coordination with the 574 federally recognized tribes Navajo Nation Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty said Tribal alerts only recently became eligible for federal funding and tribes had to lobby the Federal Communications Commission before Apple upgraded iPhones to accept them Pamela Foster, a Navajo woman, has been a strong advocate since the delayed response to the 2016 kidnapping and murder of her daughter, Ashlynne Mike. Several years later, 76% of the tribes responding to a survey said they were participating in state alerts but some state coordinators said they still didn't even have tribal contact information The Trump administration in April announced a surge of FBI resources to 10 field offices to help the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Missing and Murdered Unit and tribal police prepare cases for prosecution The 2023 “Not One More” recommendations commissioned by Congress no longer appears on the Justice Department website, but still can be seen at the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland noted over 84% of Native American men and women experience violence in their lifetimes rewritten or redistributed without permission Lori Potter Kimball stands inside her apartment last week at the former Stage Coach Motor Inn on Cerrillos Road Kimball moved to New Mexico in 2004 and lived in a dozen different homes over the years She was on the waiting list for the Stage Coach Apartments for four years before a unit opened up ABOVE: Lori Potter Kimball works on a drawing last week in the living room of her unit at the Stage Coach Apartments on Cerrillos Road Kimball was an animator before she found her calling as a caregiver RIGHT: The apartments are a longtime motel converted to low-income housing The Stage Coach Apartments on Cerrillos Road The longtime motel has been converted to low-income housing executive director of the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority at La Resolana Senior Apartments in Santa Fe last week An early rendering of the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority's Ocate Apartments which it plans to build with the help of a $16.2 million low-income housing tax credit approved by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority Country Club Apartments on Airport Road has become so old that the property is going to need “a complete remodel down to the studs," said Ed Romero director of the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority The Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority has ownership stake in about 1,400 units with projects in the pipeline to keep housing affordable Standing near a neon sign that shines at night along a central stretch of Cerrillos Road Lori Potter Kimball and Robert Wagner reflected on the long journeys that led them to an apartment complex they call home Kimball was on a waiting list for about four years before a spot came open at the Stage Coach Apartments in Santa Fe a converted former motel that now serves as quiet and comfortable housing was homeless and trekked to Santa Fe from Nashville if not for these apartments and the assistance he receives as a veteran through a federal housing aid program long the home of the Stage Coach Motor Inn is one of a limited number of housing options for low-income Santa Feans converted into affordable apartments about a decade ago It’s featured among the growing list of properties in the portfolio of the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority a more than 60-year-old independent nonprofit that plays a critical role in trying to address a housing affordability crisis that continues to plague the city Increasing its inventory in recent decades — with new projects in the pipeline to preserve the affordable housing stock for low-income residents — the nonprofit is one of just a few housing authorities in New Mexico that remain active in development activities He believes his organization is “leaner and meaner and more directed than a typical city housing authority might be.” “Santa Fe is a tough town right now” when it comes to rising rent prices and his organization intends to “ensure that there is affordable housing.” and also is tasked with administering federal Housing Choice aid vouchers — previously known as Section 8 vouchers — through U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development Founded in 1962 as a division of the city of Santa Fe before breaking off in 1989 the publicly funded organization is involved with about 15 properties in the region In its pipeline are a series of projects — including construction of the new 60-unit Ocate Apartments on the city’s south side and the rehabilitation and expansion of Country Club Apartments on Airport Road The authority partners with other entities to help build or remodel affordable housing using the federal government’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program It also seeks to control properties that offer affordable housing so those units remain in that status The housing authority received nearly $29 million in tax credits in May from the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority including $12.4 million for the renovation of Country Club Apartments Romero said the housing authority hopes to start construction on Ocate Apartments soon so units can be leased by the end of 2026 The organization recently purchased for $2.75 million the “general partnership” of three Santa Fe affordable housing apartment complexes with a combined 205 units The authority will be the general partner in these agreements while the limited partners will receive tax credits The partnerships for the 83-unit Soleras Station off Rail Runner Road the 62-unit Village Sage across from Capital High School and the 60-unit Stage Coach Apartments were purchased by the housing authority late last year “What we’ve done is we’ve taken over the responsibility to manage these properties for the rest of their [land use restriction agreements] period in accordance with the limited partnership so that our limited partner can continue to receive their tax credits,” Romero said adding the goal is to keep affordable units “affordable forever.” The organization is trying to find a way to bring 44 acres it owns off Rufina Street into play over the next two years noting part of it falls within the bounds of Agua Fría village a state-designated traditional historic community “Their zoning requirements are pretty tight — three units to an acre,” Romero said so that side street probably won’t develop a lot of affordable housing It might just turn into a homeownership kind of place The portion of the 44-acre property on the other side of the street is within city limits and the organization wants to do something bigger there we just hope for better economic days so we can pull that project off,” he said While the housing authority also administers federal vouchers — about $9 million worth in 2024 — the waitlist for the program has closed; inflation and rising rent costs have raised concerns there will not be enough HUD money to cover costs for those already in the program “We’re concerned that we are not going to have enough subsidy to get through this year and we don’t know what’s going to happen next year,” Romero said of the vouchers we can’t house anybody for the foreseeable future in the voucher program.” It is easy to rattle off the ominous statistics for many living in the City Different or looking to move here: The average home price has risen by almost 70% since 2018 — with a median price of $570,000 in the first quarter of 2025 according to the Santa Fe Association of Realtors The website RentCafe reported the city’s average monthly rent cost is $1,785 Accessing federal aid to help cover rent payments isn’t easy live in an unsubsidized unit at the Country Club Apartments Although many who live in the complex receive federal housing vouchers Eddie Padilla said he does not qualify for the aid He works two jobs — as a meat cutter and a caregiver — and still struggles to cover his rent and other costs of living in the city where he grew up but being able to pay $2,500 for two bedrooms — I can’t do that,” Padilla said and I had to move away because rent [was up to] $2,000 I’m going to be in Albuquerque,” Padilla said Jessica Padilla agreed — and believes it’s the longtime residents of Santa Fe families who have lived in the city for generations “The people who have been here for so long we can’t live here anymore because of it,” she said adding it seems a higher volume of people are moving into the city from outside the state “What’s happening with that is they are pushing all of us out,” her husband added “We’re already considering moving to another town because we can’t afford to live here anymore,” he said you don’t qualify; you make too much money.’ ” with its old neon “Stage Coach Motor Inn” sign on Cerrillos Road A framed poster for the 1971 cult classic Two-Lane Blacktop a road movie starring James Taylor that was filmed on Cerrillos Road Hayes moved back to Santa Fe from Pecos in 2021 when her rental situation there fell through She feared she would have to sleep in her car because of the high housing costs but someone suggested she call the Stage Coach Apartments “It’s affordable for me,” Hayes said of the complex because I know I pay more than some people but less than others.” “There’s so little in the way of housing that’s affordable It’s just a really expensive place to live if you’re an ordinary person with an ordinary job.” feels she has one of the best units at Stage Coach but she knows well how daunting the waitlists can be to get into such places she lived with a woman she had been caring for Kimball had another client who lived at the Stage Coach with a housing voucher Kimball waited nearly four years for a unit “People come in here and they stay,” she said adding she “never gave up” during those years of waiting for this beautiful place,” Kimball said of her two-room unit Developers have been eying the historic St Catherine Indian School campus for years as a complicated property with potential The model is one in which housing authorities have converted public housing stock to project-based rentals which broke off from city government in 1989 and established itself as a nonprofit plays a massive role in local affordable and public housing It has ownership stake in about 1,400 affordable housing units in New Mexico and administers about 1,000 federal housing vouchers for low-income tenants in the city Here are a few of the projects in the housing authority’s pipeline: The construction of the new 60-unit Ocate apartments on the city’s south side a $22.7 million project of which $14.2 million will come in tax credits Construction is expected to begin around November and apartments could be leased out toward the end of 2026 A renovation and expansion project at Country Club Apartments onAirport Road which has seen just one remodel in the last 20 years The initiative has a price tag of $22.5 million the expansion project will add 22 tax-credit units to the existing facility following are affordable housing properties the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority has an ownership stake in to ensure the units remain affordable housing Some of these properties are managed by the housing authority as well 120 units overall; 24 units on Cerro Gordo 42 at Hopewell/Mann and 24 on Senda del Valle The Santa Fe County Housing Authority was created in November 1972 According to an email from county spokesperson Olivia Romo last month it remains one of the largest landlords in Santa Fe managing 198 public housing units and 307 housing choice vouchers with its various voucher programs The housing units the authority manages are spread out across three neighborhoods: the Valle Vista Housing Neighborhood is off N.M while the Valle de Esperanza Housing Neighborhood is in Santa Cruz The Santa Fe Community Housing Trust is a non-profit community development organization that assists residents of northern New Mexico to gain access to affordable housing Its five main activities: homebuyer education and counseling multifamily development and operation and land development Habitat for Humanity builds new homes and sells them at below-market prices to program participants via zero-interest loans while requiring them to contribute “sweat equity” during construction serving the lowest-income bracket of homebuyers in Santa Fe Habitat typically has built six or seven homes a year here The group broke ground earlier this year on its first home since March 2024 The Wise Fool cast performs during a variety show fundraiser in November The group moved out of its studio in January aided by other organizations that offered to help store its equipment Eliza Darling and Arin “Sparrow” Dineen perform during a dress rehearsal at Wise Fool New Mexico in April 2024 for their show Beyond The Binary Sasha Chyorny and Bodhi Gilmore practice riding unicycles in March 2024 during Wise Fool’s spring break camp Mykelle Walton with Wise Fool performs in November during Smooth Moves a variety and cabaret show fundraiser at Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery soars around the stage on the trapeze during a dress rehearsal for the Wise Fool New Mexico production of Beyond The Binary last year The performing arts group was thrown into jeopardy from an eviction notice last year but it isn't taking down the circus tent quite yet Reports of the circus’s death are greatly exaggerated the local performing arts nonprofit that looked to be on the verge of collapse last year after an unexpected eviction notice threatened to end its 27-year legacy The organization doesn’t have a new home yet But thanks to a bloom of community support and a transition to a “traveling circus model,” it has some hope In lieu of a permanent location to set up its complex equipment for training and performances Wise Fool has looked outside the tent to continue its work — fortifying its after-school finding new community partners like The Mountain Center and broadening its visibility with public events like the recent World Circus Day at the Railyard “It’s been really sweet to see the community step up for us we wanna help — we wanna help Wise Fool thrive,’ ” said Carey Cramer Cramer described two-way outreach that’s keeping the nonprofit afloat: While Wise Fool has been reaching out to community partners The organization’s trouble started in spring of 2024 when it was served an eviction notice for its longtime space in the Siler-Rufina neighborhood the nonprofit’s landlord insisted it leave within a year That was a “seemingly impossible task,” Wise Fool wrote in a November newsletter after months of searching for a solution failed The group’s elaborate circus performances call for a space with high ceilings and complex rigging capabilities It’s last move in 2015 took more than two years of careful planning Wise Fool moved out of its studio in January stage materials and other general circus widgets “people already had thought we had closed.” Class attendance numbers had been dwindling and parents believed the nonprofit was in its death throes ‘We gotta do some serious damage control,’ ” Cramer recalled thinking The group’s November update cited low financial support staffing shortages and no leads for a new spot there is a “limited seed fund” to rent a new space but a bigger barrier is the cost of installing and retrofitting the circus components has seen youth programs “thrive,” with the opening of new staff positions and kids who are “stoked” to learn circus arts The transition hasn’t come without drawbacks Adult programs — primarily aerial classes such as trapeze and lyra a hoop used in aerial acrobatics — more heavily depend on a dedicated space and have suffered with the traveling model in addition to doing about “pretty much every job” at the organization — coaching administration and managing the Circus Comes to School program But Wise Fool isn’t just a job for Cramer — it’s the reason they came to Santa Fe attended the National Circus School of Montreal and moved to Seattle where they learned about the Santa Fe nonprofit you gotta check out [Wise Fool New Mexico],” Cramer was told I was kind of going on this wild adventure where I lived outta my car and didn’t know where I was gonna end up,” they said Cramer applied for a job with the organization and so here we are eight years later,” they said “Me and Wise Fool have both grown together.” Asked if the traveling model has prompted any big new thinking for the group we’re just trying to really get the thing we do back to as many people in our community as we can.” The Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority plans to seek a zoning change for the historic St Catherine Indian School property to make it more enticing to a commercial developer Catherine Indian School include a small cemetery where clergy were buried and murals created by some of the students The Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority acquired the former St Catherine Indian School property in 2016 as a way to protect the historic campus until a financially sustainable way of maintaining the site could be found for decades served as a private Catholic boarding school — not just for Indigenous children but also for other students from across Northern New Mexico developers have considered its potential; the campus is nestled in a prime location in northeastern Santa Fe Rosario Cemetery and the Santa Fe National Cemetery located in one of the city’s historic districts an independent nonprofit focused on providing affordable housing for low-income residents has owned and maintained the site since 2016 — an expensive endeavor in itself But Executive Director Ed Romero acknowledges the property isn’t appropriate for low-income housing making the campus more attractive for commercial developers “The game plan is to give it zoning that will enable developers to come in and do their project ‘They must save the historic buildings that are on the site now,’ ” Romero said He expects to move forward in the fall with a request to the city of Santa Fe to rezone the property to a C-2 designation The dozens of permitted uses in the city under C-2 zoning range from bookshops to museums to neighborhood community centers and business centers noted any project there would be a very complicated affair for a developer “I’d love to see something go on that property It would be a great place for housing,” Lindell said it’s been an uphill battle at times keeping unsheltered people out of there.” Purchased by the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority for around $1.7 million in 2016 the old boarding school campus was never viewed as a viable site to build affordable housing officials said they thought they had a responsibility to protect the historic property and wanted to keep it safe until a financially sustainable use could be found The housing authority would hope to make a “modest” profit money that would then be put back into its local affordable housing initiatives “The problem you have is you cannot build an affordable property that rents at $1,000 a month [a unit] when you’re going to pay perhaps $20 million to $30 million to rehab eight old buildings that are going to provide you maybe 20 units,” Romero said The property is 17 acres with more than a dozen buildings noting no developer is going to be able to raze the buildings “It’s a historical need” to preserve the property if we didn’t step up when we made this