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Kids’ Obesity Rates Climb — Health Officials Boost Schools and Community Programs

Juan Oliveros
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Kids’ Obesity Rates Climb — Health Officials Boost Schools and Community Programs

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is ramping up school- and community-based initiatives to enhance access to healthy food and safe physical activity amid rising obesity rates among elementary school students.

Obesity rates have increased in 2025 based on body mass index (BMI) data from nearly 4,600 students across 49 schools in 15 counties, according to the latest report by NMDOH. Data showed that obesity prevalence rose from 17.3 percent to 18.6 percent among kindergarten students. Among third graders, obesity rates climbed from 24,1 percent to 26.7 percent. Boys had 5.4 percentage points higher obesity rates than girls, the report noted.

Childhood obesity in the United States affects about 1 in 5 children and adolescents aged 2 to 19, according to recent national data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And nearly 1 in 5 school-aged children is obese, particularly those aged 6 to 11.

NMDOH officials said the findings highlight the urgency of strengthening early interventions. “Obesity is a complex, serious public health concern with multiple contributing factors, including poverty, food insecurity, and a lack of infrastructure for safe physical activity,” said Gina DeBlassie.

She noted that obesity rates tend to increase significantly between kindergarten and third grade. The health official underscores the need to establish healthy habits early in life.

In response, the health department is scaling up initiatives through its Obesity, Nutrition and Physical Activity Program and the Healthy Kids Healthy Communities initiative. The state implemented these programs in schools and communities statewide to expand access to nutritious food and safe spaces for exercise.

Interventions under these programs include developing school and community gardens, supporting farmers’ markets, and creating safe walking and biking routes. These efforts aim to shape healthier environments for children both in and beyond the classroom.

Suspects in Shooting in Old Town, Now Arrested

Ruben Reyes
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Suspects in Shooting in Old Town, Now Arrested

The deadly shooting of a 20-year-old Gabriel Montano outside a residence west of Old Town on Tuesday night led to the arrest of Xavier Torres, 22, and John Gonzales, 19, according to Albuquerque Police Department report

Officers went to 3216 Don Gabal Lp. Northwest just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, where they found a dead man, later identified as Montano.

Torres and Gonzales surrendered in the crime scene with their hands in the air.

While in custody, Torres and Montano claimed they shot Montano due to self-defense, but police found it inconsistencies such as asking Montano to come to their home because they suspect Montano would be armed, so they had their own guns when he arrived.

During the initial investigation, police found surveillance video which showed Torres, Gonzales, and Montano together. Suddenly, one of the men stepped back and shot Montano 10 to 15 times before falling to the ground. Shots were fired more at his fatally wounded body.

During house search, they found a backpack filled with additional gun magazines and handguns. A shortened 12-gauge shotgun was in Torres’ vehicle, and a Glock handgun was in the children’s bedroom.

Both Torres and Gonzales were charged with an open count of murder and will be booked soon at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

Young Talent on Display at 2026 Metro Youth Art Exhibit

Gregg Morgan
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Young Talent on Display at 2026 Metro Youth Art Exhibit

Curious about how Albuquerque students express their art? The Albuquerque Public School (APS) Visual and Performing Arts department sponsors another event to showcase the creativity of young artists.

The Metro Youth Art Exhibit spotlights 1,200 samples of APS middle and high school visual students this April. Every APS middle and high school is represented at the juried art exhibit, the highest participation in its history.

Metro launched with a Preview Merit Night on April 7. Donors, community partners, administrators and teachers viewed the works, and selected pieces to receive merit and purchase awards. 

The show officially opened on April 8 and runs through April 28. It will close with an awards ceremony, live music, and reception for the students and their families. 

Awards Await Young Artists 

Experienced artists and educators serve as jurors in their respective categories. Additionally, high school art teachers select advanced art students to evaluate entries. These students choose one piece in each category for the Students’ Choice Award.

Organizers will present ribbons for first through third place in each category and for honorable mentions. 

