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Thousands Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday at Albuquerque’s Freedom Fourth

Ruben Reyes
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Thousands of families gathered at Balloon Fiesta Park on Saturday for Albuquerque’s annual Freedom Fourth celebration, marking the nation’s 250th birthday with live music, food vendors and a fireworks display.

The celebration began at 3 p.m., and city officials said about 3,000 people had arrived by 4 p.m., filling parking lots early as attendees settled in for an afternoon and evening of festivities.

Families enjoyed face-painting stations, live entertainment and dozens of food trucks before the night’s fireworks show.

“We’re just basically here to have fun for the Fourth of July,” a group of children attending the event said. “We’re just here to spend time with family, have some fun, maybe get some face paintings.”

Asked what they were looking forward to most, the children answered simply: “The fireworks.”

Others came early to secure a good spot for the evening concert by the funk and soul band WAR.

“I’m excited to see WAR. I’ll probably be up in front of the stage by the time they go up,” said attendee Williams.

Despite the hot afternoon temperatures, many visitors stayed at the park throughout the day in anticipation of the evening performances and fireworks.

For some, it was their first time attending Freedom Fourth.

“It is my first time here. I’m here with my family,” said Lena Gonzales. “I’ve been to the one at the Isotopes, but I thought this would be more fun with the vendors, music and the big field.”

Freedom Fourth has been a city tradition since 2003, drawing between 40,000 and 50,000 attendees annually. City officials expected an even larger crowd this year as the celebration coincided with the nation’s 250th anniversary and the centennial celebration of Route 66.

Organizers said this year’s headlining act, WAR, was selected in part because of the band’s hit song “Low Rider,” a nod to Albuquerque’s well-known lowrider culture. “WAR sings ‘Low Rider,’ and here in Albuquerque, we have a lot of lowriders,” said Bree Ortiz, manager of the City of Albuquerque’s Arts & Culture Department. “To tie those two together in these celebrations is something really special.”

The event concluded Saturday night with its traditional fireworks show, bringing another Freedom Fourth celebration to a close.

Albuquerque Police Fatally Shoot Armed Man After Reported Gunfire Downtown

Ruben Reyes
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Personnel of the Albuquerque police fatally shot a 41-year-old man late Saturday after hearing gunfire and running toward the scene in Downtown Albuquerque, authorities said.

The Albuquerque Police Department identified the man as Stephen Griego. Emergency responders brought him to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

According to police, witnesses said Griego confronted another man near Central Avenue and Third Street shortly before the shooting. Videos circulating on social media appear to show moments leading up to the confrontation. Griego, who had gained a following on TikTok for live-streaming nightlife in Albuquerque, was seen standing on a scooter before an argument escalated into violence.

Videos capture confrontation

One video shows Griego on a scooter as another man approaches and pushes him. The person recording asks Griego whether he can perform tricks on the scooter. Griego shakes his head and gestures toward a group of people, warning the person filming to “watch out” for them.

Another man then asks who Griego is referring to. After Griego clarifies that he is referring to the person holding the camera, the man appears to slap and push him. Griego then runs to the opposite side of a barricade.

A separate video appears to show two men approaching Griego before he fires a handgun toward one of them. Seconds later, additional gunshots are heard as the person recording flees from the scene.

Officers respond to gunfire

APD Chief Cecily Barker said additional officers were patrolling Downtown that night as part of the department’s Downtown Tactical Plan.

“They heard a shot fired in the area of 3rd and Central. When they responded to that area, they saw two individuals who seemed to be in some type of altercation. One of those individuals was believed to be armed,” Barker said.

Police said several officers heard a gunshot at approximately 11:53 p.m. and ran in that direction. Four officers then fired their weapons at Griego. Officers took Griego into custody and began providing first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived.

APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said investigators are still investigating whether Griego or a police officer shot the other man involved in the confrontation. Hospital officials said the man’s injuries are not life-threatening.

Multiple investigations underway

The shooting incident was Albuquerque’s seventh officer-involved shooting of the year. It was the fifth that resulted in a fatality, according to APD.

