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What Is The Mysterious Substance In The Mountainair Incident?—The Substance Has Been Identified

Ruben Reyes
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What Is The Mysterious Substance In The Mountainair Incident?—The Substance Has Been Identified

Editor’s note: This article has been updated previously. Click here and here to know more.

Law enforcement and doctors have discovered the “mysterious substance” that has caused three deaths and confining more than a dozen others at the hospital, including first responders.

They have discovered the “mysterious substance” as fentanyl found in a Mountainair home.

Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that is 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin.

During the incident, a total of 25 people were exposed to the substance. Of that group, 20 have been released from the hospital while two remained in the hospital for further observation.

The identity of the two victims were Mika Rascon, 51 years old and 49 years old Georgia Rascon. Meanwhile, the third victim has not been disclosed yet.

State Police said, within the home they found the presence of powered opioid substance.

“Preliminary findings indicate this incident is tied to the exposure to a powdered opioid substance within the home and on scene DEA laboratory analysis has confirmed the presence of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and para-fluorofentanyl, also called P4 fentanyl. It’s a more illicit form or version of fentanyl,” New Mexico State Police Chief Matt Broom said.

State police did not confirm if fentanyl was being manufactured at the home.

The fentanyl was in powder form, confirmed by the police.

The mysterious substance has now been answered and now the main question still remains: who are the perpetrators and what will happen to the prosecution?

What Does it Actually Mean to Risk Everything for a Complete Stranger? New Mexico Honored Two Fallen Heroes Who Did Exactly That.

Juan Oliveros
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What Does it Actually Mean to Risk Everything for a Complete Stranger? New Mexico Honored Two Fallen Heroes Who Did Exactly That.

The names of two fallen heroes echoed across the grounds of the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy under a bright May sky in Albuquerque. They are not mere statistics, but as fathers, sons, co-workers, and public servants whose final acts were born out of a profession that asks ordinary people to confront danger bigger than themselves.

This year’s annual New Mexico Law Enforcement Memorial carried an anguish sharpened by the immediacy of loss. The state honored them: two officers killed in the line of duty in 2025. The annual memorial honored Antonio De Jesus Aleman, a deputy with the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, and Timothy Ontiveros of the Bloomfield Police Department.

Many of those in attendance viewed the ceremony as not simply about mourning the dead. It was more about preserving a fragile covenant between communities and the individuals who took their oath to protect them. The risks they took are invisible until tragedy forces the public to look closer.

“Today we honor not only the service of Deputy Antonio De Jesus Aleman and Officer Timothy Ontiveros, but the courage and character that defined their lives,” said Jason Bowie, the cabinet secretary of New Mexico’s Department of Public Safety. “Their commitment to protecting our communities reflects the very best of New Mexico,” he said, “and their legacy will continue to guide and inspire us to lead with integrity, compassion, and unwavering resolve.”

Law enforcement leaders, state officials, and grieving families attended the annual memorial. They unfolded the solemn rituals familiar to police ceremonies nationwide: badges polished, flags held at half-mast, and silence disturbed only by speeches and the weight of memory. Beneath the ceremony, however, lies a broader civic reflection on the role of public service in an era when policing in America remains both criticized and indispensable. But for surviving families, memorials like this are less about politics. It is more of an enduring legacy.

The state has lost 224 law enforcement officers in the line of duty, according to state officials. That number represents years of violence, sacrifice, and tensions unresolved between duty and risk.

“At the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy today, we stand united in remembrance of Deputy Antonio De Jesus Aleman and Officer Timothy Ontiveros,” said Sylvia Serna. “Their bravery was not a single act, but a daily choice to serve others above themselves,” she said. “As leaders, we are called to honor their sacrifice not only with words, but with steadfast support for the men and women who continue to wear the badge in defense of our communities.”

Throughout the memorial grounds, the message rang clear: daily routines steadily build a lifetime of sacrifice, overshadowing any cinematic heroism. Because danger did not announce itself dramatically in modern police work, it can present itself during a traffic stop, a single call from a resident in distress, or a routine patrol shift.

