Front Page News

Talamantes has been located. 

New Mexico State Police asks for the public's help in finding  Jose Talamantes, who was last seen at 9:20 on Sept. 12th, walking on E. Mobile Drive. 

For more information see the SPD below:

To download a PDF of the release, please visit the following link: Freeport Provides Update on PT Freeport Indonesia Operations

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Freeport (NYSE: FCX) announced today that expert teams continue to work around the clock to locate seven PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) team members whose access routes in the Grasberg Block Cave were blocked following the previously reported September 8 mud flow incident.

Extensive efforts are ongoing to clear access routes to the service level of the mine where the seven contractors were working at the time of the incident. The wet material entered the mine through drawpoints in one of five production blocks and traveled to multiple lower mine levels. Additional time is required to safely remove the significant amount of material in the service level, a non-mining area.

By Mary Alice Murphy

In a conversation among Silver City Police Department Chief Freddie Portillo, SCPD Captain Antonio Carrillo and this author, on Sept. 8, 2025, Portillo explained the federal grant program, Stonegarden, and how the department handles the participation with the county as a sub-recipient to Grant County's award of the funding.

Portillo said the grant began to be shared with Grant County at the county's invitation last year in 2024, through a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The county has used the funding for about 15 years as part of its drug interdiction, as well as addressing human trafficking and violent criminals. The contract period they are working in currently began Jan.1, 2025, and ends June 30, 2026.

To download a PDF of the release, please visit the following link: Freeport Reports on PT Freeport Indonesia Operations

 PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Freeport (NYSE: FCX) announced that on Monday, September 8 at approximately 10 p.m. local time in Central Papua, Indonesia, a large flow of wet material from a production drawpoint occurred at one of five production blocks in the Grasberg Block Cave underground mine. The incident blocked access to certain areas within the mine, restricting evacuation routes for seven team members.

Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy

The Gila Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Fred Fox opened the meeting on Aug. 6, 2025, by asking board members to read the mission, vision and values. He pointed out to this writer, his T-shirt encouraging older people to get their respiratory vaccines at this time of year. He also recommended that children get their vaccines before school starts. Fox noted the uncertainly with the changes in federal agencies in advisory positions and how that will all shake out. "I just want to be clear, that, as a physician, I think it benefits our community and individuals to obtain vaccinations to make sure you are immunized." He also cited all the professional medical organizations that have sent out reminders and suggested that people, especially children be vaccinated.

[Editor's Note: I apologize for several things. One, I should have paid attention to my professional and personal instincts which told me to get the other side of the story. Two, I should have not published it without further research. Three, I will personally belatedly get more information from Chief Portillo.]

Calls Out Grant County Beat Inaccuracies

Silver City -- Recent articles published in the Grant County Beat on July 24, July 29 and August 6 have obfuscated the truth, made numerous, unsubstantiated claims, and used highly questionable reporting to falsely portray me as an ineffective leader, and worse, sow seeds of doubt about the Silver City Police Department and town management. It's time to set the record straight. This rebuttal addresses only the July 24 omissions, half-truths and inaccuracies. I will address subsequent falsehoods in future statements of fact.

By Roger Lanse

The Beat has secured additional information in reference to the shooting on 12th Street, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, at about 5:20 p.m.

According to Silver City Police Department Chief Freddie Portillo and Capt. Antonio Carrillo, the shooting occurred on 12th Street near the Food Basket parking lot and was from a vehicle, the description of which has not been released.

Regan Joseph Morales, 30, of Silver City, the shooter, was located by officers at the scene.

On September 3, 2025, at 1720 hours, Silver City Police Officers responded to reports of gunshots in the area of 12th Street.

Grant County Regional Dispatch informed the officers that they received multiple calls about a shooting in this area.

A witness contacted Central Dispatch, stating they observed the shooting and met with officers in the Food Basket parking lot. The witness described the shooter's clothing description. The suspect was later identified as Regan Joseph Morales.