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Today’s edition · Tues., Nov. 3

Ben Valdez is now Santa Fe's permanent police chief

Plus, Santa Fe High hosts its first home playoff game in 41 years on Saturday.

The Today in Santa Fe team2 stories17 sources5 min read

City HallTop story

Ben Valdez is now the permanent chief of the Santa Fe Police Department

20 yearsValdez's time on the Santa Fe police force

He has served as interim chief since early June and said he's honored to accept the job.

Source: KRQE NEWS 13

If you've wondered who's leading the Santa Fe Police Department, it's official now. Interim City Manager Brian Moya appointed Ben Valdez on Monday, effective immediately. Valdez is a 20-year veteran of the force and has been interim chief since early June.

The Santa Fe New Mexican says the choice followed a recruitment process that began earlier this year. It came down to Valdez and Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, who were both announced as finalists.

Valdez and Mendoza were the two finalists for chief

FinalistRole
Ben ValdezInterim chief since early June
Adan MendozaSanta Fe County Sheriff

Sources: Santa Fe New Mexican, KRQE NEWS 13

  • Traffic and DWI enforcement: expanded with Valdez's help
  • Drone as First Responder program: he was influential in creating it
  • Dedicated bicycle patrol: also created with his influence

High School Sports

Santa Fe High will host its first home football playoff game in 41 years

Santa Fe High's Demons earned the eighth seed in the Class 5A state football playoffs. They'll host Cibola on Saturday, their first home playoff game in 41 years.

41 yearssince Santa Fe High's last home playoff game

The Demons play Cibola on Saturday at .

Source: Santa Fe New Mexican

Not everyone got good news. Santa Fe Indian School's Braves narrowly missed the cut, and the New Mexican described "utter shock and disappointment." The New Mexico Activities Association announced the brackets Sunday. In Class 6A, Cleveland and Volcano Vista, both 10-0, took the top two seeds.

  • Venue: , Saturday
  • Class 6A No. 3: La Cueva, after a 43-42 win over Sandia
  • Class 6A No. 4: Centennial, despite a 29-28 overtime loss

Santa Fe High is the 5A eighth seed while 6A's top two stay unbeaten

8th
seed for Santa Fe High in Class 5A
10-0
records of 6A's top seeds, Cleveland and Volcano Vista

Sources: Santa Fe New Mexican, Albuquerque Journal

Asked

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Asked

Are you heading to Santa Fe High's playoff game on Saturday?

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News Notes

Pallet records

The city of Santa Fe is racking up $100-a-day penalties for not turning over records on its 2025 Pallet shelter purchase. The total stood at $1,300 on Monday, according to attorney Andrew Pavlides. Santa Fe New Mexican

Midtown campus

The wants to remove the 100% electric requirement from the midtown campus master plan. Deputy Director Carly "Cav" Venditti said PNM notified the city it couldn't provide the electric load needed. Santa Fe New Mexican

BeWell

If you don't get coverage through a job, a partner, Medicaid or Medicare, you can now enroll in 2027 health insurance through BeWell. Open enrollment started Sunday and ends Jan. 15. Santa Fe New Mexican

Two dates to circle, and a deadline for health coverage

  1. Nov. 1 open enrollment for 2027 coverage began.
  2. Nov. 26Ski Santa Fe's opening day is projected, on Thanksgiving.
  3. Jan. 15BeWell open enrollment ends.

Source: Santa Fe New Mexican

Ski season

Ski Santa Fe's opening day is projected for Thanksgiving, Nov. 26. Workers are expected to begin snowmaking this week. Santa Fe New Mexican

Prep soccer

NMMI beat Santa Fe Prep 2-1 on Monday in a Class 1A/3A semifinal, ending the Blue Griffins' bid for a second straight title. The Colts face No. 1 Sandia Prep in Thursday's final. Santa Fe New Mexican

Home

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The Buy

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Around New Mexico

Flooding

In the Four Corners, San Juan County's emergency office issued evacuation alerts Sunday for anyone within a half-mile of the Animas, La Plata and San Juan rivers. KOAT reported that evacuations and flood warnings remained in place Monday. More than 8,000 PNM customers in Albuquerque's east mountains were without power early Monday. The river flood watch followed widespread flood destruction the week before, the New Mexican reported. abqjournalKOATSanta Fe New Mexican

No Fee November

If you're a student thinking about college, you can apply for free to 24 New Mexico colleges and universities in November. Diné College, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Tech are waiving fees for the month, and NMSU's waiver lasts until Dec. 1. The other 21 schools charge no application fee all year. KRQE NEWS 13Telemundo Nuevo México

Most of the 24 No Fee November colleges never charge to apply

Sources: Telemundo Nuevo México, KRQE NEWS 13

View as table
AmountShare
Waive fees just for November312.5%
Charge no fee all year2187.5%

Benefits help

The state Health Care Authority is holding free Keep Your Benefits NM sessions on Medicaid and SNAP changes. The first two are Thu., Nov. 5, at the Gateway Center in Albuquerque, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 96.3 KKOB

Quoted

The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.

