Susan Montoya Bryan

The Trump administration is proposing to repeal the 2001 roadless rule, which restricts logging, road construction and mineral leasing across about 59 million acres of national forests. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the rule limits local management and efforts to reduce wildfire hazards, while scientists attribute worsening fires to climate change, accumulated fuels and other factors. Conservation groups warn that repeal could threaten old-growth ecosystems, wildlife, drinking water and the Tongass National Forest, and argue that existing rules already allow targeted fuel treatment. Public comments on the proposal and accompanying environmental impact statement are open until 21 September.

Flooding across Indiana has killed at least five people after record rainfall caused rivers and creeks to overflow. More than 90 people and 45 pets were rescued along the White River near Indianapolis, where authorities issued evacuation warnings and deployed National Guard vehicles. Some areas received more than 11 inches of rain in two days, and the White River exceeded historic levels. Governor Mike Braun requested a presidential emergency declaration, while local officials warned residents to avoid floodwaters as additional storms threatened the region.

Former New Mexico state House Majority Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton was convicted on dozens of federal charges tied to a kickback scheme involving more than $3 million in public education funding. Prosecutors said she directed Albuquerque Public Schools and federal vocational-education money to Robotics Management Learning Systems, owned by her friend and co-defendant Joseph Johnson, then wrote about 230 checks totaling roughly $1.15 million for her own benefit. Johnson was also convicted of bribery and money laundering. Stapleton faces up to 20 years in prison, while her defense is considering an appeal; she also faces separate state charges with a trial scheduled for October.

Body camera footage from deputies responding to Gene Hackman’s Santa Fe home shows a worker saying, “Something’s not right,” after someone was found dead. Investigators considered a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning, but those explanations were ruled out. Hackman was later determined to have died of heart disease, while his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from a rare rodent-borne respiratory disease.

A photo gallery explores iconic stops along historic Route 66, highlighting its origins as a route connecting Chicago with the West Coast, its role in fostering commerce in rural America, and its enduring appeal through neon signs, roadside motels, food, abandoned buildings and other remnants of American road-trip culture.

Three people in Venezuela died from hantavirus infections, with authorities describing the cases as isolated and finding no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Additional suspected deaths in Barinas remain under investigation. A separate cluster involving a rare Andes strain occurred on the MV Hondius cruise, where three died and 13 were infected. Hantavirus typically spreads through contact with rodent droppings, and symptoms can progress rapidly from flu-like signs to severe respiratory or renal syndromes. Health experts emphasize prevention through minimizing rodent exposure, noting no specific treatment exists. Officials, including the WHO, stress the low global risk and distinguish the virus from Covid.

A severe U.S. wildfire season, fueled by drought, record-low snowpack and repeated hot, dry and windy conditions, is stretching firefighting resources. Preparedness was raised to level 4 after more than 2,000 fires were confirmed in early July, with thousands of personnel and specialized incident-management teams moving between states. Fire managers are balancing the need to share resources with concerns about exhaustion, overtime and retaining experienced firefighters. Persistent red-flag conditions can make fires nearly impossible to control, while a shift toward attacking every blaze immediately has renewed debate over firefighter safety and landscape management. Volunteer lookout towers and an emerging satellite detection system are helping identify fires more quickly.

People are camping overnight outside a Utah courthouse to obtain one of 14 first-come, first-served public seats at Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Court officials have tightened rules around tents, line-saving and wristband distribution amid intense public and media interest. The weeklong hearing is expected to conclude Friday, after which Judge Tony Graf will decide whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence for Robinson to stand trial on an aggravated murder charge. Spectators are also seeking access to disputed evidence, including a recorded interview with Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs. The crowds echo public interest seen in other high-profile criminal cases.

Sixteen children found living in severe neglect in Ohio face long-term recovery requiring specialized care amid a statewide shortage of foster homes. Officials warn that the complexity of their trauma may necessitate placement in residential or psychiatric facilities. Comparisons to past cases, including the Turpin siblings in California and systemic failures in New Mexico, highlight widespread strain on child welfare systems, driven by high caseloads, staffing shortages and inadequate oversight. States are investing in mental health and social services, but experts say the resources remain insufficient for the growing needs of vulnerable children.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham condemned federal authorities after reports that DEA agents allowed fentanyl shipments to circulate while pursuing larger criminal investigations. The state is considering legal action and demanding assurances from the White House and Congress that the tactic has ended. A whistleblower alleged the approach violated guidelines and endangered public safety during a worsening overdose crisis in New Mexico. The Justice Department has launched an internal investigation, while the state attorney general is examining potential violations of state law. Political figures, including Donald Trump, weighed in as overdose deaths in New Mexico rose sharply despite national declines. The governor called for accountability and action to prevent future harm.

