New Mexico News Insiders

Roundhouse Roundup: Crime, Education & Healthcare

They're back at it again. New Mexico's 112-person volunteer legislature has returned to Santa Fe for another legislative session. This time, it's just a short 30 days to address lots of issues that have clearly been on the minds of most New Mexicans. Crime, education, taxes, health care investments, environmental issues and more. What have lawmakers accomplished so far? What's the outlook? And how will the Governor steer the legislative process over the next month? Chris and Gabby tackle these questions and more on this week's episode with help from KRQE's 2022 legislative guru and Investigative Data Reporter, Curtis Segarra. We've named this week's episode after the daily "Roundhouse Roundup" legislative summary reports that Curtis publishes every weekday on KRQE.com. This week, we're primarily looking at some of the key points inside Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's State of the State address - her last before facing possible re-election in November. She has proposed a host of crime bills to the Democratic-controlled Roundhouse, along with a number of spending increases.

We want to hear from you! If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and related coverage, visit KRQE.com/podcasts. 

Omicron Is Sweeping Across New Mexico

If one thing’s constant in this pandemic, it’s that things are constantly changing. It’s hard to keep up with quarantine requirements, school schedules, work-life, and public health updates. Now, with the omicron variant, COVID-19 is spreading like never before. This week on the podcast, New Mexico’s top doctor once again joins Chris and Gabby to answer questions about the state of the pandemic. Department of Health Secretary, Dr. David Scrase discusses how this variant impacts the body, COVID-19 testing shortages, and new help that's on the way. Noted in the discussion this week is a segment from CBS News about the differences in PCR and antigen testing. Here's a link to that segment: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-test-pcr-antigen-results/

We want to hear from you! If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and related coverage, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.

The Long Wait For Justice In Victoria Martens’ Case

**Content warning: This week's episode contains discussion of a graphic crime that may be unsuitable for certain ages or hard to listen to. Listener discretion is advised.

On August 24, 2016, 10-year old Victoria Martens was murdered in her Albuquerque apartment. That night, three people were arrested in connection with the crime, including the girl's mother Michelle Martens, a woman named Jessica Kelley, and a man named Fabian Gonzales. Of those three, Gonzales is the only suspect who's case remains open and awaiting trial. However, nearly six years later, Gonzales is still waiting for his day in court as a jury trial has been delayed once again. What's taken so long? Can we expect a trial later this year? What are the complications that surround a trial for a crime that happened nearly six-years ago? How is the COVID-19 pandemic complicating the justice system? This week, Gabby and Chris are joined by attorney Jennifer Burrill to talk about the case. Burrill is the President-Elect of the New Mexico Criminal Lawyers Association and has worked as both a prosecutor and defense attorney in New Mexico. 

We want to hear from you! If you have a story idea, send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Also, catch the hosts on Twitter at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and related coverage of the Victoria Martens case, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.

Headlines To Watch For In 2022

Happy New Year! So...what's ahead for 2022? This week, Chris & Gabby are forecasting what they expect will be a few of the biggest news stories over the next year. Recreational cannabis is months away from public sales. Tim Keller is sticking around as Albuquerque's mayor, but he faces a new council that could have a different say in the city's agenda. The Midterm Election is also coming in hot, but even that will be preceded by what could be a wild primary for a few races. Stay tuned for those topics and more this week! Also, who could forget about the classic New Year's resolutions? At the end of the episode, Chris reveals one of the "most anticipated events of the year" (that's an opinion) and hear from several others on the KRQE news team about their personal goals in 2022. As always, questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome. Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode and the ghosts of episodes past, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.

The Resurgence Of Live Music & Keeping It Alive

For most of 2020 and on into the first half of 2021, it was a quiet time for most of New Mexico's music scene. Amid the pre-vaccine era of the pandemic, public health orders kept mass gatherings and live shows from happening. The state went more than a year without live music in all major venues and most small venues. That put a massive strain on not just local businesses, but also musicians who make a living playing to crowds. But as the restrictions on gatherings have faded away, New Mexico's seen a resurgence in live music. Longtime New Mexico musician Donny Tesso joins Gabby and Chris on the podcast, and opens up about his experience as a full-time professional musician who plays alongside his two daughters in a band called Sorela. What will it take to keep that alive as the pandemic continues? Donny offers his perspective to that question and more.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions - let us know. Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.