The memorial also came at a time when many law enforcement agencies across the country are facing recruitment problems, burnout, and declining public trust. That is why ceremonies honoring fallen officers serve a dual purpose: a remembrance for the dead, and a moment of reassurance for those still in active service.

Officials framed the ceremonies honoring Aleman and Ontiveros as about more than grieving two lives cut short. It was a time to affirm a collective responsibility — that communities cannot ask people to serve as a shield against danger while overlooking the human toll that duty sometimes demands.

Long after the memorial speeches ended and attendees went home, the names of the fallen remained. Their names were not only engraved in the Law Enforcement Memorial Wall, but in the enduring belief that public service, despite its imperfections, still matters.

High School Students Explore Career Opportunities through Bus Tour

Gregg Morgan
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High School Students Explore Career Opportunities through Bus Tour

As students move to the next stage of their academic journey, one question always comes up: what’s next? While some are still figuring it out, others are already looking into paths that could lead them to their dream careers. That’s exactly what 50 high school students in New Mexico recently set out to do.

The students joined the biannual Workforce Development Bus Tour during National Apprenticeship Week late last month. During the event, they became familiar with the state registered apprenticeships and other postsecondary credentialing opportunities. 

GEAR UP New Mexico organized the bus tour in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and state apprenticeship program managers. The tour gave students the opportunity to visit and learn about some of NMDWS’ 58 registered apprenticeship programs.

Throughout the activity, students engaged in hands-on experiences with the Associated Builders and Contractors of New Mexico. They also watched apprentices train through hands-on practice at the Southwest Line Constructors Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program.  

Why the Bus Tour Matters

“Learning a trade makes a tremendous difference in a person’s life. It exposes them to all kinds of opportunities and gives them a career, a path forward and a way to help build their community,” said Greta Schouman, Vice President of the ABC New Mexico Education Trust. 

Schouman said it creates a person with a diverse set of skills. It also strengthens critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities, teaching students how to think outside the box. These students are the future, she said.

“We could not have accomplished such a unique tour for the students of GEAR UP New Mexico without the incredible partnerships and hours of collaborations with not only the NMDWS State Apprenticeship Office, but also many wonderful program leaders across our state,” said GEAR UP New Mexico Regional Coordinator Katherin Hinton. 

“NMDWS Apprenticeship appreciates any opportunity to partner with GEAR UP New Mexico and provide the wonderful options New Mexico registered apprenticeships have to offer our youth,” said Juanito Marquez, apprenticeship training representative at NMDWS. 

Marquez said learning a trade exposes students to opportunities. He added that it gives them a career, a path forward, and helps in building the community.

What Students Further Discovered

Students received in-depth presentations from various registered apprenticeship leaders. These included the APRENDE Early Childhood Teacher Apprenticeship and the CNM Ingenuity Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Programs. 

The state offers many possibilities in post-secondary education. Students also toured the CNM Rio Rancho and Santa Fe Community College campuses. 

“Seeing the APRENDE Program and the different opportunities you can have with apprenticeships has opened my mind” said Natalia, a student from Capital High School who joined the tour. “This trip opened my eyes to the real-life experiences that people in these fields have every day.” 

GEAR UP New Mexico is a division of the New Mexico Higher Education Department. It is a federally funded program that aims to increase college and career readiness for seventh to 12th-grade students. 

GEAR UP New Mexico partners with eight school districts in the state that serve a high proportion of rural and first-generation students. Partnership high schools include Albuquerque Talent Development Academy, Bernalillo High School, Española Valley High School, Archer Academy of Accelerated Learning, Mountainair High School, Socorro High School, Taos High School, and Capital High School. 

Toxic Relic Hiding in America’s Lead Pipes. Why $27 Million EPA Funding is Heading to New Mexico to Fix a Crisis We Should Have Solved 40 Years Ago.

Juan Oliveros
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Toxic Relic Hiding in America’s Lead Pipes. Why $27 Million EPA Funding is Heading to New Mexico to Fix a Crisis We Should Have Solved 40 Years Ago.