Three firefighters were killed and two injured while responding to the Knowles and Gore fires along the Colorado-Utah border. The Cottonwood Fire in southwest Utah expanded to more than 144 square miles, damaging a ski resort and summer cabins, while steep terrain hindered firefighting and damage assessments continued. Hot, dry and windy weather, record-low snowpack, historic drought and severe fire conditions have driven an unusually active wildfire season across the western United States. Utah Governor Spencer Cox declared an emergency and enabled a fireworks ban, while Colorado Governor Jared Polis authorized National Guard assistance. Power was shut off in parts of Utah and northern Arizona to reduce wildfire risk.

Hot, dry and windy conditions have driven explosive wildfire growth across the western United States, with Utah’s Cottonwood Fire expanding to more than 144 square miles and damaging a ski resort and summer cabins. Record-low snowpack, historic drought and an unusually warm winter have intensified Utah’s fire season, prompting Gov. Spencer Cox to declare an emergency and enable a fireworks ban. Dozens of large fires are burning nationally, with nearly 3 million acres affected since the beginning of the year. Fires and evacuation orders also expanded in Arizona, while utilities including Rocky Mountain Power imposed precautionary power shutoffs to reduce ignition risks.

Hot, dry and unusually windy conditions are intensifying wildfires across the western United States, particularly Utah, where the Cottonwood Fire expanded to more than 112 square miles, damaged Eagle Point ski resort and prompted evacuations. High winds grounded aircraft supporting firefighters, while drought and low humidity created conditions for rapid fire spread. Red flag warnings and potential safety power shutoffs were issued across parts of the West, including near Grand Canyon National Park. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox imposed temporary fireworks restrictions through July 5, and officials in Florida also urged residents to avoid personal fireworks as the July Fourth holiday approaches.

Utah declared a state of emergency and imposed fireworks restrictions through July 5 as the Cottonwood Fire expanded to more than 112 square miles in southern Utah. High winds grounded aircraft and drove extreme fire behavior, damaging Eagle Point ski resort and destroying homes and cabins while prompting evacuation warnings for several communities. The National Weather Service issued a rare Particularly Dangerous Situation warning, with red flag warnings extending across much of the western United States. Drought, heat and strong winds are intensifying wildfire risks, while Rocky Mountain Power warned of potential safety-related outages and officials closed some public lands and campgrounds.

Native American communities have endured displacement, broken treaties, forced assimilation, land loss and cultural suppression throughout U.S. history, yet have preserved sovereignty and identity. Lakota beadwork, Navajo weaving, Native art and military service demonstrate how cultural practices and patriotic symbols became forms of survival and sometimes quiet resistance. Museums marking the United States’ 250th anniversary are presenting this complex history alongside contemporary Native critiques. Tribal scholars and leaders emphasize both the continuing effects of past policies and recent gains in political influence, while stressing that Native youth must shape the future of sovereignty, culture and land stewardship.

A hantavirus outbreak among cruise-ship passengers has drawn renewed attention to a rare but potentially deadly family of rodent-borne viruses for which no widely licensed treatments or vaccines exist. Researchers in Argentina are investigating tocilizumab, an autoimmune-disease drug that may reduce the severe inflammatory response associated with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, while teams in Chile, the United States and Germany are pursuing antibody therapies and vaccines. Early findings are encouraging but limited, and clinical trials remain difficult because infections are sporadic, human-to-human transmission is uncommon, and the potential market is small. Scientists hope the outbreak and concerns that climate change may increase contact between people and rodents will generate sustained funding and collaboration.

The U.S. Supreme Court approved a settlement among New Mexico, Texas and Colorado governing water use along the Rio Grande. New Mexico must reduce annual groundwater depletion by 18,200 acre-feet, largely by purchasing water rights and retiring more than 14 square miles of irrigated farmland. The agreement establishes an accounting system for water deliveries and allows credits and debits across wet and drought years, resolving Texas’s 2013 lawsuit over reduced deliveries. The settlement aims to protect water supplies for millions of people, but implementation details and costs remain unresolved as hotter, drier conditions continue to reduce river flows.

Fentanyl and methamphetamine were found at a rural New Mexico home where three people died and emergency responders became ill while treating suspected overdose victims. Doctors said the responders' symptoms most closely resembled fentanyl exposure, though investigators had not determined how the exposure occurred or what caused it. More than a dozen responders were quarantined and decontaminated, and two people remained hospitalized. Authorities said they found no immediate evidence of drug manufacturing and believed there was no threat to the wider public.

A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius has been linked to 11 confirmed cases, including nine of the Andes strain, and three deaths. Hantavirus is usually transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their urine, saliva and droppings, while person-to-person transmission is rare but has been associated with the Andes strain. Symptoms can begin with fever, chills, muscle aches and headaches before progressing to severe respiratory illness or kidney failure. There is no specific cure, so early medical care is important; prevention focuses on avoiding rodents and safely cleaning contaminated areas. Unlike Covid, hantavirus is not generally capable of sustained human-to-human spread, and health authorities say the current risk of a wider outbreak remains very low. British passengers and other contacts are being traced and may need to isolate for up to 45 days.

