New Mexico
Bernalillo County reassessing vacant properties
From boarded up doors to broken windows, we’ve all seen vacant lots around town.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – From boarded up doors to broken windows, we’ve all seen vacant lots around town.
The county assessor has a list of all of nuisance properties and has a plan to clean things up.
“I quickly found out that many of the buildings that have been boarded up and sitting vacant now are actually owned by out-of-state corporations, holding companies or investment companies that are essentially using New Mexico as a write-off state to offset their real estate profits in other parts of the country,” said Damian Lara, a Bernalillo County assessor.
In the middle of a housing crisis, Lara says vacant buildings are the last thing we need. For the last year, he has been reassessing properties on the nuisance list.
“We are assessing it as it was the highest and best use. That could be a restaurant, affordable hosing, a rental property, it could be retail stores, warehouses. We are assessing it at what it should be, not what it currently is,” said Lara.
So, what does this mean for these out-of-state property owners?
“Normally, a higher evaluation for these specific properties will result in a higher tax bill,” Lara said.
Lara says that isn’t always a bad thing when trying to turn vacant buildings into something.
“Reassessing vacant properties encourages and incentivizes these property owners to invest in their properties or to sell it to someone who will,” said Lara.
There have also been some success stories, like the old Ramada Inn.
“The property owners are coming in, working with us and saying’ you know ‘We have known that this property has been boarded up and neglected for many years, and now we are renovating it, here is the cost to cure it, will you give us credit for that,’ Absolutely,” said Lara.
Lara says some business owners have protested their higher evaluations. But, for the most part, the program has been successful and there hasn’t been a lot of push back.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife rereleased a wolf into Grand County this week after it had traveled into New Mexico, according to a news release.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish captured gray wolf 2403 and returned the animal to Colorado.
Colorado wildlife officials decided to release the wolf in Grand County yesterday because of the proximity to “an unpaired female gray wolf,” nearby prey populations and distance from livestock, according to the release.
“Gray wolf 2403 has been returned to Colorado and released in a location where it can best contribute to CPW’s efforts to establish a self-sustaining wolf population while concurrently attempting to minimize potential wolf-related livestock conflicts,” said acting director of CPW Laura Clellan, according to the release.
The wolf was once a member of the Copper Creek pack but departed from it this fall.
A memorandum of understanding between Colorado and Arizona, New Mexico and Utah requires that any gray wolves that leave Colorado and enter those states be returned. That was created in part to maintain the integrity of a Mexican wolf recovery program.
“We recognized during the planning process that we would need to have consideration and plans to protect the genetic integrity of the Mexican wolf recovery program, while also establishing a gray wolf population in Colorado,” said CPW’s Wolf Conservation Program Manager Eric Odell, according to the release.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A judge sentenced a New Mexico man to nearly 20 years in prison for distributing meth and having guns in his possession to use while doing so.
Court records indicate 43-year-old David Amaya sold meth from a trailer on his parents’ property in Anthony throughout July and August 2024. Agents executed a search warrant Aug. 22 and found 1.18 kilograms of meth, two firearms and ammunition in the trailer and a makeshift bathroom.
Amaya pleaded guilty to possession of meth with intent to distribute it. A judge sentenced him to 235 months in prison.
Once he is out, Amaya will face five years of supervised release.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office and the Las Cruces Metro Narcotics Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Williams prosecuted it.
The New Mexico Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 10, 2025, results for each game:
Powerball
10-16-29-33-69, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Day: 8-2-7
Evening: 6-9-2
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Lotto America
03-13-37-42-44, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 03
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 5-0-7-8
Day: 3-7-2-0
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Roadrunner Cash
02-04-06-21-22
Check Roadrunner Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Powerball Double Play
13-15-51-67-68, Powerball: 08
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Las Cruces Sun-News editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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