Bomb threats target homes of state Democratic Senate and House leaders Wirth and Szczepanski
鈥� Danielle Prokop,
A Santa Fe school evacuated Thursday afternoon due to bomb threats at the nearby home of Democratic New Mexico Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth. House Majority Floor Leader Reena Szczepanski also received a similar threat.
Chris Nordstrum, the communications director for Senate Democrats, initially confirmed the threat to Source New Mexico. Szczepanski received a 鈥渟imilar threat鈥� around the same time as Wirth, Camille Ward, a spokesperson for the House Democrats told Source.
Wirth, who was in Taos Thursday for the Legislature鈥檚 Water and Natural Resources interim committee meeting, subsequently issued a statement mid-afternoon acknowledging that a threat had been made against him, 鈥渓eading to disruption and an evacuation at schools in my neighborhood. I am grateful to our state and local law enforcement agencies for their swift and professional response to this serious matter, and to the school officials who skillfully managed the disturbance.鈥�
Wirth鈥檚 statement continued on to say that, 鈥淧olitical violence and threats against elected officials have no place in our democratic society and are never an acceptable way to address political differences. Regardless of our political views, we must reject intimidation and work together through peaceful, lawful means to resolve our disagreements.鈥�
Wirth concluded by noting he remains 鈥渃ommitted to fostering respectful civic dialogue and protecting the safety of all who serve our community.鈥�
Szczepanski issued a statement early Thursday evening that, 鈥淢y family and I are safe and we are grateful for the quick action of local and state law enforcement who investigated today. These kinds of threats and actions hurt all of us. I know it can be shocking to feel this hit so close to home, but at the same time it鈥檚 not representative of our incredible Santa Fe community. For the health of our state, our country, and our democracy, we cannot allow our disagreements and differences to escalate to threats and violence.鈥�
State Majority Flood Leader Rep. Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe) issued a statement on Sept. 11, 2025 following a bomb threat at her home that, 鈥淢y family and I are safe and we are grateful for the quick action of local and state law enforcement who investigated today.鈥� (Danielle Prokop/Source NM)
The bomb threats followed Wednesday鈥檚 fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, and came amid similar threats across the country, including at numerous Historically Black Colleges and University campuses, leading to lockdowns and canceled classes.
A spokesperson for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham鈥檚 office told Source NM via email that the governor鈥檚 office was taking Thursday鈥檚 threats in Santa Fe 鈥渨ith the utmost seriousness and are responding in full coordination with local law enforcement, federal authorities, and emergency management personnel. At this time, it appears that the threat was just that鈥攁 threat鈥攁nd no bombs have been located.鈥�
New Mexico State Police initially posted on social media a little after 12 p.m. on Thursday that a bomb threat had been called in somewhere in the area of Camino De Cruz Blanca in Santa Fe between Camino Del Monte Sol and Calle Romolo.
A statement from City of Santa Fe Deputy Police Chief Ben Valdez provided to Source NM said that city and state police initially responded to a bomb threat in the 1000 block of Camino de Cruz Blanca at approximately 10:40 am. SFPD provided patrol officers for scene security and traffic control, and its Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit to investigate the threat.
鈥淐ontact was made with leadership at Santa Fe Prep to inform them of an incident near their campus. Santa Fe Prep was evacuated, parents were contacted to pick up their students. Both NMSP and SFPD were present with the students and faculty as a controlled release was conducted and students were released to their parents,鈥� Valdez鈥檚 statement said.
Santa Fe Prep went into lockdown Sept. 11, 2025 in response to a bomb threat at nearby state Sen. Peter Wirth鈥檚 home, and then evacuated, according to Santa Fe Police and school officials. (Danielle Prokop/Source NM)
Santa Fe Preparatory Head of School Aaron Schubach told Source NM Thursday the school had a mandatory evacuation plan in place, and had practiced the drill about four times a year. Between staff and students there were about 400 people at the school Thursday. 鈥淲e were entirely off campus within six minutes,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur students were incredible, as were faculty and staff, the way we talked about it was the way that it went.鈥�
At the same time, Santa Fe Police received 鈥渁nother threat of the same nature鈥� on a nearby street.