Apollo 17 astronaut and geologist Harrison “Jack” Schmitt argues that establishing a lunar base would provide geopolitical influence, valuable operational experience and access to resources needed for future Mars missions. He says lunar rocks preserve a record of the solar system’s evolution and suggests that helium-3 could eventually support nuclear energy, quantum computing and medical applications, although its feasibility remains speculative. Schmitt views China and the United States as competitors in a renewed race to the Moon, supports fusion propulsion for Mars travel, and believes life may exist elsewhere in the universe while finding claims of extraterrestrial visitation unproven. He also emphasizes radiation protection, youth education and mathematics as essential to long-term space exploration.

Route 66, established in 1926 and stretching roughly 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, is being celebrated for its centennial as an iconic American road trip shaped by roadside culture, migration, commerce and popular art. The highway offered hope to Dust Bowl migrants, supported wartime transport and postwar tourism, and became known for diners, motels, neon signs and unusual attractions. Its history is also marked by eminent-domain damage and cultural stereotyping affecting Native American communities, as well as the dangers Black travelers faced under segregation. Although the interstate system led to its decommissioning in 1985, local governments, historical societies and businesses have preserved many sections, with more than 250 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places and much of the route still drivable.

Route 66, the approximately 2,400-mile highway linking Chicago with Santa Monica, is celebrating its centennial after being designated in 1926. Known as the “Mother Road,” it supported commerce, migration and postwar tourism, becoming famous for diners, motels and roadside attractions. Its legacy also includes the displacement of Native American communities and stereotypes associated with tribal peoples. Although decommissioned as a federal highway in 1985, preserved sections continue to attract travellers and sustain its cultural importance.

Route 66, established in 1926, remains a major American road-trip destination as it approaches its centennial. The journey from Chicago to Santa Monica crosses eight states and highlights historic diners, bridges, neon signs, theaters, art installations and distinctive roadside attractions. The route’s history also includes Dust Bowl migration, Jim Crow dangers for Black motorists, and the cultural and commercial exploitation of Native American imagery. Communities, tribes and preservationists are restoring landmarks and reshaping the road’s stories, while attractions such as Cadillac Ranch, Albuquerque’s urban stretch, Oatman and Roy’s Motel & Café continue to draw travelers.

The Trump administration plans to relocate the U.S. Forest Service headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City by summer 2027, moving about 260 positions while retaining roughly 130 in Washington. The reorganization will close many regional offices, consolidate services into hubs across several states, and centralize Forest Service research in Fort Collins, Colorado, while the agency says its operational firefighting workforce will remain unchanged. Agriculture officials and Utah Republicans argue that the move will improve access to Western landscapes and reduce costs, but environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers warn it could weaken research, drive out experienced employees, limit public access, and increase risks to forests, wildlife, water, and wildfire response.

Communities and elected leaders across the United States are rapidly renaming or reconsidering César Chavez Day events and places named for the labor and civil rights leader after allegations that he groomed and sexually abused women and girls. California renamed the holiday Farmworkers Day, Minnesota lawmakers moved to end it, and Colorado considered a similar change. Other communities are retaining celebrations while broadening them to focus on farmworkers, labor rights and the wider movement associated with Chávez and Dolores Huerta. Organizers and preservation advocates say decisions should be locally determined, acknowledge the allegations without erasing the movement's achievements, and present a fuller account of the history.

Dolores Huerta, the labor and civil rights leader who co-founded the organization that became United Farm Workers and coined “Sí, se puede,” has disclosed that César Chávez sexually abused her and fathered two of her children. She said she kept the abuse secret for six decades to protect the movement to which she had devoted her life. The revelation has prompted calls to replace Chávez’s name on public buildings, schools, monuments and streets with Huerta’s. The nearly 96-year-old activist’s broader legacy includes decades of farmworker organizing, advocacy for women and Latinas, campaigning for Democratic presidents, and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The federal government has completed the transfer of Arizona forest land containing Oak Flat to Resolution Copper, despite longstanding objections from the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Apache Stronghold and environmental groups. An appeals court lifted an injunction blocking the transfer, and Apache advocates are seeking U.S. Supreme Court intervention, arguing that the mine would destroy sacred sites and threaten water resources and religious freedom. Resolution Copper and federal officials support the project as a source of copper, jobs and economic growth, while the company says the project has undergone extensive review and received support from multiple administrations.

The U.S. Postal Service is unveiling a series of stamps celebrating lowrider culture, featuring five customized classic cars with pinstriping by artist Danny Alvarado and designs by Antonio Alcalá. Rooted in Mexican American and Chicano communities in the American Southwest, lowriding has evolved from a culture sometimes targeted by anti-cruising laws into a globally recognized form of artistic expression, craftsmanship, family identity and pride. Community figures say the stamps represent long-awaited acceptance and validation.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has reopened the state investigation into alleged illegal activity at Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch. The case, which was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, is being reconsidered after information from newly released FBI files. State agents and prosecutors intend to obtain the complete unredacted federal case file, preserve available evidence, coordinate with law enforcement partners, and work with a state-established truth commission.

