By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Scammers have one fewer tool in their toolbox after the Albuquerque City Council approved a citywide ban on cryptocurrency ATMs. On Sept. 9, councilors voted 6-3 to pass the Virtual Currency Ordinance, sponsored by Councilor Stephanie Telles, banning cryptocurrency ATMs, also known as bitcoin teller machines, and cashier-assisted cryptocurrency […]
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.
City Desk ABQ
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
New city attorney, same old power struggle at City Hall
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — ‘Burque has a new city attorney. The City Council confirmed Mayor Tim Keller’s pick, then turned around and overrode his veto of a measure aimed at giving the council more oversight of the city’s legal department. Councilors unanimously confirmed Joshua Boone on Wednesday night. Boone previously served as chief […]
Posted inStatewide News
Heinrich hears from advocates on New Mexico’s biggest challenges for kids
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — The challenges facing New Mexico children took center stage as U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich met with children’s advocates to discuss education, health care and financial stability. The numbers show why: A single parent raising one child needs nearly $68,000 a year to cover basic costs, and 1 in 4 […]
City Desk ABQ
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
$700 million Pajarito Mesa energy project seeks tax break under Bernalillo County’s new community benefits rules. What does it do?
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — One of the nation’s largest energy infrastructure developers and builders wants nearly 3.5 square miles of land on the Pajarito Mesa in Bernalillo County for a solar and battery project, promising hundreds of jobs, millions in new revenue and a boost to the region’s power grid in exchange for […]
City Desk ABQ
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Council to try to override another Keller veto in ongoing power struggle over city attorney
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — With Monday’s Labor Day holiday pushing City Council’s meeting to Wednesday, councilors face an agenda heavy on technology alongside another fight with the mayor over who oversees the city attorney. Councilors will get another chance to take a crack at O-26-54, deciding whether to override Mayor Tim Keller’s veto […]
City Desk ABQ
Posted inNM.news
An old idea is back: Keller quietly floats a city-county merger
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 […]
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 […]
City Desk ABQ
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 […]
City Desk ABQ
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 […]
NM Political Report
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 […]