New Mexico News Insiders

The Fallout From Alec Baldwin’s Botched Trial

Just three days into his criminal trial, Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter case for the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was dismissed by a Santa Fe judge citing the 'state's discovery violation,' also known as a 'Brady violation.' The rule isn't new, but it's shining a spotlight on the issue of withholding evidence in the criminal justice system. The 'Rust' movie armorer is now seeking a dismissal for her conviction. So how did the prosecution's case unravel so quickly? And what does this mean for other criminal cases? Jennifer Burrill, a longtime criminal defense attorney and President of the Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, provides analysis of Baldwin's trial and its aftermath. 

We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of the podcast now on our YouTube channel.

Wildfires, Flooding, Recovery, & Repeat

Ruidoso has been through a brutal cycle of wildfires, flooding, recovery, and repeat. As the village recoups from the devastating wildfires and monsoon flooding, they're also welcoming back tourists - a vital component to the mountain town's economy. This week, longtime resident and village spokesperson Kerry Gladden joins Gabby to discuss how the village emergency response worked out, how the community is dealing with the aftermath, and what summers could look like going forward.

We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel. 

How To Avoid Falling Victim To Sly Financial Scams

In 2023, internet crime victims reported $12.5 billion in losses, according to the FBI. There's also been an uptick in complaints filed by elderly victims. From cryptocurrency scams, and call center schemes, to falsely claiming to buy your timeshare property - scammers are getting increasingly savvy in their targeting efforts. A longtime IRS criminal investigator joins Gabby this week to discuss his mission to inform people what to look out for. How can you and your circle of family and friends avoid falling victim? What are the five tell-tell signs of a financial scam? 

We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel. 

New APS Superintendent Talks Safety, Social Media, & Longer School Year

New Mexico’s largest school district has a new leader in Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Gabriella Blakey. This week on the podcast, Gabby and guest cohost, Jessica Garate talk with Blakey about how her experience within APS is informing her decisions as a leader for the district. Blakey addresses school safety, guns on campuses, an extended school year, teacher and family challenges, and her long-term goals for the district. What will it take to improve New Mexico education? How safe are kids in public schools? 

We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out our YouTube channel. 

Ruidoso's Deadly Wildfires Under Investigation

It has become one crisis after another for the Village of Ruidoso lately. Within hours of the South Fork and Salt Fires sparking, the entire village was under evacuation as the fire quickly spread to homes and businesses. At least two people were killed in the wildfire, around 1,400 structures were burned, and the feds are now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of person(s) responsible for the fires. This week, Chris and Gabby talk with a 74-year-old veteran who lost his home in the wildfire and stayed behind to help family and neighbors save theirs.

• Link mentioned in the episode: Don Spencer's GoFundMe 

We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out the podcast on our YouTube channel. 

New Mexico's Gila Wilderness Is 100 Years Old

It's a gem of the southwestern United States and southwest New Mexico. One hundred years later, the Gila Wilderness is celebrating its formal dedication as the very first federally designated wilderness area in the U.S. Early conservation leader Aldo Leopold proposed the idea, realizing the need to preserve the land's natural state. This week on the podcast, Chris and Gabby discuss the origin story of the Gila, and the efforts to protect it today with Luke Koenig, a Gila Grassroots Organizer for New Mexico Wild.

We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out our YouTube channel. 

New Mexico's History Of UFO Sightings

Was it aliens? Or something else? From the famous Roswell incident, or flying saucers reported in Farmington, to an inexplicable case about a boy in Hobbs reportedly burned by a UFO in 1964. This week Chris and Gabby discuss the popular and lesser-known reported UFO events in New Mexico with a man who's made it his mission to curate the largest collection of UFO materials ever assembled. David Marler, Executive Director of the National UFO Historical Records Center doesn't aim to make people believers, but rather, preserve facts that include sifting through recently declassified military records. 

Read the KRQE article referenced in the podcast here. 

We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out our YouTube channel. 

UNMH Promises Medical Upgrades With 'Critical Care Tower'

New Mexico’s largest hospital, and the only hospital in the state with a level-one trauma center has been under construction for more than a year. Chris and Gabby discuss the changes the new ‘Critical Care Tower’ promises to bring to UNMH, and how upgrades are aimed to transform medical care for thousands of patients. How will the new space serve patients and staff? When will the Critical Care Tower be up and running? 

This week’s podcast guests: 

• Doctor Steve McLaughlin, UNMH Chief Medical Officer 
• Makenzie McNeill, Communications Manager of Campus Development for UNMH

We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (Twitter), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts. Also, check out our YouTube channel. 

It's Primary Election Day In New Mexico

The first chapter of the 2024 election is here with New Mexicans taking part in the primary election on Tuesday, June 4. This time around, while Republicans are looking a few intraparty contests, there are far more contested races inside the Democratic party. This week on the New Mexico News Podcast, UNM Political Science Professor and KRQE’s Political Analyst, Gabe Sanchez, joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the implications of this year’s primaries, and how they could reshape the dynamics of the state legislature. The state’s top two District Attorneys are also facing Democratic-party challengers in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. What does it mean for state politics if more 'progressive' Democrats win the primaries? And what will it take for Republicans to gain more ground in the legislature? 

We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on Twitter (X), Facebook, & Instagram at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. For more on this episode and all of our prior episodes, visit our podcast website: KRQE.com/podcasts.

Sheriff's Office Bringing New Tech To Bernalillo County

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is investing in a big new technology package, hoping to help deputies with crime-fighting around the county. Alongside newer TASERs, body cameras, license plate reading cameras and gunshot detectors, the county is also investing in a new cloud-based service called ‘FUSUS.' The company behind it describes the tech as a “real-time intelligence ecosystem,” allowing business owners and citizens to give BCSO access to their surveillance cameras.

This week on the New Mexico News Podcast, Major Hollie Anderson joins Chris & Gabby to explain how she believes this will streamline criminal investigations and ultimately, help catch criminals quicker. Anderson explains how BCSO will have the ability to watch deputies' lapel cameras live when needed, and capture surveillance footage from a crime scene using the new system. 

How can businesses opt-in? Is this an over-reach of privacy? Those questions and more are addressed in the full discussion above.

Let us know what you think. Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. You can also find us on social media at ChrisMcKeeTV or gburkNM.