Shows
CrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook Podcast, Ep. 53: Senate Majority Leader Peter WirthThis week, we’re talking to New Mexico Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth. We’ll be talking about how he is approaching this year’s 60-day session of the New Mexico Legislature. We’ll take a look at many of the big-ticket items lawmakers are discussing as lawmakers set about crafting an historically large budget — one Wirth described as larger than any lawmaker, living or dead, has ever seen.
Totaling $9.4 billion in recurring spending — an 11.9% increase from the last fiscal year — there is no shortage of ideas on how to best spend that money. And that doesn’t include the one-time, nonrec...
2023-01-3124 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 52: LCPS Legislative PrioritiesOn this week's episode of The Reporter's Notebook Podcast, we’re talking to Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent Ralph Ramos. We’ll be talking about the school district’s priorities during this year’s 60-day session of the New Mexico Legislature. We’ll take a look at the impact proposed legislation might impact LCPS.
As New Mexico’s state legislature began work Tuesday, Jan. 17, to allocate an historically large budget — totaling $9.4 billion in recurring spending, an 11.9% increase from the last fiscal year — school districts around the state will be asking for a piece of that pie.
Some have suggested things like fully fundi...
2023-01-2443 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 51: Migratory Birds are DyingWe’re talking to NMSU professors Martha Desmond and Tim Wright this week. Desmond is a Regents professor in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, while Wright is a professor in the Biology Department.
We’re diving into the mystery of a recent die-off of migratory birds in New Mexico. In 2020, possibly hundreds of thousands of migratory birds were found dead across the state. We’ll talk to Tim and Martha about what caused it, what is being done to address it, and a new partnership with Las Alamos National Labs that is designed to help.
Wright explained the pr...
2023-01-1433 min
CrucesSunNews010923 - The Reporters Notebook - NMSU Legislative PrioritiesThis week, we’re talking to New Mexico State University Chancellor Dan Arvizu. Ahead of this year’s 60-day legislative session, we wanted to find out what sorts of legislation the university would like to see passed. We’ll take a deep dive into how proposed legislation may impact NMSU.
Some of the things Arvizu and his colleagues in higher education around the state would like to see are a 10 percent average increase in compensation, fully funding the mandated 1 percent increase in retirement benefits for the next two years, a five percent increase in instruction and general funding, and $10 million to inv...
2023-01-0952 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 49: Lucas Peerman and Jessica OnsurezThis week, we’re talking to Lucas Peerman, the outgoing news director of the Las Cruces Sun-News, and Jessica Onsurez. Until recently, Jessica was the news director of the Carlsbad Current-Argus, the Alamogordo Daily News and the Ruidoso News — a role she'll continue into 2023. All of the aforementioned papers are owned and operated by Gannett — the largest newspaper company in the United States.
On Jan. 1, Jessica took over as the news director for the Sun-News. We’ll talk to Lucas about his time at the paper and his future plans, and to Jessica about how she intends to pick up the torc...
2023-01-0355 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter’s Notebook, Ep. 48: Rajaa Shindi on Providing Aid to Afghan RefugeesThis week, we’re talking to Rajaa Shindi, an assistant professor at New Mexico State University. Shindi received a $150,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to continue an effort to improve the lives of Afghan refugees in southern New Mexico through education and job training.
She has partnered with Angela Owens, college assistant professor and director of the Glass Family Research Institute for Early Childhood Studies at NMSU, to provide free child care for Afghan refugees who participate in free English and computer literacy classes.
Shindi received the one-year grant in June of this year — less than a year afte...
2022-12-2641 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter’s Notebook, Ep. 47: Professor Dulcinea Lara on Ethnic Studies and Critical Race TheoryThis week, we’re talking to Dulcinea Lara, the academic department head and professor of Borderlands and Ethnic Studies at New Mexico State University.
Borderlands and Ethnic Studies began in 2019 as a multi-disciplinary program at NMSU to build awareness and cultural understanding of what it means to live along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Known as BEST, the department in the College of Arts and Sciences offers a multi-disciplinary graduate certificate to address the growing need for knowledge in the areas of cultural competency, equity and inclusion to work effectively with diverse populations.
Lara championed the program from its inception an...
2022-12-2046 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter’s Notebook, Ep. 46: Going Bowling: NMSU AD Mario MocciaThis week, we’re talking to Las Cruces Sun-News News Director Lucas Peerman, and Mario Moccia, the director of athletics at New Mexico State University. We’re talking about NMSU football’s Cinderella season — how a team that started NM State started the season 0-4 and they lost a home game to Florida International where the Aggies were actually 14.5-point favorites to drop to 1-5.
