AGP Executive Report

Streaming & TV: Apple TV’s “Your Friends & Neighbors” is beefing up Season 3 with recurring roles for Rick Cosnett, Sydney Lemmon, Mitchell Hoog and Gillian Zinser, joining Joshua Jackson and Michelle Monaghan. Sci-fi on screen: EW’s “Disclosure Day” review spotlights Eve Hewson and Spielberg’s sprawling alien-security mashup, praising the fun while noting the film’s sprawl. Netflix fandom: “The Boroughs” keeps rewarding rewatchers, with a season 1 deep-dive pointing to hidden clues and genre nods. Music (NM stop): Goblin metal crew NEKROGOBLIKON announce a fall 2026 tour that includes Albuquerque (Oct. 17). Local sports: Kirtland Central’s Hayden Dan is honored after back-to-back NMAA Class 4A golf runner-up finishes. Politics & media: New Mexico’s independent governor candidate sues over ballot access signature rules, calling the burden “unjust.”

Screwworm Alert: Federal officials confirmed new New World screwworm cases, including a dog in Lea County, New Mexico, as Texas detections climb—raising alarms for livestock, pets, and wildlife and prompting tighter surveillance. UNM Sports: Thayer Plewe’s U.S. Open qualifying run ended one stroke short after a late double bogey, while UNM’s Wyatt Provence missed the cut in Oregon. Local Soccer: New Mexico United dominated Phoenix Rising 4-0 at home, with Valentin Noël scoring and Dennis Sanchez praising the team’s second-half surge. College Baseball: Texas A&M added WKU transfer Lane Arroyos, a former New Mexico Junior College standout, boosting its infield depth. Film & TV Buzz: Las Cruces made Cannes with I’ll Be Gone in June, and Netflix’s The Boroughs continues to spark conversation about its monster-filled retirement community. Arts & Culture: History Colorado highlights June programming, including LGBTQ+ Pride exhibits and fresh museum displays.

Indie Film Buzz (NM): “Road to Everywhere” opens in theaters June 17, rolling into Albuquerque (July 30) and Santa Fe (Aug. 7). The coming-of-age drama follows a cab driver who helps a casino dealer return to the Navajo Nation after 30 years, and it’s built around a rare 30-year cast reunion tied to the 1996 film “Driven,” with opening-night events featuring live music from star Robert Mirabal and his band. Wrongful Death (Silver City): Nichelle Nichols’ family won a $13 million wrongful death verdict in a lawsuit against Gila Medical Center, alleging negligent care of her heart condition. Streaming (Southwest): Telemundo Station Group launches “Noticias Telemundo Suroeste,” a 24/7 Spanish-language FAST channel covering Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado. Local Arts/Community: Luna Community College revives its 17th Annual Car Show on June 13 in hopes of boosting student scholarships. Weather Safety (NM): National Weather Service kicks off Monsoon Awareness Week with tips on heat, flash flooding, lightning, and dust storms. Music (ABQ): Frankie Valli cancels the rest of his 2026 Four Seasons farewell tour dates due to health concerns.

Local Arts & Tech: Santa Fe’s Currents New Media returns June 12–21 with 53 art-and-technology works across El Museo Cultural and seven other sites, including immersive VR, robotics, and code-based installations. Streaming Spotlight: Netflix’s new sci-fi hit The Boroughs was filmed in New Mexico, with the show built from scratch on an Albuquerque backlot—bringing a retirement-community mystery that flips the “Stranger Things” vibe. Music in Albuquerque: Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band play the Kiva Auditorium Monday, mixing classic fan favorites with newer material from “Long Long Road.” UNM Track: UNM sprinter Taniya Looney heads to the NCAA outdoor championships in Oregon after a breakthrough run that turned her “prayer board” into a real ticket. Sports & Community: UNM and Visit Albuquerque are pushing to bring NCAA Tournament preliminary-round games to Albuquerque’s Pit. Entertainment & Culture: A new profile highlights Los Angeles artist Alex Israel ’00, tracing how his New Mexico roots and early art training helped shape his contemporary career.

