Taos Police Department and New Mexico State Police are investigating a crash Thursday morning (May 1) on Kit Carson Road near Dragoon Lane and Quesnel Police are investigating what reports from witnesses indicate was a high speed crash on Kit Carson Road around 8 a.m Taos Police Police Chief Mark Archuleta confirmed said she was talking to a coworker inside Wanda Lucero's State Farm Insurance Agency where she works when they heard the crash saw a cloud of dust and a severely damaged Jeep the jeep was crushed; I told her to stay still and help was coming," Miera said Emergency personnel arrived on scene and to extract the driver from the vehicle Speaking to the Taos News at the scene around 8:45 a.m Taos Police Officer Brian Garcia said more information will be forthcoming He indicated a crash reconstruction team was on its way to assist the investigation Drivers are advised to avoid the area which is closed to traffic This is a developing story. Check taosnews.com for updates The following is a condensed list of reports made to Taos Central Dispatch within the Town of Taos from April 23–27 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist 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 An official website of the United States government Open Search  Mobile Menu < All Public Input & Actions TAOS N.M. – Beginning May 1, 2025, the Bureau of Land Management Taos Field Office will begin selling personal use fuelwood permits The prices for each permit will be $12 per cord Permits may be purchased online at forestproducts.blm.gov or in-person at the following locations: Taos Field Office1024 Paseo del Pueblo SurTaos New Mexico Public Lands Information Center301 Dinosaur TrailSanta Fe Online sales require payment with a credit or debit card. If you are purchasing a permit online you must have access to a printer as you will be required to print your permit and haul tags Maps and instructions are also available online Fuelwood permits are valid for 90 days and apply only to lands managed by the Taos Field Office Permittees should be aware of the following changes prior to purchasing: Maps of open wood-cutting areas, along with all rules concerning fuelwood collection, will be available at the time of purchase. To access fuelwood area maps, please visit: https://www.blm.gov/maps/frequently-requested/new-mexico Penalties for cutting or removing wood from BLM lands without a valid fuelwood permit can be more than $300 Fines for cutting green trees start at $300 At the discretion of a BLM Law Enforcement Officer illegally cut fuelwood and any equipment used can be confiscated from illegal woodcutters For further information contact BLM Taos Field Office Natural Resources Specialist and Special Forest Product Lead Kyle Ott at 575-377-5656 The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations An official website of the Department of the Interior Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission No one knows exactly how it started, but about a year ago a pair of low-profile white sneakers started to take over one working-moms Facebook group in Chicago I got the tip from my own mother — a member of the group — who noticed that more and more moms were recommending the brand Taos in response to ISO posts seeking comfortable yet dressy-enough work and vacation shoes white leather sneakers that she could wear to her office at Wonder Works Children’s Museum At the office, she effused about the shoes’ comfort and cuteness to the point that her boss, Rachel Weber, purchased a chunkier black pair for herself communications expert Dawn Glossa would field compliments whenever she wore her cherry-red pair to the office or while “bopping around.” Meanwhile the director of annual giving at Dominican University was touring Prague in her white leather Taos were so comfortable and versatile on the trip that she recommended them to even more people in the Facebook group when she got home fans credit the wide toe box and inclusive size range — which runs generally from size 6 to 12 — as part of the appeal “A lot of different shoe manufacturers don’t make size 11s,” says Weber (Just note: Retired nurse-midwife Shirley Moore recommends sizing up a half size for the leather sneakers in particular as the material has less give.) each one either had an entire collection of Taos or was in the process of picking out a second pair “I would order shoes and just have them sent to my house then I would post them in our Slack groups,” she told me all of which were a different color or pattern By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York Advertiser DisclosureAdvertiser Disclosure 237 Published Articles 1017 Edited Articles Opinions and recommendations are ours alone the New Mexico ski resort known for its exceptional powder snow you’ll have a new option this winter: nonstop flights on JSX The “semi-private” air carrier JSX will resume seasonal flights to Taos (TSM) from 4 cities across Texas and the West Coast starting December 9 as ski season starts in earnest in early December The carrier will offer flights from Dallas-Love Field (DAL) and Austin Executive Airport (EDC) in Texas as well as Burbank (BUR) and Carlsbad (CLD) in California The airline already serves Taos from Denver/Boulder (BJC) and Las Vegas (LAS) JSX offers a so-called “semi-private” model Because it’s not a commercial airline and largely flies out of different facilities from traditional carriers it can streamline security screening and avoid crowds JSX can offer 20-minute check-in deadlines It also delivers your luggage right at the side of the jet meaning passengers don’t have to wait at baggage claim Its fleet is entirely made up of Embraer 135 and 145 jets fewer than they would have in regular airline service All JSX planes also offer free inflight Wi-Fi and power at every seat and JSX says skis and snowboards fly for no charge You can earn United MileagePlus miles or JetBlue TrueBlue points on your JSX flights; just add your member number for either program to your JSX booking Thanks to the partnership with United Airlines, JSX flights can be booked on United’s website too confirmed that JSX flights to Taos were bookable: Taos Ski Valley is known for its fluffy snow thanks to the high elevation — one of the lifts will deposit skiers at a height of 12,481 feet — and its desert air A closer option is Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF), about 80 miles away. It’s served by American from Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) and Phoenix (PHX) and by United from Denver (DEN) and Houston (IAH) Taos Ski Valley has long been a haven for expert skiers although it offers options for people who prefer intermediate-level slopes too Investment in lodging and dining has made it a more attractive destination lately and this new service from JSX will help many West Coast and Texas skiers get there faster With less hassle than normal commercial airlines and the possibility of earning miles on United and JetBlue JSX can be a convenient option for skiers headed to Taos — if they’re based near a city it serves Alberto joined UP in 2024 after serving as the international editor in chief of Forbes Advisor His passion for points and miles began when he moved to the U.S leading him to become the first managing editor of The Points Guy in 2017 Alberto has lived in Rome and Atlanta and now resides in Brooklyn has traveled to every continent except Antarctica Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy  and terms of service  apply OFFER ENDING SOONChase Sapphire Preferred® Card LIMITED TIME TRAVEL OFFERThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express BEST LOUNGE ACCESSThe Platinum Card® from American Express Privacy Policy | All Guides | Terms & Conditions | Web Accessibility Policy | Cookie Policy travel information and ancillary information concerning travel and credit cards The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial LLC uses reasonable efforts to maintain accurate information on the site — and prior to applying for any credit card offers found on UpgradedPoints.com all visitors should review other features of such credit cards including but not limited to interest rates and should determine the suitability of such credit cards considering their own individual financial position as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases Editorial Disclosure: The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been influenced or reviewed by the credit card companies mentioned comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer Our champion small SUV faces off against two shiny new rivals to find out who’s the real king of this mountaintop there are lots of great choices in this segment We’ve matched these two against last summer’s winner asking the automakers to send us top-of-the-line all-wheel-drive models stylish ride that delivers lots of features with the easy parking and decent fuel economy of a smaller vehicle we want big-SUV comfort with small-SUV convenience Hyundai sent a 2025 Kona nearly identical to last summer’s winner: a Limited model with no options save a set of floormats Not that the Limited needs any options; it’s lavishly equipped with Hyundai’s stellar Highway Driving Assist advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) Nissan’s new-for-2025 Kicks is the bargain of this set Its starting price is about $3,000 less than the cheapest versions of the Kona and Taos and the top-of-the-line Kicks SR AWD Nissan sent us undercut the Kona by $3,355 and the Taos by $4,655 and a very attractive red-and-black cloth-and-faux-leather interior A $1,950 Premium package added a 10-speaker Bose stereo with front-headrest speakers 19-inch wheels and metallic paint rounded out the options list and the $31,920 MSRP Volkswagen sent a top-of-the-lineup Taos SEL heated and cooled front seats with power adjustment for the driver and—here’s a surprise—genuine leather seating surfaces While the other two competitors offer front- or all-wheel drive for all trim levels the SEL version of the Taos comes with AWD standard Optional metallic paint brought the Volkswagen’s sticker up to a test-highest $36,575 No exotic destinations for these three; we evaluated them on home turf between the suburban wasteland of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley and the straight freeways and twisty canyon roads of Malibu We met up at our favorite pastrami spot—post-drive deliberations always go better with pastrami—and took some time to look over the vehicles First thing we agreed upon: None of these SUVs look like low-end models. We love the Kona’s Disney-robot styling; pair it with a Rivian R1S and they could be the comic-relief duo in the next Star Wars production we wonder how well the Kona’s design will age We’d say the new Kicks reminds us of the old Nissan Juke but we’re afraid some might interpret that as an insult From the browed front fenders to the complex D-pillar treatment with nifty-looking wheels and lots of handsome details in between it was easy to forget the Kicks was the least expensive subcompact SUV here We spent as much time admiring the insides of these subcompact SUVs as the outsides and again we found it difficult not to really like the Kona Our test car had a light gray interior that made it feel open and airy—so much so we can almost forgive the dinky single-pane sunroof The Kicks and Kona have panoramic sunroofs that let back-seaters enjoy the view We liked the Kona’s screen graphics and easy-to-use control layout and we took special note of the center console With the transmission shifter on the steering column and nifty retractable cupholders the Kona offers way more storage space than the other two Is Hyundai the only manufacturer really thinking about how much can be done with the space between the front seats supportive bottom cushion and plenty of vents But the adjustable backrest only has two positions both of which put the headrest pretty far from your head We found the Nissan’s interior as good-looking as the exterior It was the only SUV here with cloth seating surfaces on its otherwise-fake-leather seats as did the red stitching and trim on the doors and center console crisp dashboard screens reminded us the Kicks is the latest design here and we loved the instrument panel’s smooth The Kicks only had single-zone climate control versus dual-zone for its rivals but that’s an acceptable compromise for the lower price all our test drivers had trouble getting comfortable in the driver’s seat It wasn’t just the lack of power adjustment as found in the Kona and Taos though the Nissan’s ratcheting back rest didn’t help We found the back seat less supportive and more cramped than the others and although it has an armrest and USB ports but we also noticed the door panels for the back seat aren’t as nice as the ones up front Volkswagen did a great job dressing up the Taos’ interior with two-tone leather (real stuff under our butts The dashboard looks old-fashioned compared to the Kicks’ and the Kona’s but we liked how the instrument panel offers a choice of traditional analog-style gauges or a full-size moving map We aren’t fans of the capacitive-touch climate controls What really impressed us about the Taos was the space The VW has nearly 2 inches more headroom than the Kona and the Kicks Although the specs say the Hyundai offers more rear-seat legroom we found more stretch-out space in the Taos Same for the cargo area: On paper it trails the Kona by 0.6 cubic feet but our photographers had an easier time stowing their bulky gear into the Taos than the Kona These SUVs may be aimed at singles and childless couples but we all agreed the VW is the one best suited to a growing family it’s worth noting the Taos was the only SUV here not to win a safety award from IIHS but the Taos’ small-overlap crash rating of Average denied it such an honor Driving excitement was not top of our priority list during this test and yet we were genuinely surprised at how engaging these three SUVs are The Kona is the only one of these SUVs to offer a choice of engines If you buy the Limited model like the one here or the one-down-from-the-top N-Line while SE and SEL models get a 147-hp non-turbo 2.0 It’s no surprise the Kona was the quickest of this bunch and the Hyundai returned the worst fuel economy and the shortest cruising range of the three the Kona exhibits more body roll than the others though it did hang on nicely in the curves It was the quietest here and had the best-sounding stereo an adaptive-cruise control system that centers the Kona in its lane and steers it around curves (provided the driver keeps a hand on the wheel) is the best ADAS offered by this group it’s more likely to deliver on those numbers Acceleration is unexpectedly eager at low speeds to the degree that one editor wished for a little less punch when starting from rest But the power trails off as the speed builds and the engine is noisy when it works hard we expected great things from the ten-speaker Bose stereo but it didn’t sound any better than the VW’s six-speaker arrangement The Nissan Kicks is the lightest SUV of this group with great steering feel and nimble handling The ride is a bit stiffer than that of the Kona or Taos It lacks the solidity of the Taos and the softness of the Kona as if the chassis was engineered to a lower price point the new transmission was slow to downshift when we demanded power which made us miss the response of the Kicks’ CVT and the driving experience feels like a happy compromise between the softer Hyundai and the sportier Nissan The Taos’ IQ.Drive ADAS is nearly as good as the Kona’s if a bit more subtle; it will happily steer the little VW through some tricky curves (provided it senses an overriding hand on the wheel whereas the Kicks’ ProPilot system had more trouble with sharper turns the Taos feels the most substantial and well engineered of the lot and that’s exactly how it feels from behind the wheel we are impressed by the variety of vehicles on offer in this segment All three provide the big-SUV ambiance and convenience we always seek with heaping pastrami sandwiches before us The latter two competed in our previous comparison we think the Kicks would have come out ahead of them and the availability of all-wheel drive for less than $25,000 is a boon one of the best SUVs in the one-size-up compact category We spent a long time (and ate a lot of pastrami) deliberating between the 2025 Hyundai Kona and the 2025 Volkswagen Taos The Kona offers more features than the Taos—usable ones VW’s product planners should be a little ashamed the Taos SEL is bereft of features found in the top-line Kicks like brake auto-hold and a surround-view parking camera.) The Kona’s interior feels more modern than what the Taos offers we thought it would be a mid-pack competitor but driving it back to back with two competent rivals showed us what a practical vehicle it is The Kona appealed to our hearts; the Taos appealed to our heads We talked about how we use these cars in real life and its value equation is stronger than the VW’s but the updated Taos delivers more usability with a more upscale feel that’s worth a slightly higher car payment then; the Volkswagen Taos SEL is the winner ProsAttractive stylingGood fun to driveLow price pointConsCramped back seat and trunkUnsupportive driver’s seatNoisy engineVerdict A solid SUV aimed squarely at the middle of the market ProsGreat interiorExcellent ADASLots of features for the moneyConsThirsty engineDriving dynamics need improvementHow well will the styling age?Verdict ProsRoomy interiorGood balance of power and fuel economyGreat ADASConsHigh priceMissing features found in less-expensive rivalsNot-great safety scoresVerdict A well-thought-out SUV with room to grow for the future 2025 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD Specifications 2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL 4Motion Specifications Kumho Majesty9 Solus RA91235/45R19 99V M+S Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S225/45R19 92W M+S Subscribe to our newsletters to get the latest in car news and have editor curated stories sent directly to your inbox Be one of the first to try our new activity feed New Mexico's largest and most challenging ski area hides lots of secrets amid its 1,294 acres the drive up to the ski area was one of my favorite parts Gradually ascending from winter’s landscape of brown grass and gray asphalt into the deep greens of the pine trees and the snowy white peaks never failed to unlock my anticipation