decision When the housing authority bought the property it was in talks with a San Diego firm that wanted to build housing on the site They signed a memorandum of understanding contingent on the firm securing tax credits for the property Rezoning the property would make it more enticing for a developer or wants to buy this property today and go through a zoning process with the city [in] which you could be in another $300,000 to $400,000 and not get approval to move forward,” he said St. Catherine Indian School was established in 1886 as St. Catherine’s Industrial Indian School for Boys and operated as a private boarding school for more than 100 years before closing in 1998 because of a lack of funds a wealthy heiress who took religious orders and became a nun She was later the second American canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church Drexel founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Since its closure, the campus has remained empty except for a handful of special projects, such as being used as a location to film the movie Cliffs of Freedom several years ago an architectural design professional and an enrolled member of Navajo Nation has a vivid memory of being part of a crowd at a basketball game at St “Most of my family matriculated and found a lot of kinship with folks from other communities and those ties remain very strong as a result of that lived experience,” Yepa said “… I would love to see its future embody some of that history.” The challenges of developing the property doesn’t mean people haven’t shown interest Would-be buyers — or perhaps dreamers — run the gamut someone who wanted to turn the property into “the Harvard of the Southwest” expressed interest So did someone claiming to be a member of the Walton family One person proposed the idea of building an orphanage and getting the U.S Army Corps of Engineers to renovate the campus “I know there are quite a few organizations who would be perfectly at home there,” said Yepa who serves on the city’s Community Development Commission Santa Fe is a challenging market to navigate Construction work continues on Guadalupe Street near Alameda Street last week Many businesses in the area report visitors being down since construction began in September 2023 but the city says the project has faced delays caused by issues with storm drains and finding leaks in several utility lines People gather on Canyon Road in August during the Canyon Road Summer Walk with merchants along the Guadalupe Street corridor to reinforce the lines of communication as the most disruptive phase of the work approaches Santa Fe officials are planning a meeting next month with merchants from the Guadalupe Street corridor a gathering they hope will improve communication as a crucial phase of a lengthy street improvement project approaches City Economic Development Director Johanna Nelson said the May 13 meeting will include officials from the Public Works Department and representatives of the contractor working on the $11 million project The gathering is intended to provide project updates to increasingly frustrated shop and restaurant owners many who have seen business decline during the roadwork Nelson said she and her staff also see it as a first step in a larger initiative to work more closely with neighborhoods and business districts across Santa Fe Her office aims to develop a template for how to bring visitors to a district — even as it is undergoing a disruptive project “How can we activate a space even when it’s under construction?” Nelson said Public Works Department project manager Kody Keelin said last week he hopes the Guadalupe Street construction can be completed by the end of July But he cautioned the most impactful portion of the project will be initiated in the weeks ahead which is why officials want to make sure businesses know where to turn for reliable information adding city staff would be collecting email addresses from those attending the meeting so they can communicate with merchants and provide updates The meeting tentatively is planned for 5:30 p.m May 13 in the cafeteria at the New Mexico School for the Arts The extensive streetscape project will add accessible sidewalks and bicycle lanes But many business owners and managers in the district have complained about the effect of the work on accessibility to their establishments especially as the project threatens to disrupt another summer tourism season Nelson’s office plans to work with representatives of Canyon Road Productions which organizes the summer art walks on the gallery-lined street “They’ve got a model and an approach to bringing patrons to a business area “We’re working with them to apply that model elsewhere.” the founder and organizer of the Canyon Road Summer Walks series said it remains to be seen whether her group’s model is transferable to other locations But she said she believes Guadalupe Street has enormous potential to serve as a community gathering spot during special events it has history on its side: It follows the path of the Camino Real to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a pilgrimage tradition that stretches back hundreds of years Fine said the success of Canyon Road Summer Walks has been contingent on the presence of three elements — live music When those are presented on a street that has been closed to traffic and visitors are free to stroll from shop to shop with no particular destination in mind “There’s something about walking that’s very different from being invited to an event that’s divided into a VIP section [and a general admission section] or a market where you’re told to buy something,” she said Fine said the neighborhood just west of the church is filled with old murals something that would serve as an attraction for visitors and contribute significantly to the storytelling aspect of a special event Another factor crucial for success is creating a shared sense of purpose among the merchants in the area “It’s all about really connecting the businesses to each other,” she said noting she does not believe that has existed along the street Fine said its also important to make the business district itself an integral part of the neighborhood that surrounds it “Really connecting our own community to neighborhoods is something I’m seeking to do,” she said Nelson said the city won’t simply try to duplicate what Canyon Road Productions has done recognizing various parts of the city have different personalities and realities “Is it going to be exactly like the Canyon Road approach But the organization likely has some valuable insights into creating high-quality public events that the city can make good use of The city has some other ideas in mind for driving traffic to the Guadalupe Street corridor this spring as the construction continues Sitting atop that list is the notion of possibly creating a music video to promote the area and provide information about how to navigate traffic disruptions Nelson said the idea was inspired by a video commissioned by officials in San Diego during a significant construction project there The video would be shared extensively on social media and likely would feature music by a local band What: A meeting between city of Santa Fe officials and merchants along Guadalupe Street who have endured a massive streetscape overhaul When: The meeting tentatively is planned for 5:30 p.m Where: The cafeteria at the New Mexico School for the Arts Santa Fe officials tentatively have planned a meeting next month to establish better communication with merchants in the Guadalupe Street district many of whom say their business has declined amid an ongoing $11 million streetscape overhaul Staff also see it as perhaps the first step in a larger initiative to work more closely with neighborhoods and business districts across Santa Fe While the meeting is aimed at ensuring business owners can receive reliable project updates the city also hopes to develop a template for how to bring visitors to a district — even as it is undergoing a disruptive project The city Economic Development Office plans to work with representatives of Canyon Road Productions to learn how to create successful events focused on foot traffic Santa Fe police found cause to charge a city driver with careless driving but he wasn't charged 'since the crash occurred on private property,' a report says A recent fatal crash involving a Santa Fe city bus driver appears to point to a loophole in New Mexico’s statutes and raises a question: Is it possible for a driver to kill someone without being cited for even a traffic violation if the collision doesn’t occur on a roadway according to Santa Fe police and a local attorney “What’s surprising is that it does seem like something fell between the cracks these have been the laws for a long time,” attorney John Day said one day in late March when he struck and killed 75-year-old Glen Smith who was sitting on a bus stop bench outside the Santa Fe Place mall Armijo told police he had meant to put the car in reverse and instead of pressing down on the brakes — as he meant to do — he put his foot on the gas pedal twice The Civic jumped over a curb and onto a median and struck the bench where Smith was sitting a longtime appraiser at Stephen’s A Consignment Gallery Reports from the Santa Fe police investigation into the crash indicate officers found cause to charge Armijo with careless driving but he wasn’t charged “since the crash occurred on private property.” Day said he agreed with the investigators’ conclusions after reviewing the relevant state statutes The driver doesn’t appear to have shown signs of driving “recklessly wantonly or willfully,” which is the standard for “criminal negligence” a prosecutor would need to pursue a case of involuntary manslaughter the case likely boiled down to a possible charge of either careless driving or reckless driving — two charges with different legal standards for prosecution — Day said While “reckless driving” could occur on private property the statute for careless driving includes language stating an incident must occur “on highways” for a driver to be charged and past rulings have held the charge does not apply to driving that takes place in a parking lot Santa Fe attorney Tom Clark highlighted the differences between careless driving and reckless driving “You can’t be charged for vehicular homicide just for driving in a careless manner,” Clark said “A lot of vehicular homicide cases deal with the question of ‘carelessness’ versus ‘recklessness,’ which is either driving under the influence or speeding plus other things like running stop signs or something like that.” Clark emphasized the words “willful or wanton” in the state statute on reckless driving — which involves driving “carelessly and heedlessly in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others.” He noted it is “a pretty high standard.” Police said they didn’t file a charge of careless driving against Armijo because the incident took place on private property reasoning the bus stop was privately owned by the owners of Santa Fe Place The city has been granted “conditional access privileges” to the property Day said that appears to be in accordance with the law including the provision requiring careless driving to take place “on highways.” The owners of the mall and its parking lot — New York-based Kohan Retail Investment Group — did not respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment State lawmakers who are concerned about careless drivers falling through that loophole — by driving carelessly in parking lots — might take a look at the language in the statute For police to enforce traffic laws in the mall parking lot the mall’s owners would likely need to provide written permission and the city would need to pass an ordinance saying as much said in a recent interview the fatal crash in Santa Fe was “not the first time” she has heard of the location of a crash — on private property — being the distinguishing factor as to whether or not certain traffic laws can be enforced Chandler said she would like to hear from law enforcement about how often the private property question poses an impediment to enforcing traffic laws “It’s worth taking a look at because there could be other situations and obviously this one is horrifically tragic,” she said ‘out for blood,’ but it’s that there is no accountability mechanism at this point from what I’m interpreting the police to be telling us.” Santa Fe police Deputy Chief Ben Valdez noted a bill was proposed in the recent legislative session that would have allowed officers to charge a driver with a careless driving offense if an incident on private property results in “great bodily injury” or death Valdez spoke in support of the bill on behalf of the department and I am hopeful it will have an opportunity to be considered in a future legislative session,” Valdez said Several other careless driving charges have been filed in Santa Fe County so far this year a man was charged by a New Mexico State Police officer for driving 55 mph on Interstate 25 without having his emergency lights on a man was charged by a Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputy in Nambé for striking a stopped car when he apparently made too wide of a turn you’ve just got to have criminal negligence or this recklessness — this willful disregard acknowledging the Armijo case didn’t appear to meet the standard for reckless driving it may just be something that is relegated to the civil courts — like if the estate of this poor guy wanted to sue the city.” A wrongful death lawsuit would likely proceed the same way with or without a traffic or criminal citation based on the facts presented by the police investigation While a criminal case would need to prove “guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” a potential civil case would need to prove negligence based only on “a preponderance of the evidence,” he noted Day criticized the Santa Fe Police Department’s initial finding of “no driver error” on Armijo’s part which appeared in a crash report released in the weeks after the incident He called it an “absurd” finding and said it “raised questions about the independence of the investigation.” “If they claim that the investigation shows there’s no criminal charge you might want an outside agency investigating something like that Valdez pointed to past statements about the crash report in which he said the department “filed and made public the initial crash investigation for this incident prematurely,” adding “the investigation remains active and the forwarding of the report should have been done once complete.” A report disclosed by the agency states the case was closed in April but Valdez said the department is “still evaluating all avenues to determine if the officer can lawfully charge or issue a citation.” Police said a misdemeanor charge of "careless driving" could not be filed for an incident on private property was a fixture in Santa Fe's arts and antiques worlds before he was struck and killed by a city worker last week The view from Pueblo Bonito Overlook Trail at Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwest New Mexico in 2019 the people of Picuris Pueblo understood their connection to the Chaco ancestors Whether proving a relationship will give Picuris the seat at the table it deserves this scientific collaboration has important implications traditional people pass down history and cultural practices — but such tales aren’t always believed in the wider world By dismissing oral traditions as superstition or fable the world loses an opportunity to increase knowledge Its leaders wanted the pueblo’s roots at distant Chaco Canyon acknowledged the people of Picuris understood their connection to the Chaco ancestors Picuris has not been included in discussions of how best to protect the Chaco site which apparently was abandoned around 1150 C.E That’s when construction of new buildings slowed and occupants began moving away; before it had been a gathering place of importance in the region a site of religious and cultural ceremonies and a place to exchange goods and knowledge Modern Natives — including the Diné and several Pueblos — trace their lineage to the people who migrated away from Chaco a Tiwa pueblo tucked away in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of Northern New Mexico giving Picuris little say in efforts to safeguard the site is ripe for plunder by interests seeking to extract minerals and oil with little regard for artifacts Leaders of the pueblo decided to use modern science to prove their point They reached out to scientists and asked them to use the DNA of living and ancient Picuris residents and analyze potential connections to ancient Chacoans through DNA comparisons a genomic analysis connects a federally recognized tribe to their ancestors Results were reported in Nature and discussed at a news conference last week the all-knowing Western scientists came to places like New Mexico and dug up burial sites stole artifacts and otherwise tried to impose their theories on people living here Tribes have had to fight to reclaim sacred objects from museums who as governor helped start the collaboration and now serves as lieutenant governor believed in the power of science to reinforce Picuris oral history an archaeologist at Southern Methodist University who had worked with the Picuris for more than 30 years Adler’s possible solution: genomic analysis that compared modern and ancient Picuris people with those who had lived at Chaco Canyon the tribal council had to agree — understanding that the research could end up finding no link to Chaco Canyon The tribe could have stopped the project at any point Trust and respect were key to completing a project involving scientists from across the world This collaborative approach should be a model for future research projects The process showed how society can increase knowledge of the past while at the same time respect the sovereignty of a tribal nation At the center of this discussion is the future of Chaco Canyon The Navajo Nation sued in January to remove an approximately 10-mile buffer zone around Chaco Canyon National Historical Park The zone was established by the Department of the Interior in 2023 a federal court ruled that Acoma Pueblo and Laguna Pueblo could intervene in the lawsuit; these Pueblo tribes want to maintain protections Will Picuris representatives be allowed to participate in the lawsuit given their DNA is so closely linked to Chaco Canyon science has revealed the reliability of the tribe’s oral history The voices of the Picuris people are being heard Home Building: Celebrating National Remodeling Month with Winners from Santa Fe’s Remodelers Show Although this past March was when the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association (SFAHBA) held its annual Home and Garden Expo + Remodelers Showcase as deemed by the National Association of Home Builders also just happens to be National Home Remodeling Month felt more than right to dedicate this month’s Building column to the show’s “contest” (of sorts) in which builders from all around the City Different submitted remodeling projects they’d completed over the past year And as affordable and available housing continues to be an issue as opposed to buying or building a new home has become more and more au courant by the second I thought it’d be nice to celebrate the creativity and craftsmanship of this year’s winners “At its core,” says SFAHBA Executive Director Miles Conway “our annual Remodelers Show is