New Mexico
New Mexico lawmakers discuss CYFD reform and oversight
Legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle promised to address the longstanding issues inside the Child Youth and Families Department.
SANTA FE, N.M. – Legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle promised to address the longstanding issues inside the Children, Youth and Families Department.
On Friday, those long-awaited reform plans took a big step forward in the Roundhouse.
Republican lawmakers bring CYFD reform and oversight bills to the Roundhouse every year, but they’ve largely collected dust at the starting line.
This year is different. Democratic leaders and the governor say it’s time to get some independent eyes on the embattled agency. But it seems there’s already a disagreement over who should be in charge.
“In the 2025, legislative session, we will continue our push to reform CYFD, the agency is broken, and our children need help,” said Speaker of the House Rep. Javier Martinez.
With a 9-1 vote, efforts to create a new Office of the Child Advocate are moving forward in the Roundhouse.
“For far too long, children have not had a voice where they could go, or a space that would provide them impartial fairness and treatment to make sure that their concerns are heard, and that action is taken,” said state Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta.
House Bill 5 places the oversight office inside the New Mexico Department of Justice, that’s where CYFD Secretary Teresa Casados is drawing the line.
“I think anytime you have oversight at an agency such as the Department of Justice, whether or not it is punitive, it just sends that message that it’s incredibly punitive. And that’s not a message that I want to send to my staff that are out there every single day doing this tough work,” said Casados.
Casados instead backs the governor’s plan for a Child Protection Agency inside the Regulation and Licensing Department.
“It’s important for anybody that does public service to have oversight,” said Casados.
But state lawmakers also want some control over CYFD.
A proposed constitutional amendment removing CYFD from the governor’s cabinet and allowing legislative leaders to appoint several members of a new CYFD commission is also moving forward.
“I think everybody agrees there needs to be changes at the department, but this is absolutely the wrong way to go about,” Casados said.
Cabinet secretaries from the Public Education Department, the Health Care Authority, Early Childhood Care and Education Department and Workforce Solutions all joined Casados to oppose the plan.
Still, state lawmakers say the glaring problems at CYFD have gone on long enough.
“I believe insanity is doing the same thing, day in and day out, and expecting different results. And I don’t know if this is the answer, but I believe we’ve got to do something,” said state Rep. Elaine Sena Cortez.
Secretary Cassados and the other cabinet secretaries pointed out several other states already tried establishing a commission to oversee their CYFD’s, but decided to go back to a cabinet secretary format.
Regardless, New Mexico voters would end up having to make the final decision on that.
Track HB 5 during the legislative session.
LAS ANIMAS COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – A 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck in southern Colorado near the New Mexico border Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with shocks felt as far as Pueblo.
According to the USGS, around 10:45 a.m., an earthquake struck near Weston at a depth of 8.7 km.
USGS said weak shaking could be felt as far as southern Pueblo and Monte Vista, with the shaking measured at an intensity level 3.
USGS said it estimates a 28% chance that an aftershock greater than 3.0 can be felt again within the next week.
Copyright 2026 KKTV. All rights reserved.
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.”
-
News15 minutes agoOhio deputy who fatally shot Black man entering his grandmother’s house is convicted of reckless homicide
-
New York2 hours agoNew York’s Budget Deal Is Still Hazy. Here Are 5 Key Questions.
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoApproval poll: Do you approve of Lions GM Brad Holmes? (post-2026 draft)
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoWhere to watch Pittsburgh Pirates vs San Francisco Giants: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 8
-
Dallas, TX3 hours agoDallas Weather: Thunderstorms in the forecast for Friday & Mother’s Day
-
Boston, MA3 hours ago
Where to watch Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 8
-
Denver, CO3 hours ago11 Denver Restaurants For Anyone Missing Their Southern Roots – Tasting Table
-
Seattle, WA3 hours agoOffseason Checklist: Seattle Kraken