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Former Pediatric Nurse Accused of Child Pornography

Ruben Reyes
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Former Pediatric Nurse Accused of Child Pornography

According to court documents, authorities have charged a nurse who previously worked in the pediatrics unit at Presbyterian Hospital, located in downtown Albuquerque, with possession of child pornography.

Police booked Blade Rogers, 29, into Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center on Thursday for the charge of possession of a visual medium of sexual exploitation (child under 13).

Court documents state that Rogers allegedly used a free messaging app called Kik, which is available on smartphones, to purchase sexually explicit videos of children.

In February, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a tip about child sexual abuse material to the New Mexico Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

NMDOJ investigators linked Rogers to the tip by requesting records from Google and Kik.

On Thursday, investigators and police went to Rogers’ apartment in northwest Albuquerque and served a search warrant. While there, they detained Rogers and seized his phone.

According to court documents, authorities found a file containing child sexual abuse material on his phone. 

The state has requested that Rogers remain in custody while awaiting pretrial detention authorities. 

Presbyterian Healthcare Services has confirmed that Rogers is no longer affiliated with them. They are working closely with law enforcement during the investigation.

BLM May Shrink Chaco Drilling Buffer — But Tribes and Lawmakers Say the Review is Being Rushed. What’s at Stake?

Juan Oliveros
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BLM May Shrink Chaco Drilling Buffer — But Tribes and Lawmakers Say the Review is Being Rushed. What’s at Stake?

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) moves to revisit — and potentially roll back — the age-old protections around Chaco Culture National Historical Park. But the move drew sharp rebuke from Indigenous communities, environmental advocates, and lawmakers, saying the process sidelines those most affected.

Central to the controversy is the seven-day public comment period, which started Tuesday and runs until April 7. The review could shrink or eliminate a 10-mile buffer zone, which bans new oil and gas leasing around the park.

The federal agency is considering three options: retaining the existing 10-mile buffer, reducing it to five miles, or removing the protections entirely.

BLM officials said public feedback will help shape the upcoming environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), after which it will also undergo public review. Critics, however, said the timeline itself signals a deeper problem.

“Allowing just seven days for public comment on the fate of a 1,000-year-old sacred site is inadequate and disgraceful,” wrote Senator Ben Ray Luján on social media. He warned that the timing during Holy Week and the online-only format limit public participation. Luján, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, said the move erodes tribal sovereignty and the government’s duty to consult Indigenous communities.

The buffer zone covers more than 336,000 acres. Put in place by then-Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in 2023, it temporarily withdrew federal lands around Chaco from new mineral leasing for 20 years. But it exempts existing leases along with private and tribal lands. To make the protection permanent requires Congressional action.

Chaco Canyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a recognition of its global cultural value. It remains a cultural and spiritual anchor for Pueblo peoples. The ancient roads and massive stone houses serve as reminders of a complex civilization of long ago.

Stored beneath the landscape is a substantial reserve of oil, coal, and uranium. A BLM assessment found the buffer’s impact on oil production would be modest, reducing output levels by 2.5 percent

Navajo Nation leaders have advocated for a smaller buffer. They cited potential losses for Navajo allottees who rely on oil and gas revenues. In 2025, the tribe challenged the Biden administration’s 2023 decision to withdraw federal lands within a 10-mile radius of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. They said the decision was without meaningful consultation. The case, however, was dismissed this week following a settlement.

Pueblo leaders, however, viewed the current review as raising fresh concerns. The Pueblo of Laguna is concerned about how decisions are being made, said Laguna Governor Harry Antonio Jr. Any rollback must not bypass sufficient consultation or erode cultural protections, he added.

Two Arrested For Shooting in Clovis; 1 Dead and 5 Injured

Ruben Reyes
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Two Arrested For Shooting in Clovis; 1 Dead and 5 Injured

Police arrested two suspects for a shooting that left one person dead and five others wounded last month in Clovis

Police have arrested and identified the two suspects as Kaleb Moreno Ponce, 19, and Enrique Padilla, 18.

March 22, 2026 Incident

On March 22, around 12:28 A.M., a 911 caller reported hearing multiple gunshots at Grand and Calhoun Street, stating someone had shot people. 

Officers and Clovis Fire Department Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victims to Plains Regional Medical Center with varying degrees of injury.

Someone shot Lyrasha Haskins, 21, and medical personnel later declared her deceased.

March 30, 2026: The Aftermath

On March 30, police found the suspect’s vehicle at a local recycler and seized it with a search warrant.

