Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

Alec Baldwin’s lawyer grills crime scene tech over search for live ammo at his shooting trial

Prosecutors sought to cast Alec Baldwin as someone who flouts rules and has little regard for safety at the first day of his New Mexico trial in the shooting of a cinematographer.

Special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson repeatedly referred to Baldwin playing “make-believe” with a revolver on the set of the film “Rust,” and said it led to very real danger and the death of Halyna Hutchins, whom she called “a vibrant 42-year-old rising star.”

Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

Wildfire risk rises as Western states dry out amid ongoing heat wave baking most of the US

Authorities in Western states warned of the rising risk of wildfires as hot conditions and low humidity dry out the landscape amid a protracted heat wave that is expected to bake much of the U.S. again Thursday.

California’s top fire official said Wednesday that so far this year the state has responded to more than 3,500 wildfires that have scorched nearly 325 square miles (842 square kilometers) of vegetation — five times the average burned through July 10 in each of the past five years.

Posted inPueblos, Westside Albuquerque

Trump wants Black and Latino support. But he’s not popular with either group, poll analysis shows

As he prepares to accept the Republican nomination for the third time, Donald Trump has promised new efforts to expand his coalition — and, in particular, to win over more of the nonwhite voters who largely rejected him during the 2020 election.

But an AP analysis of two consecutive polls conducted in June by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that about 7 in 10 Black Americans have a somewhat or very unfavorable view of Trump, as do about half of Hispanic Americans. While both groups do see Trump a little more favorably than when he left office in 2021, their opinion of him is still more negative than positive.

Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, Westside Albuquerque

Increasing homelessness has Westsiders looking for answers

Those experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque often naturally congregate near areas where food, clothing, transit, medical care and addiction services are available. Two of the most highly trafficked areas are in Downtown and across the city’s International District. But on the city’s Westside, the stretch of Coors Boulevard from Central Avenue to I-40, has emerged as […]

Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

Jury is seated in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico

By MORGAN LEE and ANDREW DALTON SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A jury was seated Tuesday for Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico, where opening statements are set to start Wednesday. Twelve jurors and four alternates were chosen by Santa Fe County special prosecutors and the actor’s team of defense attorneys. They’ll be tasked with […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

Leger Fernàndez votes against voter ID bill

This story is republished from NM Political Report, a nonprofit news outlet, as a part of our commitment to bringing you the best in independent news coverage that matters to Albuquerque. By Nicole Maxwell The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act seeks to require proof of United States citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, but opponents […]

Posted inPueblos, Westside Albuquerque

Read the letter President Biden sent to House Democrats telling them to support him in the election

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden wants Democrats in Congress to know he has no intention of exiting this year’s election, sending them a letter on Monday on his personal letterhead. Here is Biden’s letter to the congressional Democrats whose backing he likely needs: Fellow Democrats, Now that you have returned from the July 4th recess, I want you to […]