Saturday, June 6, 2020 |

Employee at Taos Walgreens tests positive for coronavirus

A representative at the New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed that an employee at the Taos Walgreens tested positive for the novel coronavirus late last month. The store was closed this week as all other employees were tested for the virus.

An employee at the Taos Walgreens, located at the intersection of Cruz Alta Road and Paseo del Pueblo Sur, tested positive for the novel coronavirus last week, the New Mexico Department of Heath has …

N.M. House District 42: Winner Ortez focused on promoting absentee ballots

Kristina Ortez (D) poses for a photo with her daughters, 6-year-old Vida Ortez y Jones and 9-year-old Gillian Ortez y Jones, on Thursday (June 4) following her New Mexico primary win. Ortiz beat veteran local politician Mark Gallegos for a chance at the House District 42 seat.

As Taos County’s primary election Tuesday (June 2) slid into Wednesday with no final tally of all the votes, Kristina Ortez of Taos was sitting in second place behind Mark Gallegos of Questa in …

UPDATE:>> Tally: 8,672 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico; 387 deaths

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The New Mexico Department of Health has reported 331 new cases of COVID-19 in the state, for a total of 8,672 to date. Taos County cases remain at 31. The state also announced four additional deaths on Friday (June 5), for a total of 387 fatalities in the state.

Philmont Scout Ranch cancels all 2020 summer season programs

Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarrón has canceled all summer 2020 programs to comply with state COVID-19 restrictions. Shown here: Members of Boy Scouts of America Troop 257 of Wilmington, N.C., wearing yellow T-shirts, hike past scouts from troops 445 and 464 of Sierra Vista, Arizona, earlier this month at Philmont Scout Ranch. Matt Dahlseid/The New Mexican

Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarrón, a premier facility of the Boy Scouts of America, has canceled all remaining programs for the 2020 summer season to comply with the New Mexico Health Department's COVID-19 restrictions, according to a June 4 news release.

Taos Walmart and Walgreens closed temporarily

Unofficial results in Taos County primary available June 3

Primary wins: Ortez, Kennelly, Blankenhorn, Rael-Montoya, Vigil, Brush

Cluster of coronavirus cases in Taos spans generations

Holy Cross Medical Center reports spike in Taos County COVID-19 cases

Local news

Primary 2020

8th Judicial District judge: Taos County voters keep Kennelly on the bench

Melissa Kennelly said she hardly slept at all the night of the primary (June 2) as results rolled in from three counties for the 8th Judicial District judge-Division II race – in which she was one of four contenders. By Wednesday morning (June 3), Kennelly, who was appointed t

Primary 2020 - Valerie Rael Montoya (D) for Taos County Clerk

Rael-Montoya wins race for Taos County Clerk

Of all the races in the Taos County primary, the one with an almost palpable tension was between the two candidates for Taos County clerk. Valerie Rael-Montoya and Dolores Lujan have worked together for years in the clerk’s office. Rael-Montoya, who eventually won the race by 139 votes after the absent

Primary 2020

Montoya retains seat as district attorney

Appointed to the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s seat in 2019, Marcus J. Montoya was nonetheless worried Wednesday (June 3) about retaining his position. Montoya was ahead of his opponent, …

New Mexico State Police run stolen Lexus off State Road 518

A male suspect driving a stolen white Lexus was taken into custody before 1 a.m. Thursday morning (June 6) on State Road 518 south of Taos after leading law enforcement on a 30-minute chase, …

Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan was arrested Thursday morning (May 21) in Española after he allegedly resisted officers who were attempting to execute a search warrant on his phone. The Taos County Sheriff's Office assisted in the arrest.

Rio Arriba County Sheriff arrested, accused of obstructing officers

Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan was arrested Thursday morning (May 21) as Española police were executing a search warrant on his phone. Sgt. Jeremy Apodaca, a spokesman for the Española Police Department, said, "The sheriff did resist, and evaded and obstructed our officers, and he was subsequently arrested."

The three candidates for Taos Magistrate Court judge met Monday evening (May 18) in the final Zoom forum to be held for the June primary by the Taos Democratic Party. Clockwise from top left: incumbent Sara Blankenhorn, Edwardo Martinez, Charlene Tsoodle-Marcus and party chairman Darien Fernandez.

Candidates for Taos magistrate judge talk experience, education

For their next Taos Magistrate Court judge, Taos County residents will have three choices come this primary election day: Edwardo Martinez, a veteran New Mexico State Police lieutenant and a graduate …

A historic first: Vigil and Brush make it three women on Taos County Commission

Taos County Commission District 3: Unofficial vote total: Andrew Chavez, 326 Darlene Vigil, 863 Mark Flores, 526 The primary election has been …

Taos County and Santa Fe County have been approved for vote-count extensions through 3 p.m. on June 6. Taos County Manager Brent Jaramillo said the Taos County Clerk's Office would likely finish counting an extraordinary amount of absentee ballots by Wednesday night.

Primary 2020

Taos County granted extension for processing absentee ballots

A judge in Taos District Court has approved a petition from the Taos County Clerk's Office to extend the deadline to count votes in the 2020 primary due to the extraordinary number of absentee …

Poll workers bring in voter tallies one by one Tuesday (June 2) as the 2020 primary election came to a close.

Primary 2020

Absentee ballots cause lengthy delay to Taos County tally

Workers in the Taos County Clerk’s office resumed counting absentee ballots at 8 a.m. Wednesday (June 3) and have still have no results on the 2020 primary election. Taos County Clerk …

Kit Carson receives grant to install electric vehicle charging stations

Kit Carson Electric Cooperative has received a $200,119 grant from the New Mexico Environment Department to install a network of electric vehicle charging stations along the 84-mile route known as the Enchanted Circle highway. The route encompasses Taos, Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest and Angel Fire. The grant comes from New Mexico's $2.7 billion share of the Volkswagen Settlement Fund, which was established in 2019 to make restitution for the auto manufacturer's misrepresentation of emissions data for its diesel-powered vehicles.

Courtesy photoFuelwood permits go on sale June 1 for the Carson National Forest, but must be purchased over the phone.

Covid-19

Fuelwood permits available by phone call beginning June 1

The Carson National Forest will begin selling fuelwood permits June 1. Although Carson National Forest offices are still closed in keeping with federal guidance and New Mexico public health orders, permits can be purchased over the phone. Permits will then be mailed directly to customers.

Taos County firefighters battled several fires that started along the side of State Road 518 near Talpa Tuesday morning (May 26). Some of the flames were getting into trees on the side of the road, according to Taos Central Dispatch reports.

Taos County firefighters put out small forest fire near Talpa

Firefighters from around Taos County were deployed to the side of State Road 518 near Talpa Tuesday morning (May 26) to battle several small brush fires that were beginning to spread into the trees of …

Downtown Taos offers nowhere to 'go'

As the town of Taos struggles to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, store owners and visitors in the John Dunn shops just off the historic Taos Plaza are largely without …

Doug Cantwell/Taos NewsRanchers and farmers are now eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

COVID-19

SBA's disaster loans now available to farmers and ranchers

The U.S. Small Business Administration opened applications Monday (May 4) to allow agricultural businesses in New Mexico to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).

Members of the town of Taos Council met Tuesday (May 26) to discuss a shortfall of revenues in the general fund for the town's budget.

COVID-19

Taos faces $2 million hole in budget

The town of Taos Council approved the 2020-21 interim budget with a nearly $2 million hole in the projected revenues for the general fund. The COVID-19 pandemic has whacked the town's annual budget and has left the council and staff scrambling for ways to shore up over $2 million in missing projected revenue from the previous year.

Private mode detected!