The Multi-Agency Task Force will probe the shooting over the coming months. Detectives will interview additional witnesses, complete forensic testing, and submit their findings to the District Attorney’s Office to determine if any criminal charges are warranted.

Separately, APD’s Internal Affairs Force Division will review whether the officers complied with department rules of engagement. The city’s Superintendent of Police Reform will make any disciplinary decisions, while APD’s Force Review Board will examine the incident for possible policy or training recommendations.

Jaw-Dropping Northern Lights Explode Over New Mexico on the Fourth of July — A Rare Red, Green, Purple Sky

Juan Oliveros
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Jaw-Dropping Northern Lights Explode Over New Mexico on the Fourth of July — A Rare Red, Green, Purple Sky

The northern lights made an unusual appearance Friday night across New Mexico and much of the Southwest, treating skywatchers to a rare Independence Day display triggered by intense solar activity.

A series of powerful solar eruptions released multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) toward Earth, igniting a strong geomagnetic storm that pushed the aurora borealis unusually far south. The charged particles interacted with Earth’s magnetic field, creating the rare celestial show visible in parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and other Southwestern states.

Residents in rural areas, away from city lights, reported vivid greens, purples, and reds dancing across the night sky, often posting photos and videos on social media. The event surprised skywatchers in the far south as the northern lights rarely appear in the region.

Space weather forecasters tracked the incoming CMEs. Moderate to briefly strong geomagnetic storm conditions were observed overnight. Forecasters at NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center said conditions are expected to continue through July 5. But the intensity of the storm exceeded initial projections, allowing the aurora to reach latitudes typically too low for such displays.

Similar outbursts in recent years have occasionally brought the lights into the northern United States. But the appearance of this far south is not common.

The timing of the display of the northern lights added a patriotic flair for many observers celebrating the holiday.

Scientists observe that auroras occur when solar particles collide with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere, causing them to glow. Strong geomagnetic storms, on a scale from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme), can widen the visibility zone dramatically.

No immediate reports of disruptions to power grids or communications are available, though such storms can occasionally disturb satellite operations and high-latitude infrastructure. The celestial display slowly faded in the early morning hours as the geomagnetic conditions eased.

They Thought They Scored an Easy Car Theft. It Was an Albuquerque Police ‘Bait Car.’

Ruben Reyes
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A couple accused of stealing a vehicle in northeast Albuquerque instead drove off in an Albuquerque Police Department bait car, which investigators claim recorded them as they searched for more vehicles to burglarize before officers arrested them.

Police identified the suspects as Adrian Prevatt, 29, and Kaylyn Reynolds, 26.

According to the Albuquerque Police Department, the couple allegedly stole the vehicle from the parking lot of an apartment complex on Lomas Boulevard NE at about 4:45 a.m. June 29. APD officers, however, used a bait car equipped with hidden audio and video devices to monitor the vehicle’s movements.

Investigators allege Prevatt and Reynolds drove through parts of northeast Albuquerque looking for unlocked vehicles.

Video released by APD appears to show the pair rummaging through backpacks and discovering cash, gold, silver, and firearms, according to police.

The footage also allegedly captured the pair discussing what to do with the bait car and the items they had taken. Police said they eventually drove the vehicle to an apartment complex on Utah Street NE, where they planned to abandon it.

Officers moved in and arrested both suspects without incident, using police K-9 units as they took them into custody.

Prevatt and Reynolds each face charges including unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, burglary of a vehicle and receiving stolen property, along with additional offenses.

A judge later ordered both released on their own recognizance Thursday while they await future court appearances. The charges against them have not been adjudicated, and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

New Mexico Woman Sentenced to 39 Years After House Fire Killed Two Victims

Ruben Reyes
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A judge sentenced a woman Friday to 39 years in prison for setting a house fire that killed two women in Santa Clara.

According to the Sixth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, a judge sentenced 36-year-old Cassandra Brazeal for the deaths of Mary Lou Maynes, 78, and Sara Maes, 60.

Brazeal pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of aggravated arson.

