KRQE Newsfeed: Santa Fe suspect release questions, Old Town vandalism arrest, Hotter temperatures, Valuable experience for students, New Mexico State Fair history

Wednesday’s Top Stories

• State Department of Health asking Ruidoso residents about improving disaster readiness
• Police arrest man accused of breaking into UNM building and stealing electronic devices
• Santa Fe Police ask city councilors to fund new armored vehicles
• Former BCSO deputy gets deferred sentence after no contest plea in DWI case
• New Mexico Downwinders call for action on Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
• Gallup police looking for 2 people possibly connected to mall shooting
• McDonald’s debuts limited-edition collectible cups in adult Happy Meals
• A ship in the Red Sea is attacked 3 times by suspected Yemeni rebels

Wednesday’s Five Facts

[1] Why murder suspect with a lengthy criminal history out of jail before murder? – Police say 38-year-old Zachary Babitz killed an 83-year-old man outside a Best Buy and took off in his vehicle. Court documents say in 2019 he was given a plea deal for a series of crimes in Albuquerque, cutting a potential 21 years he was facing to just ten years of incarceration. Earlier this month, his parole officer learned his ankle monitor had been cut off. In a statement a spokesperson for the New Mexico Corrections Department said the parole officer followed policy and immediately issued an arrest order and submitted a violation report.

[2] Vandal hits multiple businesses in Old Town – A man accused of vandalizing multiple Old Town business has been arrested. Early Tuesday morning multiple shops were damaged, included broken windows and doors and a business being set on fire. Police say 40-year-old Dominic Ayon is responsible for the vandalism. According to a criminal complaint Ayon was arrested at Tiguex Park. The city has set up emergency cameras in Old Tow, they say businesses in the area lack cameras due to old infrastructure.

[3] Drier & seasonably warm temperatures around New Mexico – As temperatures across the region rise from the morning school commute into the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and near 100 degrees in a few southern areas by the afternoon, lingering moisture in the air, along with enough daytime heating, will lead to some sporadic afternoon rainfall. With a high pressure system still to the east of New Mexico in the short term moving eastward, moisture will be allowed to exit the region as drier air from the west will win out later this week with more sunshine and hotter air.

[4] UNM-Gallup gives local high school students hands-on experiences – A program at the University of New Mexico’s Gallup campus is helping kickstart the careers of local high schoolers. The Center for Career and Technical Education offers students hands-on experience in 12 program including welding, construction, automotive technology and more. CCTE leadership says many of the students go on to secure permanent jobs with businesses they work with.

[5] The history behind New Mexico’s state fair – The first official fair on record took place in 1881, before New Mexico became a state in 1912, it was known as the New Mexico Territorial Fair. New Mexico had 36 annual state fairs through 1916 before taking a 22-year break due to World War I and economic hardship. The fair reopened in 1938 an has been held at its current location ever since. The 2024 New Mexico State Fair begins September 5.

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