New Mexico News Insiders

New Mexico Adventures of ’Marty Moose’

New Mexico has had a 900 lb. celebrity roaming around the northern part of the state for nearly a year now. ‘Marty’ the Bull Moose has garnered lots of local attention and a massive online fanbase. Social media feeds are filled with photos of the Moose wading in the river, and lately, hanging around near Española, despite a recent attempt from Game & Fish officers to relocate him back north. So what brought Marty to New Mexico in the first place; a place not known for its moose population? And will he stick around? Chris & Gabby host Darren Vaughan from the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish for an in-depth discussion on the Moose that's captured the state's attention. 

We appreciate our listeners. Send your feedback, story ideas, or Moose photos to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on X (formerly known as 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.

The History Behind Controversial Oñate Statues

New Mexicans seem to be grappling with how to choose to display or not to display parts of history. There have been two shootings in New Mexico a little over three years apart - at protests related to statues of the controversial Spanish Conquistador, Juan de Oñate. This week, Chris and Gabby host Moises Gonzales, Associate Professor of Urban Design at UNM, with a focus on Historic Preservation of the Southwest. Gonzales shares some of Oñate’s history in New Mexico, and what’s led up to more recent protests surrounding Oñate statues. What will be the fate of the two statues that still sit in storage? Will New Mexicans come to a place of agreement on what to do with them? 

We made a mention of a Larry Barker investigation about the Oñate Center building in Alcalde. Here's a link to that 2016 story, detailing where the northern New Mexico statue was first installed.

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 (formerly known as 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.

City Floats Soccer Stadium Deal For Balloon Fiesta Park

Albuquerque is closer than ever to getting its first pro-level soccer stadium. Plans were recently announced that New Mexico United will lease about seven acres from the City of Albuquerque to build a stadium on land at Balloon Fiesta Park, with promises not to interfere with ballooning in the area. Team owner Peter Trevisani, and Director of Communications and Fan Experience, David Weise Carl, join Chris and Gabby to discuss the 30-year lease agreement, its potential impact on the area and economy, as well as stadium build plans so far. What can fans and neighbors expect? How big will the stadium be? See renderings of the stadium and read the current lease agreement 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, 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.

Managing Rio Grande River Water Is A Long Game

Managing water from New Mexico’s rivers is a big task and it’s a job that takes a lot of engineering and planning. This week, Chris and Gabby host returning podcast guest, Jason Casuga, from the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. Casuga shares some of the history of the Rio Grande, concerns from farmers with looming threats of the river running dry, and plans for the future. Existing infrastructure is nearing 100 years old, and the time and money for projects is extensive. What happens if the river dries? 

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, 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.

 

‘The Game Has Changed’: APD Chief Discusses Teen Gun Violence

Albuquerque Police have identified 17 murder suspects this year who are ages 19 and under. Nine of them are considered ‘juveniles,’ meaning age 17 and under.

This week, Chris and Gabby discuss the topic of youth involved in violent crime with Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina. How much do drugs and social media play a factor? What are the driving forces behind gun violence among teens? And what are the solutions? 

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 (formerly known as 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.

Helping Albuquerque’s Homeless Students

There are thousands of homeless students enrolled in the state’s largest school district. Some are awaiting foster care placement, others are living in motels, shelters, or vehicles. APS’ McKinney Vento Program aims to identify those students, assist their families, and ultimately, help those students succeed. Chris & Gabby host Program Director, Cristal Wilson, who shares the challenges & successes of their ambitious efforts. How does the program work? Who keeps track of students who may be constantly having to move? How can you help? If you know of a student in need of assistance, here's a referral link.

KRQE Cares partners with APS Title 1 schools to help provide shoes, food, and books for kids, with help from the community. 

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, 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.

Governor’s Gun Order Sparks Backlash, Lawsuits, & Debate

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham recently declared gun violence a public health emergency, and issued a Public Health Order temporarily banning open and concealed carry of firearms in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The executive order sparked backlash, questions about enforcement, and federal lawsuits challenging whether it is unconstitutional. KRQE Political Analyst & UNM Political Science Professor Gabe Sanchez joins Chris & Gabby to unpack the ramifications of this move. 

What are the political consequences? Will the order stand up in court? Is there a better way to address gun violence in Albuquerque?

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, 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.

’Our Story To Tell’: Los Alamos Historian On Oppenheimer Film

It's been a "summer of Oppenheimer" in New Mexico. With the recent release of Christopher Nolan's bio-pic, interest in the historical figure has surged in the Land of Enchantment and lead to a renewed discussion about the "Father of the Atomic Bomb."

This week, Chris and Gabby discuss the dynamic legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer with guests from Los Alamos National Laboratory. The lab’s lead historian offers an in-depth perspective on Christopher Nolan’s film, as well as why LANL created its own new documentary about the Lab's first director. Listen to the full discussion to learn more about the pressure to create nuclear weapons during a deadly war, and how the conversation is still relevant today. How do his successors reflect on the ‘Father of the Atomic Bomb?’ What kind of mission are scientists at Los Alamos focused on today? 

This week's guests include: 

Brye Steeves - Director of the National Security Research Center, located at LANL.
Alan Carr - Los Alamos National Lab's Lead Historian
Dave Tietmeyer - Producer of the NSRC Oppenheimer documentary, "Oppenheimer: Science, Mission, Legacy."

Click here to watch the full trailer for LANL's National Security Research Center documentary about Oppenheimer, and read more about the lab's founding director. The full documentary should be available on the NSRC's website soon. 

UPDATE: The documentary is now available to view on YouTube at this link.

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 (formerly known as 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.

 

New Mexicans Helping Maui Wildfire Victims

On August 8th, an out-of-control wildfire in Maui became one of the deadliest in our country’s history in a century. More than 100 people were killed, hundreds are still unaccounted for, and thousands of homes burned in the fire. Chris and Gabby host Jess Orr, an Albuquerque woman who lived in Lahaina for three years during the pandemic. She shares personal stories of friends who lost everything, and how she’s trying to help them. In the second half of the episode, hear from the Red Cross Regional Disaster Manager for New Mexico and Arizona, Laura King, who is spending the month in Maui to aid in relief efforts. Will survivors of the Hawaiian wildfire find a way to stay on the island that's already facing a housing crisis? How can people help? 

To donate to the Red Cross Maui Relief efforts, click here. We like to hear from our listeners! Send your feedback or story ideas to hosts chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We're also on 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.

 

New Mexico’s Battle Over Public Water Access

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled: people have a constitutional right to be on public water flowing over privately owned land. But just because the high court says so, doesn’t mean every landowner is removing fences and ‘no trespass’ signs. Why is this topic seemingly so divisive? Will there be more lawsuits filed over river access? Chris and Gabby host Jesse Deubel, Executive Director for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, who brings listeners up to speed about how we got here. 

Listen to the legislative hearing mentioned in the episode from August 7th. The Public Stream Access and Ruling discussion begins at 02:44:32 in the webcast. Read more about the stream access issue from our online coverage 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, 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.