96.3 (KKOB-AM)

CYFD issues response to NM DOJ report and lawsuit filed against the agency after investigation into violations in child safety

Zoltan Csanyi — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:13:59 +0000

Santa Fe, NM (KKOB) – The Children, Youth and Families Department is pushing back against a critical report released by the New Mexico Attorney General.

In a statement issued Tuesday, CYFD said the report underplays progress made over the past seven months, including hiring nearly 250 new staff, reducing caseloads, and ending the practice of children staying overnight in agency offices.

CYFD officials said they were not given advance access to the report before its release and noted they had already begun addressing the systemic issues identified by investigators. The department also disputed claims that it overuses congregate care or puts reunification ahead of child safety, saying most children are placed in family settings.

CYFD says it remains committed to protecting children and improving services statewide.

Las Cruces police arrest man wanted for violent road rage incident in El Paso

Zoltan Csanyi — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:00:19 +0000

Las Cruces, NM (KKOB) – Las Cruces police have released the body camera footage of an arrest made this week of a man wanted in El Paso for road rage. 25-year old Julian Caesar Valdez was arrested by LCPD officers after he was seen in Las Cruces following a road rage incident that happened on April 5th in East El Paso. As seen in the video, Valdez appears to be holding a gun in his

right hand as he approaches a vehicle at an intersection. Thanks to coordination between El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and Las Cruces Police, information was provided that Valdez was in the Las Cruces area. Valdez faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and remains jailed without bond at the Doña Ana County Detention Center awaiting extradition to El Paso.

Click below to view LCPD body camera video: https://www.faceb ook.com/reel/1429785665563471

Trial begins for Albuquerque man charged in double-murder in Santa Fe

Zoltan Csanyi — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:37:18 +0000

Santa Fe, NM (KKOB) – The double-murder trial for Jose Antonio “Adrian” Roman, a 47-year old man from Albuquerque began Thursday in Santa Fe in the First Judicial District Court.

Roman is charged with two counts of premeditaded first degree murder in connection with the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend Carmen Navarrette and her 15 year old son Axel Gonzales in November of 2023.

Prosecutors say Roman stole a pump-action shotgun and ammunition from his son’s house, and drove from his house in Albuquerque to Navarrete’s house in Santa Fe, and waited till she and her family were inside before opening fire on their home and then entered the home to kill her son.

Roman’s attorney told jurors Roman shot blindly through the windows and there is no evidence he was inside the family’s house.

Man convicted for shooting and killing his friend

Zoltan Csanyi — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:32:44 +0000

Albuquerque, NM(KKOB) – An Albuquerque man is awaiting his sentence for killing his friend in February of 2025. Adam Roberts was found guilty late yesterday of second-degree murder for the death of Gavin Huntsman. Roberts and Huntsman had been drinking the night of the shooting and went into the mesa west of Albuquerque to test a recently purchased gun.

After returning to Robert’s apartment they got into a heated argument and Roberts fired the gun hitting Huntsman in the head and killing him.

He faces more than two decades in prison. Sentencing will take place at a later date.

Beware “friendly” wild animals

Mike Gaba — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:25:21 +0000

Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — Following two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife that took place in Catron County, the New Mexico Department of Wildlife is urging outdoor recreationists to use caution when interacting with wild animals. Those two different incidents involved a bobcat and a fox that approached and engaged with hikers and campers within the Gila Wilderness. Though nobody was bitten, the reports raise suspicion of rabies infections and come after a bobcat tested positive for rabies in Sierra County in March. The department reports that rabies has been diagnosed in both bobcats and foxes in New Mexico. If you see a rabid animal, you should report it to your local animal control officer or your local New Mexico Department of Wildlife Conservation officer.

