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Catholic leaders to attend ‘groundbreaking’ forum on nuclear weapons

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Catholic leaders to attend ‘groundbreaking’ forum on nuclear weapons


Catholic organizations at the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of New Mexico (UNM) are banding together to host a forum with policymakers and leading voices on nuclear disarmament and deterrence.

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The “Forum on Nuclear Strategy: Disarmament and Deterrence in a Dangerous World” is set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the University of New Mexico, led by the Endowed Chair of Roman Catholic Studies and the Religious Studies program at UNM and the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies (IACS) of USC.

The “groundbreaking” forum will discuss deterrence and disarmament approaches to nuclear weapons amid rising political rivalry between the U.S., China, and Russia, according to an Aug. 13 press release by IACS.

The forum is “considered the first of its kind since the American Catholic bishops reshaped the nuclear weapons debate in the 1980s,” the release noted. In 1983, the U.S. bishops released a pastoral letter, “The Challenge of Peace,” which discussed Catholic teaching on war, deterrence, and disarmament. 

“The forum is an important opportunity for experts in religious and secular fields to learn from each other as they explore modern nuclear strategy decisions,” said Archbishop John Wester of Sante Fe, who is set to present welcoming remarks at the forum, in the release.

“It’s precisely these conversations that will lead to a clearer understanding of the threat that nuclear weapons pose and how best to navigate the waters of the perilous arms race we find ourselves in today,” he added.

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Wester has contributed to the conversation on nuclear weapons particularly through his pastoral letter on nuclear disarmament in 2022, “Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament.” 

The subject of nuclear weapons is particularly relevant as New Mexico plays host to the Los Alamos and Sandia nuclear weapons laboratories as well as the largest storage site of nuclear warheads in the U.S. arsenal, the Kirtland Underground Munitions Maintenance and Storage Complex. 

New Mexico is also historically connected with nuclear weapons, as the first atomic bomb was detonated at the Trinity Site in New Mexico in 1945. 

“It’s important that we host this discussion near the birthplace of nuclear weapons and with leading experts from differing perspectives regarding nuclear strategy,” stated Richard L. Wood, president of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC.

“With regional conflicts escalating and the threat of nuclear war rising, humanity is at a critical moment,” Wood said. “Our forum will be a platform for in-depth discussion and debate that will explore our current global realities and seek tangible solutions to the rising threat of nuclear conflict.”

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Before the forum begins, participants will have a closed-door discussion for debate and discussion on finding common ground. In the public forum, participants will summarize their thinking and the results of the dialogue.

Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki, Japan, and the bishop of San Diego, Cardinal Robert McElroy, are set to participate in the forum, as well as political leaders including the former deputy secretary-general of NATO and former U.S. undersecretary of Arms Control and International Security for the U.S. State Department, Rose Gottemoeller, and Thomas Countryman and Christopher Ford, both former U.S. assistant secretaries of state for International Security and Nonproliferation under Barack Obama and Donald Trump, respectively. 

The archbishop emeritus of Nagasaki, who survived the atomic bomb when he was in utero, will share a reflection at the forum. Takami lost several members of his extended family in the Aug. 9, 1945, atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

Academic voices will include Maryann Cusimano Love, associate professor of international relations at The Catholic University of America; Richard Love, professor of national security strategy at the National Defense University; and Gerard Powers, director of Catholic peacebuilding studies at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. 

The director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, Thomas Mason, will also participate in the forum.  

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Local leaders and Indigenous communities impacted by nuclear-weapons testing are also set to participate.

Those wishing to attend may register here to attend in person or via livestream.





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New Mexico

New Mexico Dominates Distance Events On Day One Of 2026 Credit Union 1 MW Indoor Track & Field Championships

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Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championship Central | Live Results

RENO, Nev. – The 2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships opened competition Thursday with six events at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.

New Mexico raced out to day one leads on both team leaderboards thanks to dominant efforts in Thursday’s distance events. Both Pamela Kosgei and Habtom Samuel won repeat 5,000-Meter gold and broke their respective Mountain West Championships records.

Kosgei’s time of 15:32.15 led a top-four sweep in the event as she was followed in order by Mercy Kirarei, Christina Nisoli, and Nicola Jansen. The performance paced the Lobo women to 41 points on the night, leading Fresno State (19 points) and GCU (18) early on.

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On the men’s side, Habtom Samuel captured the 5,000 Meters in 13:30.40, breaking his own meet record for the second year in a row, for a 14-second victory over Wyoming’s Jacob White. Lobo teammate Evans Kiplagat took third, pacing the New Mexico to 29 points for an early lead over Air Force (13 points) and Utah State (12).