Following interviews and surveillance videos, investigators identified Kaleb Moreno Ponce, Enrique Padilla, and Daniel Guiterrez as persons-of-interest.

Moreno Ponce turned himself into the Clovis Police Department, and officers took him into custody and charged him with murder, accessory to wit murder, shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and tampering with evidence.

Later that evening on March 30th, Guiterrez met with investigators. 

Eventually, authorities generated an arrest warrant for Padilla on the charges of murder, accessory to wit murder, shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

April 2, 2026: The Arrest

Officers arrested Padilla on Thursday morning after they found him in a domestic dispute and shots fired call in the 100 block of Mesa Avenue.

While searching the property, they presumably found Padilla after he exited the garage, but they didn’t link him to possible shots fired or the dispute.

The court charged both Moreno Ponce and Padilla with one count of first-degree murder and accessory, and six counts of shooting at a dwelling/occupied building and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Both will also face a fourth-degree charge of felony tampering with evidence.

For any information related to the incident, call non-emergency line for the Clovis Police Department at 575-769-1921. Anonymous tips can also be sent through Clovis Police Department’s tip411 program, which can be accessed via www.clovisnm.gov/167/Police anonymous tips can be provided to the Curry County Crime Stoppers at 575-763-7000.

AgriFuture Unpacked: What Aspiring Agricultural Professionals Can Expect

Juan Oliveros
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AgriFuture Unpacked: What Aspiring Agricultural Professionals Can Expect

Many young people dreamed of a life rooted in agriculture. And it can be both familiar and distant for them: a heritage passed down through generations, but increasingly shaped by global markets, climate realities, and new technologies.

To bridge that gap, the AgriFuture Educational Institute will open its doors to students, aspiring professionals, and producers from across the state from June 15 to 17. It is offering not only lectures, but a snapshot of what a future in agriculture can truly look like.

AgriFuture is more of a meeting ground

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with more than a dozen partner groups organized the AgriFuture. It is designed less as a traditional conference and more like a meeting ground. Here, first-timers will sit alongside seasoned ranchers, where classroom theories meet the realities of markets, fields, and livelihoods.

The attendees can experience beyond note-taking. Talks with industry leaders are expected to delve into topics that define modern agriculture. The conversations will dive into the complexities of international livestock trade, the risks and rewards of building an agribusiness, and the often-overlooked paths to support through USDA programs. Financial management and agritourism, the two pillars for sustaining rural economies, will also take center stage.

Human connection

What makes AgriFuture unique, organizers say, is its emphasis on human connection. The event structures interactive panels and breakout sessions to allow participants to ask questions, share ideas, and form relationships that could later shape their careers.

Jeff Witte, the state’s Secretary of Agriculture, said the event is an investment in people as much as in industry. “We are excited to continue hosting AgriFuture in interactive, hands-on ways,” Witte said in a statement. He invites anyone who considers a career in agriculture to attend. “New Mexico agriculture has a bright future, and this is a great way to be part of it.”

There is a quiet urgency behind the optimism. According to the USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture, the United States is facing an aging agriculture workforce and a need to attract younger generations. Events like AgriFuture could also be about sustaining a way of life.

A $75 registration fee for each student considering a career in agriculture may be a small price for access to mentors and real-world insights. Scholarships for veterans and students are available until April 15.

New Mexico Probe Into Forced Sterilization of Indigenous Women Matters; But Faces Time, Trust Hurdles

Juan Oliveros
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New Mexico Probe Into Forced Sterilization of Indigenous Women Matters; But Faces Time, Trust Hurdles

The investigation into the forced sterilization of Indigenous women in New Mexico is facing hurdles. Advocates warned that uncovering the full truth will take more time than expected.

State lawmakers tasked the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women and the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department to spearhead a “statewide plan of action.” The initiative includes interviewing survivors and working with the Indian Health Service to identify all cases of forced sterilization from 1907 to 2018.

New Mexico Senate Memorial 14 sets the results of the investigation to be released by December 2027. This timeline, officials said, may be too tight.

“December 2027 sounds far away, but it’s not,” said Josett Monette, cabinet secretary of the Indian Affairs Department. Monette stressed the urgency of the probe. Although the deadline is years away, the time is short considering the complexity of the investigation. “Some of the investigation will be difficult and time-consuming. I’m not sure we’re going to get everything done in time.”

