By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — A proposed City Council ordinance tackles two recycling gaps at once: expanding recycling access to renters in smaller apartment buildings and requiring city-owned buildings to provide recycling services. Current city code only requires apartment buildings with 25 or more units to provide recycling, leaving many renters without guaranteed service. […]
Jesse Jones
Jesse Jones is a reporter covering local government and news for The Paper. through a local journalism fellowship from NM Reports. He is a graduate of UNM.
Sandoval Signpost
Posted inEnvironment, Conservation & Climate
Sandia Pueblo pushes to take control of Sandia Mountain forests, raising alarm from outdoor adventurer seekers
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Hikers, climbers and neighbors who use trails on Sandia Mountain’s west face could see their access change under a land transfer proposal the Sandoval County Commission endorsed last month. Now, a newly formed coalition of residents is urging lawmakers to reject the transfer, saying it could end decades of […]
Posted inFederal Government & Congress
“Chaco is not for sale”: NM lawmakers and Pueblo leaders fight to preserve protections
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Pueblo governors joined New Mexico’s entire congressional delegation Wednesday to defend federal protections around the Greater Chaco landscape, saying thousands of cultural sites could be at risk if the Trump administration rolls back the current safeguards. All Pueblo Council of Governors Chairman Joey Sanchez and Pueblo governors from the […]
City Desk ABQ
Posted inBernalillo County
How Bernalillo County plans to add $10 million to infrastructure without raising taxes
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Bernalillo County faces a $400 million backlog of capital projects but plans to ask voters to approve just $45 million in bonds. At that rate, Commissioners Barbara Baca and Eric Olivas said the county will never catch up. To speed up the process, they gained support from the rest […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Court sides with city on Balloon Fiesta Park stadium, a win that may come too late
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — New Mexico United cleared a major legal hurdle last week in its yearslong quest for a permanent home. But after nearly a year of court delays, the team has started looking elsewhere, and the win might not matter much anymore. The New Mexico Court of Appeals upheld Albuquerque’s approval […]
Posted inNM.news
We’re working to save the Roswell Daily Record, an American journalism institution. Here’s how.
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — The newspaper that told the world about a “flying saucer” crash near Roswell in 1947 nearly became history itself this week — but just two days after announcing it would shut down, it has found a new owner and will keep publishing. The Roswell Daily Record’s ownership announced Wednesday […]
Posted inNM.news
Federal judge sides with NM in fight over voter data
By Jesse Jones, New Mexico Political Report — New Mexico voters’ Social Security numbers and birth dates will remain protected — for now — after a U.S. district judge dismissed a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit seeking access to the personal information. U.S. District Judge Judith C. Herrera ruled Tuesday that the Justice Department failed to […]
Route 66 Independent
Posted inEast Mountains
Tijeras turns back to the well it took offline over PFAS fears
By Jesse Jones, The Indy — The Village of Tijeras returned a well taken offline months ago over PFAS concerns to service after another well unexpectedly failed, prompting officials to advise residents to use bottled water for drinking and cooking. On Thursday, Well 1, the village’s primary water source, unexpectedly failed around 11:34 a.m., according […]
Posted inStatewide News
The newspaper that broke the Roswell UFO story is shutting down
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Southern New Mexico’s news desert is becoming bigger. The 123-year-old Roswell Daily Record, owned by Publisher Barbara Beck and General Manager SaraLei Fajardo, announced today that it is ceasing operations and beginning “an orderly liquidation” of its assets to pay its bills and other obligations, according to a statement […]
Posted inNM.news
New Mexico Republicans want special session to end income tax, but that’s a nonstarter with Dems
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — New Mexicans watching their wallets as gas prices go on a roller coaster ride this summer could get a big break if three House Republican leaders get their way — but don’t count on it. New Mexico House GOP leaders, including Minority Floor Leader Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena; Minority Whip […]