ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The 2025 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta drew 851,994 guest visits, inching the event back toward pre-pandemic numbers.

Attendance for the 2025 Balloon Fiesta was up from three of the last four post-pandemic editions of Balloon Fiesta (2021-22, 2024) and is not far off of the four editions before the pandemic (2016-19).

In all, there were 537 registered balloons, including 103 special shape balloons (11 new) and 90 remote control balloons. There were 651 pilots – from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

• Pilots came from 41 of 50 U.S. states:
  • Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

MORE: Balloon Fiesta: 838,337 guest visits during 2024 festivities

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico is turning to artificial intelligence to help firefighters get to wildfires quicker. Firefighters have relied on sightings of wildfire, 911 calls, and even people in lookout towers who see smoke or flames. Now, they are turning to new technology. “Our firefighters no longer waste critical time trying to locate the fire based on a vague description or chasing smoke, and incident commanders receive real-time visual intelligence during active fires, which helps them make better tactical decisions and resource deployment, and public safety decisions,” said Laura McCarthy, New Mexico State Forester.

The AI-enabled wildfire detection technology provides continuous monitoring of the highest-risk areas. The state is deploying 11 stations in Albuquerque, the East Mountains, and the Santa Fe area, with more stations around the state planned.

Director of Government Development for Pano AI and former wildland firefighter Kat Williams, explained how the tech works. “So the way that Pano works is we deploy high-definition cameras that have AI running on those images. And when the AI detects a wildfire, then it goes to a fully-staffed intelligence center, where a pano analyst will confirm that it is a wildfire. And then that visual intelligence is sent to all fire agencies within a jurisdiction so that,” said Williams.

She said that the visual intelligence from the pano cameras can allow firefighters to send the right resources the first time so that they can extinguish those fires right away. Five stations are already operational and monitoring 24 hours a day, seven days a week with six additional stations expected to come online by early 2026.

Each station costs about $50,000 a year to operate. The quicker information about a fire starting could also lead to quicker evacuation orders for people affected by the blazes.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The line is growing at M&T Mini Mart in Albuquerque, and so is the jackpot. With Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing reaching over $900 million, hope is high, and ticket sales are booming.

“They’re meticulous with the way they do their lottery, right?” said Ashlee Weiss, co-owner of the M&T Mini Mart. “So, everyone has their own way to do things, and a lot of people are specific to a store. They feel like they win better at that store, they get better luck at that store, and luckily we’ve become that store for quite a few people.”

M&T Mini Mart Owner, Teresa Thompson, says he’s been selling hundreds of tickets a day, and it hasn’t slowed down.

“[It’s been] much busier,” said Thompson. “People buy tickets. If they win, then they use their winnings to buy more tickets, and it’s just like a big cycle.”

Players like Hazel and her dad say, even with the odds stacked against them, it’s about the dream. She says she’s her dad’s good luck charm.

“My dad wanted me to pick some lottos because the last time I did, he won $30,” she said.

Tickets are on sale until the drawing at 9 p.m. Tuesday night, then it’s all up to luck. If you haven’t bought one yet, you’re not alone. Lines like this one are expected right up to the drawing.

Whether it’s a dream, a dollar, or a long shot — this gas station says they’ll be ready to print hope until the very last minute.

“It spurs a lot of imagination when it gets this big,” said Wendy Ahlm, New Mexico Lottery director of Advertisement and Marketing. “People start thinking about what they could do, what they would do differently, what they might, you know, gift their friends or their family, or what kind of lifestyle they would have.”