Then came the rally. NMSU tore back to finish the season 6-6 — including a clobbering of Valparaiso on Dec. 3 — the team’s 12th game, after its homecoming game against San Diego State was canceled due to the tragic...
2022-12-1353 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 45: The Perez Family Travels to New YorkThis week, we’re talking to El Paso Times reporter Lauren Villagran, who covers immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border for the Times and the USA Today network of newspapers.
The journey of Kristian González Pérez and his family of four is not particularly unique — insomuch as his was one of thousands of families bussed to other parts of the country, sometimes for practical reasons, sometimes for political reasons.
They were four of 10,713 asylum seekers who took the same route to New York on city-chartered buses. The family captured the journey on cameras provided by the El Paso T...
2022-12-0637 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 43: Crime StatsThis week, we’re talking to Las Cruces Sun-News reporter Justin Garcia. Justin covers local government and public safety for the newspaper. Through a public records request, he recently obtained Las Cruces crime statistics for this year through June — the last month for which stats are currently available.
What we’ve found, in raw numbers, is that more crimes have been reported in every category, year-to-date, except for robbery and rape. But, as Justin will explain, it’s not that simple. In fact, it can be really difficult to compare "apples to apples," so to speak, because of external factors that cha...
2022-11-2232 min
CrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast: Series FinaleNew Mexico State beat writer Stephen Wagner bids farewell to Las Cruces and previews the Aggies' upcoming game against New Mexico.
2022-11-1914 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 42: Algernon D'AmmassaIn this week’s episode, we’re talking to Algernon D’Ammassa. Algernon has been a reporter for the Sun-News since 2018. Before that, he was at the Deming Headlight. Earlier this month, Algernon returned to the Headlight as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief. The Headlight was recently purchased from Gannett by the Silver City Independent Publishing Co., which owns the Silver City Daily Press and Independent.
During his time in Las Cruces, Algernon was a great asset to our newsroom — and to our community. He’s not one to shy away from a big, hard-to-report story — particularly if the reporting is of vital publi...
2022-11-1545 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast Season 2, Episode 3: Mike PeakeMike Peake joins The Aggie Wagon Podcast to discuss this week's upcoming rivalry game against UTEP.
2022-11-1023 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 41: Election DayThis week, we’re doing something a little bit different. I’ll be talking to Walt Rubel, a longtime reporter and editor in southern New Mexico who has covered New Mexico politics for many years — and many of THOSE at the Las Cruces Sun-News.
We’re talking about the 2022 midterm elections, redistricting, and some of the state’s biggest offices up for grabs.
We should note, this podcast was recorded Saturday, Nov. 5.
This week, we’re grateful to be joined by Walt.
2022-11-0836 minCrucesSunNewsAggie Wagon Podcast S2 E2: Greg HeiarGreg Heiar joins the podcast to preview the upcoming season and his first game as a Division I head coach.
2022-11-0516 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 40: The Aggie WagonIn this week’s episode, we’re talking to Sun-News sports reporter Stephen Wagner.
We’re talking about, well, a lot of things. Stephen was recently selected as a voter in the Associated Press Media Poll for college football. The Aggie basketball team just had their first Crimson/White scrimmage, giving us an early look at the team. I want to know what Stephen is thinking of both of these teams as the seasons progress — or, in the case of basketball, as the season approaches.
We’ll also share the latest episode of The Aggie Wagon podcast, to take you a little d...
2022-11-0153 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 39: Barbara HubbardThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 39: Barbara Hubbard by CrucesSunNews
2022-10-2531 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S2 E1New Mexico State men's basketball beat writer Stephen Wagner recaps the Aggies' offseason and explains why fans should temper their expectations heading into the upcoming season.
2022-10-2216 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 38: Adnan SyedThis week, we’re talking to former Las Cruces Sun-News reporter Bethany Raja — who was Bethany Freudenthal when she worked as a public safety reporter at the Sun-News. She now works as a city hall reporter for @WYPR in Baltimore.
We’re talking about Adnan Syed, whose case first rose to prominence because of the first season of the Serial podcast. First, a little history.
Eight years after the shaky case against Adnan Syed became the center of the hit podcast "Serial," prosecutors said Tuesday that DNA evidence suggests Syed is innocent and murder charges against him have been dropped.
Syed w...
2022-10-1848 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 37: New Mexico Poet LaureatesIn this week’s episode, however, we’re doing something a little different. We’re talking poetry. Specifically, we’re talking about the role of New Mexico’s Poet Laureate. First, a little history.