and love for skiing it was better than those first turns themselves That’s why I’m surprised when I turn off the highway to head up to Taos Ski Valley after a four-plus-hour drive from my home in Denver Since crossing over the Colorado–New Mexico border we’d been driving through rolling hills of high-desert scrub we drove uphill into some foothills outside the town of Questa that felt like the typical ski-area approach I turn left on Hondo Seco Road at the gas station town of Arroya Seco and embark on the most unusual ski-resort approach of my life The narrow two-lane road wends through a sleepy bedroom community lined with adobe houses in various states of repair and a community school with well-used basketball courts and playground A color palette of reds and rusty-browns with occasional pops of turquoise accents replace the typical deep greens and whites of the mountain landscape frothing for the powder and steeps they’d seen in videos of Taos Ski Valley it wasn’t until the last 15 minutes of our drive that you’d even guess we were headed to a world-class ski resort for what would be some of the best skiing of our winter Tucked away in the Sangre de Cristo mountains everything about the ski area is contrary to what most skiers are used to I’ve been skiing since I was in grade school and have lived in the West for the last 20 years but I had never made it down to Taos before this winter The resort had been high on my bucket list for years; it often lands in the Top 5 in our annual Reader Resort Survey and my colleagues who know the place gush about it Yet they can never seem to really explain what’s so special One thing I knew for sure is that Taos is known for its steep and not for people looking for a low-key cruiser mountain Taos Ski Valley came to life in 1955 after Swiss-German skier Ernie Blake spotted the perfect location to build a ski resort while flying his Cessna between the two ski areas he helped operate Ski Santa Fe and the now-defunct Glenwood Springs Ski Basin A former silver- and gold-ore mining location the future destination ski area located in Carson National Forest had the main attributes  he was seeking: a remote location and good vertical The ski area’s first lifts were surface conveyors including a J-Bar in 1956 and a platter in 1957 and their young family would spend the next few decades molding Taos Ski Valley into a truly unique mountain destination that now comprises 110 trails and 13 lifts across its 1,294 skiable acres we saunter out to the base to meet our guide and stop in front of a huge sign across from The Blake’s ski valet “Don’t Panic: You’re Looking at only 1/30th of Taos Ski Valley,” it reads “People freak out when they first see the mountain,” laughs Joshua Berman an instructor with the resort’s Snowsports School and our guide for the day who famously skied with an oxygen mask and a tank on his back until his death in 1982 Al’s is a heck of an introduction to the ski area the black-diamond run is intimidating in good snow years Despite timing our trip after a series of storms dropped over a foot of snow on the slopes We decide to put it off until later in the trip One thing I’d always heard about Taos Ski Valley is that it needs a lot of snow to ski well Yet despite it being a low-tide season thus far we were pleasantly surprised to find the mountain almost entirely open and skiing nicely we might not have figured out exactly how to ski it without Berman’s direction—and our willingness to hike for the goods After getting our ski legs under us with a couple laps off of Lift 2 we’re ready to get right into the meat of this place Berman— who is no relation to this writer—shares that while they’re still a few good storms away from opening the Kachina Peak terrain We click out of our skis at the top of Lift 2 It’s the Saturday of President’s Day weekend and there’s a steady flow of skiers and snowboarders embarking on the 15-minute bootpack There’s a lot of stopping to catch our breath—the air is thin up here at 11,000-plus feet has a wealth of knowledge about the region and shares nuggets of information along the way he points to N.M.’s tallest mountain By the time we step back into our skis and prep for the descent we’re at full lung capacity and ready to go Berman takes us into the glades off Highline Ridge We spend the next few hours exploring the western side of the resort Berman is a pro at finding untracked lines and sharing sometimes obscure bits of wisdom about his adopted home hill At the top of Lift 4 we traverse over to Hunziker Bowl Berman stops and peers up at the closed Kachina terrain but knew there was a good chance it wouldn’t be It’s entirely dependent on snow; historically it’s opened as early as late December in some years the Kachina Peak Express opened in 2015 to much local chagrin in addition to the 12.500-foot expert terrain getting overrun it would attract skiers who weren’t skilled enough to get down the zone’s steep pitches and technical entrances But Taos’ remote location (thanks Ernie Blake!) combined with mountain ops’ judicious decisions around when to run the lift—it often shuts down in wind and big storms—has not caused those fears to bear out even hardcore locals have come to appreciate the 1,100-foot ride to the summit there’s still plenty of opportunity to bootpack 30 to 45 minutes up the ridge and drop in wherever they like Kachina was only accessible via hiking from the gate at the top of Lift 2,” says Berman ski patrol will typically open the peak to hike access only for at least a day prior to opening the chairlift TSV was founded by Ernie and Rhoda Blake with an intent of maintaining a European-style mountaineering element For many of the locals and visitors who hold a special affinity to the mountain hiking Kachina Peak is a rite-of-passage and a way to experience the wild space in a truly intimate way.” the boys and I plan our entire day around lunch As hardcore skiers and admitted cheapskates who often brown-bag it But The Bavarian isn’t your typical ski-area cafeteria fare The wooden-chalet-style restaurant opened in 1996 and was constructed in the style of its namesake mountain huts in the Alps That’s also where the menu takes its inspiration especially on clear days when skiers want to enjoy a hefeweizen on the big and there’s already a line of about 20 people including different types of bratwurst and a traditional Wiener schnitzel We order a sausage sampler—three types of bratwurst with different mustards—the Wiener schnitzel platter with a setting that can’t be beat on a nice day there are plenty of other tributes to Ernie Blake and his original vision for Taos Ski Valley despite its growth since private-equity billionaire and conservationist Louis Bacon purchased the ski area in 2013 the 80-room property at the base that anchors the small but bustling village full-service hotel was a first among Taos smaller inns Its debut marked Taos’ entry into the destination ski resort market with the hotel offering amenities such as a ski valet The Blake Residences followed a few years later offering 26 one- to three-room residences with full kitchens and their own ski lockers for larger groups looking for more room Balancing the resort’s need to build and modernize with the community’s desire to retain its soul is constantly top of mind for Taos Ski Valley Chief Operations Officer John Kelly “We live in a very special community here that has a history and cultural diversity that most ski towns don’t have,” Kelly explains A motto of ours is ‘improve everything but change nothing.’ Another thing we talk about a lot is the philosophy of ‘better Bernard Hotel at the base is a great example of this the iconic inn built by Ernie Blake’s dear friend and Taos Ski School founder Jean Mayer (pronounced “May-ay”) existed for 60 years as the beating heart of the village Its central hearth and bar were the site of many legendary gatherings But the circa-1960 building was no longer compatible with building safety and fire codes so when Bacon purchased the building in 2021 demolishing and rebuilding was the only logical option the old-timey ski murals that adorned the outside of the St Bernard were salvaged and rehung on the new building but all of the old photos and relics from the bar and restaurant have been moved to storage during the rebuilding process and will be returned when the new St “The old hotel was like a museum,” laughs Kelly “We’re not losing sight of the history and what makes this place so special.” We spend the rest of our time on the mountain hiking from the top of Chair 2 We revisit many spots we discovered with our guide including one that we return to several times because the boys like it so much Stauffenberg is reached via the West Basin route We’re clicking in at the top when a lone skier strikes up a conversation About as good as you’ll find on the mountain right now each making crisp jump turns through the steep entrance through the middle of the run which is lined on both sides with rocks and trees we nod goodbye to our ski buddy and look back up at our lines in Stauffenberg We may not have gotten to ski Kachina this time—which did finally open in late March—we don’t feel like we didn’t find enough great skiing to make Taos worth the trip but the most direct is taking I-25 to Route 160 which turns into Route 522 once you cross over the New Mexico border If you’re flying, JSX Air offers service from Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Denver right to Taos’ small regional airport. Check out the schedule here which serves eight different airlines; the drive from ABQ to the ski resort is just under three hours The Blake is a great basecamp for a Taos ski trip especially a quick visit when you want to be close to the action The main hotel portion of The Blake is slopeside which are housed in a separate building a bit deeper into the village you still have access to all of The Blake’s hotel amenities but you also get full kitchens and more room to spread out The other full-service option in the village is the Edelweiss Lodge & Spa. It’s ski-in/ski-out, with a ski valet, hot tub and sauna, and the Blonde Bear Italian restaurant. If you prefer a more intimate lodging, the Brownell Chalet has four private rooms of varying sizes and the house-made German cuisine is tasty and filling The Euro-tinged menu includes dishes like Seared Ahi Tuna Nicoise and Spicy Bison Meatball Pasta We hung out and watched a replay of the Kicking Horse stop of the Freeride World Tour comp with other families The après scene at the base is small but lively They also serve pizza by the slice and by the pie And Rhoda’s is a communal gathering spot for cold drafts and good conversation The artsy town of Taos is about 30 minutes from the ski area If you have an off-slope day and enjoy gallery hopping There are over 70 art galleries in town showcasing works by local through internationally renowned artists home to the historic Hotel La Fonda and its art-filled lobby as well as some easily walkable galleries Dining in the town of Taos is an event in and of itself especially if you like authentic Southwestern fare Orlando’s home-cooked Mexican is fresh and delicious Try the shrimp tacos or the tamales with red and green (Christmas) chile authentic Pueblo with various relics from the region’s past Due to working around teenagers’ school and sports schedules While everyone we talked to was sure to let us know that it was busier than usual save for that first Saturday after a storm brought much-needed freshies to the slopes Our home resorts were mobbed that entire weekend so Taos’ version of crowded was a welcome respite to this Colorado Front Range crew I might have planned the trip later into the season to help ensure that we didn’t miss out on Kachina Peak especially now that we know how easy the drive is do take note that Taos is a high-elevation ski area We felt the altitude even coming from Denver’s 5,280 and prioritize sleep both leading up to and during your trip In the excitement to get up to the ski area we forgot to stop at a grocery store to stock up on reasonably priced essentials There are two small shops in the village that carry bottled water and basic groceries and the like Next time we’ll hit the supermarket before we turn onto the access road to pick up some easy breakfast options and snacks is that we didn’t build in a day to spend down in the town of Taos but the galleries were all closed for the day and I would have liked to spend more time there Testing skis and winter gear is hard work (just ask our boot testers)—but someone's gotta do it or sign up for a new account to continue reading We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content Since you viewed this item previously you can read it again Unlimited access to the Taos News website for a full year!  Plan includes access to our e-edition print replica online.  Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period Unlimited access to the Taos News website for 30 days.  Plan includes access to our e-edition print replica online.  Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period Unlimited access to the Taos News website for 30 days.  Plan includes access to our e-edition print replica online.  This is a one-time purchase.  Your subscription will not renew The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! 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We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for a full year!  For readers who live in New Mexico but outside of Taos County.  Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online.  Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for 26 weeks!  For readers who live in New Mexico but outside of Taos County.  Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online.  Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for 26 weeks For readers who live in New Mexico but outside of Taos County Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for 13 weeks!  For readers who live in New Mexico but outside of Taos County.  Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online.  Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for 13 weeks The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence every week for a full year!  Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online.  Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence every week for 26 weeks!  Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online.  Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence every week for 26 weeks The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence every week for 13 weeks!  Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online.  Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence every week for 13 weeks no promotional deals were found matching that code fashion designer and Taos Pueblo resident Patricia Michaels The Taos Historical Society celebrates their 2025 honoree with a luncheon this Sunday (May 4) fashion designer and Taos Pueblo resident Patricia Michaels will be on-hand for the event (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) will be led by Ilona Spruce of Taos Pueblo Patricia Michaels became a household name across America when she appeared and was the runner-up on Emmy award-winning season two of "Project Runway." Michaels has been producing one-of-a-kind haute couture that transcends cultures and defies fashion trends all which greatly influenced her design aesthetic Her Native culture is deeply rooted in New Mexico Michaels is the recipient of several national awards. Learn more about her at patricia-michaels.com With panel discussion on Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act led by Ilona Spruce For more information, visit taoscountyhistoricalsociety.org and patricia-michaels.com but it doesn’t stand out in a super competitive segment it also has a decent amount of space for the segment But does it do enough to stand out in a super-hot segment the uplevel Taos SEL 4Motion we recently tested does a solid job of holding your stuff and compares favorably to two of its primary rivals in its segment the Ford Bronco Sport and the Subaru Crosstrek At 24.