El Defensor Chieftain
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The El Defensor Chieftain is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Socorro County and surrounding areas through the highest professional business and journalistic standards. EDC is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays – and online at dchieftain.com. Source
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Media Outlet details
| Scope | Local |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United States of America |
| Media Market | Albuquerque-Santa Fe |
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| Frequency | Weekly |
| Days Published | Thu |
Recent Articles
Search ArticlesSocorro volleyball welcomes NMAA rep
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) Associate Director Gary Allison visited the SHS gym to work with the SHS and SMS volleyball programs on team culture. On Tuesday, Aug. 4, New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) Associate Director Gary Allison visited the SHS gym to work with the SHS and SMS volleyball programs on team culture.
Manuel "Manny" Gonzales to leave the co-op
El Defensor Chieftain Support local news. Please select your privacy preferences to continue. Jump to main content Manuel "Manny" Gonzales at the SEC annual meeting in April, 2026 at Macey Center. In January 2025, the joke around Socorro Electric Co-op (SEC) was that new CEO Manuel “Manny” Gonzales might need a new pair of running shoes given how quickly he hit the ground running. Now, 20 months later, Gonzales is preparing to depart.
Data centers at center of committee session in Socorro
Jump to main content New Mexico Lawmakers gathered at New Mexico Tech's Joseph A. Fidel Center on April 10 and 11 for a Science, Technology and Telecommunications committee meeting to hear presentations on data centers, artificial intelligence, water, geothermal energy, cybersecurity, and New Mexico Tech research. New Mexico Lawmakers gathered at New Mexico Tech's Joseph A.
New quake swarm rattles Pueblitos area
El Defensor Chieftain Support local news. Please select your privacy preferences to continue. Jump to main content Two small earthquakes near Pueblitos this week fit a long-studied swarm pattern tied to the Socorro magma body, scientists say. A map shows the location of a magnitude 3.1 earthquake near Belen on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. By Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Assistant Editor Pueblitos Another swarm of small earthquakes is shaking up southern Valencia and northern Socorro counties.
In pursuit of justice for all those who were damaged
El Defensor Chieftain Support local news. Please select your privacy preferences to continue. Jump to main content OPINION Response to column by Dawn Weaver Tina Cordova, Co-Founder of Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. By Tina Cordova, Co-Founder of Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium I read the local column sent in by Dawn Weaver "Downwinders remember who voted no" and decided that I should set the record straight regarding the RECA expansion.
Ungelbah Dávila named Chieftain editor
Staff Report Ungelbah “Ungie” Dávila, staff writer since March 2025 and known for her feature articles, has been promoted to serve as editor of the Chieftain. “I’m extremely honored to be taking on this role. I have loved getting to know Socorro over the last year and a half and am excited to continue serving the community as editor of their local paper,” Davila said. Albuquerque Journal Editor James Bennett said he is happy Dávila has stepped into the role as editor with her spark and enthusiasm.
NM Tech staff votes 'no confidence' in two administrators
HIGHER EDUCATION Staff council members cited alleged harassment, retaliation and budget mismanagement The New Mexico Tech campus in Socorro in a file photo.
PHOTO GALLERY: Socorro softball tournament, Steers practice begins
Socorro softball capped off the season with a night tournament on Aug. 7. The SHS Lady Warriors varsity team during one of the matches at the Moriarty preseason tournament on Aug. 8. The SHS Lady Warriors varsity team during one of the matches at the Moriarty preseason tournament on Aug. 8. The SHS Lady Warriors varsity team during one of the matches at the Moriarty preseason tournament on Aug. 8. The SHS Lady Warriors varsity team during one of the matches at the Moriarty preseason tournament on Aug. 8.
XGS geothermal company hosts open house
Data center concerns addressed with the public XGS Energy hosted an open house last week at the Socorro Convention Center to share information about their potential geothermal project in Socorro County. The event represented their initial step toward engaging the community, said Vice President and Head of Development at XGS Energy Logan Stephens. “We had close to 100 people throughout the night, so we were really pleased with the turnout.
Downwinders remember who voted no
LOCAL COLUMN Dawn Weaver's family at a ranch 20 miles north of the Trinity Site in 1962. I have a photograph from 1962 of my family in the corral on our ranch, Hereford cattle behind them. Five of the six adults in it would get cancer. We have ranched this land for six generations; my grandchildren are the sixth. We are 20 miles straight north of the Trinity Site. There is a downwinders map on U.S. 380 now, and our place sits in the red.