District Judge Jim Foy ordered the sentences on all three counts to run consecutively, for a total of 39 years. The court classified each offense as a serious violent crime, requiring Brazeal to serve at least 85% of her sentence under New Mexico law before becoming eligible for release.

Brazeal will receive credit for the two years, six months and 16 days she has already served in the Grant County Detention Center.

Fire claimed two lives

The fire occurred on Nov. 28, 2023, when the Grant County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a house fire at 600 W. Lincoln St. in Santa Clara.

Firefighters from Santa Clara, Hurley, Fort Bayard, and Whiskey Creek responded to the scene, but flames already fully engulfed the home, preventing rescue efforts.

After firefighters extinguished the fire, they found the bodies of Maynes, who relied on supplemental oxygen, and Maes inside the residence.

The New Mexico State Police Criminal Investigations Division processed the scene, while the New Mexico Office of the State Fire Marshal conducted the fire investigation.

Arrest followed investigation

Santa Clara police arrested Brazeal on Dec. 5, 2023, on an outstanding warrant after investigators linked her to the fire.

She was taken to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office for questioning before being booked into the Grant County Detention Center.

While in custody, a detention officer reportedly overheard Brazeal during a telephone conversation with an unidentified person saying, “I didn’t mean to kill them,” and, “They must have spread the fire after I lit it,” according to prosecutors. The statements became part of the evidence in the case.

Laptops Are Changing Lives in Rural New Mexico — 170 Families Just Got Their First Computer

Juan Oliveros
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Laptops Are Changing Lives in Rural New Mexico — 170 Families Just Got Their First Computer

A pilot program is reshaping lives by placing laptops into the hands of families who have long been on the wrong side of the digital divide.

Over the past six months, the state-funded TechUp! New Mexico initiative has distributed 170 laptops to families across 33 communities and has conducted almost 1,600 digital training sessions.The device for many residents represents their first personal computer — a gateway not just to the internet, but to education, job opportunities, health care access and civic participation in an increasingly online world.

The program, backed by more than $300,000 from the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) and carried out by Adelante DiverseIT, a nonprofit focused on technology access, is aimed at urban, rural, and Tribal communities. It combines hardware distribution with hands-on support, including group classes, one-on-one tutoring, phone help lines, and email assistance.

This certified broadband training is invaluable for New Mexico workers to understand and master fiber optics,” said Jeff Lopez, OBAE’s director.

The laptops come preloaded with antivirus software and include accessories such as battery-powered mice for users unfamiliar with trackpads.

New Mexico has long struggled with some of the nation’s most chronic connectivity problems. The state often logs near the bottom in broadband adoption, with gaps affecting low-income households, rural residents, Tribal nations, seniors, English language learners and people with disabilities.

While major federal investments — including hundreds of millions of dollars through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program — are expanding physical infrastructure, officials say access to devices and digital skills is just as critical.

“Expanding broadband access across our communities is essential for accessing health care, job opportunities, and education. That’s why I’m proud to have helped secure $2 million in funding for the New Mexico Office of Broadband Workforce Development Program,” said Sen. Ben Ray Luján. “This program will help train New Mexicans for good-paying jobs, strengthen our workforce, and connect our state to affordable, reliable internet.”

Stories from the Front Lines

In Valencia County, community centers have hosted distribution activities, and recipients learn the basics of navigating laptops alongside receiving their machines. One participant, a single mother working irregular service jobs, said the laptop now lets her file online applications for better-paying positions and help her children with schoolwork without depending on library computers with limited hours.

DiverseIT technicians load laptops into distribution bags, teaching recipients practical support. The organization, part of the Adelante Development Center, has a track record of refurbishing and distributing devices while offering training tailored to real needs. That is from setting up email accounts to safely accessing government services or telehealth appointments.

Similar initiatives echo across the state. In Doña Ana County, local coalitions have identified digital literacy, particularly among seniors, and affordable devices as key hurdles even where basic connectivity exists. Surveys show that nearly 1 in 4 households in some areas lack any internet subscription, which is far above the national average.