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row up it doesn’t approach the Bronco Sport’s 32.5 cubic feet Total cargo space for the SEL 4Motion Taos is 60.2 cubic feet when the second row is folded which splits the difference between the Bronco Sport’s 65.2 and the Crosstrek’s 54.9 (Those numbers increase slightly when you opt for the FWD Taos which adds another 3.0 cubes with the seats up and 5.7 with the seats down.) No one will mistake the Taos for a rugged SUV even when equipped with its 4Motion AWD system and both the Crosstrek and Bronco Sport outclass it when it comes to off-pavement work It does have off-road mode settings you can use but it lacks the ground clearance of the Ford and Subaru the 1.5-liter turbo inline-four under the hood of the 2025 Taos makes 174 hp (up from 158 hp) and 184 lb-ft of torque The VW’s output suffers by comparison with the Bronco Sport’s base 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder's 181 hp and 190 lb-ft (the Bronco Sport is also available with a far more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four with 250 hp) but it’s more or less on par with the 182 hp and 178 lb-ft generated by the Crosstrek’s uplevel and 7.3 for a 2023 Bronco Sport with the 2.0-liter) When we hit the brakes hard on the 2025 Taos SEL 4Motion we tested its best stop from 60 mph came in 127 feet slightly better than the 131 feet of the 2023 Bronco Sport but not as short as the Subaru’s 123 feet That might also be down to the Taos having a bit less mass than the Ford and more than the Subaru it weighed 117 pounds heavier than the 2024 Crosstrek we tested but was 273 pounds lighter than the 2023 Bronco Sport We also experienced some vibrations during our emergency stops in the Taos as the tires chattered and the ABS dealt with the lack of bite once again the 2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL 4Motion splits the difference between the Bronco Sport and the Crosstrek At 25/33/28 mpg city/highway/combined and capable of traveling up to 406 miles on a single tank of regular fuel the Taos bests the Ford regardless of powertrain (both Ford engines and the VW utilize an eight-speed automatic) save the range for the base Bronco Sport engine (25/29/265 and 416 miles for the 1.5 and 21/26/23 and 368 for the 2.0) The story changes when you compare it to the Subaru and its CVT-equipped AWD drivetrain At 26/33/29 for the 2.5-liter Crosstrek (at 27/34/29 the base 2.0-liter equipped model is even better) and it can travel an extra 75 miles (481 miles) to a single tank If you don’t mind giving up some cargo room the Crosstrek offers better fuel economy and more range and on balance it costs less than an equivalent Taos it can be either more or less expensive than the Taos depending on the powertrain and trim you choose And while neither of the Ford’s engines is as efficient as the ones powering the VW and the Subaru the Broncos are arguably the most impressive of the trio off pavement and are far and away the tops in cargo space 1.5L turbo direct-injected DOHC 16-valve I-4 A yellow newsstand and a beat-up washing machine are hauled out of the Slide Trail in County Road 110 on Wednesday (April 16) Volunteer Michael Bauer carries small pieces of aluminum cans left by people on the cliffside of the Slide Train Wednesday (April 16) Friends of the Rio Grande’s Outreach Coordinator Ben Mortensen directs trail traffic away from the clean up operation at the Slide Trail Wednesday (April 16) A volunteer unloads scrap metal hauled from the bottom of Slide Trail Wednesday (April 16) The UTVs used during the clean-up operation at the Slide Trail on County Road 110 The vehicle had to back into the trail to make loading the large debris and getting out of the trail easier Bureau of Land Management Park Ranger and volunteer Kyle Conway look at the bundle of debris being hauled out of the canyon at the Slide Trail Wednesday (April 16) The floating pile of scrap from the Slide Trail is extracted from the cliff side Wednesday (April 16) Volunteer Michael Bauer gets to the trail after assisting in bundling the large debris and scrap metal from the bottom of Slide Trail in County Road 110 Wednesday (April 16) Volunteers load the UTV with garbage and drive to the parking lot to unload them into the dumpster provided by Taos County Wednesday (April 16) at the Slide Trail Volunteers sit on a pile of scrap recovered from the Slide Trail Wednesday (April 16) to make sure it doesn't fall on the way to the dumpster in the parking lot nearby Taos Ski Valley Fire Chief Matt Rogers and Taos Ski Valley Ski Patrol Nano Lucero set up the rigging required to haul the trash out of the Slide Trail cliffs Wednesday (April 16) It was a bright Wednesday morning (April 16) and the Slide Trail at the end of County Road 110 was closed for more-than routine maintenance: Down the cliffside a crew of climbers hauled out old appliances mattresses and other junk people have tossed into the Rio Pueblo de Taos Gorge over the past 50 years A few small cones blocked the top of the trail and a small sign instructed hikers not to enter Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument Outreach Coordinator Ben Mortensen redirected foot traffic headed to the trail and explained what was going on that day near the confluence of the Rio Pueblo and Rio Grande “As partners with the Bureau of Land Management we have worked with the Taos Ski Valley team to be able to make this Slide Trail cleanup happen today,” Mortensen said “The generous funding of the LOR Foundation gave us the technical equipment required for such a pullout event like this This was not something that we could do just by hand It has taken many partners to come up with the technical design to make this possible.” The Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is a nonprofit that collaborates with local and federal agencies to help preserve the federally-designated monument and professionals paid through a donation from the LOR Foundation the friends cleaned up decades' worth of large debris and trash from the scenic view overlooking the bottom of the Rio Grande Gorge Mortenson said the operation began in November 2024 when the group descended the same ridge to cut the larger items of junk into manageable pieces and pile it together for collection later because trashed items that remain in place for 50 years or more become historical artifacts and no longer may be removed from the landscape Those who are sentimental about the rusted car that remains partway down the side of the gorge — there were once many more — may rest easy: It will never be removed After several months of planning and preparation the team returned in April with reinforcements Taos Ski Valley Fire Chief Matt Rogers and Taos Ski Valley Ski Patrol's Nano Lucero both volunteered to aid the retrieval effort and expertise to assist the volunteers at the bottom in hauling the trash up the steep just a bunch of stuff that kids or people have thrown over the years and have been down there for decades,” Rogers said We’re going to see how far we can get today.” The newspaper box hauled out of the Rio Pueblo canyon in April was yellow There was no publication name on the old box until a rockslide in 1993 closed it — was used as the pullout mission's forward operating base for the volunteers on the cliffside and the brave souls by the river had climbing equipment to get up and down the cliff face who was at the bottom cleaning up with a few other good Samaritans strapping old newsstands and scrap metal to a pulley system to haul them up they know what they’re doing; very confident and competent,” Bauer said “When I started the investigation for the trail clean up I got nothing but wholehearted support from everybody It’s been a positive and uplifting experience to garner engagement and everyone’s cooperation around the common cause of preserving and upholding the sacredness of our land here: saving the breathtaking beauty and undoing some of the sacrilege that has been done in the past.” Bauer also thanked several individuals in a follow-up email after the cleanup He thanked Mortensen and his volunteers; the LOR Foundation including retired ranger Randy Roch and recently promoted field manager Eric Valencia; District 3 Taos County Commissioner Darlene Vigil; and Edward Martinez the team pulled garbage up and made their way up the cliffside to load it into all-terrain vehicles held years of experience in their respective fields The men below the cliff showed great strength and coordination racing up and down the cliffside to load the garbage onto their final destination the team of volunteers drove the load to the dumpster repeating the process until the job was done If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor An Everywhere Taos customer shows off a ring purchased Saturday (April 26) A subtle stain glass storefront sign outside of Everywhere Taos signals the shop's unique selection of home goods sundries and more inside Everywhere Taos in Cabot Plaza Saturday (April 26) A centerpiece spread of artisan stones is displayed at Everywhere Taos Bandanas and beaded flowers on display at Everywhere Taos Saturday (April 26) Several ladies touring Northern New Mexico stopped by Everywhere Taos Saturday afternoon (April 26) during their visit to Taos Everywhere Taos — a home goods shop featuring woody floral perfumes artisanal brooms and tapered pastel candles — is the latest business to set up shop inside the Cabot … artisanal brooms and tapered pastel candles — is the latest business to set up shop inside the Cabot Plaza mall owner Elizabeth Cronin was quietly minding her shop when a tumbleweed of grey fur whirled past her legs her admittedly troublesome but people-loving Pomeranian She scooped the quivering puppy — tail wagging taking a seat beneath sculptural light fixtures hanging overhead “They’re supposed to be my wife’s eyes,” Cronin said glancing at the pair of almond eyes on her shop’s sign and logo “I’m actually such an introvert when I’m not in my store I stay home with my wife and I’s dogs to chill The store really gives me an outlet for meeting and bringing people in who are like-minded [and] who are also drawn to beautiful things or beautiful smells.”  worked as a master florist for many years in the Windy City and was a panelist judge on the HBO television show She opened a second location in 2019 in Chicago’s West Loop then expanded its website during the COVID-19 pandemic The boutique appeared on MTV’s “The Real World,” which was filmed across the street in the early 2000s Eventually the physicality of floral arrangement took its toll so she decided it was time to try something new it’s a really physically taxing job,” Cronin said My body was no longer interested in the manual labor of flowers so that’s when I decided it was time to do something different.” Cronin had noticed most shops in Chicago took a niche approach to sales to feel like a collection of all of the things she loves Cronin brought the light fixtures from her previous stores and the table and rug came from her dining room and my wife and I had already bought the house here,” Cronin said “We were kind of going back and forth to Chicago They brought me into the building and I was like ‘This is the most amazing building I’ve ever seen.’” Jewelry for sale at Everywhere Taos is sourced from local and international jewelers Perfumes are largely unisex and artwork is available from an assortment of artists who make handmade brooms “These taper candles have been a big seller,” Cronin said There’s lots of candle holders to put them in Cronin will finish expanding her store into an adjoining space featuring tall ceilings curling wood bannisters and an outdoor courtyard with tables and chairs She plans to host community events and workshops such as flower-arranging and jewelry-crafting “My friend is an amazing cheesemonger back in Chicago "We’re going to do a cheese and wine dinner There will be lots of sofas and cozy spots I just want to continue growing and building community.” Cronin is considering transforming part of her expanded shop into a coworking hub “A lot of people say there’s so few places to work in Taos and there’s a lot of remote workers here that want to get out of their house," she said ‘Get me out of the Earthship for a while!’”  Although Cronin is focused on her new boutique she will still teach floral retreats at Ghost Ranch this summer “People will learn about flower-arranging,” she said “I’ve been doing them for some years and they’re always really popular so I decided to move them from the Midwest to out here I’m so excited to do them at Ghost Ranch and I hope to offer them every year I’m not really doing any flowers anymore.” Cronin beamed while considering what she loves most about Taos She credits the like-minded people she’s met being able to spend time in nature and learning about different cultures she donates 5 percent of every sale to the Taos Pueblo Foundation “ I’ve never felt like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be as I have since I came here,” Cronin said “When we were going back and forth to Chicago every time I’d have to leave here and go home to Chicago I’d cry because I had to say bye to the mountains “I think the women in Taos are specifically spectacular Every woman here is like a badass Swiss Army knife babe and they’re also making amazing jewelry or beautiful clothing "Every woman here is like a badass Swiss Army knife babe They’ve got four kids in tow and they’re also making amazing jewelry or beautiful clothing and Kyla Stow were among those who gathered Tuesday evening (April 29) to protest the administration of Vista Grande Charter High School where alleged threats posted to social media forced the school to suspend classes for two days Police are investigating the online comments Vista Grande Charter High School is open Wednesday (April 30) after being closed for two consecutive days while New Mexico State Police investigated alleged online threats against an administrator and alleged bullying and threats against staff and students Director Jim Smith confirmed Tuesday night the school will reopen its campus to students The threat or threats were logged in a series of Instagram posts late last week and over the past weekend The Instagram posts snowballed after there was a verbal confrontation between administrators and a longtime teacher at the school over an unspecified matter Some parents and students rallied against the administration this week and a protest was held outside the school on Paseo del Cañon East Tuesday evening public information officer for New Mexico State Police said the agency could not comment on the ongoing investigation This story was updated April 30 to reflect that an unidentified longtime teacher was not asked to resign The teacher was placed on administrative leave Pick up a copy of the May 1 edition of Taos News to read more Taos County Sheriff’s Deputies recovered the body of Eliodoro Justin Plath of Albuquerque Tuesday morning (April 15) below the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge The circumstances of Plath's death are still unknown Taos County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a call of an abandoned vehicle parked at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge they recovered the body of Eliodoro Justin Plath of Albuquerque below the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge Taos County Sheriff’s Deputies recovered the body of Eliodoro Justin Plath of Albuquerque Tuesday morning (April 15) below  the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge Taos County Sheriff’s Deputies recovered the body of Eliodoro Justin Plath of Albuquerque Tuesday morning (April 15) below the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge The recovery followed a report of an abandoned vehicle parked at the bridge the previous night “Although this appears to be yet another suicide at this problematic bridge Marvin Armijo with the Taos County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release An investigation led to the discovery that the vehicle belonged to Plath who has been entered as a missing person with the Santa Fe Police Department “The following morning Sheriff’s deputies confirmed the location of human remains in the river below the bridge,” Armijo stated in the release "Immediately a recovery mission was initiated and executed.”  The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge has been the site of hundreds of suicides three people per year have jumped from the bridge’s unsurvivable height 600 feet above the Rio Grande many of whom travelled to the gorge to take their lives The Taos News has reported two other suicides at the bridge in recent months On March 1 sheriff’s deputies recovered the suspected remains of Kevin Spencer an NBC5 Chicago employee whose rental car was found at the bridge in January the body of an unidentified elderly male was recovered next of kin have been notified and the remains were turned over to the Office of the Medical Investigator for autopsy If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, dial 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free Taos Fire Department contained a fire at the Whataburger under construction near Albertsons in Taos late Tuesday morning (April 8) Taos Fire Department responded to a report of a fire late Tuesday morning (April 8) at a Whataburger set to open later this month by Albertsons in Taos according to reports overheard on a police scanner Taos Central Dispatch received a report of black smoke billowing from the building's underground Firefighters and KCEC were dispatched to the scene and contained the fire within the hour The shopping complex was temporarily closed and reopened when the fire was contained The electrical fire ignited when a contractor who was digging to set landscaping poles struck a three-phase line Kit Carson Electric Co-op public relations coordinator It is currently unknown how much damage the building sustained and whether the blaze may impact the storefront's opening date then overcast overnight with occasional rain The new Starbucks along Paseo del Pueblo Sur is in the final stages of construction Taos’ first Whataburger along Paseo del Pueblo Sur is in the final stages of construction two new businesses are expected to bring their signature burgers and coffee brands to Taos Whataburger is slated to open in late April in the building east of Albertsons Market … two new businesses are expected to bring their signature burger and coffee brands to Taos Whataburger is slated to open in late April in the building east of Albertsons Market at 710 Paseo del Pueblo Sur Construction is in its final stages at the former site of a Burger King restaurant give McDonald’s some competition," Jacob Nordeck said of construction and zoning-related delays Whataburger is a Texas-based regional fast-food chain approaching its 75th anniversary this year The chain was founded by Harmon Dobson and Paul Burton who eventually parted ways after an argument involving raising burger prices from 25 to 30 cents Taos’ Whataburger will mark the burger chain’s 16th location in New Mexico for a nationwide total of 1,132 stores the finished restaurant will join the ranks of several other fast food chains “It’s going to be a 24/7 restaurant as well,” Nordeck added “We’re preserving the front porch and those spiral column beams that Taos wanted us to keep.” A little farther south along Paseo del Pueblo Sur will sit Taos’ first standalone Starbucks shop The coffee spot is expected to open in about three weeks according to a private investigator hired for on-site security constructing a standalone Starbucks in Taos hasn’t gone unchallenged the Starbucks building was set aflame twice by an arsonist 30 and damaged the northeast corner of the building The Town of Taos and the Bureau of Alcohol Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced a combined $30,000 tip reward Many attributed the act to anti-corporate sentiment and a desire to support local businesses instead infamously began selling “Charbucks” stickers following the incidents fencing wraps around the building’s perimeter and the Starbucks store’s site manager has a trailer on the property there are two Starbucks stores already located inside Albertsons Market and Smith’s Food and Drug store including the new Iced Cherry Chai and Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha The Taos News has reached out to the Starbucks media relations department and Whataburger’s Director of Operational Support Zurisadai Soto for further details A packed room listens as the town council hears public comments during their regular meeting Tuesday (April 22) Chad Lewis of Lewis Vending speaks to the town council during the public hearing portion of their regular meeting Tuesday (April 22) about changing his land to a manufacturing zone so