Trauma, distrust slow search for truth

The biggest barrier, according to advocates, is not bureaucracy alone. Trust is.

The probe depends heavily on the statements from Indigenous women. Many of them carry deep trauma and historical distrust of government institutions and Western medicine. “We believe the work goes at the speed of trust,” said Rachael Lorenzo of Indigenous Women Rising.

She said the probe could take months — even a year — to reach communities and assure survivors it is safe to come forward. “Considering the history of forced sterilization and the distrust that our native communities have of the Western medical system, it could take a long time,” she said.

A history buried in silence

According to a briefing from the New Mexico Memorial & Truth and Reconciliation Commission, more than 70,000 forced or coerced sterilizations were performed by the Indian Health Service and its contractors between 1960 and 1978.

By the middle of 1970s, 4 out of 10 to as many as 5 out of 10 child-bearing Indigenous women had been sterilized. A disproportionate number of these cases were linked to New Mexico.

This number of cases underscores what advocates picture as a systemic violation of reproductive rights — and this has remained largely hidden for decades.

Documents, cooperation remain uncertain

Beyond survivors’ testimonies, probers could face another big challenge. That is access to records. Officials said the Indian Health Service’s cooperation is crucial, but uncertain.

Researchers involved in the project have expressed apprehension that obtaining documents could be slow, if not incomplete, which could force investigators to rely more heavily on community accounts. “We’re going to need to hear from community voices,” Monette said.

UNM Big Give 2026: Coming Together to Support One Another

Gregg Morgan
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UNM Big Give 2026: Coming Together to Support One Another

Got something to give? Now is your chance to help those in need.

The University of New Mexico will host UNM Big Give on April 9. The 24-hour celebration of giving connects alumni, friends, faculty, staff, Lobos fans, and supporters from around the world. The annual giving day highlights collective generosity, supporting programs that benefit students, research, patient care, and communities in New Mexico.

Beginning at midnight on April 9, donors can aid the schools, colleges, and programs they care about most. Gifts made during UNM Big Give can go further through special challenges and matching opportunities. These contributions unlock additional funds and strengthen key initiatives like the Student Health and Counseling Center, UNM Grand Challenges, and Patient Care.

Jeff Todd, President and CEO of the UNM Foundation, expressed excitement about the upcoming event. “UNM Big Give reflects the strength and spirit of the Lobo community. It’s a day when generosity turns into opportunity, supporting our students, advancing research, enhancing health care, advancing athletics, and strengthening the programs that serve New Mexico. Every gift helps move UNM forward.”

How to Participate

Visit unmbiggive.unmfund.org to make a gift and support the area that matters most to you. Starting in early April, donors can join Big Give at participating UNM Food locations and special campus events.

UNM Big Give expands its reach every year. In 2025, 2,556 alumni and supporters worldwide joined forces to surpass the goal of 2,500 unique contributors. They raised over $1,027,846, breaking the record for the largest single-day fundraising effort in UNM’s history. 

The event showcased collaboration, with UNM Athletics hosting its annual Lobos Give Day with UNM Big Give. It raised over $363,130 for student-athlete scholarships, beating the $300,000 target.

UNM Big Give shows how collective giving drives progress, advancing education, healthcare, and opportunities across the state.  Donors, whether giving for the first time or continuing a tradition, help shape UNM’s future. Save the date, share your passion, and contribute to making 2026 UNM Big Give a success.

Summit Attendees Discuss Higher Education Policies in New Mexico

Gregg Morgan
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Summit Attendees Discuss Higher Education Policies in New Mexico

New Mexico’s leaders and educators welcomed the state’s meaningful investments in higher education. The third annual Higher Education Technical Summit brought together officials and professionals. They shared their views on ongoing efforts to drive student success and economic opportunity through higher education institutions. 

More than 300 educators and policy professionals from colleges and universities in New Mexico attended the summit. This conference is the only one of its kind organized by the state in the country. New Mexico State University in Las Cruces hosted the gathering on March 23-24, 2026.

Guest speakers included New Mexico Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, state Sen. Bill Soules, House Speaker Javier Martinez, and state Rep. Nathan Small. Other speakers included Tom Harnisch of the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, Jennifer Torres of Complete College America and representatives of the University of New Mexico Basic Needs Project.  

“Joining higher education leaders from across New Mexico at the 3rd Annual Technical Summit was an inspiring reminder of the powerful impact our colleges and universities have on communities in every corner of our state,” said Morales. 

