AGP Executive Report

Meta Trial: A landmark federal case in Oakland is putting Meta’s child-safety practices on trial, with states arguing the company’s “hook, hold, harvest, hide” model is built to keep kids engaged while collecting their data. Entertainment Business: Paramount fired back at Mark Ruffalo after his merger rant, calling out “antisemitic tropes” and urging a lower temperature in the fight over the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal. Local Sports (NM): UNM football players Brett Karhu and Azariah Levells are now in eligibility limbo after the NCAA won a stay in the Wisne case, pausing their countable athletic activity while updates roll in. College Hoops: Donovan Dent, once a UNM standout, says he intends to play this season at LSU after a court kept him eligible amid the NCAA chaos. Music: Deathcore band Signs of the Swarm plans a “Dragula” cover featuring special guests, with a big Albuquerque stop on the way. Sports Betting (Regional): DraftKings and ProphetX promos are pushing NFL preseason prediction markets, including Cowboys-Cardinals and Eagles-Patriots.

Meta Trial: In Oakland, prosecutors say Meta’s “hook, hold, harvest, hide” model was built to keep kids hooked on Facebook and Instagram, with states seeking massive penalties as the landmark child-safety case unfolds. Local Sports: UNM fall camp is down to a quarterback race after its second scrimmage, with Luke Moga, Toa Fa’avae and James Laubstein all getting first-team reps. College Hoops: Donovan Dent is headed to LSU after a court fight kept him eligible, adding a proven playmaker to Will Wade’s rebuild. Pro Soccer: New Mexico United adds keeper depth with Andrew Pannenberg on a short contract as the club heads to Loudoun. High School Spotlight: La Cueva’s Devyn Williams exploded in his first start, posting 109 yards and two TDs in a rivalry win. Local Tech & Privacy: Taos residents are joining a national push against Flock license-plate reader surveillance. Entertainment Picks: Netflix is set to remove 79 movies on Sept. 1, including “Creed,” so viewers are urged to stream now.

Energy & Land Rights: Wyoming ranchers say a federal move could end BLM notifications about drilling under private land, leaving split-estate owners with fewer ways to track pipelines and “orphaned” well leaks. Public Health: The FDA upgraded a massive egg recall to its highest-risk level for salmonella; affected products shipped to retailers including New Mexico. Food Safety: A roundup of recent recalls spans jalapeños, guacamole, salsa, and more as salmonella concerns ripple through kitchens. Tech & Kids: Meta’s landmark child-safety trial continues as 29 states seek up to $1.4T, arguing Facebook/Instagram design features are built to hook young users. Local Sports: UNM volleyball readies for the 2026-27 season after a coaching shakeup and a Europe tour, while UNM football’s Mountain West opener vs. Nevada has Lobos pegged as title contenders. Community & Culture: The Santa Fe Indian Market’s top honors included a Best in Show pottery win, and the New Mexico State Fair is now taking auditions for national anthem singers at PRCA rodeo events. Weather & Water: New Mexico’s rivers and reservoirs are running low, with algae issues keeping some popular waters off-limits.

Meta Trial Watch: 29 US states are taking Meta to court in Oakland over claims Facebook and Instagram were engineered to hook kids, with penalties potentially reaching $1.4T and major questions about product design and youth safety. Local Sports: Sandia routed Cibola 49-6 in a rain-delayed opener, while UNM volleyball kicks off preseason play at the Pit after a demanding offseason. Mountain West Shakeup: A reshaped Mountain West faces a pivotal season after five programs bolt for the Pac-12, leaving New Mexico and others chasing the title. Music & Live Shows: Staind is releasing complete “Break The Cycle” live footage for its 25th anniversary and rolling into a fall tour. New Mexico Community: Rep. Melanie Stansbury announced $7.6M in federal housing funding for Albuquerque-area homeless youth, seniors, veterans, and families. Data Center Backlash: Oracle’s “Project Jupiter” PR push is drawing fresh scrutiny as locals question secrecy and community impact. Prep Football: Sandia’s transfer-heavy roster looked sharp in the season opener despite weather disruptions.

