New Mexico News Insiders

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.

The Dynamics At Play In New Mexico’s 2022 Midterm

The 2022 midterm election is finally here. Finally. We know.

A couple of weeks ago, we covered some of the big races to watch for in New Mexico. This week on the podcast, we're taking a closer look at the dynamics of this election. Will voter turnout this midterm match President Trump's 2018 midterm election? What happened during President Joe Biden's recent visit to New Mexico? What's your take on all of the political ads, and are they doing anything to influence voters?

KRQE News 13 Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra joins us on this week's podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on election dynamics. He also discusses the results of a recent KRQE News 13, Emerson College poll which looked at the top issues among voters and the governor's race. 

Stick with KRQE.com on Tuesday for election results throughout the evening. Chris will be livestreaming results alongside Curtis after the polls close. The livestream is expected to start around 7:30 p.m.

Got something to say? Let us know! 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.

We also mentioned Curtis' election fact-check pieces in this episode. Here are links to all of Curtis' write-ups:

• Fact Check: Did the Governor early release a convicted criminal twice before a murder?
• Fact Check: Ad claims Ronchetti would cut funding to police, healthcare, and education
• Fact Check: Ronchetti cites Governor’s misconduct allegations
• Fact Check: Lujan Grisham’s record on public safety funding
• Fact Check: Ronchetti touts education plan, does Lujan Grisham have one?
• Fact Check: Businesses claim help from Lujan Grisham
• Fact Check: Mark Ronchetti’s ad on fentanyl and released prisoners
• Fact Check: Lujan Grisham’s ad on Ronchetti crime ads, kids & education
• Fact Check: Ronchetti’s ‘let voters decide’ abortion ad
• Fact Check: Did Lujan Grisham save thousands of lives?
• Fact Check: Ronchetti’s personal crime ad

Who Has A Better Financial Plan For New Mexico?

Inflation rates are at the highest they’ve been in decades, and wages have not been able to keep up with rising costs in New Mexico. Between gas, food, and housing, there are still a lot of people struggling. So with midterm elections just one week away, which gubernatorial candidate has a better financial plan for the state? How do politics play a role in fuel prices? What’s the biggest strain on your pocketbook right now? University of New Mexico economics professor Janie Chermak joins the podcast this week to share her insight about where the state’s economy could be headed.

Stick with KRQE.com on election night! Chris will be livestreaming election results throughout the evening online.

We love to hear from you, our listeners! Leave us a review, and email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on 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 Races To Watch In New Mexico’s 2022 Midterm

New Mexico's midterm election is just two weeks away. Ahead of the results, Chris and Gabby welcome back KRQE's Political Analyst Gabe Sanchez to the podcast this week. In an extended conversation, Gabe helps drill down into the biggest races to watch for on election night. Here's a list of the races we're talking about in this week's episode, in order:

--Governor - Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) vs. Mark Ronchetti (R)
--Attorney General - Raul Torrez (D) vs. Jeremy Gay (R)
--Congressional District 2 (Southern NM) - Yvette Herrell (R) vs. Gabe Vasquez (D)
--Congressional District 3 (Northern NM) - Teresa Ledger Fernandez (D) vs. Alexis Martinez Johnson (R)
--Congressional District 1 (Albuquerque Metro) - Melanie Stansbury (D) vs. Michelle Garcia Holmes (R)
--New Mexico's House of Representatives

This week, we mentioned a few news stories in the episode. Here's a link to a story about the "bad for New Mexico" memes, written by KRQE News 13's Curtis Segarra. And here's Curtis' story about how much the gubernatorial campaigns are spending this election.

Stick with KRQE.com on election night! Chris will be livestreaming election results throughout the evening online.

We want to hear from you, our listeners! Leave us a review, and email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on 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.

Millions Spent To Help New Mexicans Pay Rent

Anyone who’s tried to buy a home or even lock down an affordable rental these days knows how tough the market has gotten. This week, Chris and Gabby are diving into New Mexico’s affordable housing dilemmas. Donnie Quintana, the Director of the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, or ERAP, shares details about the state’s Home Fund program, and the millions of dollars available to help people pay the bills. 

How long will these pandemic-era programs continue? Who qualifies for assistance? How can someone apply? Quintana explains how the money is being spent and safeguards in place to try and prevent fraud. 

We want to hear from you, our listeners! Leave us a review, and email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on 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.

Retailers Share Intelligence To Stop Criminals

"Intelligence" gathering isn't just for the government anymore. Increasingly, retailers are joining in on the trend of keeping a database of pictures, videos and information tied to alleged crimes inside their private stores. That investment is now happening in New Mexico.

In late August, the New Mexico Attorney General's Office announced a new partnership between law enforcement, retail stores and the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce. Paid for by the Chamber, retailers are now using a database run by a company called Auror, which tracks incidents of retail crime. The idea is help public law enforcement agencies better investigate and prosecute cases of retail crime.

The New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas (D) says retail criminals are now making more money by ripping off stores compared to running drugs and stealing cars. This week on the podcast, we're talking to Balderas about how this new database works.

Who has access to information about suspected criminals? How is the data being used? In a candid conversation, Balderas also gives his perspectives on the legislative changes he’s pushing for at the top. 

Here's a link to KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret's original story about the AG's retail crime operation. Here's a link for more information on how businesses can sign up to take part in the new database.

We love listener feedback! Leave us a review, and email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on 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.

 

Balloon Fiesta’s 50th Anniversary

Two major milestones are on the podcast this week – the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta celebrates its 50th anniversary, while Chris and Gabby celebrate one year since the launch of the New Mexico News Podcast. To help mark the occasion, returning guest Tom Garrity joins the discussion to highlight what new things people should expect from this year’s fiesta. A longtime spokesperson for the Balloon Fiesta, Garrity explains everything from world record-setting attempts, a return of international travelers, to fiesta’s impact on the state’s economy. 

What’s new this year? Will there be a pre-pandemic level return in attendance? Where are the best cinnamon rolls in New Mexico? (Chris really wants to know.)

We mentioned a few elements in the show that we wanted to link to:

• Here's a link to the story KRQE Investigates' Ann Pierret did last year about balloon landing sites in Albuquerque.
• A look at the new "sky box" feature at Fiesta.
• A link to the event schedule for the Fiesta.
• And a video replay via Balloon Fiesta's YouTube account of the new aerial drone show. 

We need your words, too. Leave us a review on whatever podcast player you listen to us from! Also, you can email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on 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.

”One Pill Can Kill” - New Mexico’s Fentanyl Crisis

When law enforcement talks about crime these days, there’s often one drug that’s mentioned over and over again. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that’s been used to treat patients with severe pain, but it’s also illegally manufactured, sold, and trafficked into the U.S. on a massive scale. The drug is highly addictive and deadly, as highlighted by federal drug enforcement's recent and ongoing "one pill can kill" campaign.

The FBI recently made the largest Fentanyl bust in the bureau’s history in Albuquerque. But just how bad is the drug? Why is it so concerning? And what exactly do parents need to know about this drug?

Chris and Gabby talk to Carlos Briano with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) El Paso division about the problem and more. What are agents seeing at the border? How should parents talk to their kids about fentanyl?

Please leave us a review on whatever podcast player you listen to us from! Also, you can email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com with your story ideas or feedback. You can also catch us on 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.