A silent hazard has streamed through the plumbing of millions of American homes for decades: lead service lines. Invisible and insidious, these aging lead pipes have leached a potent neurotoxin into drinking water, particularly putting the lives of children in danger.

New Mexico became one of the states to confront this hidden crisis as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 20 that the state will receive $27,456,000 from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The EPA funding is part of a broader distribution that includes four other states, namely: Arkansas ($27,456,000), Louisiana ($27,456,000), Oklahoma ($27,456,000), and Texas ($76,607,000). The money allocation is intended to locate lead pipes, design replacement projects, and ultimately replace them with safer materials.

“This funding will help keep children safe from lead exposure, give parents peace of mind, and protect the next generation of Americans,” said EPA Region 6 Administrator Scott Mason. The agency has emphasized that it will work closely with states to move the funds quickly into communities.

Decades of inaction on lead pipes change, decades of damage

Lead pipes, prized for their durability and malleability, were widely installed across the United States throughout most of the 20th century. The 1986 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act led the federal government to ban new installations. But the old infrastructure remained, gradually corroding and shedding lead particles— especially when water chemistry changes, or pipes are disturbed.

The consequences have been catastrophic and extensively documented. Even low levels of lead exposure in young children are tied to reduced IQ, behavioral patterns, learning disabilities, and enduring health issues. There is no safe level of lead in potable water, according to public health authorities. Highly publicized emergencies, most notably in Flint, Michigan, exposed how bureaucratic hurdles and cost-cutting can turn this risk into a public health emergency.

Across the U.S., the EPA estimates about 4 million lead service lines are still in use. Many of these service lines are concentrated in older cities and towns, mostly in lower-income and minority communities that have legacy vulnerabilities to environmental inequities. Replacing them is expensive, operationally complex, and politically sensitive. That is why, for years, progress has been slow despite repeated warnings from health scientists.

A flood of federal money meets local realities

The new EPA funding comes as part of a larger national drive, accelerated in recent years, to address America’s aging water infrastructure. States acted as administrators of the revolving funds, giving loans and grants to communities. In New Mexico, where vast rural territories sit alongside older urban centers like Albuquerque and Santa Fe, officials will now chart the locations of lead lines, which could be both difficult and costly because many records are incomplete and no longer exist.

Completely replacing these old lines is the only permanent solution. Partial measures, such as relying on chemical water treatments or implementing partial line replacements while leaving the private segment untouched, have proven not enough. Residents often face prohibitive out-of-pocket expenses to fund their portion of the pipeline upgrades, creating a patchwork of ongoing risk.

Confronting century-old systemic oversight

According to Government Accountability Office (GAO) audits and environmental policy analysts, past federal efforts frequently stalled due to slow disbursement, bureaucratic hurdles for small municipalities, and funding levels that fell starkly short of the crisis’s true scale. Even with this latest funding, questions remain: Will the money reach the lower-income neighborhood first? Can smaller towns handle the technical and logistical burdens? And how fast can pipes be pulled from the ground?

Environmental advocates and water policy organizations, such as the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), described this federal investment as a long-overdue victory. But they maintain the initiative represents only a small fraction of the tens of billions of dollars required to eliminate lead lines across the country.

The hope is not only about safe water, as lead pipes arrive in New Mexico and four other states. It is about confronting a century-old systemic oversight that should never have been allowed to linger this long.

After Mountainair Incident, 5 Dogs Are Being Quarantined; New Info on Friday

Ruben Reyes
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After Mountainair Incident, 5 Dogs Are Being Quarantined; New Info on Friday

Editor’s note: This article is an update about the Mountainair Home Incident.

Official say they can give an update on Friday about a deadly incident that killed three people and hospitalized more than two dozen others in Mountainair home.

The incident happened on Wednesday which has sparked numerous question on what exactly the cause of their deaths and the exposure risks for both humans and animals.

What Happened on the Incident?

The incident began on Wednesday when four people where found unresponsive at a home after coming into contact with an unknown substance. Two died on the spot and paramedics gave Narcan to two others, resuscitated them, and took them to UNM Hospital.

