AGP Executive Report

Local Arts & Community: Santa Fe’s Collected Works is hosting a busy literary week, including author talks with Désirée Zamorano and Michelle Otero (Sun., Sept. 13), plus readings by Barbara Rockman (Tues., Sept. 15) and Laila Lalami (Thurs., Sept. 17). Music in New Mexico: HPPR announced High Plains folk dates featuring banjo ace Kelly Hunt, with a stop at Albuquerque’s Revel Entertainment Center on Nov. 7. Sports (UNM): The UNM Lobos open Week 2 at home vs. Mercyhurst, with UNM still working through injuries and Mercyhurst searching for its first win. Sports (New Mexico United): New Mexico United blew a two-goal lead and settled for a 2-2 draw with Indy Eleven, with the club pointing to slow starts as the recurring issue. Podcasts: Emmy-winning Docufilms launches the new Doing Good podcast on Sept. 15, spotlighting people turning compassion into sustained action. Public Safety/Tech: A Rio Rancho man was arrested after filming himself taking down Flock Safety cameras in Bernalillo County, as the county weighs its contracts.

Local Sports Streaming: New Mexico State heads to Hawaii for a Sept. 13 matchup at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, with MW+ listed for TV and Fubo promoted for live access. Soccer Disappointment: New Mexico United let a 2-goal lead slip in a 2-2 draw vs. Indy Eleven, with the early-game collapse a key talking point. AI in the Courtroom: A Santa Fe lawyer was fined $5,000 after a murder appeal included fabricated witnesses and testimony generated by ChatGPT. Heat & School Readiness: Albuquerque Public Schools says about 400 cooling-system work orders are still open, leaving some classrooms without air conditioning as September temperatures stay brutal. Entertainment Cancelation: Netflix canceled Minka Kelly’s Texas romance drama “Ransom Canyon” after two seasons. Golf Spotlight: The New Mexico Open returns next week at Turtleback Mountain with former PGA Tour stars and an AI-assisted broadcast, plus a record purse. Community & Arts: Las Cruces Symphony kicks off its 65th season with AGT standout Bárbara Padilla, whose comeback story is tied to surviving Hodgkin lymphoma.

9/11 Anniversary in New Mexico: KT Tunstall marked the 25th anniversary with a personal message from her life in the U.K. and her New Mexico home, sharing how she wrote “Under the Weather” after the attacks. Rust Trial Documentary: Alec Baldwin is promoting The Trial of Alec Baldwin, saying viewers will see him “at my worst” as the film revisits the Rust set tragedy and his manslaughter case. Local Sports Spotlight: New Mexico’s college scene stays busy—Fort Lewis hosts New Mexico Highlands in the RMAC opener, while Nebraska volleyball sweeps the Lobos in a home opener. New Mexico Film & Media: A $73 million facility aims to train New Mexico’s film and media workforce, and Netflix cancels Ransom Canyon after two seasons. Tech & Culture: Meta’s child-safety settlement and the Social Reckoning movie (Aaron Sorkin) both land in the same news cycle, keeping Hollywood’s social-media reckoning front and center. Music: Sierra Ferrell drops “Pair of Dice,” and ticket giveaways highlight big-name tours hitting the region.

Suicide Prevention: New Mexico’s suicide rate fell 19% from 2024 to 2025, with NMDOH pointing to links like stronger social connectedness, higher education, and housing security—plus a reminder that 988 is available statewide. Local Politics & Tech: New Mexico lawmakers are urging Apple and Google to keep “New Mexico” on maps after Trump floated renaming the state “New America,” arguing the president can’t override the state constitution. Hollywood’s Local Impact: A new look at Emmy-nominated shows asks who really benefits when productions move into lower-income communities—often more service jobs than skilled production work. Sports Spotlight (Volleyball): Nebraska opened its renovated Devaney Center with a sweep of New Mexico, while Baylor bounced back by defeating Georgia Tech 3-0. Music Releases: Miss May I drops an animated video for “Highbrow Thieves,” and Starset unveils “a n n 1 h 1 l a t 1 0 n.”

