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The Vape Trap: How Schools Are Fighting Back Against the Growing Problem of Vaping Among Teenagers

Juan Oliveros
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The Vape Trap: How Schools Are Fighting Back Against the Growing Problem of Vaping Among Teenagers

As students return to classrooms, Albuquerque Public Schools is taking a more high-tech approach to address the growing problem of vaping among teenagers.

The district has installed 93 vape detectors across 13 high schools, excluding charter schools, to catch vaping on campus and create learning environments conducive to student learning.

Vaping among students has become a problem that dies hard, driven by peer pressure, stress, curiosity, and the thought that vaping is cool. Unlike cigarettes, vapor is harder for parents and teachers to detect. Some teenagers also wrongly believe e-cigarettes are harmless, or at least safer than their traditional counterpart.

Vapes can be brightly colored, sweetly flavored, and small enough to disappear into a pocket. But behind the seemingly harmless packaging and sleek designs lies a growing concern for parents, teachers, and health officials: nicotine addiction among children.

The hidden dangers behind the flavors

The appeal is in the packaging. Vapes come in colorful designs and flavors that can make them look more like candy or gadgets rather than a tobacco product.

But the consequences can be anything but harmless.

Nicotine is habit-forming and can cause addiction. It can affect the developing adolescent brain. Vaping has increasingly been linked to anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. Exposure to harmful chemicals harms the lungs.

Some e-cigarette aerosols contain potentially carcinogenic substances and other toxic chemicals. Experts have also associated vaping with respiratory problems, including chronic bronchitis and serious lung injury.

There is another layer of concern. Vaping devices can be used to deliver addictive substances other than nicotine, including cannabis.

Albuquerque schools turn to technology

For Albuquerque Public Schools, the response began with listening to students themselves.

APS Deputy Superintendent of Operations Dr. Antonio Gonzales said students helped officials identify where vaping was occurring and which areas of individual campuses were most vulnerable.

The problem for some schools is centered on bathrooms. At others, it happened outside campus buildings, around corners, or even beyond the school grounds.

“Every school had a specific fact pattern and a specific set of information that we took into consideration,” Gonzales said. “It was invaluable.”

The district invested money in the initiative. It allocated $500,000 in opioid settlement funds to purchase and install vape detectors.

The vape detectors will detect vapor and send an alert to a central location at the school. That signal allows administrators to respond when vaping is detected.

‘We want our schools to be healthy places’

The district implements a zero-tolerance policy on banned substances on school campuses. But education officials stress that punishment alone will not solve the problem.

APS has also directed millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds toward mental health counseling, drug prevention, and other initiatives to address the reasons young people turn to substances in the first place.

The district discussed these efforts at a school safety listening session on April 27.

More than $500,000 in settlement funding is supporting vape detectors for middle and high schools during the school year.

The money is also helping expand the Crossroads program, which provides master’s-level counseling to students and their families to prevent drug and alcohol use.

The district says it is among a small number of U.S. school systems offering this type of counseling program.

So far, Crossroads has served more than 1,600 high school students and 830 middle school students.

The numbers reveal the scale of the problem

The need for intervention is underscored by federal data.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. middle and high school students in 2024.

An estimated 1.63 million students — 5.9 percent — used e-cigarettes.

That included about 410,000 middle school students (3.5 percent) and 1.21 million high school students (7.8 percent).

And for many students, vaping was not an occasional experiment. Of students who currently use e-cigarettes, 87.6 percent used flavored products. Nearly four in 10  (38.4 percent) had used e-cigarettes on at least 20 of the previous 30 days.

More than 1 in 4, or 26.3 percent, said they are vaping every day.

The figures also differed among demographic groups. In 2024, female students reported current e-cigarette use at a higher rate than male students.

The CDC also found differences by race and ethnicity. Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native students reported the highest rate, at 11.5 percent; non-Hispanic Black or African American students followed at 7.0 percent; and non-Hispanic multiracial students at 6.6 percent.

Hispanic or Latino students reported a rate of 6.1 percent, followed by non-Hispanic White students at 5.9 percent and non-Hispanic Asian students at 2.3 percent.

Vapes can be used for more than nicotine

There is another reason why health officials are concerned. E-cigarettes do not necessarily contain only nicotine. The devices can also be used to consume other substances, including cannabis.

