First responders in Socorro County gathered at the County Annex II for an informative live demonstration on electrical safety presented by the Socorro Electric Co… Read moreElectrical safety training: “Always treat power lines as energized”

For more than six decades, the Animal Protection Association of Socorro (APAS) has been a lifeline for pets and their families across Socorro and Catron counties.… Read moreAPAS at a crossroads

From corgis to cake, salsa to chainsaws, roses to rodeo, the Socorro County Fair will “Meet Ewe There” beginning Monday, August 25 through Sunday, August 31. Read moreSocorro County Fair returns with full week of family fun

The Magdalena Village Board of Trustees met August 11 to review infrastructure upgrades, grant approvals and lingering concerns over road maintenance and county s… Read moreMagdalena Trustees weigh infrastructure fixes

Mexican grey wolves on the New Mexico Game Commission’s agenda drew in over 200 people in person and online. At the meeting, both ranchers and wolf advocates comm… Read moreGame commisson hears hours of wolf comments

MAN CAUSING DISTURBANCE Read moreSocorro Police Blotter

The Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium (TBDC) will host an informational meeting about the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) on August 21 at 5:30 p.m.… Read moreInformational meeting for Downwinders scheduled at City Hall

In a quiet area of the Socorro County Detention Center, life is sprouting from the dirt—both literally and figuratively.

The Socorro School Board reevaluated the relevance of its financial and special education investigations. This decision followed the emergence of new information since the unanimous vote in January to proceed with those investigations.

As election season approaches, several local governing bodies across Socorro, Catron and Valencia counties are preparing for key leadership transitions. From school boards to municipal offices, residents will soon have the opportunity to shap…

A safety town hall, hosted by Socorro County emergency responders along with State Representatives Gail Armstrong and Rebecca Dow, was held last Tuesday at the Socorro County Annex II.

Socorro local and outdoor enthusiast Robert Wulff is stepping into a new role as the sports reporter for the El Defensor Chieftain, bringing with him a diverse background in education, photography, and a deep love for the local community.

At the July 28 regular meeting of the Magdalena Village Board of Trustees, officials approved a series of budget resolutions and discussed fiscal strategies for the coming year, including a transfer of general funds to cover deficits in the w…

In the quiet hills of Hop Canyon near Magdalena, Camille Mansell is creating art with confection, with handcrafted cakes that carry her experience and talent. Mansell has turned a lifelong passion into a growing business that’s beginning to r…

As of Friday, August 1, the County Livestock Loss Authority (CLLA) has for the first time in its existence processed every claim, according to Deborah Mahler CLLA administrator. She said that for 2024 they paid out $190,000 in depredations an…

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Catron County Residents:

A woman was killed overnight Sunday when a train collided with a vehicle in San Antonio, New Mexico — days after the railroad crossing was closed due to flooding.

Last Friday marked my final day as President of New Mexico Tech. While my time in this role was shorter than I had hoped, it has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my professional life—thanks not only to the extraordinary faculty, st…

In an email sent out to the New Mexico Tech (NMT) Community Dr. Mahyar Amouzegar NMT’s President and David Lepre NMT Board of Regents announced Friday July 25 as Amouzegar’s last day to serve as the president but will continue to work at NMT …

According to Lupe Tarango, director of the city’s Animal Control Office, the Socorro Animal Shelter has transferred 304 cats and dogs, including kittens and puppies, to out-of-state rescue partners so far this year, with even more transports …

After five months of negotiations, an emergency medical service agreement has been reached between the City of Socorro and Socorro County.

During the regular meeting of the Socorro Consolidated Schools on July 21, Superintendent Joyce Gormley reported that she received an email from board member Kathleen Ocampo on July 18, in which she submitted her resignation from the school b…

The Socorro Senior Center continues to grow as a heartfelt hub for elders in the region, thanks to strong city sponsorship, dedicated staff and a network of generous community partners. Now in its third year of collaboration with the City of …

Amy Kimball was not an athlete growing up, and while she liked to swim and ride a bike and on occasion jog, she didn’t do any of them with particular regularity and never really thought of doing so competitively.

The Socorro Regional Commercial Kitchen held an open house on July 24, offering a behind-the-scenes look at updates to the bustling facility that is now available to residents of Sierra, Socorro, Catron, and Valencia counties.

In the piñon dotted hills below Quemado Lake, where cattle outnumber people and rodeo reigns, you might be surprised to find a thriving polo scene. But thanks to a rich history and a dedicated steward, the Quemado Polo Club is keeping the spo…

“If I came to Socorro and threw a rock, I’d hit a relative.” Was a line delivered with humor by genealogist and historian Robert Baca, setting the meeting up for his presentation “Love and Death in Small Town New Mexico.” The presentation out…

The City of Socorro meeting on July 15 covered a fourth-quarter budget report, the Puerto Seguro Safe Harbor funding and a raise for the municipal judge.

Dr. George Bickert, also known as “Dr. B,” has started his tenure with confidence as Magdalena School’s superintendent.

Mary Riseley walked through glowing rows of luminarias looking for her mother’s name at a vigil for New Mexico downwinders Wednesday, 80 years to the day after the first nuclear bomb test.

Eighty years ago, the first nuclear weapon was tested, without any warning of potential negative impacts to New Mexico residents. The full extent of the health damage to “Downwinders” of the Trinity Site may never be known, but the fight for …

It was a June to remember for Alamo Navajo rising senior Zephaniah Guerro.

Socorro School District announced a change in leadership for two elementary schools. Julie Romero, after seven years at Midway Elementary, will transition to Parkview Elementary and JohnRay Dennis will assume the role of principal at Midway E…

Following deadly flash floods in parts of Texas and New Mexico, Socorro County is bolstering its emergency preparedness efforts with new and continuing flood readiness measures.

In the high desert landscapes of Socorro County, public lands do more than stretch across miles; they anchor communities, ignite passions, and quietly fuel local economies. From the dusty trails of the Quebradas Backcountry Byway to the cliff…

On July 10, a team from Colorado’s High Altitude Observatory completed the installation of testing equipment at Magdalena Ridge Observatory that moved the site into a second phase of consideration for COSMO, a long-planned telescope that will…

Socorro County Commissioners postponed both the approval of the EMS services contract with the City of Socorro and the county manager’s employment contract for a special meeting.

After decades of struggle and lives lost to radioactive fallout from the July 16, 1945, Trinity test in the Tularosa Basin, the impacted residents are finally receiving recognition.

The Catron County Sheriff’s Office is investigating reports of eco-terrorism in Catron County and the surrounding areas. Residents are urged to report any suspicious activity to the sheriff’s office.

Socorro Consolidated School Superintendent Joyce Gormley sent a letter to parents explaining the end of federal funding that helped the school supply students with school supplies.