In 2014, companion memorials in the New Mexico House and Senate requested that the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs develop a "New Mexico Poet Laureate position and program to foster a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry and to highlight the importance of poetry in the everyday life of ordinary and extraordinary people to the creation of the New Mexico Poet Laureate position."
Lack of fu...
2022-10-1143 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 36: Yacone Family TragedyThis week, we’re speaking to Algernon D’Ammassa. Algernon is an investigative and enterprise reporter for the Sun-News. We’re talking about the recent Yacone family tragedy — in which local restaurateur Bob Yacone is accused of killing his wife, Kimberly, before engaging deputies from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office in a shootout that left him injured.
As is often the case in situations like this, official information trickled out at a relatively slow pace. Meanwhile, in the newsroom, we were beginning to put the pieces together much more quickly.
Apart from the tragedy itself, the situation raised a nu...
2022-10-0348 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 35: Michael McDevittIn this week’s episode, we’re speaking to Michael McDevitt, who has covered city and county government for the Sun-News for the past three years, since 2019. Michael will be moving on to a new opportunity in Chicago, where he attended college.
During his three years covering Las Cruces and Doña Ana County, Mike has seen a lot — and has shared his reporting with our community. There was the search for a new city manager, municipal elections, a historic city council election, the city’s first instance of ranked-choice voting, multiple initiatives, a few scandals and so much more.
Michael h...
2022-09-2734 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 34: Police ShootingsIn this week’s episode, we’re speaking to Justin Garcia, who covers public safety for the Sun-News. We’re returning to a familiar topic — talking about the number of police shootings in Doña Ana County this year.
We’ll speak in depth about the most recent shooting. It happened on the afternoon of Aug. 2, after Las Cruces police responded to a shoplifting call at a gas station. Over the next hour, the situation escalated and ended abruptly with 36-year-old Presley Eze killed by a police officer.
It was at least the fifth police shooting within Doña Ana County this...
2022-09-2040 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 33: Darcy Morrison and Youthful OffendersIn this week’s episode, we’re talking to Algernon D’Ammassa, who generally covers statewide issues for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He recently spoke with Darcy Morrison, an inmate at the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Grants. It’s a life she describes as “a quiet one.”
For much of the day, she works in the prison’s library, where she tutors other inmates. She told Algernon she completed her bachelor’s degree last year, and that she finds joy in teaching other inmates. After the daily 4 p.m. head count, she typically reads or watches “Jeopardy!” In her unit, inmates ro...
2022-09-1347 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 32: Abe RomeroIn this week’s episode, we’re talking to Stephen Wagner, who is a sports reporter for the Sun-News. We’re talking about Abe Romero, a middle-linebacker for Organ Mountain High School who was tragically injured after sustaining a hit Friday, Aug. 26, during his football team's 28-7 victory over Deming.
Romero sustained a hit in the second quarter that appeared minor; he got up and played a couple more downs before collapsing on the field. He was immediately taken by ambulance to Mimbres Memorial Hospital in Deming, where a medevac helicopter transferred him to a trauma center in El Paso.
The en...
2022-09-0643 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 31: Hatch Chile Fest turns 50In this week’s episode, we’re talking to Leah Romero, who covers trending stories for the Las Cruces Sun-News — and NOTHING is more “trending” this time of year than Hatch Green Chile. We’re also joined by Adrian Hedden of the Carlsbad Current-Argus, who recently wrote about the chile crop — and the commencement of roasting — around the state.
This year, the annual Hatch Chile Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary. Leah has been working to track down residents who were there for the iconic festival’s beginnings. Adrian has been covering the upspring of chile roasters around Southeast New Mexico. Sometimes, the chi...
2022-08-2729 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 30: Albuquerque's Muslim community healsIn this week’s episode, we’re talking to Justin Garcia, who covers public safety for the Las Cruces Sun-News. Justin recently traveled to Albuquerque in the wake of the killings of several Muslim men — which set the entire community on edge. Muslims in Albuquerque were fearful of an Islamophobic serial killer after four people were murdered over the span of several months.
But the reality of what happened was much more complicated and much harder to comprehend. On Aug. 9, police arrested 51-year-old Muhammed Syed, a Muslim and known community member. Syed was charged in two of the killings, and author...
2022-08-2036 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook Podcast, Ep. 29: A mass shooting in CanadaIn this week’s episode, we’re talking to Lauren Villagran, who generally covers border issues for the El Paso Times. But she recently crossed a different border — the U.S./Canadian border — to take on an issue that is near and dear to the hearts of El Pasoans and fronterizos. Lauren traveled to Portapique, Nova Scotia, where, one night in April 2020, “in the time it took for the Bay of Fundy’s high tide to drain into the Atlantic and swell back up again to the wooded coast,” as Lauren wrote, “a deranged man gunned down 22 people in their homes and on the...