Tribal colleges could face funding cuts

Mike Gaba — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:22:36 +0000

Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — For the second year in a row, federal funding for tribal colleges and universities faces possible slashing. The fiscal year 2027 budget proposal calls for a $1.5 trillion increase to defense spending, resulting in the carving of billions of dollars out of programs that fulfill trust and treaty responsibilities to tribal nations. Those cuts include entirely eliminating funding for the Institute for American Indian Arts, the country’s only federally funded college for contemporary Native American arts. The budget proposal released last week also calls for cutting funding for TCUs, as well as funding for two schools, one of which is the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in New Mexico.

APD, Community Partners to Host Gun Buyback Event Saturday

Natassja Leyba — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:21:00 +0000

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Albuquerque Police Department is partnering with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence and other local organizations to host a gun buyback event later this week.

The safe‑surrender event is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at APD’s University Substation.

Officials say anyone can voluntarily surrender a firearm without providing identifying information. Firearms must be unloaded and in working condition, and participants are asked to keep weapons secured in the trunk of their vehicle upon arrival.

Compensation for surrendered firearms will be provided by New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence and varies by weapon type. In addition to cash compensation, organizers say free tickets to upcoming New Mexico United and Albuquerque Isotopes games will also be distributed.

According to organizers, compensation amounts are set as follows:

Assault‑style weapons: $250
Semi‑automatic rifles and handguns: $200
Rifles and shotguns: $100

APD says officers will not record personal information from participants during the event.

State Representative Rebecca Dow disqualified for June primary election vows to appeal

Zoltan Csanyi — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:29:52 +0000

Santa Fe, NM (KKOB) – A state judge has removed Republican Representative Rebecca Dow from the ballot ahead of New Mexico’s June primary election. The ruling disqualified Dow’s nominating petitions, finding they did not meet state election requirements. The challenge was filed by former Democratic state representative Tara Jaramillo, who previously ran against Dow in House District 38. Dow, who is seeking reelection, says she plans to appeal the decision to the New Mexico Supreme Court. Unless overturned, there will be no Republican candidate on the primary ballot for the district.

Third guilty verdict in Las Cruces Young Park mass shooting

Zoltan Csanyi — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:16:46 +0000

Las Cruces, NM (KKOB) – A Las Cruces jury found 16-year old Josiah Ontiveros guilty of three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the 2025 Young Park shooting. He was also found guilty of the charge of depraved mind, which means he committed the murders of three men without regard for human life.

That distinction was one reason why the jury deliberated close to seven hours.

He was found not guilty of the charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Prosecutors argue Ontiveros played a direct role in the violence, while the defense has centered on claims of self-defense.

The Young Park In March of 2025 shooting resulted in the deaths of Dominick Estrada, Andrew Madrid, and Jason Gomez, and injured at least 14 others.

Ontiveros is the third defendant to stand trial in the case. Two co-defendants have already been convicted on multiple counts of first-degree murder, while another suspect is expected to face trial in July.

2 men arrested in connection with Tuesday night shooting near Old Town

Zoltan Csanyi — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:11:43 +0000

Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) – Two men are jailed at the Metro Detention Center for a shooting death from Tuesday night near Old Town. APD homicide detectives arrested, 22-year old Xavier Torres and 19-year old John Gonzales for killing 20 year old Gabriel Montaño around 8 pm Tuesday night. Police were called for reports of shots fired outside a home in the 3200 block of Don Gabal Loop NW. When police arrived, they found Montaño dead and both Torres and Gonzales on the scene waiting to be taken into custody.

Police say that Torres and Gonzales claimed they shot Montaño in self-defense when he pulled a handgun from a cross-bodypack. However, detectives determined they were giving inconsistent statements and noted that they deliberately called for Montaño to go to their home, even though they suspected he would be armed with a firearm. Detectives also learned from witnesses that Gonzales sold guns on the social media

As detectives searched the home, investigators found a backpack with additional gun magazines, handguns, and a Glock handgun was found in the children’s bedroom. A sawed off shotgun was found inside Torres’ vehicle.

Both men are being held at MDC without bond on an open count of murder.