Looking back: MOST CLICKED WEB STORIES

1. NMT president resigns

After 14 months on the job New Mexico Tech’s President Dr. Mahyar Amouzegar abruptly resigned on Monday June 30, less than two weeks after regents restricted his hiring authority and asked him to reverse a vice presidential appointment that had already brought the new hire and his family to the area.

Amouzegar submitted a formal notice of resignation citing a Board of Regents’ emergency meeting on June 19 in which a resolution was passed that limited his authority. Amouzegar, said the search process was rigorous and inclusive, guided by the university policy and best practices, and felt that rescinding the offer at such a late stage risked reputational harm and made future recruitment more difficult.

“After careful reflection, I submit this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my position as President of New Mexico Tech,” Amouzegar wrote.

In the letter, he said he did not take his decision lightly and remains committed and grateful for the support from faculty, staff, students, and the community.

New Mexico Tech announced Friday July 25 as Amouzegar’s last day to serve as the president but will continue to work at NMT in a new role in the Departments of Management and Mathematics. Michael Jackson was appointed interim president.

In December 2023, New Mexico Tech regents announced Amouzegar as the university’s 18th president. He was appointed to a five-year term with an annual salary of $425,000. He began his tenure on April 15, 2024

2. Missing T or C man

The vehicle belonging to Andrew Dixon, a Truth or Consequences man reported missing in late July, was found abandoned in Socorro County, according to local authorities.

Detective Shane Jeffers of the Truth or Consequences Police Department said New Mexico State Police located Dixon’s car on July 29 along Highway 1 near mile marker 33. The vehicle was towed that day by Hicks Towing and remained in the company’s yard until Oct. 20, when police were notified of its possible connection to Dixon.

“There were no indications of foul play observed inside the vehicle,” Jeffers said, adding that the car appeared to have been left after running out of gas. He said the investigation remains active, with search warrants pending for Dixon’s accounts and all leads continuing to be followed.

Dixon was last seen July 28. At the time of his disappearance, he was living in Truth or Consequences and working at Walmart. He was reportedly wearing a gray T-shirt, faded blue jeans and white sneakers when he was last seen.

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Dixon’s whereabouts. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Truth or Consequences Police Department.

3. NMT whistle blower

Former New Mexico Tech president Dr. Stephen Wells filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging he was forced to resign after raising alarms about major financial mismanagement at the university in January.

Wells said he discovered that more than $46 million in university cash reserves had been kept in a single small local bank at extremely low interest, costing the school millions in lost interest earnings. An outside attorney and an independent accounting firm confirmed his concerns, but the Board of Regents took no action.

According to the lawsuit, Wells was pushed out in April 2023, just a month after the bank’s attorney, Jerry Armijo, became president of the NMT Board of Regents. Wells claims he was given a sudden “mutual termination agreement” and never told by Armijo whether he was being dismissed “for cause.”

Beyond the cash‑reserve issue, Wells says he uncovered additional problems: mismanaged endowment funds, $1 million in questionable royalty payments, improper scholarship use and the retention of an employee allegedly hired due to an affair with an administrator.

The lawsuit argues that the bank arrangement may have violated the state constitution’s Anti‑Donation Clause and left the university’s funds largely uninsured. Wells’ attorneys said the regents failed their fiduciary duty and benefited a private bank at the university’s expense.

New Mexico Tech has declined to comment on the pending litigation.

4. Train Derailment 

At approximately 8:40 a.m. on Feb. 13, Socorro County fire departments were dispatched to Highway 116 in northern Socorro County following a BNSF train derailment involving seven rail cars, three of which were carrying sulfuric acid. The New Mexico Emergency Operations Center (NMEOC) was notified at 8:54 a.m., according to Socorro County Emergency Manager Fred Berger.

Berger arrived on scene at the same time as Midway Fire Chief Marc Wheeler. Responding agencies included New Mexico State Police, BNSF Railway, the Socorro County Sheriff’s Office, the Midway Fire Department and the Socorro Fire Department.

