Alex Ross
El Rito Media
aross@elritomedia.com

Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima has dropped his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2026 and instead will run as an independent in the Nov. 3 general election.

Miyagishima, 62, made the announcement in a Facebook post Monday, Feb. 2.

“In today’s polarized political climate, we need unity more than ever,” he said. “I’ve seen first-hand how division holds us back from addressing the real issues we face. By running as an independent, my goal is to create a space for fresh ideas and community involvement.”

Campaign finance reports filed with the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office in October showed Miyagishima far behind in fundraising in what had been a three-candidate race for the Democratic nomination.

Former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland had raised $6.91 million and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman $2.52 million. Miyagishima had taken in just $69,152 since launching his campaign in May, with $50,000 of that coming from the candidate.

Miyagishima was mayor of Las Cruces from 2007 until 2023, making him the longest serving mayor in the city’s history. Before that he served two terms on the Dona Ana County Board of Commissioners from 1993 to 2001 and was on the Las Cruces City Council from 2001 to 2007.

Miyagishima said in a Feb. 2 text message conversation that he opted to run as an independent because the primary campaign became focused on national politics rather than the issues facing New Mexico.

Despite not having a major political party behind him, Miyagishima said, he believes he can prevail in the general election.

“You’re seeing more and more people choosing independents, and I think they deserve a candidate that reflects that,” he said.

Miyagishima said he must collect 14,000 signatures to qualify for the general election ballot and has until June 25 to submit those signatures to the Secretary of State’s office.

Four Republicans have declared as candidates for their party’s gubernatorial nomination in the June 2 primary: Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull; state Sen. Steve Lanier of Aztec; former Public Regulations Commissioner Jim Ellison Jr.; and Duke Rodriguez who served as secretary of the New Mexico Human Services Department, a Cabinet level agency later absorbed into the state Health Care Authority.

In addition to Miyagishima, four candidates have filed to run for governor as independents, according to the Secretary of State’s office: Albuquerque residents Meliton Isaac Gonzales and Tristan Kumar; Gene Pettit of Radium Springs; and Jacob Smith of Rio Rancho.

Legislative reporter Alex Ross can be followed on X @alexrosstweets.

Jan 18

Arrest

Juan Angel Quintero Hernandez arrested for resisting, evading, obstructing an officer, probation violation.

Tatum Deane Treadway arrested for resisting, evading, obstructing an officer, probation violation.

SUSPICIOUS

12:37 am – Officer dispatched to 2500 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

3:36 am – Officer dispatched 1300 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to suspicious person.

3:53 am – Officer dispatched 1100 block of W. Runyan Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

ALARM

7:44 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Texas Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.

WELFARE

8:38 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Bush Ave.  in reference to the welfare of an adult.

ACCIDENT

12:29 am – Officer dispatched to W. Main St. and Bulldog Blvd. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

WANTED

2:38 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to a wanted subject.

SHOTS FIRED

2:45 pm -Officer dispatched to 200 block of N. 13th St. in reference to shots fired in the area.

WELFARE

3:30 pm – Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

UNWANTED

4:16 pm -Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

ACCIDENT

4:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

WELFARE

4:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

SUSPICIOUS

5:04 pm – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of S. 17th St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

5:32 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious trespass.

5:57 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. James Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

SHOTS FIRED

10:04 pm- Officer dispatched to  1200 block of S. W Merchant Ave. in reference to shots fired gun shot wound.

ARMED SUBJECT

10:16 pm- Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to an armed subject with a hand gun.

SUSPICIOUS

11:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

Jan 19

Arrest

Diana Alvarado arrested for municipal failure to pay.

Carrie Lynn Pipp arrested for violation of conditions of release.

ACCIDENT

8:54 am – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SUSPICIOUS

9:02 am – Officer dispatched to S. 13th St. and W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to suspicious activity.

THREATS

11:53 am – Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to threats.

SUSPICIOUS

12:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to s a suspicious person.

12:18 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious person.

INCORRIGIBLE

12:26 pm – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to incorrigible child.

WANTED

12:35 pm- Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to a wanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

5:45 pm -Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

WANTED

5:48 pm- Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to a wanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

5:51 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of Carper Dr. in reference to a suspicious person.

DISTURBANCE

9:46 pm- Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to disturbance.

Jan. 20

WELFARE

2:11 am – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of S. 25th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

 Jan 20 

Angel Jose Chavez arrested for resisting, evading and obstructing an officer. 

Paul Joseph Miera arrested for battery against a house hold member. 