designed to inspire Santa Feans to be homeowners who aren’t afraid to dream and ask for enhancements to our living spaces Our remodel show is meant to help our friends and neighbors feel a sense of confidence that given careful design and financial planning we can make major or minor renovations to our homes that meet these dreams of homeownership.” According to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies remodeling market soared above $600 billion in the wake of the pandemic and remains 50% above pre-pandemic levels.” The JCHS also stated that two of the biggest drivers for remodeling are the fact that “climate change necessitates improvement spending and drives up insurance premiums” and the country’s housing stock is “older than ever and substandard conditions must be addressed.” “We’re certainly having a big moment in the remodeling and renovation industry,” adds Conway who cites an NAHB forecast saying that builders are entering a “super-cycle” for remodeling “a 5% increase in residential remodeling activity for 2025 followed by more modest gains in 2026.” In addition to upgrading that old housing stock it’s also a result of the homeowners opting to invest in renovations rather than relocating there’s a rising awareness of aging-in-place “Even if we look to what is happening in Washington D.C.,” concludes Conway “the volatility in financial markets and high mortgage interest rates make the prospects for investing in our current homes more attractive than ever.” Below are comments from some of the winners—and/or their clients—at this year’s remodeling show Best Whole Home Renovation & People’s Choice Award to win the award that not only spoke to “Whole House Excellence in Remodeling,” I was thrilled to see that “Most Dramatic Transformation” was included with the award Though this residence is no longer the traditional Santa Fe Style structure built in the early 1980s it still contains some of the original passive solar concepts To meet the owner’s goal of expanding the use of solar power the concept of utilizing an angled roof line was born Finding the ideal slope to accommodate new solar panels transformed the former flat-roofed structure into a modern design that bridges the remaining portions of traditional Santa Fe Style architecture with an interesting modern/contemporary hybrid This unique aging-in-place project concept for Jeanne DiLoreto began 15 years ago Initially hired to design the proposed reconstruction of her longtime home It has been and remains an honor for me to work with DiLoreto as this project has been a true labor of love for her over all these years She has meticulously thought about and planned each piece while giving me the design freedom to create a unique home the home is meeting the goal of aging-in-place–a unique but growing concept improving her quality of life by allowing her to garden to her heart’s content in an extraordinarily beautiful setting and giving her an important social connection with friends and neighbors through her garden This unique project has met her aging-in-place goals all the while utilizing many “artists” to create the contemporary vision she and I have shared from the beginning                               Lisa Martinez Grand Award for Excellence in Remodeling & Best Primary Suite Remodel Our clients wanted to take their 70s-style primary suite and turn it into a generous sanctuary Incorporating high clerestory windows gave it a lofty sensibility By incorporating a library with ample space for the owners’ book collection and desks for both cozy and comfortable while also creating an extension of the primary suite sanctuary The new bath is wide open to the southwest so it can feel like you are bathing in the privacy of the garden The new generous portal of the primary bedroom allows the owners to sip their morning coffee alfresco And by converting a portal into a glass-filled dining room allowing us to create space for a dinner party while removing that dubbing function from the living room and leaving that space available for living DMC’s intentional transformation of this client’s beloved home became more than just a project for our entire team While the kitchen was certainly in need of updates the hearts of our clients spoke louder than the sagging cabinetry and worn appliances Our clients dreamed of a kitchen that provided this former chef with the space needed to prepare meals for his family and a dining space worthy of the big moments DMC loved every second of design development working hand in hand with our clients to truly hear their needs From custom-drawer pullouts to a special glass cabinet (for showcasing precious family heirlooms) to a built-in shelf (for housing dozens of well-loved cookbooks)—we loved creating thoughtful solutions The teamwork involved in this kitchen remodel was exceptional The seamless communication between DMC’s project managers expert subcontractors and artisan craftsmen made the project run smoothly and efficiently We loved the collaborative spirit and shared dedication to quality that contributed to the overall success of this kitchen renovation Award for Outdoor Living & Landscape Design We feel honored to have worked on another project with a client who truly believes that a home can hold many lives—evolving through time This remodel allowed us to creatively interpret a new era for the property and its owners One of our favorite phases was uncovering the potential in what already existed—adapting the mood and flow to reflect a new vision The most transformative move was simplifying the tall tiled columns with a unified stucco finish creating a sense of calm that connects the interior to the landscape the home sits more gently in its surroundings                            Solange Serquis Our greatest joys in doing this project were threefold we had the opportunity to work with Solange Serquis’ wonderful team for the second time in rehabilitating a minimally finished new construction landscape we so enjoy the process of bringing out the most a property offers we love the life we spend within our outdoor spaces or just the two of us with a glass of wine gathered at one of the fire features life in Santa Fe must be spent in nature as much as possible Solange’s design makes that such an integral part of our lives                          Cindy and Bo Sibley Best “Other than Whole House” Renovation Award We love this project because the house resides on the Chama River which physically is special because of its prominent landscape The biggest indulgence was making structural openings and relocating the dining room onto the former porch Doing this created a beautiful experience where the natural environment is felt at the dinner table with the intimacy of eagles flying over the river and a herd of elk walking along the river’s edge The house is an explosion of energy—tied to its magical setting with views of nature that function as artwork                                   Mike Jørgensen We love that a Santa Fe home which had sat empty on the market for years finally found a new life through our wonderful clients We also love that these clients trusted us enough to undergo a second whole-house remodel after selling their award-winning remodel on Don Gaspar There were solutions to the updating of the bathrooms and kitchens that did not necessitate enlarging the home yet created a very new experience of the entire house it was especially pleasing that the judges phrased their recognition of our work as taking this home from “small bright and beautiful.” That was our goal in this contest entry: to take the home’s cramped outdated primary bathroom and bring it into the modern world of luxurious                                 Keith Gorges Saguna Severson graduated with a BA in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, College of Environmental Design. After going off to study architecture in Japan, she moved to Santa Fe and has never looked back. Working first for Santa Fe architects, she then went for an MA in Counseling Psychology, and is now the Marketing Director at Tierra Concepts. She can be reached at: saguna@tierraconceptssantafe.com Michelle Lujan Grisham and Bryan Cranston discuss a new anti-littering campaign starring the Breaking Bad actor at the governor's mansion in October A screenshot from "Breaking Bad Habits," a state anti-littering ad campaign featuring Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston in his old Walter White character and Jamie Cassutt greet each other before a trash cleanup event last month on Cerrillos Road It was the first of several collaborations with Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham’s “Breaking Bad Habits” initiative Did a $3.6 million anti-littering campaign pay off The Lujan Grisham administration reports 'encouraging engagement metrics.' With New Mexicans’ penchant for littering on roadways and other public places Whether it’s a cigarette butt or a fast food wrapper litter is an ongoing — and ugly — problem across the state Michelle Lujan Grisham says it is seeing “encouraging engagement metrics” as a result of what has grown into a $3.6 million anti-littering campaign featuring Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston whose portrayal of chemistry teacher-turned-drug kingpin Walter White earned him accolades and a loyal fan base in New Mexico Dubbed “Breaking Bad Habits,” the campaign is part of a larger effort by the governor to clean up what is arguably one of the most scenic states in the Southwest who picks up trash from public places even when no one is looking has made beautifying New Mexico one of her priorities in her second and final term in office we’re going to make sure that it stays that way,” Lujan Grisham said when she unveiled the campaign during a screening at Santa Fe’s Jean Cocteau Cinema in October from bus wraps and billboards to commercials on TV and various social media platforms accounts for the bulk of the highly visible campaign The campaign started with a total budget of $3 million but an additional $640,000 was spent on more media buys Invoices and other documents obtained under a public records request show a $20,000 contract “furnishing the services of Bryan Cranston.” During a meet-and-greet with Cranston at the governor’s mansion Cranston said he volunteered to appear in the campaign but explained “must be paid through [his] union” whenever he’s on camera Cranston said he had donated the money to two “New Mexico-centric charities.” The documents show Somos Unidos Foundation a soccer and health-focused charity affiliated with the New Mexico United soccer team and Albuquerque’s Roadrunner Food Bank each received $10,000 in Cranston’s honor said the anti-littering message is resonating “The Breaking Bad Habits campaign shows encouraging engagement metrics with over 100 cleanup events submitted to [the campaign’s] online calendar in 2025,” she said in a statement “April alone saw 17 events resulting in 8,002 bags of trash collected by 429 volunteers across 1,212 volunteer hours demonstrating positive momentum through widespread participation in cleanup efforts statewide.” a spokesperson for the New Mexico Tourism Department agreed the state has seen encouraging engagement with the campaign related directly to litter cleanup efforts He expects to see more cleanup activity in warmer months “A big part of this campaign is to inspire New Mexicans to feel a stronger sense of pride of place and change behavior so people would stop littering,” Johnson wrote in an email “This campaign launched in October so while it may take some time to see how that behavior changes for the better we’re hopeful that New Mexicans will be reminded of their role in helping us eliminate litter and we will see that change through action.” Johnson echoed seeing “encouraging engagement” so far “Cleanup events have been hosted in communities such as Deming “People are certainly taking notice of the campaign,” Johnson added “Just social media boosted posts of cleanup events have generated nearly 600,000 impressions and over 6,000 click-throughs to the Breaking Bad Habits website.” Follow Daniel J. Chacón on Twitter @danieljchacon Part of the "Breaking Bad Habits" campaign the event is the first in a series of cleanups set to focus on Santa Fe The Emmy-award winning actor said New Mexico is like an adopted second home The "Breaking Bad Habits" anti-litter campaign featuring actor Bryan Cranston includes TV ads and billboards across New Mexico Trash is a problem in communities across the state Michelle Lujan Grisham to take action with Wednesday's Governor's School Community Challenge parks cleanup The state of New Mexico spent $3.6 million on the initial launch of an anti-littering campaign dubbed “Breaking Bad Habits.” Here’s a breakdown of how the money was spent: $408,000: Creative fee and media placement fees for Santa Fe-based Talweg Creative Inc $15,568: T-shirts to give away at clean-up events an additional $637,789 was spent on more media buys — Authorities on Tuesday released a trove of records related to the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife including a lengthy investigation report detailing some of the last emails phone calls and internet searches by Hackman's wife indicating that she had been scouring for information on flu-like symptoms and breathing techniques Betsy Arakawa died in February of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome — a rare rodent-borne disease that can lead to a range of symptoms that include flu-like illness Hackman is believed to have died about a week later of heart disease with complications from Alzheimer's disease The partially mummified remains of Hackman when maintenance and security workers showed up at the home and alerted police hours of footage and other documents were made public Tuesday after a recent court order that mandated any depictions of the deceased couple would be blocked from view Authorities said additional records including dashboard camera footage could later be released The records had been restricted from release by an earlier The Hackman estate and family members had sought to keep the records sealed to protect the family's privacy According to the lengthy investigation report a review of Arakawa's computer showed she was actively researching medical conditions related to COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms between Feb The searches included questions about whether COVID-19 could cause dizziness or nosebleeds She also had mentioned in an email to her massage therapist that Hackman had woken up Feb 11 with flu or cold-like symptoms but that a COVID-19 test was negative and she would have to reschedule her appointment for the next day "out of an abundance of caution." Arakawa's search history also showed a query for a concierge medical service in Santa Fe the morning of Feb A review of her phone records by investigators showed she had a call with the service that lasted less than two minutes and missed a return call later that afternoon Investigators reviewed a call history to the home phone along with voicemails and security footage from stores that Arakawa had visited Feb The redacted police body camera footage showed investigators working inside the home as they tried to piece together what had happened to the couple Investigators found one of the couple's dogs sitting in the bathroom near Arakawa's body They then walked to the other side of the house "Two totally separate areas of the house," an officer comments worried about a possible gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning Subsequent testing showed there were no leaks The footage showed them going through rooms of the home and finding nothing out of the ordinary and no signs of forced entry with the couple's art collection still adorning shelves and walls throughout The investigators also can be seen counting cash that was found around the home and looking at the prescription medication on the bathroom counter as one of the couple's dog barked in the background An environmental assessment of the Hackman property by state health personnel found rodent feces in several outbuildings along with live traps on the property There was no evidence of rodent activity inside the home Nestled among the piñon and juniper hills overlooking Santa Fe the Hackman home is not unlike others in the area as mice are common within the surrounding landscape One of the couple's three dogs also was found dead in a crate in a bathroom closet near Arakawa A state veterinary lab tied the dog's death to dehydration and starvation argued during a hearing last month that the couple had taken great pains to stay out of the public light during their lifetimes and that the right to control the use of their names and likenesses should extend to their estate in death CBS News and CBS Studios intervened in the matter saying in court filings that they would not disseminate images of the couple's bodies and would blur images to obscure them from other records Become an NPR sponsor The county sheriff’s office have confirmed that Betsy Arakawa made the phone call on 12 February disproving their initial belief that she had died a day earlier A private healthcare clinic in New Mexico has cast doubt on official findings about the timing of the death of Gene Hackman’s wife claiming that she rang them on 12 February – the day after police say she died told the Mail on Sunday: “Mrs Hackman didn’t die on 11 February because she called my clinic on 12 February.” Postmortem results indicated that Arakawa died of hantavirus a week before her husband is believed to have died from heart disease His pacemaker showed no activity after 18 February; he is also believed to have suffered from advanced Alzheimer’s disease “She’d called me a couple of weeks before her death to ask about getting an echocardiogram [heart scan] for her husband,” said Dr Child but one of my patients recommended Cloudberry to her She made an appointment for herself for 12 February It was for something unrelated to anything respiratory.” Dr Child added that two days before her appointment was due “She [then] called back on the morning of 12 February and spoke to one of our doctors who told her to come in that afternoon “We made her an appointment but she never showed up She did not show any symptoms of respiratory distress The appointment wasn’t for anything related to hantavirus We tried calling her a couple of times with no reply.” Dr Child also confirmed to the BBC that Arakawa “described some congestion but didn’t mention any respiratory distress The Santa Fe county sheriff’s office now say they have confirmed that Arakawa made multiple calls to a health clinic on 12 February It remains unclear why these calls have taken so long to come to light as her previous date of death was predicated on her apparently having no communication by email after 11 February That day she was also seen visiting a number of Santa Fe shops was found on the bathroom floor of the couple’s home apparently having had a fall and with no food in his stomach Both bodies showed signs of mummification and bloating which was in a crate recovering from surgery while the other two dogs were wandering the property and grounds Dr Child cast further doubt on the official cause of death of his clinic’s prospective client saying: “I am not a hantavirus expert but most patients who have that diagnosis die in hospital It is surprising that Mrs Hackman spoke to my office on the phone on 10 February and again on 12 February and didn’t appear in respiratory