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NMSU Global Campus Collaborates with Los Lunas Schools to Offer Online Learning Opportunities 

Gregg Morgan
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NMSU Global Campus Collaborates with Los Lunas Schools to Offer Online Learning Opportunities 

The New Mexico State University is championing another initiative aimed at supporting employee growth. NMSU Global Campus partnered with Los Lunas Schools to expand affordable, flexible higher education opportunities for district employees.

Through the collaboration, Los Lunas Schools staff will access accredited online degree and certificate programs. Teachers, administrators, and support personnel can benefit from the effort. These programs aim to foster career advancement, professional growth, and workforce development.

Employees can enroll in high-demand graduate degrees and licensure pathways in special education, secondary education, and early childhood education. These degree and licensure pathways equip educators with skills and credentials to meet the evolving needs of students and communities.

How the Partnership Benefits Employees

Employees may apply tuition benefits to educator preparation, undergraduate and graduate degrees, professional certificates, and short-term microlearning courses. These fully online options help employees across all roles develop new skills, strengthen leadership capabilities, and advance their careers. They can continue serving students and families while completing their studies.

“Our partnership with Los Lunas Schools reflects a shared commitment to investing in the people who make a difference in our communities every day,” said Andrew Sedillo, executive director of strategic partnerships at NMSU Global Campus. “By expanding access to flexible, online education, we are creating opportunities for educators and staff to continue growing professionally while balancing the demands of work and life.”

The university delivers all programs fully online, allowing working professionals to complete coursework on schedules that fit their responsibilities. Eligible Los Lunas Schools employees also receive a tuition discount. The benefit helps reduce financial barriers and makes continued education more accessible.

“At Los Lunas Schools, we believe that investing in our employees is an investment in the future of our students,” said Susan D. Chavez, superintendent of Los Lunas Schools. “This partnership with NMSU Global Campus provides our staff with valuable opportunities to continue their education, strengthen their professional skills and pursue new pathways for career growth while continuing to serve our school communities.”

The partnership reflects NMSU Global Campus and Los Lunas Schools’ shared commitment to strengthening New Mexico’s workforce. They expand access to high-quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.

UNM Retains School of Law Dean Camille Carey 

Gregg Morgan
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UNM Retains School of Law Dean Camille Carey 

University of New Mexico School of Law Dean Camille Carey faced both protests and support over her leadership. UNM decided to keep her as dean. 

On Monday, UNM Provost Barbara Rodriguez announced Carey’s reappointment as dean of the School of Law. The university reached the decision after carefully considering the matter and following its established policies and procedures. Carey’s reappointment takes effect July 1, 2027.

“The School of Law plays a vital role in preparing lawyers who serve communities throughout New Mexico,” said Rodriguez. “As Provost, I remain committed to working with Dean Carey and the entire School of Law community to strengthen the School, support its mission, and ensure it continues to serve the people of New Mexico with distinction. I am committed to supporting Dean Carey in advancing the School’s priorities while working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and our legal community partners to build on the School’s strengths.”

Carey, for her part, said she is honored by the opportunity to continue serving the UNM School of Law. “Our law school has a proud tradition of preparing lawyers who make a difference in communities across New Mexico, and I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and legal community partners as we build on that tradition,” she said.

About Dean Carey

Carey leads a law school with more than 30 faculty and approximately 300 students. Since becoming dean in 2022, Carey has overseen progress in fundraising, accreditation, budget management, and strategic planning. She has also expanded support for faculty, students, and alumni.

During her tenure, the School has raised nearly $22 million, including two consecutive record fundraising years. It also expanded scholarship opportunities, strengthened leadership and student support structures, and increased professional development resources for faculty and staff.

Before becoming dean in 2022, Carey served as vice dean and associate dean for Academic Affairs at the UNM School of Law. She joined UNM’s faculty in 2009. Since joining the faculty, Carey has taught Clinic, Torts, Advanced Torts, Civil Procedure, Immigrants’ Rights and Domestic Violence Law.

Debate over Carey’s Leadership

Last month, some UNM alumni and organizations urged UNM to remove Carey. The New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association and American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico joined the call. They cited declining local applications and the underrepresentation of Native students. 