2022-08-1635 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook Podcast, Ep. 28: Cassie McClureIn this week’s episode, we’re talking to Cassie McClure, who has written the column “My So-Called Millennial Life” for the Las Cruces Sun-News for many years. Since then, it has been picked up and nationally syndicated by Creators — a media and syndication company that has represented more than 250 of the most talented writers and artists in the world. Its talent has won several Pulitzer Prizes, Reuben awards and Peabody awards.
In recent years, Cassie has also been a prolific freelance writer. She has worked for a number of publications around the city, and has also done freelance writing for some o...
2022-08-0737 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 27: Blind DrunkIn this week’s episode, we’re talking about alcohol — specifically, New Mexico’s crisis of alcohol-related deaths. In a massive eight-part series, New Mexico In Depth recently took a look at many of the reasons drinking kills New Mexicans at a far higher rate than anywhere else in the nation. And it’s getting worse, not better. In the thoroughly-reported series, reporter Ted Alcorn discovered a long history of failures by state leaders to address the escalating problem.
We’re joined by New Mexico In Depth Managing Editor Marjorie Childress and by Ted, who talks about his reporting on this series.
2022-07-3146 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 26: Latinos in the OutdoorsIn this week’s episode, we’re talking about Latinos in the outdoors. This series, written by Mónica Ortiz Uribe at the El Paso Times, profiles several champions of the cause — and also features some ways southern New Mexico and El Paso residents can get out and enjoy our public spaces.
We’ll talk about how this series of stories came about, and then dive deeper into the individual stories of those profiled — like Nicole Roque, Eddie Misquez, Jerome Ford and Gabe Vasquez.
We’ll also talk about easily-accessible places that you can explore — pretty much “on the cheap” — if you’re in El Paso...
2022-07-2541 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 24: Nuclear WasteThis week, we’re talking about nuclear waste. In recent weeks, there has been a lot of news on this front, most of which is coming out of southeast New Mexico. The region has a long history with nuclear waste — dating back to the mid-1970s, when the area was first selected to be the site of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. There were bumps in the road along the way — lots of them, in fact. And it wasn’t until 1999 that WIPP received its first actual shipment of nuclear waste.
Now, new talks are underway about a second storage facility...
2022-07-1237 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 23: Paid Sick LeaveIn this week’s episode, we’re talking about a new law impacting all New Mexico workers. As of July 1, private employers in New Mexico must allow their employees to earn paid sick leave if they don't already do so.
Workers covered by the Healthy Workplaces Act of 2021 may use the time off to recover from an illness or injury, assist an ailing family member or address covered legal or domestic situations. They will be able to accrue 64 hours annually in most cases — and will also be able to accumulate unused time year to year, although the employer does not have t...
2022-07-0542 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 22: Spaceport America CupIn this week’s episode, we’re talking about an annual event that has returned to our area after a two-year, COVID-inspired hiatus. That’s the Spaceport America Cup — which was recently described by someone in our newsroom as March Madness for aspiring rocket scientists.
We talk to Las Cruces Sun-News reporter Algernon D’Ammassa — who regularly covers the Spaceport, its anchor tenant Virgin Galactic, and related topics — and to photojournalist Meg Potter, who is relatively new to New Mexico, about their experiences covering the first day of the event.
2022-06-2834 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 21: Pride MonthIn this week’s episode, we’re talking about Pride month — celebrated every June — the time of year when we recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals have had on history. Celebrated in various countries around the world, Pride celebrations take a variety of forms, from parades and parties to proms and protests. Since the beginning of the modern LGBTQ+ liberation movement in the 1970s, hundreds of independent Pride events have sprung up in cities worldwide, each distinctly local and generally tied in some way to the foundational Stonewall Riots in June.
After 50 years of Pride celebrat...
2022-06-201h 16CrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 20: Crime and HomelessnessIn this week’s episode, we’re talking about recent conversations about homelessness and crime in Las Cruces. Business leaders recently organized a forum to address a gap they say the city council created by ignoring the issue of homelessness and property crime citywide.
On June 2, the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, the Las Cruces Association of Realtors and the Las Cruces Home Builders Association hosted a forum for business owners to discuss concerns about theft, vandalism, substance abuse and homelessness in Las Cruces. The forum was held at the Home Builders Association event hall.
On Monday, June 6th, many...
2022-06-1445 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 19: Miranda Cyr on EducationIn this week’s episode, we’re talking about education.