In 2016, nearly one in three, or 30.6 percent, U.S. middle and high school students who had ever used an e-cigarette reported using the device to consume marijuana.

Perhaps the most revealing statistic is that many teenagers who vape do not necessarily want to continue doing so.

In 2020, nearly 64 percent of current student e-cigarette users said they wanted to quit. About 67 percent said they had tried to quit during the previous year.

But breaking a nicotine habit is not a walk in the park.

Nicotine addiction can produce strong cravings, with withdrawal symptoms often reaching their peak during the first few days after quitting before gradually improving over the following days and weeks.

Teenagers trying to quit may initially experience headaches, tiredness, irritability, anger, or depressed feelings. They may struggle to concentrate or sleep, feel unusually hungry or restless, and find themselves thinking about vaping when they least expect it.

APS officials say the detectors can only do so much. It is only one weapon in a much larger battle. “The reality is, we want our schools to be healthy places for our students to learn and thrive, and this is just a step in being able to do that,” Gonzales said.

Family’s Back-to-School Photos Interrupted by Black Bear Raiding Apple Tree in Albuquerque Suburb

Ruben Reyes
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A family is getting ready for the day when an unexpected visitor is at their front door–a black bear. The bear was strolling in the Northeast Heights neighborhoods and peeked into the family’s house. 

Maria Maruffi, who spotted the bear, initially thought it was just a lost dog. When she opened the door to go outside, she was shocked to find a bear. 

Maruffi is preparing to take pictures of her children’s first day of school on their front porch. She said she is well aware of these bear encounters in the Tramway and Foothills areas. So she finds it unusual to see one a bit further down the city.

The family said the bear looked healthy and wasn’t in a hurry. The bear even helped himself climb to their apple tree and stayed for more than an hour before leaving. The family said they planned to move their trash in for the next few days. 

Earlier this month, a bear sighting in the Sandia Heights neighborhood escalated when a man shot and wounded a bear. The bear and one cub survived, but her other cub did not make it while New Mexico Wildlife Department officers were trying to rescue it. 

Previously, state officials said the increased sightings of bears in residential areas are most likely due to the lack of food sources in the mountains. Officers pointed out the summer season, due to a dry winter and spring, as the main factor in the lack of food for wildlife. 

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife has received around 230 bear reports this year, up from 159 last year. 

New Mexico Gets a Front-Row Seat to an Extraordinary Planetary Alignment. The Last Time This Happened, Everyone Slept Through It.

Juan Oliveros
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New Mexico Gets a Front-Row Seat to an Extraordinary Planetary Alignment. The Last Time This Happened, Everyone Slept Through It.

Set your alarm. A planetary alignment will take place across New Mexico’s sky before Wednesday’s dawn. It is a show everyone should not sleep through.

Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, the six major planets, will align in the pre-dawn sky.

Skywatchers should go out ahead at least an hour before sunrise at 6:23 a.m. to witness the planetary parade before daylight dims the distant worlds.

Famous for its dark skies, high-desert air, and open landscapes, New Mexico offers residents and visitors from Albuquerque to Santa Fe a front-row seat to one of the year’s spectacles.

Mercury and Jupiter will take center stage, hanging low in the eastern sky. A backdrop of haze, distant mountains, trees, and the persistent glow of city lights makes viewing difficult.

However, Mars and Saturn are easy to spot without binoculars. Viewing Uranus will require binoculars, while a telescope is needed to pick out distant Neptune.

A nearly moonless sky

The arrival of the New Moon makes watching this celestial spectacle favorable because there will be no bright moonlight to wash away the glow of the planets and stars. That black canvas appears as the Perseid meteor shower bursts into the sky, another reason why skywatchers should keep their eyes on the sky.

August 12 is not only about a parade of six planets. The day brings a rare convergence of celestial shows, with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower and a solar eclipse in other parts of the world.

Where to escape the city lights

Anyone who wants to witness the pre-dawn celestial show should choose a location away from the city lights.

New Mexico is known for the country’s most celebrated dark-sky destinations, such as the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Capulin Volcano National Monument, Clayton Lake State Park, Cosmic Campground in the Gila National Forest, and Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Step away from Albuquerque’s dome of light, and the transformation can be breathtaking.

Mars, the Red Planet, glows above. While the ringed planet shines farther along its orbital path, the fainter outer worlds await discovery.