One of them died on arrival. Someone reported it as an overdose incident but the situation quickly escalated.

More than 25 people, including at least 18 first responders were exposed and underwent quarantine at the hospital. The hospital discharge others, but two individuals remain under observation.

Animals Undergoing Quarantine

The effect of the unknown substance have reached the animals.

Four dogs that were inside also underwent quarantine at Mountainair Animal Control, while workers continue searching for the fifth one.

Staff members are taking significant precautions while caring for the animsl.

“We’re wearing all of our PPE just to touch them,” said Jennifer Carter with Mountainair Animal Control. “Right now there are no symptoms. We’re just going to keep an eye on them for the next 10 days.”

As of now, all dogs appear healthy and symptom-free, but officials say they will keep on monitoring them closely. A veterinarian may clear them and put them for adoption unless a family member claims them.

What Is The Response?

Dozens of potentially exposed individuals quarantined at UNM Hospital as a precaution. While officials have released most of them, they say the response is ongoing, with continued monitoring for anyone who may have come into contact with the substance.

The incident has caused fear and uncertainty among those affected, including the quarantined animals.

Federal Investigations are Underway

The case is now being led by New Mexico State Police, with assistance from multiple agencies including Albuquerque Fire Rescue.

FBI systems were seen at the crime scene last Wednesday, and officials confirmed that DEA agents conducted air quality testing in and around the property. Authorities have reassured nearby residents that the air is safe.

Hospital officials will also address their quarantine procedures and safety protocols during the scheduled Friday brief.

Three Dead in a Rural Area Due to an Unknown Substance

Ruben Reyes
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Three Dead in a Rural Area Due to an Unknown Substance

Authorities reported that three people and more than a dozen of first responders underwent quarantine and assessment over possible exposure to an unidentified substance after responding to a suspected drug overdose at a rural home.

New Mexico State Police found four people initially unresponsive inside the Mountainair home, east of Albuquerque

Three died, while health professionals are treating others at the hospital. The police did not release their name.

According to authorities, first responders who arrived at the scene were exposed to the substance and began experiencing symptoms including nausea and dizziness.

Volunteer firefighter named Antonette Alguire helped perform CPR on a woman outside the home and watched as EMTs and firefighter started coughing, vomiting and becoming dizzy at the heliport, she said.

Alguire said the experience was terrifying even though she didn’t go inside and didn’t experience any symptoms.

She wondered if first responders might have to exert more effort to protect themselves in the future.

“It is getting to that point where we just have to live in fear, even saving lives,” she said.

Even if their lives are at stake, our first responders will respond to emergencies and try to save people.

The investigation is still underway to find out about the substance.

Los Lunas Schools Approve $144 Million Budget, No Layoffs Despite Sharp Enrollment Decline

Juan Oliveros
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Los Lunas Schools Approve $144 Million Budget, No Layoffs Despite Sharp Enrollment Decline

The Board of Education of Los Lunas unanimously approved a $144,572,592 budget for the 2026-27 school year on Tuesday, marking a fiscally balanced plan with no layoffs that addresses one of the most persistent challenges facing New Mexico districts: decreasing student rolls coupled with rising costs.

Greeted with praise in the boardroom, the vote caps a long process that began in February. The budget is now heading to the New Mexico Public Education Department for final approval before July 1, the start of the fiscal year.

Superintendent Susan Chavez thanked her staff for what she saw as a year-long initiative rather than a last-minute rush. “This wasn’t just a ‘Let’s meet after spring break and figure out what needs to happen,’” she said. “It’s been almost the entire year.”

Financial bright spot

Chief Financial Officer Sandy Traczek presented the financial plan, highlighting an unexpected financial bright spot. The district lost 243 students, but the reduction of program units from 16,241 to 15,777, a higher state unit value, offset the loss. The initial unit value rose from $6,801 the previous year to $7,017.10, creating an increase in expected state equalization guarantee (SEG) revenue of roughly $602,331.