distress A Los Angeles-based doctor told the Mail on Sunday: “Respiratory failure is not sudden – it is something that worsens over several days Most people get admitted to the ER [emergency room] because they are having trouble breathing It’s exceedingly rare for a seemingly healthy 65-year-old to drop dead of it Representatives for the Hackman estate were initially successful in their bid to block the public release of autopsy and investigative reports especially photographs and police body-camera video Gene Hackman smiles as he holds an Oscar he had just received for best actor for his role in 1971's The French Connection at the 44th Annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Music Center in Los Angeles on April 10 for the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills where he would receive the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Cecil B deMille Award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment Law enforcement officials talk outside the home of actor Gene Hackman on Thursday just outside Santa Fe his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead in the home a day earlier Gene Hackman speaks at the grand opening of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe in 1997 arrive at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles on March 29 Hackman won the best supporting actor award that year for his role in Unforgiven Law enforcement officials talk outside the home of actor Gene Hackman on Thursday northeast of Santa Fe Santa Fe County Sheriff deputies arrive at the Santa Fe Summit gated community where actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead Thursday The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office confirmed the film star and wife Betsy Arakawa had died two-time Oscar winner and author Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead Wednesday afternoon in their home in the Santa Fe Summit community northeast of the city The bodies of Hackman and Arakawa were each found lying on the floor in separate rooms of their Hyde Park home Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed just after midnight Thursday the couple had died Mendoza said in an interview Wednesday evening there was no immediate indication of foul play He did not provide a cause of death or say when the couple might have died had lived in Santa Fe since the 1980s and married Arakawa Sheriff's deputies arrived at the couple's home on Old Sunset Trail in a gated community off Hyde Park Road just north of Ten Thousands Waves on Wednesday afternoon to investigate the deaths of two elderly people and a dog It was unclear whether the deputies were responding to a report of the deaths or if they were making a welfare check at the home The deputies discovered the bodies of a man in his 90s and a woman in her 60s A sheriff's office spokesperson said Hackman and Arakawa were found in separate rooms She said investigators will not know the causes of their deaths until an autopsy is complete "All I can say is that we're in the middle of a preliminary death investigation waiting on approval of a search warrant," the sheriff said Wednesday evening before his agency had positively identified the pair "I want to assure the community and neighborhood that there's no immediate danger to anyone," he said Among his many famous roles were Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in 1971’s The French Connection and Sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett in the 1992 Clint Eastwood film Unforgiven for which he won the best supporting actor award Hackman played Clyde’s brother Buck Barrow in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde an FBI agent investigating the murder of civil rights activists in Mississippi Burning in 1988 and Lex Luthor in several Superman movies in the 1970s and 1980s and the couple had three children — Christopher He moved to Santa Fe in the 1980s and was often seen around town in his first few decades in the city He served as a board member of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in the 1990s and gave remarks when the museum opened its doors in 1997 “In the 10 years I’ve lived here, I’ve been taken with the excitement and indomitable spirit of this place," he said at the time The museum said in a news release Thursday he was on the board of trustees from 1997 and 2004 and played "a vital role in shaping the Museum’s early years Gene contributed to the Museum in meaningful ways notably as the narrator of the Perry Miller Adato film Georgia O’Keeffe: A Life in Art," the museum's statement said "The Museum is grateful for his commitment to sharing Georgia O’Keeffe’s legacy and for their deep support of the arts and cultural initiatives.” Hackman was a frequent subject of The New Mexican's former celebrity-sighting "El Mitote" column Here are a few excerpts from over the years The Tesuque restaurant El Nido was reportedly a favorite spot for Hackman who frequently appeared in The New Mexican's popular "El Mitote" column on celebrity sightings and gossip which ran for decades before it ended in 2018 He rarely went out publicly in his last years though his few public appearances at times made headlines When he attended a show at the Lensic in 2018 the British newspaper the Independent wrote about it Hackman caused a stir in downtown Santa Fe in 2012 when police said the film star struck a homeless man in self-defense The New Mexican reported Hackman told police the man had threatened him and his wife and had called his wife a vulgar name Hackman told officers he had provided clothes money and rides to the man for several years But when the man approached the couple on Marcy Street — not far from The New Mexican's office — Hackman refused to give him money and told him The New York Post published a story about Hackman doing yard work pumping gas and getting a chicken sandwich at a local Wendy’s in 2023 the paper ran another story about a sighting of Hackman and his wife this time eating at a seafood restaurant in Albuquerque Hackman turned to writing in his later years He and fellow Santa Fean Daniel Lenihan wrote several books together The pair published Escape From Andersonville: A Novel of the Civil War in 2008 Nathan Brown and Cynthia Miller of The New Mexican contributed to this report Images of actor Gene Hackman during his decades in the film industry Locals remembered the couple as unpretentious but friendly people who invested in local ventures and were frequently spotted downtown The sheriff said it is "a very good assumption" Hackman had been dead at least 9 days noting the "last event" on his pacemaker was on Feb Law enforcement leaders say firearms have come to play a larger role in resolving many day-to-day conflicts in Santa Fe and statewide From accidents to threats to a fatal shooting gun-related incidents in Santa Fe illustrate the large role of firearms in day-to-day life law enforcement officers in and around Santa Fe dealt with gun-related incidents from accidents to threats to shootings — and even a homicide they illustrate how firearms have come to play a larger role in resolving many day-to-day conflicts in Santa Fe Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies pulled over a man near La Cieneguilla on suspicion of a windshield tint violation and ultimately found a pistol in the man’s trunk as well as a shotgun recently reported stolen from the Big 5 sporting goods store in Santa Fe Santa Fe police were dispatched to Galisteo Street where officers alleged a man was sleeping on a public bench with a handgun sitting beside him He told police he was carrying the gun because he was worried about “the incidents that have been happening in the area,” police wrote in a report and he’d had four beers before falling asleep on the bench another man called police alleging his brother-in-law had taken out a shotgun and fired at him and his vehicle in the parking lot of an Allsup’s gas station on Cerrillos Road Santa Fe police detectives were investigating a shooting that had taken a man’s life days before in De Vargas Park These were just a few of the gun-related incidents in and around the city over the course of a week — in a time when the prevalence of guns seems to have increased a 17-year-old high school student went to police alleging a man had threatened him with a gun days before The boy said he had taken an Uber to get to school one day last week and accidentally left his phone in the driver’s car After tracking the phone to a house on the south side he knocked on the door and asked the man for his cellphone The man yelled at him and then grabbed a shotgun loaded it with yellow slugs and pointed it at him “frightened for his life.” An officer wrote the boy’s hands were shaking “with what appeared to be fear” as he recounted the story co-president of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence She facilitates workshops with youth to teach about gun safety and she said she hears “over and over again” from young people that they first sought out a gun as a result of someone threatening them with one “Think about all the times when the police aren’t even called,” she said “Because it’s so normalized — normalized to the point of complete insanity — that we’re living in a state where our reaction to any kind of altercation is to brandish a gun.” said he receives a notification whenever a child is arrested for a crime involving a firearm across New Mexico and he received those alerts two out of every three days in the last calendar year He pointed to two groups of people prohibited from having guns — young people and people who have been convicted of a felony — as showing increasing numbers of gun possession in recent years “New Mexico is experiencing a gun crime and gun violence crisis — there’s no question about it,” he said “More felons are being arrested with guns than we’ve ever had and more children are being arrested with guns than we’ve ever had so this is not an Albuquerque- or Santa Fe-specific data point irrespective of the geography or the politics of the community.” He pointed to “black market and gray market” sources where youth and felons purchase guns — many of which are stolen — such as social media apps like Telegram He also pointed to fatal incidents involving teenagers and guns in Bernalillo and Las Cruces just after the recent legislative session including a report of teens at the site of a mass shooting in Las Cruces who were pointing a light on the front end of an AR-15 at a car to illuminate it to film a TikTok video Three were killed and dozens were injured in the shooting I’ve been doing this for a really long time and I don’t remember a time where the flippant use and the almost disregard for the seriousness that introducing a firearm into any equation exists worse than it does today,” he said The prevalence of guns in crimes has increased in recent years noting some law enforcement agencies across the state have reported their gun evidence storage facilities are “near capacity” as they’re waiting to try crimes involving guns a La Cienega man was accused of brandishing a handgun at a tow truck driver who had come to help him tow his pickup truck after the two got into an argument The man told police he had spoken with the tow truck driver on the phone and the driver said if there wasn’t somewhere for him to turn around on the street “he was going to be pissed.” The man said he put his handgun into his waistband before meeting the man outside The two argued about the tow job and then struggled on the ground before the pickup owner pointed his firearm at the tow truck driver The other man told police he had only put his hand on his gun and never pointed it at the driver a Chimayó man suffered gunshot wounds to two of his fingers in an accident with a rifle at a shooting range in Nambé according to a report provided by Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office The 24-year-old man and his girlfriend both told police he had handled the gun properly Santa Fe police Deputy Chief Ben Valdez said the prevalence of firearms on the streets and in the homes and cars of Santa Fe has increased over the decades he has worked in law enforcement in the city shootings were considered to be “rare incidents” in Santa Fe they’re seeing a lot more incidents that have either firearms that are present or individuals that are armed with firearms than we used to experience,” Valdez said “and they’ve even changed the way that they do their response to that to make sure that they can do everything they can to safely navigate that situation.” Reports of domestic violence that used to require two or three officers are now requiring four officers and a supervisor if there is an allegation of a firearm at the scene “We have to have a less-lethal option — we have our folks that are trained in those types of techniques to communicate with folks so we can try to avoid a lethal force encounter,” Valdez said it’s more of a tactical approach than we had to do before.” Valdez pointed to more equipment that is required for law enforcement in an age of more prevalent gun use including better tourniquets for treating gunshot wounds before medical personnel arrive at a scene and hardier bulletproof armor such as “rifle plates.” He pointed to several gun-related incidents over the last year that resulted in arrests including a gas station attendant who fired at the feet of a homeless man outside his store and two teen boys at Capital High School who filmed a video of one of the boys with a handgun in a school bathroom and posted it to TikTok a man was arrested outside the Chomp food hall after others alleged he was intoxicated and had brandished a handgun during a fight at New Mexico Hard Cider Taproom admitted to officers he had racked the gun several times saying the gun was his “first resort” after he had been struck by other customers these are just bad judgment calls,” Valdez said “And if we could have just not had that behavior that incident may have been avoided — and it’s pretty sad dies after being shot in the abdomen and leg at the De Vargas Park skate park in downtown Santa Fe 5:12 p.m.: A 17-year-old boy reports to police an Uber driver pointed a shotgun at him when he arrived at the man's house to retrieve a cellphone he left in the man's car earlier that day 7:49 a.m.: Sheriff's deputies arrest a Santa Fe man on Paseo Real after finding two stolen 7:52 p.m.: A man is accused of falling asleep on a public bench near De Vargas Park with a loaded handgun sitting next to him 9 p.m.: A man is accused of taking out a shotgun and firing a shot at his brother-in-law as he drove his pickup truck out of an Allsup's gas station parking lot on Cerrillos Road 8 a.m.: A trial begins for two men out of three charged in an Easter Day 2024 incident in which they both fired upon a man who drove a pickup into a group of people outside a house party 2:55 p.m.: Santa Fe police arrive on Baca Street in response to a call reporting a weapons infraction a man from Santo Domingo Pueblo accused of shooting and killing Alvin Crespin days earlier 8 a.m.: A La Cienega man is accused of brandishing a handgun at a tow truck driver during an argument outside his house 7 p.m.: A Chimayó man suffers gunshot wounds to his index and middle finger in rifle accident in Nambé 9:30 p.m.: An intoxicated man from Dallas is accused of brandishing a handgun during a fight at a bar on Cerrillos Road downtown Hector Munos turns hash browns and piñon pancakes during the breakfast rush Wednesday at Tia Sophia's The popular downtown eatery is preparing for its 50th anniversary on Monday when it will be offering $5 entrees in honor of the milestone reflects on the restaurant's history as its 50th anniversary approaches next week Tia Sophia’s has celebrated milestone events in an understated way typically serving cake to diners at the iconic downtown Santa Fe eatery But on Tia Sophia’s 50th anniversary Monday owner Nick Maryol is offering $5 entrées to dine-in customers throughout the day “I’m getting a little bit long in the tooth,” Nick Maryol said Maryol is expecting a large crowd to take advantage of the offer He said a parade of local dignitaries is expected to show up while a local radio station will be broadcasting from the eatery and live music will be performed There are some limitations on the $5 entrée offer and the promotion does not extend to takeout orders The offer is limited to one entrée per person Maryol was in a reflective mood earlier this week as he talked about the significance of the 50th anniversary of the restaurant his parents Maryol has credited his father with being the originator of the term “breakfast burrito” when that item was added to the Tia Sophia’s menu in 1975 is widely credited with coining the phrase “Christmas” as shorthand for both red and green chile It’s been a little more than 20 years since Maryol took over on Jan it’s been sort of a spiritual journey,” he said He said owning the restaurant keeps him connected not just to his late father but to his grandmother a Greek immigrant and longtime Albuquerque eatery owner for whom Tia Sophia’s is named “She fought to keep six mouths fed,” Maryol said “Thinking of her and how hard she fought is how I got through COVID when New Mexico restaurants were prohibited from serving anything but takeout orders for several months was the most difficult time of his tenure as the owner of Tia Sophia’s “I don’t think that’s an exaggeration,” he said Maryol has faced other challenges along the way not the least of which is living up to the reputation for quality his parents built while making Tia Sophia’s one of the more popular and highly regarded restaurants in a city widely known for its culinary offerings “But it’s also another connection to my parents.” after more than two decades of running Tia Sophia’s Maryol acknowledged he’s not entirely comfortable in the role “I have imposter syndrome something hard,” he said “I’m always concerned that this is the year I run the restaurant into the ground.” one reason being that Tia Sophia’s has a veteran and devoted staff led by manager John Gallegos that helps keep the business operating efficiently “I have at least five employees who have worked here longer than I’ve owned the restaurant,” he said rattled off a long list of current and former employees who they said played a pivotal role in making Tia Sophia’s what it is “I need to give a shoutout to my staff for the 20 years I’ve run the restaurant,” Maryol said “They’ve never been better than they are right now It’s my honor to work with them and my honor to lead them.” The restaurant boasts a large and loyal group of regulars often eating at the restaurant twice a day Maryol grew so used to seeing Casey’s face nearly every day that he came up with a special way of referring to him “I called him my dad away from Dad,” he said Alex Maryol said it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that he grasped how special it was for a business to have such a devoted following “I realized what makes this place good is the community of people who come to eat here,” he said Nick Maryol said he literally grew up at Tia Sophia’s His father put him to work bussing tables when he was only 6 years old — a move that deeply offended his sense of justice “I was the angriest 6-year-old in Santa Fe,” he said laughing and describing how he acted out his resentment by eating leftover fries off of dirty plates Maryol literally got as far away from Tia Sophia’s as he could spending several years in Japan after studying the