ACCIDENT 

8:07 am – Officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

RECKLESS 

8:09 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of N. 13th St. in reference to a reckless vehicle.  

DOMESTIC 

8:25 am – Officer dispatched to the 400 block of S. 20th St. in reference to a physical domestic. 

WANTED 

8:40 am – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of N. 15th St. in reference to a wanted subject, 

GRAFFITI 

12:19 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 8th St. and W. Lolita Ave. in reference to graffiti.  

ACCIDENT 

12:35 pm – Officer dispatched to  600 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

WELFARE 

1:41 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Bush Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

SUSPICIOUS 

1:50 pm – Officer dispatched to 2400 block of Cerro Rd. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.  

1:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 6th St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.  

FIGHT 

3:43 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a fight. 

LARCENY 

3:53 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 8th St. and W. Logan Ave. in reference to larceny. 

HARASSMENT 

4:20 pm- Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to harassment. 

FIGHT 

6:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Cannon Ave. in reference to a fight. 

SUSPICIOUS 

7:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.  

LARCENY 

7:06 pm-  Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 26th St. in reference to larceny. 

RECKLESS 

8:01 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 1st St. and W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to a reckless vehicle.  

ACCIDENT 

8:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of La Cuesta rd. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

ARMED SUBJECT 

8:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 13th St. in reference to an armed subject. 

RECKLESS 

10:37 pm- Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to a reckless vehicle.  

Jan 21 

ARREST 

Carolyn Marie Powers arrested for unlawful use of license driving when privilege to do so has been suspended.  

DISTURBANCE 

1:46 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Cannon Ave. in reference to a family disturbance. 

BATTERY 

3:16 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to battery. 

SUSPICIOUS 

7:21 am – Officer dispatched to N. 4th St. and W. Chisum Ave. in reference to a suspicious person. 

ACCIDENT 

7:38 am – Officer dispatched to S. 17th St. and W.  Centre Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

8:44 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

SUSPICIOUS 

9:28 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of W. Texas Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.  

WELFARE 

9:55 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 2nd St. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

ACCIDENT 

10:26 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of La Cuesta Rd. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

HARASSMENT 

12:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to harassment. 

WELFARE 

1:06 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of S. 11th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

THREATS 

4:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of N. 5th St. in reference to threats. 

SUSPICIOUS 

6:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 400 block of S. 20th St, in reference to a suspicious person. 

UNWANTED 

8:08 pm – officer dispatched to 1600 block of N. 1st St. in reference to an unwanted subject. 

ARMED SUBJECT 

7:41 pm Officer dispatched to W. Yucca Ave. and N. 13th St. in reference to an armed subject. 

Jan 22

ARREST 

Eric Lee Lunsford arrested for municipal failure to comply. 

Cristopher Jason Madron arrested for animals running at large. Rabies vaccination required, interference with humane officer, all microchip identification implants she bee issued. 

ACCIDENT 

8:00 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Richardson Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

WELFARE 

8:12 am – Officer dispatched to W. Yucca Ave. and N. Roselawn Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

9:27 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

 DISTURBANCE 

1:08 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 7th St. and W. Grand Ave. in reference to disorderly disturbance. 

WELFARE 

1:18 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

THREATS 

1:21 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 6th St. in reference to threats. 

DISTURBANCE 

4:34 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to family disturbance. 

WELFARE 

5:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

ALARM 

9:42 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm. 

UNWANTED 

9:57 pm- Officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject. 

Jan 23 

Arrest

Jeremy Michael Luster arrested for unlawful use of license driving when privilege to do so has been suspended or revoked.

WELFARE 

3:45 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

SHOTS FIRED 

3:46 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to shots fired.  

GRAFFITI

8:00 am – Officer dispatched to N. 8th St. and W. Lolita Ave in reference to graffiti.

WELFARE

8:26 am – Officer dispatched to S. 13th St. and W. Centre Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

 THREATS

10:49 am – – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Cannon in reference to threats.

BATTERY

2:22 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Richardson in reference to battery.

4:28 pm- – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn in reference to battery.

SUSPICIOUS

4:23 pm – Officer dispatched to 2100 block of W. Bullock in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

WELFARE

6:09 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of S. 1st in reference to in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DOMESTIC

7:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Runyan in reference to physical domestic.

10:56 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 2nd St in reference to physical domestic.