Netflix & New Mexico Film Buzz: The new sci-fi series “The Boroughs” is streaming now, and Netflix built its retirement-community set from scratch on an Albuquerque backlot—turning a desert enclave into a monster-filled mystery that puts seniors front and center. Santa Fe Arts Tech: Currents New Media returns to Santa Fe June 12–21 with immersive art and tech across multiple venues, including VR, robotics, and code-based installations. Local Arts Spotlight: An IN REVIEW look at Santa Fe’s Swoon exhibition highlights the street-artist’s latest twist on everyday “oracle” imagery. Festival Weekend: Vino in the Valley brings wine, art, and live music to Red River June 19–21 at Brandenburg Park. Prep Sports Policy: The NMAA is moving toward a referendum on a proposed “one-time” transfer eligibility rule, with schools voting by June 19. Community & Sports: Albuquerque’s new bikeways/trails map drops, and Bosque Bee returns as an adult spelling competition benefiting literacy tutoring. Entertainment Industry Loss: Albuquerque’s puppet-maker Michael McCormick—known for work on “The Dark Crystal” and “Return of the Jedi”—has died at 85.

Local Arts & Culture: Albuquerque’s Indigo Theater and KickStart Cafe team up for a special June 9 night pairing the documentary The Nine Lives of Barbara Dane (with local live music by Jill Jones and Wade Knight). Pop Culture & Film: A new look at David Bowie’s darkest era spotlights the film that helped him claw back—plus Netflix’s weekend viewing push highlights The Boroughs, a sci-fi thriller set in the New Mexico desert that’s already racked up huge numbers. Entertainment Industry News: Groundbreaking Albuquerque puppet-maker Michael McCormick—known for work on The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and Return of the Jedi—has died at 85. Sports & Community: The NMAA board advances a “one-time” transfer eligibility change, with schools voting by June 19; and local prep standouts shine at the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic at UNM. Family Fun: Six Flags Magic Mountain’s revamped Looney Tunes Land is now open, bringing new attractions and character experiences.

UNM Lobos Basketball: Federico Grani, a 6-foot-9 Italian forward, is the latest UNM signing for 2026-27, praising coach Eric Olen’s fast, dynamic offense and pick-and-pop continuity. Local Sports Spotlight: Farmington’s Hannah Yazzie keeps stacking wins, entering her senior year as a reigning state doubles champion after a comeback title run. Community Calendar: Bernalillo County’s free “Evening in Paradise” returns to Paradise Hills Park with live music, crafts, games, and a Movies in the Park screening of “Goat.” Music & Touring: Riley Green adds fresh fall 2026 dates to his “Cowboy As It Gets” tour, including a stop in Albuquerque. Baseball: The Brewers send Jacob Misiorowski to the mound as they try to keep momentum going against the Rockies. Arts & Entertainment: “The Boroughs,” Netflix’s Stranger Things-adjacent sci-fi mystery set in a New Mexico retirement community, is drawing buzz for its eerie local-feeling filming locations. Health & Safety: Federal USDA funding up to $1M is headed to Mora and San Miguel counties for post-fire drinking water contamination repairs. Big Court Moment: Nichelle Nichols’ estate was awarded $13M in a wrongful death verdict tied to alleged cardiac care failures at Gila Regional Medical Center.

Local Sports & Community: Albuquerque’s Duke City BMX hosted the USA BMX Spring Nationals, a three-day event drawing riders from ages 3 to 60-plus and turning the track into a home-base for national talent. College Athletics: UNM’s Lobo Crossing retail and dining development broke ground on South Campus, aiming to expand the sports-and-entertainment district with Target as an anchor and a projected fall 2027 finish. USL Cup Soccer: New Mexico United resumes USL Cup group play Saturday, setting up a key Round 3 matchup as Phoenix Rising visits and the standings tighten in Group 2. Boxing & Combat Sports: Katie Taylor has booked her retirement fight for Sept. 5 in Dublin against France’s Flora Pili, leaving Albuquerque’s Holly Holm searching for her next “big fight.” Arts & Culture: “The Boroughs,” Netflix’s supernatural mystery set in a New Mexico community, is drawing buzz for its desert-real locations and small-town unease. Entertainment & Film: “Bleak Week” returns as a film-festival counterpunch to feel-good fare, leaning into “cinema of despair.” Health & Safety: Credit unions across New Mexico are warning members as fraud cases rise, urging extra caution with account PINs and phone “bank agent” scams.