language and earning an international business degree he went to work for Thornburg Investment Management but he finally decided to heed the call of the family business in 2005 Maryol said he’s never doubted the wisdom of that decision — “except all the times I did.” recently returned from an extended visit to Japan “I started imagining what my life would have been like if I had stayed [in Japan].” But that feeling of uncertainty was short-lived but I’ve never regretted” making Tia Sophia’s his life’s work Owning and operating Tia Sophia’s has allowed him to extend his family’s legacy of hospitality “I feel like we have created a place where you don’t have to have your defenses up,” he said claims to be the inventor of the hand-held breakfast burrito her retirement party was attended by then-Mayor Debbie Jaramillo From Tia Sophia’s breakfast burritos to sopaipillas at the Plaza Café red chile at Atrisco Café & Bar to Tomasita’s tamales Greek-owned establishments have helped keep classic norteño food on Santa Fe’s culinary map What: Tia Sophia’s 50th anniversary celebration featuring $5 entrées Getting affordable housing units online for low-income residents is difficult — and the process behind construction has undergone change since the late 1990s The Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority — an independent nonprofit that works to ensure rental units remain affordable in the city — has sought out limited partners for projects in the push to get units online the authority serves as the “general partner” and has less than a 1% ownership stake in many properties in its portfolio The quasi-governmental organization has an annual budget of around $15 million with about $10 million in grants and the other $5 million from a combination of federal contracts and tenants’ rent payments Among the properties in the housing authority’s portfolio are Española Public Housing a 116-unit public housing community in the St Francis Drive corridor; and Phase 2 of the Tierra Contenta project it also controls the 96-unit Village in the Bosque Romero noted the authority has fewer units on the east side of Santa Fe a historic area with more stringent restrictions for construction The nonprofit’s affordable housing projects in Santa Fe have land-use restrictive agreements guaranteeing they receive a specific number of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the federal government over a specific time period leveraging federal government programs that allow them to convert public units to Housing Choice aid vouchers to ensure affordability for low-income residents The investor in these projects assumes the role of limited partner and receives tax credits in return “The way the tax credit project works is you have a deal in which you bring on an equity investor,” Romero said plus they get 99% of the income and losses of a property for the next 15 to 30 years depending on how long they want to stay in the project “But what they bring to it is 70% of the capital that is required to remodel the apartments,” he said “and it’s a structure that HUD turned to back in ’97 ’98 when they stopped funding the construction of affordable housing.” and Patrick Scott McDermott in a scene from Rust known for the on-set shooting death in Santa Fe County that killed a cinematographer the Western film completed after its cinematographer was shot dead on a Santa Fe set and its armorer was convicted of involuntary manslaughter isn’t getting much play in New Mexico theaters There doesn’t appear to be anywhere you can view Rust in public in Santa Fe or Albuquerque it is receiving a somewhat muted online debut with neither Netflix nor AMC streaming the Western streaming was available for a $14.99 fee on Amazon The death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins haunts the roughly 140-minute movie which is coincidentally about a fictional accidental death who has been sentenced to hang for an accidental killing and bodies lie dead in the dusty street of a frontier town “Some things in this life you can’t get back I reckon,” Baldwin says at one point in the film his face illuminated by campfire as he dons a cowboy hat According to the entertainment website Showtimes.com Rust can be seen in theaters owned by regional chain Allen Theaters in Gallup Falling Forward Films is responsible for theatrical distribution said the film sparked debates on the company’s social media pages “It’s an interesting dialogue between people who say they won’t see [it] because of what happened and then there are other people who want to see it only because of that,” Gandy said Gandy said she had not anticipated the debate when she booked Rust but said it’s not uncommon for controversy to accompany films She said the theater company was told proceeds would go to the Hutchins family and so it would maybe be some closure for the family as well,” Gandy said “That’s one of the reasons we wanted to participate as well — to bring the project full circle.” “You really can’t put your own opinion into booking films,” she added director of programming at Violet Crown in Santa Fe said the movie theater made a pure programming decision in opting not to show Rust this weekend one not related to the baggage attached to it is we don’t want to play a film just because it has baggage We feel that would be exploitative in its own right.” with The Guardian characterizing the Western as a “tough slog” and The New York Times calling the movie a “derivative finally sentimental drama.” The Associated Press Reviewers were quick to praise Hutchins’ work catching the dramatically lit skies that serve as a backdrop for the bands of riders on horseback as chases materialize as well as the almost oppressive closeness of the indoor scenes But the prevailing opinion about the movie seems to be that it is an ill-fated project that would not be particularly remarkable if disaster had not stuck the film set but there are lovely scenery shots throughout gentle light and deep colors of the American West illustrated carefully and evocatively by Hutchins’ … camera work,” The Associated Press’ review reads the cinematography is what stands out here.” A headline in The New York Post offered the following — “The only thing worth seeing in this Western is also the most tragic.” that members of the cast converged on a church at Bonanza Creek Ranch a well-known filming location just outside Santa Fe was shot as Baldwin held a gun that inadvertently had been loaded with a real bullet instead of a dummy round which have been at the center of intense and enduring media attention one ending with an 18-month sentence for the movie’s armorer Baldwin also faced an involuntary manslaughter charge in connection with the shooting but a judge dismissed his case midtrial after finding prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense When the verdict brought the matter to a close drawing gasps from spectators in the gallery The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office spent about $898,000 prosecuting cases related to the shooting Baldwin is now suing those involved in his prosecution accusing them of scapegoating him for the acts of others reached a settlement in their wrongful death lawsuit against producers — Baldwin included — in 2022 The terms of the settlement agreement were sealed in First Judicial District Court The release of a film like Rust might have been met with anticipation in New Mexico if not for the long shadow of Hutchins’ death two criminal trials and extensive media coverage The state is known as a film production hub with a long legacy of industry presence and political support for moviemaking through tax credits But Rust is one project many would prefer to forget New Mexico tax authorities denied an application last spring by Rust Movie Productions for incentives worth as much as $1.6 million according to documents obtained by The Associated Press The production team completed Rust’s filming in Montana after long deliberations The production company has said part of the settlement is tied to the film’s earnings which will go toward paying Hutchins’ widower said people in the industry are divided about the decision to complete the film “There’s two ways to look at it,” LaBar-Tapia said “There’s the way of honoring her legacy and to finish what she had started and they did have approval from the family to finish this film “But then I understand the other side of it it was a totally traumatic incident to witness,” LaBar-Tapia said “To think the producers had the gall to finish it — there’s that side of it Will the theatrical run of Rust bring the grim saga to an end was hit by the same bullet that killed Hutchins he said he wished he’d never written the film “The movie is about what it’s about: the consequences of violence,” Souza told The Guardian Rescue workers arrive to the scene after a deadly collision between a pickup truck and tour van near Henry’s Lake State Park in eastern Idaho on Thursday Police say the crash happened Thursday evening near Henry’s Lake State Park Idaho — A pickup and a tour van collided on a highway leading to Yellowstone National Park leaving seven people dead and eight others injured 20 near Henry’s Lake State Park in eastern Idaho The state park is roughly 16 miles west of Yellowstone National Park Police have not said what exactly caused the wreck but the Ram truck was traveling west while the Mercedes van was traveling east toward Yellowstone when it happened Video from the scene showed clear weather conditions at the time The driver of the pickup and six people inside the Mercedes passenger van died The truck driver was identified Friday as Isaih Moreno Identifying the others will take some time The van was carrying a tour group of 14 people and the surviving occupants were taken to hospitals with injuries Two were flown to an Idaho Falls hospital and one was flown to a Bozeman The others were taken to area hospitals with injuries not believed to be life-threatening was driving home when he saw flames engulfing the two vehicles as bystanders tried to care for survivors from the van on the side of the highway Merrill said he often sees tourist vans on the highway Merrill captured video of the wreckage with smoke blanketing the van Merrill said he anxiously awaited the help of first responders “It took an unnervingly long time for help to arrive just because of the location,” he said Police said Friday that a Fremont County sheriff’s deputy arrived shortly after the crash and immediately helped injured van occupants as it caught fire The Idaho Transportation Department has identified the highway for safety improvements designed to reduce the severity of crashes but the project is still in the research and planning phase That portion of the highway had an average of about 10,500 vehicles traveling it daily in 2023 The hip-hop impresario's trial begins Monday the hip-hop entrepreneur whose wildly successful career has been dotted by allegations of violence will be brought to a New York courthouse Monday to be tried on charges that he used the influence and resources of his business empire to sexually abuse women Jury selection is scheduled to begin in the morning and potentially take several days Opening statements by the lawyers and the start of testimony is expected next week The 17-page indictment against Combs reads like a charging document filed against a Mafia leader or the head of a drug gang accusing him of engaging in sex trafficking and presiding over a racketeering conspiracy The indictment says that with the help of people in his entourage and employees from his network of businesses Combs engaged in a two-decade pattern of abusive behavior against women and others Women were manipulated into participating in drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers that Combs called “Freak Offs,” prosecutors say prosecutors say Combs used a mix of influence and violence: He offered to boost their entertainment careers if they did what he asked — or cut them off if they didn't the indictment says Combs and his associates resorted to violent acts including beatings There was no effort to coerce people into things they didn't want to do and nothing that happened amounted to a criminal racket The trial is expected to take at least eight weeks The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly Marc Agnifilo has said Combs was “not a perfect person” and that there had been drug use and toxic relationships but said that all sexual activity between Combs The trial is the latest and most serious in a long string of legal problems for Combs In 1999 he was charged with bursting into the offices of an Interscope Records executive with his bodyguards and beating him with a champagne bottle and a chair later asked prosecutors to go easy on Combs who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and took an anger management class Combs was stopped by police after he and his then-girlfriend fled a nightclub where three people were wounded by gunfire Combs was acquitted of all charges related to the incident at a 2001 trial was convicted in the shooting and served nearly nine years in prison Combs was charged with assaulting someone with a weight-room kettlebell at the the University of California Combs said he was defending himself and prosecutors dropped the case he faces the possibility of decades in prison President Donald Trump holds a document with notes about Kilmar Abrego Garcia as he speaks with reporters in the Oval Office of the White House President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaks during a television interview at the White House President Donald Trump is circumspect about his duties to uphold due process rights laid out in the Constitution saying in a new interview that he doesn't know whether U.S citizens and noncitizens alike deserve that guarantee WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump is circumspect about his duties to uphold due process rights laid out in the Constitution saying in a new interview that he does not know whether U.S He also said he does not think military force will be needed to make Canada the “51st state” and played down the possibility he would look to run for a third term in the White House made clear that he is not backing away from a to-do list that he insists the American electorate broadly supported when they elected him in November Here are some of the highlights from the interview with NBC's Kristen Welker that was taped Friday at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida and aired Sunday Critics on the left have tried to make the case that Trump is chipping away at due process in the United States. Most notably, they cite the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who was living in Maryland when he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador and imprisoned without communication Trump says Abrego Garcia is part of a violent transnational gang The Republican president has sought to turn deportation into a test case for his campaign against illegal immigration despite a Supreme Court order saying the administration must work to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S citizens and noncitizens both deserve due process as laid out in the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution I don’t know,” Trump said when pressed by Welker The Fifth Amendment provides “due process of law,” meaning a person has certain rights when it comes to being prosecuted for a crime the 14th Amendment says no state can “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.” He said he was pushing to deport “some of the worst most dangerous people on Earth,” but that courts are getting in his way “I was elected to get them the hell out of here and the courts are holding me from doing it,” Trump said The president has repeatedly threatened that he intends to make Canada the “51st state.” Before his White House meeting on Tuesday with newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Trump is not backing away from the rhetoric that has angered Canadians told NBC that it was “highly unlikely” that the U.S would need to use military force to make Canada the 51st state He offered less certainty about whether his repeated calls for the U.S to take over Greenland from NATO-ally Denmark can be achieved without military action “Something could happen with Greenland,” Trump said we need that for national and international security economy is in a “transition period” but he expects it to do “fantastically” despite the economic turmoil sparked by his tariffs He offered sharp pushback when Welker noted that some Wall Street analysts now say the chances of a recession are increasing some people on Wall Street say,” Trump said Some people on Wall Street say that we’re going to have the greatest economy in history.” He also deflected blame for the 0.3% decline in the U.S “I think the good parts are the Trump economy and the bad parts are the Biden economy because he’s done a terrible job,” referring to his Democratic predecessor Trump doubled down on his recent comments at a Cabinet meeting that children might have to have two dolls instead of 30 denying that is an acknowledgment his tariffs will lead to supply shortages “I’m just saying they don’t need to have 30 dolls The president has repeatedly suggested he could seek a third term in the White House even though the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution says that “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Trump told NBC there is considerable support for him to run for a third term “But this is not something I’m looking to do,” Trump said “I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody Trump's previous comments about a third term sometimes seem more about provoking outrage on the political left The Trump Organization is even selling red caps with the words “Trump 2028.” But at moments, he has suggested he was seriously looking into a third term. In a late March phone interview with NBC Trump said in the interview that Vice President JD Vance is doing a “fantastic job” and is “brilliant.