AGP Executive Report

Wolf Watch: Records show U.S. Interior officials delayed the Mexican gray wolf release of Asha after local pushback, highlighting growing rural resistance as wolf numbers rise. Local Crime: APD arrested two more suspects in the 2025 Old Town murder of Luis Ortiz, adding to a growing teen case. Book Buzz: Reviews in brief spotlight Danny Blanchflower’s authorized life story and a “lost gem” of American literature, Ladies of the Rachmaninoff Eyes. Boxing (Borderland): Stephanie Han and Albuquerque’s Holly Holm headline a big ESPN card in El Paso, with Holm promising changes after her loss; meanwhile, Amanda Serrano brings unified featherweight fire. Albuquerque Sports: Josh “Pitbull” Torres keeps chasing glory over pay as he prepares for a welterweight bout. Streaming Picks: This weekend’s binge list leans into Netflix’s The Boroughs and other fresh debuts. HBO Spotlight: Miss You, Love You lands on HBO, with Allison Janney and Andrew Rannells leading a grief drama built around an impressive long take. Housing & Costs: A new report says renters are getting hit by the property insurance crisis too, with costs often passed along. Music & Events: Adele MacConnell closes Sterling’s free concert season June 5. Podcasting: KRWG-TV hosts a public taping for Pass the Sopapillas.

Netflix & Aging Sci-Fi: “The Boroughs” is getting buzz for flipping the script on senior TV—Alfred Molina leads a retirement-center monster fight that feels like “Stranger Things” meets “Cocoon.” Local Arts Calendar: New Mexico Museum of Art’s First Friday Silent Film Series screens “The Passion of Joan of Arc” on June 5 with live musical accompaniment. Sports Spotlight: BYU’s Jane Hedengren set a facility record in the 10,000m semifinal to advance, while New Mexico’s Pamela Kosgei made a late move. Combat Sports: Holly Holm and Stephanie Han meet again in El Paso for Han’s WBA lightweight title, with Holm chasing a world-title moment after a controversial first fight. Community & Culture: “La cultura cura” highlights how Southwest culture functions like public health—connection, continuity, and collective care. Albuquerque Events: “Live at Winrock” returns as a free concert series at the Sunward Amphitheater, running through July and back in September.

UFO Watch: A New Mexico–linked wave of “unusual lights” posts (plus soucouyant talk) is sparking fresh debate over what people saw—drones, satellites, atmospheric effects, or something stranger. Film Economy: A 4 Investigates report says New Mexico’s film boom is cooling, raising questions about how long the state’s tax-incentive strategy can keep paying off for local workers and small businesses. Local Justice: Family members are demanding police reform after the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jose Armas, who reportedly called for help during a mental health crisis. Youth Addiction: Serenity Mesa Recovery Center is pushing for more teen treatment options as advocates point to rising drug addiction rates in New Mexico. Arts & Community: Village Arts’ desert-themed exhibit “Just Deserts” runs through June 13, spotlighting local and regional artists. Sports Spotlight: New Mexico United players lean on routines and video games to handle a long East Coast road trip. Public Records: The NM Supreme Court ordered disclosure of Albuquerque Public Schools records tied to a former superintendent’s resignation.

Local Arts & Community: Santa Fe honored slain University of Washington student Juniper Blessing with a celebration of life at the New Mexico School for the Arts, where family and friends shared stories of their warmth and music. Music & Culture: The New Mexico music community is mourning Al Hurricane Jr., with local performers calling his passing the end of an era for the sound that helped define the region. Film/TV Buzz: Netflix’s “The Boroughs” keeps drawing attention for its sci-fi mystery set in a New Mexico desert retirement community, with multiple takes on why it works—and why it doesn’t. Public Art: Farmington installed 20 new downtown sculptures for its 2026-27 Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, running through May 2027. Policy & Safety: New Mexico’s attorney general sued Curry and Torrance counties over ICE agreements, arguing they violate the state’s Immigrant Safety Act. Broadcast/Media Rules: The FCC’s June deadlines include Annual EEO Public File Reports due June 1 for New Mexico stations with enough employees. Entertainment Events: ABQ BioPark’s Zoo Music and Garden Music returns with interactive summer programming.