“From expanding access and affordability to strengthening workforce pathways, this collective effort reflects a growing, statewide commitment to student success and economic opportunity. With strong collaboration among institutions, policymakers and partners, and under Secretary Rodriguez’s leadership, New Mexico continues to make meaningful investments in higher education that are uplifting families, supporting local economies and building a more prosperous future for all,” he added.

College as Pathway to Purpose

Harnisch said he was thrilled to join higher education leaders from across New Mexico at the event. “The summit highlighted strong collaboration among institutions and state leaders to ensure every student has access to high-quality, affordable college opportunities that prepare them for workforce success.”

He added that New Mexico is making tremendous strides in higher education. Bold investments and innovative policies will drive broad-based economic growth and prosperity for decades to come. 

Torres described college as more than a credential but a pathway to purpose. “It helps students discover who they are, what they value and how they can contribute to their communities and careers. When we center students in this work, we’re not just preparing them for jobs, we’re equipping them with the skills, confidence and sense of direction they need to lead meaningful, impactful lives.” 

During the summit, attendees discussed forward-looking policies on financial aid and national trends in state higher education funding. They also tackled strategic campus capital investments. Speakers presented topics on academic policy, institutional planning and research, adult education, and other emerging priorities influencing the future of higher education.  

Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez said the summit featured an exceptionally invigorating series of panels. “Higher education in New Mexico has garnered incredible momentum over these past eight years, and events like this one provide tremendous encouragement that the upward trend will continue in the years to come.” 

Man Sentence to Life Imprisonment and 60 Months for Kidnapping-for-Ransom

Ruben Reyes
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Man Sentence to Life Imprisonment and 60 Months for Kidnapping-for-Ransom

A federal judge sentenced Jose Ramirez, 47, to life in prison and 60 months after a federal jury convicted him on kidnapping charges from 2018 abduction, nearly seven years on the run from law enforcement. 

According to court documents and evidence that prosecutors presented at trial in 2018, just weeks after prison officials released him from prison for a felony firearm conviction that stemmed from a high-speed police chase, and while courts supervised him and he wore a GPS ankle monitor, Ramirez formulated a calculated violent kidnapping-for-ransom scheme targeting his former employer, a 68-year-old business owner who had fired him years before the theft.

Where It All Began

On July 25, 2018, the day before the crime, Ramirez met his co-defendants in Albuquerque and enlisted them in the scheme, which he described as a “revenge” plan against his former boss and “take him for all he had.”

One co-defendant recruited a third participant who acted as a primary enforcer during the attack.

The Crime Unfolding

In the early morning of July 26, Ramirez and his co-defendants traveled to the victim’s residence in Placitas after stealing a vehicle from a family member, cutting off his GPS monitor, and discarding his phone to cover his movements

At around 6 A.M., the defendants ambushed the victim as he exited his home. Ramirez restrained the victim in a chokehold and held a knife to his throat. During the struggle, the defendants pistol-whipped the victim multiple times before subduing him.

The defendants forced the victim into his own Ford Ranger and drove him to a remote location, where they robbed him of cash and a check, bound him, and transported him to a run-down shed in Albuquerque.

Ramirez held the victim captive for approximately 15 hours and beat him additionally. Throughout the captivity, he made multiple ransom calls to the victim’s daughter, demanding $9,600 and directing her to wire money to a bank account in Mexico.

Even though Ramirez discarded his phone to avoid tracks, he used his personal phone to make calls, which investigators traced, and he spoke directly to the victim’s daughter during a recorded call, further revealing himself.

How It Concludes

Ramirez fully revealed the scheme when he failed to provide the necessary banking information required to complete the international wire transfer. After obtaining only $600 from the victim, Ramirez abandoned the ransom attempt.

Later that evening, the victim was released in southwest Albuquerque and walked to a nearby gas station to call for help.

Ramirez attempted to profit further by using a stolen check with his fingerprint, which led to an additional bank fraud conviction for an associate, and he fled to New Mexico, traveled to California, lived under aliases, and continued engaging in criminal activity.

He evaded law enforcement for seven years before being caught in California.

Guilty on Multiple Charges

A federal jury convicted Ramirez on multiple charges, including conspiracy to kidnap and carjacking; carjacking, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to crime of violence, and extortion.

Due to his more than 30 years of criminal conduct, violent and calculated nature of crime, the government requested and the court imposed a sentence to life prison and additional 60 years.

There is no parole in federal system.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement.