he can expand his business and build a distribution facility on the corner of Cruz Alta and Gusdorf Road Chad Lewis shakes hands with Councilor Geneveive Oswald during the town council's regular meeting Tuesday (April 22) after a zoning change was approved to allow the development of his facility The 2025 – 26 hockey Taos Tigers home season is still on thin ice after a fire last August left the building’s roof in disrepair During the Town of Taos Council’s regular meeting Tuesday … The 2025–26 hockey Taos Tigers home season is still on thin ice after a fire last August left the building’s roof in disrepair During the Town of Taos Council’s regular meeting Tuesday (April 22) an eager public and officials heard a presentation from an ice rink surveyor and Assistant Town Manager Mark Flores explaining the rink’s repairs are at the whim of insurance The estimated $1 million project was previously projected to begin by March But a structural engineer's report and insurance-related delays have stalled repairs head manager of the Taos Youth Hockey Association expressed concern for the future of the program and that system was working fine except for a gaping hole in the roof,” Hurtado said youth and board members have worked tirelessly to get the information.” “Last time a member of the hockey community showed up here we left here hopeful,” Taos Youth Hockey head coach Mark Richert said “We heard about changing insurance companies We heard that a contractor waited for months for a [purchase order] to be issued,” but said he’d heard no further updates Mayor Pascual Maestas interrupted shortly after noting they were about to get updates from Flores and Pegasus Environmental Company Pegasus Surveyor Zeke Hurd,said bluntly it was one of the most unconventionally built rinks he’s seen in his many years on the job The original builder “does not use conventional methods at all,” Hurd said It does not meet standard construction within the industry.” Heard said the main problems are heat disbursement underneath the rink and drainage “There is effectively no drainage at all,” he said even with drainage and heating not working properly Youth and Family Center Director Tony Struck said ice this season would be doable but for the other gaping problem: the hole in the roof Flores chalked the delay up to the new process for municipalities getting and spending money and the role insurance plays the town could request money for a particular project the insurance picks and chooses the contracts themselves Insurance companies "are actively seeking the lowest bidding contractor which is not always the best selection,” Flores said He said he'd been back and forth with them via email “bi-weekly,” and their responses had been few and far between Councilor Darien Fernandez wondered whether or not they legally had to wait for insurance’s approval to start the project but was told it could put them in hot water with the New Mexico Municipal League’s Self Insurer’s Fund Councilor Geneveive Oswald encouraged the public to put pressure on the Self Insurer’s Fund Please find these people online and send them a letter,” Oswald said “Do we have time” to make it happen this season “Yes,” Youth and Family Center Assistant Director Melissa Vigil said cautiously is to push practices later and start earlier in the morning We’ve seen issues during the day when practices were starting at 5:30 “We’re going to try to put some pressure where we can [with] the New Mexico Municipal League,” Maestas said “I believe that you will have ice next year The council voted to approve a zoning change to a nearly half-acre lot on the corner of Gusdorf Road and Cruz Alta Road across from the former site of the Mary Medina Building which abuts residential houses on its east side and RAC Transport on its north side was purchased by local business owner Chad Lewis of Lewis Vending Lewis has built up his business of vending machine services after buying his first machine while working at the Taos News many years back Lewis plans to convert the property into a distribution warehouse for his growing business Approval of the lot’s zoning change from C-1 (commercial) to M-1 (manufacturing) met with controversy While opponents expressed their support for the Lewis family and their wish to see a local business succeed some were concerned the zone change could alter the neighborhood while others wondered why the council wasn’t focused on affordable housing “The decision you make tonight will possibly impact housing for 20 or more families as soon as two years from now,” Holden said our town has decided that we need to focus on housing and if our community's priority is housing what I want you to do is walk your walk,” she added “Please don't make a short-term decision that will benefit a wonderful growing business and set aside our major concern for housing you have failed in your responsibility to this community." “We've looked at both [housing and development] and if we could have had housing there with the neighbors supporting developers coming forward “And we have a planning commission that has already reviewed this and felt that it met compatible uses based on the code as written,” Fernandez added noting it is a vacant property a local business wants to use to expand “This parcel is not a viable option for housing.” “We're always struck with the vision of what could be versus the proposal that's in front of us … This is the viable use,” Patterson said “And if we want to live in the land of what it could be and our town does not grow in the right direction.” it's going to be much harder for us to make a contiguous change in the future.” Oswald had made an earlier motion to deny the changes Councilor Fernandez made a motion to approve the zoning change and councilors Corilia Ortega and Marietta Fambro voted in favor The town received congratulations from their auditor for their essentially flawless audit for the fiscal year ending June 30 The town’s budget only had a small cash discrepancy of $1,795 which it said it was still getting to the bottom of Gonzalez said there were no findings and financially but that's part of your operations as you’re spending out your grants.” Gonzalez did note a few areas of improvement and suggested they get cybersecurity penetration testing done by a third party “Make sure onboarding and continual training keeps everyone aware that your systems are being bombarded every day,” Gonzalez said And it’s an extremely expensive process — hundreds of thousands if not over $1 million to get your stuff back.” who was last seen leaving Maria's Restaurant in Taos Jan has been located by Taos County Sheriff's Deputies near Tres Piedras several of Quintanilla's loved ones held a vigil at the Taos County Courthouse grandmother of Jesus' two daughters; Madelynna Martinez mother of Jesus' two daughters; Helen Archuleta who was last seen leaving Maria's Restaurant in Taos Jan was located by Taos County Sheriff's Deputies near Tres Piedras Wednesday (March 12) Quintanilla's loved ones held a vigil at the Taos County Courthouse Quintanilla called his daughters at bedtime to say prayers a man last seen leaving his job at Maria’s Restaurant in Taos Jan On Wednesday (March 12) Taos County Sheriff’s Deputies were led to a location near Tres Piedras where Quintanilla's remains had been disposed of according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office Deputies recovered the remains and turned them over to the New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner which will conduct an autopsy to determine Quintanilla's cause of death Ky Quintanilla publicly shared the following: He is at peace in heaven but now we can lay him to rest I want to thank everyone for their concern Thank you to the sheriff department for tracking him down I especially want to thank Chief Summer [Mirabal] Even in a jurisdiction where her hands were tied and adversity was against her remained unknown for a little more than two months video surveillance footage shows Quintanilla exiting Maria’s restaurant around 8 p.m. then walking in the direction of a white van Quintanilla was having car trouble and made arrangements for a ride “He went up to the young man who was waiting for him to give him a ride,” Raphael Quintanilla “The camera doesn’t see him actually go up the van door The Quintanilla family filed a missing person report with the Taos County Sheriff’s Office and Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety Jesus Quintanilla was also listed as a missing person on the New Mexico Department of Public Safety website The family suspects Quintanilla was given a ride on Jan where he was handed a substance he consumed before succumbing to a fatal overdose they allege his body was hidden in a vehicle — then potentially driven around for several days — before being disposed of in another location “We as private citizens have been investigating this and receiving reports,” Raphael told the Taos News in February “We now know what happened to my son and we know who’s involved Several people in the community were present and know what happened the night my son died The police know the people who are involved  The man involved has a criminal record in the county … and he’s being protected by relations of his.” 20 several of Quintanilla's family members held a vigil outside the Taos County Courthouse in protest against the person they suspect hid the body mother of Jesus Quintanilla's two daughters said this person began visiting Jesus frequently last summer “[He] was coming around Jesus since last summer when Jesus was receiving a little bit of grandfather’s death inheritance which was how he was paying rent,” Martinez said “This was when he was renting a pretty high-end apartment in El Prado [he] has been coming around Jesus in the guise of help and then it’s been more trouble than it’s worth.” According to Taos County Sheriff Steve Miera the case is still actively under investigation he confirmed to the Taos News that his office had executed a search warrant on a vehicle in connection to the case Miera said they were trying to determine if Quintanilla “had been in the vehicle recently,” adding that DNA swabs collected from the search were sent to be analyzed by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Lab Eighth Judicial District prosecutor Cosme Ripol points toward defendant Desiree Lensegrav (right) during opening statements at a jury trial in March 2022 at the Taos County Courthouse the New Mexico Supreme Court overturned Lensegrav's convictions during the trial citing "outrageous prosecutorial misconduct" on the part of the 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office the New Mexico Supreme Court overturned convictions for a Taos woman found guilty at trial in 2022 for her role in the slaying of a Ranchos de Taos resident in 2019 The decision prohibits a retrial due to “outrageous prosecutorial misconduct,” which included a prosecutor for the 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office referring to the defendant as a witch In 2022, Desiree Lensegrav was sentenced to 45 years in prison with the possibility of parole for helping to kidnap and murder Ranchos de Taos resident Joseph Morgas the Supreme Court concluded Lensegrav didn't receive a fair trial and cited state constitutional protections of double jeopardy prohibiting a retrial “In this case of severe and pervasive prosecutorial misconduct we hold that an Assistant District Attorney who uses opening statements to expose the jury to incriminating allegations from a non-testifying codefendant,” the Court wrote in an opinion by Justice Michael E “repeatedly accuses a defendant of witchcraft and relies on inflammatory and inadmissible evidence throughout the case has knowingly committed misconduct so unfairly prejudicial and with such willful disregard for reversal on appeal that retrial is barred under Article II Section 15 of the New Mexico Constitution.” Lensegrav was convicted and sentenced for first-degree murder evidence tampering and conspiracy to commit murder pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping in 2021 He received a sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of parole Lensegrav and her husband confessed to killing Morgas following a domestic violence in 2020 in which Montoya stabbed Lensegrav After Montoya was transported to a hospital he told police he had killed Morgas in 2019 Lensegrav also revealed to authorities she had instructed Montoya to hurt Morgas after the Ranchos resident insulted her and threatened to cause her to lose custody of her child The couple told police Morgas' body was taken to another location reads the press release from the Supreme Court The prosecution cancelled plans to call Montoya as a witness shortly before Lensegrav’s trial in 2022 but the court stated Assistant District Attorney Cosme Ripol “nevertheless used his opening statement to expose the jury to Mr Montoya’s incriminating allegations against Defendant.” “Bolstered with copious amounts of other inflammatory and inadmissible evidence including allegations that Defendant was a ‘witch’ and a ‘bruja’ (a term for ‘witch’ in Spanish) who controlled Mr Montoya through her menstrual blood,” the Court wrote “ADA Ripol embarked on a three-day-long exercise in pathos and character assassination that utterly deprived Defendant of a fair trial that is guaranteed by the New Mexico Constitution.” The Court found it “profoundly troubling” that Lensegrav’s defense counsel didn’t object to the majority of instances involving prosecutorial misconduct during the trial  The Court also noted the prosecution introduced “foul-smelling physical evidence” from the victim’s remains and the smell caused the judge to adjourn the trial early during the second day.” Ripol urged the jury in his closing statements to find Lensegrav guilty for the “stench of death that permeated this courtroom,” according to the Court “The entire trial was filled with theatrics hyperbole and disparaging inflammatory statements such that the extent of the misconduct cannot be fully conveyed in this opinion,” the Court wrote Construction workers finish laying a section of concrete while repaving Paseo Del Pueblo Sur in front of La Cueva Cafe in May 2024 Crews have continued working through the winter 2024-25 season according to a press release from the New Mexico Department of Transportation Crews have continued working on the NM 68-US 64 road construction project in Taos this winter and now expect to finish by spring 20) press release from the New Mexico Department of Transportation NMDOT emphasized that the expected spring 2025 completion is weather dependent Roadwork began in March 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and has experienced several delays pushing it years beyond an original completion date of late 2021 Asphalt paving will take place when sidewalk work is finished all traffic signals have been installed and daytime temperatures reach 50 degrees or higher "for an extended period of time." According to the National Weather Service Thursday forecast daytime highs are expected to exceed 50 degrees for the next week as Northern New Mexico enters the final month of an unseasonably warm Thursday's press release provided updates on roadwork at the following major intersections The project will provide significant improvements to the main thoroughfare through the Town of Taos "The $21.9 million project is designed to correct physical and geometric deficiencies reduce congestion and add new ADA ramps and sidewalks for pedestrian access for safety and mobility along the NM-68-US 64 highway also known as Paseo del Pueblo," the press release reads which contracted with the state to complete the project will continue working Monday through Friday 7 a.m ALBUQUERQUE – Santiago Martinez pleaded guilty in federal court to voluntary manslaughter for the death of his girlfriend following a late-night argument in November 2021 where they consumed alcohol and listened to music in her vehicle the couple engaged in a heated argument outside their home about the future of their relationship during which Suazo reiterated her desire to end things The argument escalated into a physical altercation leading to Martinez intentionally running over Suazo with her SUV resulting in her death due to mechanical asphyxia and blunt trauma he acknowledged being aware of his actions and their wrongfulness at the time of the incident Taos Pueblo) was a talented artist and the daughter of Native American artists Geraldine Tso She celebrated her Indigenous heritage through figural paintings of strong Indigenous women blending traditional and contemporary styles with inspiration from Japanese manga including at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts and the Balzer Contemporary Edge Gallery IAIA established the DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo Memorial Fund for Indigenous female artists in the MFA in Studio Arts Program honoring her legacy and contributions to the art world Martinez faces between 10 and 15 years in prison followed by not less than three years of supervised release Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary Jones and Nora Wilson are prosecuting the case Ashkia Randy Lee Trujillo was federally indicted on multiple counts of aggravated sexual abuse for allegedly using force and threats to commit violent sexual acts Marvin Wauneka has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury following a fatal rollover crash that killed two people and injured two others Jonas Brandon Sanchez was sentenced to 204 months in federal prison after robbing a local Whataburger at gunpoint and firing a shot inside the restaurant to effectuate the robbery Email USAO-NM Multilingual Resources-->Have a question about Government Services Jeff Cochran watches as parts of his residence that he built erupts in flames in Talpa Tuesday (March 18) spread between multiple structures on a property off of Balsamo Lane amidst 50 mile per hour wind gusts Taos County firefighters work on extinguishing a residential structural fire in Talpa Tuesday (March 18) A structural fire destroys multiple structures in Talpa Tuesday (March 18) People who live next door to a residence in Talpa that erupted in flames Tuesday afternoon run from their homes on Tuesday (March 18) A Taos County firefighter walks through a wall of smoke while extinguishing a residential structural fire in Talpa Tuesday (March 18) Taos County firefighters work on extinguishing a residential structural fire as the