DNA sampling of agave plants and hummingbird feeders indicates that endangered Mexican long-nosed bats are traveling about 100 miles farther north than their previously known New Mexico roosts, reaching areas near the Gila National Forest. Researchers believe drought and reduced agave flowering in New Mexico’s Bootheel may be driving the bats northward in search of nectar. Because the bats and agaves reproduce slowly, conservationists in Mexico and the United States are restoring desert grasslands, planting agaves and monitoring bat movements through a cross-border “nectar corridor.”

Actor and director Timothy Busfield turned himself in to New Mexico authorities and is scheduled for an initial court appearance on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The allegations concern two brothers who reportedly said Busfield touched them while he was directing The Cleaning Lady in Albuquerque. Busfield denies the accusations and says they are lies, while his attorney claims a Warner Bros. investigation did not corroborate them. Prosecutors are seeking to keep him in custody, citing alleged patterns of misconduct, abuse of authority and grooming, as well as concerns about witness retaliation; a judge will decide the detention request.

A helicopter crash in Arizona on January 2 killed pilot David McCarty and his three nieces, Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty and Katelyn Heideman, during a ride before McCarty’s wedding ceremony. The helicopter collided with a slackline stretched across a mountainous area, despite a federal aviation warning issued a week earlier. The National Transportation Safety Board is examining the wreckage to determine the exact cause.

A helicopter crash in Arizona killed pilot David McCarty and his three nieces during a pre-wedding flight on January 2. A federal aviation notice had warned pilots about a temporary slackline across the mountainous area roughly a week earlier, and a witness reported seeing the helicopter strike the line. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating possible mechanical, operational and situational factors, with a final report potentially months away. Aviation experts said cables and slacklines are difficult to detect and emphasized the importance of reviewing flight-path notices.

A video captured a muddy hydrothermal eruption at Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone National Park’s Biscuit Basin. The pool has experienced sporadic dirty eruptions since a major hydrothermal explosion in July 2024 damaged a boardwalk and led to the area’s closure. New cameras, seismic and acoustic monitoring equipment, and temperature sensors are helping scientists characterize the activity, which experts say has no discernible pattern or warning signs.

The National Weather Service issued a rare “particularly dangerous situation” fire weather warning for Colorado’s Front Range as hurricane-force gusts, very low humidity and critically dry vegetation created life-threatening wildfire conditions. Xcel Energy shut off power to tens of thousands of customers as a preventive measure, while officials warned that damaging outages could be even more widespread. High winds also led to highway closures in Colorado and Wyoming. In northwestern Oregon, heavy rain caused major river flooding, evacuations, rescues and road closures, while northern California awaited a potentially beneficial atmospheric river that could bring snow to the Sierra Nevada.

The Trump administration has ordered national park gift shops, bookstores and concession stands to remove merchandise judged inconsistent with its DEI policies and to review all items for neutrality by 19 December. The directive provides no clear examples or training, leaving employees and vendors uncertain about what may be banned. Conservation groups and park advocates say the initiative risks censorship, hiding historical and scientific material, and diverting resources from staffing and maintenance problems, while conservative groups argue taxpayer-funded spaces should not promote divisive ideologies. The policy follows other changes affecting national parks, including the removal of free admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, and has already affected LGBTQ+-themed merchandise sold by Mikah Meyer’s Outside Safe Space.

A federal operation targeting Tucson restaurants over alleged immigration and tax violations escalated when protesters tried to prevent agents from leaving, prompting the use of pepper spray and emergency assistance from Tucson police. Rep. Adelita Grijalva said she was sprayed and questioned the transparency and treatment of community members, while federal officials disputed her account, saying she was not pepper sprayed and accusing protesters of obstructing law enforcement. Two federal agents were reportedly seriously injured, and no arrests were made by Tucson police.

A remote camera in southern Arizona identified a previously unseen jaguar, the fifth detected in the region in 15 years after crossing from Mexico. Researchers are seeking scat samples to determine the animal’s sex, genetics and diet. The sighting suggests that Arizona’s landscape continues to support the species, but climate change, drought, habitat fragmentation and border barriers threaten the migratory corridors jaguars need. The U.S. breeding population has not been documented for more than a century, while federal protections cover about 1,000 square miles in three Arizona counties.

Overnight accommodation at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, including El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Lodge and Maswik Lodge, has been suspended after repeated breaks in the park’s sole water pipeline. Campgrounds also lack water, while staff and residents face conservation measures. Repairs to the aging 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline are underway, and officials hope to restore service and begin reopening lodging as early as the following week. Day visits and accommodation outside the park remain available. A $208 million pipeline rehabilitation project begun in 2023 is expected to finish in 2027.