ACCIDENT

7:49 pm – Officer dispatched to 2600 block of W. Main St in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

Alex Ross
El Rito Media
aross@elritomedia.com

A ban on local entities entering into immigrant detention agreements with the federal government passed the New Mexico House of Representatives on Friday, Jan. 30.

House Bill 9, also known as the Immigrant Safety Act, passed on a 40-29 vote with Democratic Reps. Martha Garcia of Pine Hill, Wonda Johnson of Rehoboth and Patricia Lundstrom of Gallup joining all 26 Republican representatives in opposing the bill. One Democrat, Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde, was absent and did not cast a vote.

The measure now will be considered by the Senate and if it passes that chamber will head to the desk of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Lujan Grisham, who placed HB 9 on her agenda for lawmakers to take up during the 30-day legislative session, would have until March 11 to sign or veto the bill. If the governor takes no action, the bill is subject to an automatic veto and will not become law.

HB 9 would prohibit public bodies in New Mexico, including state agencies, county and municipal governments, law enforcement agencies and school districts from entering into or maintaining agreements with ICE to host facilities used to detain individuals accused of civil immigration violations such as entering the U.S. illegally or overstaying visas.

Under such agreements the local government receives federal payments for housing detainees and uses the money to contract with private companies to operate the facilities.

Under HB 9, Cibola, Otero and Torrance counties, which are party to such agreements, would have to end their involvement.

An amendment added to the bill by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 28, also bars local bodies from entering into or continuing agreements that deputize state or local law enforcement to take part in certain immigration enforcement duties.

Passage of HB 9 came amid continuing controversy over President Donald Trump’s border enforcement policies and the actions of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers, particularly in response to anti-ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities.

Following the vote, House Democrats applauded passage of the bill, as a signal that New Mexico will no longer take part in immigration enforcement or detention.

State Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-35) of Las Cruces, and one of the bill’s co-sponsors, said in a news release from House Democrats that HB9 “is about protecting our friends, our neighbors, and our family members from pain and suffering at the hands of untrained, unchecked, masked federal agents and for-profit detention facilities.

“New Mexico is making a clear statement that we want no part of the Trump administration’s chaotic and increasingly violent deportation machine.”

Republicans are staunchly opposed to the bill, arguing that prohibiting the contracts will lead to job losses and cause ICE to close detention facilities.

State Sen. Jim Townsend (R-34) of Artesia, whose district includes Otero County, criticized Democrats who supported the measure in a Jan. 31 Facebook post in which he accused them of killing jobs “because they hate Trump more than they love New Mexicans.”

Legislative reporter Alex Ross can be followed on X @alexrosstweets.

Todd Fuqua
Ruidoso News
tfuqua@elritomedia.com

A movie filmed in Ruidoso has been nominated for an Academy Award for visual effects.

The film, entitled The Lost Bus, tells the story of school bus driver Kevin McKay, who had to navigate a bus carrying 22 children and their teachers to safety during the Camp Fire, which devastated much of Paradise, California, in 2018.

Directed by Paul Greengrass, The Lost Bus stars Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey as McKay. Filming was done in and around Ruidoso because the area’s landscape resembled the California region where the Camp Fire occurred, according to an account posted on the Discover Ruidoso tourism website. The local scenes were shot in the spring of 2024, before Ruidoso suffered its own devastation from the Salt and South Fork fire.

“Ruidoso’s soaring pines, winding mountain roads, and even parts of Midtown provided the perfect backdrop for several of the film’s most intense scenes,” read the report on discoverruidoso.com. “Additional filming took place in Santa Fe, Española, Truchas, and Glorieta, where New Mexico’s diverse landscapes helped recreate the desperate escape at the heart of the story.”

“It’s awesome and amazing that Ruidoso has a $200 million feature film that’s been nominated,” said Eddie Ryan, film liaison for the Village of Ruidoso. “All it does is show that this is a viable filming community. If it wins, Ruidoso will have an Oscar-winning film under its belt.”

Nominations for the annual film industry awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were announced Jan. 22. The awards, popularly known as the Oscars, will be presented Sunday, March 15, at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

The ceremony will be televised live on the ABC network and streamed on Hulu starting at 5 p.m. Mountain time.

Besides The Lost Bus, this year’s nominees for Best Achievement in Visual Effects are Avatar: Fire and Ash; F1: The Movie; Jurassic World: Rebirth; and Sinners.

The films were selected for their groundbreaking technical achievements, according to information posted on the Internet Movie Database.

Todd Fuqua is Editor for the Ruidoso News and can be reached at 575-937-0344.