owner of the home watches in Talpa Tuesday (March 18) the owner of multiple structure that were burned to the ground in Talpa Taos County firefighters and Sheriff’s work on putting out hotspots after a residential structural fire in Talpa Tuesday (March 18) A Taos County firefighter works on extinguishing a residential structural fire in Talpa Tuesday (March 18) A New Mexico State Police Officer arrives with a fire extinguisher to a residential structural fire in Talpa Tuesday (March 18) checks the water pressure in a hose while extinguishing a residential structural fire in Talpa Tuesday (March 18) firefighters reported over emergency services channels they had contained the blaze but remained on scene to douse the smoldering structures to prevent them from reigniting Fire departments responded to a structure fire that spread amid high winds Tuesday afternoon (March 18) to engulf multiple buildings at an artist's residence on Balsamo Lane in Talpa The report of the fire came in around 2:30 p.m. with Taos Fire Department responding first and receiving a second report of an explosion at the structure as they arrived at the scene Multiple propane tanks were located near the residence Taos Fire dispatched multiple other agencies including the Taos County Sheriff's Office and Kit Carson Electric whose personnel shut off power in the area as firefighters began putting water on the blaze The National Weather Service had issued a high wind advisory for Tuesday Gusts as high as 50 miles per hour pulled flames from the structure to other nearby buildings at the property I just wanted to make sure the studio was nice and warm," Cochran told the Taos News at the scene "I came out after lunch and there was a fire." small-scale farmer and car enthusiast said he was grateful that the fire hadn't spread beyond his property and that his chickens and dogs were unharmed including a painting he had recently been commissioned to create "I'm just really glad that none of the neighbors houses were affected I feel bad for making these guys come out here and do this According to radio chatter heard over a police scanner firefighters were drawing down quickly on water tanker trucks at the scene and needed additional support Dispatchers called in additional manpower and equipment from Rio Fernando a neighbor in the area called Taos Central Dispatch to notify fire teams of an available water hydrant across from their home Law enforcement directed traffic away from La Morada Lane at the entrance to the neighborhood where the fire occurred as they continued to work past dusk Tuesday evening Cattle graze along Comanche Creek in the Valle Vidal unit of Carson National Forest A local thinning contractor wields a chainsaw on a thinning project on the Carson National Forest Many members of these crews take pride in knowing their work improves forest health while protecting communities and watersheds against wildfire President Donald Trump said it countless times during his reality television show days: 'You're fired.' Moreso than in his first presidential term Trump's reality TV persona is manifesting in the … President Donald Trump said it countless times during his reality television show days: "You're fired." Moreso than in his first presidential term Trump's reality TV persona is manifesting in the federal government and it is impacting jobs and programs in North Central New Mexico Speculation abounds this month over how many federal employees in Taos County New Mexico and the nation have been terminated since the so-called Department of Government Efficiency began lopping heads across a host of federal agencies The federal government had fired at least 2,000 probationary U.S Forest Service employees nationwide from Feb 13–14 just ahead of the President's Day weekend although some accounts put the number closer to 3,400 Probationary periods within the agency can last up to three years There were 22,500 federal employees working in New Mexico at the end of last year accounting for roughly 1 percent of New Mexico's population Census Bureau statistics indicating there were 639,000 employed people statewide the total number of federal employees accounts for 3.5 percent of the state's total workforce Taos News has confirmed at least six personnel on the Carson National Forest and two people within the U.S Bureau of Land Management's Taos Field Office were fired in the past two weeks BLM was unable to respond to an inquiry regarding terminations by press time Office of Personnel Management's media contacts page was offline this week with calls directed to the agency's main number The Carson National Forest responded to an inquiry regarding how many workers have been laid off within the Carson New Mexico's five forests and in the region A USDA spokesperson said newly appointed USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins "fully supports the President’s directive to improve government and strengthen USDA’s many services to the American people We have a solemn responsibility to be good stewards of the American people’s hard-earned taxpayer dollars and to ensure that every dollar spent goes to serve the people USDA has made the difficult decision to release about 2,000 probationary non-firefighting employees from the Forest Service [nationwide]," the statement added none of these individuals were operational firefighters Released employees were probationary in status many of whom were compensated by temporary [Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act] funding It’s unfortunate that the Biden administration hired thousands of people with no plan in place to pay them long term." Unconfirmed reports from local federal workers the Taos News spoke with put terminations at 25 within the Carson alone since the latest round of firings leading up to Valentine's Day last Friday in addition to several local firings within the Office of Native American Programs nobody is certain how many federal employees accepted the "Fork in the Road" email resignation offers that arrived sometimes twice daily in employee inboxes or whether those resignations count toward the total number of people who separated from their federal employers The Fork in the Road emails — so-called due to their subject line which was identical to those received by Twitter employees after Elon Musk took over the company — set a deadline of Feb The USDA did not address Taos News inquiries regarding how many had accepted the resignation offer Mary Ann Elder said her former colleagues told her 50 people have lost their jobs on the Carson The former Tres Piedras Ranger District archeologist and Questa Ranger District recreation staff officer said the impacts of the firings will be far reaching especially considering language in termination letters that indicates further "reductions in force" are pending The hiring freeze across the federal government will also impact services "The fire organization is a big one," Elder said "And I know so many people who have worked for the Forest Service in the summertime they come to work and help in range or recreation; timber New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez joined a multi-state lawsuit last week to try and stop Elon Musk and DOGE from carrying out the federal worker purge New Mexico's Congressional Delegation wrote to Trump last week to demand he cease the firing of probationary employees indicating there were 2,200 such federal workers across numerous agencies in the state “Abruptly terminating these employees without due process would not only undermine the delivery of essential government services but would also have widespread economic consequences for our state," lawmakers wrote in the letter "Federal employment is a major contributor to New Mexico’s economy supporting thousands of families and generating significant local revenue." former Town of Taos councilor and Rio Fernando de Taos restoration advocate said he will miss at least two Forest Service employees he knew who had been fired but sorely lamented the ongoing federal freeze on grant funding which has put at least one USDA-funded project in the Taos Valley in jeopardy we'd been approved for the grant," Hahn said Tuesday (Feb adding that federal IRA dollars were awarded from USDA through New Mexico State University to the Town of Taos which intended to initiate much-needed thistle and other weed control in the Cornelio Basin open space The Southern Methodist University Fort Burgwin campus near Pot Creek was also a beneficiary of the grant "We were just about to publish the [request for proposal]," Hahn said Mitigating noxious weeds is a cornerstone of the local agricultural and environmental community's efforts to ensure the valley's overall soil health and is a major goal of the Taos Soil and Water Conservation District Taos Soil and water Conservation District manager "As far as we know our funding has not been affected Historically we have not relied on federal dollars to fund our locally led the scope of impacts from the freeze in federal grant funding is difficult to measure Teresa Leger Fernandez slammed the pause on USDA funding which grants within the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements "This decision is not just about numbers — it’s about real people "Democrats made the largest investments in rural America since the New Deal because we believe in strengthening our small towns We fought for resources to equip farmers and ranchers with the resources they need Trump abandoned them in less than a month." Have information or a personal story about the ongoing changes across the federal government in North Central New Mexico Deputy Editor Geoffrey Plant is available through encrypted communications on Signal at plantagenet.16 Taos High School's Mariachi El Tigre opened the day's business on the Senate floor at the Legislature on March 10 Red River Mayor Linda Calhoun rises as District 6 N.M Bobby Gonzales announces her on the Senate floor in the state Capitol on March 10 Holy Cross Medical CEO James Kiser speaks during Taos County Day at the state Capitol March 10 chair of the UNM-Taos Math and Sciences Department describes the school's new 36-inch telescope as George Rankin The university is seeking funds to build an observatory to house the telescope which was donated by the late Melinda King of Trampas It will the the largest public-use telescope in the state State lawmakers brought home $21 million in capital outlay appropriations within Taos County after the recent 60-day legislative session Taos Tigers Hockey fans and families will be heartened to learn $1.2 million was allocated to improvements at the Taos Youth and Family Center where the ice rink was damaged in a fire in August of last year "This is to replace or rebuild due to the fire at the center," District 6 state Sen the last day the governor could line-item veto new laws and also before any legislation left unsigned was automatically vetoed Lujan Grisham line-item vetoed $1.2 million in projects in other parts of the state this year still just a fraction of the $1.2 billion in capital outlay authorizations signed into law this year Lawmakers also reauthorized outstanding capital project funding for the Taos Regional Airport entrance and other improvements project Taos Ski Valley's Kachina Water Booster Station project Taos Pueblo's senior day care facility and for land acquisition by the Cristobal de la Serna Land Grant land There was $1.9 billion in outstanding capital outlay funding across the state before the last session of the Legislature according to the 2025 New Mexico State Legislature Capital Outlay Training Manual Bobby Gonzales highlighted several other expenditures he helped secure for education and other projects within Taos County "I was able to put in a million dollars to the continuation of the observatory building to address to the construction of the telescope that they already have," Gonzales said "This is a facility to be able to have that observatory." which is meant to be a teaching tool and publicly accessible is reputed to be among the most powerful of its kind in the state It was donated by the late Melinda King several years ago UNM-Taos also took home $650,000 for improvements to the workforce training center it will establish in the former Taos Army National Guard Armory which was decommissioned and transferred to the university at no cost will receive $615,000 for security improvements The topic is particularly poignant in light of the expected return of two works by Joseph Henry Sharp and Victor Higgins that were stolen in 1985 when the Harwood was largely used as a public library Taos County was awarded an additional $7.5 million toward its expansion of Holy Cross Medical Center for which it received $15 million last year for the new clinic it proposes to build Several local public safety departments will receive capital funds for new vehicles the cost of which is rarely covered by local tax dollars in rural New Mexico Taos Pueblo will receive $440,00 for new police vehicle purchases while Taos County EMS will receive $825,000 for a new ambulance and the Taos County Sheriff's Office will get $500,000 for a new vehicle purchase Taos Pueblo additionally secured $1.5 million for its Spider Rock Road housing development and $25,000 toward the Pueblo's Red Willow Education Center Picuris Pueblo will receive $375,000 for firewood mill equipment and garnered $1.8 million for a new outdoor amphitheater and mercado which will complement the many attractions the Pueblo has recently erected not to mention its full-service cannabis and dining amenities Arguably the best fishing derby in Taos County has taken place at Thu-Tha Lake on the Pueblo for the past several years The Town of Taos will receive $8 million to apply to constructing a recycling center the single largest by far capital outlay appropriation received within the county Gonzales said the capital outlay award for recycling was largely thanks "to the efforts of the governor working on this to establish a recycling center," Gonzales said "It will be a joint effort by the municipalities The Village of Taos Ski Valley was awarded $110,00 toward its new fire station El Prado Water and Sanitation District received $500,000 for water system improvements while El Valle de Los Ranchos Water and Sanitation District received $300,000 for an interconnectivity project in the works with Upper Des Montes and Lower Des Montes mutual domestic water consumers associations The Llano Quemado mutual domestic was allocated $350,000 toward the development of its new well The awards signal that the state favors regionalization projects as Llano Quemado is attempting to join with El Valle formally in the near future and ultimately connect to the mutual domestics further north as far as using their funding," Gonzales said Gonzales noted he works within four counties as a legislator — Taos Los Alamos and Mora — to address the needs of constituents and bring in capital funds He also works closely with overlapping and neighboring legislators to avoid duplicating local requests for capital funding A detainee at the Taos County Adult Detention Center died in front of medical staff on Saturday (March 8) A male detainee at the Taos County Adult Detention Center died in front of medical staff on Saturday (March 8) at about 2:20 p.m the center’s medical unit was moving the detainee to an area for closer observation some time after the detainee had expressed suicidal ideations and was asked to change into different clothing that might reduce his likelihood of self harm “He sat down so he could change into this other garment When a detainee expresses thoughts of self-harm Montoya said the detention center places them under a heightened watch They either increase the number of times they check on a detainee or decrease the time in between “We have policies that put them on a heightened watch and they’re seen by mental health before they can be removed from that watch,” Montoya said “We change them into something that can’t be ripped and we give them a blanket that’s less likely to be ripped then we again increase the amount of times we check on them or we decrease the amount of time in between when they’re checked on.” The medical unit performed life-saving measures and an ambulance from the Taos County Fire & Rescue Department was dispatched to the scene Taos County last reported a death at the jail on Nov Medina's death was under investigation by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator but the report was unavailable as of press time Wednesday (March 12) The cause of death for the detainee who died March 8 is also under investigation by OMI and the detainee’s identity was not available as of press time Department of Justice requires the deaths of any person who is incarcerated under arrest or en route to a detention facility to be reported but does not require it be shared publicly According to the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics the leading cause of death for detainees was suicide Other causes of death were related to illnesses The 184 alcohol and drug-related deaths reported by local jails in 2019 was the highest ever recorded over a 20-year period studied by the bureau making it the perfect time to experience one of the famous powder days of this big mountain destination resort in New Mexico Taos is forecasted to receive 1 to 2 feet of snow over Presidents’ Day Weekend It couldn’t be a better time to book a TAOS Ski Valley ski trip Make your way to Taos so you don’t miss the goods as the snow stacks up TAOS Ski Valley is a scenic and enjoyable–but more importantly–very doable drive from many states Direct flights are available to Taos from Denver It’s then just two hours to Taos from Santa Fe Savor the views on the way to TAOS Ski Valley You’ll see everything from sprawling deserts to jagged mountain peaks to charming towns and villages grab a breakfast burrito to-go at Bumps Market and a killer coffee at Black Diamond Espresso to fuel the day of adventure ahead After a warm up on one of TAOS Ski Valley’s more intermediate groomers head to West Basin Ridge in search of powder slashes through pristine glades like the lowdown on secret stashes or rope drops The run of the day will almost certainly be the wide open terrain and blower Rockies’ powder off the top of Kachina Peak Take a lunchtime break to refuel at the Bavarian for cold German beers and a juicy bratwurst Then finish the day in Taos’ some hike-to terrain with endless chutes and trees to play in Cap an epic