New Mexico News Insiders

2023: More Money, More Lawmaking...More Solutions?

Starting today (Jan. 17, 2023) - New Mexico's elected representatives are back in the Capitol for another legislative session. This time they're in for 60 days of lawmaking at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, and once again, the agenda seems packed.

This week, Chris and Gabby are diving into the 2023 session. The state's continued record oil revenues are expected to fuel a lot of debate on what could be a spending spree for the state. Could it pay for another round of potential tax rebates? New crime fighting initiatives? Raises for state employee and educators? Those topics and more are on the docket on this year.

KRQE News 13's Digital Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra returns to the podcast this week with a breakdown of four topics. We'll highlight how much money the state has, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's spending ideas, Albuquerque city officials spending wish list and a slew of pre-filed bills lawmakers are considering.

You can follow along this session on KRQE.com/legislature. Also, look for links to Curtis’ daily "Roundhouse Roundup" politics posts on his KRQE.com bio page. We also mentioned more coverage of one specific story in this episode. Here's a link to Curtis' piece on the longstanding proposal of paying New Mexico lawmakers a salary.

**A special note: On Monday night, Albuquerque Police arrested a lead suspect in the case of shootings at the homes of several Albuquerque elected officials. A former House candidate, Solomon Peña was arrested at a condominium complex in downtown Albuquerque. Here is a link to the story with more details on KRQE.com. We talked about the case in this week's episode before we knew of Peña's arrest, so some of the details we discussed midway through the show have since changed.

We want to hear from you! Contact us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website, KRQE.com/podcasts.

Lobo Fever Returns

For the Lobos, you could say "its been a minute." It's been roughly eight seasons since the Lobo men's basketball team has made waves for their play on the court. Now on their fourth coach in the last decade, the team has opened its 2022-23 season with some remarkable success. Starting with 14 straight wins, the team remained undefeated until a close loss at Fresno State on January 3. 

Despite the loss, the team has proved its hungry to win under second-year coach Richard Pitino. And with that, fans have responded by packing The Pit, one of the country's most revered (and loud) basketball arenas. This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby sit down with KRQE Sports' Van Tate and Jared Chester to talk about the "return of Lobo fever" and what this season might mean for the Lobos, Albuquerque and New Mexico.

(Note: We recorded this episode before the Lobos played on Jan. 7 against UNLV and Jan. 9 against Oral Roberts.)

Who would you want to hear interviewed on the New Mexico News Podcast in 2023? Let us know. Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.

The Big News Stories Ahead In 2023

Happy New Year from the New Mexico News Podcast! And with that, we can't think of a better way to ring in 2023 than by bringing back the proverbial "Magic 8 Ball" of news.

This week on the podcast, Chris & Gabby are back with their predictions as to what will be the biggest news stories to watch out for in 2023. This year's list includes a handful of high-profile criminal trials; a deeper look at the "state political shuffle" taking place after the 2022 election; and a breakdown of some of the bigger events ahead in the world of sports and entertainment among other topics.

By the end of the episode, we're going to revisit our 2022 projections. Did our guesses about 2022's big news stories pan out? We've also brought back our "share your New Year's resolutions" segment with the KRQE News 13 staff, including Grant Tosterud, Jessica Garate, Dean Staley and several reporters.

We're patiently waiting for your feedback! Who would you like us to interview on the podcast this year? Let us know. Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.

A Conversation With Our KRQE Investigates Team

Investigative journalism is a core piece of the work inside the KRQE News 13 newsroom. Across 2022, our KRQE Investigates team, including Gabrielle Burkhart and Ann Pierret, published more than 30 investigations for broadcast. Some of their most impactful work is featured this month in an hour-long, year-end KRQE Investigates news special.

This week on the podcast, Ann and Gabby offer a closer look inside a few of the stories featured in the special. Ann discusses a deputy who contracted COVID on the job and the fight his family's had to receive line-of-duty related benefits. Gabby discusses her two-part, deep-dive into the confessions of Paul Apodaca, a man who has confessed to committing three Albuquerque murders decades ago. 