We talk to Miranda Cyr, who has covered education for the Sun-News for the past couple of years. Miranda is a Report for America fellow; Report for America is a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. An initiative of the nonprofit media organization, The GroundTruth Project, it is structured to harness the skills and idealism of an emerging group of journalists plus the creative spirit of local news organizations.
Last week was Miranda’s final week with us. She’ll be leavi...
2022-05-2936 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporters Notebook, Ep. 18 - Amelia BacaIn this week’s episode, we’re talking about the shooting of 75-year-old Amelia Baca by an officer from the Las Cruces Police Department. Family members say she suffered from signs of dementia — which was undiagnosed.
When police arrived, they say they found the elderly woman holding a large kitchen knife in each hand. Videos obtained by the Sun-News show that Baca was shot as she took a step toward the responding officer.
Our efforts in reporting this story have been rife with transparency issues, stemming from the City of Las Cruces and the Las Cruces Police Department. Days passed before the...
2022-05-1538 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 17: Interesting peopleIn this week’s episode of The Reporter's Notebook, we’re talking about interesting figures in Las Cruces. Anita Rockett, for instance, is 69 years old. Nearly 50 years ago, she almost lost a leg in a boating accident. Since then, she has run countless marathons, and in June, she hopes to complete her first Ironman Half Triathalon.
We’ll talk to Sun-News reporter Leah Romero, who has reported these stories for the newspaper. Florence Hamilton, who just turned 100 years old, is a great storyteller. She uses her talent to share Black history. Newly-established Las Crucen Lyn Barrett explores her personal battle with D...
2022-05-1036 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 16: The local economyIn this week’s episode, we’re talking about the local economy as a number of interesting factors collide. On one hand, the nation’s economy is shrinking as inflation and other factors drive up gas prices — creating a pinch at the pump and at the supermarket. Las Cruces certainly isn’t immune to these large-scale factors — but, according to one economist we spoke to, we may be a little better insulated.
We’ll talk to Sun-News reporter Algernon D’Ammassa, who has followed several facets of this story quite closely. We’ll talk about the state’s recent legalization of the sale of recre...
2022-05-0250 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S1 E19: What the new coaching hires mean for New Mexico StateIn an emergency episode of The Aggie Wagon Podcast, Stephen breaks down the state of NMSU basketball over the last month, what the new coaching hires mean for the program and what effect they've had on the rosters.
2022-04-0519 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook — Ep.12: Collaborative JournalismIn this week’s episode, we’re talking collaborative, solutions-based journalism. We’ll be joined by Diana Alba Soular — a former reporter for the Sun-News — and my former co-worker — who is now Project Manager of the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative, and Reyes Mata III, a reporter for the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative and a freelance reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. For the past year or so, he has written the Border Report, which you’ll often find in Sunday’s edition of the newspaper and online at www.lcsun-news.com.
At the Sun-News, we’ve been involved with the Southern...
2022-03-2739 minCrucesSunNewsAggie Wagon Podcast S1 E18: March MadnessNew Mexico State has drawn UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Stephen breaks down what you need to know about the Round of 64 matchup, and former Aggie assistant Keith Roberts joins the show to discuss what goes on behind the scenes.
2022-03-1617 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 10 — Pain at the PumpIn this episode, we’re joined by Adrian Hedden, who covers energy, oil and gas for the Carlsbad Current-Argus. While the Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused Americans pain at the gas pump, the oil shortage could lead to a shot in the arm for New Mexico’s oil and gas industry — particularly in the Permian Basin, where Adrian lives and covers these issues every day.
Of course, the U.S. only gets a small percentage of its oil from Russia — so the tensions in Eastern Europe, the war and subsequent sanctions are only part of the equation.
That’s why we’re...
2022-03-1432 min
CrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 1 — Garrey CarruthersThis is The Reporter’s Notebook from the Las Cruces Sun-News, a podcast in which we attempt to pull back the curtain on our reporting process while diving deeper into some of the biggest stories and topics of the week.
Garrey Carruthers was selected by the staff of the Las Cruces Sun-News as our Distinguished Resident of 2021. The former governor of New Mexico and New Mexico State University chancellor and president has long considered Las Cruces home, since moving here in 1957.
We hope this helps explain why Carruthers was chosen as our Distinguished Resident.
2022-03-101h 02CrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 5 — LCPSThis is The Reporter’s Notebook from the Las Cruces Sun-News, a podcast in which we attempt to pull back the curtain on our reporting process while diving deeper into some of the biggest stories and topics of the week.
In this episode, we’re joined by Las Cruces Sun-News education reporter Miranda Cyr — a Report for America fellow now in her second year with the newspaper —to look at some of the big issues facing Las Cruces Public Schools.