New Mexico also swept both Distance Medley Relays. First up, the Lobo women cruised to gold in 11:02.09, 22 seconds better than runner-up Boise State. The New Mexico men’s DMR held off Utah State and Colorado State at the end, the Lobos’ winning time of 9:39.63 besting the Aggies by 0.69 of a second and the Rams by just over two seconds.

The meet’s first champion was crowned in the women’s pentathlon as Fresno State’s Ella Spaulding took gold, using a second-place effort in the 800 Meters to clinch. Nevada’s Johanna Haas took an early lead with a win in the 60-Meter Hurdles and a fourth place in High Jump, holding on at the end to take silver.

Wrapping up the medals for the night, conference newcomer GCU captured its first Mountain West podium finishes in Pole Vault as Eva Lowder (4.29 meters) and Tatum Moku (4.09 meters) went 1-2.

The men’s Heptathlon will wrap Friday with the 60-Meter Hurdles and Pole Vault. Through four events, Colorado State’s Mateo Munoz, with 3,199 points, holds a 49-point lead over Boise State’s Landon Helms.

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The preliminaries for the 200 meters also took place Thursday. Nevada’s Annalies Kalma paced the field with a time of 23.37 to qualify for Friday’s final, while on the men’s side Air Force’s Jett Rose ran a 20.82 to top the eight qualifiers.

Day Two’s competition gets underway at 10 a.m. MT with the men’s heptathlon 60-meter hurdles.

The Mountain West Network will provide live coverage of the 2026 MW Indoor Track & Field Championships. Fans can watch the indoor track & field championships on their phones or connected TVs via the Mountain West app.

Watch every moment of the MW Indoor Track & Field Championships LIVE on your own TV through Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV or Roku. Mobile applications are available through the iOS App Store and Google Play. Visit TheMW.com/app for more information.

For more information regarding the Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships, including live results, visit the championship central page or follow the Mountain West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Champions – Day One

Women

Pentathlon: Ella Spaulding, Fresno State – 4,022 points

5,000-Meters: Pamela Kosgei, New Mexico – 15:32.15

Pole Vault: Eva Lowder, GCU – 4.29 Meters

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Distance Medley Relay: New Mexico – 11:02.09

Men

5,000 Meters: Habtom Samuel, New Mexico; 13:30.40

Distance Medley Relay: New Mexico; 9:39.63

2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Team Leaderboards – Day One

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Women

1. New Mexico – 41

2. Fresno State – 18

3. Grand Canyon – 17

4. Nevada – 16

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T5. Air Force – 1 4

T5. Boise State – 14

7. Utah State – 13.5

8. San Diego State – 11.5

9. Wyoming – 7

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10. Colorado State – 4

11. San José State – 0

12. UNLV – 0

Men

1. New Mexico – 29

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2. Air Force – 13

3. Utah State – 12

4. Wyoming – 12

5. Colorado State – 6

6. Boise State – 3

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7. San José State – 2

8. Grand Canyon – 1





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NMSP release details on capture of Fort Sumner shooting suspects

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NMSP release details on capture of Fort Sumner shooting suspects


DE BACA COUNTY, N.M. (KFDA) – New Mexico State Police have released new details on the capture of both Fort Sumner shooting suspects.

On Feb. 23, NMSP Investigations Bureau agents were requested to investigate an officer-involved shooting involving a NMSP Sergeant on US Highway 285, south of Vaughn in Guadalupe County, New Mexico.

Agents learned that the NMSP Sergeant conducted a traffic stop on a black Kia Sportage on US Highway 285, near mile marker 185, after learning the car was reportedly stolen.

Officials say during the stop, the female driver identified as 26-year-old Makaela Johnson, exited the car. As the Sergeant was placing Johnson in handcuffs, the male passenger, identified as 40-year-old Jovan Martinez, exited the stolen car with a rifle and fired at the Sergeant.

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Police say Johnson ran back to the stolen car while still handcuffed and entered the passenger seat as the Sergeant took cover behind his police unit and returned fire with his duty weapon.

Martinez and Johnson fled from the scene and officers lost sight of the car.

While responding to the incident, NMSP officers encountered a couple near mile marker 166, who reported that their car had just been stolen at gunpoint.

The couple stated that Martinez and Johnson were standing in the roadway and Martinez fired a least one shot at the ground, forcing the couple to stop.