Meta Trial Watch: A landmark federal case over alleged social media addiction and child safety is underway, with states arguing Meta designed Instagram and Facebook to keep kids hooked—while Meta denies wrongdoing and warns of massive potential penalties. Local Arts Education: NMArt is expanding its arts-integration teacher training to Las Vegas schools, adding new workshops for 2026-27 with support from local partners. Film & TV in New Mexico: A new report finds New Mexico’s production spending has dropped since the streaming boom and strikes, but points to a “silver lining” as projects adapt. Meow Wolf Buzz: Meow Wolf’s next immersive stop—Los Angeles—will open in late 2026 and leans into a cinema-themed experience with a Titmouse partnership. Sports & Community: The New Mexico State Fair brings back the Country Store and daily Reds/Whites/Brews happy hours, while local events keep rolling—from band festivals to youth programs.

Meta Child-Safety Trial: A former Meta engineering director testified in Oakland that Instagram’s approach to kids under 13 was “don’t ask, don’t tell,” alleging Zuckerberg prioritized growth over safety as states seek up to $1.4 trillion in penalties and major platform changes. Local Arts & Culture: Santa Fe Indian Market returned with standout Native art and fashion, including Best of Show for Sergio Youngblood Lugo and major category winners across pottery, textiles, sculpture, and youth work. Community Events: Rio Rancho’s “Sunday is Funday” drew an estimated 6,500 people to Haynes Park, with live music, mascots, and a big mayor-led community vibe. Music in New Mexico: Raton’s 11th annual Gate City Music Festival lands Sept. 5-6 with free outdoor shows plus a Sunday night Exile concert at the Shuler Theater. Sports & Eligibility: Former UNM kicker Luke Drzewiecki won a temporary restraining order to pursue a fifth college season, as he challenges the NCAA’s age-based eligibility rules. Local Infrastructure: Truth or Consequences reopened Foch Street after a revitalization project funded by New Mexico MainStreet Capital Outlay, with a ribbon-cutting planned for Sept. 12.

Meta Trial: A former Meta safety director testified that Mark Zuckerberg treated child safety as “secondary” to growth and engagement, as 29 states pursue sweeping changes and penalties over claims Facebook and Instagram are designed to hook kids. FDA Shake-Up: President Trump nominated Dr. Heidi Overton, a UNM alum and White House health adviser, to lead the FDA, drawing immediate scrutiny given her past vaccine comments. Local Media Business: HD Media LLC bought The Bryan Times and other Midwest publications from AIM Media, with the ownership change set to take effect Sept. 1. New Mexico Arts & Community: The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center marked its 50th anniversary with free events, Pueblo performances, and Pueblo Stories on Screen. State Fair Logistics: New Mexico State Fair launched a Park and Ride flash sale—$15 tickets with admission and round-trip bus rides. Sports & Campus: UNM Club Sports keeps expanding with more than 30 student-led organizations and a new annual Club Sports Day. Local Crime Update: An RRPD report suggests the 2024 shooting death of teen Adrian Maestas stemmed from a juvenile gang dispute.

Meta Trial in Oakland: A landmark federal case opened Tuesday as 29 states accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to keep children hooked, citing internal work like “The Young Ones Are The Best Ones,” plus claims Meta violated COPPA by collecting under-13 data without parental consent; California’s deputy AG Megan O’Neill told jurors Meta’s model was to “hook, hold, harvest, and hide,” while Meta denies the allegations and says safeguards exist. New Mexico Arts & Entertainment: The teen movie “Olmo,” set in 1970s New Mexico, is now opening nationwide. Music Spotlight: Texas progressive metalcore band Fervence released the “Zenith” video ahead of its Oct. 16 album “Constructs.” Local Culture Calendar: Tickets are on sale for the 10th annual Placitas Garden Tour on Sept. 13. Tech & Science (NM): Sandia researchers used reinforcement learning to teach drones to play tag, aiming at faster, safer autonomous systems. School Safety (ABQ): Albuquerque Public Schools installed 93 vape detectors in high school bathrooms as part of a prevention-first effort. Sports (NM): UNM coach Jason Eck says a starting QB decision is coming soon as fall camp winds down.