Berger reported that BNSF advised seven cars had derailed, with three carrying an unknown quantity of sulfuric acid. At the time, no leaks were reported. An on-site inspection by Berger and Wheeler confirmed the sulfuric acid cars had not been compromised. Minor spillage was observed from one car carrying soybeans and two cars carrying dry lime.

After receiving an update, the NMEOC advised that BNSF would assume control of the scene and would contact county units if additional assistance was needed. Emergency management operations were then deactivated, and county fire units were cleared.

New Mexico State Police Public Information Officer Ray Wilson reported no injuries and no hazardous materials released. Later in the afternoon, however, a chemical odor was reported when a sulfuric acid car was moved during recovery operations. A hazmat team identified a small leak, which was immediately contained.

BNSF later confirmed that approximately one gallon of sulfuric acid spilled. The material and impacted soil were removed and will be disposed of in accordance with state and federal regulations. No injuries were reported.

5. Film in Magdalena

Filmmaking brothers Bill and Turner Ross said Magdalena was always destined to be the setting for their seventh feature film—even if Bill insists Turner quietly nudged him there.

Turner, who has visited Magdalena for more than 20 years while traveling between New Orleans and Los Angeles, described the village as a place that lingered in his imagination. When the brothers toured a dozen New Mexico towns searching for a location, Bill said it quickly became clear Magdalena was the real choice.

That feeling was sealed during their first stop at the Golden Spur. Bill recalled being struck by the warmth of the owners and how locals greeted one another. 

“I was sold from the beginning,” he said. 

The brothers agreed the town’s openness and strong sense of community matched the story they wanted to tell.

Their new film is a fictional, contemporary story set in a small desert town called Edge City. It follows several interconnected characters leading up to a patriotic train stop, exploring themes of community, outside influence and the choice to find meaning in existing connections. Turner emphasized the film is not about Magdalena itself, but about people and relationships.

Staying true to their independent style, the Ross brothers favor unscripted moments and have cast many first-time actors from across the region. They are also inviting locals to take part in a Fourth of July-themed scene on June 28 during Magdalena’s Frontier Festival.

6. San Antonio Fatal Train Collision

A woman was killed early on the morning of May 3 when a BNSF Railway train struck a vehicle at a railroad crossing in San Antonio, New Mexico, just days after the crossing had been closed due to flooding.

Socorro County Sheriff Lee Armijo said two people were inside the vehicle when it was hit by the train around midnight. The woman who died has not been identified. The San Antonio Fire Department responded to the crash at approximately 12:02 a.m.

According to incident reports, North County Fire Chief Adam Steinke arrived on scene and observed the crossing arms were upright and the warning lights inactive at the time of the collision. Emergency responders found the female passenger already removed from the vehicle and covered with a blanket, with no life-saving efforts underway. Law enforcement officers at the scene confirmed she was deceased.

Socorro Fire Department Rescue 10 later arrived to assist. Fire personnel, sheriff’s deputies and Steinke lifted and moved the rear of the vehicle to gain access to the driver, who was trapped inside. The driver was removed and transported to Socorro General Hospital for treatment. The extent of the driver’s injuries was not released.

The crash scene was turned over to the Socorro County Sheriff’s Office for investigation. No additional details regarding the cause of the collision have been made public.

The incident occurred shortly after flooding affected the area. Socorro County Manager Andy Lotrich said Highway 380 in San Antonio was closed Saturday due to floodwaters and debris. He said runoff from heavy rain in the foothills west of town caused water in an arroyo to crest at approximately six feet.

A multi-agency response, including the New Mexico Department of Transportation, State Police and the Socorro County Sheriff’s Office, worked to clear mud and water from the roadway, allowing the highway to reopen later that evening. Flood control measures prevented water from entering most of the town, though overflow occurred near the railroad crossing.

Lotrich said the county is working with BNSF, NM DOT and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District to improve infrastructure and reduce future flooding risks.