By Julia Goldberg | Editor-in-Chief
Happy Monday, folks. Portions of the state will experience critical fire weather through at least Tuesday, with the Beehive Fire in the Carson National Forest near Tres Piedras growing to more than 2,200 acres as of yesterday. We will be keeping an eye on that, along with several developing stories, including New Mexico state and federal officials’ ongoing response to allegations that federal drug agents allowed fentanyl’s penetration into the state. Read more below and online throughout the day at sourcenm.com.
Aaron Sheridan, who owns the Smoke City convenience store in Albuquerque, said his shop serves as a vital grocery store in the International District, which is why his federal food assistance revenues are far higher than the statewide average. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann/Source NM)
NM smoke shop owner cites food desert, not fraud, for high SNAP revenue
Source reporter Patrick Lohmann spoke with Aaron Sheridan, whose Albuquerque convenience store was one of two “smoke shops” cited in a recent New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee report as receiving higher-than-average revenue through the federal Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program. Sheridan says those findings don’t stem from fraud — the focus of the LFC report — but are the result of the food desert in which he operates.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced an investigation on June 26, 2026, into allegations that federal agents stood by while fentanyl was trafficked in New Mexico. (Photo by Danielle Prokop/Source NM)
New Mexico AG opens investigation into allegations that feds let fentanyl flow into the state
On Friday, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced the state Department of Justice was opening an investigation into allegations that federal Drug Enforcement Administration officials declined to seize large fentanyl shipments in New Mexico in hopes of catching high-level dealers and suppliers further down the line. The investigation follows Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s request and the state’s congressional delegation’s call for a federal inquiry.
Close-up of three New World screwworm larvae. (Photo by Sohath Yuseff-Vanegas, USDA Agricultural Research Service)
Moderate US House Dem group questions USDA’s Rollins over screwworm response
Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter, led by U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, to United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins asking for more information about and more resources applied to the country’s New World screwworm outbreak. New Mexico reported its first case earlier in June.
New Mexico Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland on Friday endorsed state Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard as her running mate. (Haaland photo by Danielle Prokop/Source NM/Garcia Richard courtesy photo)
Dem NM governor nominee Haaland endorses Land Commissioner Garcia Richard as running mate
Late Friday afternoon, New Mexico Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland announced her endorsement for her ticket’s lieutenant governor: state Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard. The Haaland campaign had announced a short list the day prior; the state Democratic Party’s Central Committee will vote on Haaland’s running mate next month.
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