Statewide data highlight the urgency of the issue. According to analyses by the National Skills Coalition, roughly 9 in 10 jobs in New Mexico either definitely or likely require digital skills. Low-income families lag significantly in desktop or laptop ownership, compounding disadvantages in education and employment.

A Broader Strategy

TechUp! New Mexico fits into a broader digital equity framework. OBAE, established in recent years, works with federal programs and local partners to address the full spectrum of barriers, namely: affordability, availability, adoption, and skills. The state’s Digital Equity Plan seeks universal access to devices and training, recognizing that hardware without know-how is of limited value.

The success of this pilot program will inform future efforts. Organizers hope to scale up the program, potentially utilizing additional grants and partnerships. Complementary efforts include public Wi-Fi expansions, device lending libraries, and targeted training for specific populations, including Tribal communities where connectivity barriers.

Challenges, however, remain. Sustaining funding, providing technical support in remote areas and tracking long-term results — such as improved employment rates or educational attainment — remain key challenges. Critics of digital inclusion efforts sometimes note that infrastructure alone is not enough; a holistic approach like TechUp! aim to learn from those lessons.

In the meantime, the immediate impact is tangible. A grandmother in a rural northern community is using her new laptop to video-call her distant grandchildren. A young adult in a Tribal nation researching online vocational courses. And a small business owner managing inventory and customer communications more efficiently.

Addressing the Gap

Programs like TechUp! are a reminder that technology’s promise lies not in cables or signals alone, while New Mexico pours resources into fiber-optic lines snaking across its rugged terrain. But also in building human capability. Equipping residents with both tools and skills is an investment in equity and economic vitality.

State leaders, nonprofits and community organizers express cautious optimism. The digital divide, long a quiet but profound barrier, is narrowing — one laptop, one training session and one empowered family at a time.

UNM to Use $4.7 million Grant to Expand Childcare Access 

Gregg Morgan
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UNM to Use $4.7 million Grant to Expand Childcare Access 

The University of New Mexico is expanding childcare services after its Children’s Campus received a $4.71 million award from the state Higher Education Department.

The fund will support the first phase of a long-planned expansion, increasing the campus’ licensed capacity by 52 children. The project is part of a statewide initiative to expand childcare at five colleges and universities.

Officials said the expansion will give dozens of families greater access to early childhood education while helping parents pursue degrees, careers, and research.

The Children’s Campus serves student parents, faculty, staff and community families, aiming to remove barriers to higher education and workforce participation. It also provides young children with a strong educational foundation during their most critical years of development.

In addition to childcare, the campus functions as a model early childhood laboratory where students, researchers, and professionals teach, learn, and conduct studies alongside children and families.

Award to Fund First Phase of Expansion

The award follows more than 18 years of planning and advocacy to expand the Children’s Campus. The nationally accredited program, ranked among New Mexico’s premier early childhood education centers, serves hundreds of children each year. Still, more than 2,400 remain on its waitlist.

“This funding from the New Mexico Higher Education Department is transformative for the University of New Mexico Children’s Campus and the families we serve,” said Daniela Baca, director of the campus. “For nearly two decades, we have envisioned expanding our capacity to meet the growing demand for high-quality early childhood education, and this award allows us to finally take that important first step. Childcare is educational infrastructure, and as UNM continues to grow, including the planned expansion of the School of Medicine, investments in childcare become even more essential to supporting students, faculty, staff and New Mexico’s future workforce.”

The $4.71 million grant funds the first phase of a $39.5 million long-term expansion plan. The project will add four classrooms for infants, young toddlers, older toddlers and early pre-K children, increasing licensed capacity from 271 to 323.

The Children’s Campus has secured philanthropic support, in addition to the state award, to create outdoor learning environments that complement its nationally recognized, play-based approach to early childhood education.

Why the Funding Matters

The funding addresses rising childcare demand, which continues to outpace available space. Children’s Campus serves infants through prekindergarten children, but demand is expected to grow as UNM expands. 

The expansion also supports UNM’s efforts to become a more family-friendly campus. UNM uses FamilyU and the Parenting Student Dashboard to identify and support parenting students. It considers dependable childcare essential to student persistence and completion.