Last year’s revenue stood at about $110.5 million, while this year’s projection is $112.3 million, Traczek said. Even with the final unit value settling at $6,877.10, the district projects to close out the year with revenues near $111.7 million.

No layoffs

District leaders emphasized that the balanced budget was arrived at without layoffs. Instead, officials used voluntary turnover to eliminate positions. These positions include 10 general education teaching spots and several administrative and support roles. The number of administrators remains at 56.

“No employee that was employed by this district lost a position,” said board Vice President Sonya C’Moya, who recalled past budget cycles when layoffs created anxiety. Board member Michelle Osowski was more expressive: “Compared to the budget that I saw my first budget season, this rocks.”

The financial plan includes a mandatory 1 percent salary increase for employees and retains the 80-20 district-employee split on insurance premiums. But medical premiums are to increase 9.95 percent in October.

The enrollment decline reflects wider trends across the state. Chavez observed family relocations, transfers to virtual academies, and students dropped for chronic absenteeism as key factors. The district is monitoring disenrollments weekly and tracking pre-K through 12th-grade registration.

After the vote, the board unanimously accepted the district’s 2025 annual financial audit. The school received a clean, unmodified opinion from auditor Scott Ellison of the Jaramillo Accounting Group.

The auditors reported that three prior-year observations had been resolved and cited the district’s internal controls. A new accounting standard for accumulated leave liabilities required an $8 million accrual for accrued sick leave. Officials, however, stressed this was a reporting adjustment, not an immediate cash obligation.

The board members commended the thoroughness of the budget and audit overviews and voted 5-0 to approve the audit.

Tri-Cities Events Calendar: Things to do in Northwestern New Mexico

Victoria Padilla
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You can check out the Tri-Cities Events Calendar for upcoming events in northwestern New Mexico. The calendar lists a variety of events, including workshops, cultural events, and family-friendly activities.

The events calendar is an important resource that helps the community engage with one another and gives people and families the opportunity to celebrate local culture.

One example of the types of events listed on the calendar is the Beginning Knitting Workshop at San Juan College’s Big Idea Makerspace, which will take place on May 22 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is open to individuals 12 years and older.

There are other types of events on the calendar, including arts events, statewide seasonal festivals, and opportunities to learn in the Farmington and surrounding communities.

Residents of the Tri-Cities can benefit from a variety of learning experiences, low-cost entertainment, and a sense of belonging through organized community events.

Examples include creative workshops, where individuals can develop new skills; community events that foster connections among regional members; and cultural programs that build a shared identity among residents and offer fun activities for families.

This is echoed in the headline of the Tri-Cities Events Calendar (the “Calendar”)—it’s not just a compilation of events; rather, it serves as the focal point of the region’s activities and promotes involvement in events that are beneficial to local businesses as well as families living north of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Therefore, the Tri-Cities Events Calendar is a valuable resource for residents and visitors of the region. It provides information about multiple types of events, including workshops, cultural events, and family-oriented events, and it also serves as an incentive for communities in the Tri-Cities area to come together as one community, explore new interests, and show appreciation for the diverse community in northwestern New Mexico.

New Mexico United 2026 Season Blends Soccer and Community Celebration

Victoria Padilla
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Beginning its 2026 USL Championship Campaign with 15 Home Matches. throughout Various Events & Themes, Offer to All Owners.

New Mexico United has established itself as a major piece of Albuquerque Sports. In fact, many thousands of people gather every match to cheer for the team and show pride in New Mexico.

Each match during this Season serves as an opportunity for New Mexico United to define its role within the USL Championship.

As an example, the schedule consists of: Star Wars Night – (May 6); Pride Night (June 6); Juneteenth (June 13); Girls in the Game – August 1; Indigenous Peoples’ Day (August 15); Meow Wolf Night – September 26; and Hispanic Heritage Night – October 3. Themed events link soccer with cultural holidays and community connections.

Benefits include family-fun events at affordable prices ($19-$75+) and recognition of our community through themed evenings. All events will also assist local businesses south of Isotopes Park. Additionally, they continue to build Albuquerque’s identity as a soccer community.

