All articles tagged with #new mexico
Three people died and a fourth was airlifted to Texas after a high-speed single-vehicle crash in northwest Albuquerque on Saturday morning. The vehicle ran a red light, crashed into trees, and caught fire.
A blue hot air balloon contacted power lines near La Cueva High School in northeast Albuquerque on Sunday, marking the second such incident during the 2026 Balloon Fiesta. Two occupants were uninjured and left the scene after utility crews arrived. This follows a similar incident near Journal Center on the previous day.
A blue hot air balloon contacted power lines near La Cueva High School in northeast Albuquerque on Sunday, the second such incident during the 2026 Balloon Fiesta. Two occupants were uninjured and left the scene after utility crews arrived. Separately, flooding from the Rio Puerco isolated 12 homes in San Francisco, New Mexico.
A hot air balloon landed in power lines near Journal Center on the first day of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Two occupants were safely removed by fire crews with no injuries reported.
The 2026 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta began on Saturday with seven minor balloon incidents, including three crashes involving power lines and light poles. No injuries were reported, and all occupants were safely removed. The event featured a cluster balloon launch and a special flight aimed at raising awareness for disability issues.
Unprecedented rainfall in southern New Mexico has forced the evacuation of five communities in Doña Ana County as officials warn that McLeod Dam is in imminent danger of breaching. Heavy rains, reaching rates of up to four inches per hour, have caused rivers to overflow and major highways to close. Residents are currently sheltering at two designated community centers while authorities monitor the structural integrity of local dams and levees.
Hurricane Polo, which briefly reached Category 5 status, has dissipated over Mexico but its remnants are now driving severe flooding across the southwestern United States. The storm made landfall in Baja California Sur on Monday and moved northeast into Sonora, bringing heavy rain to the U.S. border. As of Tuesday, more than 30 million people from Arizona to Iowa face flash flood risks. In southern New Mexico, the McLeod Dam in Doña Ana County is under critical stress, prompting evacuation orders and emergency pumping operations. The National Weather Service has issued flash flood watches spanning over 1,200 miles, with rainfall rates reaching 4 inches per hour in some areas. While the storm has weakened, its moisture is combining with other weather systems to create a significant threat through the week.
Fifteen-year-old Keyarah Chavez, a student at Atrisco Heritage Academy, died after an orange Ford Mustang ran a red light at high speed and struck a white pickup truck in southwest Albuquerque. Three others, including the 18-year-old driver and a 16-year-old passenger, were hospitalized with critical injuries. The victim’s mother has launched a fundraiser for funeral costs, while police continue their investigation.
Kelly Matthews, a special education teacher at Highland Middle School in Hobbs, New Mexico, was shot multiple times on Friday morning. Police arrested a male juvenile suspect after a foot pursuit. The victim underwent surgery in Lubbock and is recovering, while no students were injured.
A 15-year-old girl died and three others were critically injured after a speeding Ford Mustang ran a red light and struck a pickup truck in southwest Albuquerque late Saturday. The Albuquerque Police Department’s Fatal Crash Unit is investigating the collision, which occurred near Coors and Bridge boulevards just before midnight. The Mustang’s 18-year-old driver and two teenage passengers were among the critically injured, while the 24-year-old pickup driver also suffered life-threatening injuries but is stable.
A teacher at Highland Middle School in Hobbs, New Mexico, was shot multiple times, causing community shock. Simultaneously, Hurricane Polo has weakened to a tropical depression as it crosses over the state.
A teacher at Highland Middle School in Hobbs, New Mexico, was shot multiple times on Friday morning by a juvenile suspect who was later detained after a foot pursuit. The victim, identified as Kelly Matthews, underwent surgery in Lubbock and is described as stable. School officials confirmed no students were injured, while police withheld details regarding the suspect's identity due to their age.
A juvenile was arrested after shooting a staff member outside Highland Middle School in Hobbs, New Mexico. The injured employee is stable, and no students were harmed. Authorities are withholding details due to the suspect's age.
A New Mexico jury found Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy protections related to the Cambridge Analytica data breach, with damages to be determined by a judge.
New Mexico has confirmed a second case of New World screwworm in a horse in Grant County, prompting expanded surveillance, a 12.4-mile infested zone, and broader monitoring with increased fly-trapping and animal inspections to detect and contain any spread, while keeping most animal movements allowed unless risk is identified. Wildlife monitoring and veterinary guidance are part of the response, with updates at ScrewwormNM.org.