New Mexico
Española begins clearing homeless encampment – NM Political Report
by Molly Montgomery, Searchlight New Mexico Six months ago, Española officials moved roughly 30 unhoused people into an encampment on a city-owned lot beside the Rio Grande. Last week, those same officials ordered the residents to leave or face trespassing charges. The move marks the latest development in an ongoing saga concerning the encampment. As […]
by Molly Montgomery, Searchlight New Mexico
Six months ago, Española officials moved roughly 30 unhoused people into an encampment on a city-owned lot beside the Rio Grande. Last week, those same officials ordered the residents to leave or face trespassing charges.
The move marks the latest development in an ongoing saga concerning the encampment. As reported by Searchlight New Mexico in June, some locals, angry about crime and drug use, have been relentlessly harassing the people living in tents there — honking as they drive past, screaming obscenities, throwing fireworks and ice, and even firing guns in the air.
It’s a problem that has vexed local officials. City employees originally moved the unhoused people onto the riverbank in February and, with help from Rio Arriba County, provided them with basic services, such as toilets and trash pickup, as well as needle exchanges. But officials began threatening to make them leave in late May, after Española residents voiced loud complaints at a contentious town hall meeting.
On July 29, the city acquiesced to those complaints, issuing an order to close the plot of public land. The site “is adversely affecting the public health, safety and welfare and must be vacated,” the order asserts — though city officials previously told Searchlight that the encampment was making the city safer, saying it had decreased the number of 911 calls and the amount of trash on the city’s streets.
Shortly after the order was signed, residents report, the city government sent a front-end loader to pick up trash at the camp and posted no trespassing signs outside the perimeter.
Police arrived at the encampment on Aug. 1, issuing warnings to the residents for criminal trespassing and arresting two people with outstanding warrants. The officers said that they would arrest those who didn’t pack up and leave in the days ahead.
Española Police Chief Mizel Garcia, who had previously told Searchlight that he did not want to intervene in the encampment, accompanied his officers as they issued warnings.
“I don’t make the laws,” he said. “If there’s an ordinance that’s being violated and I’m told to enforce it, I legally have no option but to do it.”
As police told people to leave, a crew of workers sawed and clipped brush and branches from around their tents. City Manager Eric Lujan said the growth was a fire hazard. But the foliage also provided crucial shade coverage on a bank where the temperatures can surge above 100 degrees.
Most residents don’t know where to go. Around a dozen people were still at the encampment as of Wednesday afternoon. City Social Services Director Michelle Fraire said that she didn’t know where those who left the site had gone.
Those who can’t carry their possessions — furniture, tents, mattresses — will be forced to leave them behind. They’ve formed a tight-knit community on the riverbank, but several interviewed by Searchlight said they don’t think they’ll be able to stick together or find a safe place to stay, given the lack of space in the city shelter and the violent harassment they experience from passersby.
After being promised various long-term services and handed shifting directives over the past several months, they said they are experiencing a deep sense of betrayal.
Carol Draper, who has lived in the camp since February, recalled officials guaranteeing that the city would find land where people could stay in the long term.
“Nothing ever followed through, and now we’re getting kicked out of here,” she said. “A lot of us don’t have no idea where we’re gonna go, don’t really have no help. We’re doing it all on our own.”
The actions in Española come after a June ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that allows local governments to penalize people for sleeping in public places. That ruling prompted California’s governor to order state officials to remove homeless encampments in major cities, and other states are poised to do the same.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham recently said she’s “looking at [California’s approach] carefully.” The clearing of the Española encampment coincided with a town hall she held last week in the city, where she heard concerns about the unhoused population and endorsed a local ban on loitering in medians.
This article first appeared on Searchlight New Mexico and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
The All-American Rejects played a pop-up show in a former alfalfa field in the South Valley after telling fans the location just hours before the concert.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A former alfalfa field in the South Valley served as the venue for one of the most highly-anticipated concerts of the year in New Mexico Wednesday night, although no one knew exactly where it would take place until a few hours before showtime.
The All-American Rejects, the band behind hits such as “Move Along” and “Dirty Little Secret” said they were coming to the Albuquerque area for a concert, but only fans who signed up for an alert received the exact location, and that didn’t come down until 5:55 p.m. Wednesday.
