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Prism Local News

San Juan County, New Mexico

"Your Local News, Powered by AI Journalism"

New Sensory Friendly Play Café Opens in Downtown Aztec

New Sensory Friendly Play Café Opens in Downtown Aztec

Piper’s Play Café, a new indoor sensory friendly play space for toddlers and caregivers, held a ribbon cutting in downtown Aztec on November 24 and quietly opened to the public on November 15. The business aims to provide safe, accessible play and parent amenities while supporting local causes, a development that could boost downtown foot traffic and fill a gap in family services in San Juan County.

Sarah Chen - Journalist

•2 min read•12:28 PM

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About San Juan County

Population

Approximately 121,600 residents

County Seat

Aztec, New Mexico

Coverage Area

5,514 square miles in northwestern New Mexico

Local Updates

Active

AI newsroom monitoring local San Juan County developments. Next update cycle in 9 minutes.

More Local News

Shutdown Ends, Local Food Pantries Still Facing Elevated Demand

Shutdown Ends, Local Food Pantries Still Facing Elevated Demand

Although Congress restored SNAP funding in mid November, San Juan County food pantries continue to see sustained increas...

Sarah Chen2m read

State Launches Electric School Bus Pilot, Central Consolidated Included

State Launches Electric School Bus Pilot, Central Consolidated Included

New Mexico's Economic Development Department and GreenPower Motor Co. announced a two year all electric school bus pilot...

Marcus Williams2m read

Aztec Ruins National Monument, Local Resource Near Farmington Draws Visitors

Aztec Ruins National Monument, Local Resource Near Farmington Draws Visitors

Aztec Ruins National Monument preserves ancestral Puebloan masonry, including a reconstructed Great Kiva, interpretive t...

Marcus Williams2m read

Farmington Schools Plans Regional Technical Center, Aligns Training With Jobs

Farmington Schools Plans Regional Technical Center, Aligns Training With Jobs

Farmington Municipal Schools launched a planning year to transform its existing Career and Technical Education Center in...

Lisa Park2m read

San Juan Regional Opens New Childbirth Center, Expands Maternity Care

San Juan Regional Opens New Childbirth Center, Expands Maternity Care

San Juan Regional Medical Center has opened a newly renovated Childbirth Center that expands maternity and newborn care ...

Dr. Elena Rodriguez2m read

Farmington Scorpions Rout Aztec, 102 16 Season Opener

Farmington Scorpions Rout Aztec, 102 16 Season Opener

Farmington High School defeated Aztec High 102 to 16 in the season opener at Lillywhite Gymnasium on November 26, 2025, ...

Marcus Williams2m read

Remote discovery in Bisti De Na Zin Wilderness raises concerns for community

Remote discovery in Bisti De Na Zin Wilderness raises concerns for community

Published Nov. 25, 2025, a report carried by The Journal and the Tri City Record details an investigation by the San Jua...

James Thompson1m read

Three Indicted in 2020 Nenahnezad Murder of Zachariah Shorty

Three Indicted in 2020 Nenahnezad Murder of Zachariah Shorty

Federal prosecutors indicted three Navajo Nation members on November 24, 2025 for the 2020 murder of Zachariah Juwaun Sh...

James Thompson2m read

Day Trips From Farmington, Local Guide to Nearby Ruins and Views

Day Trips From Farmington, Local Guide to Nearby Ruins and Views

A practical local guide outlines day trip and short stay ideas using Farmington as a base, highlighting nearby cultural ...

Sarah Chen2m read

County Holiday Events Offer Volunteering, Health and Community Benefits

County Holiday Events Offer Volunteering, Health and Community Benefits

The Tri City Record published an events roundup on Nov. 26 listing holiday and community activities in Farmington, Aztec...

Lisa Park2m read

Aztec Leaders Weigh Lights, Development and Infrastructure Funding

Aztec Leaders Weigh Lights, Development and Infrastructure Funding

At a Nov. 18 Aztec City Commission meeting commissioners addressed holiday lighting, a pending $140,000 grant deadline, ...

Marcus Williams2m read

San Juan County Collects Over 21,000 Pounds of Food

San Juan County Collects Over 21,000 Pounds of Food

A coordinated food collection effort among San Juan County and the cities of Aztec, Bloomfield and Farmington yielded mo...

Lisa Park2m read

San Juan College Wins Platinum Recognition, Reinforces Family Support Policies

San Juan College Wins Platinum Recognition, Reinforces Family Support Policies

San Juan College received a platinum level education designation from Family Friendly New Mexico on October 24, marking ...

Marcus Williams2m read

New Family Resource Center opens in Kirtland, expands support for families

New Family Resource Center opens in Kirtland, expands support for families

A Family Resource Center opened at the Kirtland Early Childhood Center with a soft launch on November 26, 2025, offering...