鈥淥ut of an abundance of caution, considering yesterday鈥檚 senseless killing of political activist Charlie Kirk, City Hall was placed on a lockdown,鈥� Valdez wrote. That lockdown was lifted at 1:47 p.m.
鈥淲e take all threats seriously,鈥� Valdez鈥檚 statement said. 鈥淭hey have no place in our community and individuals that make threats will be held accountable.鈥�
In response to the threats Thursday in Santa Fe, U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luj谩n, along with Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, all New Mexico Democrats, posted to social media that they were monitoring the situation from Washington, D.C. 鈥淧olitical violence and threats of violence have no place in America,鈥� Heinrich wrote.
In a statement provided to Source, Lujan Grisham called the national threats on Thursday 鈥渞eprehensible鈥� and said they 鈥渉ave no place in our democracy, particularly on this somber day when we honor the memory of September 11th and the values of unity and resilience that define us as Americans. While we may disagree on issues, intimidation and violence are never acceptable. I call on all citizens to engage in peaceful discourse rather than resorting to threats. New Mexico will not be intimidated by those who seek to undermine our democratic processes.鈥�
Patrick Lohmann contributed to the writing and reporting of this story.
Suicides in New Mexico rose 9% in 2024, state health department says - Natalie Robbins,
Suicides in New Mexico increased by 9% last year, bringing numbers up to pre-pandemic levels after a slight dip, according to a new report from the New Mexico Department of Health.
In 2024, there were 512 suicides in the state 鈥� 42 more than in 2023, NMDOH officials said.
鈥淥ne life lost to suicide is too many,鈥� said Clarie Miller, lead suicide prevention coordinator for NMDOH. 鈥淲e could drop by 50% and we still have lives to save.鈥�
The state saw a small downturn in suicides in 2022 and 2023, which Miller attributes in part to the rollout of the 988 mental health crisis line, but last year鈥檚 9% increase 鈥渞eally took us back to our pretty consistent average,鈥� she said.
New Mexico had the fifth-highest per capita suicide rate in the country in 2023, and has consistently ranked in the top five states for the last decade, according to from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last year, white New Mexicans had the highest suicide rate of 29.4 deaths per 100,000 people, the NMDOH found, followed by Native Americans at 26.2 deaths per 100,000 people. The Hispanic suicide rate in New Mexico has increased by 27% over the past 10 years, NMDOH officials said.
Firearms were involved in 60% of the suicides in the state, according to the data.
鈥淲hile we see a reduction in one risk area, we tend to see an increase in another,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淲e know in New Mexico, there is not one solution that we can just roll out across the state, or we would have.鈥�
indicates a correlation between economic uncertainty and an increased suicide rate, which may be a factor in the increase in New Mexico suicides, Miller said.
鈥淚 think it can be an attributing factor,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he temperature in our country and our at-risk communities that are even more at-risk now (is) extremely concerning, and we are taking every step 鈥� to be able to support these higher-risk categories that we know are being affected by the temperature in the country and administration.鈥�
Crisis responders from Albuquerque Community Safety also noted an uptick in callers experiencing suicidal ideation. ACS spokesperson Jorge Hernandez reported an average of 203 callers a month with thoughts of suicide last year, compared to an average of 107 monthly in 2023, though Hernandez suspects 2023鈥檚 numbers may have been artificially low because the public didn鈥檛 yet know about ACS鈥檚 crisis line. So far in 2025, the upward trend has continued with a monthly average of 210 callers with suicidal ideation, he said.
When a caller reports feeling suicidal, ACS dispatches a crisis responder to their location, who will walk them through the experience and help them with a treatment plan, or take them to the hospital, depending on the situation鈥檚 severity.
鈥淧eople losing their jobs, losing relationships, those are all things that we鈥檝e come across (where) they feel like they鈥檙e at a point where they can no longer go on,鈥� said Walter Adams, deputy director of field operations for ACS. 鈥淪o I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 just driven by one single (statistical) reason. I think it鈥檚 really situational, depending on that person鈥檚 circumstances.鈥�
Adams said he encounters many different types of people reporting feeling suicidal.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 have a face, and it doesn鈥檛 discriminate,鈥� he said.