Critics argue nonresidents students make up one-third of the 2026 and 2027 classes, while Native American students remain underrepresented.

“Our state’s only law school is turning away its own people. This is not simply a debate about admissions metrics. This is a debate about values,” said Jessica Martinez, a UNM graduate. 

Meanwhile, 2025-26 UNM School of Law Admissions Committee members sent a letter to President Stephen Goldstein and Provost Barbara Rodriguez. They said New Mexico applicants for the 2025 entering class had increased since 2011.

They said 23 of 296 students enrolled in 2025-26, or 7.77 percent, identified as American Indian or Alaska Native. The letter said that compares with 24 of 294 students in 2021-22, the school year before Carey took office.

The faculty said 36 students in the 2025-26 student body identify as Chicano, representing 12.16% of enrollment. They said that number has grown with each of the last three incoming classes.

New Mexico Missing Teen Found Alive at U.S.-Mexico Border, Finally Reunited With His Father After 3 Years

Juan Oliveros
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New Mexico Missing Teen Found Alive at U.S.-Mexico Border, Finally Reunited With His Father After 3 Years

Juan Escobar marked his son’s birthdays for more than three years, hoping that the missing teen would someday return home. That reunion finally came last week.

Federal authorities located Andrew Escobar, now 14, at the U.S.-Mexico border, ending a search that had drawn in local, state, and federal investigators. Finding Andrew became one of New Mexico’s long-running parental abduction cases.

The 11-year-old Andrew had to visit his mother, Miriam Felix, in June 2023. But the boy never returned home. The court had already granted Andrew’s father legal custody of his son at the time, but his mother never returned Andrew. Investigators soon concluded that the case had escalated into a parental abduction, launching a nationwide search involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service.

Authorities pursued leads with little success in finding the missing teen. His family continued searching while coping with the uncertainty, with Juan Escobar and his wife leaving their jobs to devote themselves to finding him. They celebrated each of Andrew’s birthdays, unwilling to give up hope that they would eventually see him again.

The search ended July 1 when U.S. border authorities identified the missing teen as he crossed into El Paso, Texas, from Mexico with his mother. Authorities took Felix into custody and expect him to face extradition proceedings in New Mexico in connection with the case.

Police called Juan Escobar to inform him that they had found his son. He said the news took several moments to sink in before relief replaced disbelief.

According to Juan Escobar, Andrew told investigators he had lived in several countries during the past three years, including Austria, Albania and Turkey, while attending school online. Authorities have not publicly explained how the pair traveled internationally or remained beyond investigators’ reach for so long.

Authorities found Andrew in good physical health, but his father said the emotional toll of the separation may take much longer to overcome.

Now reunited, the family says its immediate focus is helping Andrew adjust to life back home while investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the events that kept him away for more than three years.

Rabid Bat Found Inside New Mexico Home is the 9th Case This Year. What You Need to Know to Protect Your Home.

Juan Oliveros
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Rabid Bat Found Inside New Mexico Home is the 9th Case This Year. What You Need to Know to Protect Your Home.

A small but potent health alert has emerged in the quiet suburban expanse of Sandoval County. State health officials confirmed this week that a rabid bat was found inside a private home in the county, the ninth confirmed animal case in New Mexico so far in 2026.

The discovery, while not unusual in a state where wildlife rabies circulates seasonally, serves as a stark reminder of the persistent, if low-probability, risks lurking in backyards and attics across the American West.

New Mexico Department of Health officials euthanized the bat and submitted it for laboratory testing after its discovery. The department has not publicly detailed any human exposures in this case, but it urges residents to remain vigilant. Health officials reminded residents that even a momentary encounter with a bat — an animal that can slip through gaps as small as a quarter-inch — warrants attention.

“Rabies is nearly 100 percent fatal, but 100 percent preventable,” said Dr. Erin Phipps, state public health veterinarian for NMDOH.  “State law requires all dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies. Unvaccinated pets exposed to rabies must be euthanized or isolated for four months to prevent human exposure.”

