Author

Nash Jones, KUNM News
Nash Jones (they/them) grew up in Albuquerque and returned home in 2017 after 11 years away living in Portland, OR, and Oakland, CA. Storytelling and community education have consistently been at the core of Nash’s varied career and are, in part, what brought them to KUNM, first as a volunteer host with Spoken Word Hour and NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, then as a staff member in the KUNM newsroom, hosting Morning Edition (2018-2021) and reporting. Nash currently hosts NPR's All Things Considered and continues to report for KUNM.
Police ID teen shooter and 3 elderly victims in ‘random’ attack on Farmington neighborhood
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - May 17, 2023
Farmington police Tuesday identified the teen shooter who killed three and injured at least six while walking through a neighborhood Monday as Farmington High School student Beau Wilson. Police have not yet identified a motive. Two of the three people killed died at the scene and were mother and daughter, 98-year-old Gwendolyn Schofield and 73-year-old Melody […]
Deadline approaches for millions in state grants for out-of-school programs
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - May 2, 2023
Yajaira Lopez, a student at Portales Junior High School performs Baile Folkórico, a Mexican folk dance at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe on Jan. 18. 2023. The program is supported by the local school district with funding to support students outside of school. (Photo by Shaun Griswold / Source NM)
The last of a pandemic boost to food aid for NM’s youngest children begins
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - April 24, 2023
As the federal public health emergency comes to end on May 11, so do expanded food and nutrition benefits. The New Mexico Human Services Department started issuing the last of the pandemic-era boost for children under 6 years old last week. This last round of Childcare Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) is for children 0-5 years old whose families enrolled […]
Wastewater floods the Jemez River
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - April 13, 2023
The wastewater treatment plant in the northern New Mexico village of Jemez Springs flooded Wednesday, overflowing into the Jemez River. Jemez Springs Police Chief Felix Nuñez told KUNM the flood’s impact on the plant was a surprise. “What happened was — because of the mass of water coming through — the pumps overheated and just […]
US DOT to fund wildlife crossings, highlights Santa Ana Pueblo as a national leader
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - April 5, 2023
The U.S. Department of Transportation launched a new grant program Tuesday to combat vehicle collisions with wildlife. Sec. Pete Buttigieg traveled to New Mexico to make the announcement. Buttigieg said sometimes road safety looks like a crosswalk, but in some communities — like rural New Mexico — it can look like a wildlife crossing. Wild […]
NM Dems backtrack on police body cam enforcement
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - March 10, 2023
In the summer of 2020, against a backdrop of outrage over racist police violence and massive demonstrations following the Minneapolis police murder of George Floyd, Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico passed a law requiring law enforcement to use body-worn cameras and save the footage. Now, Senate Democrats are rolling the law back, creating more leniency and exemptions. Existing […]
Lawmakers to consider taking redistricting out of their own hands
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - December 20, 2022
Rep. Natalie Figueroa plans to introduce a bill in next month’s legislative session that aims to establish an independent redistricting commission to limit lawmakers’ role in drawing their own maps. Figueroa says it’s a necessary next step in removing politics from New Mexico’s process. If passed, the joint resolution would put the question of establishing […]
Recounts for NM House seats certified, no results change
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - December 15, 2022
New Mexico’s 2022 election is officially over after the state Canvassing Board certified the results of two automatic recounts Wednesday. After certifying the rest of the results on Nov. 29, the board ordered recounts in Districts 32 and 68 because the margin of victory was so slim, with less than 50 votes separating the candidates […]
Dem control of NM House goes unchanged, but redistricting process may not
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - November 28, 2022
The election of all 70 seats in the New Mexico House of Representatives this month was the first go around for a new district map. The state legislative and U.S. congressional maps were redrawn late last year following the 2020 Census. While Democratic control of the House will remain the same, the redistricting process may […]
Gov. Lujan Grisham gets four more years
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - November 9, 2022
New Mexicans have signaled their approval of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s first term by sending her back to the governor’s mansion for four more years. The Associated Press has called the hotly contested New Mexico governor’s race for Lujan Grisham, with 51.2% of the vote over Republican challenger Mark Ronchetti’s 46.4%. Libertarian Karen Bedonie […]
Biden stumps for New Mexico Democrats amid a few close, key races
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - November 4, 2022
President Joe Biden attended a rally with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hosted by the New Mexico Democratic Party in a South Valley community center in Albuquerque Thursday ahead of Election Day. The location, at the Ted M. Gallegos Community Center in the newly-redrawn Congressional District 2, wasn’t arbitrary. The event was billed as an opportunity for candidates […]
Deadline to request absentee ballot for 2022 election approaches
By: Nash Jones, KUNM News - November 1, 2022
For voters who would prefer not to stand in line at the polls, would like to reduce their risk of COVID exposure, or who would like to take their time filling out their ballot, Thursday, Nov. 3, is the last day to request an absentee ballot for the general election. For those who already have one […]