By Daniel Montaño A change meant to save patients money has community pharmacies shutting their doors and turning people away across the country. Pharmacies in rural or disadvantaged areas face the highest costs, and pharmacy deserts might start spreading. First Walmart closed early last year, then the Walgreens a couple blocks away, and now only three […]
Jobs, Workers & Economy
‘Cuba is a Bit of an Island’
Many members of Cuba’s business community attended an economic growth-focused event at the Eichwald Center on Aug. 5. Business owners and officials explored opportunities to boost the village’s economy and support local businesses. The event was organized by Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez’s office in collaboration with the Rural Development Corporation (RDC), a nonprofit dedicated to […]
Bernalillo May Get $20M for Wastewater Plant
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury has secured $20 million for improvements to Bernalillo’s wastewater treatment plant in the House of Representatives’ version of the Water Resources Development Act. On July 22, the House passed the act by a vote of 359 to 13, authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to enhance the nation’s water resources […]
New sponsorship has ExxonMobil lending its name to Balloon Fiesta
ExxonMobil will get top billing at next year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, thanks to a five-year sponsorship deal with the oil and gas giant. The new deal — which includes changing the name of the event to the ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta — will start in 2025 and last through 2029. This new partnership […]
Former city councilor on the still-closed visitors center: ‘It’s a boondoggle and a money pit’
Editor’s note: To read the first in our series — A visitors center with no visitors: When will the taxpayer-funded project open? — click here. There’s still no opening date for the decades-in-the-making West Central Route 66 Visitors Center, though construction was completed years ago. Even so, one former city councilor thinks the long delay […]
Fueling the Future
Sandoval County Commissioners were presented with a proposal to purchase a nearly zero-emissions plant that converts plastic waste into high-quality fuels at the July 24 commission meeting, offering an alternative solution to combat plastic waste. A representative from PlastikGas, a global company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, presented the commissioners with a proposal to purchase a […]
Mountain West Brew Fest Returns
As the leaves change and the fall air is a little cooler, it’s time for beer festival season in New Mexico. Bernalillo’s flagship event, the Mountain West Brew Fest, is back for its ninth year. The outdoor festival, held this year on Saturday, Aug. 24, will take over Loretto Park and features New Mexico craft […]
State Accepting Solar Tax Credit Applications
The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) is accepting applications for the state’s Supplemental New Solar Market Development Tax Credit program. The program is for New Mexico taxpayers who were denied a solar tax credit in the years 2020 through 2023 because the program’s funding was exhausted. “We stand ready to process those applications […]
After more than a year sitting vacant, International District Walmart may get new owner
The Walmart in Albuquerque’s International District has been closed for more than 16 months — but the 206,000-square-foot building may not remain vacant much longer. On July 5, a commercial real estate website updated the listing of the former Walmart on San Mateo Boulevard near Central Avenue SE to “under contract.” The supercenter was built […]
Over $15 Million Could Be Coming to NM for Rural Development
On July 11, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich welcomed the Senate Appropriations Committee’s bipartisan, unanimous passage of the Fiscal Year 25 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill. This legislation includes over $15 million in investments for 18 projects across New Mexico. “We maintained our full support for vital nutrition programs like WIC […]