New Mexico News Insiders

The Challenges Of Mental Health & Criminal Justice

Substance abuse, trauma, and homelessness can contribute to a person's complicated journey through the criminal justice system. Especially when the system isn’t always leading a person to get help or treatment. So what happens when someone with apparent mental health issues commits a crime? This week, Chris and Gabby host KC Quirk, the Social Work Unit Director at the Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD). Quirk highlights what she sees as a crucial ‘missed opportunity’ in the courts, and shares ways local agencies can improve. 

As mentioned in the episode, here are the links to watch Gabby's recent investigative reports on mental health and crime, as well as related coverage of the 2014 killing of James Boyd: 

• Competency in the Courts
• Inside New Mexico's Biggest Mental Health Hospital
• Federal investigation into 2014 killing of homeless camper, James Boyd

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.

 

Catching Up With New Mexico’s Former U.S. Attorney

The Albuquerque Police Department has come a long way since 2014. That year, the U.S. Department of Justice announced findings of its investigation that claimed APD engaged in “A pattern or practice of use of excessive force, including deadly force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment.” This week, Chris & Gabby host Damon Martinez, New Mexico’s U.S. Attorney during that time. Martinez discusses his role in APD’s early reform efforts, what he’s been up to since then, and why he wants to take on a new role in the local criminal justice realm. How has policing changed in the last decade? 

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 Past, Present & Future of Albuquerque’s Airport

Millions of people travel through the Albuquerque International Sunport every year, and lately, there's been a lot of changes taking place at the 'Gateway' of New Mexico. Through a massive remodel, Sunport officials are working to keep its southwestern charm; from the chairs to the cultural décor in the ceiling. This week, Chris and Gabby host Leah Black, Outreach & Marketing Manager of the Sunport, and Fred DeGuio, a Commercial Aviation Historian who wrote a book about the Sunport - to talk about the past, present, and future of the airport. New restaurants and a 'reimagining' of the facility are on the horizon. Did you know there's a 'secret' tunnel? How will the security process change? 

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, or 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 Talks Guns, Drugs, Retail Crime

How do you describe Albuquerque to a friend who's never been here? There are a lot of beautiful things about this place: the food, the landscape, the culture, the balloons...(we could go on), but there are also some not-so-nice realities New Mexicans face when it comes to crime, drugs, and gun violence. Prosecutors in Bernalillo County have extensive caseloads. When Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Sam Bregman to fill the vacated position of Bernalillo County's District Attorney, Bregman said his plan was to finish out the term and not run for re-election. He's since changed his mind, saying he's "never been a quitter." This week, Chris and Gabby host Bregman to discuss the area's crime problem, the changes he's implementing, and how the DA's office is measuring success. 

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 Justice System’s Major Healthcare Overhaul

New Mexico's largest county jail in Albuquerque has been historically understaffed, overcrowded, and marred by inmate deaths during detox. In 1995, a federal lawsuit cited overcrowding as a factor in violating inmates' rights, while also accusing Bernalillo County of providing inadequate medical and mental health care at the the facility.

Today, the Metropolitan Detention Center is decades into navigating a settlement agreement in that lawsuit. Meanwhile, the pressure on the jail continues, as law enforcement officials have highlighted its importance in being the first opportunity to connect someone with a variety of substance and behavioral health treatments.

So how could a new healthcare provider at the Metropolitan Detention Center improve those issues and ultimately, impact crime?

Since the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) took over as the healthcare provider for inmates this summer, there have already been some major changes. This week, Chris and Gabby host Rodney McNease of UNMH for an extended conversation about what's at play.

As mentioned in the episode, here's a link to the "Last Week Tonight" segment from early October, covering the issue of health care in detention facilities. And here's a link to a dashboard featuring information about MDC's current inmate population.

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.

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.