Colleen Keane

Organizers of One Billion Rising, an activity of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women, say that more men need to get involved. At the state capitol in Santa Fe on Valentine's Day where a One Billion Rising event took place, KUNM's Colleen Keane found that some men are getting involved, too. She brings us this audio postcard.

Nationally, Native American women are more likely to be killed, raped, assaulted and stalked than any other women in the country, according to federal crime and health data.  What’s more, the offenders are both native and non-native. There’s been a breakdown in traditional practices, lack of funding for services and when it comes to non-natives, tribes don’t have the authority to arrest them on their own lands. A controversial law offered solutions but never made it through Congress in 2012.  

The rate of violent crime among Native Americans is more than twice the national average, according to federal crime reports.  KUNM’s Colleen Keane looked into how this law is fairing two years after it was passed and found that violence is often close to home and that most tribes don’t have the funding to implement the law. 

You can read more on this story in this week's edition of the Santa Fe Reporter.

This week, nine U.S. Senators, including Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall of New Mexico signed onto a letter calling on President Barrack Obama to fully fund services for American Indian communities.

By Colleen Keene

Tohatchi, NM – Most New Mexico counties are seeing fewer youth suicides and young people are using less alcohol and drugs.

But, according to a youth risk behavior study, in McKinley and San Juan counties, the numbers are increasing. Navajo students are some of the young people most at risk, but Native American educators want to address the issue in traditional ways.

By Colleen Keane

Albuquerque, NM – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan gave the commencement speech at the UNM Law School in Albuquerque on Saturday. She told the 2011 graduating class that they should follow three rules during their legal careers.

As KUNM's Colleen Keane reports, some UNM Law School graduates are already working by these rules.

By Colleen Keane

Albuquerque, NM – More information about child homelessness and the Cuidando Los Ni os program at CLN Kids.org.

By Colleen Keane

Santa Fe, NM – The Lensic Performing Arts Center celebrates its tenth anniversary this year with the newly announced purchase of the Lensic Theater from its original owners, Greer Enterprises.

With its new ownership and non-profit status, KUNM's Colleen Keane reports the Center appears to be opening its doors even wider to make sure all New Mexicans participate in this evolving Santa Fe performance center.

By Jim Williams and Colleen Keane

Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe's Lensic Performing Arts Center announced Tuesday that it has finalized the purchased of its downtown home. The non-profit spent $2 million to buy the historic 821-seat building on West San Francisco Street. This came after a relatively quiet fund-raising effort that began in 2009.

The Lensic building had been owned by Greer Enterprises, and was being leased to the Performing Arts Center. Now that the non-profit owns the property, it will be exempt from property taxes.

By Colleen Keane

Albuquerque, NM – In 2006, KUNM's Jim Williams took a close look at child abuse in New Mexico. At the time, one out of four children in the state was being abused or neglected. Not much has changed with the numbers, but one thing that has changed is that the abuse itself appears to be getting worse. Among the tragedies, younger children are becoming victims of sexual abuse.

By Colleen Keane and Jim Williams

By Colleen Keane

Albuquerque, NM – KUNM's Colleen Keane reports.

By Colleen Keane

Albuquerque, NM – Listen to journalists' work resulting from the John Jay Institute's training on tribal justice reporting

By Colleen Keane

Albuquerque, NM – Selected journalists from across the US gathered in Albuquerque recently to learn how they can improve crime reporting in Native American communities.

The seminar was one of the first intensive efforts to help journalists get closer to sources and include the native perspective in their stories.

By Colleen Keane

Albuquerque, NM – A major Native American college that has served as an inspiration for other similar higher education institutions around the country appears to be in some trouble.

Dine College, just over the border in northeast Arizona, serves a large population of mostly Navajos in New Mexico. But since this past May, at least 21 of its staff, faculty, and top administrators have resigned or been fired by Dine College President Ferland Clark.