Santa Fe will become the first U.S. city to link minimum-wage increases directly to both consumer prices and fair-market rents. Starting in 2027, the minimum wage will rise to $17.50, with future increases based equally on inflation and rental data, capped at 5% and never reduced when costs fall. The policy is expected to benefit about 9,000 workers, but researchers warn it will not help low-income seniors and people with disabilities outside the workforce or resolve the broader housing shortage. City officials are also permitting more housing and plan to use mansion-tax revenue for affordable-housing projects.

Federal authorities charged Austin Begay, Jaymes Fage and Joshua Watkins in connection with the 2020 killing of 23-year-old Navajo man Zachariah Shorty. His mother, Vangie Randall-Shorty, welcomed the development after years of attending meetings, marches and prayer gatherings to keep the case visible. Shorty was last seen at a motel in Farmington, New Mexico, and was later found shot multiple times near Nenahnezad. The indictments provide few details about the alleged motive or the defendants’ connection to the killing. The charges emerged during the FBI’s Operation Not Forgotten, an intensified effort targeting unsolved violent crimes in Indian Country, which officials say led to more than 1,100 arrests. Advocates and families support making the additional federal resources permanent, warning that cases could again be neglected once the operation ends.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is asking the Arizona Supreme Court to review a lower-court ruling that sent the state’s fake-elector criminal case back to a grand jury. The lower court found that jurors had not been shown a law governing presidential-election certification, which defense lawyers say permitted alternate elector slates. Mayes argues that an independent grand jury had sufficient cause to charge the defendants and says prosecutors remain focused on accountability. Defense attorneys contend the case was brought to punish lawful constitutional conduct and urge dismissal. Most defendants, including Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani and state Sen. Jake Hoffman, have pleaded not guilty; charges against Jenna Ellis were dismissed under a prosecutorial agreement. Related cases remain pending in Nevada, Georgia and Wisconsin.

Research by the World Wildlife Fund, Sustainable Waters and university researchers finds that only 48% of water consumed in the Rio Grande-Bravo basin is naturally replenished, leaving 52% dependent on overdrawing rivers, reservoirs and aquifers. The basin supplies drinking water to 15 million people and irrigates nearly 2 million acres, while irrigation accounts for 87% of direct water use and evaporation represents more than half of total consumption. Shortages have contributed to major farmland losses in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, and some river stretches now run dry for months. Researchers warn that obligations under U.S.-Mexico water agreements will become harder to meet and say solutions must combine reduced pumping, voluntary or incentivized fallowing, better demand management and protection of ecosystems.

The Trump administration has proposed reviving first-term changes to Endangered Species Act regulations, including ending automatic protections for threatened species and requiring economic considerations in critical-habitat decisions. Republicans and affected industries support the changes as a way to reduce regulatory overreach, while environmentalists and scientists warn they could delay protections and accelerate extinctions. The proposals could affect species including the monarch butterfly, Florida manatee, spotted owl, wolverine and Yarrow’s spiny lizard, and follow earlier rollbacks that courts or subsequent administrations reversed.

The Trump administration is considering whether to revoke or reduce a 20-year ban on new oil and gas development within 10 miles of Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico. The Bureau of Land Management plans to consult Native American tribes, conduct an environmental assessment, and accept public comments before choosing whether to retain, repeal, or narrow the withdrawal. Pueblo leaders and New Mexico Democrats want the protections preserved, citing Chaco's cultural and spiritual importance, while some Navajo members support a smaller buffer because tribal families rely on oil and gas royalties. The Navajo Nation has sued over the Biden administration's consultation process, though it is not seeking to overturn the withdrawal itself.

Blood testing of nearly 630 people near Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico found PFAS in 99.7% of participants, with residents living within the contamination plume showing the highest concentrations. Officials linked the elevated levels to groundwater pollution from firefighting foam used at the base. The contamination has affected drinking-water safety, property values and rural livelihoods, while the state remains in litigation with the U.S. Department of Defense over cleanup responsibilities. New Mexico is funding connections for private-well users to regulated water systems and pursuing broader PFAS restrictions amid growing evidence that contamination is widespread.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta begins with a mass ascension at Balloon Fiesta Park, featuring 543 pilots, 102 specially shaped balloons and participants from more than 40 U.S. states and a dozen countries. The nine-day event draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, supported by 3,000 volunteers, extensive food and visitor facilities, and an estimated $216 million economic impact for the Albuquerque metro area.

A centuries-old map depicting Spanish colonial routes and communities in present-day Mexico and the southwestern United States has been returned to the Mexican government in Albuquerque. The map disappeared from Mexico's national archives in 2011 and was later identified by a Santa Fe librarian after being offered for sale. A multi-year investigation involving FBI agents and Mexican officials led to its repatriation, with officials highlighting its importance to Mexico's cultural heritage, collective memory and historical ties with New Mexico.

