Posted inAlbuquerque, crime-courts

‘There was no real security.’ Witness describes scene at convention center graduation shooting 

A mother is recovering after being shot by her stepson during a graduation ceremony for Southwest Secondary Learning Center, at the Albuquerque Convention Center, on Wednesday, according to court documents.  Cristian Joshua Bencomo, 21, was taken into custody directly following the incident and is charged with aggravated battery of a household member, use of a […]

Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness

International District has become an urban ‘pharmacy desert’

Not that long ago there were three large commercial pharmacies located within the boundaries of Albuquerque’s International District — Walmart, CVS and Walgreens — including a small independent one, Phil’s Pills. Today, only Phil’s Pills remains. The effect for residents seeking to fill prescriptions has become a problem with potentially dire consequences. “For some folks, […]

Posted inState News

66 Teams Participate in Cerrillos Burro Race

Elizabeth McCall, The Independent Hundreds of people from around the state gathered in the historic mining town of Cerrillos on May 4 for its third annual Turquoise Trail Pack Burro Race. Pack burro racing is a sport that originated to honor the impact burros had in establishing mining communities like Cerrillos and Madrid. Shane Weigand, […]

Posted inAlbuquerque, City Hall

New fire rigs hit the streets

Three new fire engines are now patrolling the streets of Albuquerque.  Albuquerque Fire Rescue marked the start of the engines’ service Tuesday with traditional “push-in ceremonies.” As the name implies, crews lent elbow grease to guide the trucks to their new apparatus bays. The new trucks replaced a trio of 12-year-old units that have responded […]

Posted inCity Hall

Budget planning in full swing as council fields concerns about libraries, museums

On Thursday, Albuquerque City Councilors held their first meeting to discuss and hear from constituents about the mayor’s $1.4 billion proposed budget for the next fiscal year.  Budget Input Concerns about funding for the public library and the Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum drew the top comments from the handful of residents who attended […]