Don’t expect a perfect straight line

There is one misconception that should be cleared up. While these planets form a straight line in space, their alignment is a matter of geometry and Earth-bound perspective because they orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.

Astronomers called this display a “planet parade” or planetary alignment.

It may sound dramatic. The view certainly can be. But there is no force bringing these planets together. Don’t be too superstitious about this planetary alignment because it has no special effect on Earth.

What makes this event spectacular is the number of planets visible at once and the favorable viewing conditions.

No sophisticated equipment is necessary to make the most of the spectacle. A warm jacket, however, to keep you warm amid the pre-dawn desert chill.

A thermos of coffee is even better. An app such as Stellarium or SkySafari is invaluable for identifying exactly which planet is which.

There is, however, one final hurdle. The weather. New Mexico’s late-summer monsoon season can bring in clouds and storms that will spoil the otherwise perfect view.

Before heading out, check the forecast, stay in an open eastern horizon, and be ready to find another location if clouds linger over your chosen spot.

13 APS High Schools Now Have Vape Detectors to Curb Student Vaping: What to Know

Gregg Morgan
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13 APS High Schools Now Have Vape Detectors to Curb Student Vaping: What to Know

Vaping among students remains a longstanding concern that demands proper attention. According to research, several factors drive vape (e-cigarette) use, including peer pressure, stress management, and the belief that vaping is cool. Other factors include vaping’s lower detectability than cigarette smoke, the false belief that vapes are safer than cigarettes, and exposure to a parent or sibling who vapes. 

For young, impressionable students, the enticing packaging, designs, colors and flavors of vapes can make these products especially appealing. But what makes vaping risky for young people?

Vaping can cause nicotine addiction, anxiety, depression, impotence, and sleep problems. It can also expose users to cancer-causing chemicals, chronic bronchitis, and potentially life-threatening lung damage.

As the new school year began, Albuquerque Public Schools launched an initiative to help curb vaping among teenagers. The district installed 93 new vape detectors across 13 high schools, excluding charter schools. 

How APS’s Vape Detectors Work

APS Deputy Superintendent of Operations Dr. Antonio Gonzales said student feedback helped guide the district’s response to vaping. The students’ input also helped APS identify areas on campuses where the activity posed a concern.

“In some schools, it may be the bathroom. In other schools, it may be outside, around the corner, down the street. Every school had a specific fact pattern and a specific set of information that we took into consideration,” Gonzales said via KOB 4. “It was invaluable.”

The district allocated $500,000 in opioid settlement funds to purchase and install the detectors.

APS said the technology sends a signal to a central location at each school when it detects vapor. The alert prompts school administrators to respond. 

Creating Healthier School Environments

“The reality is, we want our schools to be healthy places for our students to learn and thrive, and this is just a step in being able to do that,” Gonzales said.

He said APS has a zero-tolerance policy for banned substances on campus. However, he emphasized that punishment will only be one part of the schools’ response.

Gonzales said APS also allocated millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds to expand mental health counseling. The funds also support drug prevention programming this school year.

APS discussed its prevention efforts during a school safety listening session on April 27. Officials said an opiate settlement is funding more than $500,000 worth of vape detectors for middle and high schools this school year. 

This funding also expanded the Crossroads program. The initiative provides master-level counseling to students and their families to prevent drug and alcohol use. The district is among the few in the United States to offer this type of counseling program. The program has served over 1,600 high school and 830 middle school students. 

What the CDC Data Shows

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e-cigarettes ranked as the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. middle and high school students in 2024. At least 1.63 million (5.9%) students used e-cigarettes. This includes 410,000 (3.5%) middle school students and 1.21 million (7.8%) high school students.

Among students who currently used e-cigarettes, 87.6% used flavored e-cigarettes. Meanwhile, 38.4% used e-cigarettes on at least 20 of the previous 30 days, while 26.3% reported daily use. 

Some groups of middle and high school students report higher rates of e-cigarette use than others. For example, in 2024, more females than males reported current e-cigarette use. 

Additionally, CDC said current use of e-cigarettes varied by race and ethnicity. Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native students reported the highest rate at 11.5%. They were followed by non-Hispanic Black or African American students at 7.0% and non-Hispanic multiracial students at 6.6%. Hispanic or Latino students reported a 6.1% rate, non-Hispanic White students at 5.9%, and non-Hispanic Asian students at 2.3%.

