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CNM Student Arrested with Backpack Gun After Alleged Shooting Threat

Gregg Morgan
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CNM Student Arrested with Backpack Gun After Alleged Shooting Threat

Albuquerque police arrested a 35-year-old student from Central New Mexico Community College for allegedly threatening to shoot up the campus. Authorities said he had a gun in his backpack, according to a criminal complaint.

Police went to CNM around noon on Wednesday and arrested the suspect identified as Brandon Stockman.

Court documents state that a professor met with Stockman earlier that day to inform him that he was failing his classes. Later, a colleague told the professor that the student had made threats to shoot up the school.

Police said officers found the professor visibly frightened and emotional when they responded.

Students React to the Incident

“It’s shocking, it’s scary too, what if I was here and happened, or what if someone was in front of him and he was mad and let his angry out on him,” student Edgar Cuvas said.

Another student told a responding officer that Stockman had grown increasingly aggressive toward the school administration over his grades.

The same student said the 35-year-old appeared visibly angry after leaving his meeting, adding that his eyes looked red as other students tried to calm him down.

Stockman Remains in Custody

Prosecutors asked the court to keep Stockman in custody. A judge will make a decision at a pre-trial detention hearing. For now, Stockman remains in jail. 

Meanwhile, a campus security guard said he first stopped Stockman on campus. He claimed the suspect agreed to hand over his backpack and gun.

Stockman allegedly told the security guard he had the gun because he had been caring for his 5-year-old son. He said he wanted to keep it in a safe place.

Federal Health Officials Warn of Two Multistate Salmonella Outbreaks Tied to Eggs, Jalapeños

Juan Oliveros
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Federal Health Officials Warn of Two Multistate Salmonella Outbreaks Tied to Eggs, Jalapeños

Federal health officials have warned of two multistate Salmonella outbreaks linked to recalled eggs and imported jalapeño peppers. The outbreaks have sickened more than 440 people and hospitalized more than 60 throughout the United States.

Health officials said Salmonella outbreaks involved different food products. But they underscored continuing concerns about foodborne illnesses this summer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers to avoid recalled products. 

The first outbreak has been associated with recalled eggs produced by Midwest Poultry Services. Company officials recalled about 19 million eggs, or nearly 1.6 million cartons, after concerns of Salmonella contamination.

CDC said 98 people in 17 states have become ill in the outbreak linked to eggs. Twenty-six of them have been hospitalized.

Brands including Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire’s, Cal-Maine, and Country Morning recalled more than 30 egg varieties. Kroger, Brookshire Grocery and other retailers in selected states distributed these eggs.

The CDC reported illnesses linked to the egg outbreak in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia.

In a separate announcement on Aug. 5, the CDC linked a second Salmonella outbreak to jalapeño peppers sourced from Sinaloa, Mexico, and sold by Coast Citrus Distributors.

The federal agency said 345 people in 27 states have become ill in the outbreak, with 36 of them needing hospitalization.

The CDC said suppliers distributed these affected jalapeños primarily to restaurants and wholesalers. The FDA is investigating whether the distribution of any of the peppers also included grocery stores.

Suppliers provided peppers to restaurant chains such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba. Both have stopped serving the affected jalapeños.

“Given their actions to remove product from their stores, CDC and FDA do not consider there to be a current ongoing risk from these establishments to consumers in this outbreak,” the CDC said.

The CDC reported illnesses linked to jalapeños in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Health officials advise consumers to refrain from eating recalled eggs or jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. People who believe they have consumed the affected products should watch for symptoms of Salmonella infection.

BCSO and Live Nation Gear Up Kids for School with Backpacks and School Supplies for Every Student

Ruben Reyes
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As the school year approaches, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and Live Nation are giving away free backpacks with school supplies as students return to the classroom.

Starting Thursday, August 6, these backpacks will be available for pickup at all three BCSO area command centers from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until supplies last. The giveaway intends to help students obtain the essential school supplies they need to gear up for the academic year.

They invite parents and guardians to visit any area command location in Bernalillo County, such as the South Area Command at 2039 Isleta Blvd. SW, North Area Command in 6900 Fourth St. NW, or East Area Command in 48 Public School Road, Tijeras.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office expressed its gratitude to Live Nation for investing in youth and easing the financial burden many families face during back-to-school season.

Since the back-to-school season last month, discounts and giveaways have been widespread across the state to ease the burden on families.

Albuquerque Sets Record for Most Triple-Digit Days in August

Juan Oliveros
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Albuquerque Sets Record for Most Triple-Digit Days in August

Albuquerque set a record for most triple-digit days in August after recording 100 degrees or higher for three straight days this week.

