By Jesse Jones, The Paper. & New Mexico Political Report — A Gallup native is in line to become one of the country’s top health officials after President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Overton has deep academic and civic ties to N.M. She graduated from Gallup […]
Jesse Jones
Jesse Jones is a reporter covering local government and news for The Paper. through a local journalism fellowship from NM Reports.
Posted inNM.news
Council sets up public hearing over accidentally-approved homeless shelter near the Sunport
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Neighbors and nearby business owners along Yale Boulevard near the airport will get their say on an overnight drug treatment shelter after city officials accidentally allowed it to open without a required permit. The Albuquerque City Council rejected a recommendation that would have allowed the shelter to move forward […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Albuquerque Council fails to override Mayor’s veto, killing proposal to make city clerk, attorney independent
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños will not get a chance to weigh in this November on removing the mayor’s sole power over the city attorney and city clerk after councilors failed to override Mayor Tim Keller’s veto, which warned the change would effectively create a new branch of city government. During Monday’s Albuquerque […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
What Mayor Keller’s new ‘Abundance Agenda’ means for Albuquerque
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque struggles to get things done because it suffers from a “scarcity mindset” he intends to change Mayor Tim Keller said Saturday as he outlined his priorities for his historic third term as mayor of the state’s largest city. Speaking from the Route 66 Visitor Center, Keller outlined three […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
The City accidentally approved a new 95,000 sq. ft. homeless shelter. Now neighbors want it closed.
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Southeast Albuquerque residents and business owners near the airport are demanding answers about how an overnight drug treatment shelter has been allowed to operate without a required permit since November after city staff gave “incorrect advice,” setting up a fight before City Councilors who get to decide if the […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Albuquerque weighs $3.1M in incentives for cybersecurity, quantum and space jobs
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — The Duke City could see more than 200 high-tech jobs and tens of millions of dollars in private investment if the City Council approves $3.1 million in city and state incentives for three local companies in cybersecurity, quantum computing and aerospace. The three proposed Local Economic Development Act projects […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
A quartet of ABQ City Councilors raises alarm White House plans to let political staff cancel local grants
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños who rely on local housing, transit and community services could see programs lose federal funding if a proposed rule were to give political appointees new power to freeze or end grants over vague standards tied to federal policy. Four Albuquerque City Councilors, led by Stephanie Telles and joined […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Watchdog clears Albuquerque’s top lawyer in probe, but dispute with Council persists
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque’s city watchdog found no legal or ethical misconduct by Interim City Attorney Lauren Keefe, but the report paints a picture of confusion inside City Hall. Interim Inspector General Peter Pacheco released the final special investigation report July 31 on allegations of legal and ethical misconduct by Interim City […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
No campaign finance vote this fall: Here’s what Bernalillo County is doing instead
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Bernalillo County voters will not see proposed changes to the public campaign finance system on the November ballot after county commissioners withdrew the measures to allow more time for study instead of rushing a complex proposal to voters. On Tuesday, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a […]
Posted inNM.news
Before you haul: New rules coming to Albuquerque trash convenience centers
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños dropping off trash at city convenience centers will soon need proof of residency or face more than double the residential rate. During its Aug. 3 meeting, the Albuquerque City Council voted 8-1 for an ordinance to raise the solid waste disposal fee at city convenience centers from $5 […]