E-cigarettes can also deliver other substances, including cannabis. In 2016, nearly one in three (30.6%) U.S. middle and high school students who had ever used an e-cigarette reported using the device to consume marijuana. 

Meanwhile, most middle and high school students who vape want to quit and have tried to quit. In 2020, 63.9% of students who currently used e-cigarettes said they wanted to quit. An estimated 67.4% of students who currently used e-cigarettes said they had tried to quit in the last year.

Why Teens Should Quit Vaping 

If you are a teen who vapes, quitting can help you become the healthiest version of yourself. It can also help you avoid nicotine addiction, protect your brain, reduce your risk of using other tobacco products, and limit your exposure to harmful toxins. Plus, quitting can save you money. 

When you decide to quit vaping, understanding withdrawal can help you prepare for the process. Nemours TeensHealth said nicotine addiction leads to very strong cravings for nicotine. Withdrawal symptoms typically peak during the first few days after stopping and gradually improve over the following days and weeks. 

At first, you might:

  • have headaches
  • feel tired, cranky, angry, or depressed
  • have trouble concentrating
  • have trouble sleeping
  • feel hungry
  • feel restless

Prepare for situations, people, and places that may trigger the urge to vape. When possible, avoid places and people that make you want to vape.

If you feel the urge to vape, try one of these activities instead.

  • Chew sugar-free gum or drink water.
  • Text, call, or spend time with a friend who supports your decision to quit.
  • Listen to your favorite playlist.
  • Go for a walk or jog.
  • Try yoga or meditation.
  • Take 10 deep breaths.
  • Keep your hands busy with a hobby, such as drawing or making jewelry.
  • Go somewhere that prohibits smoking or vaping.

Weather Tomorrow: Albuquerque Faces Sweltering Heat Wave on Wednesday Before Sudden Thunderstorms Strike

Juan Oliveros
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Weather Tomorrow: Albuquerque Faces Sweltering Heat Wave on Wednesday Before Sudden Thunderstorms Strike

Albuquerque will have another blistering day on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to reach 98°F.

According to the National Weather Service, the mercury could climb near 100°F by the afternoon, with clear skies expected.

Light southwest winds of 5 to 10 mph are expected. But they won’t bring much relief from the heat.

The weather is expected to change after sunset.

Forecasters say there is a 30 percent chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms before midnight, along with cloudy skies.

Overnight, temperatures will fall to a humid 67°F, and by early Thursday morning. The winds will shift to come from the west.

Health officials recommend staying hydrated and avoiding outdoor activities during the hottest part of the afternoon.

Historic Court Ruling Orders Meta to Pay $942 Million and Fix Protections for Children on Social Media in New Mexico

Olivia Woodard
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Historic Court Ruling Orders Meta to Pay $942 Million and Fix Protections for Children on Social Media in New Mexico

SANTA FE, NM – On August 5, Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced that the First Judicial District Court has now entered a final judgement against Meta Platforms, Inc.

In one of the most significant rulings ever issued against a social media company, the Court is ordering Meta to pay $567 million to address youth mental health crisis caused by the use of their social media platforms. They are also ordering Meta to impose sweeping, court-supervised reforms to Facebook and Instagram that will remain in effect for 5 years.

This will be in combination with the $375 million civil penalty that a jury already imposed against Meta earlier this year, making a total of $942 million in financial compensation.

This final judgement is following the previous  two-phase trial before Judge Bryan Beidsheid: Phase 1 found Meta guilty of 75,000 violations of NM’s Unfair Practices Act, and imposed the max civil penalty allowed under law: Phase 2 ruled Meta’s platforms a public nuisance and rejected the company’s claim that Section 230 shielded it from liability for the products it knowingly created.

This final judgement is historic because it is the first time that a social media company can be sued, tried, and then held financially and structurally accountable for building products that endanger children. “Meta built products it knew would fuel addiction, deepen a youth mental health crisis, and expose children to sexual exploitation, then lied to parents and policymakers about the danger,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Today, it pays for that choice.”

