By Shaun Griswold / New Mexico In Depth New Mexico’s tribal communities suddenly find themselves in a rush to reorganize their plans to ensure a complete census count after federal authorities this week abruptly moved the deadline up by a month, from the end of October to September 30. “We have pretty much lost a month… Continue reading Census deadline moved up, surprising NM native communities
Author: Michael Marcotte
Hi, I'm the (first-ever) Professor of Practice in Journalism at University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. So I'm very involved in helping students learn multimedia journalism. Before New Mexico, I was the 2012-2013 Reynolds Chair in Ethics of Entrepreneurial and Innovative Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno... and, before that, a 2011 Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University. I'm also very active as a consultant, having spent over 25 years as a news director. My website is http://www.mikemarcotte.com or on Twitter: http://twitter.com/michvinmar
Albuquerque rousts people from makeshift camps, risking virus spread
By Celia Raney / New Mexico In Depth / Going against federal guidance during the era of COVID-19, Albuquerque city personnel periodically roust homeless encampments. Waking inhabitants before sunrise, police deliver orders over a megaphone for men, women, sometimes families to move along in as quickly as 30 minutes. In the frenzy of gathering themselves… Continue reading Albuquerque rousts people from makeshift camps, risking virus spread
Hitting Home: Growing pains
Anthony puts big plans on hold during pandemic By Julia Sclafani | Searchlight New Mexico / ANTHONY, N.M. — On a spring day during the coronavirus lockdown, Fernie Herrera set up an outdoor stove in his spacious backyard. He unfurled the awning on his camper — parked under the pine tree that towers over the… Continue reading Hitting Home: Growing pains
Albuquerque boy collaborates with high-tech hub to build his own prosthetic hand
By Santana Ortiz for New Mexico News Port / William Sahlstrom is a typical 9-year-old who loves Batman and basketball, but William has had to learn to move through life a little differently than other boys. He was born without a left hand due to a congenital condition that affects one in 10-thousand. “They think… Continue reading Albuquerque boy collaborates with high-tech hub to build his own prosthetic hand
Hitting Home: Bordering on desperation
In Gallup, surrounded by the Navajo Nation, a pandemic crosses paths with homelessness, hate and healers By J. Weston Phippen | Photos by Don J. Usner | Searchlight NM GALLUP, N.M. — At the end of the Howard Johnson Hotel’s orange and white hallway, Dr. Caleb Lauber paused by a mirror as if he were… Continue reading Hitting Home: Bordering on desperation
Hitting Home: When history deals a bad hand
The scrappy city of Las Vegas gambled on its Wild West history to draw tourists and keep the economy afloat. With the coronavirus, all bets are off. By Rachel Mabe / Photos by Don Usner / Searchlight NM LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Elmo Baca has always loved historic buildings. He was born in Las Vegas,… Continue reading Hitting Home: When history deals a bad hand
Hitting Home: Planting hope amid a plague
Older generations on the Navajo Nation have passed down stories of scourges, resilience — and survival. New generations are bringing these tales to life. By Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi / Searchlight New Mexico SHIPROCK, N.M. — Four miles down Farm Road, just off U.S. Route 491 in northern Navajo, a group of young Diné used what… Continue reading Hitting Home: Planting hope amid a plague
Local tabletop game industry growing until COVID-19
By Early-Ray Mixon / NM News Port / When Mark Diaz Truman was 12 years old, his discovery of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 2nd edition, would chart the course of his life. “It was just this cool game that had monsters and elves and dwarves,” Truman said, “and it just felt so different than other… Continue reading Local tabletop game industry growing until COVID-19
Local businesses struggle during crisis
By Dalton Padilla & Sayre Key-Towne / NM News Port / Albuquerque businesses are experiencing difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the more fortunate ones is Frontier Restaurant, a local landmark serving the UNM area since 1971, which has remained open, although only for takeout orders. “We’ve been getting slammed. So many… Continue reading Local businesses struggle during crisis