TAOS powder day off with aprés-ski at the legendary Martini Tree Bar  Montage Deer Valley is a Luxury Year-Round Outdoor Destination Snow Before You Go: Where to Find the Best Snow this Week The Best Destinations in North America for Spring Skiing The Best Ski Resorts in the Rockies and Beyond for Spring Skiing People enjoy themselves at the Taos Valley Lodge’s Espresso Bar Monday (Feb former owners of Taos Valley Lodge and the Espresso Bar have stepped back after eight years to pursue their next venture and Edna Cordova enjoy themselves at the Espresso Bar in the Taos Valley Lodge Monday (Feb lead barista at the Espresso Bar in the Taos Valley Lodge makes a latte at the Espresso Bar Monday (Feb The Espresso Bar at Taos Valley Lodge has become a gathering space for law enforcement The Espresso Bar at Taos Valley Lodge has held annual Halloween parties the Barn Dance Festival and even a Barbie-themed party an employee who dresses up as the Grinch and Michael Myers helped lead the Taos Valley Lodge's remodeling efforts and will join the Harpers on their next project Former Taos Valley Lodge owner Tijana Harper is proud of the Espresso Bar which opened in 2021 and has become a gathering space for law enforcement lead barista at the Espresso Bar in Taos Valley Lodge pours a chai tea latte at the Espresso Bar Monday (Feb takes an order from Emily Moyle at the Espresso Bar Monday (Feb Candice Stroback serves Bonnie Minter a chai tea latte at the Espresso Bar Monday (Feb After eight years spent breathing new life into the Taos Valley Lodge and the Espresso Bar former owners Tijana and Russ Harper have stepped back to pursue their next fixer-upper venture The Harpers purchased Taos Valley Lodge in 2016 The two described a property as being in bad shape It came dead last in TripAdvisor’s rankings for Taos hotels But Tijana said all of that changed through years of work and extensive renovations “What we do is we take buildings that are old and neglected We did that with the Taos Valley Lodge and with the Espresso Bar We took something that just needed a lot of help and built it back up to make it beautiful.” Tijana said the Espresso Bar has held the number-one ranking in town on TripAdvisor and earned the Taos News’ Best of Taos Coffee Shop award in 2024 “We just wanted it to be a very comfortable space for everyone we have a lot of friends gathering together and we have the police force come every morning We also have a lot of business meetings taking place there … In the afternoon we have all of the students and the teenagers who come in and study on the weekends.” according to one of Taos Valley Lodge’s new owners He owns six hotels across Wyoming and Colorado and will manage and co-own the property from Dallas Malgireddy said the realtor who sold the property has been friends with Russ for more than 20 years Malgireddy said that he’d like to operate the Espresso Bar as a coffee spot by day and an “upscale wine bar” by night with local wine and beer selections He said this will involve finishing acquiring the liquor license that the Harpers were pursuing and then the menu would flip at a certain point of time,” Malgireddy said but we’d offer beer and wine along with a food menu that would be more like an upscale food menu.” aside from two employees who’ve been promoted to manager positions One will head the Taos Valley Lodge’s front desk and the other the Espresso Bar Malgireddy plans to transition 20 more regular rooms into deluxe ones The cost of an overnight stay in a regular and deluxe room varies by season a regular room might cost about $99 a night while a night in a deluxe room would cost about $119 the prices increase to about $129 and $159 “We wouldn’t upgrade the whole [hotel] because we have a certain crowd that are long-term renters that do not want to pay high,” Malgireddy said “Different sections of the community need different kinds of rooms.” The Espresso Bar has held annual Halloween parties Malgireddy said he’d like to keep up the same momentum and host at least two events a month but then I had this idea to throw a Halloween party,” Tijana said of one of their first events That’s a very special thing about the Espresso Bar We have the Grinch for Christmas and we have Santa so the Town of Taos would ask him to come to their events too.” who helped lead remodeling efforts of the Taos Valley Lodge Tijana and Russ are currently in Arizona and on the lookout for their next property As for the Taos Valley Lodge and Espresso Bar they both feel confident that guests can expect a hospitable experience "There were a lot of people involved in the building of the Taos Valley Lodge I think it's the lesson of building long-lasting relationships." “I know one thing for sure is that whoever walks through that door they’re going to be welcomed,” Tijana said For more information on the Taos Valley Lodge and the Espresso Bar, visit taosvalleylodge.com who's accused of fatally stabbing Julio Guevara outside of the southside Allsup’s on Jan is released without bond after his pretrial detention hearing at the 8th Judicial Court in Taos Wednesday (Jan is asked to leave the courtroom by State Prosecutor Lucas Helper after being identified as a possible witness during the pretrial detention hearing for Alden Lujan who's accused of fatally stabbing Guevara on Jan 8 at the southside Allsup’s as seen at the 8th Judicial Court in Taos Wednesday (Jan Police let Alden Lujan into the courtroom for his pretrial detention hearing at the 8th Judicial Court in Taos Wednesday (Jan Lujan is accused of fatally stabbing Julio Guevara on Jan Police monitor the courtroom at the pretrial detention hearing for Alden Lujan who's accused of fatally stabbing Julio Guevara on Jan is asked to leave the courtroom after being identified as a possible future witness during the pretrial detention hearing for Alden Lujan who's accused of fatally stabbing Guevara on Jan listens to his defense team discuss matters during his pretrial detention hearing at the 8th Judicial Court in Taos Wednesday (Jan Security footage showing the altercation between Alden Lujan and Allsup’s employee Julio Guevara that allegedly resulted in Lujan fatally stabbing Guevara moments later outside of the convenience store is shown during the pretrial detention hearing for Alden Lujan at the 8th Judicial Court in Taos Wednesday (Jan is seen during his pretrial detention hearing at the 8th Judicial Court in Taos Wednesday (Jan during the pretrial detention hearing for Alden Lujan who's accused of fatally stabbing Guevara on Jan An 8th Judicial District Court judge ruled Wednesday (Jan 22) to deny the state’s request to detain Alden Lujan Lujan is charged with premeditated first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Julio Guevara outside the southside Allsup’s store in Taos Jan Lujan’s release is in part due to surveillance footage of the Allsup’s store played in court footage shows Lujan entering Allsup’s to purchase a scratch-off ticket approaches him at the register and appears to start an argument “The way the evidence was presented to the court is strong in that the video does show an encounter between the decedent and the defendant,” Judge Jeffrey Shannon said also indicates the victim appeared to be the aggressor with the victim rushing toward the decedent both inside of the store and then the decedent rushed to the defendant outside of the store.” Shannon suggested a second-degree homicide charge could be more apt suggesting the video footage alone did not indicate Lujan knew Guevara was there or wanted to interact with him witnesses gave conflicting accounts of whether they heard Lujan or Guevara say “Take it outside.” Footage shows Lujan exited first “The important parts I observed was that even though the victim was in close proximity the defendant still turned back to the cashier to try to complete the transaction,” Martinez testified in court the victim does get pretty close to the defendant and the defendant is seen using his right elbow to push him back away from him.” Conditions of Lujan’s release include avoiding the Allsup’s store where the stabbing occurred and not contacting the victim's partner and her family, with whom Lujan has a permanent mutual restraining order due to an ongoing property-related family feud. A preliminary hearing date hasn’t been set making the date more likely to fall in March 2025 Taos Pueblo War Chief staff members Wilbert Concha 2025 Taos Pueblo War Chief Robert Evan Trujillo and 3rd War Chief Ryan Gregio as seen at Picuris Pueblo Monday (Jan 2025 Governor of Picuris Pueblo Wayne Yazza Jr. alongside 2025 Lieutenant Governor Craig Quanchello and 2025 Tribal Secretary Ashley Pyne pose for a portrait at Picuris Pueblo Monday (Jan “I am very honored that my people chose me to lead them going into the future It would be a lot easier to go five minutes down the road than going an hour and a half to healthcare,” said Governor Wayne Yazza Jr “I wish for a prosperous year for my people.” DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News and the rest of the 2025 Picuris Pueblo tribal leadership pose for a portrait at Picuris Pueblo Monday (Jan “I wish for a prosperous year for my people.” puts on his shawl alongside the rest of the 2025 Picuris Pueblo tribal leadership at Picuris Pueblo Monday (Jan on a cold and sometimes snowy Sunday morning in January Taos Pueblo people gather together in the small San Geronimo Church on their village plaza They are there to witness a change in leadership men who have been chosen by their tribal council to lead the Pueblo through the challenges ahead who last served as leader in 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic It was under his watch that extraordinary precautions were put in place for the protection of tribal members from the highly infectious virus Those included armed police roadblocks at all routes onto tribal land and vaccinations conducted through the Taos-Picuris Indian Heath Center of the Bureau of Indian Affairs The 2025 governor’s staff also includes Lt a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark leadership is divided into two separate but equal groups: the governor and the war chief All members are annually selected by the tribe’s all-male council The governor and his staff primarily serve as the tribe’s administrative arm taking care of civil and business issues within the village and relations with the non-Native American world The war chief and staff deal with the protection of the mountains and tribal lands outside the Pueblo's walls This year’s Taos Pueblo War Chief is Robert Evan Trujillo Concha and War Chief Secretary Waylon Brown Additional staff members include Wilbert Concha Included in leadership are tribal sheriffs and the church fiscales The latter are in charge of support within the Catholic San Geronimo Church Taos Pueblo followed “a traditional form of government that was [led] in a theocratical manner by spiritual kiva leaders and the War Chief,” a 2022 governor’s statement reads The kivas are centers of Native religious devotion extant into the distant past and evident at the ancient puebloan communities of Chaco Canyon Other canes given to Taos Pueblo include one from President Abraham Lincoln when the tribe’s sacred Blue Lake was returned in 1970; another in 1980 by New Mexico Gov Bruce King; and even a descendent of Christopher Columbus presented Jan tribal leaders announced this week include Gov Craig Quanchello and Tribal Secretary Ashley Pyne Named as First War Chief is Emmett Archuleta Second War Chief Celestino Yazza and Third War Chief Ryan Gregio Fiscales are Mike Simbolo and Donivan Aguilar who remains on the list of current leaders Taos Pueblo is located at the end of Veteran’s Highway, adjacent to the north end of the Town of Taos. For more information on tourism, special events, culture, and history, visit taospueblo.org or call 575-758-1028 In addition to residents occupying tribal lands it also operates the Hotel Santa Fe in Santa Fe For more information on the pueblo's history, culture and special events, visit picurispueblo.org or call Tribal Secretary Ashley Pyne at 575-587-2519 Taos’ Roman Quintana moves the ball around Albuquerque Academy’s Jadon Olson during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Mario Rodriguez takes a shot while Albuquerque Academy’s Hunter Aime goes in for a block during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Malakhai Ely wrestles for the ball against Albuquerque Academy’s Hunter Aime during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Mario Rodriguez drives the ball past Albuquerque Academy’s defense during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Mateo Salazar looks up after knocking the ball out of Albuquerque Academy’s Jadon Olson’s hands and passing it off the teammate Mario Rodriguez during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Mario Rodriguez drives the ball past Albuquerque Academy’s Eli Dominguez during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Mateo Salazar drives the ball past Albuquerque Academy’ Ben Morgan during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Malakhai Ely jumps over Albuquerque Academy’s Kasen Alter-Gonzalez for a rebound during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Malakhai Ely drives the ball past Albuquerque Academy’s defense during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Roman Quintana passes the ball during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament against Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Mateo Salazar goes in for a shot over Albuquerque Academy’s defense during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Mario Rodriguez and Albuquerque Academy’s Ben Morgan wrestle for a rebound during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos’ Mario Rodriguez looks up as a timeout is called during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament against Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Hands go up for a rebound during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament between Taos and Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Albuquerque Academy’s Clinton Ellison IV rebounds the ball as Taos’ Malakhai Ely attempted to stop him during round two of the 4A state basketball tournament in Albuquerque Wednesday (March 12) Taos junior Augustine Chavez guarding the inbound pass from the Albuquerque Chargers on the quarterfinals of the 2025 Nusenda Credit Union Boys Basketball State Championship tournament in the 4A on Wednesday (March 12) Taos High School's varsity boys basketball lost their quarterfinal state match-up against the Albuquerque Academy's Charger with a final score of 54-43 at the University of New Mexico's The Pit The Taos squad played well in the first quarter but their momentum started to wane in the second The Chargers clogged up the paint for the Tigers the Tigers tried to sink more 3-pointers from outsid the arc the Chargers ended the Tiger's strong season in the second round the Tigers finish with a 17-12 overall record and a 4-4 district campaign to boot The Tigers will graduate two seniors in Mateo Salazar and Trevor Tibljas The Taos High School varsity cheer team poses in the middle of the University of New Mexico's The Pit Arena after winning the 2025 NMAA State Spirit Championships for the 4A division on Friday (March 21) This is the Tiger Cheer's fifth consecutive title and 11th in the program's history The Taos and Questa High School varsity girls cheerleading teams have both taken home blue trophies The Lady Tigers and Questa took home the 2025 New Mexico Activities Association State Spirit Championships for the 4A and 3A classes at the University of New Mexico's The Pit Arena on Friday (March 21) The team missed their mark against Valencia in 2019 making this year's state title the program's 11th blue trophy the Wildcats cheer have placed as a top five team in the 3A in the past five years and won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 seasons On Saturday (March 22) the Taos High School varsity dance team will also compete in state in the 4A class The aisle of the Family Dollar store in Taos Noella Quintana and Autumn Garcia check out their items at the Dollar Tree store in Taos Friday (April 18) were several shoppers at the Dollar Tree store in Taos Friday (April 18) filled her cart with solar lights and cotton candy-scented soap at Dollar Tree on Friday (April 18) Shoes were available for $5 a pop at Family Dollar a Questa resident who co-owns J&L Powersports alongside James Newfer shops for discounted Easter eggs at Dollar General in Taos Monday (April 21) Family Dollar assistant manager Leticia Salazar helps Marie Tucker check out her items Friday (April 18) Family Dollar assistant manager Leticia Salazar helps Marie Tucker check out her items Monday (April 21) Ramen lines some of the shelves of the Family Dollar store in Taos Friday (April 18) Easter items were on clearance at the Dollar General store in Taos as of Monday (April 21) dollar stores represent a spot for bargain-hunting Ranchos de Taos successfully stopped a Family Dollar from opening there in 2018 citing traffic congestion community members said it would cause these stores are sometimes a lifeline — a place where fixed incomes stretch just enough to afford birthday cake and balloons; or where teachers and craft hobbyists can stock up on notebooks and paints and we know everybody by name now,” said Taos Family Dollar Manager Crystal Oyenque who said she's been working 70 hours a week to compensate for a lack of staff and it’s like a little community," she added "I like it because the older ladies come in in the morning time They’ll stand in the aisle for 30 to 40 minutes several members of local Facebook groups have asked whether one discount retailer — the Dollar Tree in Taos — is closing Some users recounted finding the doors locked and the windows covered by newspaper but staff were forced to reduce store hours after losing a general manager and multiple employees but confirmed the store now lacks a general manager “I’ve been here for four years,” Trujillo said occasionally pausing to compliment a customer’s find or wish them a happy afternoon Family Dollar and Dollar General continue to face losses Dollar General is closing nearly 100 stores nationwide this year Dollar Tree announced it will close 1,000 Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores over the next few years Dollar Tree is parting ways with the Family Dollar chain by selling it for