Articles by Susan Montoya Bryan

Report Says ‘Poor Maintenance’ Led to Deadly Crash of Helicopter in New Mexico

A loss of engine power due to poor maintenance caused a 2022 helicopter crash in New Mexico that claimed the lives of four Bernalillo County first responders as they were returning home from a firefighting mission, according to federal investigators. …

$24.5M Settlement in New Mexico over Natural Gas Flaring in Permian Basin

New Mexico has reached a record settlement with a company over air pollution violations at natural gas gathering sites in the Permian Basin. The $24.5 million agreement with Ameredev announced this week is the largest settlement the state Environment Department …

Oil And Gas Producer Paying Millions to New Mexico Over Pollution Concerns

A company has reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the federal government and the state of New Mexico to address air pollution concerns in the largest oil and gas producing region in the United States. The agreement announced last week with …

New Mexico Revoked Licenses of Cannabis Growers and Fined Them $2M for Safety, Other Violations

New Mexico marijuana regulators revoked the licenses of two growing operations in a rural county for numerous violations and have levied a $1 million fine against each business. One of the businesses, Native American Agricultural Development Co., is connected to …

Family Files Suit in New Mexico over Man Fatally Shot by Police at Wrong Address

The family of a man shot and killed by police in New Mexico after they responded to the wrong address is suing the city and three officers. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court alleges Robert Dotson and his family …

Compensation for New Mexico Wildfire Victims Tops $14M and is Climbing

More victims of a devastating wildfire sparked last year by the U.S. Forest Service in northern New Mexico are getting compensated, with payouts to landowners totaling more than $14 million as of early next week, federal emergency managers said. Congress …

Prosecutors: Weapons Expert in Was Hungover on Set New Mexico Movie Set

The weapons supervisor on the film set where Alec Baldwin shot and killed a cinematographer was drinking and smoking marijuana in the evenings during the filming of “Rust,” prosecutors are alleging, saying she was likely hungover when she loaded a …

Major New Mexico Transmission Line OK’d for Renewable Energy in West

The U.S. government is greenlighting a proposed multibillion-dollar transmission line that would send primarily wind-generated electricity from the rural plains of New Mexico to big cities in the West. The Interior Department announced its record of decision for the SunZia …

New Mexico Officials Say FEMA Delays Create Mistrust Among Wildfire Victims

Members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation are criticizing federal emergency managers for missing deadlines as residents seek recovery assistance following the largest wildfire in the state’s recorded history. It has been a year since the U.S. Forest Service sparked the …

Lawmakers from Western States Want More Done to Confront Wildfire Crisis

Lawmakers from several western states want the U.S. Forest Service to do more to address a wildfire crisis that they say will surely destroy more landscapes, communities and livelihoods as long-term drought persists around the West. They grilled Forest Service …