El Paso Water vs. AI: With Elephant Butte Reservoir critically low, El Pasoans are pushing back on Meta’s planned hyperscale AI data center, arguing it doesn’t belong in a drought-stressed region—even as the utility points to desalination, reuse, and groundwater projects plus Meta’s promises of conservation and major investment. New Mexico Primary Results: Deb Haaland won the Democratic nomination for governor, setting up a November showdown with Gregg Hull after Tuesday’s primary results. Gila Cattle Lawsuit Tossed: A federal appeals court dismissed a challenge to the U.S. Forest Service’s aerial shooting of feral cattle in the Gila Wilderness, saying the dispute is moot after the agency withdrew the authorization. Kalshi in the Crosshairs: New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit against Kalshi over alleged illegal sports betting, adding to the growing legal fight around prediction-market gambling. Art & AI Controversy: An AI “color recreation” of an Ansel Adams image is sparking backlash after it appeared for sale at a New York photo art fair. Route 66 Culture: Gallup is spotlighting Route 66’s legacy with “66 Artists” showcasing Indigenous interpretations of the centennial-era roadway.

Sports Betting Legal Fight: New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez sued Kalshi, arguing the prediction-market app operates like illegal sports betting and violates state gaming laws—following a federal challenge by NM pueblos and the Mescalero Apache Tribe. Local Sports & Community: The New Mexico Activities Association board approved a revamped eligibility bylaw that includes a “one free transfer” rule, with schools voting and a June 22 result date. Hockey in Rio Rancho: The New Mexico Goatheads named McDermott Athletic Center as their official practice home, with upgrades planned like locker rooms and a refurbished ice surface. Music & Live Theater: The Jim Henson Company announced the second national tour of “Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE,” launching Sept. 18 with 40+ stops. Arts & Culture: Silver City’s Silco Theatre closed June 1 for renovations to expand live-theater use while keeping movie concessions running.

New Netflix sci-fi buzz: “Stranger Things” creators Matt and Ross Duffer are back with “The Boroughs,” a new Netflix hit about a gated community of seniors in the New Mexico desert facing a monster mystery—already No. 1 on Netflix’s English chart and topping charts in dozens of countries. Local arts & culture: Violet Grohl announced her “Be Sweet To Me” tour, with North American dates including Albuquerque, plus European stops starting this summer. Music in the spotlight: Hermanos Gutiérrez confirmed their new album “Los Ojos Del Cóndor” (Sept. 25) and shared the “Canto Andino” video. Community health: Renew Health is expanding online rehab and outpatient addiction treatment in New Mexico as overdose concerns grow. Public safety/legal: Santa Fe’s assistant city attorney, Kevin Nault, was charged with child abuse tied to a 2023 incident involving his teenage stepson. Entertainment & local history: A photographer’s project is preserving 1,200+ American movie theaters before they disappear.

Local Politics & Culture: Albuquerque Islamic Center asked Bernalillo County to defer an appeal hearing over a proposed North Valley mosque, citing safety concerns after a heated meeting drew chants and backlash over noise, traffic, and fears tied to Sharia. Community Cash & Cannabis: Albuquerque is funding a guaranteed basic income pilot through its recreational cannabis tax and wants to make it permanent, arguing it stabilizes households. Public Health Alert: USDA confirmed a New World screwworm fly in a calf in Zavala County, Texas, the first U.S. livestock detection in decades, as officials move to contain and eradicate. Arts Calendar: Las Vegas First launches its free First Fridays Arts Walk season June 5 with a seven-month run highlighting local galleries, musicians, and family-friendly events. Sports & Entertainment: The 2026-27 college football bowl and CFP schedule is set, including a Christmas Eve New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 24) and a Puerto Rico Bowl added to the lineup. Education & Local Spotlight: NMHU’s Board of Regents terminated President Neil Woolf, with Woolf alleging retaliation tied to a contract and state funds. LGBTQ Night Out: Los Alamos Elks Lodge hosts a shadow-cast “Rocky Horror Picture Show” June 5-6 and 19-20, with Pride Week performances and proceeds benefiting a New Mexico transgender support group.