According to officials, the couple was ordered out of their car, which was a grey Kia K5 passenger vehicle.

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Martinez and Johnson then took the second Kia and continued fleeing.

Officials say the original stolen Kia Sportage involved in the traffic stop was later located near the intersection of US Highway 285 and New Mexico State Highway 247.

The car left the roadway and drove through two barbed wire fences before coming to a rest in an open field.

According to police, the second stolen Kia K5 was found abandoned east of the intersection of River Road and Lone Wolf Road, south of Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

On Feb. 25, following a two-day manhunt, Martinez and Johnson were located hiding in a shed and taken into custody outside of Fort Sumner.

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They were booked without incident on the following charges:

jovan Martinez:

  • Attempt to commit a felony, to WIT: first degree murder(willful or deliberate)
  • Aggravated assault upon a Peace Officer (deadly weapon)
  • Receipt, transportation or possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon
  • Conspiracy to commit receiving or transferring stolen motor vehicles
  • Armed robbery
  • Harboring a felon
  • Aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer (no injury or great bodily harm)

Makaela Johnson:

  • Conspiracy to commit first degree murder (willful or deliberate)
  • Conspiracy to commit aggravated assault upon a Peace Officer (deadly weapon)
  • Conspiracy to commit armed robbery
  • Harboring a felon
  • Receiving or transferring stolen motor vehicles
  • Escape or attempt to escape from Peace Officer
  • Larceny ($250 or less)

Officials say no officers were injured during this incident.

This incident remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Investigations Bureau.

The identity of the NMSP Sergeant will not be released until interviews are completed. The Sergeant has been placed on standard administrative leave.

New Mexico State Police act solely as factfinders in their investigation and conduct an unbiased and impartial investigation. In officer involved shootings, NMSP thoroughly documents the scene, collects evidence, and interviews officers, subjects, and witnesses.

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The New Mexico State Police does not determine whether an officer’s actions were justified, this determination rests solely with the district attorney’s office.



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New Mexico

Smug New Mexico State Police Killer Gets Death Penalty Case in South Carolina – ABQ RAW

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Smug New Mexico State Police Killer Gets Death Penalty Case in South Carolina – ABQ RAW


Albuquerque, NM and Florence, SC –

Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina announced that it filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Jaremy Alexander Smith, 35, of Marion, South Carolina, for the 2024 kidnapping, carjacking, and murder of a Marion County EMS Paramedic. A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment on Feb. 24 charging Smith with kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, using a firearm during a crime of violence in a manner constituting murder, possession of stolen firearms, and being a felon in possession of firearms.



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According to the federal indictment, on March 13, 2024, Smith entered the home of Phonesia Machado-Fore in Marion, kidnapped her, and forced her to drive to a remote location near Nichols. There, Smith executed Machado-Fore behind an abandoned house.

Investigators reportedly found Machado-Fore wearing slippers and her bedroom clothing with a shock collar around her neck. They located cut zip ties near her body, and her face was covered in blood-soaked material, with plastic tape secured around her mouth. She had a single gunshot wound to the back of her head.

Smith then drove Machado-Fore’s vehicle back to her residence, stole several firearms, and later sold them. Afterward, Smith drove the stolen vehicle to New Mexico, where he killed New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare on March 15, 2024.

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Federal prosecutors have decided to prosecute Smith for the death of Machado-Fore, a case that initially saw him facing 17 state charges in South Carolina.

On January 17th, 2025, a sea of grey and black New Mexico State uniforms packed the courtroom of U.S. District Judge James Browning for the change of plea hearing for cop and paramedic killer Jaremy Smith. The State Police officers were there to support Officer Hare’s family as Smith sat in the courtroom. On that date, Smith accepted a plea deal proposed by the then-U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, Alexander M.M. Uballez. (Continues below photo)

Smith could be seen smiling and laughing with his attorneys. When Smith’s was asked to answer questions, his answers were smug with a “Yes, sir,” to Judge Browning.

In April 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico sentenced Smith to life in prison for killing Officer Hare.

New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare’s parents wanted the death penalty in their son’s murder.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi authorized federal prosecutors in the District of South Carolina to seek capital punishment in this case. Smith is scheduled for arraignment in federal court on Feb. 26, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. in Florence, South Carolina.

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The FBI Columbia Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Everett McMillian and Christopher Lietzow are prosecuting the case, with support from DOJ Capital Case Section Trial Attorneys Barry Disney and Julie Adams.

The charges in the indictment are allegations only. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the government proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


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