A centuries-old map depicting Spanish colonial routes and Indigenous communities across present-day Mexico and the American Southwest has been returned to Mexico after being identified as stolen from the country’s national archives. A librarian at a Santa Fe history library discovered the map’s provenance while researching it for a potential sale, enabling Mexican archivists and the FBI to authenticate and recover it. After years of legal and diplomatic arrangements, the map was formally handed over at the Mexican consulate in Albuquerque. No charges will be filed, and officials and historians described the repatriation as significant for Mexico’s cultural heritage and the shared history of Mexico and New Mexico.

New Mexico, Texas and Colorado have proposed settlements to resolve a long-running Rio Grande water dispute after Texas sued over groundwater pumping in New Mexico that reduced deliveries. The agreements would establish accounting rules, limit groundwater depletion and require New Mexico to adopt a management plan, subject to review by a special master and the U.S. Supreme Court. The dispute has intensified as drought, shrinking snowpack, evaporation, erratic rainfall, population growth and depleted reservoirs reduce available water. New Mexico may retire more than 14 square miles of farmland to meet conservation targets, raising concerns among pecan and chile growers and small agricultural operations about rising costs, lost farmland and an increasingly uncertain water future.

The Gathering of Nations, North America’s largest powwow, will be held for the final time in 2026 after 43 years. Organizers have not explained the decision, but the future availability of the New Mexico fairgrounds and longstanding criticism over the event’s commercialization may be relevant factors. The celebration brings together thousands of dancers, singers, artists and visitors, and includes competitions, a grand entry procession, the crowning of Miss Indian World and horse parades.

A U.S. appeals court temporarily blocked the transfer of Arizona federal forest land containing Oak Flat to Resolution Copper, delaying a proposed mine backed by Rio Tinto and BHP. The San Carlos Apache Tribe, Apache Stronghold and environmental groups argue that the required environmental review inadequately addresses risks such as tailings-dam breaches and pipeline failures, while also disputing the land appraisal because it excludes deep copper deposits. Resolution Copper says the project would generate $1 billion annually and create thousands of jobs, and the Forest Service maintains that Congress mandated the exchange in 2014. The court is expected to hear arguments on the case’s merits later this year.

A bronze statue of Brighty the Burro was recovered from the ruins of Grand Canyon Lodge after the Dragon Bravo Fire devastated the North Rim. Although the 600-pound statue lost an ear and its front legs, its head and body remain largely intact. It will be moved to the park museum for toxic-material testing and damage assessment before officials decide whether to restore it or commission a replacement. The recovery is part of a much larger, yearslong effort to stabilize burned areas and rebuild the North Rim after the lightning-sparked wildfire destroyed the lodge and dozens of cabins.

A U.S. district judge denied a request by the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Apache Stronghold and environmental plaintiffs to block the federal transfer of Oak Flat land in Arizona for the Resolution Copper mine. Judge Dominic Lanza said Congress and the president had determined that the project's economic and national-security benefits served the public interest, despite the permanent destruction of a sacred Apache site. The plaintiffs argue that the Forest Service’s environmental review failed to address risks including dam breaches, pipeline failures and inadequate emergency planning, and that the land appraisal undervalued the copper deposits. They immediately appealed as the government’s transfer deadline approaches.

A medical transport plane operated by CSI Aviation crashed while attempting to land near Chinle on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona, killing two pilots, a flight nurse and a paramedic. The Albuquerque-based crew had been traveling to collect a patient from an Indian Health Service hospital. Investigators are examining the wreckage, flight data, communications, maintenance records and weather conditions. Possible contributing factors include strong gusting crosswinds, a narrow runway, high temperatures and Chinle’s high elevation, although the cause remains undetermined. The crash has left hospitals and colleagues across the regional medical community mourning the crew.

Extreme wildfires on Arizona’s North Rim of the Grand Canyon and near Monroe, Utah, are generating pyrocumulus and pyrocumulonimbus clouds that produce erratic, powerful winds and dangerous downdrafts. The Dragon Bravo Fire has destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge and surrounding historic cabins, burned more than 164 square miles and forced the North Rim to close for the season. Utah’s Monroe Canyon Fire has burned about 75 square miles, prompted evacuations and damaged power infrastructure, leaving nearby communities without electricity. Extremely dry conditions, low humidity and strong winds are complicating firefighting efforts and increasing the risk of rapid fire spread.

A lightning-sparked fire on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim rapidly escaped containment after weather conditions deteriorated, destroying the Grand Canyon Lodge and historic cabins and prompting evacuations. The incident illustrates the risks of using wildfire and prescribed burning to reduce hazardous fuels, but experts argue that fire remains essential for restoring forest resilience. Researchers are developing better forecasting tools, while climate change, drier forests, stronger winds and hotter nighttime conditions make fires harder to predict and control. Past disasters, including the Cerro Grande and Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fires, have led to reviews and reforms, yet managers continue to balance the immediate risks of allowing fire to burn against the potentially greater risks of postponing treatment.