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom Trump last week tasked to simultaneously serve as acting national security adviser But Trump said it is “far too early” to begin talking about his potential successor He is confident that his "Make America Great Again" movement will flourish beyond his time in the White House Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been under fire for his participation in Signal text chains in which sensitive information about military planning was shared But Trump said he is not looking to replace his Pentagon chief The president also said his decision to nominate national security adviser Mike Waltz to be the U.S ambassador to the United Nations was not punishment for starting the chain to which Waltz inadvertently added a reporter I just think he’ll do a nice job in the new position," Trump said He said his decision to have Rubio take over Waltz's duties will likely be temporary We’re going to put somebody else in," Trump said adding that it would nonetheless be possible to do both jobs indefinitely There’s a theory that you don’t need two people But I think I have some really great people that could do a good job." One person he said he is not considering for the post “Stephen is much higher on the totem pole than that Trump denied he is profiting from the presidency even as he continues to promote a series of business ventures I think crypto’s important because if we don’t do it adding that he hasn't even “even looked” at how much he’s made from the venture Just days before taking office, Trump launched his own meme coin, which surged in value after it announced that top holders would be invited to an exclusive dinner at the president's Washington-area golf club later this month and a tour of the White House He also helped launch World Liberty Financial That's in addition to a long list of other business ventures “Being president probably cost me money if you really look,” Trump said I do something that no other president has done they think maybe George Washington has done.” He added: “I contribute my entire salary to the government Trump said he is open to extending the deadline for a deal on TikTok once again “I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTok I would be willing to give it an extension Last month, Trump used executive action to keep TikTok running in the U.S. for another 75 days to give his administration more time to broker a deal to bring the social media platform under American ownership White House officials had believed they were close to a deal in which the app’s operations would have been spun off into a new company based in the U.S. and owned and operated by a majority of American investors But Beijing hit the brakes after Trump slapped wide-ranging tariffs on nations across the globe "But because of the fact that I’ve essentially cut off China right now with the tariffs that are so high that they’re not going to be able to do much business with the United States But if we make a deal with China I’m sure that’ll be a subject and it’ll be a very easy subject to solve.” Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report President Donald Trump says he is directing his government to reopen and expand Alcatraz the notorious former prison on a California island that has been closed for more than 60 years NEW YORK — President Donald Trump says he is directing his government to reopen and expand Alcatraz the notorious former prison on a hard-to-reach California island off San Francisco that has been closed for more than 60 years In a post on his Truth Social site Sunday evening who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals and keep them far away from anyone they could harm to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders.” Trump’s directive to rebuild and reopen the long-shuttered penitentiary was the latest salvo in his effort to overhaul how and where federal prisoners and immigration detainees are locked up But such a move would likely be an expensive and challenging proposition The prison was closed in 1963 due to crumbling infrastructure and the high costs of repairing and supplying the island facility because everything from fuel to food had to be brought by boat Bringing the facility up to modern-day standards would require massive investments at a time when the Bureau of Prisons has been shuttering prisons for similar infrastructure issues The prison — infamously inescapable due to the strong ocean currents and cold Pacific waters that surround it — was known as the “The Rock" and housed some of the nation's most notorious criminals including gangster Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly It has long been part of the cultural imagination and has been the subject of numerous movies including “The Rock” starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage Nearly all were caught or didn’t survive the attempt The fate of three particular inmates — John Anglin his brother Clarence and Frank Morris — is of some debate and was dramatized in the 1979 film “Escape from Alcatraz” starring Clinton Eastwood Alcatraz Island is now a major tourist site that is operate by the National Park Service and is a designated National Historic Landmark returning to the White House on Sunday night after a weekend in Florida said he’d come up with the idea because of frustrations with “radicalized judges” who have insisted those being deported receive due process A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement that the agency “will comply with all Presidential Orders.” The spokesperson did not immediately answer questions from The Associated Press regarding the practicality and feasibility of reopening Alcatraz or the agency’s role in the future of the former prison given the National Park Service’s control of the island a California Democrat whose district includes the island questioned the feasibility of reopening the prison after so many years “It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction The President’s proposal is not a serious one,” she wrote on X The island serves as a veritable time machine to a bygone era of corrections The Bureau of Prisons currently has 16 penitentiaries performing the same high-security functions as Alcatraz including its maximum security facility in Florence which is home to the federal death chamber The order comes as Trump has been clashing with the courts as he tries to send accused gang members to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador Trump has also floated the legally dubious idea of sending some federal U.S prisoners to the Terrorism Confinement Center Trump has also directed the opening of a detention center at Guantanamo Bay to hold up to 30,000 of what he has labeled the “worst criminal aliens." The AP’s investigation also exposed rampant sexual abuse at a federal women’s prison in Dublin President Joe Biden signed a law strengthening oversight of the agency after AP reporting spotlighted its many flaws the Bureau of Prisons is operating in a state of flux — with a recently installed new director and a redefined mission that includes taking in thousands of immigration detainees at some of its prisons and jails under an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security The agency last year closed several facilities but is also in the process of building a new prison in Kentucky Associated Press writers Gary Fields in Washington and Michael Balsamo in New York contributed to this report will try to defend its title as the third seed in this year's 12-team field Michael’s get to enjoy the spoils of the new state softball tournament format The Lady Dons and Lady Horsemen get the coveted top-four seeds in the Class 3A bracket which was revealed Sunday afternoon by the New Mexico Activities Association will try to defend its title as the third seed in this year’s 12-team field Both teams will host quarterfinal games Wednesday as the state tournament format changed this season the top four seeds are the host sites for the opening round and the quarterfinals The opening-round game between the teams that line up in the bracket against each of the top four happens first the Lady Dons will await the winner of the game between No 11 Hatch Valley that will happen Wednesday in Las Vegas 12 Wingate winner at Christian Brothers Athletic Complex in the quarterfinal game that begins the double-elimination portion of the tournament is a fan of the new format for a very significant reason “I like it only because we got one of the four [seeds],” Esquibel said There’s a lot of pressure when it comes to that first round being single elimination Seeded 10th because of their fourth-place finish in 2-3A 2 Cobre for their opening-round battle against a familiar foe in No The teams played each other in the semifinals of the West Las Vegas Invitational in March SFIS head coach Oliver Torres said he believes his team’s district finish hurt it in the seeding process and the Lady Braves have the hardest road to get to Rio Rancho for next week’s set of games However, Torres pointed out his team played the fourth-toughest schedule of any 3A teams, according to MaxPreps.com’s ranking system that is used to help select and seed teams for the postseason “I think our seeding was horrible,” Torres said “I’m not sure they’re evaluating teams the right way then strength of schedule should have more to do with it.” Michael’s head coach Maria Cedillo said she loves rewarding teams for their performance by making the top four teams the home sites for the first two rounds she added she wished Robertson wasn’t lined up to potentially be the next opponent for the Lady Horsemen Michael’s won two of the three games between the teams including a season-ending doubleheader split that gave the Lady Horsemen the head-to-head edge to earn the fourth seed “I was hoping we would see Ruidoso because we’ve seen them so many times Los Alamos earned the sixth seed thanks to an 18-5-1 record and winning the District 2-4A title 3 Lovington for their first-round matchup against The winner will play the winner between the Wildcats and No with the games scheduled for Friday and/or Saturday FILE - A man walks near a flooded area near the Swannanoa river Public radio stations are being targeted for cuts by President Donald Trump who this week signed an executive order aimed at slashing public subsidies to NPR and PBS alleging “bias” in the broadcasters’ reporting — After Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville the sound coming from open car windows as residents gathered on a street at the top of a ridge trying to get cell service last fall was Blue Ridge Public Radio And as they stood in line for water or food the latest news they had heard on the station was a frequent topic of conversation “The public radio station was alerting people what was going on,” said Lisa Savage who volunteered at an area church after the hurricane Now public radio stations are being targeted for cuts by President Donald Trump. This week, he signed an executive order aimed at slashing public subsidies to NPR and PBS Public radio stations have been a lifeline for residents during natural disasters that take out power And in many remote and rural areas across the U.S. Marfa Public Radio provides listeners with a mix of local and national news and music a city of about 2,000 that draws tourists to its art scene “Marfa Public Radio is the only radio service in a lot of the geographic area that we cover,” said Tom Livingston “So it’s really essential in terms of if there’s news events if there’s safety things that happen in the community.” Trump’s order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS” and further requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations The broadcasters get roughly half a billion dollars in public money through the private CPB which has said it is not a federal executive agency subject to Trump’s orders The heads of PBS, NPR and CPB all suggested Friday the order was illegal The White House has also said it will be asking Congress to rescind funding for the CPB as part of a $9.1 billion package of cuts based in the eastern Kentucky community of Whitesburg can be heard in parts of five Appalachian states said listeners “want to hear people that sound like folks that they know from Appalachia,” and the station which currently operates from a renovated Winnebago called the Possum Den “We’re in an economically disadvantaged area of the country,” Wimer said “Most of our listeners who really rely upon our programming don’t have the funds to ramp up their support.” Livingston said about 30% of their funding comes from the CPB it’s too early to know if the cuts will actually happen or what they would impact if they do come through residents can pick up signals from radio stations far away But those “aren’t going have the local flavor and impact that we do,” said Scott Smith general manager of Allegheny Mountain Radio “This is the only game in town for that sort of thing.” Smith said there’s about a 4 -square-mile area of cell coverage with one cell tower The station has proven to be a vital source of information during natural disasters residents relied on it after a derecho knocked out power to 680,000 customers across West Virginia and it took nearly two weeks for some areas to get their service restored we get on the air and joke around,” he said “But we’re here providing basic level services of information we’re a pretty critical link in this area for the emergency alert system.” Smith has a staff of 10 people at Allegheny Mountain Radio which receives 68% of its annual budget from CPB “What CPB does fund the most is small rural radio,” Smith said that’s not readily or easily replaceable.” Smith calls it a “wait-and-see game” on whether Congress will act on the CPB funding “The answer to how we move forward is vague,” Smith said “We will still continue to be here as long as we can be.” Municipal workers clean up around burnt cars in the residential area following Russia's drone attack in Kyiv were wounded in a Russian drone strike on Kyiv overnight Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 13 Ukrainian drones Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen and that he hopes it will not In comments aired Sunday in a film by Russian state television about his quarter of a century in power Putin said Russia has the strength and the means to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a “logical conclusion.” Responding to a question about Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory Putin said: “There has been no need to use those [nuclear] weapons .. “We have enough strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires,” he said Putin signed a revamped version of Russia’s nuclear doctrine in November 2024 spelling out the circumstances that allow him to use Moscow’s atomic arsenal giving him that option in response to even a conventional attack backed by a nuclear power Putin also said Russia did not launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine — what he called a “special military operation” — in 2014 “The country was not ready for such a frontal confrontation with the entire collective West,” he said He claimed also that Russia “sincerely sought to solve the problem of Donbas by peaceful means.” Putin said that reconciliation with Ukraine was “inevitable.” remain are at odds over competing ceasefire proposals Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a ceasefire is possible “even from today” if Moscow is serious about ending the war Speaking Sunday at a joint news conference with Czech President Petr Pavel proposal for a full ceasefire for 54 days and thanked the Czech Republic for backing Ukraine’s call for a 30-day ceasefire “Putin is very eager to show off his tanks at the [Victory Day] parade,” Zelenskyy said “but he should think about ending his war.” Zelenskyy again expressed deep skepticism over Russia’s proposal of a 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II saying Moscow continues to launch hundreds of assaults despite publicly signaling interest in a partial truce despite promises — including to the United States — Russia carried out more than a hundred assaults,” Zelenskyy said referring to Russian attacks during the 30-hour Easter ceasefire unilaterally declared by Putin Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for a more substantial 30-day pause in hostilities, as the U.S The Kremlin said the Victory Day truce was on humanitarian grounds and will run from the start of May 8 and last through the end of May 10 to mark Moscow’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 — Russia’s biggest secular holiday Zelenskyy thanked Pavel for his country’s military support and said Ukraine hopes to receive 1.8 million artillery shells in 2025 as part of a Czech-led initiative to supply military aid to Kyiv launched in 2024 and supported by NATO allies supplied Ukraine with 1.5 million artillery rounds last year Zelenskyy also said he had discussed with Pavel “the next steps in the development of our aviation coalition,” namely the creation of an F-16 training school He said such a base could not be opened in Ukraine because of Russian attacks A Russian drone attack overnight on the Ukrainian capital Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said Sunday an 83-year-old resident of Kyiv’s Obolon district “I was just sleeping when the house shook,” said Valentyna Fesiuk An apartment on the 12th floor caught fire,” she told The Associated Press “I was covered with broken glass,” he said The 54-year-old was frustrated with stalled peace negotiations: “They can’t agree on anything and we are the ones who suffer the consequences.” described how “five to six minutes after the air raid was activated There were three strikes almost in a row after the air raid was activated.” we have been suffering from this for so long It’s still very hard to see our country constantly being destroyed,” she told the AP Two people were killed by Russian guided bombs Sunday one each in the Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions Russia fired a total of 165 exploding drones and decoys overnight Russia also launched two ballistic missiles Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 13 Ukrainian drones overnight President Donald Trump wants to tap into “beautiful clean coal' to help meet the electricity demands of what he bills as a new dawn of manufacturing and technological advancement in the United States But some utilities say coal is no longer the answer Stuck in the middle are communities that depend on the jobs and tax revenues Coal-fired power plants are woven into nearly every aspect of life in the northeastern parts of Arizona Residents in the southwestern state see Trump’s efforts as an opportunity to save their towns and stay in the energy race for another generation no matter if coal — or something else — provides the fuel — Brantley Baird never misses a chance to talk history from how his great-grandmother helped settle the town of Snowflake long before Arizona was granted statehood to tales of riding to school bareback and tethering his horse outside the one-room schoolhouse His family worked the land and raised livestock watching the railroad come and go and cattle empires rise and fall built throughout northern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico to power progress in distant Western cities The plants would play their own role in the history of the region and could wind up at the center of its uncertain future The Cholla Power Plant stands just down the road from where Baird has been building a museum to showcase covered wagons weathered farm implements and other remnants of frontier days For years the plant powered the local economy providing jobs and tax revenues for the unincorporated community of Joseph City but now the vapors from its stacks have dissipated Cholla is the latest in a long line of U.S Arizona Public Service said it had become too costly to operate due to strict environmental regulations The mandates were aimed at reining in coal-burning utilities long viewed by scientists as major contributors to warming the planet where the vision of far-off politicians sometimes crashes against reality Baird and many of his neighbors were encouraged that Trump put Cholla in the spotlight but there's some skepticism about what the utilities will do with the plants as much help just to our school district right here that we get out of there who used to work at the Cholla plant and has served on the Joseph City School Board he and others wonder if it's too late for coal Just weeks before Trump announced his plans, the U.S. Energy Information Administration projected a 65% increase in retirements of coal-fired generation in 2025 compared with last year The largest plant on that list is the 1,800-megawatt Intermountain Power Project in Utah It’s being replaced by a plant capable of burning natural gas and hydrogen aren't sure Trump's orders