It’s part of the band’s free “House Party” concert series, which features performances in barns and backyards instead of more traditional venues in an effort to fight back against rising concert ticket prices.
“The whole tour, the message we’re trying to get across is what’s happened with concerts in general. It’s become a one-percenters club to have access to the one commodity we need for togetherness, which is music,” said Tyson Ritter, the lead singer and bassist for the band.
The owners of the property couldn’t believe their luck when they were selected. Jackeline and Thomas Ingham told KOB 4 their family’s properties in the South Valley have been used for weddings in the past, but certainly never for a major concert.
“And I thought it was a scam, so I hung up,” said Jackeline Ingham when asked about how the band’s manager reached out to her to set up the concert. “So, [my husband] is like, ‘Call her back!’ So, he ended up talking the rest of the way with her.”
Throughout the day, many fans of the All-American Rejects across New Mexico were trying to guess where the band might show up later in the evening.
“I thought it was either gonna be at Ex Novo, New Mexico United, or just somewhere in the South Valley because that’s what Reddit said all day,” said Brooke Palmer.
Fans within a 124-mile (200 km) radius were able to receive the band’s concert alert.
It ended with thousands of fans flocking to the area, and just before 8:30 p.m., an announcement was made saying the venue was at capacity, forcing many to leave.
Others remained outside the main gate trying to get the best view they could from afar.
But the band was ultimately happy with the former alfalfa field that was quickly turned into a concert stage.
“Well, this is number four. And this feels like this is the example,” said Ritter ahead of the show. “This is what a house party is. Right here, man. We’ve got a beautiful field, an incredibly generous host, the weather is with us.”
The professional rodeo season continues to heat up as we head into the spring and summer runs. Rodeos across the country drew top athletes over the recent weekend, as they vie for positions at the 2026 National Finals Rodeo (NFR).
Every dollar counts, especially as we enter the last five months of the 2026 season.
Riverdale Rodeo – Riverdale, Calif.
Bareback rider Jacob Lees earned two California victories on the weekend, scoring 81.5 points on Four Star Rodeo’s Sweet Annie in Riverdale. His 83.5-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Socket claimed the win in Stonyford.
Reigning Circuit Champion, Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, topped the barrel racing by two-tenths of a second with her time of 17.04 sconds.
Stonyford Rodeo – Stonyford, Calif.
California cowboy Bailey Small put together a solid weekend in his circuit, winning Stonyford with an 82.5-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Classy Clark. He also finished second in Riverdale.
Barrel racer Kathy Petska continues to dominate the circuit, claiming yet another spring win with a 17.50-second run.
American Royal Rodeo – Kansas City, Mo.
There are now two “Popes” to watch out for in the bareback riding — three-time NFR Average Champion and World Champion, Jess Pope, and his brother, Ty. Ty made a huge ride in Kansas City, scoring 87 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Broadway Boots for the win.
In 2025, Kansas cowboy Weston Patterson made his first NFR appearance and has carried that momentum into his 2026 season. Scoring 88 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Joker Poker, he claimed the saddle bronc riding win.
Pioneer Days Rodeo – Clovis, N.M.
Tie-down roper Buck Tate earned the win by over two full seconds, taking home $1,404.
Reigning Breakaway Roping World Champion Taylor Munsell claimed the $2,054 victory with a time of 1.8 seconds.
Helotes Festival Association Rodeo – Helotes, Texas
In bareback riding, Taylor Broussard matched up with Andrews Rodeo’s Empty Promises for a score of 85.5 points to earn the win.
Seven-time NFR qualifier, Isaac Diaz, topped the leaderboard with a score of 89 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s To The Limit. He earned the win in saddle bronc riding and $1,855.
PPCLA PRCA Rodeo – Mineral Wells, Texas
Sissy Winn put together a solid weekend in her circuit, topping the barrel racing in Mineral Wells and finishing fourth in Helotes.
Hailing from Winnie, Texas, Ethan Winckler made the only qualified ride in bull riding, scoring 87.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Mr. Blue Sky and taking home a whopping $4,863.
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