Firefighters are working to protect cabins, mule stables and other structures along the Grand Canyon’s North Rim after the Dragon Bravo Fire destroyed the nearly century-old Grand Canyon Lodge, dozens of cabins and a visitors center. The Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires have burned roughly 94 square miles combined, with neither contained, prompting closures and evacuations. The Park Service’s initial decision to let Dragon Bravo burn for ecological benefits has drawn criticism after winds caused it to expand rapidly, leading Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to seek a federal investigation and Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego to question Interior Secretary Doug Burgum about wildfire oversight. Experts said the park’s broader use of prescribed and managed fire has improved forest resilience, but increasingly dry and extreme conditions are making wildfire decisions more consequential.

Record-breaking monsoon rainfall sent the Rio Ruidoso more than 20 feet above its previous high-water mark, killing three people, including two children, and damaging up to 50 homes. The flood struck Ruidoso while it was still rebuilding from wildfires and earlier flooding, with burned hillsides intensifying runoff. Emergency crews carried out dozens of rescues, while New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham sought a presidential disaster declaration and more than $50 million in emergency assistance. Residents and officials are bracing for additional flooding during the remaining monsoon season, as sediment-filled waterways, damaged infrastructure and the village's tourism economy remain at risk.

Historic rainfall caused deadly flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico, killing three people and damaging dozens of homes. The flooding was worsened by wildfire burn scars that reduced the land’s ability to absorb storm runoff. A timeline based on National Weather Service, local emergency-management and U.S. Geological Survey data shows warnings escalating from a flash-flood alert at 2:15 p.m. to a flash-flood emergency and evacuation orders by 2:47 p.m.; by 3:55 p.m., the Rio Ruidoso had risen above 20 feet.

The North American monsoon has begun with substantial rain in parts of New Mexico and West Texas, offering relief from drought, wildfire risk and depleted soil and groundwater across the arid Southwest. Rainfall remains highly variable and supplies only a fraction of the region’s water compared with snowpack, while intense storms can trigger dust storms, flooding and destructive runoff from wildfire scars. Communities including the Navajo Nation, Santa Ana Pueblo and areas along the Rio Grande are preparing for both the benefits and hazards of the season.

U.S. fireworks displays will proceed this Fourth of July, but future celebrations could become more expensive or smaller if tariff negotiations with China fail. China supplies nearly all fireworks used in the United States, leaving cities, nonprofits and family-owned fireworks companies vulnerable to higher costs, shipping competition and disrupted inventory. Some organizers bought supplies early or accepted limited tariffs, while industry groups are urging the Trump administration to exempt fireworks. If the trade war continues, organizers may shorten shows or substitute cheaper products, though this year’s major displays are largely secured.

Children attending schools near oil and gas operations in New Mexico report headaches, nausea, vomiting and respiratory problems. An analysis found 694 wells with active or new permits within a mile of a school, potentially exposing about 29,500 students at 74 schools to emissions. Studies near Lybrook and Loving detected dangerous levels of pollutants including benzene, hydrogen sulfide and ozone, while research links fossil-fuel air pollution to lower test scores and increased absences. Oil and gas representatives and some school officials dispute the severity of the risks, stressing the industry’s jobs and roughly $1.7 billion contribution to New Mexico’s K-12 education system. Efforts to restrict drilling near schools have gained some regulatory support but proposed statewide legislation failed, and a legal challenge over pollution controls remains pending.

A federal appeals court revived a legal challenge brought by the Tohono O’odham Nation, San Carlos Apache Tribe and conservation groups against the $10 billion SunZia transmission project. The court found that the Interior Department may have failed to properly consult tribes and identify and mitigate effects on historic properties in Arizona’s San Pedro Valley. Tribal leaders called the ruling a significant victory, while SunZia said construction in the valley was complete and that the project remained on schedule for commercial operation in 2026. The decision could require further review of the project’s cultural and environmental impacts.

Oil and gas production has generated jobs and substantial education funding in New Mexico, but hundreds of wells operate near schools, exposing thousands of students to potentially harmful emissions. At Lybrook Elementary in the Navajo community of Counselor, students and residents report headaches, nausea, respiratory problems and other symptoms, while studies have detected spikes in benzene and hydrogen sulfide during school hours. Research links fossil-fuel air pollution to poorer student performance, although poverty and other factors also contribute. Industry representatives and some school officials dispute or minimize the pollution risks, citing economic benefits and questioning the studies. In response to mounting concerns, New Mexico’s land commissioner barred new oil and gas leases on state land within a mile of schools.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed legislation creating a rapid-response turquoise alert system for missing and endangered people, including members of federally recognized tribes, when law enforcement suspects danger or unexplained or suspicious circumstances. Known as Emily’s Law, it honors Emily Pike, a San Carlos Apache teenager whose remains were found weeks after she left a group home in Mesa. Her disappearance and death renewed attention to the disproportionate number of missing and murdered Native Americans. The law joins similar alert systems in other states, while Arizona lawmakers review child-services group-home regulations and the FBI and San Carlos Apache Tribe offer a combined $150,000 reward for information in Pike’s case.

