Free Republic

SANTA FE — A California research team is conducting a five-year ecological study of six songbird species in northwestern New Mexico oil fields to see how sensory intrusions affect the birds’ survival, reproduction and general health. The Santa Fe New Mexican says the study by avian researchers from California Polytechnic State University will zero in on the specific impacts of noise and light pollution. As the human population swells and generates more light and sound, researchers are curious about how those multiplying stressors might compound the challenges of climate change in New Mexico’s San Juan Basin, the newspaper reported. Clint...

Republican U.S. House Natural Resources Committee leaders have escalated an ongoing investigation into Joe Biden’s Interior Secretary Deb Haaland regarding her connections to the left-wing environmental activist group Pueblo Action Alliance (PAA). A letter sent to Secretary Haaland and the top Interior Department ethics official, Heather Gottry, and spearheaded by Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., raises concerns about a potential “lack of impartiality and misuse of her position” in support of PAA and certain family members. Haaland’s daughter has been involved with PAA, while her husband has been engaged in consulting work related to Interior Department actions. The...

Former Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales and Undersheriff Rudy Mora are named — but not charged — in an alleged scheme to illegally acquire machine guns for firearms dealers and gun enthusiasts in Albuquerque and elsewhere. James Christopher Tafoya, the owner of the now-shuttered JCT Firearms in Albuquerque, is charged with conspiracy to violate federal gun laws, unlawful importation of a firearm and making false statements in firearms records in the case. Federal authorities say Gonzales and Mora, who was chief of Laguna Pueblo police at the time, submitted more than 100 letters to Tafoya, asking for the import of...

Following her unilateral diktat on Sept. 8 to ban all citizens from carrying firearms anywhere in Bernallio County for 30 days, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a revised public health order on Friday. The governor’s withdrawal of the wider ban comes after a national backlash and after U.S. District Judge David Urias sided with Second Amendment rights supporters on Wednesday and issued a temporary restraining order preventing the enforcement of the wider gun ban. It’s worth noting that Democratic majorities in the state House and Senate rejected numerous proposals to fight crime in the 2023 session. House Republicans introduced 10...

A large coalition of House Republicans led by Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., introduced a resolution Thursday condemning Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham over her now-blocked gun carry ban. The GOP resolution would condemn Lujan Grisham in response to her emergency order last week which suspended concealed and open carry in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the surrounding Bernalillo County for at least 30 days. Republicans, some Democrats and Second Amendment advocates have heavily criticized Lujan Grisham, arguing the order infringes on Americans' constitutional rights. "The shocking move from Governor Grisham is a blatant subversion of the U.S. Constitution and...

SANTA FE — A wandering bull moose was captured in downtown Santa Fe and relocated to a suitable habitat in northern New Mexico, authorities said Tuesday. State Game and Fish officials and Animal Service Officers for the city said the moose was spotted around 8 a.m. near Fort Marcy Park. Officers set up a perimeter to protect residents and pedestrians in the park, which is a popular walking area. The moose was sedated with a tranquilizer dart and loaded onto a trailer before being evaluated by a state Department of Game and Fish veterinarian and determined to be in good...

Some demonstrators defiantly wore holstered handguns on their hips or carried rifles in a Tuesday rally by gun-rights advocates, protesting Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s surprise order to suspend the right to carry firearms after two children were recently killed in separate shootings. The rally unfolded on Albuquerque’s Civic Plaza shortly before New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced he cannot defend the governor’s public health order on firearms, furthering a divide between the state’s top-ranked elected Democrats. Meanwhile, a U.S. District Court judge in Albuquerque is set to hold a hearing on Wednesday on whether to issue a temporary restraining...

In Hobbs, a controversy has erupted surrounding an office space allegedly rented by abortionist Steven Brigham. The office was linked to the Freedom Care abortion facility on the 4th floor of the Turner Street Don Garey Tower office building. This facility was reportedly evicted in July due to unpaid rent, resulting in Brigham’s breach of contract lawsuit against the landlord. The situation is complicated, with allegations of deceptive practices. According to the landlord’s counterclaim, Brigham misrepresented the purpose of the rented space, initially claiming it was for specialty medical doctors, including cardiologists, without disclosing his true intention of operating an...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque Police Department said an 11-year-old boy is dead and the boy’s aunt is critically injured after a possible road rage shooting near Isotopes Park Wednesday night. APD Chief Harold Medina said there were officers at the Isotopes game when gunshots were heard outside. Medina said gunfire hit a truck that was traveling west on Avenida Cesar Chavez around 9 p.m. An 11-year-old boy was hit and killed and a woman in her 20s was shot and taken to the hospital in critical condition. Police said the vehicle the victims were riding in may have...

Second Judicial District Attorney Sam Bregman said the justice system’s current approach to prosecuting shoplifting cases isn’t working, so his office is going to change its approach. Bregman on Tuesday announced that his office has started prosecuting all shoplifting cases, including misdemeanors, which began at the start of the month. With these attorneys now handling shoplifting cases, the plan will free up more officers who were previously having to prosecute shoplifting cases themselves. According to a news release from Bregman’s office, 40 to 70 misdemeanor shoplifting cases are going go through Metropolitan Court every month. “Residents of Bernalillo County have...