We talk about the impact that COVID-19 — and, more specifically, the omicron variant — has had on schools throughout the district. We also talk...
2022-03-1024 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 6 — Crime AnniversariesThis is The Reporter’s Notebook from the Las Cruces Sun-News, a podcast in which we attempt to pull back the curtain on our reporting process while diving deeper into some of the biggest stories and topics of the week.
Warning: This episode of “The Reporter’s Notebook” contains graphic accounts of child abuse, sexual assault and murder. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode, we’re joined by Sun-News public safety reporter Justin Garcia, as well as former Sun-News reporter Bethany Brunelle-Raja to look at three of Doña Ana County’s biggest crimes of the past several decades all of which...
2022-03-1041 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 7 — Legislative LookbackThis is The Reporter’s Notebook from the Las Cruces Sun-News, a podcast in which we attempt to pull back the curtain on our reporting process while diving deeper into some of the biggest stories and topics of the week.
In this episode, we’re joined by Algernon D’Ammassa, who covers statewide issues for the Sun-News, as well as Adrian Hedden, the energy and environment reporter for the Carlsbad Current-Argus, to look at the just-adjourned session of the New Mexico Legislature.
Several major bills made it to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk. Many others died in committee or on the f...
2022-03-1046 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 8 — The Speak Easy AffairThis is The Reporter’s Notebook from the Las Cruces Sun-News, a podcast in which we attempt to pull back the curtain on our reporting process while diving deeper into some of the biggest stories and topics of the week.
In this episode, we’re joined by Michael McDevitt, who covers city and county government for the Sun-News, to look at the city’s recent revocation of the business license for Speak Easy — the cannabis-themed merch shop which first became embroiled in controversy last summer.
Speak Easy's license was pulled by the city after Jason Estrada was charged with a cannabis...
2022-03-1024 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook — Ep. 9 — Josh DunneThis is The Reporter’s Notebook from the Las Cruces Sun-News, a podcast in which we attempt to pull back the curtain on our reporting process while diving deeper into some of the biggest stories and topics of the week.
On the evening of Dec. 2, 2016, Marine veteran Joshua Dunne was shot and killed by officers from the Las Cruces Police Department.
This story contains discussions of suicide and PTSD experienced by veterans. Help is available at National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
In this episode, we’re joined by Sun-News public safety reporter Justin Garcia, to look at the life...
2022-03-1039 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 2 — The McHard Report details city mismanagementThis is The Reporter’s Notebook from the Las Cruces Sun-News, a podcast in which we attempt to pull back the curtain on our reporting process while diving deeper into some of the biggest stories and topics of the week.
It’s been more than a year since a scathing report was released to the public detailing $1.7 million in mishandled public money within Visit Las Cruces, the city's convention and visitors bureau.
A year later, the city pointed to a number of organizational changes inspired by the report, but admitted it was not following all of the investigators' recommendations.
We're join...
2022-03-0927 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep.4 — A Deep Dive into DASOThis is The Reporter’s Notebook from the Las Cruces Sun-News, a podcast in which we attempt to pull back the curtain on our reporting process while diving deeper into some of the biggest stories and topics of the week.
Amid rising tensions between Doña Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart and County Manager Fernando Macias, the sheriff is now facing an employment discrimination complaint by one of her sergeants who claims he was wrongfully denied a promotion and a code of conduct complaint related to the same incident.
DASO Sgt. Eric Flores was told he was the third top-scoring can...
2022-03-0930 minCrucesSunNewsThe Reporter's Notebook, Ep. 3 — William H. MacyThis is The Reporter’s Notebook from the Las Cruces Sun-News, a podcast in which we attempt to pull back the curtain on our reporting process while diving deeper into some of the biggest stories and topics of the week.
Audiences have seen actor William H. Macy appear on screen in hits like “Fargo,” “Room,” “Magnolia” and “Shameless,” and now Las Crucens will have the chance to see him in person at the Las Cruces International Film Festival where he will be presented with the 2022 award for Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment.
The seventh annual film festival will take place in-person March 2-6 at Cinep...
2022-03-0919 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S1 E17: Breaking down the WAC TournamentStephen breaks down the WAC Touranment, and Jabari Rice joins the show to talk about All-WAC honors.
2022-03-0819 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S1 E16: NMSU losing is bad for the WACNew Mexico State's losses to Chicago State and Stephen F. Austin may be good for those teams, but they're bad for the WAC as a league. Stephen explains in this week's episode.
