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Kent Hoffmann, Karl Affsprung and Andrew Lujan-Huerta appear side by side in a three-panel composite of identification photos.
FBI Featured

FBI seeks information in three Roswell homicide investigations

The FBI, Roswell police and Chaves County sheriff’s deputies are seeking information in three homicide investigations involving men found dead in and near Roswell this summer.

Organ Mountain News
A wooden judge’s gavel and sound block rest on a light-colored surface.
Courts Featured

17-year-old pleads guilty to second-degree murder in Las Cruces house party shooting

Kenneth Perez, 17, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and three aggravated battery charges in a 2025 Las Cruces house party shooting that killed Lance Chavez.

Damien Willis
Luján bill would make home-based care a mandatory Medicaid benefit
Health Featured

Luján bill would make home-based care a mandatory Medicaid benefit

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján is co-leading legislation that would make home and community-based services a mandatory Medicaid benefit and phase out waiting lists.

Organ Mountain News
A fenced gravel lot and warehouse at Mesilla Valley Community of Hope in Las Cruces, with a sign for the Mano y Mano Day Labor Program.
Community of Hope Featured

$500,000 grant will fund critical repairs at Mesilla Valley Community of Hope

Mesilla Valley Community of Hope will receive $500,000 from Housing New Mexico for a critical roof replacement and rehabilitation work at its Las Cruces day shelter.

Organ Mountain News
Lori Martinez, House Speaker Javier Martínez and Isabella Solis appear side by side in a three-panel portrait composite.
Politics

House District 37 candidates split over filling vacancy before November election

House District 37 candidates Isabella Solis and Lori Martinez disagree over whether the vacant Las Cruces-area legislative seat should be filled before voters choose a representative in November.

Damien Willis
The Third Judicial District Courthouse in Las Cruces, shown from the street with its main entrance, parking area and surrounding grounds.
Courts

13-year-old sentenced to two years in CYFD custody in Chris Carnero shooting death

A 13-year-old was sentenced to two years in CYFD custody after pleading no contest in the shooting death of 13-year-old Chris Carnero in Las Cruces.

Organ Mountain News
Las Cruces Fire Department Deputy Chief Justin Whitefield poses in uniform against a dark blue-gray studio background.
LCFD

Las Cruces Fire Department names Justin Whitefield deputy chief of operations

The Las Cruces Fire Department has named 19-year department veteran Justin Whitefield deputy chief of operations after he served in the role on an interim basis.

Organ Mountain News
"A" Mountain, with communications equipment rises beneath a glowing orange sunset near New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.
Sports

NM State Athletics moves to digital ticketing for 2026-27 seasons

NM State Athletics is switching to Blocktickets for season and single-game tickets and will host three free in-person help sessions for fans.

Michael Navarrette
A stop sign and street signs mark the intersection of N. Alameda Boulevard and Hoagland Road in Las Cruces.
Roads

Las Cruces seeks input on N. Alameda, Hoagland intersection improvements

Las Cruces will host an Aug. 20 public meeting on planned traffic signals, sidewalks, pavement and other improvements at N. Alameda Boulevard and Hoagland Road.

Organ Mountain News
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich speaks from a lectern on the Senate floor, gesturing with one hand.
Outdoor Spaces

Heinrich leads Senate opposition to Interior wilderness policy review

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich is leading a Senate letter opposing an Interior Department review of wilderness management policies affecting nearly 200 million acres of public land.

Organ Mountain News
A colorful graphic for the Heart & Color youth art exhibit overlays the Doña Ana County Government Center and notes the exhibit is open through Aug. 14 in Las Cruces.
Art

Youth detention center art exhibit open through Aug. 14 in Las Cruces

Artwork created by youth at the Doña Ana County Juvenile Detention Center is on display through Aug. 14 at the county Government Center in Las Cruces.

Organ Mountain News
A rendering shows buildings, roads and landscaping planned for the proposed Project Jupiter data center campus in Doña Ana County.
Project Jupiter

Advocacy group asks NMED to toss Project Jupiter air permit application

An advocacy group is asking New Mexico regulators to dismiss Project Jupiter’s air permit application, arguing its proposed natural gas supply remains legally uncertain.

Julia Gentin
Thaddeus “Tuk” Koslik and his wife, Tracie Koslik, sit together on a couch in their Albuquerque home.
Health

Assisted living grows more complex. Safeguards fall short.

A New Mexico In Depth investigation found weak oversight of assisted-living facilities statewide, including safety failures documented at Desert Peaks in Las Cruces.

Bryant Furlow
Graphic announcing 25 Oracle Scholarship Fund awards for Doña Ana County students, with Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico and Oracle logos beside books and a graduation cap.
Community

Oracle scholarship fund awards 25 scholarships to Doña Ana County students

Twenty-five Doña Ana County students have received scholarships through an Oracle-funded program administered by the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico.

Organ Mountain News
The Western New Mexico University campus in Silver City, photographed in March 2026.
WNMU

Former WNMU president asks judge to reinstate state auditor, lawmakers as lawsuit defendants

Former WNMU President Joseph Shepard is asking a judge to reinstate State Auditor Joseph Maestas and several lawmakers as defendants in his lawsuit.

Joshua Bowling
A graphic for the Schumacher Grant Pet Food Drive shows a kitten and puppy alongside logos for the Schumacher Grant and Casa de Peregrinos.
Pets

Las Cruces pet food drive aims to double aid bags to 3,000 in 2026

The Schumacher Grant and Casa de Peregrinos hope to assemble 3,000 pet food aid bags this year and are seeking donations and volunteers in Las Cruces.

Organ Mountain News
A family stands with a dog outside a newly built home beside a graphic promoting Housing New Mexico’s NewHome Rate Advantage Program.
Housing

Housing New Mexico launches mortgage rate buydown for new homes

Housing New Mexico’s NewHome Rate Advantage pilot offers qualified buyers a permanent 1 percentage-point mortgage rate reduction on newly constructed homes.

Organ Mountain News
Promotional graphic for the Organ Mountains Jubilee featuring the Organ Mountains, event details and logos for Freedom 250 and the Bureau of Land Management's 80th anniversary.
Las Cruces Events

Organ Mountains Jubilee to celebrate America 250 and BLM's 80th anniversary

The Bureau of Land Management will host the Organ Mountains Jubilee on Oct. 24 at Dripping Springs Natural Area, celebrating America's 250th anniversary and the agency's 80th birthday.

Organ Mountain News
Organ Mountain News

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You’re free to republish our stories — with credit. Our journalism is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Please edit only for style or length, include attribution and a link back to Organ Mountain News. AP and Getty images may not be reused. See our republishing guidelines for more.