By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Mayor Tim Keller stood before Burqueños weeks ago and laid out his vision for Albuquerque’s future in his first State of the City address of his third term. But one idea drafted in his speech never made it to the microphone: an “honest conversation” about merging the city and […]
Jesse Jones
Jesse Jones is a reporter covering local government and news for The Paper. through a local journalism fellowship from NM Reports.
Posted inBernalillo County
Rio Rancho man faces felony charges after removing BernCo Flock cameras in political protest
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Ten Flock Safety cameras sat stacked in the bed of a Rio Rancho man’s pickup after he admittedly removed them and livestreamed the act online. Now, he faces felony charges and says the removal was a political statement. Deputies stopped Jevon Martinez, 44, yesterday, Sept. 2, in his Ford […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
The FBI says ABQ had 75 homicides last year. APD reported only 65. Who is right and why can’t they agree on this big crime stat?
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — When Burqueños look at local and federal crime reports, they might be surprised to find that Washington and City Hall disagree on exactly how many people were murdered in Albuquerque last year. We wanted to know why that is and we found that even APD isn’t entirely sure why […]
Posted inNM.news
Burque sues big tobacco to clean up its butts from city parks, drains
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque is suing some of the biggest names in tobacco to make them pay for the cleanup of cigarette butts that clog city storm drains, litter public parks and reach the Rio Grande. The city alleges the companies have known for decades that their plastic filters create pollution and […]
Posted inNM Political Report
Medicaid rules are changing, but New Mexico is helping many stay covered. Find out if your coverage at risk.
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — New Mexicans on Medicaid should keep an eye out for a turquoise envelope in the mail this week. It contains important information about changes to Medicaid rules coming because of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” as well as resources to help New Mexicans comply or seek exemptions so they […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Parents raised concerns about APS recording children’s voices using AI. The district responded.
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Parents across the Duke City pushed back against Albuquerque Public Schools’ use of artificial intelligence to record, analyze and store elementary students’ voices without explicit parental consent. The district listened and is now changing how it handles those recordings. At the center of the debate is Amira AI, an […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Pueblo’s Sandia Mountains land transfer plan faces new pushback at BernCo meeting
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Homeowners and outdoor enthusiasts packed Tuesday’s Bernalillo County Commission meeting to voice concerns over Sandia Pueblo’s plan they worry could result in losing federal protections and road access on the Sandia Mountains’ western slopes recreations areas. Dozens of Sandias for All coalition members spoke against a proposal to transfer […]
Posted inNM.news
Council president says city put the cart before the horse on $40.5M hotel deal
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — In Duke City’s Sawmill neighborhood, residents have fought for a say in what gets built around them. Now, City Council President Klarissa Peña is warning that the council’s decision to approve a 20-year, multimillion-dollar tax break for a major hotel before its site plan is finalized leaves the historic […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Speed cameras bring in millions as public safety costs already outpace City’s new record budget
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — On the streets of Burque, it’s a tale of two financial realities: Automated speed cameras are bringing the city millions in revenue, while increasing police and fire costs are continuing to outpace the city budget’s projections. According to the city’s third quarter fiscal year 2026 revenue and expense report […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Stansbury announces $7.6M for Albuquerque housing, homelessness programs
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Families in the Duke City who rely on federal housing funding got a boost this week, even as the larger fight over that money goes on in Washington. U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury, a Democrat, announced Wednesday at Saranam’s Westside campus more than $7.6 million in Community Project Funding for […]