2022-03-0418 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon S1 E15: WAC Player of the YearThe Aggie Wagon S1 E15: WAC Player of the Year by CrucesSunNews
2022-02-2423 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S1 E14: Teddy and Timmy Allen's basketball relationshipYou could say basketball runs in the Allen family. Teddy and his younger brother, Timmy, now a star at Texas, both have "Buckets" attached to them as a nickname. Playing each other in the NCAA Tournament would be a dream come true.
2022-02-1811 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S1 E13: Johnny McCants is a dadTwo miscarriages was hard on NMSU forward Johnny McCants and his girlfriend, Samantha. So when Samantha gave birth to the couple's first child, Johnny Lashon McCants III, Johnny was almost at a loss for words. But he could still describe the feeling as better than hitting a game-winning shot.
2022-02-1018 min
CrucesSunNewsAggie Wagon Podcast S1 E12: Virshon Cotton's story as a college parent, advice for Johnny McCantsJohnny McCants is going to be a dad, and Virshon Cotton can relate to him. New Mexico State's backup point guard has been a father for four years. He shares part of his story on this week's episode.
2022-02-0314 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S1 E11: Jabari Rice, GCUIs New Mexico State - Grand Canyon a rivalry? Jabari Rice weighs in. And Stephen finds a key to success present in nearly every Aggie victory this season.
2022-01-2716 min
CrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S1 E10: Johnny McCantsStephen recaps Teddy Allen's historic 41-point performance, previews this week's upcoming games against Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin, and Johnny McCants joins the show to talk about the Aggies season.
2022-01-2023 min
CrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S1 E9: The WAC is wack -- or just really unpredictableStephen takes a peek at where WAC teams stand during the third week of conference play, and walk-on Cameron Crawford joins the show to discuss his experience.
2022-01-1318 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S1 E8: Covid headlines and Chi Chi AveryStephen breaks down the latest Covid news, the Aggies' most recent cancellation and why Covid will hit some WAC teams will be hit harder than others.
2022-01-0618 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S1 E7: Lucky Aggies, Mike Peake and ChristmasStephen breaks down a fascinating new stat which indicates NMSU might be luckier than people think, and Mike Peake joins the show to talk about Christmas.
2021-12-2220 minCrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon Podcast S1 E6: Clayton HenryStephen breaks down why NMSU's chances against Washington State shouldn't be determined by Kenpom rankings alone, and Clayton Henry talks about his return from injury.
2021-12-1521 min
CrucesSunNewsThe Aggie Wagon S1E1: Jabari RiceNew New Mexico State men's basketball beat writer Stephen Wagner breaks down what NMSU's move to Conference USA will mean for the men's basketball team, and Jabari Rice previews the Aggies' 2021-22 season and the season opener against UC Irvine. Jabari also shocks Stephen with his favorite restaurants list.
2021-11-0919 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E17: A look aheadJustin Martinez recaps the WAC tournament, provides an update on transfer portal news and gives a look at the five new conference teams.
2021-03-1711 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E16: WAC Tournament TimeJustin Martinez gives his takeaways from New Mexico State's series against Dixie State and previews the WAC tournament with the help of Aggie guards Tennessee Owens and Bryce Rewalt.
2021-03-1025 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E15: Finishing strongJustin Martinez recaps New Mexico State's recent games, gives his Week 9 WAC predictions and previews the Aggies' regular-season finale against Dixie State.
2021-03-0526 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E14: Making stridesJustin Martinez recaps New Mexico State's series against Utah Valley, gives his Week 8 WAC predictions and previews the upcoming Tarleton State series in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2021-02-2514 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E13: Can the Aggies start a streak?Justin Martinez recaps the Seattle series, gives his Week 7 WAC predictions and previews the Utah Valley series.
2021-02-1830 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E12: A new chapterJustin Martinez recaps New Mexico State's series against Cal Baptist, gives his Week 6 WAC predictions and previews the Seattle series.
2021-02-1112 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E11: Gut check for the AggiesJustin Martinez gives his takeaways from New Mexico State’s series against Grand Canyon, interviews Marcus Watson and previews the Cal Baptist series.