Court Ordered Changes

In addition to the financial award, the Court has ordered extensive changes to remain in effect for 5 years, some of which would take effect in New Mexico, as well as changes to the platforms themselves. These include: 

  • More rigorous age verification for NM users, with additional measures to accurately identify age (within the limits of federal law)
  • Strengthening and maintaining protections for Teen Accounts (in NM)
  • Funding a statewide education and public awareness campaign (in NM)
  • Providing specialized training and resources for NM law enforcement investigating internet crimes against children
  • Requiring enhanced protections against sextortion and child sexual exploitation (stronger safeguards for minors and tougher enforcement against offending adult accounts)
  • Preventing minors from sending or receiving nude images that violate Meta policies
  • Eliminating push-notifications for users under 18 during overnight hours
  • Requiring default privacy protections for minors (including hiding public “like” counts)
  • Imposing mandatory time-use limits for minors
  • Requiring disclosures about the risks of using Meta’s platforms
  • Requiring Meta to file semiannual public compliance reports with the Court documenting its progress implementing every aspect of the order

The Court did not mandate the kind of hard age-verification requirement the trial record showed was most needed, but made it clear that sweeping policy choices like that need to be made by legislative and executive branches. 

Attorney General Torrez said that he intends to close that gap through legislation. He said he plans to begin with a comprehensive social media safety bill that would mandate age verification for platforms operating in New Mexico. After that, additional legislation would aim to broadly improve New Mexico consumer protection laws to reflect the scale and harm of the modern digital economy.

The New Mexico Attorney General is calling on Congress and legislatures nationwide to take action as well. Polling has shown that age-verification legislation is something that the majority of Americans support, regardless of political party. 

“For the first time, a court has ruled that a social media giant can be held liable for building products that endanger children, and has ordered the structural changes needed to fix it,” said Attorney General Torrez. “New Mexico led the way in the courtroom. It is a blueprint other states, and other countries confronting this same crisis, can now follow. But a courtroom win in one state cannot be the only line of defense for children everywhere. Every legislature, and Congress, needs to finish what this Court started.”

Olivia Woodard is a journalist with Brant One News. She can be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram at @brantonenews.

Jurors Searching Defendant’s Jacket During Trial Make Shocking Discovery That Investigators Somehow Missed

Juan Oliveros
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Jurors Searching Defendant’s Jacket During Trial Make Shocking Discovery That Investigators Somehow Missed

It was supposed to be the culmination of a federal armed robbery trial when the jurors discovered evidence that investigators, including the defense attorney, somehow missed.

The jurors were deliberating the case of the accused, Shamell Naquan Joyner. Federal prosecutors accused Joyner of carrying out a string of armed robberies targeting 7-Eleven stores and gas stations in Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2023. They also accused him of stealing vehicles.

During the trial, the jurors were examining the physical evidence, including a jacket, collected by investigators.

One of the jurors searched the breast pocket of Joyner’s jacket and pulled a paper with suspicious white powder on it, something that no one in the courtroom knew was there. And pulled one more that stunned the courtroom: a Chinese yuan bill placed inside a piece of clothing.

Even seasoned federal lawyers asked how these items had slipped past the prying eyes of investigators and attorneys throughout the trial.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras, who has a decade of experience on the federal bench, could hardly hide his disbelief. Writing his opinion, the judge said he understands Joyner’s “amazement” at the failure of law enforcement to discover and include the Chinese yuan note and the powdery substance as evidence.

Contreras even joked about the stunning discovery while directly addressing the defense’s lawyer, John Liolos. “Mr. Liolos, who I know is from New York, is probably astonished that any money got past the police department,” the judge said, according to the monthlong trial transcript.

Later, the jury foreperson described the moment in testimony. One juror reached into the jacket’s breast pocket and pulled out what they thought was a receipt. But there was something more inside: white powder or a white substance.

Some powder spilled out before the juror could put it back into the breast pocket and returned the jacket to the bag containing the evidence.

The jurors did not stop there. They searched another piece of clothing and found a crumpled Chinese yuan bill.

What made the discovery particularly remarkable was that none of the law enforcement, prosecutors, or even Joyner’s attorneys had noticed the items.

Contreras told the jurors to set aside the discovery, saying these items were not part of the evidence presented in the case. The juror acceded, and the trial continued.

After the deliberation, the jurors found Joyner guilty on the 13 charges related to five armed robberies and of stealing a vehicle. But they failed to reach a consensus on 15 of the 28 counts, citing disagreements on the existence of reasonable doubt. 

Nevertheless, the unexpected discovery of the items during the trial had raised questions about the handling of evidence in federal criminal cases. 

