NEW: The New Mexico Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and the U.S. Department of Justice in an effort to obtain unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files. sfnm.co/4xHnsWf

New Mexico AG sues Todd Blanche, U.S. DOJ for unredacted Epstein records

The lawsuit comes nearly a month after Raúl Torrez said state would pursue “all available legal remedies” if the agency didn't turn over files.

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The first official week of prep football practice is underway. Sports writers Will and James discuss how they think Santa Fe teams will fare this season on the latest "Sports Den" podcast. They also talk about referee numbers and possible shortages. sfnm.co/3ShfgN4

How will Santa Fe's prep football teams fare this year?

Will St. Michael’s go undefeated yet again? Will Santa Fe High and Capital make the playoffs? The guys go over these questions and more.

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NEW: Smoke could be seen from Santa Fe on Wednesday morning from a new fire that started in the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest. sfnm.co/4pXEU5X

Fire burning in national forest north of Santa Fe

The Frijoles Fire was about 10 acres as of Wednesday morning, according to a spokesperson from the U.S. Forest Service.

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Here are a few random observations after Monday’s first day of football practice, which effectively signals the end of the summer for sportswriters. Yes, it’s just one day, but we’re one day closer to the start of the season. sfnm.co/4xl6lZS

Some musings after one day of prep football practice

Here are a few random observations after Monday’s first day of football practice, which effectively signals the end of the summer for sportswriters.

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A partial skull found in northwestern New Mexico two decades ago has been identified as a new species of dinosaur, adding to scientists' understanding of the creatures that roamed the state 73 million years ago. sfnm.co/4xmLpSu

Researchers identify new dinosaur in northwestern New Mexico

The new dinosaur is part of a group of larger, more robust and strongly built troodontids that have been discovered recently.

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At least 120 rainbow trout were found dead at Monastery Lake near Pecos late last month as some locals employed buckets and nets to wrangle floating fish from the unusually warm waters. The area is known as recreational hotspot and for stellar fishing. sfnm.co/4fUQhHp

120 fish dead in Monastery Lake as New Mexico anglers alarmed by warming rivers

A summer of severe drought, following a winter with low snowpack, has lakes, rivers and streams low and warm this year.

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Sheryl Williams Stapleton's attorney told jurors in her trial Tuesday that the ex-lawmaker is “not 100% innocent,” but she is innocent of the federal charges against her. He argued she did take money that didn’t belong to her but it wasn't from taxpayers. sfnm.co/4wKtOnw

Ex-New Mexico lawmaker stole from friend, not taxpayers, her attorney says at trial

Sheryl Williams Stapleton has been accused of funneling federal funding to her friend's firm in exchange for kickbacks.

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A Santa Fe man was arrested Monday after police accused him of attacking a woman in a bathroom at a downtown shopping center and holding her against the wall before she broke free. sfnm.co/4fUm8ru

Man accused of attacking woman in bathroom at downtown Santa Fe shopping center

Police arrested 35-year-old Alexander Corvison after a woman said he followed her into a bathroom and held her against the wall.

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At least three people were arrested by federal immigration enforcement agents over the weekend on the south side of Santa Fe, the latest in what appears to be a steady stream of immigration-related arrests in the city during an ongoing crackdown. sfnm.co/4fRU0W5

3 people arrested by immigration agents on Santa Fe's south side

Two men and one woman were arrested Sunday by federal agents in the parking lot of Zia Center, an Airport Road shopping center.

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At least three people were arrested by federal immigration enforcement agents over the weekend on the south side of Santa Fe, the latest in what appears to be a steady stream of immigration-related arrests in the city during an ongoing federal crackdown. www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_n...

3 people arrested by immigration agents on Santa Fe's south side

Two men and one woman were arrested Sunday by federal agents in the parking lot of Zia Center, an Airport Road shopping center.

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A Santa Fe man was arrested Monday after police accused him of attacking a woman in a bathroom at a downtown shopping center and holding her against the wall before she broke free. www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_n...