Albuquerque Arts & Culture: “Alebrijes and Nahuales” brings bright, fantastical Mexican folk-art creatures to Central Avenue this summer, with sculptures placed from 7th Street to the 8th Street roundabout and around Robinson Park. Entertainment Spotlight: Netflix’s new sci-fi mystery “The Boroughs” leans into New Mexico vibes with a retirement community full of eerie secrets—critics say it’s strong early, then drifts. Local Sports Buzz: Holly Holm (Albuquerque) and Stephanie Han (El Paso) run it back Saturday in a Most Valuable Promotions title rematch at the El Paso County Coliseum, headlining a women’s-heavy card on ESPN. State Legal/Policy: New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed lawsuits against Torrance and Curry counties over alleged “illegal ICE agreements,” tied to the state’s Immigrant Safety Act. Sports Betting Regulation: A bipartisan group of 41 AGs led by Ohio’s Dave Yost urged the CFTC to treat sports-related prediction markets as state-regulated gambling. Wildfire Economics: New research puts a price tag on prescribed burns, finding major public savings from fuel-reduction work.

Youth Nicotine Fight: New Mexico lawmakers want a more streamlined statewide approach to curb youth nicotine addiction, pointing to the need for an “overall strategy” as the Tobacco Settlement Permanent Fund is reviewed and the DOJ pushes retailer accountability. Online Kids Safety: NM AG Raúl Torrez joins a multistate coalition opposing the federal KIDS Act, warning it would weaken state power to protect children online while backing a stronger “duty of care” approach. UNM-Gallup Leadership: John Zimmerman has been appointed interim chancellor of UNM-Gallup effective July 1 as Chancellor Sabrina Ezzell prepares to retire June 30. UNM Football: Lobos QB James Laubstein is set to return for a sixth year after winning an NCAA eligibility waiver appeal. Local Arts & Culture: Albuquerque’s Richie B’s Pizza reports a second break-in in under 60 days at its new West Side location. Music & Pop Culture: Demi Lovato made a Texas stop at Buc-ee’s during her tour, and Kehlani announced a North America world tour with 33 dates. Sports Spotlight: NM State women’s golfer Emma Bunch wrapped up her NCAA Championship run in Carlsbad.

Crime Watch: Richie B’s Pizza in Albuquerque was hit by thieves for the second time in under 60 days at its new West Side spot, with broken glass and a torn-up wall after an overnight window break-in—owners say the damage suggests the burglars were trying to reach a neighboring smoke shop. Music & Pop Culture: Halestorm marked Stevie Nicks’ birthday with a live Apple Music Radio cover of “Gold Dust Woman.” Local Sports: UNM QB James Laubstein is returning for a sixth year after winning an NCAA eligibility appeal. Tech & Kids Online: New Mexico AG Nick Brown joined a bipartisan push against the KIDS Act, warning it would weaken state protections for children online while Big Tech avoids accountability. Health Care: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham expanded New Mexico’s Health Professional Loan Repayment Program to help close physician gaps across the state. Space: Rocket Lab completed its acquisition of Mars-proven robotics company Motiv Space Systems. Courtroom: A judge urged New Mexico and Meta to take a “pragmatic” approach as the bench trial phase wrapped.

Online Safety Crackdown: Connecticut AG William Tong announced a multistate investigation into Roblox after reports of child exploitation, joining the growing push for stronger online protections for kids. Legal Pressure on Big Tech: The U.S. Supreme Court also refused to hear Meta’s bid to block Vermont’s lawsuit over claims Instagram was designed to be addictive to teens—another sign courts aren’t backing off youth-safety fights. Albuquerque Music Community: Japanese punk band Peelander-Z says multiple members were seriously injured when their tour van was rear-ended by a semi-truck on I-40 east of Albuquerque; shows were canceled and a GoFundMe is underway. Local Arts & Culture: Amarillo’s AMOA is highlighting Route 66-era creativity with an exhibit featuring Ed Ruscha and Ron Cooper. Sports & School News: Aztec High School hired former player Colton Weaver as head football coach, while UNM’s new $636M medical school plan aims to double doctor training by 2030.