Rabies Leaves Little Room for Error

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system. It is almost fatal once clinical symptoms appear. Some of the symptoms include agitation, hydrophobia, paralysis, and delirium. Rabies stands as one of medicine’s clearest triumphs of prevention because doctors can stop the virus before it reaches the brain by administering prompt post-exposure prophylaxis—wound cleaning, human rabies immune globulin, and a series of vaccines.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, bats are the leading cause of human rabies mortality in the U.S., even though the majority of reported rabid animals are not bats. Bats’ tiny teeth can leave invisible marks. And people often fail to realize the bite—especially when contact happens during sleep or involves children or others unable to report it.

New Mexico encounters rabies every year in reservoirs like bats, skunks, and foxes. In 2026 so far, cases include bats in Los Alamos and Sandoval Counties, skunks and a dog in Curry County, bobcats in Sierra County, and a fox in McKinley County. Historical data show bat rabies detections scattered across much of the state over the past decade, Sandoval County among them.

Not Every Bat is a Rabid Bat

The risk remains low in New Mexico because not every bat is rabid. Experts stress that only a small percentage of bats do. Bats are essential to healthy ecosystems, consuming large numbers of insects, including mosquitoes. But officials stress the significance of a zero-tolerance approach to potential exposure.

Key guidance from the state health department and CDC includes:

  • Never touch a bat. If a bat is found indoors, especially in a bedroom or near people who might not recall contact, contain it safely for testing, if possible, and immediately contact animal control or health authorities.
  • Never waste time seeking care. Wash any potential bite or scratch properly with soap and water, and get medical attention. For potential bat exposures without a clear bite, err on the side of consultation. New Mexico offers a helpline (1-833-SWNURSE) for guidance.
  • Protect pets. Keep dogs, cats, and horses up to date on rabies vaccinations. Domestic animals can be a bridge between wildlife and humans.
  • Keep homes bat-proof. Seal every possible entry and consider professional exclusion methods during seasons when bats are active but not raising young.

The seasonal increase in cases during warmer months coincides with increased bat activity and human time outdoors. In rural and suburban areas across the state, where homes often back up against open land, encounters with bats are part of living alongside nature.

Public health experts note that dramatic headlines about individual rabid animals help heighten anxiety. But the real story is one of manageable risk. Vaccination programs for pets and rapid response have kept human cases rare. Still, each confirmed animal case is a signal to renew awareness of the risks.

Health officials hope the Corrales bat will prompt proactive steps rather than panic amid the deepening of summer. In the hours when bats take flight, little caution can spell the difference between a minor wildlife encounter and a medical emergency.

Garlic, Tractors and Tradition: Northern New Mexico’s Garlic Festival and Farm Tractor Show Returns July 11

Victoria Padilla
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Northern New Mexico College will welcome residents and visitors to its Sostenga Farm on Friday, July 11, for the annual Garlic Festival and Farm Tractor Show, a community event celebrating the region’s agricultural heritage.

The festival is a longtime summer tradition for many northern New Mexico families. It will feature fresh locally grown garlic and produce, artisan vendors, food booths, live music, agricultural exhibits and family-friendly activities throughout the day.

A farm tractor show will highlight both vintage and modern equipment, giving visitors an opportunity to explore the area’s farming history and traditions.

According to Northern New Mexico College, the festival also emphasizes sustainable agriculture and community engagement. Sostenga Farm serves as a hands-on learning center where youth and adults can learn about environmentally friendly farming practices, conservation and local food production.

The event will include educational exhibits, demonstrations, and workshops designed to help visitors better understand the role agriculture plays in supporting local communities.

College officials and community leaders describe the festival as an opportunity to strengthens ties between the college and northern New Mexico residents by showcasing local farmers, businesses and artisans. Organizers hope the event will raise awareness of regional agriculture, support small businesses and encourage community involvement.

Festival organizers are encouraging residents and visitors alike to attend and experience the educational exhibits, locally produced goods and entertainment while celebrating New Mexico’s rich agricultural heritage.

Gallup-McKinley Schools Disciplined Native American, Hispanic Students at Higher Rates, DOJ Report Finds

Victoria Padilla
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The New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ), after a years-long investigation, found that the Gallup-McKinley County School District suspended Native American and Hispanic students out of school more frequently than their peers, causing them to lose substantial classroom instruction.