Man accused of attacking woman in bathroom at downtown Santa Fe shopping center

Police arrested 35-year-old Alexander Corvison after a woman said he followed her into a bathroom and held her against the wall.

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HIGH DESERT TABLE: We didn’t have any specific meals in mind, but knew we wanted to hit up our non-negotiables whenever we are in that part of Minnesota, a smokehouse legendary for our family, producing the smoked fish of our dreams. www.santafenewmexican.com/life/taste/l...

Two nights, two superior salads

The plan was simple — keep a lookout for farm stands along our route and stock up on whatever vegetables and fruits the locals were growing.

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At least 120 rainbow trout were found dead at Monastery Lake near Pecos late last month. Anglers in Northern New Mexico are facing warmer waterways and desperately low lakes and streams this summer as a result of climate change-induced drought. www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_n...

120 fish dead in Monastery Lake as New Mexico anglers alarmed by warming rivers

A summer of severe drought, following a winter with low snowpack, has lakes, rivers and streams low and warm this year.

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NEW: Access to the New Mexico Roundhouse was being restricted to "staff and other known persons" Tuesday after a caller warned of a threat on the iconic building in downtown Santa Fe, which draws visitors daily. sfnm.co/3RKNGYw

Visitors shut out of Roundhouse in Santa Fe after caller warns of threat

Though the threat was deemed not credible, officials restricted access to the state Capitol "to be on the safe side."

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OUR VIEW: If jail staff can’t keep deadly drugs such as fentanyl out of their own cells then how can we expect any number of federal, state and local police officers to keep those drugs off of our streets? We need more prevention and intervention programs. sfnm.co/4bO2ht5

Drugs in jail or on the street — hard to control

For proof that New Mexico cannot arrest its way out of its epidemic of opioid overdoses, consider what has happened to some of the people we had already arrested.

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The Santa Fe Teen Center is hosting a back-to-school open house Thursday and Friday to celebrate the start of the new school year for students attending Santa Fe Public Schools. The event will include giveaways of backpacks and other school supplies. sfnm.co/3Uc1Cvb

Santa Fe Teen Center hosting back-to-school open house

The event will include free backpacks and school supplies as well as pizza, games and activities to kick off the new school year.

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich introduced legislation Monday that would prevent utility customers from bearing the costs of data center infrastructure, making those companies pay for necessary upgrades to the grid if they are connected and using that power. sfnm.co/4ga8VvX

Heinrich proposes legislation to make data centers pay for grid infrastructure

The New Mexico Democrat on Monday introduced the GRID Savings Act, which would make data centers pay for any necessary upgrades to the grid.

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Santa Fe could hit 96 degrees this week as hot temperatures continue to sweep the state. Daily isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected for many areas — though not to the degree of the past couple of weeks. sfnm.co/4xeNzmR

Record-high temperatures possible in New Mexico this week

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday for some western parts the state.

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Attorney General Raúl Torrez demanded an extensive list of DEA policies and records in the wake of reports that the agency allowed fentanyl to flood New Mexico communities. The U.S. Department of Justice denied his request claiming it violates federal regulations. sfnm.co/4pVSRkJ

Feds deny New Mexico attorney general DEA records

The request followed reports the DEA allowed fentanyl to flood New Mexico in a strategy to target high-level distributors.

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Sean Gabriel is the owner of a newly opened equipment sales and repair store on St. Michael’s Drive. He said opening the business on top of his other ventures was inspired by his father who instilled in him the value of working hard for opportunities. sfnm.co/4yTsS1H

New Mexico Power Equipment emphasizes customer service, Stihl equipment repairs

Sean Gabriel, a Santa Fe native who moved around in his teens and 20s, said he’s used to launching and running businesses.

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The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board has raised concern that a recent fire inside a glovebox at Los Alamos National Laboratory is the latest in a “trend” of preventable fires. The board said its oversight in these incidents has been hindered. sfnm.co/4fDkOuo

Government watchdog raises concern of 'trend' in preventable glovebox fires at LANL

The recent fire occurred June 15 after resin ignited in a glovebox at the lab, according to a watchdog report.