The city first recorded the 100 mark on Aug. 3 with a high of 101 degrees at Albuquerque International Sunport. Temperatures reached over 100 degrees again Aug. 4 before hitting 100 degrees or higher for a third day on Aug. 5, according to National Weather Service data.

The three-day streak set a record for 100-degree days in August. It is a rarity in previous years that usually saw more than one or two such days. 

“This is also Albuquerque’s third 100° day this month, the most ever recorded during August,” a meteorologist observed on Wednesday after confirming the third day.

August temperatures are typically moderate under the influence of the North American monsoon. The latest streak stands out not only as a monthly record but also as one of the later consecutive runs of triple-digit heat on record.

Forecasters expect hotter days to follow. Officials advised residents to hydrate themselves and limit outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day. 

‘Light the Way’: APS Chief Rallies Educators on First Day Back to Inspire Student Success

Gregg Morgan
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‘Light the Way’: APS Chief Rallies Educators on First Day Back to Inspire Student Success

“We shape the future of our community, not by grand gestures or big speeches, but by our day-to-day interactions with students.” Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Gabriella Durán Blakey shared this reminder with nearly 7,000 educators during Tuesday’s 2026 APS Rising: Educator Summit.

The summit marked the second consecutive year the district brought teachers, educational assistants, counselors, and support staff together. They aligned on shared goals and celebrated the impact of public education. APS held the event in partnership with the Albuquerque Teachers Federation and the Albuquerque Federation of Classified Professionals.

During the gathering, Durán Blakey walked onto the stage at the Albuquerque Convention Center carrying a torch. It symbolized both a literal flame and the district’s commitment to lighting the way for the next generation. 

Durán Blakey handed the torch to student Riley Salazar, whose presence embodied the APS mission. As Salazar raised it and left the stage, he left a clear message that Albuquerque’s future is being built in classrooms today. 

At the event, the superintendent stressed that APS remains committed to the five-year goals the Board of Education set in 2023. The goals aim to ensure students can read, analyze information, understand mathematical reasoning, and develop essential life skills and mindsets.  They also help students cultivate perseverance, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and social awareness, while laying the foundation for their future careers. 

Preparing Students for the Future

AI is rapidly reshaping the job market. Durán Blakey said the district must move beyond simply doing things better to “doing better things.”

“That’s why it’s so important for us to focus on helping our students develop the skills they’ll need to rise to the top, no matter what happens in the job market,” she said. 

“Critical thinkers and problem solvers will always be in demand. The same goes for good communicators and individuals who are innovative and collaborative,” Durán Blakey added. 

She said educators must teach these skills from students’ first day of preschool through their final day of senior year. 

Durán Blakey centered her address on a commitment to a “dramatic redesign” of how students experience school. 

She outlined a vision for redesigning the student experience. The plan would expand Genius Hour to help elementary students explore their passions. It would also bring team-teaching to middle schools through the Next Education Workforce Initiative. Additionally, it would launch six new Freshman Academies to connect high school students with career pathways in engineering, health care, and other fields.

“We are laying the foundation for our future police and fire chiefs, doctors and dentists, engineers and architects, mechanics and plumbers, lawmakers and CEOs.” Durán Blakey said.

Students Must Feel They Belong 

Beyond academic redesign, she stressed that every student needs a trusted adult at school for guidance and support. 

Durán Blakey shared the story of Za’Kirah Boxton, a Hoover Middle School student who found safety and value through her school’s supportive community. She said this sense of belonging is critical to student success.

The superintendent highlighted programs like “Where Everybody Belongs” for middle school students. She also praised staff at Dolores Gonzales Elementary and Atrisco Heritage Academy for creating welcoming environments through music and personal greetings.

As the summit drew to a close, one message stood out. APS is more than a district, it is a community rising to meet the future. 

“The torch is in your hands,” Durán Blakey told the educators in her final remarks. “Light the way.”

I-25 Interchange Construction Is Costing This Albuquerque Restaurant 25% of Its Business

Ruben Reyes
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Two years after the massive I-25 Comanche and Montgomery interchange project began in Albuquerque, one local restaurant reports a decline in customers.

Kan Carson, the owner of Nexus Brewery and Restaurant, says that for the last 15 years, he has thrived on seeing and talking with his customers. But since construction began on the I-25 Improved Interchange Rebuild project in 2024, he has seen a significant drop in foot traffic.

His sales are now down by 25 percent from where they were two years ago. Last year, they were only down by 10 percent, which was really hard for him.

Before the construction, customers would overrun their main lobby during the summer months, and customers also filled their outdoor patio, indoor patio, and downstairs room. Now, they are barely filling on Friday and Saturday nights.

Carson has heard from his customers that they are simply avoiding the area due to construction. With lower revenue, he decided to reduce staff hours; some even left, bringing the staff from about 80 to 50.

