New Mexico
Miss New Mexico Pageant in Alamogordo
A dozen young ladies from around New Mexico joined the Alamogordo Sertoma Club for its June 6 meeting, ahead of the Miss New Mexico Pageant slated for June 8 at the Flickinger Center.
Seven of them were set to vie for the title of Miss New Mexico 2024, and the chance to represent the Land of Enchantment in the next Miss America Pageant.
Three were competing for the title of Miss New Mexico’s Teen 2024.
And two were the reigning title-holders, Miss New Mexico Lianna Hartshorn of Las Cruces, and Miss New Mexico’s Teen Emily Lehr of Alamogordo.
The local contestants were Emille-Marie Enriquez, Miss Otero County; Dakota Cullers, Miss Alamogordo; and Haidyn Hill, Miss Lincoln County.
At the meeting, which took place at Desert Lakes Golf Course in Alamogordo, Miss New Mexico Executive Director Rhonda Haynes addressed the assembled crowd of contestants, pageant supporters and Sertomans. Like nearly everything else on the planet, the Miss New Mexico Pageant suffered setbacks because of the pandemic. In years past, there were often twice the number of contestants.
More: Miss New Mexico competitions set for Saturday
“We may be small, but we’ve got a great group of girls,” Haynes said. “You are very talented and very smart.”
Haynes also referenced the recently deceased Carol Henry, who for many years was a vital leader for Miss New Mexico.
“We have created four community service scholarships in Carol’s name,” Haynes said. “This is a great way to honor Carol.”
Did you know the current Miss America, Madison Marsh, is a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force?
More: Flickinger Center looking forward to Miss New Mexico, fall season
Haynes made sure to let the audience know. Indeed, Marsh, who won as Miss Colorado, is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, with a degree in physics. She earned her pilot’s license at age 17, and is a cancer research scholar.
“Having a pilot in the Air Force as Miss America is very cool,” said Haynes, who reminded all the Miss New Mexico candidates they too can accomplish great things.
The group also heard from Sarina Turnbull-Paul, who was Miss Alamogordo in 2008 and 2010, and became Miss New Mexico in 2011.
“Among the skills you are learning in this organization, I hope you learn to say yes, and lean in with all your heart,” Turnbull-Paul said. “Be true to yourself. Believe in yourself. And I hope you can carry this back into your communities.”
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Tanya Tucker will perform at the 2026 New Mexico State Fair, officials announced Tuesday.
Tucker will take to the stage Friday, Sept. 18, after the Chevron PRCA rodeo. The Grammy Award-winning icon has racked up 10 No. 1 country hits since her first hit, “Delta Dawn,” at age 13.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring the legendary Tanya Tucker to the New Mexico State Fair,” said Dan Mourning, general manager of the New Mexico State Fair. “Tanya is one of the greatest icons in country music history and is the perfect fit for the Fair.”
Tucker has 23 Top-40 albums and 56 Top 40 singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has won two Country Music Association awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, three CMT Awards and two Grammys for Best Country Album and Best Country Song.
Tickets are set to go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m.
Here is the full 2026 New Mexico State Fair rodeo-concert lineup:
Friday, Sept. 11
Turnpike Troubadours with Chevron PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Saturday, Sept. 12
Ian Munsick with Chevron PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Wednesday, Sept. 16
Chevron PRCA Standalone Rodeo
Thursday, Sept. 17
Everclear with Chevron PRCA Rodeo
Friday, Sept. 18
Tanya Tucker with Chevron PRCA Rodeo
Saturday, Sept. 19
The Warning with Chevron PRCA Rodeo
Sunday, Sept. 20
Chevron PRCA Rodeo – Matinee
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State investigators began searching a secluded ranch in New Mexico on Monday where financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein once entertained guests amid allegations that the property may have been used for sexual abuse and sex trafficking of young women.
The office of state Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced that the search was being done with the cooperation of the current ranch owners.
Torrez last month reopened an investigation of the ranch. New Mexico’s initial case was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, and state prosecutors say now that “revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination.”
Epstein purchased the sprawling Zorro Ranch in Stanley, New Mexico, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Santa Fe, in 1993 from former Democratic Gov. Bruce King and built a hilltop mansion with a private runway.
The property was sold by Epstein’s estate in 2023 — with proceeds going toward creditors — to the family of Don Huffines, a candidate in Texas for state comptroller who won the Republican primary last week.
“The New Mexico Department of Justice appreciates the cooperation of the current property owners,” the agency said in a statement. Prosecutors “will continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead.”
Additionally, New Mexico state legislators have established a new commission to look into past activities at the ranch.
Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls.
Epstein never faced charges in New Mexico, but the state attorney general’s office in 2019 confirmed that it had interviewed possible victims who visited Epstein’s ranch.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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