Miller said the state has a similar crisis response team in Las Cruces and is working on developing programs for rural areas through funding from the New Mexico Behavioral Health Trust.
鈥淲e know the importance of crisis response, but it is extremely expensive,鈥� Miller said.
No matter where a person lives, asking for help can be difficult, she said.
鈥淩eaching out for mental health support, taking that first step, it can be just as hard in an urban area as it is to find access in rural areas, because of the stigma.鈥�
If you or someone you know is in crisis 鈥� call or text the at 9-8-8.
Local Solar Access applications expected to open early next year - Austin Fisher,
Local and tribal governments in New Mexico can expect to begin applying for state funding to support solar energy projects early next year, if not sooner, state officials told lawmakers on Wednesday.
At the New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee鈥檚 in Deming, NMFA Deputy Director Fernando Martinez said applications for the newly created will open in early 2026, but the agency is hoping to have them ready by December.
The fund is a $20 million pot of public money for grants for solar energy and battery storage for tribal, rural and low-income schools, municipalities, counties, land grant communities and New Mexico鈥檚 .
The projects supported by the fund are meant to reduce energy costs for low-income households and community service providers; support the local renewable energy workforce; enhance community resilience during emergencies; and leverage other funding sources, according to Martinez鈥檚 to the committee.
The new law requires NMFA to provide project grants for designing and building solar systems, and help developers obtain state and local permits or apply for federal or other funding sources, the presentation states.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be in the meantime building the applications internally so that we have a really good system so that when we open it up, it鈥檚 a really straightforward process, and we have a really good client experience for them, so it鈥檚 not too difficult,鈥� Martinez said.
An of the proposed rule for funding decisions given to the committee on Wednesday also requires NMFA to work with the state Energy, Minerals, & Natural Resources Department to create minimum standards for proposed systems and metrics for applicants. Those metrics include capacity for the scope of work; project location; how much a project will contribute to a community鈥檚 鈥渞esilience;鈥� and any other benefits that may result.
The new law requires most of the funding to benefit rural communities. The proposed rule specifies at least 60% of the money, approximately $10.8 million, be allocated to rural communities with a total county population of 60,000 or fewer people. No more than 25% of the money can go to any one county, the rule states, including the county government itself.
Half of New Mexico鈥檚 population lives in the 30 more rural counties, Rep. Kathleen Cates (D-Rio Rancho) told the committee, while the other half lives in Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Do帽a Ana counties.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to forget about either 50% of the population,鈥� Cates said. 鈥淚 appreciate that the drafters of this bill understand that rural communities are at a disadvantage and are giving them more than 50% of the opportunity for this program.鈥�
The proposed rule sets a $16 million limit total for project grants and $2 million for technical assistance, leaving $2 million for NMFA to administer the program and cover any unexpected costs, NMFA spokesperson Lynn Taulbee told Source NM.
New Mexico鈥檚 implementation of new solar funding law comes as the federal government reverses the prior administration鈥檚 moves to boost renewable energy production.
A law signed by President Joe Biden in 2022 gave developers tax and energy production credits for wind and solar projects, but President Donald Trump鈥檚 鈥淥ne Big Beautiful Bill Act鈥� those credits in July.
Then in August, the Trump administration $7 billion in grants for solar energy projects for low-income households from the same Biden-era law that would have benefitted 60 recipients, including EMNRD.
New Mexico also has a for businesses and low-income households to receive energy from solar farms.
During the presentation, NMFA CEO Marquita Russel noted that both the NMFA and the legislative oversight committee will need to approve the Local Solar Access Fund鈥檚 rules by November. Once initially approved, the committee will have to sign off on any future changes, she said.
This story was updated following publication to clarify when applications are expected to open.
NM advisers to US Civil Rights Commission call for closure of ICE detention facilities - Patrick Lohmann,
A bipartisan New Mexico committee that advises the federal Civil Rights Commission is calling for the closure of the state鈥檚 immigration detention facilities, citing concerns about detainee treatment and the private companies running them.