Sarah Chen2m read

College Enrollment Rises in New Mexico, Benefits San Juan County

College Enrollment Rises in New Mexico, Benefits San Juan County

The New Mexico Higher Education Department reported a fourth consecutive year of enrollment growth, with 4,016 new degre...

Lisa Park2m read

SkillsUSA Regional Draws Over 160 Competitors to San Juan College

SkillsUSA Regional Draws Over 160 Competitors to San Juan College

San Juan College hosted the SkillsUSA Regional Competition on November 18, drawing more than 160 students from nine scho...

Marcus Williams2m read

Rezbotics Tournament Brings Navajo Nation Robotics to San Juan County

Rezbotics Tournament Brings Navajo Nation Robotics to San Juan County

Sixteen robotics teams from across the Navajo Nation competed Saturday at Kirtland Central High School in the Rezbotics ...

Sarah Chen2m read

Four Corners Summit Honors Local Leaders, Draws 450 Attendees

Four Corners Summit Honors Local Leaders, Draws 450 Attendees

More than 450 people attended the Four Corners Professional Women’s Summit on Nov. 7 at the Farmington Civic Center, whe...

Sarah Chen2m read

Local schools win $3,000 in state grants to boost financial and culinary skills

Local schools win $3,000 in state grants to boost financial and culinary skills

The ARNIA Foundation of U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union awarded 11 enrichED grants statewide totaling $20,000, with San ...

Sarah Chen2m read

SNAP Freeze Leaves 9,000 San Juan Households Without Benefits

SNAP Freeze Leaves 9,000 San Juan Households Without Benefits

A federal shutdown that began at midnight on Nov. 1 froze monthly SNAP benefits nationwide, and Navajo Nation agencies s...

Sarah Chen2m read

San Juan County Schools Push Bond for Safety Upgrades and Teacher Housing – Vote Nov. 4, No Tax Hike

San Juan County Schools Push Bond for Safety Upgrades and Teacher Housing – Vote Nov. 4, No Tax Hike

San Juan County voters will face a key decision on November 4, 2025: approving general obligation bonds for Farmington M...

Ellie Harper2m read

Local Entrepreneurs, Nonprofit Leaders Honored at Four Corners Summit

Local Entrepreneurs, Nonprofit Leaders Honored at Four Corners Summit

Business owners Beverly and Tara Taylor of Artifacts 302 and San Juan Medical Foundation executive director Audra Winter...

Sarah Chen2m read

What’s the Mysterious Conference Happening in San Juan and Why Locals Say It Could Save Lives?

What’s the Mysterious Conference Happening in San Juan and Why Locals Say It Could Save Lives?

San Juan Regional Medical Center hosted its annual Trauma and Critical Care Conference on October 16–17, 2025, at the Co...

Dr. Elena Rodriguez3m read

Pipeline Pushes Forward: How New Gas Line Could Fuel Jobs and Growth in San Juan’s Industrial Heart

Pipeline Pushes Forward: How New Gas Line Could Fuel Jobs and Growth in San Juan’s Industrial Heart

In the dusty stretches north of Farmington, where oil rigs once dominated the skyline, a quieter revolution is underway....

Ellie Harper2m read

Kirtland Central Sweeps Bloomfield, Clinches District Title and State Berth

Kirtland Central Sweeps Bloomfield, Clinches District Title and State Berth

Kirtland Central defeated Bloomfield 3–0 (25–14, 25–20, 25–23) to capture the District 1‑4A championship and earn a spot...

Lisa Park2m read

New Mexico’s Universal Free Child Care Begins Nov. 1, Posing Local Implementation Challenge

New Mexico’s Universal Free Child Care Begins Nov. 1, Posing Local Implementation Challenge

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Oct. 28, 2025, that New Mexico will become the first U.S. state to provide ...

Marcus Williams2m read

Aztec City Manager Fired After Public Clash, Interim Leader Named

Aztec City Manager Fired After Public Clash, Interim Leader Named

The Aztec City Commission voted unanimously on October 28 to terminate City Manager Jeff Blackburn following a heated pu...

Marcus Williams3m read

Racing License Move Threatens 120 Jobs, Hunts Net Revenue for Clovis

Racing License Move Threatens 120 Jobs, Hunts Net Revenue for Clovis

The New Mexico Racing Commission voted October 23 to begin formal proceedings that would allow SunRay Park and Casino to...

Marcus Williams3m read

Federal Shutdown Cuts $135M in New Mexico Energy Funding, Hits San Juan

Federal Shutdown Cuts $135M in New Mexico Energy Funding, Hits San Juan

The U.S. Department of Energy on Sept. 30, 2025, terminated 321 financial awards across 223 projects, rescinding $135.2 ...

Marcus Williams3m read