2021-02-0422 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E10: The Biggest Battle YetJustin Martinez gives his takeaways from New Mexico State's game against Western New Mexico, provides injury updates and previews this week's series against Grand Canyon in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2021-01-2815 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E9: Home sweet homeJustin Martinez provides an update on New Mexico State's quarantine, details the state restriction changes and gives his Week 3 WAC predictions in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2021-01-2111 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E8: The future of New Mexico StateJustin Martinez provides an update on New Mexico State's quarantine, breaks down the potential impact of recruiting targets and gives his Week 2 WAC predictions in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2021-01-1412 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E7: Week 1 WAC PredictionsJustin Martinez details the events leading up to New Mexico State's quarantine, talks to Johnny McCants and gives his predictions for this week's WAC games in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2021-01-0717 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E6: One more ride with the BroncosJustin Martinez gives his takeaways from the CSUN game, provides roster updates and previews the Santa Clara game in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2020-12-3114 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E5: Injury UpdatesJustin Martinez provides injury updates for New Mexico State, interviews Jabari Rice and details the Aggies' ongoing scheduling process in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2020-12-2418 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E4: Updates on Kiir and WatsonJustin Martinez discusses New Mexico State's return to the court, the eligibility status of Mayan Kiir and Marcus Watson and more in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2020-12-1814 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E3: Quarantine updatesJustin Martinez gives updates on New Mexico State's quarantine, interviews C.J. Roberts and details the costs of the Aggies' move to Phoenix in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2020-12-1016 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E2: Test time for the AggiesJustin Martinez provides injury updates for New Mexico State, interviews Clayton Henry and previews the Aggies' next two games in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2020-12-0526 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S2E1: Bold season predictionsJustin Martinez gives his bold predictions for this season, previews New Mexico State's upcoming game against Arizona Christian and talks with senior point guard Evan Gilyard II in the Season 2 premiere of Straight Shooter.
2020-11-2524 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E20: The Straight Shooter AwardsJustin Martinez hosts The Straight Shooter Awards in the podcast's season finale.
2020-03-1710 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E19: Previewing the WAC tournamentJustin Martinez previews the WAC tournament, and New Mexico State guards Tennessee Owens and Bryce Rewalt cohost the episode.
2020-03-1030 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E17: What's next after winning the WAC title?Justin Martinez recaps last week's win over UTRGV, interviews Evan Gilyard II and previews the Grand Canyon game.
2020-02-2516 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E16: The return of QueenJustin Martinez recaps last week's games, interviews senior forward Trevelin Queen and previews Saturday's home game against UTRGV.
2020-02-1815 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E15: Will the streak stay alive?Justin Martinez recaps last week's games, interviews senior Ivan Aurrecoechea and previews Thursday's game against Seattle.
2020-02-1116 minCrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E14: Stars emerging for NMSUJustin Martinez recaps last week's games, interviews Albert "Slab" Jones and previews Thursday's road game against Chicago State.
2020-02-0414 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E13: No place like homeJustin Martinez recaps the UTRGV game, interviews senior Terrell Brown and previews Thursday's home game against Cal State Bakersfield in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2020-01-2814 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E12: Who's next? NMSU still perfect in WACJustin Martinez recaps last week's games, interviews redshirt sophomore Jabari Rice and previews Saturday's game against UTRGV in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2020-01-2116 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E11: On the road again for NMSUJustin Martinez recaps last week's games, talks with Shawn Williams and previews Thursday's game against Utah Valley in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2020-01-1414 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E10: More role changes for NMSUJustin Martinez recaps New Mexico State's win over California Baptist, talks with point guard Evan Gilyard II and preview's Thursday's Chicago State game in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2020-01-0715 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E8: Turnaround time for the AggiesJustin Martinez recaps the Aggies' wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Mississippi State, talks with senior Shunn Buchanan and previews Sunday's game against Northern New Mexico in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2019-12-2413 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E7: What to expect for the rest of the seasonJustin Martinez recaps this past week's games, gives his predictions for the rest of the season and previews the Arkansas-Pine Bluff game in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2019-12-1612 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E6: Will the Aggies respond against Denver?Justin Martinez recaps this past week's games, talks with redshirt senior C.J. Bobbitt and breaks down Tuesday's game against Denver in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2019-12-0916 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E5: Battle of I-10 RematchJustin Martinez recaps the Cayman Islands Classic, talks with redshirt junior Johnny McCants and previews Tuesday's rivalry game against UTEP in Episode 5 of Straight Shooter.
2019-12-0217 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E4: Where the Aggies go from hereJustin Martinez recaps the New Mexico game, talks with senior Ivan Aurrecoechea and previews the Cayman Islands Classic in the latest episode of Straight Shooter.
2019-11-2515 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E3: Battle of I-25 PreviewJustin Martinez recaps the Aggies' recent stretch of games, talks with senior guard Terrell Brown about his recovery process and previews the upcoming rivalry game against New Mexico.
2019-11-1915 min
CrucesSunNewsStraight Shooter S1E2: Battle of I-10 previewOn this episode of Straight Shooter, Justin Martinez recaps the Aggies' win over Western New Mexico, talks to a number of players on the team and previews New Mexico State's upcoming rivalry game against UTEP.
2019-11-1116 min