approximately $1 billion — far less than the $9 billion paid for the chain in 2015 The retailers attribute losses to underperforming locations and the impact of inflation on low-income households which comprise much of their customer base shoppers at Taos’ Dollar Tree on Friday (April 18) sifted through aisles of off-brand cereal and discounted shampoos his children passing a bouncy ball back and forth a few feet ahead of him filled her cart with solar lights and cotton candy-scented soap Mascareñas said she shops at Dollar Tree about five times a week so it’s really important to me,” Mascareñas who instructs students in Taos High’s exceptional programs and then I’m raising three of my students.” and I know the new manager they hired really did damage to the store She wanted to take authority over everything and do things her way The people that were running it before her did an amazing job; James passed away about a month ago and one of them still works here but none of the others — because that manager ran them all away.” Dollar Tree announced it was raising prices across thousands of stores nationwide The company also stated it would raise the base price for more than 300 products from $1.25 to $1.50 as part of a “multi-price expansion strategy.” Dollar Tree closed around 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of 2024 with plans to close 370 more Family Dollar stores and 30 Dollar Tree stores over the next few years products remain more affordable than non-discount retailers “It’s nice to have cheap stuff for parties “Everything’s about $1.25 here and it's all plastic Dollar Tree and Dollar General engaged in a bidding war for Family Dollar but is selling the chain to two private equity firms Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management Family Dollar operates approximately 8,000 stores across the U.S. Most products fall between the $1 to $10 range but prices have crept up amid inflation and rising operating costs the Family Dollar store in Taos remains open daily from 8 a.m Oyenque said they realistically need eight employees to stay  open this late An assistant manager position has been open for three weeks with no bites though they recently hired Leticia Salazar to fill one of the assistant manager roles “What I’ve come to realize in Taos is that a lot of people have either already worked here or can’t work here again,” Oyenque said a lot of them tell me I can’t rehire that person It could be for several different reasons … Maybe they left and only worked a couple of days Justin Archuleta and Michele Getch inspected bottles of ketchup and barbecue sauce a seasonal ski patrol staffer at Taos Ski Valley Inc. dollar stores fill the gap food banks can’t reach during off-seasons “We get stuff here that you can’t get from the food bank Red Bulls and stuff like that,” Getch said “I’m pretty sure we go four to five times a week right now year-round electrician at Taos Ski Valley Inc. “There’s always a gap for us where we’re low on money.” Trujillo said she stopped in town for some feed from Tractor Supply but decided to browse Dollar General for Easter items to donate to children in need “I  try to always come the day after the holiday to hit up the sales,” Trujillo said plucking a box of Easter eggs as yellow as her Dollar General basket “The eggs are for a dollar and you know how the kids are with eggs We try to buy some so we always donate next year I buy them now when it’s cheaper and then it’s a little easier to help the community.” Trujillo shops at dollar stores at least once a week and appreciates the longer hours Dollar General hours vary based on location The convenience is a double-edged sword for Trujillo “They’re a big corporation with stores all across the country because who’s supporting our kids locally at the baseball field?” Trujillo said “It’s probably the grocery store or something downtown I really hate spending my money with the bigger shops with being able to donate and help other places out because there’s not a lot of local stores that do sales like this the company operates over 20,000 Dollar General The company is closing 96 Dollar General stores and 45 Popshelf stores in the first quarter of 2025 Six Popshelf stores will be converted into Dollar General stores Dollar General employees Alauna Muniz and Jill Driskoll said the store is seeking several part-time leads the reality for Taos shoppers is that they fill a critical gap “It’s good we still have this here,” said Marie Tucker at the Family Dollar checkout line Monday “I travel in some areas and the stores are already closed These small little stores look at us at the low-income level SAN ANTONIO — The 2025 VW Taos gets some key upgrades to keep it competitive with other small SUVs including a more powerful engine and bigger touch screen All-wheel-drive models also get a new transmission It is VW’s top seller in Canada and Mexico where the market sweet spot is a class smaller than in the United States VW builds front- and all-wheel drive versions of the Taos but it’s not intended for serious off-roading Prices start at $24,995 and top out in the mid-$30s I drove a well-equipped AWD Taos SEL over city streets divided highway and twisting country roads in the Texas Hill Country 2025 VW Taos trim levels and pricesTaos S FWD: $24,995Taos S AWD: $26,695Taos SE FWD: $27,895Taos SE AWD: $29,595Taos SE Black FWD: $30,145Taos SE Black AWD: $31,845Taos SEL AWD: $34,695Source: Volkswagen The 2025 Taos comes with a standard 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission The engine produces 174 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque Horsepower is up from 158 hp for the previous model The eight-speed was already offered on FWD models replacing a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic The eight-speed improves fuel economy and offers a driving feel more like what most American drivers expect from an automatic The Taos stays true to VW’s general approach of offering practical and predictable ride and handling It's not a performance vehicle ― it’ll be breaking news if VW ever builds a Taos GTI ― but performance was more than adequate at highway speeds on rolling hills and in busy suburban sprawl The suspension absorbs bumps from rough pavement and kept the SUV level around fast curves AWD models get a multilink rear suspension that delivers better ride and handling than the torsion bar setup in FWD models The front and rear get projector headlights available front light bar and standard light-bar taillights VW Taos Interior comfort and controlsThe cabin is quiet and roomy There’s plenty of leg and headroom for front and rear passengers The AWD SEL I drove had 24.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat Plenty of space for shopping and most likely luggage loads I didn’t have the chance to test them for ride and handling but carrying large items won’t be an issue The SEL features leather seating surfaces and other soft trim and 10 colors of ambient lighting The center stack has physical dials for volume and tuning Climate controls are capacitive touch-sensitive but indentations in the panel help the driver use them without taking their eyes off the road for too long The steering wheel has satellite controls for cruise controls Why get a 2025 VW Taos?The updates to the 2025 VW Taos keep it competitive in the fast-moving compact-SUV market it emphasizes practicality and economy over flash and dash but still delivers satisfying handling and performance The interior will carry four adults to dinner in comfort There’s plenty of cargo space for weekend getaways or runs to the airport Front- or all-wheel drive five-seat subcompact four-door electric SUV Base price: $24,995 (All prices exclude $1,425 destination charge) Model tested: SEL AWD with black wheel package Price as tested: $35,090 (Excluding $1,425 destination charge) Power: 174 hp @ 5,500 rpm; 184 pound-feet of torque @ 1,750 rpm EPA estimated fuel economy: 25 mpg city/33 highway/28 combined Cargo volume: 24.9 cubic feet rear seat up Officials announced a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Taos Regional Airport terminal will take place Feb The Town of Taos has announced the upcoming construction of a new multipurpose terminal facility at Taos Regional Airport (SKX) The 7,500-square-foot terminal will serve as a modern hub for general aviation seasonal charter services and critical air ambulance operations Construction is expected to be completed in October A groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction will be held on Feb Michelle Lujan Grisham's office and state lawmakers have been invited to join Taos officials at the event Other guests include representatives from the New Mexico State Aviation Division project architects Gensler and general contractors Mick Rich Construction Company “This project represents a significant step forward for the Taos Regional Airport and the broader community,” Taos Mayor Pascual Maestas said “By combining modern infrastructure with sustainable design we are creating a facility that reflects the unique character of Taos while meeting the needs of our travelers and partners.” The new owner of Taos Cookery Laine Overley smiles inside Taos Cookery as she works to merge the two businesses together maintaining many of the items previously sold at Taos Cookery while introducing some of her grab-and-go food items now available in a refrigerator in the store at the new Koko grab-and-go downtown location inside Taos Cookery as seen Monday (March 17) which was recently purchased by Koko Cafe owner Laine Overley Some of the food items available at the new Koko grab-and-go downtown location inside Taos Cookery Peter Larson looks at different kitchen utensils for sale at Taos Cookery smiles inside Taos Cookery as she works to merge the two business together Koko Caf e owner Laine Overley has loved to bake and cook — so much so that in high school she used to 'bake and break' into friends’ homes to leave them … Koko Cafe owner Laine Overley has loved to bake and cook — so much so that in high school she used to "bake and break" into friends’ homes to leave them homemade cheesecake This “kamikaze kindness,” as she describes it was part of a contest between Overley and her friends to do thoughtful but silly things for each other Overley strives to carry her creativity and whimsy with her through her recent purchase of Taos Cookery a kitchen shop nestled in an old adobe house on Bent Street I had a kindness competition with a friend and we would do more outlandish things,” Overley said “I remember baking in junior high and somebody asking me if I made something from scratch That little story … That was one of my first times playing with baking I started making friends' wedding cakes and birthday cakes." Overley purchased Taos Cookery in January from longtime owner Cobey Senescu who’s retiring after overseeing the business since 1989 Senescu jokingly remarked this is her third time retiring she was a Taos Ski Valley ski instructor and a social worker for the Taos Municipal School District for 13 years “I was thinking about transitioning and letting go of the business preferably a local or a Taoseña with some business experience and younger than I am,” Senescu said vibrant and who has a love for cooking and the kitchen shop but she also has this background in food preparation and her little coffee shop “She’s already brought in her style and whimsy and her gift for buying merchandise,” she said “I think it’s going to be a nice combination of what it’s been for 30 years and her new ideas she’ll bring.” The rich scent of cocoa filled Koko Cafe's commercial kitchen on Saturday (March 15) where Overley and her staff baked Irish cream cupcakes the velvety folds of chocolate batter thickened Her hands were covered in cocoa when she set down the bowl her mind swirled with ideas for Taos Cookery The Koko Cafe owner plans to keep much of Taos Cookery the same while bringing some new ideas to the table Overley has added a grab-and-go fridge inside of the shop (a smaller version of the one at Koko) stocked with sandwiches Overley noted there’s many sit-down restaurants in Taos' historic district and I’ve always loved it with just gift-giving myself,” Overley said of Taos Cookery’s kitchen gadgets locally made flatware and New Mexican food products but in the summer when there’s lines out the door — honestly for locals for people working downtown — it feels like a little bit of a desert it would be great to get a Koko grab-and-go downtown the fantasy would be taking picnic baskets over and letting you loan them out walk to the park and grab your little lunch — there’s crackers She’d also like to implement a lunch pickup service in which customers can submit orders to Koko Cafe's catering service email then pick them up at Taos Cookery the following day The idea would be for a customer to be able to eat one of Koko's burritos or lasagna plates regardless of the side of town they’re on “I have friends who never get to the south side of town,” Overley said and I would buy it all the time if you were centrally located if you were north of town.’ In my fantasy life I had looked at what that could look like … Similarly to how I acquired Koko Taos Cookery will continue to offer its most popular merchandise including Taos Twist flatware and Albuquerque-based Kei & Molly company's hand-printed locals tend to prefer purchasing practical kitchen tools while tourists are drawn to locally made pottery and gift items “It appeals both to locals and visitors,” Senescu said locally made and artistic items that we carry in there I think the locals are interested in getting the practical — a good knife The visitors are a little more interested in the locally made pottery and things made in Taos that are unique.” “We’re working on keeping a lot of what has been successful,” Overley said “There have been a few changes on Bent Street shopping-wise so I’m looking at those fun gag gifts that are still kitchen-related I just ordered rubber spatulas that are in the shape of a finger a pickle wine opener and I’ve started ordering a caterpillar [shaped] peeler but there’s part of me that says we still have to have fun and can’t be so serious.” Overley is considering transforming the back storage room of Taos Cookery into a retail space with “kitchen witch” themed soaps She also plans to create a decorated photo-op wall where customers can step into a scene straight out of Wonderland with hanging butterflies and other artwork  “I think that Laine believes in creative flights of fancy and how important that is,” said Julia Henzerling She was saying things are all just business but it’s really important to have the other side as well which I think is why I really like this whole operation.” Koko Cafe is open Monday through Friday Taos Cookery is open Monday through Saturday For more information, visit kokotaos.org or taoscookery.com Alan Maestas poses for a portrait inside his office in Taos Wednesday (March 26) The New Mexico Supreme Court has ruled state courts can order fines for contempt payable to a third party such as the New Mexico State Bar Foundation In a unanimous decision the court issued on … In a unanimous decision the court issued on Thursday (March 20) justices concluded it was permissible for a district court to order a Taos defense attorney to pay a $1,000 contempt fine to the State Bar Foundation At a hearing in 2020 at the 8th Judicial District courthouse in Clayton former Judge Melissa Kennelly held Maestas in direct criminal contempt of court after Maestas refused to proceed to trial without a witness he believed to be key to his client’s defense Maestas was sentenced to serve 30 days of a 182-day jail sentence Maestas and his legal team disputed the decision by filing an appeal with the New Mexico Court of Appeals suspending Maestas’ jail sentence and fines The state Court of Appeals in turn requested the New Mexico Supreme Court address the question: Can contempt fines be made payable to a third party “We hold that Maestas’s fine payable to a third party is permitted under the judiciary’s inherent and uniquely broad contempt power and is constitutional,” the Court wrote in an opinion by Chief Justice David K the Legislature has not imposed a relevant constraint on the type of fine ordered against Maestas.” Maestas told Kennelly he was obliged to defy the court because Dr a clinical and forensic psychologist from Santa Fe couldn’t attend the trial due to a scheduled hip replacement surgery Maestas argued Cave’s testimony was critical to his defense of Bennie Lewis Gardner who was charged on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child under 13 in 2017 it was about sticking to his moral convictions “I told Bennie Gardner that I would do my best to protect him and get him through this,” Maestas told the Taos News “My job is to make the state prove everything Bennie Gardner essentially put his life in my hands and I was the fourth person involved in that case I’ve pushed back on the judges because in the end my moral compass says to take care of people.” Maestas made his decision between what he describes as two systems of morality: one based on following rules absolutely and the other on avoiding harm Bennie Gardner was very likely going to end up in prison for two to three years while we do the appeals,” Maestas said Gardner faced charges of criminal sexual penetration of a child a first-degree felony; abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm a first-degree felony; and enticement of a child His case was in legal limbo for almost four years COVID-19 restrictions brought further delays justices clarified that “only fees collected by the judicial department are subject to the limitations of Article VI Section 30 of the New Mexico Constitution.” That provision requires all fees collected by the judicial department be paid to the state treasury Maestas’ fine was imposed by the district court The court rejected Maestas’ argument that contempt fines must be paid into the treasury “This is incorrect for two reasons: (1) a fine is not a fee and (2) the fine ordered payable to the Foundation was not collected by the judicial department,” the court wrote The court also reasoned the common legal usage of the terms “fee” and "fine" support their holding Justices clarified that an opinion by the court in the 2000 case incorrectly concluded “penalties or fines are synonymous with fees for the purposes” of the constitutional requirement that fees be paid to the treasury The