The City of Albuquerque Public Arts Program will continue its tradition of purchasing several pieces from the show. These selected works will join the city’s permanent public art collection. Bernalillo County also selects some pieces for their permanent collection. 

Meanwhile, UNM Art, Frank Frost Photography, and NM United will each award a scholarship to a high school senior. 

The APS Berna Facio Professional Development Complex at 3315 Louisiana Blvd. NE will host the exhibit. The display is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visitors can view the exhibit from  9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 11 and April 18.

On April 18, community partners Sandia Federal Credit Union will be present. They will also offer Merit Awards to student artists. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

New Mexico WW2 Veteran to be Honored at Yearly Commemoration

Ruben Reyes
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New Mexico WW2 Veteran to be Honored at Yearly Commemoration

The Bataan Memorial Building will honor Valdemar DeHerrera, New Mexico’s last living survivor of Bataan Death March, who passed away July of last year at the age of 105, on Thursday, April 9.

At the ripe age of 17-years-old, DeHerrera was a sheepherder from ranching community of Costilla, north of Questa in Taos County. The military then drafted him to be sent to Asia in 1941, where Japanese forces took him captive for years.

Rescuers found him under the jungle canopy of the Philippines, among some of the same plants and herbs he grew up with.

While out on work, he would pick plants and smuggle it back to his fellow prisoners to treat their complications during their captivity.

DeHerrera, the last living survivor of the state, passed away in July of last year.

In honor of his legacy as a lifelong rancher and his service in the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery Units, the Department of Veterans Services selected him for a new commemorative exhibition as part of the state’s annual tribute.

The walkway of the Bataan Memorial Building in downtown Santa Fe, outside the DVS, now displays DeHerrera’s collection of regalia—from local to congressional figures, and his extensive military marks of esteem to the lifelong rancher and his years of service.

The exhibit opens Thursday with a ceremony, a lecture by officials from the New Mexico Military Museum, and family remarks.

It will run until April 2027, after which organizers will honor a new veteran to commemorate the Bataan Death March, which significantly impacted New Mexico, where only half of the 1,800 New Mexicans sent to fight in the Philippines returned home.

Life During War

He regularly attended the memorial in Alamogordo until his later years but did not participate in the Bataan Death March that the Japanese forced U.S. and Filipino soldiers to endure after their surrender in the Philippines.

Instead, he and others fled into the jungle, where they hid from Japanese forces for months as guerrilla fighters before being captured in an abandoned bunker, making him a captive for the remaining years.

Every American soldier experienced what he endured—forced marches and boarding “hell ships,” which Imperial Japan used to transport prisoners to conduct forced labor.

Imperial Japan brought DeHerrera to Manchuria, China, where they made him work in a textile factory until the end of the war.

Life After War

Upon his liberation, DeHerrera returned to New Mexico to resume ranching in Taos, and eventually married and had seven children.

Valerie Rael, one of DeHerrera’s daughters, described her dad as an amazing man and said he cared deeply for his fellow soldiers.

Rael reminisced about spending time with her father and sibling, who imparted knowledge about local plants, including boiling chamiso evergreen shrubs for colds and cooking wild spinach for meals.

She said her father grew up doing that, and that was all he knew when he became a prisoner.

DeHerrera seldom discussed his military service or his almost four-year captivity, revealing only snippets of his experiences.

He followed his doctor’s guidance to face memories from the Pacific Theater during World War II to aid in his coping.

Rael presumed that his father, a devout Catholic, might have felt conflicted about the violence he had participated in during the war. Still, he felt proud of his service, and toward the end of his time, he would, unprompted, sing “God Bless America.”

DeHerrera’s dog tag now lay in the entryway of the state building along his father’s—just two of a five-generation tradition of U.S. military service, which included DeHerrera’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Rael, while looking upon the items, only sees “a man who gave to his country without even hesitating.”

Aaron Kresbach emphasized the ordinary aspects underlying the heroism of the individuals he honored, drawing a parallel to DeHerrera, who reflected on his purple hearts, uniforms, and images of himself on his ranch.

