New Mexico News Insiders

Why Border Patrol Checkpoints Are Seizing New Mexico Cannabis

Two years into recreational cannabis becoming legal in New Mexico, local cannabis distributors are finding themselves in a legal conundrum. Border Patrol Agents have seized more than $300,000 worth of local cannabis products at checkpoints, according to the New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce. Matt Chadwick, owner of Top Crop Cannabis, says the checkpoint seizures seemingly started out of the blue in February. He joins Chris & Gabby to discuss how the unavoidable stops are impacting New Mexico businesses, and what he'd like to see from the federal government. How is the governor responding to this issue? What happens to local cannabis if Border Agents double down? 

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.

What Supreme Court Case On Homelessness Could Mean Locally

The U.S. Supreme Court is taking up a case that could impact how states and local agencies deal with homeless encampments. UNM School of Law Professor Joshua Kastenberg joins Gabby to discuss Albuquerque's current policies on encampments, and the local implications of the case known as Grants Pass v. Johnson. Are there similarities between this case and New Mexico's homeless issues? What immediate impacts can states expect after this Supreme Court decision, if any? 

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.

The Struggle Continues For New Mexico Wildfire Victims

Victims are still struggling two years later to recover from the state’s largest, most destructive wildfire in New Mexico’s history. The government-sparked Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Wildfire burned through more than 341,000 acres, destroyed hundreds of homes, and displaced families across northern New Mexico. Pam Abreu shares her story with Gabby about challenges she’s faced since losing the family home her father built. Antonia Roybal-Mack, an attorney representing wildfire victims, also explains why dozens of New Mexicans are now suing FEMA. Are victims being repaid quickly enough? Where are families living now? How are generational homes being valued? 

Those questions and more are discussed in this week's episode. 

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.

Hundreds Of New Mexicans Are Waiting For A Kidney

Hundreds of New Mexicans are waiting for a life-saving organ donation from someone they may never meet. According to Donor Services, Kidneys are the most needed organ in New Mexico due to the increased risk of diabetes and kidney failure. This week, Victoria Yocum shares her journey as a young woman with a rare liver disease, the obstacles she navigated in the local healthcare system, and how she’s paying her gift forward today. Celina Espinoza, External Affairs Director with Donate Life New Mexico and New Mexico Donor Services explains some of the challenges locals face regarding organ donation. 

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.

District Attorney Discusses Dropped DWI Cases

More than 200 pending criminal cases - mostly DWIs - were dropped in Bernalillo County due to Albuquerque Police officers’ credibility being compromised. The now-former DWI officers are targets of a federal investigation that involves accusations officers were accepting money to get DWI cases dismissed. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman joins Chris & Gabby for an in-depth discussion about why he had to drop so many cases, and how his office is addressing public trust issues in the criminal justice system. 

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.

How Politics Quashed Plans For An Albuquerque Playground

Families in an Albuquerque neighborhood learned their plans to build a playground were quashed with the help of a former politician who lives near the park. KRQE News 13's Jessica Garate exposed the 'playground politics' where former Lt. Governor Diane Denish (2003-Jan. 1, 2011) is accused of using her political connections to get Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to line-item veto capital outlay funding that would have been used in Denish's neighborhood for the playground. The story addresses questions about equal access to city and state government. Jessica joins Chris & Gabby for an extended discussion about how this story unfolded, and the feedback she's received since it aired. 

Watch Jessica's story about Netherwood Park 

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.

The Anonymous Tipline Helping Solve Crime In Albuquerque

Fear of retaliation is one of the main reasons people hesitate to report knowledge of a crime. But in Albuquerque and across the country, tipsters can remain completely anonymous to Crime Stoppers, and receive reward money in return for helping law enforcement solve a crime. The origin story of Crime Stoppers starts in Albuquerque in 1976 with the murder of a gas station attendant and a detective putting up his own cash to try and generate leads from the public. It worked. Today, the program has evolved with technology and grown nationwide. How often do investigators rely on anonymous tips these days? How much reward money is getting paid out? Chris & Gabby host Alicia Hernandez of Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers to discuss those questions and more. 

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.

A Business Owner's Struggles In Albuquerque's International District

Running a small business has its challenges. Running a small business along Central Avenue in Albuquerque's International District is particularly challenging these days. Some major stores have shut down. Other business owners are dealing with drug users, homelessness, and crime right outside their doorstep. This week, Chris & Gabby sit down with the owner of Southwestern Minerals, who has had a family business in the area since the 1960s. The owner shares details about what he and his wife are up against, what’s kept them in business so long, and the changes he hopes to see from the city to keep Route 66 businesses like his - around. 

See the visuals from Gabby's KRQE Investigates report with Southwestern Minerals 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 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.

The Guilty Verdict Against Armorer In Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’

It took a jury in Santa Fe two-and-a-half hours to convict Hannah Gutierrez of involuntary manslaughter after nearly 10 days of testimony and evidence. Gutierrez was the armorer on the film set of Rust in October 2021 when Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in an accidental shooting during a rehearsal scene with Alec Baldwin. Baldwin was holding a gun that was unknowingly loaded with real ammunition when it was supposed to be loaded with dummy rounds. This week Chris & Gabby detail highlights of the trial with longtime New Mexico criminal defense attorney, Jenn Burrill. Gutierrez faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine for the conviction. Baldwin is also charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case and is expected to go to trial in July. What does this conviction mean for Baldwin’s case? What was the jury’s main takeaway after hearing witness testimony? What could this mean for the film industry? 

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.

Albuquerque Police Corruption Investigation: What We Know So Far

It has been called possibly the biggest police corruption case in Albuquerque; an alleged scheme linking officers within the Albuquerque Police Department's DWI unit and a local defense attorney. News 13 has learned federal investigators are looking into accusations that officers were getting paid to get DWI cases dismissed. This week, members of the KRQE Investigates team break down what we’ve learned so far about this investigation, including how officers may have mishandled DWI cases.

How does money come into play? How are officers and the defense attorney linked? Ann Pierret shares what she and Curtis Segarra, KRQE’s Investigative Digital Data Reporter, have learned from the numbers. Gabby also shares more about the bombshell recording from her recent reporting that reveals how the alleged scheme may have worked. 

• Watch Ann's story about Honorio Alba letting a drunk driver get a ride home
• Watch Gabby's story involving a recording about jewelry & an $8500 guarantee
• Read related KRQE investigative reports about the APD-DWI investigation 

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.