The headline emphasizes that the 2026 season goes beyond a sports schedule; it creates a community calendar that blends athletic competition with cultural celebration, reflecting New Mexico United’s motto: ¡Somos Unidos! We are United.

To wrap up, the 2026 season of New Mexico United will provide many thrilling opportunities – both on and off the field – to enjoy soccer with a total of 30 matches. Featured teams will come from all over. There will be plenty of opportunities to celebrate the culture and community. The season will also continue building a strong sense of unity through soccer in Albuquerque. Supporters can reserve their tickets now and strengthen Albuquerque’s rapidly expanding soccer culture!

Trump’s $4B Permian Oil Bonanza—Energy Triumph or Public Lands Risk?

Juan Oliveros
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Trump’s $4B Permian Oil Bonanza—Energy Triumph or Public Lands Risk?

The Trump administration’s Bureau of Land Management sold drilling rights to 33,530 acres of federal land for almost $4.01 billion across New Mexico and Texas in a record-shattering afternoon auction. It underscored the growing appetite of oil firms for access to some of the nation’s most abundant energy reserves, even as environmental concerns and long-term climate commitments loom.

BLM held the quarterly lease sale on Wednesday, offering 74 parcels — almost all of them snapped up — primarily in New Mexico’s portion of the Permian Basin. The Basin is the engine of American oil production, powering the U.S. to its status as a top global producer. Cumulative bonus bids and first-year rental payments reached approximately $4,007,944,870, according to the Department of the Interior. The federal government and the states will share the revenue, providing a bonanza for New Mexico’s coffers in particular.

The sheer magnitude of the windfall dwarfs recent history. Industry observers described it as one of the largest single-day BLM oil and gas lease sales in years, dwarfing the prior high-water mark of around $972 million set in 2018.

Devon Energy and others poured in aggressive bids

Devon Energy alone accounted for more than half the total, according to preliminary reports. The enthusiasm mirrors confidence in the Permian’s output potential amid advances in technology on hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling that have shaped the region’s transformation.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the results have validated the administration’s “American Energy Dominance Agenda.” Burgum, in a statement, said, “America is sitting on some of the richest energy resources in the world, and President Donald J. Trump is committed to putting those resources to work for the American people.”

At the core of the momentum is a policy shift embedded in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. The legislation reduced the federal royalty rate for new onshore oil and gas production on public lands to 12.5 percent, representing a 4.17 percent reduction from the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act benchmark. Trump administration officials contend the cut lowers barriers for producers, encourages investment, and ultimately generates more activity — and revenue — over time.

Proceeds from the sale under the framework of Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy.” The order directs federal agencies to hasten development while maintaining compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. All leases carry a standard 10-year term. The lease can be extended with production.

A different calculus

But critics see a different calculus. Environmental advocates have argued that scaling up fossil fuel leasing on public lands exacerbates the climate crisis by locking in fossil fuel production for decades, even as the world grapples with warming targets.

Advocates question whether the lower royalty rate represents a giveaway to the industry at the expense of taxpayers and future generations, potentially shortchanging taxpayers. Previous analyses of federal leasing have sometimes underscored discrepancies between immediate cash proceeds and the enduring asset value of extracted resources and externalities.

Officials counter that local production on public lands bolsters energy independence, supports jobs in transportation and manufacturing, shields prices for families and businesses, and generates revenue to fund conservation projects or other priorities. Improved output also bolsters national security by reducing reliance on foreign supplies.

The Permian Basin’s federal parcels sit on top of a tapestry of private, state, and tribal lands that have already seen tremendous growth. Only time will tell if this record sale will yield continued drilling, new infrastructure, and measurable economic gains—or succumb to delays from litigation, permitting bottlenecks, or market volatility. BLM officials stressed that leasing is only the first step. They say actual development requires additional approvals and must comply with environmental reviews.

The $4 billion bonanza stands as a strong argument in the nation’s ongoing debate over energy policy, at least, for now. The true costs and benefits to taxpayers, local communities, and the climate will play out acre by acre across the desert landscapes of the American Southwest as development moves forward.

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