Pipeline Blocked—But not Dead? Project Jupiter Faces a Reroute Dilemma in New Mexico

Juan Oliveros
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Pipeline Blocked—But not Dead? Project Jupiter Faces a Reroute Dilemma in New Mexico

The New Mexico State Land Office’s decision to block a crucial pipeline section has sparked a crucial question: Can Project Jupiter still proceed? Officials say the answer is yes. But not without changes.

“Applicants will need to find a route that does not include state trust lands,” Assistant Commissioner of Communications Joey Keefe said. Keefe’s statement signaled not the end for the proposed 17-mile pipeline tied to the data center project.

The 17.7-mile natural gas pipeline, dubbed the “Green Chile Project,” would fuel Project Jupiter, a massive data center. It will transport up to 400,000 dekatherms of natural gas everyday from El Paso, Texas, to southern New Mexico.

Most of the route crosses federal and private land. In X post, Criterion Research said the Dallas-based company has already filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

But a 0.63-mile segment that passes through state trust land in Doña Ana County has become a dilemma.

The State Land Office rejected the lease application on March 20. In her letter addressed to Transwestern Pipeline Company, Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard ruled that granting access is not in the best interest of the state’s trust. The decision blocks pipeline construction on that portion, but not the entire project.

Energy Transfer, the Dallas-based company, is behind the proposal. The company said the pipeline is still in the planning phase. It emphasized that they have yet to determine the final route.

“We are currently performing civil, environmental, and cultural surveys to determine the safest route with the least environmental impact,” said company spokesperson Vicki Granado. The final route will be determined after this work is completed, she added. FERC, which oversees interstate pipelines, will decide the project’s final route.

However, uncertainty looms over the timeline. The Dallas-based company had projected the construction could begin as early as April. This timeline follows the end of the public input period on April 15. The company plans to finish the project by August.

Environmental groups argued the State Land Office’s decision exposes deeper issues with the project. Kacey Hovden, a staff attorney of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, said the undefined path of the pipeline highlights broader concerns about Project Jupiter’s readiness.

She pointed out that the decision on air-quality permits for the gas-fired power plants the pipeline would serve has already been pushed back to July. These sequencing issues raised red flags for the project. The project, Hovden said, seems to be advancing infrastructure plans ahead of the needed environmental approvals.

Heading to Chimayó? Here’s What NMDOT is Doing — And What Pilgrims Should Remember

Juan Oliveros
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Heading to Chimayó? Here’s What NMDOT is Doing — And What Pilgrims Should Remember

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has stepped up safety measures along key pilgrimage routes as thousands prepare to walk to El Santuario de Chimayó this Good Friday.

Crews have been working for weeks ahead of the annual walk to El Santuario de Chimayó. They will begin 12-hour shifts starting Thursday evening through Saturday to ensure the safety of pedestrians.

What NMDOT is doing on the ground

To handle the rise in foot traffic, the agency has rolled out a wide set of safety interventions, namely:

  • Clearing and sweeping of roads, while cattle guards are being covered to make paths safer for pedestrians;
  • Installation of the more than 150 orange barrels and around 250 safety signs along major routes;
  • Pilgrims will have a guide in using on- and off-ramps between Santa Fe and Cuyamungue to avoid highways;
  • At the Cuyamungue interchange, agency crews will redirect walkers to an east frontage road to avoid risk from fast-moving vehicles;
  • Temporary stop signs will be installed at interchanges to allow safer pedestrian crossings;
  • Motorists will be alerted to heavy foot traffic with electronic message boards and additional signage along N.M. 76 and N.M. 503;
  • Portable lights will illuminate high-traffic areas, including the Pojoaque Wellness Center and major intersections; and
  • Trash bins will be available along routes to help keep the area clean during the pilgrimage.

Safety tips: What pilgrims should remember

NMDOT officials stressed that safety also depends on participants. The agency is reminding walkers to:

  • Remain in designated pedestrian paths and follow all installed signs;
  • Do not walk directly on roadways whenever possible;
  • Wearing light-colored or reflective clothing is a big help, especially at night or early morning;
  • To adjust to shifting temperatures, participants are advised to dress in layers;
  • Don’t forget to bring essentials like a flashlight, water, and snacks;
  • Be sure to walk in groups and inform someone of your route; and
  • Proper disposal of waste by using designated bins.

NMDOT also reminded all motorists to slow down and stay alert. The agency expects thousands of pilgrims to share the road in the days leading up to Good Friday.

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