The song featured in this episode is called Baila, Bailame / Pirolino," as performed live by Sorela in a 2007 tribute to the late New Mexico music legend Al Hurricane. A special thanks to Atlantis CDS for allowing us to share the song on this week's episode.

Reflecting On Some Good News in 2021

We could all use some good news stories, and as 2021 comes to a close, that’s what we’re focusing on in this week's episode of the New Mexico News Podcast. Two of KRQE News 13's veteran reporters, Brittany Bade and Jami Seymore join Chris and Gabby to talk about some of the most memorable and positive moments they got to cover this year and the people involved in those stories. Their stories feature good Samaritans who stepped in to help save injured Albuquerque police officers, and a local business owner who's partnered with a program that helps children get access to an expensive, life-saving surgery. Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.

Check out Brittany's story on the life-saving heart surgery for children here. 

Check out Jami's story on the good Samaritans who helped injured APD officers here. 

2021, A Record-Breaking Year Of Homicides

2021 has been a year unlike any other for homicides in Albuquerque. In August, the city broke the record for the most homicides logged in a single year, which used to be 81. By December 1st, 104 people have died of homicide in Albuquerque in 2021. What's fueling this year's surge in violent crime? Are criminals being held accountable? This week, Gabby and Chris have an extended conservation with Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina, and Bernalillo County District Attorney Raúl Torrez. The two local law enforcement leaders break down what's behind the "perfect storm" on the heels of the pandemic, their views on the challenges to their respective departments are facing, and their ideas on how to fix it. Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.

Is Law Enforcement Prepared For Legal Cannabis?

We're wrapping up our four-part series on New Mexico's new recreational cannabis law with a discussion on enforcement this week. New Mexico Sheriff's Association board member and San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari joins the discussion, sharing his questions and concerns about recreational cannabis. How will officers and deputies tell the difference between what’s legal and what’s not allowed? Sheriff Ferrari also shares his prediction about how this new industry may impact local communities, and his department. Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, and links to the three other cannabis-focused episodes of the podcast, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.

New Mexico Hospitals Declare ‘Crisis‘

Over the last month, at least six New Mexico hospitals have declared "crisis standards of care" (CSC) for their facilities amid a continued high number of COVID-19 cases and sick patients more than a year into the pandemic. New Mexico reported 9,892 COVID cases between 11-16 and 11-22, and an additional 4,991 cases over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. CSC is a rare and serious designation, allowing for hospitals, in part, to pick and choose who they provide medical care for and cancel or delay "non-medically necessary procedures." So far, New Mexico facilities say they're not rationing or "deallocating care," but what would it take to get there? What does Crisis Standards of Care actually mean for our local facilities? This week, Chris and Gabby interview Dr. Jason Mitchell, Chief Medical Officer for the state's largest healthcare provider, Presbyterian Healthcare Services. Mitchell explains how Presbyterian is using the CSC designation, if he foresees a time when the hospitals have to ration medical care, and provides a detailed picture of the grim reality inside New Mexico's hospitals. Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.

New Mexico‘s Recreational Cannabis Producers Seek Green Light

More than 2,000 people have already started the process of trying to become recreational cannabis producers in New Mexico. What does it take to become a cannabis producer? Who are the people applying for licenses? What motivates some of them? Chris and Gabby breakdown the numbers and demographics behind who's applying with the help of KRQE's Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra. Also, hear from a young father who left his job as a truck driver to dive head-first into the state’s budding new industry. This is the third episode in a four part series on the podcast, looking into the state’s unfolding recreational cannabis industry set to launch sales by April 1, 2022. For more on this episode and links to news stories mentioned in this podcast, visit our website at KRQE.com/podcasts. Got an idea, comment, or a suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.