Communities in northern Arizona and nearby New Mexico are hoping President Donald Trump's renewed support for coal can preserve jobs, tax revenue and school funding threatened by the retirement of coal-fired power plants. The Cholla plant near Joseph City closed in March, while the Springerville and Coronado plants face retirement or conversion to natural gas. Local officials and residents argue that coal provides dependable power and supports fragile rural economies, and they oppose a proposed wind farm near Springerville. Utilities and energy industry representatives remain skeptical that executive orders can justify costly environmental upgrades, saying planned retirements and investments in renewable energy are likely to continue. Rising electricity demand from artificial intelligence has added urgency to the debate, while large solar and battery projects are beginning to replace coal's economic and energy role.

Thousands of participants are gathering in Albuquerque for the annual Gathering of Nations, billed as North America’s largest powwow, featuring Indigenous dancing, music, artisans, horse parades and the crowning of Miss Indian World. The event’s history reflects both intertribal solidarity following forced displacement and the later commercialization and exploitation of Native cultures. Kiowa educator Warren Queton distinguishes competitive modern powwows from ceremonial and community dances, emphasizing the latter’s role in preserving identity, language, values and connections to land. Artist Mateo Romero’s new U.S. Postal Service powwow stamps further celebrate the movement, energy and cultural significance of these gatherings.

Jaremy Smith was sentenced to life in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges including carjacking resulting in death and firearm offenses for killing New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare on Interstate 40 in March 2024. Smith allegedly shot Hare after approaching the officer for help with a flat tire, then stole the patrol car and fled. Investigators linked Smith to the earlier killing of South Carolina paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore and the theft of her BMW and firearm. Smith also faces state charges in South Carolina, where prosecutors may seek the death penalty.

Investigative records show Betsy Arakawa searched for information about flu-like symptoms, COVID-19, dizziness, nosebleeds and breathing techniques shortly before she died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in February. Gene Hackman died about a week later from heart disease complicated by Alzheimer’s disease. Authorities found the couple at their Santa Fe home on 26 February, along with evidence of rodents in detached garages and one dog that died from dehydration and starvation. The records were released under a court order requiring images of the deceased to be obscured, following efforts by the estate and family to protect their privacy.

US state lawmakers are proposing or adopting an assortment of new official symbols, including cornbread in Georgia, a T-bone steak in Oregon, Nashville hot chicken in Tennessee, Picon punch in Nevada, and Bigfoot in California. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed a proposal to make the tortilla the state bread, arguing that lawmakers should focus on urgent challenges rather than adding more symbols. Supporters say such measures celebrate cultural heritage, recognize historical and economic contributions, and can promote tourism and commerce.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Albuquerque and authorized the deployment of 60 to 70 National Guard troops along the Route 66 corridor beginning in mid-May. The troops are expected to support police by securing crime scenes, assisting homeless residents, transporting prisoners, providing courthouse security and operating drones. Police Chief Harold Medina requested the assistance, citing fentanyl-related problems and rising violent juvenile crime, although local data show declines in aggravated assaults and homicides. The move follows criticism of the state legislature for failing to address Albuquerque’s broader crime crisis, while Mayor Tim Keller and police officials acknowledge both recent progress and persistent staffing and public-safety challenges.

The FBI is sending additional agents, analysts and other personnel to field offices in 10 states for six months to help investigate unsolved violent crimes in Native American communities. The effort will rotate staff every 90 days and involve the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, tribal authorities and federal prosecutors. The FBI has about 4,300 open Indian Country investigations, including cases involving deaths, child abuse, domestic violence and adult sexual abuse. The expanded operation builds on initiatives launched under both Donald Trump and Joe Biden administrations and follows previous FBI support that aided more than 500 investigations, recovered 10 children and led to over 50 arrests.

A notably dry and warm winter has left much of the United States, especially the Southwest, with depleted snowpack, drought-stressed vegetation and elevated wildfire risk. More than 1,000 firefighters and fire managers trained in Arizona as officials anticipate an active season. Arizona, New Mexico, parts of the Midwest, New Jersey and the Carolinas have already experienced red flag conditions or fires, while Oklahoma fires destroyed hundreds of homes. Communities and fire departments are increasing public outreach, clearing vegetation and planning resource surges, but officials warn that residents must also prepare their properties before fires begin.

California prosecutors will not charge San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies involved in the September 2022 freeway shootout that killed 15-year-old Savannah Graziano and her father, Anthony Graziano. A California Department of Justice investigation concluded that deputies reasonably believed both occupants of the vehicle posed an imminent threat after gunfire was directed at officers, though the report could not determine whether Savannah had fired a weapon. Anthony had allegedly killed his estranged wife, Tracy Martinez, before leading deputies on a 41-mile pursuit. The investigation recommended changes to law-enforcement training and camera policies, and the sheriff’s department said it had implemented the training recommendations.