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New Mexico DOJ pressures the state to crack down on illegal fencing on public waters

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New Mexico DOJ pressures the state to crack down on illegal fencing on public waters


NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – It’s been a long-debated topic pinning private landowners against people using New Mexico’s rivers recreationally.

Friday morning, New Mexico’s Department of Justice (DOJ) and two outdoor organizations pressured the state to crack down on illegal fencing on public waters.

“These are extremely dangerous to the public,” said Sherry Barrett with New Mexico Paddlers Coalition.

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Fencing across rivers and streams with hopes of keeping out trespassers on private property interferes with what the state law now deems legal.

“There had been barriers that had been allowed by certain regulation, and the New Mexico Supreme Court said that those regulations were unconstitutional,” said NMDOJ Chief Deputy Attorney General James Grayson.

The NMDOJ, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, and the New Mexico Paddlers Coalition went before legislators during the Water and Natural Resources Committee presenting the status on stream access enforcement.

“The waters belong to the public. The waters of New Mexico, whether they’re perennial or torrential belong to the public, and the public has a right to recreate and to fish on those waters,” said Grayson.

Some legislators asked: how far is too far? At what point do public rights become trespassing on private property?

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“This is a balanced approach. The public does have the right to recreate. The public has the right to access those waters, but the public can’t trespass over private land to get to the water, and the public can’t exit the water onto private land,” said Grayson.

The DOJ shared how they reached out to property owners along the popular Pecos and Chama rivers with illegal fencing asking for barriers to be taken down. The next step was to send cease and desist letters.

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“We wanted to work with the landowners to let them know what their rights were and what the public’s rights were. We successfully managed to have a number of barriers removed from the Pecos River,” said Grayson.

In some cases, where owners refused to comply, further legal actions were taken. The state spoke to the severity of the dangers of having fencing along these rivers and streams.

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“One of the problems is it’s a barbed wire fence, and these can be very difficult to see on rivers, especially in high flows, and again, these can ensnare people – boaters and anglers – and cause drowning,” said Barrett.

Some legislators wondered how landowners are supposed to exclude or contain livestock from entering or leaving their property without the barriers.

“We have to figure out a way to get these fences, if they’re necessary, to be paddler friendly,” said Barrett.

The discussion went back and forth as legislators fought to clarify what would be “reasonable;” some advocated for private landowners and asked for stricter guidelines on trespassing, and others were in support of the DOJ’s efforts to open the use of waterways to the public.

The New Mexico Paddlers Coalition and other outdoor groups have already volunteered time to install paddler-friendly fencing and hold regular trash cleanups along popular rivers.

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Great New Mexico Food Truck & Craft Beverage Festival happening this weekend

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Great New Mexico Food Truck & Craft Beverage Festival happening this weekend


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Great New Mexico Food Truck & Craft Beverage Festival returns to Balloon Fiesta Park this weekend.

Teppanyaki King is among the newer trucks on the menu.

General Manager said the Albuquerque food truck has been open for about six months and will make its second festival appearance this weekend.

Pacheco showed off several dishes and said one of the truck’s best sellers is “lobster and filet mignon.”

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Pacheco said the team wanted to bring something different to Albuquerque because “there’s taco trucks everywhere, you know, and we wanted to bring something completely different to Albuquerque so people can experience restaurant-style cooking, but on the streets.”

He said the truck has about 7 to 10 pounds of filet mignon stocked ahead of the event and full refrigerators as the team prepares for the crowd.

Teppanyaki King also serves daily in Albuquerque near San Antonio and Louisiana, Pacheco said.

People can buy tickets online ahead of time, with a pre-sale discount available if they buy them before the event. Special VIP and beer lover packages are also available.

The festival is happening on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. VIP tickets can get in an hour earlier.

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Human remains found in Santa Fe are those of Joel ‘Deano’ Valdez

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Human remains found in Santa Fe are those of Joel ‘Deano’ Valdez


SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico State Police say human remains found in Santa Fe County are missing man Joel “Deano” Valdez.

State police said the update came after someone walking a dog found human remains on Caja del Rio Road on April 12.

Through coordination with the Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI), state police said investigators positively identified the remains as Valdez.

The cause and manner of death have not yet been determined. OMI will conduct further anthropological examination.

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Valdez was reported missing on Sept. 21, 2025, after he did not return home to Coyote after work in Silver City, according to New Mexico State Police.

State police said the investigation remains active and ongoing.

The family of Joel “Deano” Valdez sent the following statement:

“We confirm that the remains of Joel “Deano” Valdez have been located. While this development marks a profoundly difficult moment for the family, it brings a measure of closure to a long and painful period of uncertainty that began last September, when he disappeared.

At this time, there are significantly more questions than answers. The circumstances surrounding Deano’s disappearance and death remain under active investigation, and we will not speculate or comment beyond confirmed facts.

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The family is seeking clarity and accountability and is committed to allowing the appropriateauthorities the time and space necessary to conduct a thorough and careful investigation. Through counsel, the family is closely monitoring all developments and will pursue every appropriate avenue to ensure that the facts are fully uncovered.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the tremendous support,
encouragement, and prayers they have received over the past seven months. They are deeply thankful to all who have sacrificed their time and effort in the search for Deano. The family also extends its appreciation to the individuals and agencies who have contributed to the ongoing investigation and commitment to getting answers.

Additionally, they extend their sincere gratitude to all those who have supported and remained invested in Deano’s story. The family deeply appreciates the outpouring of support from both the online community and the media. They understand that many are awaiting answers and assure that updates will be shared when appropriate and available.

The family respectfully requests privacy as they process this devastating news. They ask the public and the media to honor their need for space and dignity during this period of mourning.

May Deano rest in peace.”

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Anyone with information related to the case can contact New Mexico State Police at 505-841-9256.



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Settlement could make EpiPen cheaper, more accessible in New Mexico

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Settlement could make EpiPen cheaper, more accessible in New Mexico


SANTA FE, N.M. — A new settlement between the State of New Mexico and the maker of EpiPen is expected to make the EpiPen more accessible and affordable in the state.

Drugmaker Mylan, Inc., agreed to pay $2.25 million to the state. It’ll resolve claims that they engaged in unfair and anticompetitive practices related to its products that are used for emergency allergic reactions.

As a part of the settlement, the company doesn’t have to admit any wrongdoing to those practices. However, they will have to do the following:

  • Increase copay coupons from $25 to $40.
    • People can get $40 off instead of $25.
  • Donate 10,000 more EpiPens to the state for distribution.
    • 1,000 two-packs per year for five years, starting this year.
    • State will distribute as they see fit.
  • Increase awareness of EpiPen’s school program and how to enroll.
    • Program provides free EpiPen devices to schools.
      • Participation in New Mexico is among the lowest in the nation.
        • Around 10% of schools participate.

“This settlement serves as an important protection for New Mexico consumers and families who depend on affordable access to life-saving epinephrine products,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “The New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to fight for fair pricing and transparency in the pharmaceutical industry. We look forward to working with Mylan to raise public awareness of the relief this settlement provides.”

The State accused Mylan of violating consumer protection and antitrust statutes with its business and pricing practices. That includes general delay tactic, patent litigation strategies, marketing practices and pricing decisions.

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The $2.25 million to settle those claims will go to the state to support investigation costs, programs, personnel, training and “urgent health care needs.”



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