will lead them back to coal “I think it’s safe to say that those plants that are scheduled or slated to retire are probably still going to move in that direction for a couple of reasons," said Todd Snitchler CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association "One of which is it’s very difficult to plan multimillion- or billion-dollar investments for environmental retrofits and other things on an executive order versus a legislative approach.” Last month, Republicans in the Arizona Legislature sent a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum warning that the economic fallout from the 2019 closure of the Navajo Generating Station is still reverberating and the mine that supplied the plant closed At the San Juan Generating Station in northwestern New Mexico Stuck in the middle are Joseph City and other communities where life revolves around a power plant Residents hope Trump can help keep them in the energy race for another generation they've been preparing to absorb major hits to the job market Options are slim in Apache and Navajo counties — two of Arizona’s poorest Utility executives told Arizona regulators recently that reopening Cholla would be costly for customers and that they plan to push ahead with renewable energy The plant’s infrastructure would be preserved as a possible site for future nuclear or gas-fired power generation and the Springerville Generating Station could be repurposed once the last units are retired in 2032 The utility that runs the coal-fired Coronado Generating Station the idea of spoiling the surrounding grasslands and ancient volcanic fields with 112 wind turbines — with blades standing taller than Seattle's Space Needle — provokes outrage Banners and posters objecting to the proposal are plastered around town that we can’t rely on wind and solar,” said Doug Henderson a Springerville plant retiree who now sits on the town council He says coal-fired generation can accommodate swings in demand regardless of whether there’s sunshine or wind Springerville Mayor Shelly Reidhead and others are fighting to keep the wind farm from happening saying repurposing the Springerville coal plant would mean more jobs and preserve the surrounding landscape “We also survive on tourism and people don't want to come here and look at that,” Reidhead said of the turbines The Western Drug and General Store is adorned with tiny American flags tacked up outside but locals joke that you can get anything here — from slippers to rifles Andrea Hobson works the register and knows everyone by name She moved to Springerville about 20 years ago from California and says it's hard to imagine the community without the power plant Springerville’s leaders have lost sleep trying to figure out what industries might fill the void dozens of contract employees and the businesses they support — from the general store and the new frozen yogurt shop to the hospital and local churches Some workers drive an hour to the Springerville plant every day meaning other communities also will lose out fears it could take years to permit a new plant Reidhead is more hopeful after attending meetings with members of Arizona’s congressional delegation and utility executives She thinks the Trump administration can reduce the “red tape” and get new plants up and running The development of artificial intelligence and its thirst for power gives the mission a sense of urgency “I think our politicians at a state level have realized with AI’s need for the power that if we don’t get on board and get on board soon we’re going to be left behind,” she said Some energy analysts say Trump’s support of coal is mostly symbolic Others say diversifying energy sources is a must as the U.S sees increases in power demand predicted for the first time in decades but the electricity it needs is very real — and in some regions coal still keeps the lights on when other sources may blink,” said Scott Segal a partner with the Washington D.C.-based firm Bracewell LLP He said power markets don’t care about politics — just reliability crews are building what will be one of the largest solar and battery storage projects in Arizona The solar panels will be installed on leased private land While not a fan of all the dust being kicked up Baird knows the advent of solar is just another of many changes he has seen in his lifetime — and he has no idea what the next 100 years might look like former executive director of the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association the Building Santa Fe columnist for the New Mexican a longtime Santa Fe contractor and all-around mensch died from a heart attack at the too-young age of 68 at his home in Costa Rica Shanahan had the foresight to help develop (and push through) what became Santa Fe’s green building code He was also an indefatigable proponent of affordable housing and water conservation—again well before many if not most other builders contractors and others in the home industry As cited in a Construction Dispute Resolution Services blog several years ago Shanahan had long been “recognized as a national expert on Green Building Codes after 35 years of general contracting in Santa Fe With a career spanning hands-on remodeling luxury custom homes and affordable housing subdivisions–all encompassing the best thinking in sustainable construction practices.” Shortly after the housing bubble burst in 2008 “pivoted his career from being the elected president of the board of directors for the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association a volunteer position held by a builder-member to becoming the association’s paid executive officer a position he held until the end of 2018.” A year later who was also a longtime board member of Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity began his column for the The New Mexican (at Michigan State the National Association of Home Builders’ Executive Officers Council asked him to be its liaison to the highly technical NAHB Construction Codes and Standards Committee as the CDRS put it: “Even without a vote as a liaison Shanahan was often the only member from Rocky Mountain Western states on the committees and always brought a strong voice for that region’s unique perspectives and challenges to the attention of his national code peers.” Shanahan’s greatest achievements in his last two years managing SFAHBA was shepherding the creation of the nations’ first ever predictive calculation tool for determining presumed water consumption in a new home Called the Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS) it was adopted as a Santa Fe city code in 2006 Shanahan then introduced the concept to the national association and lobbied successfully to have it included into the National Green Building Standard The name was changed to the Water Rating Index (WRI) and is now a standalone appendix in the 2020 NGBS.” Miles Conway reached out to numerous Santa Feans for their reflections on Shanahan admired Shanahan as “an eminently reliable source which reporters love—especially when his convictions were so well-informed.” Weideman also recalled Shanahan’s KTRC radio show (“Santa Fe Green Building and Sustainable Development”) and for having helped put together the children’s Lego contest as part of the Santa Fe Home Show and that “each year he skillfully adapted the popular Haciendas—A Parade of Homes tour to the ups and downs of the housing market But sustainability was always his byword.” “I met Kim over 30 years ago when I was involved in the building industry,” says Paco Arguello Home’s “News from SFAR” columnist and chief executive of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors he was a contractor making his way during the Santa Fe housing boom Over the years he positioned himself as a staunch advocate for affordable and workforce housing and the building and real estate industry on its toes as it concerned fair and equitable housing For the past four years I served with him on the Habitat for Humanity board of directors "His relentless passion for the less fortunate was a constant motivator toward Habitat’s mission of promoting affordable homeownership by constructing simple adequate and energy-efficient new homes and repairing or rehabilitating existing homes through the cooperative efforts of partner families "Kim’s passion serves as an excellent example of how we all should be mindful of what is happening within our community and how it affects our neighbors.” “He was my mentor,” wrote Glenn Schiffbauer executive director of the Santa Fe Green Chamber of Commerce And he took me by the hand and introduced me to Santa Fe’s sustainability community—not just the generous philanthropic folks who do so much He showed me where the real work was happening “With Earth Day just behind us,” added Schiffbauer “it feels especially right to honor the work he devoted himself to: his passion for green building his leadership in co-creating the Next Generation Water Summit and his unwavering belief that we can—and must—do better when it comes to protecting our planet and preserving its resources for future generations.” “What I can reflect on,” remarked Laura Long of Jørgensen Builders and a former SFAHBA vice president “is his ability to take controversial political/social issues and find the Center of Truth about the issue and create a balanced platform for people to understand and how they might create a different perspective of what they thought.” Bureau Chief for the Energy Technology and Engineering Bureau observed that “Kim contributed to saving our planet and improving our environment He was a strong advocate of improving the sustainability of our homes and the built environment We worked together on developing the Santa Fe Green Building Code and on updating the statewide energy conservation building codes He had a special skill in communicating with people and writing his articles.” “Kim was a generous supporter of the Interior Design Department at Santa Fe Community College,” added Joe Granville of Poulin Design Remodeling “He provided SFHB student memberships and helped the students to network within the building community Kim was an extraordinary communicator whose insightful articles helped to keep our industry informed and prepared for the future.” a champion for the built environment,” wrote Kurt Faust of Tierra Concepts and SFAHBA’s 1992 president “He always worked to make things better and always found ways to bring fairness to difficult situations.” “I went on to be the leader of the State of New Mexico Home Builders Association and traveled the country extensively with the state and national association I always met people that knew of Kim and shared their appreciation for his steadfast ways and commitment to the most mundane things that affected housing and builders’ issues.” of Modern Design + Construction and the 2014 SFAHBA president among many other touching remarks: “John Irving had a line in his book The Cider House Rules that applies to the life Kim lived former executive director of the Santa Fe AreaHome Builders Association Andhe took me by the hand and introduced me to Santa Fe’s sustainability community—not just the generous philanthropic folks who do so much Durable and attractive outdoor furniture from Vaterra Artful Living: Gearing Up for Summer Socials: The Big Stuff for Outdoor Entertaining It’s in the heart of spring and we’re staring down the barrel at summer It’s officially time to begin with the outdoor entertaining Which means it’s also time to dust off those champagne flutes for mimosas and Sunday brunches in the garden some in the know are contending that the white wine glass may sometimes be more appropriate—the proverbial “they.”) Grills will be blazing away with wonderful steaks and grilled vegetables Chilled wedge salads smothered in blue cheese and red onions Delicious icy sorbets and other fruity delights will abound we need to set the mood and become the host/hostess with the most/mostest Entirely aware that people are already gearing up for summer social gatherings the Instagram influencers have been cranking out juicy seasonal items at lightning speed I recommend that you get your interior designer to guide you for your specific needs so you’re not chasing good money after bad Especially because outdoor furnishings are often not inexpensive and require a bit of an investment There are so many beautiful choices out there and so very much available at the whole spectrum of price points this is the perfect time to consult your designer who can give you guidance as to which brands best meet your price points and style preferences but it helps to know not just what you’re looking for but what you’re looking at I am so NOT mad at Seasonal Living’s Vaterra Collection One of this year’s trends is to warm up wood stains and add a bit of the natural to minimalist clean lines but Vaterra also offers some artisanal flair especially in its woven back/seat dining chairs Another mad love of mine is the Calcutta Collection from Brown Jordan often strive to create “curated” or “collected” interiors and exterior spaces Think of this collection as an extension of that Calcutta is a reintroduced collection originally designed by Hall Bradley in 1967 It is reminiscent of the Chinese Chippendale which had cast bamboo and a sweet sassiness I’m also a little bit intrigued by many of the Palecek dining tables and chair options Especially the Alden dining chairs and barstools and the Fraser Round Outdoor Dining Table All of the above collections also have their own dining options but sometimes it’s fun to mix it up if the spaces are separated I consider the rocking or hanging chair to be a thing of its own I also like having a good rocker around a firepit (oh Denver Modern has recently posted the Vail Lounge Rocker warm wood paired with a clean metal frame and squishy cushions that look like they are begging you to fall asleep rocking by the fire And what is a rocking chair without a hanging egg chair on a stand Best girlfriends all over the globe take a bottle of wine sit by the firepit and swing away in a beautiful hanging chair with its beautiful rope design – it is so elegant and resonates Bali-Resort now that we’ve gone down the road of furniture This is where there are so many options (like I am obsessed with the Carbon Design Vaughn Firepit This solid-steel artisanal freestander comes in 36-inch or 48-inch square pits that are smaller at the bottom You can also buy a gas insert separately and turn it into a hard-lined gas firepit Another one I like is the Cazo Wide Ledge Fire Bowl is available in a version that has a thinner ledge which exposes more of the rocks in both styles This particular bowl comes in either a propane or natural-gas ignition The kicker on this one is that these are available in 13 colors which honored 42 high-performing Santa Fe high school seniors was sponsored by Century Bank and The New Mexican Sayuri Yamada has embraced a fascinating life filled with career accomplishments She is talented and smart with a charismatic presence that would grab anyone’s attention She is founder and president of Kizuna Strategies and serves as chair of the Anchorum Health Foundation board Her impressive résumé can deliver another headline: Instant Return on Investment when strategizing with New Mexico’s future leaders Sayuri was the keynote speaker Thursday at the Super Scholars Awards Banquet which honored 42 high-performing Santa Fe high school seniors and their favorite educators/mentors Century Bank and The New Mexican partner for this mutual admiration fest the setting was serene and the admiration festive Co-emcees Anna Maggiore of Century Bank and Veronica Rigales of The New Mexican found the right blend of fun with teen-appropriate pomp and circumstance as they celebrated the accomplishments of each Super Scholar the Santa Fe school board went behind closed doors to send up its puff of smoke naming Christine Griffin of Prescott Valley She couldn’t have made the nearly seven-hour drive in time for Super Scholars That’s a bummer because the new supe would have realized she made a good she would have quickly figured out the district has exemplary teachers and principals who care deeply about their students The educators were more emotional than the students they mentor She also would have realized how Santa Fe’s mix of charter magnet and private schools means students and parents who value quality education have options She also missed Sayuri’s keynote that should be a template for future Super Scholars ceremonies Sayuri connected with all the audiences — parents She shared the urgent optimism of learning from failures And she delivered that Instant ROI Life Advice (IROILA for those who love fake acronyms and real vowels) She urged them to get out of their comfort zones These teens are not hibernating in their bedrooms The Super Scholars event is nearing 40 years old Our exuberance for the word “SUPER” contributes to everyday language in American culture “Super” fits the trifecta of being an adverb It’s not a stretch to describe these teens in superlatives because many have accomplished in less than 20 years what some of us haven’t in a lifetime Vinaya Kurapati of The MASTERS Program has a nursing assistant certificate from Santa Fe Community College loves painting and has conducted cancer research Logan Moore of Santa Fe High plays the violin and plans to study physics He’s earned numerous awards and scholarships Ashton Tenorio of the Santa Fe Indian School plays classical guitar and piano is captain of the school’s chess team and enjoys skiing and astronomy He’s interested in developing a race car powered by artificial intelligence Megan “May” Odom has led microbiology workshops across the state and helped with a Peace Ambassadors program that connects young women from New Mexico and Gaza She’s going to Boston University to become an astrophysicist The list of awesomeness could go on and on What educators and parents have invested in this year’s scholars Almost 1 in 4 Super Scholars will attend college in this state There’s Brian Avalos Salcido of Capital High He earned first chair oboe in the All-State Symphonic Orchestra and then return to Santa Fe and work in one of our hospitals Century Bank President and CEO John Brichetto mused in eloquent closing remarks that none of the Super Scholars mentioned banking or journalism as a career goal that Instant ROI Life Advice (IROILA) x (School + Mentors + Curiosity + Community Service) is simply super Bill Church is executive editor at The Santa Fe New Mexican A statue of SpaceX founder Elon Musk on Saturday if local residents approve a measure to make the area surrounding the rocket launch site its own city A man with Proposed new name for the town on his T-shirt is seen in Boca Chica A vote Saturday to formally organize Starbase as a city was approved by a small group of residents who are mostly Musk employees Texas — The South Texas home of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket company is now an official city with a galactic name: Starbase A vote Saturday to formally organize Starbase as a city was approved by a lopsided margin among the small group of voters who live there and are mostly Musk’s employees at SpaceX according to results published online by the Cameron County Elections Department Musk celebrated in a post on his social platform Starbase is the facility and launch site for the SpaceX rocket program that is under contract with the Department of Defense and NASA that hopes to send astronauts back to the moon and someday to Mars