And after historic protests against police violence here, all three ABQ mayoral candidates are promising more

‘Rust’ cast member: Production was rushed, crew overworked before fatal shooting

Ian Hudson, a New Mexico-raised actor who cast as an outlaw in ‘Rust’, took a selfie on set Oct. 3. He is now reconsidering an acting career following the death on set of Halyna Hutchins last week.

Ian Hudson stared down four pistols and a shotgun Oct. 3, bracing for his on-camera death for the movie “Rust,” filmed southwest of Santa Fe.

Hudson raised his pistol, inviting a hail of fake gunfire — at least 22 blanks fired by actors about 20 feet away out of antique, fully-functioning firearms, he said.

The gunfire spat burning cardboard and other tiny projectiles at him, Hudson said, some of which stung his face. Despite the pain, he depicted his character, a drunk outlaw, dying from his wounds. Getting hit with tiny shrapnel on a set is often just part of the job, he said.

The scene wrapped, so Hudson, who is from New Mexico, could finally leave after a 12-hour day. As he left the set, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins congratulated him on his work, he said. Read more

All three Albuquerque mayoral candidates promise more police

Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller answers a question while candidate Eddy Aragon takes notes at the mayoral forum on Monday, Sept. 27.

While the three candidates for Albuquerque mayor have tried their best to differentiate themselves, there are at least two things they agree on: they say police are doing a good job, and they seek to put more money toward policing.

Despite a historic protest movement last summer that called for the defunding of the Albuquerque Police Department, all three candidates appearing on the ballot in the city Nov. 2 are running on promises for more police funding.

With this in mind, Source New Mexico reached out on Monday morning to all three campaigns with the same set of questions about policing. Read more

Wildfire responders urge Congress to improve disaster aid process for at-risk communities

Western states recover from another massive fire season as climate change creates more demand for federal aid

The Caldor Fire burns homes along a ridge on Aug. 30, 2021 near South Lake Tahoe, California.

The federal government should re-examine its emergency response systems to better assist communities at risk from the growing threats of wildfire, state and local wildfire responders told members of Congress Tuesday.

Wildfires across the United States have become larger, more intense and longer-lasting this century in part due to changes in the global climate—creating more demand for federal aid in response to the fires and for mitigation in fire-prone areas. Read more

UPDATE: FDA panel recommends OK for Pfizer’s vaccine for kids 5 to 11

As soon as next week everyone in the U.S. over age 5 is expected to be eligible for a shot after a federal vaccine advisory panel on Tuesday recommended authorizing Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. Read more

Flow of cash

Crops wilt as Middle Rio Grande farmers get paid this year to stop watering

Local farmer Ron Moya stands near his farm Friday, Oct. 22.

When New Mexico farmer Ron Moya looks out at the 10 acres of dead and dying alfalfa on his field near Tome, N.M., he sees green.

Specifically, he sees $2,750. That’s the cash he’s being paid for the simple act of not watering the field this year.

Moya is one of 44 farmers paid to not irrigate this season in the Middle Rio Grande valley, which stretches along the river between Cochiti Pueblo and Bosque del Apache.

Public officials seek to conserve and divert water amid persistent drought — one that shows no signs of ending.

Read more

New Mexico Sun

"Rust" cast member from NM says the production was rushed, the crew overworked