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Senior athletes at Santa Fe High, St. Michael's and Capital are eager to end their final seasons on a high note. While they all share similar feelings about the passage of time, they also share a common goal for this year — to go out the best way possible. sfnm.co/4c476hN

Enthusiasm abounds among seniors on first day of football practice

Senior athletes at Santa Fe High, St. Michael's and Capital are eager to end their final high school seasons on a high note.

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A 13-year-old girl was repeatedly sexually assaulted over several days during a stay at an Albuquerque youth shelter, where staff then failed to provide treatment or otherwise address the incident, according to a new lawsuit filed in district court. sfnm.co/4yYaOn1

Lawsuit alleges foster teen was repeatedly sexually assaulted in Albuquerque facility

The lawsuit claims staff and managers knew about the assault but failed to stop it or address it out of fear for repercussions.

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The Santa Fe Office of Economic Development is taking a new track on promoting local outdoor recreation. While popular activities like skiing, whitewater rafting and fly fishing have prominently been in marketing efforts, high-altitude trail running will also be featured. sfnm.co/3TAfFuA

Santa Fe Economic Development Office produces trail guide for runners

Run Different: Santa Fe Running Guide catalogs several of the area’s premier running trails and features a list of local running events.

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Former state House majority floor leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton is set to stand trial in U.S. District Court starting Tuesday on 37 criminal counts in connection to an alleged kickback scheme she was a part of while working at Albuquerque Public Schools. sfnm.co/45aoei6

Trial begins for Sheryl Williams Stapleton, a former state lawmaker accused in kickback scheme

Prosecutors allege she used her positions as legislator and school administrator to send federal funds to her friend's company in a scheme that lasted years.

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Santa Fe New Mexican Executive Editor Bill Church joins the latest podcast episode of "Conversations Different" to discuss the paper's bold expansion to Las Cruces and Southern New Mexico and what to expect. He also shares how the paper is reaching readers in today's digital age. sfnm.co/4xilQ4P

Bill Church of 'The New Mexican’ discusses the paper’s expansion to Southern New Mexico and reaching readers

Santa Fe New Mexican Executive Editor Bill Church joins the latest episode of "Conversations Different" to discuss the paper's expansion to Southern New Mexico.

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The water crisis in rural Estancia, a Torrance County town 60 miles southeast of Albuquerque, has laid bare the challenges New Mexico communities face as climate change and drought strain their resources. Crews have trucked in water since June to keep taps running. sfnm.co/4heRCuP

Estancia, mired in water crisis, has hauled in water since late June

The water shortage in Estancia comes as the town also faces what some are calling a leadership crisis.

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A Santa Fe man who died in a crash on the city's south side over the weekend was identified by police Monday as 22-year-old Yeferson Evelder Zepeda Lopez. They believe Zepeda Lopez was traveling at a high rate of speed when he crashed. sfnm.co/4yXVXZA

Investigators identify Santa Fe man killed in motorcycle crash

Yeferson Evelder Zepeda Lopez, a 22-year-old man who lived in Santa Fe, died in the crash Saturday on Airport Road.

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OUR VIEW: CYFD needs a from-the-ground-up restructuring. The next governor must make the safety of children a top priority. Otherwise, the outrages will continue. sfnm.co/4hc19D4

CYFD outrage continues — where is the accountability?

Becoming numb to the outrageous is a feature of contemporary American life. In New Mexico, little is as outrageous as the continuing failures at the Children, Youth and Families Department

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Torrance County residents have raised concerns about the largely secret “Project Mars” proposal, voicing fears of a new data center that would require large amounts of water in the parched Estancia Basin. sfnm.co/4wxMirf

Secret 'Project Mars' roils Torrance County residents

Officials provide few details, citing NDAs, but say a Defense Department contractor is considering a manufacturing plant on state trust land.

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