The report found that students in the district lost at least twice as many instructional days to out-of-school suspensions as the statewide average. Among the most significant findings, Native American students lost about eight to 10 times as many instructional days to suspensions as White students, and Hispanic students lost three to four times as many instructional days as White students.

Investigators examined several years of student discipline data, district policies, complaints, and interviews with educators, families and community members.

The report also acknowledged progress in the district, noting that expulsions and referrals to law enforcement have declined in recent years. However, the Justice Department said significant racial and ethnic disparities in school discipline remain, recommending further reforms to ensure students spend more time in the classroom.

“Every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn in a safe and supportive school environment,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Our investigation found that Gallup-McKinley County Schools relies too heavily on exclusionary discipline and that these practices disproportionately affect Native American and Hispanic students.”

“The loss of instructional time has real consequences for academic success and future opportunity,” he stressed. The NMDOJ report, released on July 2, serves as a framework for reforms that strengthen accountability, ensure fairness, and improve student outcomes, he added.

District administrators said they are reviewing the report’s findings and are committed to ensuring all students are treated fairly and consistently. Officials cited recent efforts, including the creation of an Equity Council and expanded community engagement, as part of ongoing work to improve school climate and disciplinary practices.

The report recommends that the district:

  • Reduce disparities in out-of-school suspensions.
  • Strengthen discipline policies and guidelines.
  • Improve the collection and analysis of discipline data.
  • Expand staff training on equitable disciplinary practices.
  • Increase transparency and accountability through regular public reporting.

The Department of Justice said reducing unnecessary out-of-school suspensions is critical, saying consistent classroom attendance is closely tied to improved academic outcomes. The report is part of broader efforts across New Mexico to promote equitable educational opportunities while maintaining safe and effective learning environments.

WNMU Professor Alexandra Neves Named ABE NM University Bilingual Education Professor of the Year

Gregg Morgan
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WNMU Professor Alexandra Neves Named ABE NM University Bilingual Education Professor of the Year

A Western New Mexico University instructor recently earned recognition for excellence in education, bringing pride to the university community. Alexandra Neves received the 2026 University Bilingual Education Professor of the Year Award from the Association of Bilingual Education New Mexico (ABE NM).  The honor recognizes the Associate Dean and College of Education Professor of TESOL/Bilingual Education’s outstanding work. 

ABE NM presented the award during a formal ceremony in April. The organization recognized Neves for her distinguished career and her unwavering advocacy for students’ educational success across the state.

The University Bilingual Education Professor of the Year Award recognizes educators who demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment to bilingual education. The ceremony brought together education leaders to honor visionaries championing language acquisition and cultural preservation in the Southwest. Neves accepted the award alongside colleagues and peers, marking a milestone in her distinguished journey.

“This recognition belongs to our students and the vibrant communities of New Mexico who remind us every day that language is not just a tool for communication, but a bridge to our heritage and our future,” Neves said. “Empowering the next generation of educators to view bilingualism as a primary asset is the most rewarding work of my career,” Neves said.

Why Neves Earned the Honor

The ABE NM Executive Board selected Neves after a rigorous review of her contributions to higher education. She also serves as chair of the Felipe de Ortego y Gasca Institute. Throughout her tenure, Neves helped shape the next generation of educators. She equipped them with the pedagogical skills and cultural competencies needed to serve New Mexico’s diverse student population

WNMU brought 16 dual enrollment students from WNMU and Deming High School to the conference. The students presented alongside their teachers and received a standing ovation for their puppet show and projects presentations. 

“The session filled quickly as participants were eager to learn more about the students’ experiences as Transfronterizos—crossing the border daily to attend school,” Neves said. The conference featured students’ teachers, who also serve as WNMU adjunct faculty, as keynote speakers. 

Neves’ influence extended well beyond the classroom, according to WNMU. She advocated for instructional practices that treated native languages as essential assets for student development.

In a state with a rich and complex linguistic heritage, Neves helped bridge the gap between academic research and classroom reality. Her efforts improved the instructional quality across the region and fostered learning environments that celebrated and preserved multiple languages.