Meta Trial: A landmark federal case in Oakland kicked off Tuesday as 29 states accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive for kids and teens, while allegedly hiding internal research and mishandling children’s data—opening statements framed Meta’s model as “hook, hold, harvest, and hide.” Navajo Code Talker Museum: New Mexico’s plan for a scaled-down Code Talkers museum is drawing sharp backlash from descendants, who call it an “overstep” after officials moved the project to a site near Farmington instead of the Navajo Nation. Local Arts & Culture: In Truth or Consequences, The Consequences (Chris Gennari and T Xiques) are building a genre-bending sound rooted in community and long musical journeys. Sports Spotlight: East Carolina RB Ashton Gray landed on the 2026 Doak Walker Award watch list, adding another name to the preseason buzz. Music: Hatebreed and Dixxon released a limited-edition “Supremacy” flannel for the band’s 20-year anniversary. Community Campus Life: WNMU kicked off fall semester with welcome events aimed at getting students plugged into campus life.

Meta Trial: Meta is set to defend itself in Oakland, California, against a landmark youth-safety lawsuit from 29 states alleging Facebook and Instagram were engineered to be addictive and that the company mishandled data from kids under 13; plaintiffs are seeking up to $1.4 trillion in damages and sweeping changes to app design, with Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri among potential witnesses. New Mexico Angle: The case comes as New Mexico’s AG Raul Torrez pushes new online safety bills after a major Meta ruling in the state, and the federal fight is expected to shape what happens next nationwide. Local Arts & Food: Albuquerque’s Nob Hill staple Waffletopia is closing after more than a decade, citing health issues and a tough economy. Music: Phoebe Bridgers returns from a three-year hiatus with “Lost Weekend,” leaning into quieter, darker songwriting. Sports: New Mexico high school football Week 1 is here with top matchups and storylines across the state. Rail Tourism: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad announces new fall-themed excursions, including an Oktoberfest Express and a Wagon Train.

Youth Social Media Trial: Meta heads to a landmark Oakland courtroom fight Tuesday as dozens of states accuse Facebook and Instagram of engineering addictive features for minors, with claims that could reach $1.4 trillion. New Mexico Fallout: A New Mexico judge already ordered Meta to pay $567 million for harm to children’s mental health and to impose major platform changes, including limits on accounts and teen notifications. Local Sports Buzz: UNM’s Lobos earned a rare preseason AP Top 25 vote (No. 22 on one ballot), while college football’s preseason rankings keep rolling out nationwide. Albuquerque Baseball Fun: The Isotopes’ home homestand kicks off with themed nights like Lowrider Night and Sesame Street Day, plus fireworks and live music. Arts & Community: Sandia Heights Artists open home studios for a free September tour, and a new Sandia Heights art crawl spotlights local makers across multiple mediums. Food & Neighborhood: My Moms favorites are returning to the Downtown scene via SRB Sangwich Shop at Marble Brewery.

Courtroom Drama (Meta): A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million over harm to children’s mental health, calling Facebook/Instagram a “public nuisance” and directing changes like deleting accounts under 13 and tightening teen notifications and “like” visibility. Big Trial Watch (US states vs. Meta): The multistate case heads to a federal jury trial in California this week, with states seeking up to $1.4 trillion and pushing for major product overhauls (parental verification, limits on autoplay/infinite scroll, and changes to recommendations). Local Culture (Route 66): The Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit lands at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe Aug. 28–30, adding a Route 66 recording station and a documentary preview. Arts & Neighborhoods (ABQ): Downtown Albuquerque rolls out three new walking tours spotlighting historic buildings, public art, and galleries. Sports (ABQ golf): Alexander Zannes wins the Greater Albuquerque Men’s City Golf Championship, reclaiming the trophy after a long break from the game. Wildfire Update (Santa Fe area): The Frijoles Fire update reports 9,338 acres and 12% containment, with a community meeting set for Aug. 18.