“An  average guy in an extraordinary situation who managed to find a way to survive,” said Krebsbach.

“Kind of in a nutshell, that’s what a lot of history is.” he added.

NMTD Welcomes Travelers from 50 States and 108 Countries in 2025

Ruben Reyes
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NMTD Welcomes Travelers from 50 States and 108 Countries in 2025

New Mexico Tourism Department welcomed an estimated 337,498 travelers from all 50 states and 108 countries in 2025.

In 2025, all visitors used one of the four information centers of the Tourism Department, with approximately 4% being international travelers, primarily from Arizona and Canada.

Data from NMTD visitor information centers highlights that California, Texas, and Oklahoma are significant domestic markets, while Mexico, Germany, the UK, and France lead internationally.

Acting Cabinet Secretary Lancing Adams notes that both domestic and international travelers show considerable interest in New Mexico’s leisure travel experiences.

“Knowing that folks from around the country and across the globe stopped by one of our visitor information centers in 2025 demonstrates that travelers are keen to learn more about the leisure travel experiences offered here in the Land of Enchantment, no matter the reason for their travel,” he said.

In 2025, the Manuelito visitor information center near the Arizona border was the most popular of the four NMTD centers, attracting over 61,000 visitors.

The Glenrio visitor information center near the Texas border received over 47,000 visitors, while the Lordsburg center had an estimated 3,000, and the Santa Fe center welcomed just over 6,000 visitors.

“For many visitors who travel by vehicle, our state-operated visitor information centers are the first touchpoint these folks receive from the state,” said Marketing and Fulfillment Coordinator Toby Martinez. 

“We’re very grateful of the friendly and hardworking customer services representatives who staff our visitor information centers to ensure that every traveler who crosses into the Land of Enchantment receives a great first impression.” he added.

NMTD has improved its visitor information centers by adding interactive kiosks for travelers to explore local attractions and create itineraries.

Additionally, the Lordsburg visitor information center underwent a comprehensive renovation, featuring enhancements in landscaping, paint, lighting, storage, display units, and restrooms.

ABQ Police Investigates a Potential Hate Crime

Ruben Reyes
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ABQ Police Investigates a Potential Hate Crime

Police are investigating a viral video online that shows a man spitting on a Muslim woman with young children at Old Town Plaza and saying she would “burn in hell.”

Sana Ali, 31, was walking with her young children when she met Daniel Bernal, 70, who works for a company that has contracts with the Kirtland Air Force Base.

The Albuquerque Police said in an incident report that someone asked Ali if she was a Christian, insulted her children, and later spat at her through his rolled-down car window.

Ali captured the incident, and her friend posted it on Facebook, gaining views and efforts towards identifying the man, while the police track his plate number caught on video.

Officers mailed out summons directing Bernal to appear at Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on April30.

Bernal is currently facing only a battery crime.

Healthier School Meals for Students? APS Cafeteria Teams Gear Up

Gregg Morgan
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Healthier School Meals for Students? APS Cafeteria Teams Gear Up

Parents and guardians need not worry about whether their children are eating healthy at school. Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) plans for the major shift in school meal preparations on the first day of the school year. Starting August 7, APS will prepare more than half of the school menu items from scratch.

This development paved the way for the Food & Nutrition Services team to undergo hands-on cooking lessons at APS’ central kitchen. About 60 APS staff, including area managers, site supervisors, and cooks, participated in scratch-kitchen training led by chefs from Brigaid. 

The New Mexico Public Education Department’s Student Success and Wellness Bureau sponsored the recent training. It aims to help school districts prepare for the scratch cooking requirements of the state’s Healthy Universal School Meal Program.

“This is the first of hopefully many training opportunities with Brigaid,” said Marie Johnson, executive director of APS Food & Nutrition Services. “They’re here to really work with our team side by side, hands-on, boots on the ground, helping us adapt what they know so we can successfully transition to scratch cooking.”