“For parenting students, access to dependable, high-quality childcare can mean the difference between persisting toward a degree or delaying their educational goals,” Baca said.

Planning and design are already underway. Construction is anticipated to begin by December 2026, and the new classrooms are expected to open by December 2027. The Children’s Campus will preserve continuity of care and maintain a stable learning environment throughout the project. It will continue normal operations during construction.

“This expansion is about more than adding classrooms. It is about creating opportunities for children to grow, for parents to achieve their educational and career goals, and for the University of New Mexico to continue building a university where children, families, and future generations can thrive from the very beginning,” Baca said.

What’s In For The Fourth Of July Across the State? Check It Out Here

Ruben Reyes
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Communities across the region have scheduled events to celebrate the holiday as Independence Day approaches.

Albuquerque

Freedom 4th will celebrate America’s semiquincentennial at Balloon Fiesta Park. The event features a concert with local bands, a headlining performance by the funk rock band WAR, and a fireworks display. Local food vendors will offer sweet and savory treats.

The family-friendly event includes inflatable jumpers, climbing walls, and free face painting. Gates are open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Las Cruces

The city will host its Electric Light Parade, themed “Stars, Stripes and City Lights,” at 9 p.m. July 3. The parade begins at Apodaca Park and ends at the Maag Softball Complex.

On July 4, the city will host an evening of live music, food, and fireworks at the Pat and Lou Sisbarro Community Park. Gates open at 4 p.m. for the free event. Triple Jack takes the stage at 6:45 p.m., followed by country music group 49 Winchester at 8 p.m. The fireworks display begins at 9:45 p.m.

Grants

Grants will host the 86th annual Wild West Days Fourth of July Parade & Rodeo, from July 3-5, celebrating community traditions in Western style. The parade along Route 66 will feature floats, classic cars, local organizations, and live music.

Mountainair

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument and the Friends of Mountainair Animal Shelter will host the “BARK in the Park” event July 4 at the Abó ruins. The program allows dogs to earn “BARK Ranger” status while owners learn about park pet etiquette and pet adoption awareness.

Ranger-led trail hikes run from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by an educational presentation by the animal shelter group. Admission is free.

Taos

DALEEE KTAOS is hosting an all-day event featuring Rosie’s Smokehouse BBQ, volleyball, World Cup viewings, outdoor music, and drinks. The free event begins at 4 p.m.

Mesilla

The “Red, White & Mesilla” celebration runs from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., featuring music from DJ Gabe and Neal McCowan, a foam party, a hot dog eating contest, and fireworks. Admission is free.

Santa Fe

The Santa Fe Wine Festival will allow visitors to sample and purchase selections from dozens of New Mexico-based wineries. The event also features hundreds of artisan vendors selling clothing, accessories, and art, alongside local food trucks and food vendors. The event begins at noon.

Drill It, Clean It: New Mexico Overhauls Oil and Gas Rules

Juan Oliveros
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Drill It, Clean It: New Mexico Overhauls Oil and Gas Rules

The New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission overhauled the state’s oil and gas cleanup guarantee rules, significantly increasing bonding obligations and strengthening reclamation protections to prevent thousands of inactive and abandoned wells from becoming a taxpayer burden.

The vote modernizes decades-old regulations, requiring energy companies to post bonds that more closely match actual reclamation costs — up to $150,000 per high-risk well. Companies also have to prove inactive sites are viable or plug them permanently. Regulators also strengthened oversight of well transfers, ensuring new operators have the financial capacity and compliance record to manage aging infrastructure.

“This decision comes down to a simple idea most New Mexicans agree on: If you drill it, you clean it,” said Tannis Fox of the Western Environmental Law Center.

The reforms follow months of hearings and negotiations among regulators, industry, and environmental groups. It complements House Bill 80, passed earlier this year. State estimates place cleanup liabilities between $700 million and $1.6 billion, with nearly 700 wells already abandoned and around 4,400 at risk.

