News

By Andy Lyman

Albuquerque, NM – The Las Conchas wildfire continues to burn, but is no longer an immediate threat to Los Alamos National Laboratory. The lab re-opened today after being closed for more than a week. Smoke can still be seen from Los Alamos.

By Sarah Gustavus

Albuquerque, NM – As our neighboring states of Arizona and Texas draw national attention over controversial policies to crack down on undocumented immigrants. New Mexico has remained relatively calm - even under the radar - in the national conversation.

In the first part of a series this week on immigration policy, we look at what makes our state different.

By Sarah Gustavus

By Andy Lyman

Albuquerque, New Mexico –

By Jim Williams

Santa Fe, NM – The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market last year drew over 22-thousand people, the largest crowd in the history of the annual event on Museum Hill. It did so based on the work of 132 artists from 50 countries.

This year, 180 artists will showcase their craft. Market organizers have literally been traveling the globe over the past year to find new work to present.

By Sarah Gustavus

By Candace Murphy

Albuquerque, New Mexico – One story at a time, StoryCorps Historias is recording the Latino stories and voices of our time. 24-year-old Natalie Romero has had her share of problems in life, including becoming a young single mother of two, and losing her father to drug addiction. In this interview with her grandmother, Nancy Gonzales, Natalie gets plenty of advice about life, love and the importance of hard work and perseverance. First, Nancy recalls how her childhood ended too soon.
 

By Jim Williams

Santa Fe, New Mexico – The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market last year drew over 22-thousand people, the largest crowd in the history of the annual event on Museum Hill. It did so based on the work of 132 artists from 50 countries. This year, 180 artists will showcase their craft. As KUNM's Jim Williams reports, the Market's organizers have literally been traveling the globe over the past year to find new work to present.
 

Sat. 7/9 at 7pm: Nine-time All Ireland Fiddle Champion (and once on the Banjo, too), this Bronx-born Irish American fiddler set the stage for a whole new sound in Irish music. Tune in for her fantastic performance recorded live at the Moab Folk Festival.

Sat. 7/9 at 2pm: Join us to celebrate Argentinian Independence Day, featuring music from Argentina and other Latin music. Listen, and enjoy!

Host: Cristina Baccin

By Sarah Gustavus

Albuquerque, NM – In today's Friday Business Report, Megan Kamerick from the New Mexico Business Weekly tells us about the increased popularity of farm to restaurant programs around the state.

By Elaine Baumgartel

Albuquerque, NM –

For the latest fire information from NM Fire Info or the INCIWEB.org site.

Check out the Wildfire Latest News Interactive Map of Active Wildfires.

Thurs. 7/7 at noon: Today we'll be talking via telephone with pianist Connie Crothers from her loft studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York.

By Sarah Gustavus

Los Alamos, NM – Thick smoke from the Las Conchas wildfire filled the empty streets of Los Alamos today. Most of the town's 12-thousand residents left during mandatory evacuations yesterday. That's turned attention to the safety of radioactive and hazardous materials stored at nearby Los Alamos National Laboratory. A one acre spot fire jumped a road onto lab property Monday, but was put out.

By Sarah Gustavus

Albuquerque, NM –
As wildfires rage in New Mexico, many people are asking why fireworks are still available for the upcoming 4th of July weekend. New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez has been saying the same thing for days "Please, do not purchase or use fireworks during the season. Be a good patriot go to a public event where it is safe."

By Sarah Gustavus

Los Alamos, NM – The Las Conchas fire started last Sunday afternoon. It grew rapidly, fueled by strong winds and low humidity. It continues to move closer to Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Officials at the lab say that sensitive nuclear materials are still safe. Firefighters burned out black lines in the grass to keep the fire away from the lab as it continues to push north and east.

The lab will remain closed at least through Friday.

By Sarah Gustavus

Albuquerque, New Mexico – As wildfires rage in New Mexico, many people are asking why fireworks are still available for the upcoming 4th of July weekend. KUNM's Sarah Gustavus reports on how one business voluntarily pulled fireworks from their stores this week.
 

By Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez

Albuquerque, New Mexico – Arizona is doing all it can to save an endangered species from one of Arizona's wildfires. Arizona Department of Game and Fish officials say the leopard frog's habitat could be threatened and their removal from the area is vital to their survival.
Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez reports from Phoenix for the Fronteras Changing America Desk.

By Albuquerque, New Mexico

Patrick Terpstra –
The federal government is about to launch a study with implications for the oil and gas industry in New Mexico. KUNM Capitol reporter Patrick Terpstra is following developments from Washington DC.
 

By Mary Kay Mallonee

Albuquerque, New Mexico – Senate Democrats are pushing to pass an immigration law that would help the children of illegal immigrants go to American colleges. Mary Kay Mallonee reports from Washington on a heated Senate hearing where Republicans pushed back saying the bill is full of dangerous loopholes.
 

By Elaine Baumgartel

Albuquerque, NM – The Espanola Animal Shelter is receiving animal evacuees from the Las Conchas fire and Los Alamos. They are accepting dogs, cats and caged pets from people who have evacuated Los Alamos and surrounding areas. The shelter is serving as a staging area for poultry, horses, donkeys, goats and sheep in small numbers.

The shelter is accepting donations of dry food, non-clumping cat litter, bowls, crates, litter boxes, and towels. Volunteers may be needed for walking, cleaning, and feeding the animals.

By Sarah Gustavus

Los Alamos, NM – The Las Conchas wildfire began yesterday afternoon and has already grown to about 49,000 acres.

Authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation evacuation of Los Alamos. The town is famous for the nearly Los Alamos National Lab, where the atomic bomb was developed during World War II. Nuclear materials are stored on lab property today.

By Laurel Morales

Albuqueruqe, NM – The Wallow Fire has burned more than half a million acres in eastern Arizona. Ongoing research shows as forest fires become larger and more intense they emit more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and cause more global warming.

The Fronteras Changing America Desk's Laurel Morales reports.
 

By Michel Marizco

Albuquerque, NM – The U.S. Forest Service is studying the impact of using air-dropped fire retardant to fight wildfires. On the one hand, the retardants help put out fires like the massive Wallow Fire in southern Arizona. Critics say delivery is risky for pilots and damages the environment.

Michel Marizco reports from the Fronteras Changing America Desk.
 

Mon 7/4 at 930pm: To celebrate Bandone?n Day, we play tango music with more bandoneon instrument than ever, featuring Troilo, Piazzola, Mederos... and more!

Host: Cristina Baccin

Slideshow photo: "Bandone?n I" by William Haenraets

Sat. 7/2 at 7pm: Known for his extraordinary exploration and personalization of the blues, Bibb talks with Art of the Song's Vivian Nesbitt in depth about his creative process, his early influences and his life growing up as a musician in New York and Europe.

Eric Bibb graciously performed for Concerts and Conversations a collaboration with AMP Concerts recorded at the Outpost Jan 18.

The program features tunes recorded at the concert as well as from his CDs.

More about Eric Bibb

By Laurel Morales

Albuquerque, NM – The U-S Fish and Wildlife Service today unveiled its recovery plan for the threatened Mexican Spotted Owl. This comes at a time when the Wallow Fire burning in eastern Arizona has likely destroyed much of the bird's habitat.

Laurel Morales reports from the Fronteras Desk.

By Sarah Gustavus

Albuquerque, NM – Every Friday we talk about business news around the state. Megan Kamerick has a story in today's Business Weekly about a state law that was created to protect people who've had their identities stolen.

KUNM's Sarah Gustavus checked in with Megan about why the law has taken years to be implemented.
 

By Elizabeth Wynne Johnson

Washington, D.C. – It's been said it takes money to make money. But increasingly, it seems you have to have a job to get a job.

KUNM Capitol reporter Elizabeth Wynne Johnson has this story on an emerging form of employment discrimination, and what lawmakers in Washington are trying to do about it.

By Laurel Morales

Cameron, AZ – About 40% of the people who live on the Navajo Nation don't have running water. That's nearly 70,000 people. The tribe has been struggling for decades to get more drinking water.

As Laurel Morales reports from the Fronteras Changing America Desk, the Navajo Nation is now on the verge of an historic agreement that will help them get a share of the Colorado River.