New Mexico Tech & Identity: New Mexico’s all-Democratic congressional delegation is urging Apple and Google to publicly commit to keeping the state’s name on Maps after President Trump floated renaming it “New America,” calling it a sovereignty issue and noting Trump lacks legal authority to change the name. Local Politics: A New Mexico lawmaker is facing criticism after campaign filings show she used campaign funds to buy airfare, hotel stays, and tickets for a college football game trip to Ireland. Sports Tech (NM): The New Mexico Open is rolling out an AI-generated golf commentator, “Duff Foreman,” joining Notah Begay III and Ryan Burr for live broadcast segments. Arts & Entertainment: “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are renaming the show to “SOUTH AMERICA” in a Trump jab tied to his landmark name-change spree. Community Events: Alamogordo debuts Caliente Fest with Los Texmaniacs headlining, plus norteño acts and food trucks. Media/Pop Culture: Alec Baldwin’s “Rust” manslaughter trial is getting documentary treatment in a new trailer, with Baldwin calling it “me at my worst.”

Facebook Trial in Santa Fe: New Mexico opened its go-it-alone case against Meta over the Cambridge Analytica data breach, arguing targeted political ads used Facebook profile data to suppress Democratic turnout in 2016, while Facebook says safeguards have improved. Sports Betting Fight: Tribes asked a federal judge for an emergency order to halt Kalshi’s sports betting on tribal lands. Local Sports Spotlight: Nebraska volleyball returns to the renovated Devaney Center to host New Mexico, while UNM’s multi-quarterback offense gets early praise after its Central Michigan opener. Music & Culture: British crossover band Guilt Trip released a live “Burn” video from Graspop 2026. Tech Meets Entertainment: The New Mexico Open will feature an AI golf commentator on-air with human analysts. Pop Culture Satire: “South Park” is set to rebrand as “SOUTH AMERICA,” taking aim at Trump’s renaming spree. Tragedy: A newly married Arizona couple and their two young sons died in a head-on crash after a trip that included New Mexico.

Local Fair Fun: The 2026 New Mexico State Fair kicks off Sept. 10 with big opening-day deals—$2 admission, $2 midway rides, plus Graze Dayz and free entry for law enforcement—then rolls into a full lineup of appreciation days through Sept. 20. TV & Pop Culture: “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are “renaming” the show to “SOUTH AMERICA” for its 29th season, a pointed jab at Donald Trump’s “Lake America” rebrand and the way Apple and Google updated their maps. Celebrity Buzz: Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson’s son Brandon Thomas Lee is engaged, with the proposal reported to have happened Aug. 29 in Indonesia. Sports Betting 101: A new explainer breaks down how altitude affects performance and what it can mean for betting markets. Tech & Science: Sandia researchers unveiled an analog memory approach (ETCRAM) aimed at more energy-efficient computing. Court Watch (NM): New Mexico’s Facebook/Meta Cambridge Analytica trial is set to begin, with the state seeking accountability for alleged privacy deception.

New Mexico Politics & Identity: President Donald Trump’s “New America” push for New Mexico is getting a fast, bipartisan shut-down, with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and even Republican candidate Gregg Hull calling the idea a distraction that ignores the state’s Indigenous and Spanish-colonial history. Global Pop Culture: Trey Parker and Matt Stone are turning the tables on Trump’s renaming spree—South Park is rebranding as “South America” for the new season, with the joke aimed at Apple and Google’s map updates. Tech & Youth Safety: Meta’s teen protections are moving forward: a two-hour daily limit for Instagram and Facebook is set to roll out in most states, though Florida and New Mexico are staying out to keep litigating. Local Arts & Film: New Mexico’s film momentum gets a spotlight, including coverage of work tied to UNM’s Film and Digital Arts program and the state’s broader push to “take center stage.” Music: Twin Temple teases “Doomed Lovers” with “Love You To Death,” and announces an Albuquerque Sunshine Theater stop on Sept. 9.