Several experienced lawyers, in interviews with CNN, said it was the first time they had encountered such an episode. But former prosecutors in D.C. said it is not entirely uncommon for evidence to slip past investigators.

The late discovery of the evidence, however, did nothing at all to derail the trial.

The jury’s verdict, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, means that Joyner could face the mandatory minimum sentence of 31 years. Joyner’s defense team has yet to appeal the verdict.

But the stunning discovery is likely to cast a shadow over Joyner’s case. That the overlooked evidence was discovered not by law enforcement, federal prosecutors, or the defense team. The jurors did.

APS Chief Introduces Link Crew Initiative to Help Freshmen Build Connections

Gregg Morgan
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APS Chief Introduces Link Crew Initiative to Help Freshmen Build Connections

August 7 marked the official start of the new school year. This means new faces, new experiences, and new environments for students. The transition can feel quite challenging for freshmen as they begin a new chapter in their academic journey. Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Gabriella Durán Blakey emphasized the importance of building connections during this period. 

Durán Blakey said the first day of school is always filled with possibilities. She described it as a fresh start for all. 

However, the superintendent acknowledged starting high school can be a challenging process for students.

“While I always look forward to the first day of school, I recognize that it can be nerve-racking for many students. That’s especially true for those who are beginning high school. Suddenly, they’re in a larger school with new teachers and many classmates they may not know, wondering whether they’ll fit in,” Durán Blakey said in her recent weekly message. 

Aiming to address the challenge, APS launched Link Crew at all of its comprehensive high schools and eCADEMY. The initiative pairs freshmen with upperclassmen who volunteer to serve as peer mentors. 

According to Durán Blakey, Link Crew members help freshmen as they adjust to their new schools. She said peer mentors personally called freshmen and invited them to their school’s Jump Start day. The event allows new students to explore the campus and find their classes before the first day of school.

She shared her experience at Albuquerque High School’s Jump Start Day. Link Crew members in bright green shirts formed a tunnel with staff, welcoming the Class of 2030 with chants, pom-poms, and bubbles.

Durán Blakey praised the energy at Albuquerque High, stressing that the program’s heart lies in fostering a deep sense of belonging. 

The mentors work with small groups of 10 to 12 freshmen and create safe circles for open discussions. Students can share their fears, interests, and learn about the school’s diverse clubs and athletic teams. The Link Crew members remain mentors throughout the entire school year.

Creating a Sense of Belonging

Durán Blakey said APS rolled out a similar program at its middle schools last year called Where Everybody Belongs. She described the initiative as incredibly successful. 

She said sixth graders have gained trusted eighth-grade allies, while older students have embraced the responsibility of leadership and guidance. 

The superintendent said APS is building a stronger sense of community by supporting students during these critical transition years.  

Durán Blakey said students who feel seen, heard, and supported are better equipped to tackle reading, math, and science. 

“A sense of belonging isn’t just a nice addition to the school day — it’s the very environment required for learning to flourish,” she said. 

As the new school year began, Durán Blakey challenged everyone to maintain a culture of connection. She urged the school community to create classrooms and offices where everyone feels welcome. She also encouraged everyone to make students feel that someone looks forward to seeing them each day. 

“Let’s work together to build a future where every student belongs.”

TikTok Video of ‘Red Energy’ Rising From Ocean is Fabricated, Not a Real Phenomenon

Juan Oliveros
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TikTok Video of ‘Red Energy’ Rising From Ocean is Fabricated, Not a Real Phenomenon

A TikTok video showing what some call “red energy” has gone viral. Called “CASE 182,” the clip shows a bright red column rising from the ocean, stretching upward and fading into the clouds.

So far, the video has gotten over 265,000 reactions and has been shared 40,000 times.

What We Know?

Other videos on the same account also show unexplained red beams, pulses, and odd shapes. However, none of these clips, including “CASE 182,” provide a clear location, date, photographer, or eyewitness accounts.

Like the other “red energy” clips from this account, the viral video looks like it was made with AI or computer graphics.

Natural events in the atmosphere or ocean can sometimes create strange vertical or reddish lights. This is a scientific fact.

The verdict

The TikTok video does not provide any evidence that the footage is real. Without a clear location, date, or independent confirmation, and given its artificial look, it is unlikely to show a real event.

Extraordinary claims need more than just a viral video. It is best to consider this clip as either fake or digitally created.