Here are links to each story:

• "Insurance: New Mexico deputy’s COVID-19 death not line of duty"
• Video: Suspected serial killer’s chilling confession (Part 1)
• Accused killer reveals he was questioned by officers (Part 2)
• And, here's a link to watch the entire "Best of KRQE Investigates 2022" news special on KRQE.com

Stick around for the end of the episode for an extended conversation about why Gabby and Ann decided to become investigative reporters and more. Also, to check out all of Gabby and Ann's work, visit the KRQE Investigates landing page on krqe.com/investigations.

The Best of KRQE Investigates 2022 news special also airs on TV across the KRQE Media Group family of station multiple times through the end of 2022. Here are some of the air times for the show:

• KRQE CBS 13: Thursday, Dec. 29 @ 4 p.m.
• FOX New Mexico: Friday, Dec. 23 @ 6 p.m.; Dec. 30 @ 3 a.m & 9 p.m.; Jan 1 @ 9 p.m.
• New Mexico's CW: Friday, Dec. 23 @ 7 a.m.; Thursday, Dec. 29 @ 4 p.m.
• My50TV: Dec. 30 @ 3 a.m. & 9 p.m.; Jan. 1 @ 3 a.m. & 9 p.m.

Who would you like to hear interviewed on the New Mexico News Podcast? Let us know. Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.

Reflecting On Some Good News In 2022

To close out 2022, KRQE News 13 is back recounting some of the most feel good stories of the year. 18 different stories are featured in this year's hour-long "Best Good News of 2022" news special, which begins airing on the KRQE Media Group family of stations this week.

With a closer look at the work behind those stories, this week, Chris and Gabby sit down with News 13 anchor/reporters Brittany Bade and Annalisa Pardo to discuss their contributions toward covering "good news" in 2022.

Here’s a link to Brittany’s story about the housing donation for wildland firefighters. 

And here’s a link to Annalisa’s story about the heartwarming surprise for Albuquerque's own "Mr. Christmas". 

You can now also check out the full "Best of Good News 

Stick around for the end of the episode for a special "rapid-fire" question/answer segment with Brittany and Annalisa. Also, as promised, here's a list of several of the air times for KRQE's Best Good News of 2022 news special:

• KRQE CBS 13: Sunday, Dec. 25 @ 9 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 26 @ 4 p.m.
• FOX New Mexico: Friday, Dec. 30 @ 6 p.m.
• New Mexico's CW: Monday, Dec. 26 @ 4 p.m. - Dec. 23 & 30 @ 8 a.m.
• My50TV: Dec. 23 & 25 @ 3 a.m. & 9 p.m. - Jan. 1 @ 1 p.m. 
• The entire "Good News" special is now available to watch online, on KRQE.com

Who would you like to hear interviewed on the New Mexico News Podcast? Let us know. Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.

Albuquerque Police Are Solving More Murders in 2022

Just like 2021, 2022 has been another record-setting year for homicides in Albuquerque. As of December 9, 115 people have been killed across 108 different homicide cases. But that's just part of the story. Albuquerque Police detectives are also solving more murders in 2022 than they have in several recent years. As 2022 wraps up, APD says its homicide clearance rate is above 90%. 

How is that possible? And is there any relief in sight to violent crime in the city? This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby sit down with one of the leaders spearheading efforts to improve investigations within the state's largest police force: Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock. Leading the department's Criminal Investigations Division, Hartsock explains some new strategies the department is using to solve violent crimes.

As mentioned in the show, this is the second time Hartsock has been a guest on the New Mexico News Podcast. In July, he details the creation of the department's new "Digital Intelligence Team," or DIT. You can find that episode published on July 12 at this link to the specific episode on KRQE.com/podcasts, or, just scroll back in your feed.

There's a brief mention of gun ownership in this episode. Last December, KRQE's Curtis Segarra explored the question of how many guns are in New Mexico with a deeper look into the data. In May, Curtis also reported on the surge in gun sales that began with the pandemic.