The 11-persons released findings and recommendations Monday stemming from an inquiry that began in October 2024. The board looked into civil rights at the state鈥檚 three immigration detention facilities in Otero, Cibola and Torrance counties. The committee鈥檚 chair and vice-chair dissented from the majority鈥檚 opinion.
After the months-long review, which included several hours of testimony from immigration advocates, lawyers and other experts, the committee called for the facilities鈥� closure and for more oversight of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and its contractors.
Apart from the Torrance County manager, the committee did not hear from detention center wardens, county officials, private prison operators or federal officials. Those people all were unable or declined to participate, despite the committee going to 鈥済reat lengths to solicit participation鈥� from diverse perspectives, according to the
In total, the state鈥檚 three detention centers house approximately 1,500 ICE detainees, amid President Donald Trump鈥檚 mass deportation push. The committee largely cited testimony from January, before Trump鈥檚 inauguration, and alleged abuses from before his second term began.
Neither the committee鈥檚 advice to the Civil Rights Commission nor the Civil Rights Commission recommendations to federal or local authorities are binding. However, the committee recommendations and immigration advocates who have called on the Legislature to ban ICE detention in the state.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that banning the facilities will not be on the agenda of an Oct. 1 special session, but that she鈥檇 put the measure on the legislative agenda early next year and would push for the strongest possible legislation to ban ICE detention centers here.
Proponents of the bans say the state should neither enable nor profit off the Trump administration鈥檚 mass deportation effort; opponents note the economic benefits of the jails and say New Mexico offers relatively humane facilities as compared to other states or countries.
The committee on July 28 voted 7-2 to accept a series of findings and recommendations regarding the facilities. Those findings note that detained immigrants in New Mexico have 鈥渓imited access to legal representation and rights education,鈥� and are being housed in unsafe facilities. Regarding the latter point, the report cites repeated issues with food services and cleanliness at the facility in Torrance, as well as a 2022 surprise Inspector General report from the facility calling for its immediate closure.
鈥淚n addition to concerns about the overall sanitation of the facilities, there were even more worrying issues raised about safety in these facilities. These issues include people going without medical attention, drug trafficking by facility staff, and being assaulted by other inmates and guards,鈥� the committee report states.
The committee also found that those problems were rooted in the contracting process between ICE, counties and private facility operators.
鈥淭his contracting system can create some circularity and confusion when it comes to oversight and accountability and leaves each stakeholder only partially accountable for addressing issues,鈥� the report states.
As for recommendations, the committee said that the Commission on Civil Rights should push the federal Homeland Security Department, which oversees ICE, to immediately begin closing the three facilities; stop using county-level passthrough contracts with private prison operators in New Mexico; expand community-based alternatives to detention; and create an independent oversight entity.
Committee Chair Chris Saucedo and Douglas Turner, the vice-chair, both of Albuquerque, disagreed with their colleagues鈥� recommendations to close the facilities or terminate county-level passthrough contracts.
鈥淲e believe that neither of these recommendations address the issues related to the creation and expansion of alternative detention options, enhancing oversight and transparency of detention operations and standards, or the creation of platforms to release prompt and accessible information to the public,鈥� they wrote.
Saucedo did not respond to Source鈥檚 request for comment. Turner declined to comment.
New Mexico Rep. Pamelya Herndon (D-Albuquerque) is also on the committee. She did not respond to Source鈥檚 request for comment.
All committee members鈥� four-year terms expired Tuesday, a day after the report was released,
according to the Civil Rights Commission鈥檚 website. The committee issued two prior reports on educational disparities for Native American students and wage theft.
Albuquerque Public Schools outlines projects that could be completed with bond vote - , 91暗网 News
Albuquerque Public Schools officials this week have described projects they hope to begin if voters approve a $350 million bond measure that will be on local ballots this November.
KRQE-TV reports APS would like to demolish the existing administration building at Barcelona Elementary School in the South Valley. Officials would like to replace the structure with a new gym, cafeteria and media center.
Another big-ticket item is a proposed overhaul of Zia Elementary School estimated to cost $39 million.
Other possible projects include a new classroom at La Mesa Elementary and Mary Ann Binford Elementary.
APS would also like to convert an old bus depot off of Under Blvd. into a trade-school facility.