court ordered Maestas’ case back to the Court of Appeals for other issues he raised in his appeal It’s the second time Maestas has challenged the contempt case the Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction for contempt but ordered the case back to the district court for a new sentence “While your moral conviction may have driven you to act as you did you have to accept the consequences of your decision,” Kennelly told Maestas during a re-sentencing hearing on Nov “About 20 months after you engaged in the conduct in question the Court of Appeals rendered its decision and said that 30 days in jail was too much.” The latest appeal involves Maestas' resentencing “She did her job the way she thought it was supposed to be done with the authority she had,” Maestas said of Kennelly She just happened to have the power and I didn’t storyteller and Taos Pueblo elder Robert Mirabal teams up with the New York-based string quartet ETHEL to perform “The Red Willow” in Luther College’s 2024–25 Center Stage Series at 7:30 p.m in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall In this unique expression of 13 years of friendship and collaboration teams with the New York-based string quartet ETHEL “Collaboration is central to Robert Mirabal and ETHEL and with ‘The Red Willow,’ their signature mastery transcends geographical boundaries Music and storytelling blend in an ambitious program that will leave you reinvigorated,” said Susan Potvin “You don’t want to miss this performance.” Mirabal is a renowned Native American flute player and flute maker from Taos Pueblo in New Mexico He is a two-time Grammy Award winner and was twice named the Native American Music Awards’ Artist of the Year His performance in PBS’s musical production “Spirit: A Journey in Dance and Song” remains a benchmark of Native American traditional and rock fusion ETHEL sets the standard for contemporary concert music The quartet is made up of Ralph Farris (viola) ETHEL has released nine feature recordings and performed as guests on more than 50 albums The group won a Grammy Award with jazz vocalist Kurt Elling Before the performance, enjoy a gourmet three-course dinner in the Peace Dining Room at Dahl Centennial Union The menu features shaved asparagus with roasted walnuts roasted salmon served with lemon braised artichokes Dietary accommodations are available upon request Buy tickets for the April 11 performance and for the pre-show dinner at tickets.luther.edu or at the Luther Ticket Office in the Center for Faith and Life. Contact the ticket office at tickets@luther.edu or 563-387-1357 for more information The events are open to the general public on Sunday VanderMeer will discuss the social roles of fiction in uncertain times the critical need for biology and more during the “One Evening in Area X” conversation It is the policy of Luther College to provide equal educational opportunities and equal access to facilities for all qualified persons The college does not discriminate in employment or any other basis protected by federal or state law Conducting a fish population survey on this stretch of the Rio Grande is an arduous endeavor and ending with hiking all boats and gear up 300 feet to the rim of the Rio Grande Gorge Pulling off this survey requires impeccable timing and cooperation from staff office-wide and outside partners; because of these challenges this survey has not been conducted since 2010 Due to the density of nesting raptors in the Upper Rio Grande Gorge the earliest this survey can be undertaken is June 1 when springtime flows have begun to subside and when the river is already too low to navigate requiring many hands to help hike out gear and shuttle vehicles The trip also depends upon the availability of a New Mexico Department of Game and Fish fisheries biologist with flows above the minimum required 400 cubic-feet-per-second allowing the team to navigate the large rafts down the river Also on hand were staff from the river program along with resource staff and a New Mexico Department of Game and Fish fisheries biologist two students and a teacher from the Bosque School in Albuquerque New Mexico joined the trip to collect samples for their own studies The team launched at Lobatos Bridge in Colorado floating nine miles down to New Mexico and sampling the first reach right at the state line Sampling consists of rowing the shocking raft down the mile-long survey reaches with two netters in the front of the raft The netters work on netting stunned fish and keeping them in a live well until the end of the reach Six one-mile-long reaches were sampled in this stretch of the Rio Grande River Participants caught Brown and Rainbow trout in addition to native species such as the Rio Grande Chub everyone banded together for the daunting task of hiking rafts and other gear out of the gorge at Cow Patty and Lee Trails Both trails are relatively short but boast steep inclines and large boulders Many hands made short work and the team carried all equipment out safely A special thanks goes to the Taos Field Office managers who allowed their staff members to divert from their day jobs in order to help facilitate this important survey Parishioners walk into San Fransisco de Asís Church on Easter Sunday in 2024 Easter is one of the largest celebrations of the Catholic faith commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ It is a time to rejoice in the power of good over evil and the promise of life renewed mark the longest observance in the Catholic calendar fasting and giving that mirrors Jesus’ days of fasting in the desert before beginning his ministry Many Catholics mark this period by giving up personal comforts or making personal sacrifices such as alcohol or sweets when Catholics receive crosses from ash on their foreheads Wearing ash is said to be a reminder of our mortality The priest says “remember that you are dust symbolizes Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on his ministry Palms were laid in front of Jesus as a symbol of homage palms are blessed and constructed into crosses as a symbol of devotion The palms are then saved to be burned and used for next year's Ash Wednesday Holy Week begins Monday when Jesus cast out the money changers who had made the temple a place of business rather than devotion Jesus then began his ministry in Jerusalem angering his enemies who plotted for his demise Jesus continued preaching and debating religious leaders foretelling his ordained betrayal and death Jesus mourned the rejection of his ministry and the impending destruction of Jerusalem is when Jesus shared his final meal with his disciples Jesus was convicted of blasphemy to satisfy the crowd crowned with thorns and forced to carry a large cross to his place of execution His death was marked by darkness and an earthquake His body was then laid in a tomb before sun down it is said Jesus descended into hell and offered salvation to the righteous such as the Easter Candle and items to be used for the next year such as holy water fulfilling the promise of eternal life for all who believe many Northern New Mexicans deepen their spiritual practices attending mass more frequently and devoting their time to charities and prayer One powerful tradition is the pilgrimage of El Santuario de Chimayó to the sacred 200-year-old adobe church known for its healing energies Taos and beyond take part in this journey on foot a symbol of Jesus’ suffering and sacrifice Many speak of tremendous healing energy felt when people join together in prayer and meditation Taos has hosted a smaller pilgrimage that ends at the San Francisco de Asís Church with stops at chapels in Talpa Easter Sunday is a day of joyful celebration honoring the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for humanity it's a time rich with tradition and cherished memories of devotion Sisters Rosalie Gonzales and Roberta Martinez shared what Easter was like growing up in Arroyo Seco Martinez recalls it was a week of prayer and service only prayer and reflection commemorating the hours of Jesus’ suffering "All the ladies wore bonnets and all the men wore a suit and topcoat I remember my dad always wore his bolo," she said It was a time of coming together in sacrifice and celebration decorating and hunting eggs symbolizes the celebration of new life everlasting It's a time for families to gather for a meal and create new memories of family and faith there's the Easter egg hunt at Kit Carson Park hosting fantastic prizes and fun bringing together our community Many families still host neighborhood egg hunts Easter is a way to celebrate time-honored traditions here in Taos this time of year encourages us to spread kindness honor the tradition and enjoy the gift of hope was found dead near Tres Piedras this week The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator will conduct an autopsy to determine Jesus Quintanilla's cause of death TAOS — The body of a man last seen leaving his job at a Taos restaurant Jan and while an official cause of death is pending an autopsy members of his family believe they know what happened Taos County sheriff’s deputies were led to a location near Tres Piedras where they recovered the remains of Jesus Quintanilla which were turned over to the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator for an autopsy according to a news release from the sheriff’s office The father of three was last seen on surveillance video leaving Maria’s Restaurant around 8 p.m The family suspects Quintanilla received a ride to a gathering where he succumbed to a fatal overdose of a substance someone might have hidden his body in a vehicle — perhaps for several days — before disposing of it “We as private citizens have been investigating this and receiving reports,” Raphael Quintanilla The police know the people who are involved.” Quintanilla was having car trouble and had arranged for a ride home from work he told the driver he didn’t need a ride after all The young man who was driving “just returned to his home,” Raphael Quintanilla told The Taos News in January He confirmed his office has executed a search warrant on a vehicle in connection with the case Miera said investigators are trying to determine if Jesus Quintanilla “had been in the vehicle recently,” adding that DNA swabs collected from the search were sent to be analyzed by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety lab “I am relieved to say we have found Jesus,” Quintanilla’s brother This story first appeared in The Taos News a sister publication of The Santa Fe New Mexican Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device 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 died Wednesday (March 26) while skiing after a shift at the resort died in a skiing accident at the resort Wednesday afternoon (March 26) a spokesperson for the corporation has confirmed said the employee was skiing while off duty at the resort "Our entire resort family is heartbroken by this devastating loss," she wrote and this profound tragedy will be deeply felt throughout our staff and the broader local community." Dolin said the corporation would not be identifying the employee we will not be releasing additional details or offering interviews," she said "We ask that the media respect the privacy of the family and our resort community at this time." Taos High School’s Edu@Work Cafe where Tigers get hands-on experience operating the front and back of house operations of a restaurant Since taking over the program as director in 2019 Adam Medina has carried forward the winning reputation of Taos High School's culinary arts program winning multiple state prizes and earning entry into the National ProStart Invitational Medina's culinary and management teams will head to Baltimore to compete against top schools from across the country May 2-4 Adam Medina is the sous chef at Ranchos Plaza Grill and the director of Taos High School's culinary arts program which is known as one of the best in New Mexico When Adam Medina embraced an unexpected career path — starting in his parents’ kitchen — he had no idea how far his passion for food would take him to an elite culinary school in New York City and back again Medina is leading aspiring Taos High School culinary students to compete at the national level We sat together in Taos High School’s Edu@Work Cafe where students in the ProStart Culinary Program run the show the teal and red diner-style cafe comes alive every Thursday “Being a teacher was not on my radar,” Medina said “But teaching here is the biggest accomplishment of my professional career.” located beside the historic San Francisco de Asís Mission Church in Ranchos de Taos though his main focus is growing the culinary arts program at Taos High where he once was a culinary student himself under Benjamin Apodaca Apodaca inspired Medina to enroll at the Culinary Institute of America in New York City which Medina described as “the best of the best." Diploma in hand but unsure of his plans where he was given an opportunity to take over the program  in 2019 after Apodaca’s unexpected passing “I try to be the kind of mentor and teacher that I wish that I had and it was really hard to take over the program after his passing but continuing to be able to push the kids into opportunities that they don't know they have is rewarding for me.” Medina described himself as a shy student in high school his passion for food has driven him to achieve success doing what he loves We walked out the swinging red kitchen doors to peek at a packed trophy case I spotted “Senior Teacher of the Year" and a giant gold chalice labeled “Hospitality Cup," which I learned goes home each year to the school with the most titles  “We’re going to need a bigger case,” Medina beamed Taos High's culinary program has been raking in prizes the team won the New Mexico ProStart Invitational Maryland to compete in the National ProStart Invitational “A lot of these kids come from rough backgrounds,” Medina said “I try to be a person who believes in them and can push them past their comfort zone in terms of what they think they're able to do Medina isn't just a proponent of culinary arts  — he's a big supporter for all Career Technical Education programs as a path forward for local youth the option of not going to college and finding a trade they are passionate about is more available to students,” Medina said Having grown up in a family full of chefs to look up to and learn from Medina always knew entering the professional culinary world was a possibility for him he played in the restaurant's back apartment before he grew old enough to learn the ropes as a cook that would push you away from the industry it kind of piqued my interest,” Medina said “I don't know how true it is that it runs in the family but there was plenty of good that came from spending so much time with his family “I think that's why we're so close as a family because we were never really apart from each other,” Medina said “The good thing is we were always around food so I don't know how good that is for me now I asked him why he came back to Taos after studying in a culinary mecca like New York City “That's a question I get a lot,” Medina said and the restaurant has always been a family business and the opportunity to become a teacher here wasn't something that was on my radar he has the best of both worlds: carrying forward a tradition at the Ranchos Plaza Grill while simultaneously introducing future chefs and restaurateurs to a path they may not have previously known existed “It feels good to be able to help run the business now that we're older and able to take it more seriously,” Medina said “Because we're able to see the reward of being open and busy and people coming in to enjoy our food and that's something that is something to be proud of," he added With the success of his culinary arts program at Taos High and the popularity of his family’s cooking at Ranchos Plaza Grill At the root of both lies his pride in his New Mexican heritage — specifically Even after attending one of the best culinary schools in the world “I learned how to make New Mexican cuisine from my dad “It's interesting to see how each one of them cooks differently — that there's 100 different ways to make a chile but each one of them can taste like the best chile you've ever had.” New Mexican cuisine is a combination of Mexican “It's such a privilege to be able to have come from such a big family of cooks and to be able to continue to pass that down and to train these students on it “It's nice to live in such a small town and know these differences To know that the food of Taos is not the food of Albuquerque I needed to know his favorite dish and what his recommended order at Ranchos Plaza Grill would be “And my family's specialty is carne adobada It’s a recipe that's been secret with my family for five generations Someone should probably write that recipe down.” Stephanie Gates is a writer and columnist living in Taos She has been a staff writer for other publications and a freelancer for five years covering local politics environmental justice and written community profiles and conducted award-winning investigations of government officials She has a bachelor's degree in political science from UC Berkeley I try to be the kind of mentor and teacher that I wish that I had — A man has pleaded guilty to a charge in the killing of DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo Santiago Martinez pleaded guilty in federal court to voluntary manslaughter for his girlfriend’s death in November 2021 Court records show a late-night argument led to Martinez running Suazo over with her SUV “Although Martinez had consumed alcohol he acknowledged being aware of his actions and their wrongfulness at the time of the incident,” stated the U.S he will have at least three years of supervised release Suazo was the daughter of Navajo artist Geraldine Tso and Taos Pueblo painter David Gary Suazo She was an up-and-coming artist who received acclaim for “celebrating her Indigenous heritage through figural paintings of strong Indigenous women blending traditional and contemporary styles with inspiration from Japanese manga.” Suazo’s work has been exhibited at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts and the Balzer Contemporary Edge Gallery She is one of 60 different Indigenous artists who painted rooms at the Nativo Lodge in Albuquerque and Taos Pueblo will always be the home I return to.” Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KOB via our online formor call 505-243-4411.