Who would you like to hear from interviewed on the New Mexico News Podcast? Let us know. Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.

New Mexico’s Ski Season Forecast

Whether you ski or snowboard, or don’t hit the slopes at all – the ski season is important to New Mexico. The industry brings in tens of thousands of out-of-state visitors each year who help boost the economy in many communities across New Mexico. But as several resorts open up for the season, many are still facing challenges, including staffing.

This week on the podcast, Gabby and Chris speak with George Brooks, Executive Director of Ski New Mexico (a trade organization working to promote the state's ski industry inside and out of the state.) Brooks shares more on his forecast for New Mexico's resorts, including the challenges and excitement ahead this season. 

Tell us what you think about the podcast! You can also email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.

Larry Barker & The Mystery Buried In The Santa Fe Plaza

As our episode title suggests, there's a mystery at the center of the Santa Fe Plaza. 155 years ago, a box of relics containing elements of New Mexico's past was buried underneath what later became a controversial monument. Today, while the monument or obelisk has been toppled, the relics underneath it have yet to be unearthed.

KRQE News 13 Investigative Reporter Larry Barker joins Chris and Gabby this week to discuss his months-long investigation into a hidden box of historical treasures buried underneath the Santa Fe "Soliders Monument." Larry walks through the research process he took to confirm the existence of the time capsule, and the items inside of it. Stick around for the end of the podcast for a broader conversation with Larry. A 45-year news veteran, Larry shares his thoughts on reporting and what he thinks young journalists should know about the field today.

We also mentioned a photo gallery Larry posted online alongside the time capsule story. Here's a link to that photo gallery. Also, there's a brief mention of Forest Fenn's buried treasure now being up for auction. Here's a link to a news story about that auction.

It is one of our many holiday wishes to hear directly from you, please. Leave us a review on whatever platform you're listening on. You can also email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.

 

Why Are So Many Kids Getting Sick?

Got a sick kid? You're not alone. Childhood illnesses are on the rise in New Mexico, and kids needing care are facing long waits. Doctors are facing a surge of patients with respiratory viruses at a time when staffing and hospital capacity are limited. Not to mention, parents might have some heightened anxieties about their kids getting sick on the heels of a pandemic.

Why is this happening? When might we see some relief? What signs should you be watching for to know when to take your child to a doctor? This week, Chris and Gabby host one of the leading pediatricians in the metro to discuss how people can protect themselves and their families.

State health leaders have held a few news conferences on this topic this week, which may be of interest to you. Each of these news conferences contains the entire video version of the presentation. The first was an announcement from UNMH on November 14 that it would activate its "emergency operations center." The second was on November 17, featuring more discussion from NMDOH about the impact of the viral "triple-threat."

We'd love to hear from you! Leave us a review on whatever platform you're listening on. You can also email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.

Election Security & How Recounts Are Handled

The midterm election is over and as expected, there were some close races. A few contests for seats in the New Mexico House Representatives will go to automatic recounts. But not every one of them will.

How are recounts handled? When does the state ask for one, and what happens when a candidate requests one? Who counts your ballot? This week, Chris and Gabby take listeners behind the scenes with New Mexico’s Secretary of State, Democrat Maggie Toulouse Oliver. A former Bernalillo County Clerk, Toulouse Oliver explains what measures are put in place to keep elections safe, secure, and accurate across the state. She also busts a few myths about voting machines and how ballots are counted. 

Stick around to the end of the episode for a breakdown of the election outcomes for several other statewide offices and the New Mexico House of Representatives.

We mentioned some related news coverage in this episode. Here's a link to our recent "exit interview" with Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales, who leaves office at the end of the year. For a full slate of election related stories on KRQE.com, visit and scroll down on our Local Elections landing page.

Leave us a review on whatever platform you're listening on. You can also email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. Also, find us on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our website: KRQE.com/podcasts.