But even with this, he still received some help during this difficult time. His landlord has reduced their rent.

Meanwhile, another customer has a positive outlook on the situation, offering support during construction and stating that it is not as bad as it seems and that they should visit for their quality food and service.

For those who wish to visit Nexus Brewery and Restaurant, Carson says they’re still here, serving good food and good beer. He asks everyone not to be so afraid of the highway.

The I-25 interchange project is expected to be completed next spring.

Feds Pause US-Mexico Border Well Drilling as State Regulators Threaten to Pull Driller Licenses

Juan Oliveros
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Feds Pause US-Mexico Border Well Drilling as State Regulators Threaten to Pull Driller Licenses

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has ordered contractors to pause the installation of new groundwater wells along the U.S.-Mexico border after New Mexico regulators threatened to revoke drilling licenses over unpermitted water extraction.

The order was issued amid a growing dispute between federal agencies, state officials, and local ranchers over state authority and water rights in the region. Residents in the area feared that the border wall construction could deplete the state aquifers.

Regulators say the contractors have installed no less than eight wells and pumped groundwater to mix cement, build roads, and suppress dust. They claimed the activities were without authority from the state. “Our permitting process exists to protect the groundwater New Mexico families and farmers depend on, and we enforce it rigorously,” State Engineer Elizabeth Anderson said.

In southern New Mexico last month, local ranchers spotted new wells appearing on private and nearby lands along the 8-mile stretch of the border.

One of the local ranchers, Russell Johnson, said the high-volume pumping is a threat to livestock and regional water supplies. “These wells that they’re drilling for border wall construction, they’re talking about trying to attain 300-plus gallons a minute, and it’s going to pump us dry,” Johnson,  who is also a former Border Patrol agent, said. “When you have livestock you’ve got to water, they can’t wait. You can’t haul enough water to keep them in good supply, so it becomes an immediate disaster.”

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) brought the issue on the House floor. He accused the federal government of usurping state water resources. Half of New Mexico’s water supply comes from underground aquifers.

The federal agency took cognizance of New Mexico’s concerns. It emphasized a commitment to collaboration. “CBP is committed to working collaboratively with local landowners to ensure that construction activities do not adversely impact their water needs,” the agency said.

Johnson said the order to temporarily pause drilling does not address existing wells. “It’s like you caught your kid with their hand in the cookie jar, but they’re still eating the cookie,” he said. “Those wells are still on the table if they decided they wanted to use them.”

Environmentalists and residents said the previous large-volume water extraction near the border had impacted local habitats. The extraction dried up ponds at the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona.

The contractors had erected a 30-foot border wall and were installing a sensor-equipped “smart wall” system supported by nearly $47 billion in federal funding.

The wells are inside the 60-foot strip of federal property within the Roosevelt Reservation along the US-Mexico border. In April, CBP sent a letter to the state engineer’s office, arguing that federal authority exempts the project from state groundwater permitting laws.

State regulators countered Tuesday, however, saying drilling companies failed to comply with the requirements of proper well construction and plugging standards. They threatened contractors with potential license revocation if they fail to correct their violations within 30 days.

Drilling project subcontractors said they were assured that federal authority superseded state rules. “I was just a subcontractor on the job doing what the contractor told me to do,” said Vinnie Wyatt of Wyatt Drilling Arizona. “Now the state wants to take my driller’s license away because of it. I am just a little guy in the middle of all this. They assured me I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

UNM Pushes for Major State Funding to Overhaul Healthcare, STEM, and Workforce Training

Juan Oliveros
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UNM Pushes for Major State Funding to Overhaul Healthcare, STEM, and Workforce Training

The University of New Mexico is seeking state funding for a slate of capital projects to expand workforce training, improve healthcare education, and modernize academic and research facilities.

UNM presented its priorities Friday during the New Mexico Higher Education Department’s annual Capital Outlay Summer Hearings. Public colleges and universities seek funding for major construction and infrastructure projects during the hearing. Under the proposals, university officials intend to expand educational opportunities, strengthen healthcare training and research, and support the state’s workforce and economic development.

“Preparing for the hearings is an institution-wide effort,” Shawna Wolfe, UNM’s vice president for Campus Environments and Services, said in a statement. “Bringing together priorities from across our campuses, disciplines and administrative units allowed us to present a unified capital strategy that reflects our shared commitment to serving students, strengthening New Mexico’s workforce and making strategic investments that will benefit our state for generations to come.”

UNM President Steve Goldstein said the university organized its requests around three priorities outlined in the UNM 2040 Strategic Framework: workforce capacity expansion, student life experience, and clinical access and technology.

Goldstein said the university views infrastructure investments as more than construction projects, describing them as essential to supporting education, research, healthcare and public service.