Legal Fallout: The DOJ unsealed a superseding indictment tied to Raúl Castro and BTTR flights, renewing scrutiny of the 1996 incident involving Cuban MiGs and humanitarian aircraft. Politics & Campaigns: New Mexico’s governor race is getting rougher, with negative campaigning hitting all five candidates. Memorial Day in NM: Communities marked the holiday with tributes and ceremonies honoring fallen service members and Gold Star families, including events at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial and local picnics/honor gatherings. Sports Spending Watch: New Mexico’s small-college basketball budgets keep coming into focus—Navajo Tech, Western New Mexico, Highlands, ENMU, and others all reported 2024 men’s or women’s basketball expenditures that often lag state averages. Local Hoops & Playoffs: UNM-area basketball and baseball headlines rolled in alongside playoff results, including Mesilla Valley Christian’s 22-run title win and Las Cruces-area teams advancing. Entertainment Buzz: Netflix’s The Boroughs keeps drawing attention for its sci-fi mystery setup and New Mexico filming ties, while Phoebe Bridgers’ surprise show in Roswell-area fans’ orbit sparked major hype.

Crime & Justice: A chilling new security video in Seattle shows Christopher Leahy repeatedly checking a laundry room minutes before he allegedly stabbed transgender student Juniper Blessing to death, then unplugging the camera; prosecutors also say he tried to enter other homes and a campus building days earlier, and Leahy now faces first-degree murder charges. Entertainment Buzz: Netflix’s The Boroughs keeps climbing—fans are now zeroing in on “Mother” as the show’s New Mexico desert setting and behind-the-scenes filming at Netflix Studios Albuquerque fuel the binge. Local Sports/Community: Memorial Day weekend travel is snarled with heavy highway traffic in Texas, while New Mexico’s own sports scene stays busy—from NCAA women’s golf cut drama to Ruidoso Derby qualifiers. Health & Safety: Summer pests are back—experts share quick ways to protect yourself from ticks and mosquitos. Wildfire Watch: New research suggests nights are offering less relief for fire crews, with more “burning hours” across the West.

Netflix’s “The Boroughs” hits New Mexico: The eight-episode sci-fi mystery drops with a desert-retirement twist, starring Alfred Molina as a grieving widower who teams up with fellow seniors to fight a monster that steals time—an “Amblin”-style vibe built by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (with Matt and Ross Duffer behind it). Local culture + community: Santa Fe Police arrested three people after a holiday-weekend operation, while Albuquerque’s New Mexico Wine Fest drew crowds for its 33rd annual run. Real-world safety and justice: Chilling new video in the Juniper Blessing case shows a killer stalking a trans UW student minutes before a laundry-room murder. Health + tech debate: UNM research says social media can be both helpful and harmful, urging simple limits like timers. Jobs boost: Eden Pharmacy’s $2.7M expansion in Albuquerque aims to add dozens of high-paying roles. Crash update: Austin punk band Peelander-Z is recovering after a New Mexico tour-van crash left members seriously injured.

Mountain West-Pac-12 Fallout: North Dakota State’s football home and the Mountain West just inched closer to ending a $155 million “poaching fees” fight with the Pac-12, with reports suggesting the settlement is likely far less than the full amount sought. Netflix in New Mexico: The state’s desert locations are front and center in Netflix’s new retiree monster mystery, “The Boroughs,” which filmed across 20+ New Mexico sites with hundreds of local workers. Local Sports: Mayfield steamrolled Las Cruces to win its first-ever 5A softball state title, 20-2 in five innings. Public Safety: A recycling plant fire in Albuquerque’s South Valley triggered a health alert as smoke moved; officials say the cause is unknown. Tech/Jobs: Eden Pharmacy is expanding in Albuquerque with a $2.7 million upgrade expected to add 45+ high-paying jobs. Arts & Science: Santa Fe’s Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is hosting a major survey of China Marks’ sewn-fabric work, while a prototype for New Mexico’s ngVLA radio telescope array has captured its first cosmic light.