— David Foster Wallace

The Buy

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Santa Fe answered.

Asked

When do you plan to hit the slopes this winter?

Be the first to answer.

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Things to Do

Things to Do

Santa Fe, NM

Tuesday, Nov. 3

See every Santa Fe eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

Submit your Job listing

Do you know just the position for our readers? Post it on our Jobs board.

Around the Block

Around the Block

Powered by Nextdoor

Neighbors

I spent the last 2 weeks as an election worker during early voting, and I was unexpectedly moved by the experience.

“Our voters ranged from 18-year-old first-timers to centenarians . A huge number were born in the 40s and 50s, with a surprising number born in the 1920s and 30s. Many used wheelchairs, walkers, and canes; many appeared to be in obvious pain; some held squirming babies with one arm and marked their ballot with the…”

— A neighbor, South Capitol Group

392 likes · 62 comments

View post

The Wrap

Alpine meets high desert this week: the Santa Fe Alphorn Festival runs Nov. 5 to 8, when the Alphorn Association of North America is coming to Santa Fe. The listing sets the festival at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe. Santa Fe is about to sound a lot like the Alps. Echoes welcome.

The Today in Santa Fe teamSanta Fe’s daily newsletter

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Every source in this edition17 links · 9 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. KRQE NEWS 13krqe.com
  3. Santa Fe New Mexicansantafenewmexican.com
  4. Santa Fe New Mexicansantafenewmexican.com
  5. Albuquerque Journalabqjournal.com
  6. Santa Fe New Mexicansantafenewmexican.com
  7. Santa Fe New Mexicansantafenewmexican.com
  8. Santa Fe New Mexicansantafenewmexican.com
  9. Santa Fe New Mexicansantafenewmexican.com
  10. Santa Fe New Mexicansantafenewmexican.com
  11. abqjournalabqjournal.com
  12. KOATkoat.com
  13. Santa Fe New Mexicansantafenewmexican.com
  14. KRQE NEWS 13krqe.com
  15. Telemundo Nuevo Méxicotelemundonuevomexico.com
  16. 96.3 KKOBnewsradiokkob.com
  17. Santa Fe events calendartodayinsantafe.com

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Today in Santa Feto me · Tues., Nov. 36:00 a.m.

Ben Valdez is now Santa Fe's permanent police chief

Plus, Santa Fe High hosts its first home playoff game in 41 years on Saturday.

The TLDR

  1. Ben Valdez is the permanent Santa Fe police chief, effective immediately
  2. Santa Fe High hosts Cibola Saturday, its first home playoff game since 1985
  3. The city owes $1,300 in penalties over Pallet shelter records
Read this edition

Around Santa Fe

From KOAT, Santa Fe New Mexican and KRQE NEWS 13, gathered by TMI, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. KOAT7 hours ago

    Santa Fe County Election Results 2026

    Follow election results for all contested races in Santa Fe County.

  2. Santa Fe New Mexican8 hours ago

    Meter runs at $100 a day for city of Santa Fe to turn over Pallet shelter purchase records

    The city owed a local businessman $1,300 as of Monday, and he was still waiting for the court-ordered records, an attorney said.

  3. Santa Fe New Mexican8 hours ago

    Colts end Blue Griffins’ dreams of defending 1A/3A boys soccer title

    For the second time in the last three seasons, NMMI knocked off Prep in the postseason, halting the Blue Griffins’ drive for a second straight state title.

  4. Santa Fe New Mexican8 hours ago

    Enrollment is open for Affordable Care Act coverage. What do New Mexicans need to know?

    This year’s open enrollment period comes amid a series of financial pressures — for individual customers and state coffers alike.

  5. Santa Fe New Mexican8 hours ago

    Agency proposes easing 100% electric mandate at Santa Fe’s midtown campus

    Public Service Company of New Mexico has told the city the power grid cannot support a 100% electric requirement.

  6. KRQE NEWS 1311 hours ago

    Ben Valdez appointed permanent chief for Santa Fe Police Department

    SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Santa Fe has chosen Ben Valdez to lead its police department on a permanent basis. Interim City Manager Brian Moya appointed Valdez to the position on Monday, effective immediately. A 20-year veteran of the force, Valdez has served as interim chief since early June. He has helped

    Also reported bySanta Fe New Mexican