Book Clubs, Signings, and Poetry Readings: This Week’s Literary Events

Nolan Rodrigues Walsh
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Book Clubs, Signings, and Poetry Readings: This Week’s Literary Events

Albuquerque’s reading enthusiasts have no shortage of literary events this week. Books on the Bosque, Page 1 Books, Bookworks ABQ, and several locations of Albuquerque Public Libraries are hosting a variety of events across genres. Additionally, Casa Urraca Press and New Mexico Writers will host a joint Albuquerque launch for the A Year of New Mexico Poetry anthology, with readings from featured poets.

This week also marks the opening of Vellum & Vine, the city’s first romance bookstore and coffee shop. Officially announced online on August 10, the grand opening is scheduled for Saturday August 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It will be located at the bookstore’s permanent location at 2677 Louisiana Blvd NE. The opening of this new store gives local readers and romance enthusiasts another exciting destination.

Readers can find upcoming events for the week of August 10 – 16 below (Albuquerque Public Libraries hold many events. Only their book club and reading events are listed here):

∨ Author Appearances
Maddie Mozley’s Seraph’s Flight with crafts

Sat August 15, 3 p.m. | Books on the Bosque

Benjamin Radford Event

Sun August 16, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Page 1 Books

Casey Moores Event

Sun August 16, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Page 1 Books

Samantha Rae Ortiz’s Uncovered Earth

Sun August 16, 3 p.m. | Books on the Bosque

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∨ Book Club Meetings
LGBTQIA+ Book Club — Gabriella Gamez’s Kiss Me, Maybe

Mon August 10, 6 p.m. | Books on the Bosque

Spooky Friends Book Club — Nick Cutter’s The Dorians

Tue August 11, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Taylor Ranch Library

Afterschool Anime Addicts

Wed August 12, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Lomas Tramway Library

Horror Book Club — Natalia Theodoridou’s Sour Cherry

Wed August 12, 6 p.m. | Bookworks ABQ

Bestsellers Book Club — Bill Bryson’s The Body: A Guide for Occupants

Thurs August 13, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Juan Tabo Library

Mystery Book Club — Any book by Maddie Day

Thurs August 13, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Tony Hillerman Library

Teens Read Queer Comics

Thurs August 13, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Main Library (Downtown)

Topics in Dewey: Non-Fiction Book Club — 978 – History of the Western United States

Thurs August 13, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Rudolpho Anaya Library

Native American Book Club

Thurs August 13, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. | NDN Girls Book Club

Located at El Rey Hotel

Native American Book Club and Free Book Distribution

Fri August 14, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | NDN Girls Book Club

Located at Dineh + Co.

Mystery Book Club — Stuart Turton’s The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Fri August 14, 5:30 p.m. | Books on the Bosque

Kids 7-11 Book Club — Madeleine L’Engle A Wrinkle in Time

Sat August 15, 10 a.m. | Books on the Bosque

Native American Book Club

Sat August 15, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. | NDN Girls Book Club

Located at La Fonda

Non-Fiction Book Club — John Green’s Everything is Tuberculosis

Sun August 16, 11 a.m. | Books on the Bosque

Sunday Sci-Fi Book Club — JG Ballard’s The Drought

Sun August 16, 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Cherry Hills Library

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∨ Other Events
August Book Battle: A Tournament of Books

August 1 – 31 | Albuquerque Public Libraries

Paperback Book Release — Rachel Eve’s Tantrum

Tues August 11, 5:30 p.m. | Books on the Bosque

Shut Up and Write

Wed August 12, 5:30 p.m. | Books on the Bosque

Albuquerque launch for A Year of New Mexico Poetry

Thurs August 13, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Rio Grande Center for Spiritual Living

Intro to the Public Library

Fri August 14, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Rudolpho Anaya Library

Bookstore Romance Day

Sat August 15, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Page 1 Books

Vellum & Vine Grand Opening

Sat August 15, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Vellum & Vine

Located at 2677 Louisiana Blvd NE

STEM Space Activity

Sat August 15, 11:15 a.m. | Books on the Bosque

As the final weeks of summer draw near, Albuquerque readers can expect the local literary calendar to remain active. Book clubs, author events, readings and other gatherings give readers plenty to look forward to.

Nolan Rodrigues Walsh is an Albuquerque-born journalist covering community news and events. They prioritize empathy, transparency, and a community-centered approach. They can be reached on Instagram at @brantonenews.

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