Musk first floated the idea of Starbase in 2021 and approval of the new city was all but certain SpaceX has generally drawn widespread support from local officials for its jobs and investment in the area But the creation of an official company town has also drawn critics who worry it will expand Musk’s personal control over the area with potential authority to close a popular beach and state park for launches Companion efforts to the city vote include bills in the state Legislature to shift that authority from the county to the new town’s mayor and City Council All these measures come as SpaceX is asking federal authorities for permission to increase the number of South Texas launches from five to 25 a year The city at the southern tip of Texas near the Mexico border is only about 1.5 square miles crisscrossed by a few roads and dappled with travel trailers and modest midcentury homes SpaceX officials have said little about exactly why they want a company town and did not respond to emailed requests for comment “We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community,” Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders wrote to local officials in 2024 with the request to get the city issue on the ballot The letter said the company already manages roads and utilities as well as “the provisions of schooling and medical care” for those living on the property SpaceX officials have told lawmakers that granting the city authority to close the beach would streamline launch operations and even just moving certain equipment around the launch base requires the closure of a local highway and access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach Critics say beach closure authority should stay with the county government which represents a broader population that uses the beach and park has said the county has worked well with SpaceX and there is no need for change Another proposed bill would make it a Class B misdemeanor with up to 180 days in jail if someone doesn’t comply with an order to evacuate the beach The South Texas Environmental Justice Network which has organized protests against the city vote and the beach access issue held another demonstration Saturday that attracted dozens of people whose young daughter was building sandcastle nearby said she was taking part to try to ensure continued access to a beach her family has enjoyed for generations a member of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas tribe said his ancestors have long been in the area FILE - Officers gather outside one of the condemned buildings of an apartment complex called The Edge at Lowry after a news conference to outline that the five housing structures have been closed by the city The Department of Justice is suing Colorado and Denver for allegedly interfering with federal efforts to enforce immigration laws DENVER — The Department of Justice sued Colorado and Denver on Friday for allegedly interfering with federal efforts to enforce immigration laws, the latest attempt by the Trump administration to crack down on what some call sanctuary cities and policies The lawsuit claims the state and its most populous city have passed “sanctuary laws” violating the Supremacy Clause of the U.S and preemptive authority to regulate immigration matters,” according to the lawsuit which was filed in federal court in Denver There is no strict definition for sanctuary policies or sanctuary cities but the terms generally describe limited local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement immigration laws nationwide but seeks state and local help and requests that police and sheriffs alert ICE to people it wants to deport and hold them until federal officers take custody The Department of Justice has filed similar lawsuits against Chicago and Rochester Justice Department attorneys argue Colorado's “sanctuary policies” allowed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to seize control of an apartment complex in the Denver suburb of Aurora Local officials have called Trump’s claims that the gang had taken over large swaths of the city exaggerated but acknowledged the apartment complex was terrorized including by people linked to Tren de Aragua Friday’s lawsuit lists as defendants Democratic Gov Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser Polis spokesperson Conor Cahill said in an email that Colorado is not a sanctuary state and regularly works with local state and federal law enforcement agencies “If the courts say that any Colorado law is not valid then we will follow the ruling,” he said “We are not going to comment on the merits of the lawsuit.” Republicans in Congress have pressured officials in Democratic-led cities to cooperate with the Trump administration’s immigration agenda New York and Chicago to testify last month before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform The mayors pushed back, defending their communities as welcoming places and called on Congress to pass immigration reform Henry Kaufman is well aware of the price of letting his emotions get the best of him on the tennis court “I decided to go to the more composed path and stick on with that,” said Kaufman that set Kaufman on the path of analysis and problem-solving of tennis matches and the approach has been wildly successful Kaufman has third-place and runner-up finishes with teammate Jackson Friedland at the Class 1A/4A State Individual Tennis Tournament the past two years Kaufman is solo at the state tournament and should be the top seed in the boys singles bracket when competition starts Wednesday He is 11-0 after winning the District 2-1A/4A Individual Tournament on Saturday in Taos after dispatching eighth grade teammate Holden Hirsch The only thing Kaufman’s prep résumé lacks is a state title and he hopes to accomplish that next weekend Kaufman said winning a state title is on his bucket list but he also is looking forward to continuing to play tennis when he attends Whitman College in Walla Walla “It’s good to have another four years of playing tennis,” Kaufman said I always wanted to come home with a blue medal It would be a nice reward for all my hard work.” said Kaufman has always been a tactician on the court He remembers watching Kaufman when he was young develop his skills because he was shorter than most opponents “He learned how to live and how to have good footwork to cover the court better because he had to take more steps,” Gould said “And he learned how to use all kinds of angles and tactics rather than purely power.” That explains how Kaufman’s backhand became his preferred shot In a time when forehand shots are a tennis player’s best friend and sometimes it took opponents a moment or two to figure out how to attack him they can hit to my forehand side and be confident with it.” Kaufman said improving his forehand shots became a goal in the offseason Gould said he feels Kaufman’s forehand is as good as his backhand Kaufman has a lot of tools at his disposal “I think one of his strongest shots these days is his approach shot,” Gould said Gould said as good of a singles player Kaufman became he feels he is an even better doubles player because of his approach shots and net play It’s why he and Friedland developed such a good rapport over the previous three seasons The pair made a spirited run to the 1A/4A semifinals as sophomores but last year’s runner-up finish left the pair disappointed Kaufman and Friedland came in as the top seeds in the bracket but needed three sets to get past Miyamura’s Jameson Ferguson and Sean Spolar in the semifinals they fell to Albuquerque Academy’s Adrian Hanna and Austin Curtis by a 6-4 “It was kinda hard to sleep that night,” Kaufman said “Not that we could have done anything about it.” Kaufman said Hanna and Curtis might be his biggest foils at the state tournament depending on if they play in the singles bracket He already owns a win over Curtis when the teams faced off in a March 10 dual match If anyone believes Kaufman can bring home a singles title “He can hang with anybody in the state,” Gould said though I’m not as privy to some of the 5A players I know that he has victories against a lot of them in his summer tournaments.” It helps that he has a temperament — and a mother — that keeps his emotions in check and Indian Border Security Forces soldiers lower their flags during a daily closing ceremony at the Wagah a joint post on the Pakistan and India border There was no immediate comment about the launch from India which blames Pakistan for the April 22 gun massacre that killed 26 people in the resort town of Pahalgam ISLAMABAD — Pakistan test fired a ballistic missile Saturday as tensions with India spiked over last month's deadly attack on tourists in the disputed Kashmir region The surface-to-surface missile has a range of 280 miles which blames Pakistan for the April 22 gun massacre in the resort town of Pahalgam Pakistan's military said the launch of the Abdali Weapon System was aimed at ensuring the “operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters,” including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced maneuverability features Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated those behind the successful test. Missiles are not fired toward the border area with India; they are normally fired into the Arabian Sea or the deserts of southwest Balochistan province Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali said Saturday's missile was named after a prominent Muslim conqueror of India “The timing of this launch is critical in the current geopolitical context,” Ali told The Associated Press He said the test was intended as a strategic signal to India after it had threatened to suspend a crucial water-sharing treaty India's navy said on April 27 that its vessels had successfully undertaken anti-ship firings to “revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms systems and crew for long-range precision offensive strike.” Ashok Malik, a former policy adviser in India's Foreign Ministry, said there was anger across the country following the gun attack. The 26 victims came from 13 different states. there is enormous sympathy for India and little patience with Pakistan," said Malik "I don’t believe anybody in India wants a full-fledged war there is domestic pressure and diplomatic space for a sharp The ongoing “muscle flexing” by both countries' troops was reflective of the tense mood and also apparent in the “unremitting hostilities” on the Line of Control Kashmir is split between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety They have fought two of their three wars over the stunning Himalayan region and their ties have been shaped by conflict, aggressive diplomacy and mutual suspicion, mostly due to their competing claims over Kashmir The latest flare-up led the two countries to expel each other’s diplomats and nationals India suspended the exchange of all mail from Pakistan through air and surface routes and slapped an immediate ban on the direct and indirect import of all goods from its neighbor India has also banned Pakistani-flagged ships from entering its ports and prohibited Indian-flagged vessels from visiting Pakistani ports India's military said Saturday that Pakistani troops had fired at positions across the border for a ninth consecutive night The statement called the firing unprovoked and said Indian troops “responded promptly and proportionately.” Pakistan did not confirm the exchange of fire at the Line of Control The incident could not be independently verified each side has accused the other of starting border skirmishes Passions ran high among the Pakistanis who traveled to the Wagah crossing with India to see the famous flag-lowering ceremony The spectacle involves Pakistan’s Rangers and India’s border Security Force in a dramatic parade on either side of the crossing Shoaib-ur-Rehman said no other experience stirred such powerful feelings of patriotism in him and that he witnessed “extraordinary emotions” during Saturday’s ceremony Rehman expressed his opposition to a war with India but said he would fight alongside Pakistan’s military if one broke out Sundas Batool wanted India to provide evidence about Pakistan’s involvement in the Pahalgam attack referring to the crowds on the other side of the border “My message to India is: We are ready for anything.” Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett speaks during an interview with Liz Claman on Fox Business Network’s Countdown to the Closing Bell Warren Buffett shocked an arena full of his shareholders by announcing that he wants to retire at the end of the year Buffett said he will recommend to Berkshire Hathaway’s board that Greg Abel should become CEO at the end of the year OMAHA, Neb. — Billionaire Warren Buffett shocked an arena full of shareholders Saturday by announcing he will retire at the end of the year bringing the curtain down on a six-decade run leading Berkshire Hathaway that made him the most influential investor in the world Buffett said he will recommend to Berkshire Hathaway’s board Sunday that Vice Chairman Greg Abel should replace him “I think the time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive officer of the company at year end,” Buffett said Abel has been Buffett’s designated successor for years and he already manages all of Berkshire’s noninsurance businesses But it was always assumed that he would not take over until after Buffett’s death the 94-year-old Buffett always said he had no plans to retire Buffett announced the news at the end of a five-hour question and answer period without taking any questions about it He said the only board members who knew this was coming were his two children Abel returned an hour later without Buffett to conduct the company’s formal business meeting “I just want to say I couldn’t be more humbled and honored to be part of Berkshire as we go forward,” Abel said Many investors have said they believe Abel will do a good job running Berkshire but it remains to be seen how good he will be at investing Berkshire’s cash Buffett endorsed him Saturday by pledging to keep his fortune invested in the company “I have no intention — zero — of selling one share of Berkshire Hathaway I will give it away eventually,” Buffett said “The decision to keep every share is an economic decision because I think the prospects of Berkshire will be better under Greg’s management than mine.” Thousands of investors in the Omaha arena gave Buffett a prolonged standing ovation after his announcement in recognition of his 60 years leading the company During that period Berkshire nearly doubled the returns of the S&P 500 with a 19.9% compounded annual growth rate compared with the index’s 10.4% gain Buffett had such a devoted following among investors that markets would move when his investments were disclosed because so many people copied him CFRA research analyst Cathy Seifert said it had to be hard for Buffett to decide to step down “This was probably a very tough decision for him but better to leave on your own terms,” Seifert said “I think there will be an effort at maintaining a ‘business as usual’ environment at Berkshire Abel has already been running much of the company for years But he hasn’t been managing Berkshire’s insurance operations or deciding where to invest all of its cash but Vice Chairman Ajit Jain will remain to help oversee the insurance companies Investment manager Omar Malik of Hosking Partners in London said before Buffett’s announcement that he wasn’t worried about Berkshire’s future under Abel He’s had such a long time alongside Warren and a chance to know the businesses,” Malik said about Abel “The question is will he allocate capital as dynamically as Warren But I think he’ll do a fine job with the support of the others.” Cole Smead of Smead Capital Management said he wasn’t surprised Buffett is stepping down after watching him Saturday because the 94-year-old wasn’t as sharp as in past years he made a basic math mistake in one of his answers he got off track while telling stories about Berkshire and his investing without answering the question he was asked Abel is well regarded by Berkshire’s managers and Buffett has praised his business acumen for years But he will have a hard time matching Buffett’s legendary performance and since he doesn’t control 30% of Berkshire’s stock like Buffett does “I think the challenge he’s going to have is if anyone is going to give him Buffett or (former Vice Chairman Charlie) Munger’s pass card Buffett always enjoyed a devoted following among shareholders Buffett has said that Abel might even be a more hands-on manager than he is and get more out of Berkshire’s companies Managers within the company say they have to be well prepared before talking to Abel because they know he will ask tough questions said he never thought he would see Buffett retire “I didn’t think he would retire while his mind is still working so well nor did I think it’d happen at the annual meeting,” Check said Buffett warned of dire global consequences from President Donald Trump’s tariffs while telling the thousands of investors gathered at his annual meeting that “trade should not be a weapon” but “there’s no question that trade can be an act of war.” Buffett said Trump’s trade policies have raised the risk of global instability by angering the rest of the world “It’s a big mistake in my view when you have 7.5 billion people who don’t like you very well and you have 300 million who are crowing about how they have done,” Buffett said as he addressed the topic on everyone’s mind at the start of the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting While Buffett said it is best for trade to be balanced between countries he doesn’t think Trump is going about it the right way with his widespread tariffs He said the world will be safer if more countries are prosperous Buffett said he just doesn’t see many attractively priced investments that he understands these days so Berkshire is sitting on $347.7 billion in cash but he predicted that one day Berkshire will be “bombarded with opportunities that we will be glad we have the cash for.” Buffett said the recent turmoil in the markets that generated headlines after Trump’s tariff announcement last month “is really nothing.” He dismissed the recent drop as relatively small He cited when the Dow Jones industrial average went from 240 on the day he was born in 1930 down to 41 during the Great Depression as a truly significant drop in the markets Currently the Dow Jones Industrial Average sits at 41,317.43 “This has not been a dramatic bear market or anything of the sort,” he said Buffett said he hasn’t bought back any of Berkshire’s shares this year either because they don’t seem to be a bargain either who is president of Semper Augustus Investments Group told the Gabelli investment conference Friday that a financial crisis might be the best thing for Berkshire because it would create opportunities to invest at attractive prices I mean Berkshire thrives in crisis,” Bloomstran said The meeting attracts some 40,000 people every year who want to hear from Buffett including some celebrities and well-known investors Clinton was the last candidate Buffett backed publicly because he has shied away from politics and any controversial topic in recent years for fear of hurting Berkshire’s businesses One investor even camped outside the arena overnight to be first in line said he has faith in Berkshire’s future and does not plan to sell the stock he started buying in the 1980s “It’s been a good train to ride,” Bisher said