Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico State Gov.

NM students may have new requirements to get that diploma

By Margaret O’Hara/The Santa Fe New Mexican A new set of high school graduation requirements won approval Monday from the Senate Education Committee โ€” but not without disagreement over whether the state should require students to take financial literacy courses. Sponsored by Rep. Andrรฉs Romero, D-Albuquerque, and Rep. Ryan Lane, R-Aztec, House Bill 171 is designed to […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.

After months of searching, APS school board hires a familiar face to lead the district

School board members have selected Dr. Gabriella Durรกn Blakey as the next superintendent of Albuquerque Public Schools. Her selection, by a unanimous vote, was announced at a press conference this morning, concluding a search that began in October. Board of Education President Danielle Gonzales noted that the search included numerous meetings and listening sessions, as […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety

Father of co-defendant of Solomon Peรฑa pleads guilty to interfering in electoral process

The second of three defendants facing federal charges for his part in a series of shootings targeting the homes of local lawmakers last year pleaded guilty Friday afternoon to conspiracy, interfering with federally protected activities, and using a firearm during those crimes. Demetrio Trujillo, 42, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, two counts of interference with federally […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government

Who will be APD’s new watchdog?

Tackling the problem of revamping the cityโ€™s housing voucher program is set to be debated at Mondayโ€™s Albuquerque City Council meeting. Also on the government table is taking a look at selecting a director of the struggling Civilian Police Oversight Agency. CPOA Leader Albuquerqueโ€™s police oversight agency has been without a permanent executive director since […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government

With smiles and surveys, volunteers count cityโ€™s homeless

Car trunks were packed with goodie bags filled with granola bars, gummy bears, crackers and bottles of water as teams of volunteers carpooled to different areas of the city this week. On day and night shifts, they walked sidewalks, cul-de-sacs, alleys, bike trails, arroyos and busy intersections. They looked under bridges, scanned perimeters of vacant […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety

‘You knew what was happening to your son’

When now-retired Albuquerque Police Department Detective Maureen Oโ€™Brien was called to a local hospital to investigate the death of a child five years ago, she was horrified at what she saw when she laid her eyes on the body of four-year-old James Dunklee Cruz.  โ€œI knew this wasnโ€™t an accident. He didnโ€™t fall. I knew […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government

What do you think of the city’s Rail Trail idea? The city wants to know.

The Cityโ€™s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) published the public comment draft of the comprehensive report “Advancing Inclusive Growth through the Albuquerque Rail Trail,โ€ with the idea of creating a more inclusive and vibrant urban environment in Albuquerque. Now the City is asking the community to read the report and give feedback via a survey at cabq.gov/railtrailequity. […]