The Higher Education Major Projects Fund, which finances significant capital improvements at New Mexico’s public colleges and universities, has to evaluate the proposals. The hearings help shape funding recommendations for the state Legislature and the executive branch.

UNM’s top request is to modernize the aging science, mathematics, technology, and engineering facilities. The university said its STEM infrastructure comprises 250,000 square feet of laboratory and instructional space to accommodate burgeoning enrollment, research, and technologies.

The university also seeks supplemental funding to complete the Humanities and Social Sciences Complex. It will replace older buildings with an energy-efficient academic facility, such as updated classrooms, research laboratories, collaborative learning spaces, and offices for multiple academic departments.

Phase II of the Taos Workforce Center at the Klauer Campus is also on the priority list. UNM said it would expand workforce education and job training opportunities in northern New Mexico.

Goldstein said the proposed projects will address the need to prepare more students for careers in healthcare, engineering, education, clean energy, water resources, the arts and other fields.

The university also proposed several Health Sciences projects, which will address the state’s shortage of healthcare professionals. These projects include expanding the Allied Health Foundational Sciences and Anatomy Center, creating an Integrated Student Success Center to consolidate counseling and student support services for the School of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing and College of Population Health.

UNM also seeks funding in technology to support artificial intelligence, advanced research, simulation training and telehealth. University officials said these initiatives would improve healthcare education and patient care across New Mexico.

This year’s presentation focused mainly on workforce development and healthcare. But Goldstein said student life projects remain part of the university’s long-term capital strategy. He said the proposals will be discussed during a future hearing.

Near-Record Temperatures Persist Wednesday Afternoon as Scattered Storms Form Over New Mexico Mountains

Juan Oliveros
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Near-Record Temperatures Persist Wednesday Afternoon as Scattered Storms Form Over New Mexico Mountains

Heat Advisories were issued as near-record temperatures continued across western and central New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon, while a strong monsoon high remained over the region.

The National Weather Service said the advisory covers the Albuquerque, Farmington, and Gallup areas, including the Sandia and Manzano mountains.

Forecasters expect high temperatures to climb 5 to 10 degrees above normal.

The public should expect scattered thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon over the southwest mountains and the central mountain chain. Storms near the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and across the northeastern part of the state could produce strong to severe wind gusts because of high cloud bases and rapid evaporation. Large hail was a secondary threat but remained possible in the powerful early-afternoon storms.

Across southern and southwestern regions, thunderstorms moving south and southwest were likely to develop, bringing brief gusty winds and small hail.

Overall, the flood risk remained low. But burn scars, especially near the Sacramento Mountains and Ruidoso, were vulnerable to rapid runoff from localized heavy rainfall.

Thunderstorms will weaken between 9 p.m. and midnight. However, a few rain showers could linger through the night.

Why Advocates Want Non-Dairy Milk in Schools

Gregg Morgan
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Why Advocates Want Non-Dairy Milk in Schools

As a new school year begins, students will soon fill not only classrooms but also cafeterias. Earlier, Albuquerque Public Schools announced it will prepare 51% of meals from scratch this year. As the district expands its fresh meal program, advocates are urging schools to offer non-dairy milk with every school breakfast and lunch. 

People who are lactose intolerant or follow a vegan diet often rely on non-dairy milk. Common plant-based options include soy, oat, almond, and coconut milk.

Dairy milk will remain the automatic option for most students. However, parents can request a dairy-free alternative for their children. 

Earlier this year, Congress passed, and President Donald Trump signed, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law. The legislation aimed to restore whole milk to school cafeterias and streamlined the process for parents to request dairy-free alternatives for their children. 

“It’s very simple. We just want schools to be required to have non-dairy milk on the lunch and breakfast line,” Judy Wolf with Animal Protection New Mexico said. “In our own work, we have discovered that 64% of students in New Mexico are predisposed to lactose intolerance. The argument can be made that lactose intolerance is actually the norm.”

Why Milk Alternatives Matter

Advocates said dairy milk can make some students feel sick without them realizing the cause. They also cited waste, noting that students throw away 29% of lunch milk cartons. 

APS and other districts already provide milk alternatives when parents submit a special request.

“It’s not uncommon to get these requests at our health offices, but providing the option to all students takes money. Approximately $0.60 to $1 more per carton. It is a funding implication involved with doing that and also making sure that we are purchasing the quantity for the need,” said APS Deputy Superintendent Antonio Gonzales.

Advocates said New Mexico’s Healthy Universal School Meals Act already covers those alternatives. 

“Healthy implies that any student in school has access to the foods and to the beverages that are healthy for their bodies,” Wolf said.

Wolf said advocates are still determining whether they need new legislation or a regulatory change to require schools to offer a standard non-dairy option. For now, parents can ask for milk alternatives from most school districts.

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