Meta Youth Trial: A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a children’s mental health fund, calling Facebook/Instagram a “public nuisance” and ordering account deletions for users under 13 plus tighter minor protections. Big Tech Regulation: A Reuters/Ipsos poll finds 61% of Americans back stronger social media rules and 66% support age-verification laws to keep kids under 16 off platforms, despite concerns that verification tech can misidentify teens and create hackable “honeypots.” Local Arts & Culture: Downtown Albuquerque’s Arts & Cultural District rolled out three new walking tours spotlighting historic buildings, public art, and galleries. Route 66 Spotlight: The Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit heads to Santa Fe for Aug. 28–30 with expanded hands-on activities and a new documentary preview. Music in NM: Taos-born singer Max Gomez and Howe Gelb bring the “Desert Companion Tour” to off-the-beaten-path New Mexico venues this month. Community & Safety: Police say a teen admitted planning to livestream a shooting threat tied to Santa Rosa Middle School, with firearms found during the investigation.

Meta Child-Safety Ruling: A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a children’s mental health fund, calling Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp a “public nuisance” and ordering changes like deleting accounts under 13 and limiting minors’ notifications and visible “like” counts. Local Tech & Policy: The same broader push for tighter social media oversight is echoed in a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing strong bipartisan support for age-verification laws for teens, even as critics warn verification data can become a hacker target. New Mexico Sports: New Mexico United’s Greg Hurst scored the 83rd-minute winner on a penalty kick to beat FC Tulsa 1-0 and move the club into second in the West. UNM Basketball: UNM unveiled a logo and video for the Pit’s 60th anniversary season, with “The Pit — Powered by Nusenda” branding. Music Spotlight: Phoebe Bridgers returns with “Lost Weekend,” a comeback album shaped by grief, love, and the choice to step away from the industry. Wildfire Updates: Frijoles Fire operations held steady with 8,921 acres and 12% containment, with readiness plans and ongoing smoke and weather notes for Santa Fe-area communities. Prep Football: District 2-6A gets even tougher as Eldorado and Volcano Vista join, reshaping Week 1 matchups across Albuquerque and Las Cruces.

Meta Youth Lawsuit Fallout (NM): A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a children’s mental health fund, calling the platforms a “public nuisance” and directing changes like deleting accounts under 13 and limiting minors’ notifications. Democratic 2028 Primary Shuffle: The DNC approved a new early nominating calendar with South Carolina first and New Mexico fourth (Feb. 15), pushing Iowa and New Hampshire out of the top two. Local Politics (NM): A New Mexico AG candidate blasts Raúl Torrez for outsourcing the Meta case to an out-of-state firm that could earn up to $68 million in fees. Entertainment & Community (El Paso): Santana and the Doobie Brothers hit El Paso this weekend, with DJ Zhu and drag events also on the calendar. Local Business (Albuquerque): Frozen Fix Ice Cream opened on the Northeast Heights, leaning into bold small-batch flavors like mango chipotle. Arts & Culture (LA): Land artist Lita Albuquerque will discuss her work at MOCA Grand Avenue in September.

Local Arts & Culture: At the 104th Santa Fe Indian Market, Gen X and Millennial potters are pushing tradition forward with bold, imaginative new approaches to pottery. Music: Chicago punk band Rise Against drops two new singles, “Katy Bar The Door” and “Living Undercover,” leaning into resistance and hidden-power themes. Film & TV: Apple TV’s sci-fi hit “Pluribus” is moving toward Season 2, with writers mapping the story and filming expected to start soon. Sports (NM): New Mexico United hosts FC Tulsa at Isotopes Park with both sides chasing momentum ahead of Saturday’s match. Sports (NM): UNM football holds its first fall scrimmage with live quarterbacks Luke Moga and Toa Fa’avae set to be a key storyline. Sports (Hockey): The New Mexico Goatheads add Dakota Seaman and Jake Chiasson as their roster keeps filling out for the inaugural season. Community Events: A new teen grief support group launches at Family Strengths Network in Albuquerque, starting Aug. 20. Western Fun: Ruidoso’s Sierra Blanca Pack Burro Race returns Aug. 22, pairing runners with burros for a quirky, challenging course. Legal/Tech (NM impact): A New Mexico judge orders Meta to pay $567 million over harm to children’s mental health, with the company planning to appeal.