Johnson said there will be lots of training over the summer so the team is fully equipped by August. “All of our menus will be 51% scratch or more.”

Mastering Measurements and Menus

During the training, participants practiced foundational culinary skills such as knife techniques, reading recipes, measuring ingredients accurately and building flavor. The chefs guided teams in preparing dishes that will appear on school menus. They included sloppy Joes, calabacitas, cornbread, pico de gallo, and pancakes with a cinnamon swirl.

One key focus was teaching staff the difference between measuring by weight and volume. This skill is critical when cooking large quantities.

“We want them to know how to read recipes and understand weights and measures,” Johnson said. “There’s a distinct difference between weight and volume, so we really want them to get that dialed in so recipes are executed properly and there’s no confusion.”

APS will continue preparing some meal components at its central kitchen, while staff will handle many fresh ingredients directly at schools.

“Veggies, fruit and things like that will be done at the school site,” Johnson explained. “The main dish will come from here.”

The Training Experience

Longtime APS Cook and Baker Francisca Segura said  the training felt familiar in the best way.

“I love it,” Segura said. “We are learning a lot, and it’s a good idea. This will be healthy for the children. I hope they like the flavors.”

Segura, an APS cook for 20 years, said scratch cooking reminds her of the way school meals were once prepared.

“When I started cooking and baking, it was like that,” she said. “I started cooking beans, meat and all this stuff. I like it.”

Johnson said the training is also about building confidence among staff as they prepare for the transition.

“We really want to break down the barriers and let our team know they can do this,” she said. “It just takes a little bit of tweaking in the skills they already have. We’re going to do just fine. We’re just trying to knock off the fear.”

Additional Trainings Eyed This Summer

The team plans more training opportunities throughout the summer and schedules additional sessions before the school year begins.

Students will also see some new menu items inspired by the shift toward scratch cooking. Johnson is especially excited about one dish, the “Southwest Joe,” a New Mexican twist on the classic sloppy Joe.

“In our variation, there is red chile,” she said. “It will offer a quarter cup of red-orange vegetables, and it’s delicious. I think the kids are really going to like it.”

“The kids who have tried it have said yes,” Johnson said with a laugh. “I think we’re going to get famous on that.”

More Rain are Expected to return to New Mexico This Week

Ruben Reyes
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More Rain are Expected to return to New Mexico This Week

Rain showers will lessen tonight across New Mexico, with warmer and drier weather returning Wednesday. However, chances of precipitation may increase again late this week, with storms possible heading into the weekend.

Few showers and thunderstorms developed Tuesday across New Mexico, only a couple of isolated showers sticking around right now and will end overnight.

Skies will be visible as drier air moves in, setting up a warmer Wednesday with just few sprinkles near the mountains.

On Thursday, even warmer air moves with westerly winds, while a slight increase in moisture brings another chance for isolated showers and storms.

By Friday, low pressure off the California coast will pull in with deeper moisture, leading to more widespread showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon while temperatures stay warm; the best moisture is coming on Saturday morning.

The timing of an much more rain will determine storm coverage and the later arrival favors more thunderstorms, some capable of small hail, while an earlier arrival would bring more steady rain.

Expect cold fronts moving through on Sunday, bringing cooler temperatures and isolated showers to western, northern, and central New Mexico.

Drier air returns early next week, although rain chances may linger across southern Colorado

To Serve Underserved Areas: State Grants Student Loan Relief to Eight Rural Veterinarians

Gregg Morgan
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To Serve Underserved Areas: State Grants Student Loan Relief to Eight Rural Veterinarians

Serve rural communities and get student loan relief? Eight veterinarians in New Mexico are doing just that. 

The New Mexico Higher Education Department has awarded thousands of dollars in student debt relief to eight rural veterinarians. The aid comes through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program . 

Lawmakers established the initiative during the 2025 legislative session. It provides up to $80,000 in financial assistance to veterinarians who commit to rural practice and food animal care for four years.  

The loan repayment program awards veterinarians $15,000 for the first two years of service in the state. It offers up to an additional $25,000 for each of the following two years. 