GENEVA — Earth has sweltered through its hottest Northern Hemisphere summer ever measured, with a record warm August capping a season of brutal and deadly temperatures, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Last month was not only the hottest August scientists ever recorded by far with modern equipment, it was also the second hottest month measured, behind only July 2023, WMO and the European climate service Copernicus announced Wednesday.

The family of a 23-year-old Albuquerque woman shot dead by a 13-year-old when she confronted the thieves who stole her car on Monday is calling for the "maximum sentence" for the teen. Sydney Wilson faced off with a 13-year-old suspect after she tracked her stolen car to a Smith's grocery store and gas station in Southwest Albuquerque using a GPS app, her family said. The teen shot her in response, according to KOAT Action News, and she was pronounced dead at the scene by Albuquerque police. The minor turned himself in to authorities two days later, per the outlet, and...

A solar salesperson spent five hours in July on a site visit with Jan, a 76-year-old homeowner, to convince her that installing a small rooftop solar system on her Northeast Heights home would eliminate her electric bills overnight. Later, after printing out the one-page financial document she signed, Jan realized it was a 25-year agreement with a $79-per-month repayment plan. That’s $18 more than her current utility payments, which average about $61 per month based on a review of all her Public Service Co. of New Mexico bills since January 2022. Jan did cancel after consulting with Affordable Solar, which...

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Two U.S. Navy sailors have been arrested and accused of providing sensitive military information to China — including details on wartime exercises, Naval operations and critical technical material, federal officials said Thursday. Jinchao Wei, a 22-year-old sailor assigned to the San Diego-based USS Essex, was arrested Wednesday on a charge related to espionage involving conspiracy to send national defense information to Chinese officials, according to the U.S. officials. The Justice Department also charged Navy service member Wenhen Zhao, 26, accusing him of taking bribes in exchange for giving sensitive U.S. military photos and videos to a...

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen physically fought and detained a suspected shoplifter on Friday evening while with his family at a sporting goods store on the West Side. BCSO said on Twitter that Allen "found himself facing an unexpected situation" when he spotted three people stuffing merchandise into duffel bags "with the intent to steal" at Dick's Sporting Goods near Cottonwood Mall. "Two individuals wisely chose to abandon the items and leave the store," BCSO said on Twitter. Deputies said the third shoplifter hit the sheriff twice before being taken to the ground by Allen. The department shared a photo...

According to an investigation by the pro-life group Abortion Free New Mexico (AFNM), Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s recently created “reproductive health” hotline through the New Mexico Department of Health appears to be doing as expected — pushing abortion and only abortion. AFNM noted, “​The representative that answered the call confirmed that she was with the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) and when the investigative caller tells her that she is [eight] weeks pregnant and calling for resources, the NMDOH representative immediately assumes that the caller wants an abortion.” “When the investigative caller says she’s not sure if she...

RIO RANCHO — New Mexico would require automakers to deliver more zero-emission vehicles for sale in the state under a rule proposed Monday by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The proposal would require that 43% of the 2027 model year cars and trucks sent to New Mexico for sale meet strict clean car standards, officials said. The percentage would climb to 82% for 2032 vehicles, with the changes phased in over a half dozen years. Under the proposal, automakers would also have the option of buying credits from other companies to help meet the 43% requirement for 2027 electric vehicles. Electric...

The quintessential American summer road trip is an epic journey that unites families and friends. It’s an adventure that lets you meander through the tapestry of America’s landscapes, steeped in captivating scenery, quaint towns, and timeless charm. However, behind the enticing postcard-perfect panoramas, a summer trip can quickly become dangerous if you breakdown in a remote area with extreme summer temperatures…Gunther Mitsubishi commissioned QuestionPro to run a survey of 3,000 regular roadtrippers, and asked them to rank which routes (in each state) across America they fear breaking down on the most.#1st Most Feared: US Route 285 in New Mexico The...

This week, the abortion up-to-birth group NARAL endorsed far-left Democrat U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-CD-02) for a second term, along with other “frontline” Democrats who face tough reelection prospects. The group’s president Mini Timmaraju wrote in a statement, “We’re proud to endorse this slate of leaders as the first endorsements of our 2024 electoral program. Ensuring they are reelected is essential to taking back the U.S. House of Representatives and moving one step closer to passing into law legislation that will protect and expand reproductive freedom (abortion).” The only way for a candidate to receive the radical group’s endorsement is...

A 19-year-old man was arrested Monday after allegedly opening fire during a dispute over a movie theater seat late Sunday, leaving one man dead. Michael Tenorio, 52, was killed and the suspect, Enrique Padilla, 19, was injured at Century Rio theater near Jefferson and Interstate 25. The shooting, in theater 15, sent patrons fleeing from the large cineplex. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, Tenorio and his wife, Trina Tenorio, arrived at the theater and purchased tickets for the 8:50 p.m. showing of “No Hard Feelings,” a rom-com staring Jennifer Lawrence. The couple purchased seats 8 and...