Taos News

The most sobering story of the week was the on-duty death of a Taos County Sheriff's deputy killed in a motorcycle crash involving another deputy [20], while a separate tragedy unfolded as 6-year-old Estrella Shay Fernandez, found unresponsive in Vadito in April, was laid to rest after toxicology results came back negative for drugs [8]. On the civic front, early voter turnout in the Primary Election was alarmingly low at just 6.7% [4], and a national energy super PAC drew scrutiny over undisclosed spending in New Mexico's land commissioner race [7]. Meanwhile, Taos Pueblo announced the cancellation of its 2026 Powwow [1] shortly after honoring fallen Indigenous warriors during Memorial Day ceremonies [5], and local environmental concerns continued with reports of significant insect population declines across New Mexico [6].