ABE NM promotes high-quality educational programs for linguistically and culturally diverse students. It hosts an annual conference and leads year-round advocacy efforts to support bilingual education. The organization gives educators opportunities to share best practices and recognize leaders dedicated to the bilingual mission.

UNM Launches Elevate UNM to Modernize Administrative Systems

Gregg Morgan
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UNM Launches Elevate UNM to Modernize Administrative Systems

A new effort at the University of New Mexico aims to improve university operations to better serve students, faculty, and staff. UNM recently launched Elevate UNM, a multi-year initiative to modernize the school’s administrative systems and processes.

UNM’s faculty, staff, and students rely on a wide range of systems every day. These systems support finances, human resources, student services, and other essential university functions. Many of these platforms have served the university well for decades. However, they have become increasingly difficult and costly to maintain.

Through Elevate UNM, the university is building a stronger foundation for the future. UNM will modernize key administrative systems and rethink how work gets done. These upgrades will create a more connected, efficient, and responsive institution. It aims to better support teaching, research, patient care, and service to New Mexicans. 

“This effort is about more than technology,” said UNM Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Teresa Costantinidis. “It is about improving how we work together, reducing administrative burden, providing better access to information, and creating tools that allow faculty and staff to focus more of their time and energy on the work that matters most.”

This fall, UNM will launch the first phase of its transformation by modernizing its finance and human resources systems. It will enhance the student information system and other critical administrative technologies in the future phases. These investments are seen to help UNM’s ability to serve its students, employees, and communities.

Streamlining University Operations

Representatives from across the university participated in a comprehensive procurement and evaluation process. UNM selected Oracle Fusion Cloud to support the first phase of Elevate UNM. The cloud-based solution will replace current finance and human resource systems with a single integrated platform.

UNM reached this decision after months of thorough analysis, collaboration, and careful consideration of its long-term needs. Oracle’s platform will provide enhanced capabilities, improved reporting and analytics, and stronger cross-functional integration. It will also give UNM a flexible foundation that can evolve with the university.


“Implementing a project of this scale will require change, learning, and patience. While some processes will look different in the future, Elevate’s goal is to ensure those changes make our work easier, more effective, and better aligned with the needs of the university,” said Teresa Costantinidis, executive vice president, Finance and Administration.

Benefits of the New Platform

Elevate UNM is about improving the experience of working at the university, according to UNM. The new platform will simplify everyday administrative tasks, from hiring employees to delivering student services. It will also make these processes faster and more transparent.

The new system aims to:

  • Streamline administrative processes and reduce manual work,
  • Improve access to information, reporting, and analytics,
  • Provide more direct-access options for employees and managers,
  • Strengthen One University collaboration across Main Campus, Health Sciences, and branch campuses,
  • Enhance security, compliance, and data stewardship, and
  • Create a sustainable technology foundation for the future.

The improvements will reduce administrative burdens, giving faculty and staff more time to advance UNM’s mission.

UNM will host workshops, testing efforts, training programs, and other engagement initiatives over the coming months. Faculty and staff will have opportunities to participate throughout the process. The university community’s expertise and experience will shape the implementation of the new systems and help ensure long-term success.

Step Back Into 1800s New Mexico With Infantry, Apache Dancers And Living History at Fort Stanton LIVE!

Juan Oliveros
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Step Back Into 1800s New Mexico With Infantry, Apache Dancers And Living History at Fort Stanton LIVE!

History refuses to remain behind museum glass in limestone barracks that have stood for more than 170 years. Instead, it marches across the parade grounds to the cadence of Civil War infantry drills, echoing the thunder of artillery demonstrations and dances in the footsteps of Mescalero Apache performers. And it comes alive in the stories told by historians, artisans, and descendants whose lives remain intertwined with Fort Stanton, one of the American Southwest’s most storied historic sites.

On July 11, the annual Fort Stanton Live celebration will once again turn the historic military post into an immersive portrait of New Mexico’s diverse past. The celebration invites visitors to experience history not as a series of dates but as a continuing conversation among cultures, traditions and generations.