New Mexico Politics & Identity: President Donald Trump’s Truth Social “New America” map for New Mexico is getting a fast, public pushback from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who says the state’s name “isn’t up for debate” and points to local priorities like housing, health care, and childcare. Satire in Entertainment: After the Emmy win, South Park is leaning into the same naming chaos with a tongue-in-cheek rebrand to “South America,” directly riffing on Trump’s geographic name changes and tech map updates. Local Live Music: Revel is breaking ground on a new outdoor amphitheater in northeast Albuquerque, aiming to expand live-entertainment options with more details coming later. Sports & Culture: New Mexico Ice Wolves unveil a massive “Spirit of New Mexico” indoor mural at Outpost Ice Arena ahead of the Sept. 11–12 season opener. Soccer: New Mexico United adds attacking midfielder Charlie Dennis on loan from Phoenix Rising FC to bolster its playoff push.

New Mexico Identity Clash: Trump’s Truth Social “New America” map sparked immediate pushback from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other leaders, with lawmakers stressing the state name “isn’t up for debate” and that a president can’t legally rename a state. Local Arts & Film: Albuquerque’s “Coyote vs. Acme” keeps rolling at the box office, with the Warner Bros. shelved comedy now landing high and leaning hard into its Breaking Bad–era Albuquerque setting. Community Culture: Santa Fe’s Zozobra tradition continues to draw crowds, including coverage of the 102nd Burning of Zozobra and the torch-passing moment for a new fire dancer. Sports (NM ties): The Albuquerque Isotopes’ Charlie Condon lit up the weekend with a rare two-grand-slam game as the team heads into its final stretch. Everyday Life: New Mexico’s free childcare rollout is hitting a wall—too many families enrolled, not enough slots—leaving parents still scrambling for care. Big Picture: A new debate over teen social media safety is heating up, as proposed bans and protections face competing research and public support.

New Mexico Politics: President Trump’s Truth Social “New America” map-meme for New Mexico sparked immediate backlash from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other Democrats, who say the state’s name “isn’t up for debate” and note he lacks authority to rename states. Local Childcare Reality Check: A year after New Mexico rolled out free childcare for all families, parents in childcare-short areas still can’t find spots, with waitlists and patchwork care remaining the norm. Film & Culture: Scottsdale filmmaker Larry L. Sheffield brings his new documentary “The Cosmic Trigger” to Harkins Shea 14 (Sept. 11–17), exploring UFO reports after the 1945 Trinity atomic test. TV Pop Culture: “Breaking Bad” returns to the spotlight with a fresh look at how the series kills off its main characters. Sports (NM ties): Week 1 college football headlines SMU vs. Florida State (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET Monday), while New Mexico’s own sports scene continues with Mountain West action and local athlete roster updates. Community Arts: Wild Hearts Gallery opens a Marcia Rackstraw retrospective in Placitas through Sept. 27.

Politics & Culture Clash: President Donald Trump reignited his geographic name-changing spree by suggesting New Mexico be renamed “New America,” posting a map with “Mexico” crossed out and “America” added—then the White House reposted it. Local Pushback: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham shut it down fast, saying the name “isn’t up for debate” and accusing Trump of trying to distract from gas prices and other pressures. Misinformation Backdrop: Reports say the idea spread after a satirical hoax, but lawmakers still pounced on the real-world implications of the rebrand talk. New Mexico Sports Spotlight: The UNM Lobos opened strong with a 38-7 win over Central Michigan, while the Lobos women’s soccer team fell 3-0 at Colorado. Cinema in the Duke City: “Coyote vs. Acme” hits theaters nationwide, with much of it shot in Albuquerque—turning local spots into a big-screen corporate-corruption comedy.