Unplugged wells can leak methane, oil, and brine into groundwater, threatening public health, agriculture, and drinking water. Plugging a single well, according to state data, averages $163,000. But outdated regulations allowed operators to secure bonds well below actual cleanup costs — often leaving taxpayers vulnerable when operators walked away.

Community advocates welcomed the reforms. “Our communities know what happens when corporations fail to clean up after themselves,” said Robyn Jackson of Diné C.A.R.E. Haley Jones of Citizens Caring for the Future added that southeastern New Mexico has seen firsthand the consequences of inadequate safeguards.

Polling shows nearly 9 in 10 residents support requiring companies to pay for the cleanup of the wells they drill. While industry groups warn that higher bonding could adversely affect smaller producers, commissioners said the rules better reflect the state’s financial exposure.

The final order will take effect 30 days after its publication in the New Mexico Register. Supporters say the move ranks New Mexico alongside states with the most rigorous protections against orphaned wells — shifting costs back to industry and protecting communities, water, and the state budget.

New Mexico Regulators Told PNM, Blackstone to Unwind $400M Deal – A Win for Ratepayers?

Juan Oliveros
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New Mexico Regulators Told PNM, Blackstone to Unwind $400M Deal – A Win for Ratepayers?

New Mexico utility regulators have ordered the state’s largest electric provider and a major private equity firm to reverse a $400 million stock deal, ruling that the transaction violated state law by proceeding without prior approval.

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission voted 2-1 on Thursday, ordering PNM Resources’ parent company, TXNM Energy, and Blackstone Infrastructure to undo the year-old stock sale. The commission has also imposed fines totaling $300,000 on the parties for “deliberate disregard” of regulatory requirements.

Commissioner Greg Nibert cast the lone vote against the decision. He offered an alternate order that would have reduced the fines and allowed the $400 million to stay in effect, saying the law governing the deal is vague. Commissioner Gabriel Aguilera, however, disagreed. “There’s no confusion there,” Aguilera said. “To me, it’s clear.”

The decision stems from a 2025 deal in which Blackstone acquired a significant stake in TXNM Energy, part of a broader effort to own PNM, New Mexico’s dominant electric utility serving hundreds of thousands of residential and business clients. Regulators said the companies bypassed mandatory commission oversight for changes in control or substantial investments affecting the utility’s operations.

Prosperity Works, an Albuquerque anti-poverty nonprofit, and New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez questioned the transaction in February, saying the deal violated the state’s Public Utilities Act. They argued the law requires the Public Regulation Commission to approve certain stock sales. They further argued that private equity involvement could put short-term profits over reliable service and affordable rates for New Mexico families and businesses already grappling with energy costs in a state dependent on traditional power sources.

Hearing examiners previously recommended reversing the sale, imposing maximum fines, and potentially requiring the companies to redo the entire acquisition process to ensure procedural integrity. The commission’s order directs PNM and Blackstone to submit a detailed report explaining how they will reverse the transaction and confirm that ratepayers will not bear the financial fallout.

A planned bigger acquisition of PNM by Blackstone remains under review, with hearings scheduled to begin in mid-August. Reversing the stock sale could complicate or delay those proceedings, according to regulatory filings.

At a hearing in April, representatives of PNM and TXNM defended the sale and denied wrongdoing. They said the transaction was intended to support utilities’ operations and did not affect the overall acquisition. Both companies are expected to comply with the order and assess their next steps, which could include appeals or adjustments to their plans.

The ruling underscores ongoing tensions in New Mexico over the future of its energy sector. As the state transitions its power generation mix — balancing traditional resources with renewable mandates — regulators face pressure to scrutinize deals that could shape costs and electricity reliability in the years to come.

Consumer advocates welcomed the decision as a victory for oversight. “This is a resounding victory for the rule of law,” Mariel Nanasi, executive director of New Energy Economy, a Santa Fe-based clean energy advocacy group, said in a statement. Nanasi and the organization frequently intervened in the case. But business interests warned that heavy-handed regulation might deter infusion of investment in the state’s aging utility infrastructure.

The decision highlights regulators’ authority to intervene in corporate deals involving essential services, even as private capital drives the energy transition.

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