The Fort Stanton Historic Site, established in 1855, occupies a unique place in New Mexico’s story. It ranks among the most intact 19th‑century military forts in the United States and stands as the best‑preserved fort in New Mexico. The historic 240-acre site is a witness to nearly every defining chapter of the territory’s modern history—from the Indian Wars and the Civil War to the Billy the Kid era and the Lincoln County War, the tuberculosis epidemic of the early 20th century, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and even the internment of German merchant sailors during World War II.

But the annual celebration is less about the buildings; it is more about illuminating the people who passed through them.

Throughout the day, visitors can meet costumed interpreters portraying soldiers, settlers, and frontier families. Writers and historians will retell untold episodes in New Mexico’s past, while traditional artisans—including quilters, weavers and potters—demonstrate skills that have lived across centuries. Period musicians will provide a soundtrack that recalls the rhythms of frontier life. At the same time, families can join old-fashioned games and educational activities to make history accessible to the new generations.

Members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, perhaps, have the most significant presence, and their dancers will perform on the parade grounds. In contrast, other tribal members share traditional arts, crafts, and Indian tacos. Their participation reminds us that Fort Stanton’s story extends beyond military history. The fort was established during conflict with the Mescalero Apache, transforming the cultural presentations not only into entertainment but also into an acknowledgment that New Mexico’s history is both contested and shared.

The event also showcases a shift in how historic sites engage the public. Rather than presenting history as a cold and static collection of artifacts, Fort Stanton Live embarks on immersive storytelling. Visitors can watch blacksmiths at work, listen to authors discussing frontier life, speak directly with actors, and explore buildings whose original purposes remain largely intact. The celebration makes history tactile, audible, and deeply human.

That method of retelling the past resonates particularly in New Mexico, where Indigenous, Hispanic and Anglo traditions have intertwined for centuries, weaving a cultural tapestry unlike anywhere else in the United States. Fort Stanton embodies those intersections. Its buildings were once traversed by Native peoples, guarded by soldiers, visited by ranchers and lawmen, occupied by tuberculosis patients seeking healing mountain air, and eventually transformed to fulfill different roles as the country developed.

Communities across the country may continue to debate how history should be remembered or celebrated. But Fort Stanton provides a different model—one that invites multiple voices into the narrative rather than highlighting a single version of the past.

The grounds become more than a historic landmark on July 11. They become a community where military heritage, Indigenous culture, traditional craftsmanship and community memory coexist.

Visitors may arrive expecting entertainment. They will leave with a deeper understanding of New Mexico’s history. And that it is not confined to textbooks or preserved behind glass—it is still being told, one story at a time.

877 Fireworks Complaints in One Night. Albuquerque Crews Battle Fires as Holiday Celebrations Turn Dangerous

Ruben Reyes
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877 Fireworks Complaints in One Night. Albuquerque Crews Battle Fires as Holiday Celebrations Turn Dangerous

The Fourth of July weekend has ended, and Albuquerque Fire Rescue reported receiving 877 calls to the city’s 311 system related to fireworks overnight.

The AFR Fire Marshal’s Office issued 62 cease-and-desist orders during the holiday, more than the total number issued during the rest of the year before the Fourth of July. The department did not clarify whether all of the orders linked directly to fireworks complaints.

According to AFR, crews responded Saturday to one major structure fire and two wildland fires, including a bosque fire in the foothills. Officials have not determined whether fireworks played a role in igniting those fires.

In neighboring Sunland Park, fireworks sparked seven brush fires Saturday night. The largest burned about 1 acre in the 2000 block of Boy Scout Lane.

Over the past 24 hours, AFR also responded to multiple structure and wildland or vegetation fires, including a working residential structure fire and two significant wildland fires. At about 9:20 p.m., a ladder company responded to an area west of the Menaul Trailhead, where crews found a half-acre wildfire with flames reaching 4 to 6 feet high in grass and brush.

The fire threatened nearby homes, prompting AFR to bring additional resources to the scene. Firefighters contained the blaze within 20 minutes, and no injuries were reported.

AFR said it will continue heightened enforcement and patrols through the holiday period.

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