State Identity Clash: President Donald Trump posted a map on Truth Social suggesting New Mexico be renamed “New America,” replacing “Mexico” with “America” and sparking immediate backlash from New Mexico Democrats and lawmakers who say the move can’t erase the state’s history. Local Arts & Ecology: Josephine Sculpture Park artist-in-residence Shawn Smith will preview new work at historic Rockdale Estate Sept. 12, including a workshop where students build pollinator hotels. UNM Sports Spotlight: UNM opened its season with a 38-7 win over Central Michigan, and local coverage highlights what the Lobos’ multi-quarterback approach could mean going forward. Entertainment for Fans: Guy Ritchie’s Netflix return, The Gentlemen (Season 2), is being pitched as a blend of Peaky Blinders grit and Breaking Bad swagger. Film & Pop Culture: Reviews and commentary keep rolling in for Coyote vs. Acme and The Dog Stars, with Coyote vs. Acme drawing extra attention for its Albuquerque connection in the story. Safety Watch: Child-safety advocates are tracking what Meta’s U.S. settlement could mean for online rules in Europe. Crime Update: Santa Fe police report a woman died in an “accidental” shooting involving her adult brother.

Local Sports Buzz: New Mexico United bounced back from last week’s loss with a “buzzing” 2-1 comeback win over Las Vegas Lights FC, with Hurst and Keller scoring to keep the club rolling. UNM Football: The Lobos opened strong under Jason Eck, throttling Central Michigan 38-7 behind a dominant defense that held CMU to just 30 passing yards. Aggies Home Opener: New Mexico State erupted late to beat Mercyhurst 51-14, sparked by Nick Sessions’ pick-6 on the first play and a big rushing surge. Community & Causes: Albuquerque’s “For the Love of Lymphoma” fundraiser at Tractor Brewing drew locals for live music, a car show, and vendor support for Blood Cancer United. Arts & Tradition: Santa Fe’s 102nd Burning of Zozobra drew nearly 50,000 people, with Helene Luna passing the torch to Than Povi Martinez. Film Review: Adria Arjona leads A24’s “Onslaught,” a lean ’80s-style action throwback built around super-soldiers and a sniper protecting her daughter. Legal/Media: The Babylon Bee is suing New Mexico over an AI political-content disclosure law, arguing it targets satire and parody.

College Football (NM focus): UNM opens its Saturday season opener with a plan built around Central Michigan’s physical front, with Lobos defenders emphasizing early-down execution and stopping the run to force tougher third downs. ACC Spotlight: Florida State’s Labor Day matchup vs. No. 19 SMU has the Seminoles trying to steady a shaky Week 0, while SMU arrives with momentum from a strong ACC transition. Local Sports & Community: New Mexico Highlands kicks off cross country at the NMSU Art Morgan Classic, and the week’s roster roundup highlights NM-area athletes landing on college volleyball and soccer teams. Arts & Culture: Hatch Chile Festival returns for Labor Day weekend in Hatch, bringing food, music, and the state’s signature green chile. Local Governance/Environment: Silver City residents are organizing after learning about a proposed Grant County data center via a public notice, pushing for more transparency and potential action. Crime & Public Safety: A New Mexico man faces charges in the fatal shooting of his cousin after an argument over how spicy enchiladas were.

Local Arts & Culture: Santa Fe’s Zozobra returned for the 102nd burning, with Helene Luna passing the torch to dancer Than Povi Martinez as “Old Man Gloom” crumbled to ash at Fort Marcy Park. Music Spotlight: Halestorm shared a recent in-studio performance for “Ernie Ball: BIG SOUND,” previewing more tour dates after the session. Horse Racing Shakeup: Ruidoso Downs owners agreed to move the All American Futurity and other signature races to Lone Star Park in Texas starting in 2027, a major blow to New Mexico’s quarter-horse centerpiece. Sports (UNM & Beyond): UNM is leaning into a “quarterback by committee” approach ahead of its opener vs. Central Michigan, while New Mexico United looks to bounce back after an unbeaten run ended. Community & Outdoors: PEEC and New Mexico Wild host a “Wild Waters” rivers book tour stop Sept. 10 at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Election Watch: New Mexico’s KOB-TV will broadcast the Oct. 8 governor debate, with KANW rebroadcasting for wider access.