New Mexico Politics: Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland won the Democratic nomination for governor, setting up a November showdown with Republican Gregg Hull. California Watch: In the Golden State’s jungle primary, Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra led early vote counts for governor, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass advanced to a runoff for mayor. Concert Culture: Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders roasted concert phone use on Instagram, calling it “mosquito buzzing,” after Phoebe Bridgers previously went phone-free in New Mexico. Screen & Local Production: Netflix’s sci-fi mystery “The Boroughs” is getting built from the ground up at Netflix Studios Albuquerque, turning neighborhoods and storefronts into show sets. Public Safety: A new study highlights how rear-end crashes are still killing thousands nationwide, with New Mexico listed among higher-risk states. Community & Health: Porch Light Health launched Porch Light Health University, expanding practical addiction-medicine training. Local Environment: Firefighters battled a second blaze at a South Valley recycling site in a month, prompting smoke alerts for Albuquerque-Bernalillo County residents. Arts & Community: New Mexico MainStreet’s Resilient Communities Fund grants are rolling out to help revitalize downtowns across the state.

New Mexico Politics: Deb Haaland has won the Democratic nomination for governor, beating Albuquerque DA Sam Bregman and setting up a November matchup against Republican Gregg Hull, with Haaland promising lower costs, safer communities, and expanded healthcare. Local Fire & Air Quality: A second blaze hit the South Valley recycling plant in less than a month, sending thick smoke over Albuquerque and triggering a health alert and road closures. Space & Science: Sandia National Laboratories tested NASA heat-shield materials tied to Mars Sample Return, pushing aerospace tech for extreme reentry conditions. Missing Lab Worker: Los Alamos National Laboratory employee Melissa Casias—missing since 2025—was found dead in Carson National Forest; investigators say a handgun was recovered, with cause still pending. Arts & Entertainment (National): A “Bleak Week” film festival is leaning into “cinema of despair,” while TV composers discuss how they’re scoring Emmy-contending longform shows. Sports (NM ties): Former UNM tennis players Albie Huang and Nico Acevedo are finding new success in pro pickleball.

Tour News (Metal): Motionless In White added a 14-date fall North American leg of The Sweat And Blood Tour, starting Oct. 30 in Worcester and running through Nov. 20 in Pittsburgh, with Lorna Shore, Fit For A King and Static Dress on summer dates and Dayseeker, The Devil Wears Prada and Dark Divine joining the fall lineup. Local Live Music (Albuquerque): Hatebreed will headline the second leg of Summer Slaughter Tour, kicking off Aug. 20 at El Rey in Albuquerque and ending Sept. 13 in Norwalk, CT. TV Buzz (New Mexico ties): Vince Gilligan says Rhea Seehorn could lead “any show on television,” praising her range and work ethic. Film Culture: Bleak Week, a “cinema of despair” festival that started in L.A., has gone global with screenings in 100 theaters across 73 cities. Community & Health (NM): Renew Health expanded online addiction counseling in New Mexico, adding telehealth options for intensive outpatient care and medication-assisted treatment. Sports (Aztec softball): Aztec High’s Kamora Henry helped the Tigers reach the Class 4A state runner-up finish.

AI & Accountability: Florida sued OpenAI and Sam Altman, arguing ChatGPT was marketed as safe while allegedly failing to reliably protect users. Local Arts & Culture: Albuquerque’s free “Summertime in Old Town” concert series returns June 5–July 26 with flamenco, mariachi, blues, jazz, reggae and more. Tragic Local Mystery: New Mexico State Police identified the remains of Los Alamos National Laboratory worker Melissa Casias, missing since June 2025, found in Carson National Forest with a handgun nearby. UNM Sports: UNM announced themes for six home football games this fall, including a “Real Ones” opener and Hispanic Heritage Night. Primary Day Info: New Mexico’s semi-open primary is underway Tuesday, with officials noting early/absentee turnout topping 181,900 voters. Entertainment Watch: Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are married, according to London officials. What to Stream: Netflix’s “The Boroughs” is drawing comparisons to “Stranger Things” for its setting and mystery-driven setup.