Daily Digest

Chama Valley & Abiquiú Daily Digest Monday, May 18, 2026

Ty McDuffey

18 May 2026 — 1 min read

Ty's Take

A wild turkey got tangled in power lines up the valley this week—the kind of thing that stops being funny the moment the lights go out and you're standing in your kitchen at dinnertime trying to remember where you keep the candles. Meanwhile, a man on house arrest walked away from what was supposed to keep him in place and ended up dead in a crash, which is the kind of tragedy that makes you wonder what the point of any of it was. Early voting's happening now if you haven't cast a ballot, and somewhere between the steak dinners and the power outages and the hard news, life keeps moving through these mountains the way it always has—unforgiving, ordinary, and never quite what you planned for.

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Rio Grande SUN

Meals With Wheels: Steak and Wine: The Perfect Pairing

A local food writer shares tips for preparing quality steaks indoors when outdoor grilling isn't an option. The column explores how to pair a good steak with red wine for a satisfying meal at home or while traveling.

Wild Turkey Cage Knocks Out Power

A wild turkey cage caused a power outage in the Española Valley area, highlighting the unusual incidents that local law enforcement must respond to daily. Police and sheriff's departments across Rio Arriba County manage a wide range of emergencies beyond typical criminal activity.

Man in Fatal Crash on House Arrest

A Carlsbad man accused of driving drunk and hitting a water truck on March 29, killing the driver, was released on house arrest by a Texas district judge. The case raises questions about bail decisions in fatal accident cases.

Early Voting Underway

Rio Arriba County voters can cast early ballots starting May 5 through May 30 ahead of the June 2 election. Multiple voting centers throughout the county are open to the public during the early voting period.

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