Albuquerque Summer of Nonviolence: City and community leaders kicked off the third annual “Summer of Nonviolence” with a pledge drive at Manzano Mesa Park, promising free, family-friendly events like camps, pool parties, and drive-in movies to keep youth engaged and safe. Jobs & Growth: Eden Pharmacy is expanding in Albuquerque with a $2.7 million upgrade aimed at a high-tech compounding facility, projecting 45+ high-paying jobs soon and 56+ over the decade. Sports Spotlight: New Mexico United’s Kipp Keller scored late vs. Charleston Battery and celebrated with a Griddy-style dance. Fire Watch: Crews responded to a large recycling plant fire in the South Valley; officials say the cause is unknown and smoke could be a concern. Wildfire Update: A Quay County blaze burned about 60 acres on Mesa Redonda with air support underway. Entertainment Buzz: Netflix’s new sci-fi mystery “The Boroughs” is drawing attention for its Albuquerque retirement-home horror vibe, while NCAA women’s golf continues with standout scoring at the national championship.

Crime & Justice: West Mesa’s “crime hunter” coverage keeps spotlighting the grim legacy of the desert body dumps, with investigators still working to connect the dots. Local Sports: The Rockies’ injury spiral hit again—Mickey Moniak was placed on the 10-day IL with a right ankle issue, forcing roster churn as Colorado tries to keep pace in the NL West. College Athletics: UTEP’s Dylan Teeter narrowly missed nationals at NCAA men’s golf regionals despite an 11-under three-round total, finishing 6th—just one spot short of the team cut. Health & Safety: A hantavirus scare story is fueling fresh “Covid fears” online, even as experts stress the diseases aren’t the same. Tech & Courts: In New Mexico’s Meta case, the judge’s second phase continues to shape what comes next for youth-safety claims. Entertainment: Netflix’s The Boroughs keeps drawing buzz, while Phoebe Bridgers’ surprise pop-up show in Roswell has fans scrambling for tickets and proof she’s really there.

Mountainair Substance Update: New Mexico State Police say the deadly exposure that killed three and sickened dozens involved fentanyl, methamphetamine, and para-fluorofentanyl in powdered form, with 20 treated and released at UNM Hospital and two still hospitalized—investigation continues into how first responders were exposed. Meta Settles Youth Mental Health Suit: Meta has reached a settlement with Kentucky’s Breathitt County School District over claims social media was designed to be addictive and harmful to children, ending a bellwether case weeks before trial; financial terms weren’t disclosed, and similar deals with TikTok, Snap, and YouTube were reported earlier. Sports Spotlight: Texas A&M javelin transfer Zaza Nnamdi landed on the Bowerman watch list, while the Rockies placed Mickey Moniak on the injured list with right ankle tendinitis. Local Entertainment: Netflix’s The Boroughs keeps the buzz going as viewers dig into the Season 1 finale and its big cliffhanger. Weather/Weekend Plans: Memorial Day in El Paso starts hot (near 90s) with showers and thunderstorms moving in Monday.

Meta Settles Kentucky School Addiction Suit: Meta has agreed to resolve Breathitt County School District’s lawsuit over alleged social-media harms to students’ mental health, following earlier settlements by TikTok, Snap, and YouTube—terms weren’t disclosed, but the deal ends a bellwether case that was set for trial in June. New Mexico Court Push on Screen-Time Rules: The U.S. Surgeon General’s new advisory on the harms of screen use was admitted in New Mexico’s Meta trial, aligning with the state’s push for stronger changes. Mountainair Substance Deaths Still Unclear: In rural New Mexico, three people died and more than a dozen first responders were sickened after exposure to an unidentified substance; officials say autopsies and testing are underway, with no confirmed cause yet. Big Bend Border Wall Update: A clearer plan is emerging for a 175-mile stretch in West Texas, split into three projects with 30-foot steel bollards and contracts already awarded. Streaming Buzz: Netflix’s “The Boroughs” is drawing comparisons to “Stranger Things,” but with a retirement-community twist.