The program aims to address the critical shortage of food animal veterinarians in New Mexico. It supports the care of livestock raised for food, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry. The effort protects the state’s agricultural industry and directly supports New Mexico’s rural, frontier and tribal communities. 

Helping Address Veterinary Care Shortages

Many rural and frontier areas in New Mexico face significant challenges with access to veterinary care. These challenges can adversely affect the health of local livestock and food production.   

“Access to veterinary services remains a challenge for many New Mexicans in rural communities,” said Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez. “This program will strengthen food animal health, protect our food systems and support rural economies statewide while reducing student debt for those who chose to serve the state.” 

Jovani Armendariz, Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program awardee, said he applied for the program because rural eastern New Mexico urgently needs accessible food-animal veterinary care. He said building a mobile mixed-animal practice in such an underserved region requires significant personal investment.

“This support will allow me to reinvest directly into herd health services, emergency response, and affordable care for local producers, strengthening both animal health and food security. I’m committed to serving these communities long-term, and this program helps make that possible,” Armendariz said. 

Dr. Samantha Holeck, New Mexico State Veterinarian, earlier said the program is a great first step in supporting the rural veterinary community. “Veterinarians are crucial to the health of our animals and the security of our food supply. This program will support the recruitment and retention of veterinarians in areas of dire need.” 

The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program accepted applications from October 1 to November 1 of last year. 

New Mexico offers a variety of loan repayment programs, scholarships, and other higher education opportunities to support the community. The state also recruits and retains highly trained professionals in critical fields to provide support to under-served areas. 

Pacific Fusion’s $1B New Mexico Gamble Enters Crunch Time with Tesla Veteran at the Helm

Juan Oliveros
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Pacific Fusion’s $1B New Mexico Gamble Enters Crunch Time with Tesla Veteran at the Helm

A Tesla veteran hire signals that Pacific Fusion is moving from ambition to execution in New Mexico, as the tech company is pushing forward with its planned $1 billion research and manufacturing campus in Mesa del Sol.

On Monday, the California-headquartered company named Josh Tech, a former Tesla manager, to lead its New Mexico operations. The move underscores a critical phase in the project: turning a high-risk scientific bet into a functioning industrial footprint.

“Some career moves feel incremental. Others feel like stepping into the future,” Tech said, describing his new role as more about building scalable systems. The company expects him to translate fusion energy’s promise into “operational reality” in New Mexico.

From concept to construction

Tech’s appointment came as Pacific Fusion quietly laid the groundwork for its long-term presence in the region. In December, the California-headquartered firm opened a build-to-suit center in Los Morros Business Park. It has begun hiring local workers, signaling early-stage activity ahead of the larger Mesa del Sol campus.

The company announced the campus in September. It is expected to generate around 200 long-term jobs and some $400 million in economic activity in the next four years. The numbers alone position the project as one of New Mexico’s more ambitious bets on next-generation energy.

Why Tech’s hire matters

Tech’s background offers a glimpse into Pacific Fusion’s strategy. During his time at Tesla, he worked on new product introduction. More recently, as chief operating officer of REE Automotive, he focused on building scalable production systems.

That experience suggests Pacific Fusion is gearing up for a transition phase: from demonstrating that fusion works to figuring out how to build it reliably and at scale.

Fusion’s high-stakes energy bet

Pacific Fusion is part of the emerging companies racing to commercialize nuclear fusion. Often described as the “holy grail” of clean energy, nuclear fusion has the potential to generate power without carbon emissions and with virtually unlimited fuel.

Recently, the company reported a breakthrough that could make its reactor design more cost-effective. This development serves as a key hurdle in an industry where technical success has not always translated into economic viability.

In announcing Tech’s hiring, Pacific Fusion Chief Operating Officer Carrie von Muench said the company is “working to build the future of energy.” The company is moving to build its workforce in Los Lunas and, at the same time, build its Research and Manufacturing Campus in Albuquerque, he added.

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