New Mexico News Insiders

‘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.

The New Court Program Judge Says ’Everyone Has A Stake In’

Opioids and Fentanyl are impacting people in ways like we’ve never seen before. In a new initiative to stop overdoses “upon first contact with the criminal justice system,” Bernalillo County’s Metropolitan Court just announced the Overdose Prevention Treatment and Intervention - or “OPT-in” court. Chris and Gabby host Judge Claire McDaniel and Behavioral Health Division Director, Stacey Boone, who say this is a community problem that we all have a stake in.

How will the program work? Who is eligible? When may we see the impacts of it? Listen to our previous episode on the Fentanyl crisis with the DEA for a primer on the subject. 

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.

 

Back To School: Free Meals, New Schedule, Longer Days

This year’s back-to-school looks a lot different for many New Mexico families. Some of this school year’s changes include free meals for all due to new state law, a new bell schedule for Albuquerque Public Schools, an extended school year calendar, and more time in the classroom. Chris and Gabby sit down with APS Superintendent Scott Elder to break down some of the key changes and how the state’s biggest district is handling them. In the second half of the episode, hear from a local parent and school bus driver, Julie Sprunk, about her experience and perspective on the upcoming school year. 

What's the biggest challenge? How will the free meal program work? Why are bus drivers crucial to start times? 

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 Sheriff Pushes Pause On Reality TV To ‘Focus’ Deputies

There’s a new Sheriff in New Mexico’s biggest county. Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen won the election with 54% of the vote. Halfway into his first year, the Democratic Sheriff gets candid with Chris and Gabby about what it’s been like “leading the ship” so far.

It’s a role he says he doesn’t take lightly, given the crime and drug problems plaguing the area. And he's already making changes to the department, including pausing BCSO’s role in a reality television series, creating a Behavioral Health Unit, and revamping the helicopter program after a devastating crash that killed four first responders.  Are his efforts paying off so far? What is BCSO’s biggest challenge? 

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.

 

New Mexico Cannabis Industry: Who Will Survive?

Lots of people quit their day jobs to go all in with New Mexico’s recreational cannabis industry. More than a year into legalization, cannabis shops already outnumber liquor stores in Albuquerque. Is the grass greener for all these new businesses?  

Chris and Gabby sit down with Pat Davis, Co-Founder of Weeds Cannabis Consulting firm and Albuquerque City Councilor for District 6. Davis explains some of the challenges the industry is facing, how businesses are getting creative, as well as the state’s limited resources to provide checks and balances on the budding industry. Will the market sustain all these new businesses? Who will survive, and who is benefitting?

KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret recently reported on the potential 'over-saturation' of the market - watch her full report here.

Also, find more of KRQE's coverage on the cannabis industry 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.